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A little criticism: Jodie Foster speaks up, gets ‘True Detective’ changes
When Jodie Foster was offered a role in the new season of “True Detective” she wasn’t afraid to offer criticism.
“I said some scary things like, ‘I don’t like that,’” Foster says. “And then I left town.”
Producers weren’t afraid to listen to what she had to say.
“She absolutely doesn’t bull—- you,” Producer/director Issa Lopez says.
As much as Foster likes playing strong women, she thought the character needed flaws. So Lopez rewrote the character and realized she’d also need to rewrite the other detective.
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“And the script just became better,” Lopez says. “Every time you receive a good note is an opportunity to completely overhaul and take the story to the next level.”
Thrilled with the changes, the two-time Oscar-winning Foster signed on and was paired with Kali Reis as detectives investigating the disappearance of eight men from a research station in Ennis, Alaska.
REVIEW: ‘Mean Girls’ still teases but there’s lots of squandered opportunity
Tina Fey has gotten more than a little mileage out of “Mean Girls”: Two movies, a Broadway musical and who knows what else is possible.
In the latest iteration – a filmed version of the Broadway musical – she adds new lines and a slightly different take. But it’s still about the girls who rule high school. At North Shore High, that’s the Plastics (as they’re not-so-lovingly called by fellow students) who make others fearful of their power.
Playing with reality: Charles Melton goes beyond the tabloids for ‘May December’
To land a role in “May December,” Charles Melton spent six hours doing a self-tape.
“I probably had seven days to do my self-tape and I just dove in immediately,” Melton says. “I was talking with my coach, watching films, talking to my therapist about human emotions….and I completely exhausted myself.”
The result was an understated performance that “felt like it wasn’t just the lines I was saying.”
Director Todd Haynes gave him a series of notes, urging Melton to show more emotion “because I was trying to show almost nothing.”
Getting it right: How Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone researched ‘Killers’ roles
Leonardo DiCaprio says he felt a great deal of responsibility getting “Killers of the Flower Moon” right.
“This was a very dark chapter in American history,” he says of the Osage Nation murders depicted in the film. “We needed to tell the story correctly and that meant we had to listen.”
Before and during filming, DiCaprio, co-star Lily Gladstone and director Martin Scorsese sought the advice of the Osage community and pored over considerable research compiled by author David Grann.
“The Osage are still affected by this moment in history,” he says. “We just knew it was our job and our responsibility to listen and get their perspective. A lot of those meetings (resulted in) the movie that you see today.”
REVIEW: Emmy Awards were among the best
If they’re compiling lists for next year’s Emmy Awards, they might want to include the 75th trophy fest as a nominee for the best variety special.
Airing Monday night (after Sunday’s Critics Choice awards and last week’s Golden Globes), it faced an uphill battle, trying to get eyes to look at the same people handing out awards to the same people.
But, darn, if the producers didn’t pull it off. The program was one of the most entertaining in years.
The reason: They brought back stars from old series to serve as presenters. In the process, they recreated some of the shows’ sets, mentioned their Emmy track records and gave the night a bit of nostalgia, particularly for those unfamiliar with the shows that were winning.
DVD REVIEW: ‘Bass Reeves’ brings out passion in David Oyelowo
You can see David Oyelowo’s passion coming through in “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.”
In even the quietest scenes, he exudes determination – not unlike the character.
Considered a life role for the actor, “Bass Reeves” is an intense look at one of the first Black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi. Determined to uphold justice, he encounters corruption everywhere and, through it all, remains devoted to his family.
It’s almost too good to be true.
