MoviePass rises
What to know
MoviePass is actually back… I cannot believe this is really happening, and yet here we are. The company that introduced the concept of all-you-can-see movies in theaters and then subsequently imploded is relaunching this Labor Day with tiers costing $10, $20, and $30 a month. None of them will reportedly offer unlimited screenings though and there will be a waitlist to join. At this point I trust MoviePass about as far as I can throw it, which is not at all because it is an incorporeal corporate entity. If you live near an AMC or Regal, just sign up for their unlimited subscription deals. I have Regal, and like it quite a bit. 🎟
Early House of the Dragon ratings are big, HBO Max app crashed for some… Who could have seen this coming?! David Zaslav, Casey Bloys, and company are likely breathing a sigh of relief this morning as Game of Thrones proves to be as popular as ever. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed the Dragon premiere. It felt focused, while provided excellent stage-setting and already compelling characters. It didn’t have the OMG surprises of Thrones (nothing like the end of the original’s pilot), but it’s off to a great start. 🐉
China changes the ending of Minions: Rise of Gru… The entire Minions/Despicable Me franchise hinges on the concept of Gru being a bad dude, so it’s odd then that the Chinese version of Rise of Gru, a prequel, ends with Gru facing consequences for his misdeeds and going off to lead a kind life. Gru is just too evil for the Chinese censors, I suppose? 🇨🇳
A John Mayer song is being made into a movie… No, it’s not “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” you sicko. It’s the one about a man who builds a homemade submarine. I bet you didn’t know John Mayer has a song about a man who builds a homemade submarine. Well, he does and it’s becoming a movie. 🎸
NBC to air premiere episode of Peacock’s The Resort… Smells like desperation, but I hear good things about this show, so maybe this will be a winning strategy for NBCU. 🦚
Alan Sepinwall analyzes The Rehearsal finale… Some food for thought on the uneasy season capper of Nathan Fielder’s bonkers “psychological comedy” series. 🎬
Top Gun: Maverick passes Avengers: Infinity War to become 6th highest grossing film domestically… Mav just snapped Thanos out of existence. 🫰
ABC orders Milo Ventimiglia con-man drama to series… You gotta admire Milo’s commitment to broadcast shows. 📺
John Oliver criticizes corporate overlords WBD for pulling HBO Max shows… Never change, Mr. Oliver. 😆
Ally McBeal sequel series in the works at ABC… The dancing baby is 24 years old now. 👶
Thor Love and Thunder comes to Disney+ Sept. 8… Cue the space goats. 🐐
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery comes to Netflix Dec. 23… Cue the scapegoats. 🔪
What’s new
The End Is Nye — Aug 25 | Peacock doc series | 🍅
Little Demon — Aug 25 | FXX/Hulu animated series | 🍅
Three Thousand Years of Longing — Aug 26 | Fantasy film in theaters | 🍅 66%
Breaking — Aug 26 | Drama film in theaters | 🍅 80%
What to watch
One day, Aubrey Plaza is going to land the right dramatic role, in the right movie, and win all of the awards. On that day, when the world wonders how April Ludgate all of a sudden became a phenomenal movie star, I will be there pointing you to Emily the Criminal (in theaters now). Shepherded and produced by Plaza, written and directed by John Patton Ford, this artistic thriller follows a millennial lost in the gig economy, drowning in student debt, who as the title suggests, does some non-legal things to make money. It’s a bit Breaking Bad, a bit Bonnie and Clyde (Plaza and love-interest Theo Rossi are pure fireworks), but it’s mostly a showcase for Plaza, who manifests equal parts melancholy and mischief behind the eyes. There are few actors her age as good at capturing this generation’s energy and plight. Plaza is a physical presence on screen, communicating a raw desperation in a character study that elevates the entire movie. The movie works because of her commitment. In a sense, writer-director Ford is the perfect assist man for Plaza, penning powerful scenarios depicting how student debt and late-stage capitalism have beat down an entire generation. In one lasting scene, Plaza’s character beautifully castigates the concept of unpaid internships to a Boomer lady boss unprepared to hear it. Emily the Criminal isn’t going to catapult Plaza to the next level, but it’s another fine addition to her already impressive and diverse filmography.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!