Trial by media: British newsroom dramedy ‘Douglas Is Cancelled’ gets North American premiere
BY DANA SIMPSON
In this age of social media dominance, at least a minutiae of media literacy is encouraged among the masses. Whereas ‘90s and ‘00s parents once cautioned their children to “surf the net” safely, watching for catfishers, child predators and information-stealing bots, it is the elder generations who now often find themselves in hot water online. From teens with trendy TikTok accounts and Instagram feeds to social justice warriors with live streams and informational YouTube videos, cameras are everywhere and chances are that if you have said or done something foolish in public, it has already been committed to the digital record. Just ask Douglas Bellowes (Hugh Bonneville, “Downton Abbey”) — he knows all about it.
“Douglas Is Cancelled,” the hit British series that first aired last summer on iTV abroad, premieres Thursday, March 6, on BritBox.
Described by the Guardian as a show “you might hate ... for daring to exist,” “Douglas Is Cancelled” chronicles the multi-level undoing of one of Britain’s best-known and most respectfully sombre news readers, the titular Douglas Bellowes, after a crude joke he made at a wedding was captured on video and shared with the world. Potentially made worse by his
younger, more aware co-host Madeline Crow (Karen Gillan, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” 2023), Douglas’s social media snafu quickly escalates to the point of interference with his career, his family and his hard-earned reputation as a staunch man of the people.
“Douglas is a perfectly decent, pleasant man who’s doing a good job and is well liked for what he does,” Bonneville told iTV press in a statement ahead of the show’s U.K. release. “Is he smug? I wouldn’t say so. Unguardedly confident? Definitely. But just as the dinosaurs didn’t know they were a dying breed, Douglas is blithely unaware that the next generation is smarter, more streetwise and capable of sheer ruthlessness when the chips are down.”
One such member of the next generation is Madeline, who is described by her portrayer as “a very determined” woman “who set her sights on getting into this particular industry,” noting that “she went through a few experiences along the way that shaped her, and she quickly realized that she needed to harden up a little bit.”
During a press interview with iTV, Gillan says, “When we meet [Madeline] at the start of this drama, you just can’t quite
get a read on her. The idea is that you don’t quite know what her motivations are, and you don’t quite know whether you can trust her or not. That was really fun to play.”
Those watching the series have also reacted to the clever duality of the Madeline character, commenting, as did Guardian writer Lucy Mangan, that, “Whether [Madeline] is a manipulative careerist, simply sick of the sexism that surrounds her, or motivated by a genuine grievance is the question that builds around her.” Regardless of the answer, several reviews from the Guardian, to RadioTimes.com, to the common Redditor, hail Gillan as the shining light of the series.
That said, the series is chockablock with captivating performances from a handful of well-respected actors. Alex Kingston (“ER”), for example, co-stars as Douglas’s wife, Sheila, a tabloid newspaper editor and fierce defender of those she loves; Ben Miles (“The Crown”) as Douglas and Madeline’s producer, Toby Patterson; Simon Russell Beale (“House of the Dragon”) as Bently Cassock, whom iTV dubbed “the worst agent in the world”; and Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”) as Morgan, the news program’s not-so-funny comedy writer.
Horoscopes
The luckiest signs this week:
CANCER, LEO AND VIRGO
ARIES
You’ll come up with great ideas and innovative proposals this week. Your plans may change a few times based on your mood. This could irritate some people around you.
TAURUS
Amid a chaotic situation, brilliant ideas often emerge. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a second cup of coffee might be just the boost of energy you need to accomplish great things.
GEMINI
After a particularly stressful period, taking a step back and indulging in some well-deserved rest is important. This break will help you recharge your batteries and feel refreshed.
CANCER
You’ll put in a considerable amount of overtime at work this week. You’ll also enjoy relaxing moments with family and friends and participate in enriching activities together.
LEO
A trip or a romantic getaway will lift your spirits. You’ll fully embrace this blissful experience. The idea of moving abroad or going on an adventure will take shape in your mind.
VIRGO Change will come naturally to you this week. Choose your friends wisely to reduce stress in your life. You’ll take a more spiritual approach to life, which will improve your well-being and help you feel more aligned with your deepest desires.
LIBRA You’ll have strong emotions this week. Be mindful about putting yourself in a position where you’re forced to make a big decision all alone. This could lead to tough criticism that may be hard to handle.
SCORPIO
You’ll use your strong sense of determination to carve out your own place in the professional world. This approach could open the door to exciting opportunities for travel and cultural experiences.
