Who’s ready for a top 10 movie list for 2020? Unfortunately, I don’t have one. I haven’t been to the theater since February, which makes me depressed. Thankfully, television was fantastic. I did enjoy quite a few movies on demand and via streaming with many standout performances. Let’s stay positive, shall we? Here are the best TV and movie performances of 2020.
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT: Beth was a grandmaster in outfits and a really good chess player. pic.twitter.com/2LZBWojTfB
Who knew chess could be so interesting and intriguing? The Queen’s Gambit could be the sleeper hit of the year, and most of the show’s success can be attributed to the fantastic lead, Anya Taylor-Joy. Between her exquisite fashion choices and brutal honesty, Taylor-Joy captivated my attention from start to finish. I couldn’t look away for fear of missing Beth and her magnetic stare.
Elisabeth Moss in The Invisible Man
Remember movie theaters? I miss them dearly. The last movie I saw in a theater was The Invisible Man so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Horror movies are always better in theaters, and The Invisible Man continues that trend as my theater was on the edge of their seats throughout the entire film. The Invisible Man is a good movie anchored by a great performance by Elisabeth Moss. At this point, I hope Elisabeth does a rom-com soon because she deserves a hug and a kiss instead of a traumatizing experience, one after the other.
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Normal People
Normal People / Hulu
The “Chemistry of the Year” award goes to Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones for their work in Normal People. I’ve screamed my praise for Normal People from the highest mountains on Twitter. It’s one of the most moving depictions of young love you’ll ever see. Mescal and Edgar-Jones were spectacular as the show’s leads. Buy stock in these two young performers now before they skyrocket.
Malachi Kirby and Shaun Parkes in Mangrove from Small Axe
Mangrove / Amazon Studios
Is it a movie? Is it a television show? Don’t worry about the confusion surrounding Small Axe, Steve McQueen’s film anthology series on Amazon Prime Video. Instead, focus on the source material within the five movies of Small Axe and appreciate McQueen’s sheer brilliance as a director and storyteller. Small Axe focuses on West Indian immigrants in London during the 1960s and 1970s. The best film in the series is Mangrove, which tells the story of the Mangrove restaurant and the subsequent trial against nine Black activists who were charged with inciting a riot in response to the unfair treatment from the police to the Mangrove restaurant. Not only is Mangrove one of the best films of the year, but it’s one of the strongest depictions of institutional racism in films of the 21st century. Both Malachi Kirby and Shaun Parkes, who play two members of the Mangrove Nine, bring emotion to a new level with their passionate speeches during the trial. Mangrove is a must-watch film in 2020.
Rhea Seehorn in Better Call Saul
No acting nominations for Bob Odenkirk AND Rhea Seehorn. HUH? S5 of @BetterCallSaul is the best season of TV in 2020 so far. I understand there are snubs every year, but come on. That's an egregious error. What more do they have to do? #BetterCallSaul#emmyspic.twitter.com/pQwpsttspQ
Rhea Seehorn is perfect.Better Call Saulis about Saul Goodman, but all I care about is Kim Wexler and what happens to her before the show ends. Kim may be the second lead of the show, but she’s the most important character. Not only does Seehorn go toe-to-toe with Bob Odenkirk, but she ends up stealing the spotlight in Season 5. Take a bow, Rhea.
Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti in Palm Springs
Palm Springs / Hulu
In a year of few laughs, the film where I had the most fun was Palm Springs. The film stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two guests at a wedding that become stuck in a time loop and relieve the same day over and over again. Palm Springs tackles depressing topics like hopelessness and infidelity with a comedic, rom-com approach. The result is a charming movie with two standout performances from Samberg and Milioti.
Stop me if you’ve heard this story before, but Frances McDormand stars in a film that will garner many Oscar nominations. The aforementioned film is Nomadland.
Nomadland To Open In February 2021, Eligible For 2021 Oscars
Mark your calendars down. Nomadland has been rescheduled to open in theaters on Feb. 19, 2021. The film’s original release date was Dec. 2020, but Disney moved it to after the start of the new year due to the pandemic. More importantly, Nomadland will be eligible for the 2021 Oscars as the eligibility window ends Feb. 28, 2021.
Nomadland stars McDormand as Fern, a woman in her sixties who decides to pack up her things and live as a modern-day nomad after the Great Recession. The film features real nomads Linda May, Bob Wells, and Charlene Swankie as well as David Strathairn. Nomadland is directed by Chloé Zhao, who is best known for 2017’s The Rider and the upcoming Marvel movie, The Eternals.
Nomadland will turn its sights towards the 2021 Oscars. On Gold Derby, Nomadland occupies the top spot for Best Picture winner by the majority of experts and critics. Nomadland became the first film to ever won top prizes at both the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. McDormand is a lock to pick up a nomination for Best Actress, and Zhao will most certainly become the sixth female to receive a Best Director nomination.
Nomadland may be a small drama, but it’s no underdog.
