Hugh Jackman returns as heroic mutant Wolverine in this summer’s highly anticipated prequel to the X-Men trilogy with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, slated for a May release. This film explores the birth and of Wolverine and other mutants, including his nemesis Sabretooth (Liev Scheiber).
By Henry B. Rosenbush
Showtime has the most ingenuous new cable series with United States of Tara, headlined by Toni Collette. The talented Australian actress not only gets to play Tara, a suburban housewife, mother and artist, but T, a teenager; Buck, a homophobic “male” and Alice, a fifties styled homemaker.
It takes several episodes to learn that Tara suffers from DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) but from the opening moments the actress, best known for Muriel’s Wedding (1994), Shaft (2000) The Hours (2002) and In Her Shoes (2005) is introduced as Tara speaking to a video camera before abruptly stopping, walking down the hall while stripping to transform into T, a wild teenager next seen wearing her daughter Kate’s (Brie Larson) tight jeans and a thong the audience knows this is anything but an ordinary character.
Sharply written and acted, Tara looks destined to be another winner for Showtime, along with Weeds and The L-Word.
The Three Faces of Eve (1957) and Sybil (1976) were serious explorations of this particular mental illness, Tara clearly takes a black humorous route, although there are moments of drama, it is obviously intended to illicit laughs and it does.
The half hour show also stars patient husband of 17 years, Max (John Corbett from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 2002; Northern Exposure, 1990-94) and son, Marshall (Keir Gilchrist). Tara’s sister is played by Rosemarie DeWitt, who immediately looks more than slightly interested in Max.
“You really deserve so much better,” she says to which he replies, “No I don’t, really.”
“Why can’t she be manic depressive like all the other moms?” laments Kate to Max. Later, her son turns up the volume on Thelonious Monk so the neighbors “…can’t hear or judge her.” Without the mulitple personality hook this is an ordinary family undergoing the usual problems as in later when, Max and Tara are in the shower, Max says, “Welcome back,” as calmly as if she had just returned from a trip.
The series pilot takes the audience immediately into Tara’s world and it is refreshing to see the other characters interact with the multiples who through Collette’s unique body language become alive and engaging.
T, as introduced in the first minutes of the first episode, would be any mother’s nightmare; sexually alive and not above stealing her alter ego’s credit cards while talking trash to her daughter as if the two were school mates complaining about their moms.
The humor is bawdy and graphically presented along with nudity it is clearly marketed for adults but it is likely teenagers will enjoy it, too.
Collette is a fine actress who is the perfect choice to play four roles, and is a tad frightening as Buck, and the casting of the handsome and likeable Corbett is a wise move. Other actors assert themselves well and the production design is all pro, and what a clever play on words title.
Filmed in Los Angeles by DreamWorks Television. Executive producers, Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Diablo Cody, Alexa Junge; supervising producers, David Finkel, Brett Baer; producer, Dan Kaplow; director, Craig Gillespie; writer, Cody; Camera, Uta Briesewitz, M. David Mullen; production designer, Alison Sadler; editor, Tatiana S. Riegel; music, John Frizzell; casting, Allison Jones. Running Time: 30 minutes
A sneak peek at episode one can be seen at the Showtime website; be prepared to register for free. The show premieres Sunday, January 18th at 10 p.m. EST on SHO
ExIsTeNtIaL
NiLhIsT
So we meet again only this time ankle deep in floodwaters. Boots are helpful but please leave them at the front door. Dark as dusk but dusk is still an hour away. No need for the radar or paranoid-inducing weather forecasters, just look out the window. Rain stops then starts again and it is time to scream.
Aieeeeeeee.
Wind picks up and tall trees sway majestically and dangerously in the distance.
fantasy is what it is
Fan oscillates while cats sleep
Rain falls steadily getting deep
Realms of magic begin to weep
Walls of romance for you to keep
Income outcome bird without peep
Upside downside field without sheep
Testaments to knowledge sown but no reap
Windless caution blows through my jeep
Care is given love is shared
Life out of balance must be squared
Mathematics themes automatic paired
Hair getting longer needs to be sheared
Day into night oh what a sight
Night into morning and returns the light
Life needs unburdening beginning tonight
Same tomorrow but without the blight
Motors are running lawns mowed in rows
Horses are galloping feet without toes
Fingers caress and untie the bows
Time to leave town on a boat with those rows
free style thinking keeps one sane. Sanity = Freedom and Freedom needs help.
Flash Flood Warning Number Infinitum.
Who can blame Mother Nature for getting pissed at man and all his merde ? The planet is taking a shower to wash off the stench of death and devastation to renew herself.
From the mind, through the lips, and into the fingers onto the typewriter keys.
Words without context
Content without reasoning
The merry-go-round continues its never-ending circular motion.