SAGITTARIUS
You’ll stand out among your friends and colleagues. These individuals will be ready to support the big changes you’re making, including those in your person al life.
CAPRICORN
For some people, spring break means relaxation.
However, if a crowd of visitors arrives at your home, they may take liberties and leave you feeling solely responsible for putting things back in order. Fortunately, you’ll still have a great time.
AQUARIUS
Trust your instincts—they’re your best guide! Don’t let yourself be influenced by those who think they know everything. Believe in your own abilities. Someone close to you might inadvertently hold you back.
PISCES
Your work will provide you with stability, financial independence and travel opportunities. Be careful not to exceed the speed limit when driving this week.
New Streaming Movies & Shows
“Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue” (March 2)
In this thriller series with a jaw-dropping reveal waiting at the end, a light aircraft with nine passengers crashes in the Mexican jungle — and everyone survives. But then, one after another, they begin to die in strange and violent ways and very soon they begin to realize that, for some inexplicable reason, somebody wants them dead. As the story unfolds in flashbacks, we meet the survivors as they fight against the heat, a shortage of supplies, the many dangers of the jungle –and each other.
Word Search
The 97th Academy Awards (March 2)
Hosted this year by comedian and television mainstay Conan O’Brien (“Conan Without Borders”), the celebration takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. As the academy recognizes talent from all aspects of the film industry — from actors and directors to composers, costumers, makeup artists and more — the night features a number of special guests and performances.
Where all the top choices can be found in one place!
“The Leopard” (March 5)
Based on what many consider to be one of the greatest Italian novels of all time, this series is a dazzlingly sensuous epic, set against the backdrop of revolution in 1860s Sicily. At its heart is Don Fabrizio Corbera (Kim Rossi Stuart), the Prince of Salina, who leads a life surrounded by beauty and privilege. But as Italy moves towards unification and the old aristocratic order is threatened, he realizes that his family’s future is in jeopardy. New allegiances must be made, each one a threat to his principles.
BY JAY BOBBIN
“My Best Friend’s An Animal”Season 1 (Available Now)
This emotive, heart-warming series tells the stories of humans who have unlikely, extraordinary friendships with wild animals. Featuring six compelling stories per episode and filmed all over the world, the series proves that when it comes to friendship, shape, size, or even species is irrelevant. Respect, trust, and understanding can be found in the most surprising places.
Q: I always enjoy seeing Reese Witherspoon as Rachel’s sister in “Friends” repeats. How many times was she on that show?
A: Twice, though it might seem like she was on it more, since those two episodes of the sitcom are repeated so frequently (as is every other episode of it). Thanks to such pictures as “Election” and “Cruel Intentions,” Witherspoon was a major movie star – though “Legally Blonde” and “Sweet Home Alabama” were yet to come — by the time she first played Jill Green in a 2000 “Friends” story appropriately titled “The One With Rachel’s Sister.” Jill showed up at her sibling’s New York apartment building in need of help when she was suddenly cut off financially by their father (not seen in that episode, but played in others by Ron Leibman). He sent Jill to get advice on basic monetary survival from Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), who wasn’t happy at all when Ross (David Schwimmer) seemed to take a more-than-friendly interest in Jill ... and vice versa.
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Red Dust” (1932): Clark Gable and Jean Harlow sizzled, in all ways, in this drama of passion on a rubber plantation in Indochina.
“It Happened One Night” (1934): Director Frank Capra’s all-time comedy great is the prototype of the “road movie,” with an Oscar-winning Gable as a reporter pursuing a runaway heiress (Claudette Colbert, who also earned an Academy Award). The film will be presented on the last day of Turner Classic Movies “31 Days of Oscar” event Sunday, March 2.
“Call of the Wild” (1935): The Jack London novel got a faithful retelling in large part via Gable’s embodiment of Yukon-destined adventurer Jack Thornton.
“Mutiny on the Bounty” (1935): Gable’s Fletcher Christian opposes Charles Laughton’s tyrannical Captain Bligh on the high seas in this classic saga.
“San Francisco” (1936): The city’s 1906 earthquake — superbly re-created with relatively primitive special effects — reunites two dissimilar friends from childhood, a gambler (Gable) and a priest (Spencer Tracy).
“Saratoga” (1937): The upstate New York horse-racing haven is the backdrop for an entertaining rematch of Gable and Harlow.
“Test Pilot” (1938): Gable is at the controls in this story of a risk-taker who may — or may not — be tamed by his sudden marriage.