Riz Ahmed Shines In Sound Of Metal
Over the weekend, I watched Sound of Metal on Amazon Prime. The film stars Riz Ahmed as Ruben Stone, a recovering heroin addict and metal drummer who experiences hearing loss. When his condition worsens, he puts his music career on hold, leaves his girlfriend and bandmate (Olivia Cooke), and checks into a sober house for the deaf. It’s here where Ruben must learn to live with, not fix, his disability.
Ahmed’s been on my radar ever since 2014’s Nightcrawler. He showed his true potential in 2016’s The Night Of, which led to his Emmy win for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Ahmed’s performance in Sound of Metal is right up there with The Night Of. Ahmed’s passion and struggle are on full display especially during the first two acts, when he struggles to accept his deafness. He’s a believable deaf person and recovering addict and encapsulates the film’s message that being deaf is a culture, not a disability. It’s a powerful performance that will go down as one of the year’s best.
Other News And Notes
– Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom premieres on Dec. 18. It will be an emotional time since it’s the first film to feature Chadwick Boseman since his tragic death this past summer. Boseman, along with his costar Viola Davis, will both be major contenders in the acting categories.
– I’m finally going to see Tenet since it hits VOD on Dec. 15. In a shitty year, to quote Kevin Malone…
2020 will be remembered as the year of the pandemic. Right behind the pandemic should be television and how it captivated my life for 365 days. This past year, I’ve never watched more television in my life. Every week, a new TV show grabbed my attention and dominated my discussion within my social circles.
This is the first year where my list for top 10 TV shows was harder to make than my top 10 movies. That speaks volumes for me personally. As a result of the pandemic, I haven’t gone to a theater since February 2020, which is depressing. However, television filled my void admirably. I was willing to try more new shows because of my abundance of free time. There were so many tv shows to watch that I even missed out on notable programs like I May Destroy You and The Boys.
Below is my list for the top 10 best TV shows of 2020.
10. Devs (Hulu)
Devs FX on Hulu
Can man play God? That’s one of the questions behind the sci-fi mystery, Devs. Set in San Francisco, a young software engineer (Sonoya Mizuno) named Lily works at the tech-giant, Amaya. When her boyfriend dies on the job, Lily investigates the company’s CEO, Forrest (Nick Offerman), which leads her down a dangerous but compelling path. Framed as a murder mystery, Devs dives deeper into themes of free will, determinism, and quantum computing. Many will be turned off by the show, but if you enjoy the work of Alex Garland (Ex Machina and Annihilation), Devs is a weird sci-fi thriller with a satisfying conclusion. Plus, it’s beautiful to watch.
I loved everything about @Devs_FXonHulu, which should not come as a surprise. This is how I feel right now though. #devspic.twitter.com/rTrfE6Dfmv
My favorite premise on television belongs to PEN15. Co-creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play 13-year-old versions of themselves in the year 2000 while being surrounded by actual teenagers. The show sounds silly and childish, but it’s a stroke of genius. The gag never loses its charm, and the show hilariously dives into themes of adolescence in their own charming way. I cringe for all of the right reasons. Don’t forget to set your away message on AIM before watching.
8. ZeroZeroZero (Amazon Prime)
Zerozerozero Season 1, Episode 7 Andrea Riseborough and Dane DeHaan CR: Stefania Rosini/Amazon Studios
Remember March? That feels like five years ago. Right before the world went to shit, ZeroZeroZerohit Amazon Prime video. The story centers around the cocaine trade and involves three groups: the Mexican cartel, the American brokers, and the Italian mafia. The story tracks how cocaine is shipped from Mexico to Italy. It’s a fascinating look into a corrupt world and how power is worth more than gold. Standouts from the show include Harold Torres as Manuel Contreras, a rising soldier in the Mexican army, and Dane DeHaan as Chris Lynwood, one of the cocaine brokers who battles Huntington’s disease.
ZeroZeroZero: If Sicario, Narcos, and the Italian scenes in The Godfather had a baby, it would be this show. There are A LOT of storylines and characters, but it entertained me throughout. Looked and felt like a crime movie. @danedehaan is a fascinating actor. #ZeroZeroZero
If Normal People did not air in 2020, then Unorthodox would be the show that moved me the most. Unorthodoxplugs viewers into the ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn, NY. It’s here we meet Esty Shapiro (Shira Haas), an unhappily married teenager who decides to escape to Berlin and find her estranged mother. It’s a beautiful and delicate look into a world that at times, feels like a foreign country, not a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The brilliant Shira Haas is a star, and her captivating and emotionally-gripping performance is one of 2020’s best.
Getting around to a lot of the shows I missed this year. Just finished Unorthodox. That was one hell of a performance from Shira Haas. #Unorthodox#Emmys
Hi, I’m Dave. The surprise of the year belongs to Dave, the fictionalized tale of Lil Dicky and his quest to become the best rapper in the world. Dave is borderline ridiculous at times with milk boards and shitty hikes. However, Dave is more than just dick jokes. It has subtle nuance and tackles real problems in a caring way, highlighted by the standout episode dedicated to GaTa’s bipolar disorder. The show really hit its stride towards the end with “Ally’s Toast,” and ended with one of my favorite scenes of the year. At the end of the day, Dave makes me laugh more than any other show on TV.
The winner of the “show that came out of nowhere to captivate the nation” was The Queen’s Gambit. Somehow, a show about chess became the sexiest thing on television. The Queen’s Gambit chronicles the life of Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphan chess prodigy that strives to become the world’s best player in the 1950s and 19660s. As an average chess player, I was so captivated by the show that I found myself researching The Sicilian Defense and Queen’s Gambit. It’s as entertaining of a binge-watch as you’ll find all year. Anya Taylor-Joy is a captivating performer. From her stylish outfits to her killer instinct, Taylor-Joy has a magnetic look in her eyes that reminds me of a young Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone. I just want to hang out Beth and drink a cocktail over a game of chess. Buy your Taylor-Joy stock now.
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT: Beth was a grandmaster in outfits and a really good chess player. pic.twitter.com/2LZBWojTfB
In my best Carl Weathers’s voice, “Mando!” Star Wars has reached new heights due to The Mandalorian. The bounty hunter tasked with returning Baby Yoda aka Grogu is an absolute blast. Even if you’re not a diehard Star Wars fan, this show is so fun and compelling that viewers can learn the ways of The Force without seeing any of the movies. Every episode is a fun adventure from start to finish. Season 2 continued to highlight where this show can go conceptually, and thanks to the recent Disney+ announcements, The Mandalorian will continue to open new doors in the Star Wars universe.
I’m ready to have this conversation.
Rogue One + The Mandalorian > The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
The MVP of quarantine was The Last Dance. Spending two hours every Sunday night for five weeks with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls was one of the few highlights of 2020. From his rise in the 80s to his dominance in the 90s, The Last Dance brought fans on an emotional journey into the mindset of one of the most influential athletes of the last 100 years. When my mom and sister, who don’t play sports, are raving about a basketball documentary, then you know it’s fantastic. Jordan’s speech about winning and leadership is in my top ten scenes of the year.
The show that brought me to tears was Normal People, Hulu’s adaption of Sally Rooney’s novel about two young adults who fall in and out of love over the course of a few years. Normal People is one of the most heartbreaking and purest depictions of young love I’ve ever seen. It floored me both emotionally and mentally. The chemistry between Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones was undeniable. It’s the type of show that I will be thinking about for many years to come.
Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul / Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television
This was an easy decision. The best show TV show in 2020 was Better Call Saul. Most shows start off great and plateau in the middle seasons before declining towards the end. With Better Call Saul, it’s quite the opposite. Vince Gilligan’s prequel to Breaking Bad has gotten better every year, culminating with a perfect fifth season. Every episode is like watching a masterclass on acting, writing, and directing. The show is so strong that most fans care more about the status of the secondary lead, Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), than the titular character, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, and Tony Dalton all deserved Emmys for their performances. In particular, Seehorn can arguably make the claim that she’s giving the best performance on television today. She’s that damn good. Better Call Saul is no longer in the shadow of Breaking Bad. They are finally contemporaries.
Finally watched the last few episodes of @BetterCallSaul. Season 5 hasn't missed once. It's so damn tense and addicting. @mrbobodenkirk, @rheaseehorn (KIM EFFING WEXLER!!!), and Jonathan Banks all need Emmys. I'm in awe of its brilliance. #BetterCallSaul
Quick shoutouts to shows that just missed the cut and shows I didn’t get a chance to watch.
Honorable Mention: How To with John Wilson, Lovecraft Country, Ramy, Sex Education, Dash & Lily, The Real Bros of Simi Valley, Outer Banks
Did Not Watch: I May Destroy You (will 100% watch), The Boys, The Undoing, Ozark (Season 3), The Crown, Ted Lasso, Mrs. America, The Good Lord Bird
Editor’s Note: The Queen’s Gambit was originally at 4 and The Mandalorian was at 5. After a terrific Season 2 finale, The Mandalorian moved up to 4 while The Queen’s Gambit moved back to 5
What shows are on your top 10 lists? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
The fifth major sport is back on MTV. To quote a nervous cast member after TJ Lavin reveals a twist and diabolically laughs, “This changes everything.” Tonight, The Challenge returns for its 35th season titled Double Agents.
If there’s one silver lining in quarantine, it reassured my love for The Challenge. Back in April, there were no professional sports on television. I was miserable. I noticed The Challenge was returning and decided to give it a shot. I used to be a diehard fan for about 10 years, but took a break for a few seasons because the product began to suffer.
Let me be the first to say I’m glad I watched last season because I’m fully back into this crazy world of reality television. The Challenge is the perfect blend of athleticism, drama, and politics.
– It’s weird to not see Johnny Bananas on this list. Going into every season, he’s always the favorite since he holds the record for most season wins with seven. He deserves a break and during a pandemic, who could blame him?