‘Jurassic Park’ still brings the thrills
BY JAY BOBBIN
More than 30 years later, “Jurassic Park” remains an all-purpose thrill ride.
Starz presents the Steven Spielberg-directed 1993 blockbuster Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6 — and it remains just as exciting as it was when audiences first sampled it, with Michael Crichton’s best seller about cloned creatures from the prehistoric age providing an ideal basis for Spielberg and company to pour on the visual and emotional excitement.
It’s interesting to note that Spielberg also was working on “Schindler’s List” (1993) at the time he was filming “Jurassic Park,” and the clear diversity and ultimate triumphs of those two projects stand as testimony to his celebrated skill and breadth as a filmmaker. The method he uses in “Jurassic Park” to warm viewers up for the eventual appearance of the dinosaurs recalls his slow and steady pace in eventually bringing the shark into view in the smash that really put him on Hollywood’s map, “Jaws” (1975).
Richard Attenborough (“The Great Escape,” 1963) plays a businessman who wants the island where the “Jurassic” creatures roam certified as safe, following a fatal mishap, so he summons three scientists — played by Sam Neill (“The Twelve”), Laura Dern (“Palm Royale”) and Jeff Goldblum (“Wicked,” 2024) — to the site to assess it. One of the greatest looks of wonder in screen history can be found on Dern’s face, followed by Neill’s, as their characters get their first sightings of creatures long considered extinct —
with frequent Spielberg collaborator John Williams’ majestic music adding extra punch to the moment.
Two youngsters also are in the scenario, with Joseph Mazzello (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” 2018) and Ariana Richards (“The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” 1997) as Attenborough’s grandchildren, who find themselves uncomfortably in the thick of the action as larceny by some of the island employees helps set the stage for the mayhem that comes. The plotting helps make “Jurassic Park” more than just a special-effects show, though those effects surely are worth the price of admission on their own.
Indeed, “Jurassic Park” won all three Oscars for which it was nominated in the categories of sound and visual effects. The sequels (including 1997’s “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and 2001’s “Jurassic Park III,” both of which are also on Starz during March) inevitably tried to go bigger and better, but a big part of the magic of the first film is that nothing like it really had been seen before. Sure, there had been plenty of movies with prehistoric monsters, but the determination of Spielberg and his collaborators to make theirs as realistic as possible paid off uniquely and enormously.
“Jurassic Park” remains a singular experience with a timelessness that keeps it fresh, owing in part to the fact that it brings the Stone Age into modern times. And it does so in a way that is guaranteed to keep it iconic as time goes on.
Best CLARK GABLE MOVIES
“Gone With the Wind” (1939): Well, of course. It’s a movie-industry legend that the public “demanded” that Gable play novelist Margaret Mitchell’s roguish Civil War-era hero Rhett Butler ... and the sparks he generated with Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara has proven their wish the right one in all of the epic’s re-releases and telecasts since. TCM also presents this on Sunday, March 2.
“The Hucksters” (1947): A warveteran ad man (Gable) finds potential romance by enlisting a military widow (Deborah Kerr) for a campaign.
“Command Decision” (1948): One of the greatest war movies casts Gable as an aerial leader enmeshed in politics while trying to stop the manufacture of German jets.
“Mogambo” (1953): This remake of Gable’s own “Red Dust” relocates the story to Kenya and makes Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly his dual love interests.
“Run Silent, Run Deep” (1958): Director Robert Wise’s first-rate submarine drama features Gable (opposite Burt Lancaster) as a commander on a revenge mission after his precious vessel was sunk by Japanese forces.
“Teacher’s Pet” (1958): Gable and Doris Day provide the star power in a romantic comedy about an incognito newspaper editor who takes a journalism professor’s class.
‘Born Again’ vigilantism: Daredevil returns to political change on Disney+
BY SARAH PASSINGHAM
The world needs heroes. Whether that means saving kittens from a burning building or working a double shift to put food on the table for your family, heroism looks different to everyone. But when it comes to superheroes — a genre beloved by people of all ages the world over — few do double duty better than Daredevil.
First introduced to the Marvel Universe by Stan Lee in April 1964, the blind, red-clad vigilante has been fighting crime day and night in books, in film and on television ever since. Now, six and a half years after the Netflix series “Daredevil” ended, the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe launches a brand-new installment. “Daredevil: Born Again” premieres Tuesday, March 4, on Disney+.