– For the veteran guys, Wes and Darrell will be popular picks to win it all with CT and Leroy in the tier below. However, the overall favorite should be Fessy, who was an absolute beast last season. If Fessy spent quarantine on a treadmill to improve his cardio, I don’t see anyone beating him until the final.
– On the ladies’ side, it’s much harder to pick a favorite. Can you believe that Ashley is the only female to have previously won a season? Ashley’s two wins should make her the frontrunner, but her unpredictability makes it hard to trust her longevity. Lolo Jones is a former Olympian so by default, she will be one of the favorites. The most anticipated debut belongs to Natalie Anderson, a legendary winner on Survivor. If I had to pick one favorite, my vote is for two-time finalist Kam Williams, who dons an impressive 7-2 record in eliminations.
Quick Questions
Who Will Give The Toast?
The unofficial start of The Challenge is the famous “Bananas Toast.” As fans, we all look forward to the party on the first night and in particular, the Bananas Toast. Without Johnny B, the toast won’t be the same, but someone has to do it. The logical selection would be CT or Wes. However, CT rarely drinks on the show and many people hate Wes. I’m calling my shot right now and picking Kyle to make the toast.
Will Josh Cry?
Is the Pope catholic?
Will Cory Talk About His Daughter?
Did you guys know that Cory has a daughter?
Who Will Nany Fight?
Nany is going to fight with someone. It’s only a matter of time before Hurricane Nany goes on a rampage. Last season, she went toe-to-toe with Aneesa and some ramen noodles. Looking at the cast, someone will either try to hit on Kaycee or call Nany a liar. My money is on Ashley.
Who Will I Root For?
Back in the day, I had my squad that I rooted for every week. It included Bananas, CT, Alton, Derrick, Paula, Laurel, and Diem. Last year, Jenny West earned a spot on my team. This year, I’m hurting for favorites. I’m very indifferent to this year’s cast. I enjoy the drama and always root for train wrecks, but can’t say I’m going to root for a lot of new people this year. Gabby Allen is the leader in the clubhouse to join my inner circle. She’s a personal trainer from England who made the finals on Love Island U.K. and Celebrity Big Brother U.K. Say no more because I’m in.
My Picks
The smart picks to win it all are Fessy and Kam. I think Kam is the right pick for females. Kam’s one of the strongest girls and finals’ experience narrowly puts her ahead of Lolo and Natalie.
Fessy is the guy to beat, but I’m going to zig with my selection. The man I’m picking to win is…
Devin.
There will never be another Johnny Bananas, but Devin’s game is as close to Johnny’s strategy as you can get. His political game is elite, which he displayed by taking out multiple vets in Rivals III. His physical game is so-so, but he managed to beat Bananas in an elimination in Vendettas. At times, he’ll bite off more than he can chew, but Devin is sneakily one of the best guys in the house. I’m picking Devin to win in an upset.
Devin and Kam
Enjoy the fifth major sport!
Who do you believe will win it all? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Kevin dominated last night’s episode, but Kate and Randall stole the show with two big reveals at the end of This Is Us.
This Is Us Season 5 Episode 4 Recap: “Honestly”
THIS IS US — “Honestly” Episode 504 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Lonnie Chavis as Randall, Mackenzie Hancsicsak as Kate, Parker Bates as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)
Kate’s Secret Pregnancy
The promo for episode four used the classic bait and switch technique. The short video clip teased a conversation between Kate and Ellie about adoption and if Ellie was having second thoughts. That idea was quickly squashed after Ellie said she was conflicted about her own life but still wants to give her baby to Kate and Toby. It turns out that the name Kate picked for the child, Chloe, prompted a negative reaction from her past life.
However, the conversation with Ellie triggered a past memory from Kate after Ellie mentioned thoughts about abortion. When Kate was a teen, she was in an abusive relationship with Marc, who had the slimiest of mustaches known to man. After their breakup, Kate realized that she was pregnant.
What did Kate do with her unborn child? I’m guessing she had an abortion, which is why her conversation with Ellie triggered this memory. What I want to know is who knew about the pregnancy besides Kate. Did she tell Marc? Did Kate confide in a friend we don’t know about? As a dedicated viewer, I’ve learned that no character faces problems alone. There’s always someone else involved.
Let’s just call a spade a spade. Sterling K. Brown is shredded. The man is ripped from head to toe. Was his striptease a mistake or an audition for Chippendales?
Back to the topic at hand. Randall’s striptease may have shown off his hard work in the gym, but it also served as a connection to his birth mother, Laurel. At the end of the episode, the Vietnamese grandfather watches Randall’s viral video. Unlike most people, he’s less focused on the dance and zeroes in on the name, William Hill. If you bet that Randall would find out about his birth mother because he stripped in his office at 1000 to 1 odds, then cash your tickets immediately and move to a tropical island.
Is Laurel alive? I’m back and forth on this issue. It would be too fitting for Laurel to be alive. My prediction is Randall meets Laurel’s daughter or son with the Vietnamese man, which would make them half-siblings.
Atta Boy, Kevin
Ever since the middle of the third season, Kevin’s storyline interests me the most. He’s having twins with Madison, fighting with Randall, and attempting to win an Oscar for his mom. That’s a hell of a platter. Last night focused on his work ethic in both the past and present. As a kid, Kevin’s potential in football began to grow, but he struggled to memorize the plays and put in the work. Thanks to Randall’s color-coded flashcards, Kevin started to bond with his brother and memorize the plays.
In the present, Kevin failed to impress his new director. Instead of quitting, Kevin made more color-coded flashcards, and it appeared to work since his director sent Kevin a gift basket. The episode began to lay the groundwork for Kevin and Randall’s future conversation. Kevin is starting to sympathize with Randall and the issues he experienced as a black kid in a predominately white community.
There has to be an “a-ha” moment for Kevin. What is the moment that will unite the brothers? My money is on the birth of Kevin’s children.
Other News And Notes
– I immediately recognized Jack’s Cool Hand Luke reference. What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.
– This Is Us tried to plant conspiracy theories in our heads with the baby name, Chloe. Kate and Toby’s daughter will be named Hailey so after Kate used the name Chloe, the idea of Ellie keeping her baby ran through our minds for precisely 5 minutes. Nice try, writing room, but I didn’t fall for it.
– Malik should forget about his idea to open a restaurant. Instead, he should run for mayor of Philadelphia.
– I’m in the Jamie Chung Hive. Big year for Ms. Chung with Lovecraft Country and a guest appearance on This Is Us. If you have time, watch Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong on Hulu. She costars with her husband, Bryan Greenberg. It’s a charming rom-com that will make you miss traveling.
See you in January when This Is Us returns from its hiatus.
Did you enjoy last night’s episode? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
After an extended hiatus due to the pandemic, This Is Us finally returns tonight for Season 5 with a special two-hour premiere. Frankly, America needs the Pearson family back in our lives in order to provide a necessary distraction from COVID.
When we last saw the Big Three, Kevin and Randall squared off in a fight that mirrored Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. Instead of throwing punches, the brothers verbally spared, trading haymaker after haymaker until Kevin dropped the hammer when he said, “Hand to God, Randall, the worst thing that ever happened to me was the day they brought you home.”
Awkward…
Here’s a quick recap of everything else that happened in the Season 4 finale.
Both Nicky and Kevin are wearing wedding rings in the flash-forward.
Rebecca is going to St. Louis for the clinical trial with Miguel.
In typical This Is Us fashion, the writers left us with multiple cliffhangers in the finale, which will all be addressed at some point this season or the next. So what can we expect in Season 5?
https://youtu.be/xP9pwlzeLBw
-Fallout of fight between Randall and Kevin: This is the biggest storyline of the season. I don’t expect this fight to end overnight. As we’ve seen in the flash-forward, Randall and Kevin will eventually be on good terms. However, what is the moment that will bring them together?
-Rebecca’s Clinical Trials: At the end of Season 4, Rebecca decided to sign up for the clinical trials in St. Louis. Rebecca and Miguel will head to St. Louis during the season, but when will they head home? During the Season 4 midseason finale, Rebecca’s memory significantly deteriorated and needed a police escort back to the cabin for the 40th birthday party, which will air tonight. Did Rebecca leave the trials because they failed or did something happen to Miguel?
-Kate And Toby’s Relationship: At the end of last season, Kate and Toby decide to explore adoption, and we know that they will adopt a girl and name her Hailey. However, what we don’t know is the status of their marriage. Kate and Toby have had problems in the past (Thanks, Lady Kryptonite). Expect problems to occur once again this season, but will it lead to a divorce or something much worse?
-Birth and Rebirths: According to Dan Fogelman, this season is about “births and rebirths.” The obvious birth will be Kevin and Madison’s twins. With that being said, I’m more interested in the rebirth. Does the rebirth represent Kevin and Randall’s relationship? Is it a new love interest for Kevin or Kate? Does it signify Rebecca’s love for Miguel?
-Jack: When in doubt, add Jack into a storyline. We all need a little more Jack Pearson on the show.
With a preview comes predictions. I made these predictions at the end of last season.
Kevin will name his daughter after his mother, Rebecca.
Miguel will die.
The birth of the twins will end the fight between Kevin and Randall.
For now, I’m sticking with those predictions. I’m confident that Miguel, who I love dearly, will die at some point within the next two seasons. In regards to the twins, my confidence meter is 50/50. Now that the premiere has arrived, here are a few more predictions.
Kate Will Die*: I’ve been on this hill since Season 2. There’s no reason to abandon ship just yet. This Is Us is all about the fragility of life and cherishing every moment spent with family. Death ties every storyline together. The deaths of Jack, William, and Kyle (original member of the Big Three who died in childbirth) rocked the Pearson family and became crucial plot points in the story. Kate has not been seen in the flashforward at Kevin’s house. Toby is also not wearing his wedding ring. Are Kate and Toby divorced? Maybe, but for now, I’m leaning towards “’til death do us part.”
*Kate will die if and only if Miguel dies in Season 5. Two deaths in one season are too much to handle. If Miguel dies in Season 5, then Kate could die in Season 6 if that’s truly the final season. If Miguel’s death occurs in the final season, then Kate will live.
-Nicky Pretends To Be Married To Rebecca: This is my outrageous prediction. In the flash forward, Nicky is wearing a wedding ring while sitting next to a dying Rebecca. There’s no chance in hell that Nicky marries Rebecca. However, since Rebecca’s memory is shot, Nicky pretends to be Jack on the surface since most of her memories are gone and she only remembers Jack. Nicky wears the wedding ring and acts like Jack even though he’s serving as Rebecca’s caretaker. It’s an odd prediction, but a spicy take.
-Rebecca Will Die In The Series Finale: Rebecca will die in the bed surrounded by her loved ones in the series finale. Rebecca’s death will complete the circle of life.
Can’t wait to see how many of these predictions come true!
What are your predictions for This Is Us Season 5? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
To call The Social Network a perfect movie may be an understatement, or an overstatement, depending on your admiration for David Fincher’s 2010 iconic film about Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook. The Social Network is arguably the best film from the year 2010, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences disagreed with this sentiment when it awarded Best Picture to The King’s Speech.
Regardless of your personal opinion, there’s one scene that’s as close to perfect as you can get and it includes lines like “Sorry, my Prada’s at the cleaners along with my hoodie and my fuck-you flip-flops, you pretentious douchebag,” and “You better lawyer up, asshole, ‘cause I’m not comin’ back, for my 30 percent, I’m comin’ back for everything!” The scene is known as the “You set me up” scene, where Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) confronts Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) about having his share of Facebook diluted from 34% to 0.03%.
Watching this scene again is like watching a football team flawlessly execute a 12-play, 90-yard scoring drive. Minute by minute, line by line, the scene builds in suspense and anticipation as Eduardo and Mark go back and forth at each other at both the deposition and party. Eduardo and Mark are the Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan of the scene, but Justin Timberlake, Aaron Sorkin, and David Fincher play the roles of Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, and Charles Barkley to round out the Dream Team starting lineup. All five guys are in complete control of the scene.
First, there’s David Fincher, who’s as intricate as it comes behind the camera. Fincher is a perfectionist in every sense of the word. In the opening scene of the movie, where Erica Albright dumps Mark, Fincher had Eisenberg and Rooney Mara do 99 takes of this six-minute scene. Try doing something 99 times over the course of two days for your job and see if you still love it after. Just ask Jake Gyllenhall about his time onZodiac. But if you trust Fincher’s process, he’ll push you to great heights, which usually leads to terrific performances.
Director David Fincher had Jesse Eisenberg and Rooney Mara do 99 takes of the opening six-minute scene over the course of two days. (via Loquaciousmuse, MTV News) 🎬: The Social Network (2010) pic.twitter.com/4Loj7Tb6ao
Fincher may be the perfectionist behind the camera, but Aaron Sorkin is the maestro behind the script. Sorkin is known for his fast, rhythmic, and over-lapping dialogue that makes the scene play like a musical. It’s why Sorkin is one of the most unique and successful screenwriters of the last 30 years. One would think a director as precise as Fincher and a writer as detailed as Sorkin would clash like oil and water. It turns out that Fincher and Sorkin perfectly balanced each other out, and Sorkin’s script won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.
As previously stated, if you trust Fincher’s process, he can bring the best out of you. In Justin Timberlake’s case, his turn as Sean Parker is the actor’s best performance. Everything about Parker screams snake-oil salesman. In the film, Sean is the cool senior who’s showing off to the freshman so he can eventually get the younger kid to do his homework in exchange for popularity. Timberlake is so cool in this movie, and yet you want to punch him in the face throughout the entire exchange between Eduardo and Mark.
Finally, the heart of this scene is the friendship and betrayal between Eduardo and Mark. As Eduardo tells Mark in the deposition, “I was your only friend.” Eduardo’s teary-eyed and emphatic plea is so raw and full of emotion that the audience has to side with the former CFO of Facebook. In turn, Mark starts off as his usual cocky self, blaming Eduardo for his mistake, but Eduardo’s passionate speech eventually shakes Mark to his core. Behind the billionaire-genius is still a guy who wants to be liked. Eisenberg received a well-deserved nomination for Best Actor, but the fact that Garfield did not find himself in the supporting category is still a mistake 10 years later.
If you’ve never seen The Social Network, watch this one scene because it tells you everything you need to know about each character. Sean is manipulative and arrogant, but at the other end of his Facebook mug is an insecure coward. Eduardo is a deer in headlights whose pride gets the best of him, but he’s the film’s most sympathetic character. Then, there’s Mark, who was best described by Marylin Delpy, played by Rashida Jones. At the end of the deposition, Marylin said, “You’re not an asshole Mark. You’re just trying so hard to be.”
It’s up for debate as to whether Mark is a good guy or not, but what’s not up for discussion is the perfection of this scene.
What is your favorite scene from The Social Network? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
The Oscars may have been pushed back, but the show will go on for the 2020 Emmys on Sunday, Sept. 20. Like most parts of the country, large, indoor gatherings are banned so the Emmys will be a virtual show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
If you know what to expect on Sunday night, then let me know because I’m clueless. I understand why the show went virtual, but I don’t want an online event to dilute the meaning and value of the ceremony. The Emmys are the pinnacle of television awards and a win could literally change someone’s life. The entire world was dealt a bad hand due to COVID so I won’t hold the decision to air a virtual ceremony against the Television Academy. However, I pray the show errs on the side of caution and presents a serious show as opposed to an influx of silly hijinks. The ceremony can still be funny, but make sure the show continues to focus on the winners and their speeches.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that this year of television was tremendous. In a year where television lost Emmy-giants like Game of Thrones, Veep, and Fleabag, shows like Succession, Schitt’s Creek, and Watchmen are ready to collect their hardware. It’s a wide-open field, especially in the dramatic categories. Below are a few storylines I’m keeping an eye on.
HBO Dominance
Goodbye Game of Thrones, hello Succession. The rich could get richer if Succession wins Outstanding Drama, which means HBO would have won five of the last six Emmys in the drama category. Succession is the favorite or second-favorite to win in six categories. The same can be said for HBO’s frontrunner in the Limited Series category, Watchmen, which received the most nominations of the night with 11. There’s a world where HBO wins every category it’s in for both Drama and Limited Series.
Can Paul Mescal Pull Off The Upset?
Normal People / Hulu
No show emotionally moved me more than Normal People, Hulu’s brilliant series about young love and adolescence in Ireland. Led by two stellar performances from Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People became one of the most heartbreaking and accurate depictions of young love I’ve ever seen. Although Edgar-Jones did not receive a nomination for Outstanding Actress, Mescal and the show itself garnered nominations for Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Limited Series, respectively. It’s going to be tough to beat Watchmen for Outstanding Limited Series, but Mescal has an outside chance at winning Outstanding Actor. Mark Ruffalo is the favorite, but the show itself was not as critically acclaimed as Normal People, which works in Mescal’s favor. I’ll be pulling for Connell and his chain on Sunday night.
Outstanding Drama Series
Who Should Win: Better Call Saul
Who Will Win:Succession
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Who Should Win: Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (not nominated)
Who Will Win: Brian Cox, Succession
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Who Should Win: Zendaya, Euphoria
Who Will Win: Jennifer Anniston, The Morning Show
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Who Should Win: Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (not nominated)
Who Will Win: Kieran Culkin, Succession
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Who Should Win: R H E A S E E H O R N, Better Call Saul (all-caps are necessary)
Who Will Win: Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
*I’m obnoxious, but it’s a sin that Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and Rhea Seehorn were snubbed from their respective categories.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Who Should Win: What We Do in the Shadows
Who Will Win:The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Who Should Win: Ramy Youssef, Ramy
Who Will Win: Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Who Should Win: Issa Rae, Insecure
Who Will Win: Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Who Should Win: Mahershala Ali, Ramy
Who Will Win: Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Who Should Win: D’Arcy Carden, The Good Place
Who Will Win: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Limited Series
Who Should Win: Watchmen
Who Will Win:Watchmen
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Who Should Win: Paul Mescal, Normal People
Who Will Win: Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Who Should Win: Regina King, Watchmen
Who Will Win: Regina King, Watchmen
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Who Should Win: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
Who Will Win: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Who Should Win: Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Who Will Win: Jean Smart, Watchmen
What are your Emmy predictions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
2020 may be the year of epic trailers. Thanks to the pandemic, many blockbusters such as No Time to Die and Fast 9 pushed back their release dates to late 2020 or 2021. Most of the country still hasn’t seen Tenet, but trailers for Christopher Nolan’s movie and Wonder Woman 1984 are keeping the excitement alive. After today, add Dune to 2020’s epic year of trailers.
Someone once said, “he who controls the spice controls when the Dune trailer drops.” We control the spice.
Without knowing anything about Dune, it’s tough to watch that trailer and not be excited about a sci-fi adventure. Based on the 1965 book from Frank Herbert, Dune is known as the “grandfather of science fiction.” It inspired popular franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek. I have not read the book (I’m hoping to change that before the film comes out), but from the summaries I read, it’s a story about family, betrayal, and the most valuable resource in the world, “the spice.” Below is the official summary from Warner Bros.
A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
There are many reasons as to why I’m excited for Dune. First of all, who doesn’t love a giant sci-fi epic? However, the people involved, most notably the director and cast, are why my excitement is through the roof. Denis Villeneuve serves as director, which makes my confidence skyrocket. There’s a case to be made that Villeneuve was the greatest director of the 2010s. From Prisoners to Blade Runner 2049, that’s an unbelievable five movie stretch. Villeneuve is a master of beautiful visuals, high-octane action sequences, and tension-building scenes. You can count on all of those three aspects to be included in Dune.
Then, there’s the cast. To say this cast is stacked would be an understatement. Is loaded a better word? Whatever adjective you use, multiply it by ten.
To be honest, you had me at “Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.” But, if Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem play major roles in the film, I guess I’ll take that, too. Seriously, the 1994 Dream Team and Avengers have company in terms of the greatest cast of characters ever assembled.
Dune‘s text is considered sacred by fans, which is why it’s been such a difficult process adapting it to the screen. The most notable adaptation is 1984’s Dune from David Lynch. The film was a box office failure but has developed a cult following since. It’s a tough book to adapt because it’s hard to tell the entire story in one movie, which Villeneuve realized right away. In a panel with Stephen Colbert, Villeneuve said they will need to shoot two movies in order to cover the entire novel. The first Dune movie will only cover half of the novel.
Dune was scheduled to arrive in late December, but that’s up in the air since the trailer did not have a release date. In fact, Wonder Woman 1984may move from its October release date to Dune‘s December date, which would push back the sci-fi epic to 2021. Whenever the film comes out, I’m all in. Take all of my Apple stock and convert it to Dune stock.
Are you excited about Dune? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
There is no such thing as a Christopher Nolan movie without a twist. It’s his signature staple in every movie. As an audience, we sit in our chairs, waiting in anticipation for a moment that will both shock and dumbfound us. To quote a line from Nolan’s upcoming movie, Tenet, “Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.” Don’t try to understand the twists. Feel it, enjoy it, and then run home to Reddit to look at fan theories that attempt to explain it.
Here are my five favorite movie twists from Christopher Nolan.
5. Interstellar – Cooper Is Murph’s Ghost
After Interstellar, Nolan went back to the drawing board and thought to himself, “How can I create another mind fuck about time? I got it! The movie’s about time… but it’s in space!” What dreams are to Inception is what wormholes are to Interstellar. Frankly, Nolan could have just marketed this movie as “Matthew McConaughey goes to space,” and I was sold. Instead, Interstellar was a fun adventure that made me question the existence of time. In terms of the twist, it was more rewarding than surprising especially since we got a scene with McConaughey and Ellen Burstyn. Love you, Murph.
Warner Bros.
4. Memento – Leonard Is The Killer
I’m assuming people will take issue with this ranking because many believe it’s not only one of Nolan’s best twists but it’s his best movie. For me, the final scene still leaves me confused to this day so it’s not as satisfying since I can’t explain it. Memento‘s twist is still shocking to this day. I just rewatched the clip and I’m still in awe. For those who don’t know, Leonard is actually the real killer in Memento. Leonard accidentally killed his wife with an insulin overdose. He continues to hunt a “killer” because he can’t face the grief of his deadly mistake and devises plans to hun for a killer that doesn’t exist. Although most of us haven’t committed murder, we all make up our own truths in order to ignore reality. It’s a harsh, but scary truth.
3. Batman Begins – Ra’s al Ghoul Is Liam Neeson
When the guy you least expect turns out to be the villain, that’s when you know the twist worked. In Batman Begins, Liam Neeson was first introduced as Henri Ducard, Bruce Wayne’s mentor, and introduction to the League of Shadows. When Bruce saved his life and left him to heal, I knew he would be back in some way. However, when Ducard revealed himself as Ra’s al Ghoul, my jaw hit the ground. Neeson’s bad guy was the perfect appetizer for the iconic villain that would follow in The Dark Knight, the Joker.
2. The Prestige – Christian Bale Has A Twin
I always believe that two Christian Bales are better than one. The Prestigeis one of Nolan’s best scripts, but it gets lost in the shuffle because of its location in Nolan’s filmography. The film that comes before The Prestige is Batman Begins and the film that comes after is The Dark Knight, with the latter universally recognized as one of the best superhero movies ever made. In other words, The Prestige gets sandwiched in between the first two chapters in one of the most important trilogies of the 21st century. The though the film gets lost in the shuffle, the twist is top-tier Nolan. Bale revealing himself to be a twin is the shocking twist, but the entire movie is a game of one-upmanship. From Tesla’s machine to the water tank reveal, The Prestige is full of surprising twists every 15 minutes, just the way Nolan likes it.
1.The Dark Knight Rises – Talia Stabs Batman
WHERE’S THE TRIGGER? I’m going to receive a lot of backlash for this pick, but hey, it’s my list and I can do what I want. Out of the five Nolan movies I’ve seen in theaters Nolan, Talia stabbing Batman was by far the loudest reaction from the crowd. Once Talia said, “But he’s not the child of Ra’s al Ghoul,” and punctured Batman’s suit, the sound of gasps filled the theater so much that you could barely he the next couple of lines. It may not be Nolan’s best twist, but it will always hold a special place in my memory.
What is your favorite movie twist from Christopher Nolan? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