Reappearing at a time when many need him the most, Daredevil, a.k.a. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox, “The Theory of Everything,” 2014), is back in action after “a line was crossed,” leaving him little choice but to take a necessary hiatus from vigilante crime fighting. While those familiar with Netflix’s “Daredevil” may remember the incident
alluded to in the “Born Again” trailer, let’s just say — for the sake of providing some context while avoiding gratuitous spoilers — that the masked man of the people may have let his impulse get the better of him, leading to unnecessary brutality and, quite possibly, the death of an innocent or two.
One thing that is clear from the “Born Again” trailer regardless of the viewer’s level of context, however, is that Murdock is inextricably linked to Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio, “Full Metal Jacket,” 1987), who is now the mayor of New York City, for better or for worse. While he insists he is “serving his city,” Fisk is known for strong-arming his way into deals, pressuring his opponents into submission and eliminating his problems through less-than-legal means. Now that Kingpin is more powerful than ever, Murdock is likely to have plenty of work on his plate — either at his day job as a criminal attorney or as his highly tuned, nocturnal counterpart. Either way, “Daredevil: Born Again” is slated to feature oodles of violence and rumored to bring about a few highly anticipated “fixes” to the 2015-18
Diverging paths: Host Phil Keoghan puts a fork in Season 37 of ‘The Amazing Race’
BY CAROLINE COLLACUTT
With over 20 Emmy nominations to its name — and an impressive 10 wins — “The Amazing Race” returns for its 37th season Wednesday, March 5, on CBS.
View from the Couch
“GLADIATOR II”
It “only” took 24 years for this sequel to a 2000 Oscar winner – from returning director Ridley Scott — to come into existence, and though Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen return from the first film, the focus here is on Paul Mescal, assuming Spencer Treat Clark’s earlier role as Lucius Verus Aurelius. That character’s story mirrors that of Russell Crowe’s Maximus in the original picture, since he’s an exiled royal forced into battle as a gladiator to survive in ancient Rome. He’s under the control of a would-be ruler (Denzel Washington, reuniting with filmmaker Scott after 2007’s “American Gangster”) who shows little mercy to others, prompting
“The earlier show, at its best, was fantastic,” showrunner Dario Scardapane (“The Punisher”) told SFX Magazine. “At its worst, it was two characters in a room talking about what a hero is.”
As for how “Born Again” compares to Netflix’s series on a stylistic level, Scardapane says the new series is “more New York crime story” than
“It has elements of ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘King Of New York’ [1990]. ... They were very dark, cinematically, not necessarily story-wise, although
He then added, “We’re much darker.”
“Daredevil: Born Again” co-stars Wilson Bethel (“Hart of Dixie”), Jon Bernthal (“The Bear”), Elden Henson (“Idle Hands,” 1999), Deborah Ann Woll (“True Blood”) and Genneya Walton (“Candy
Catch the premiere Tuesday, March 4, on Dis-
BY JAY BOBBIN
Lucius to become the organizer of an intended revolt staged with others who have been enslaved. Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger also are in the cast of the epic, which earned an Academy Award nomination for its costume design. *** (R: AS, V) (Also on Bluray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital)Digital)
“RED ONE”
If you didn’t suspect the North Pole had a security detail, this comedy-adventure should increase your awareness on that count. Dwayne Johnson takes another dip into combining action and humor as Santa Claus’s (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons) chief protector, who’s entertaining retirement when St. Nick is kidnapped, prompting a search that also involves a hacker (Chris Evans) and a military agent (Lucy Liu). Mrs. Claus (Bonnie Hunt) eventually becomes involved directly in the situation as well, with Kiernan Shipka (“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”) as a witch who has more than a little to do with the emergency. Nick Kroll and Jon Rudnitsky (“Home Again”) also are in director Jake Kasdan’s cast; the screenplay is by Chris Morgan, who also has worked with Johnson in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, just as Johnson also has teamed with Kasdan on some “Jumanji” movies. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital)
“KRAVEN THE HUNTER”
Another Marvel Comics character gets his own screen showcase with this adventure from director J.C.
Chandor (“Margin Call”), casting Aaron Taylor-Johnson – who had an earlier Marvel stint in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015) — in the title role of a would-be drug trafficker whose life takes a much different path after he’s injured by a lion in a hunting-trip encounter. He inherits some of the animal’s traits, which he puts to use as a vigilante who tracks criminals ... a pursuit that becomes more desperate when his estranged half-brother (Fred Hechinger) is abducted by enemies. Russell Crowe, “West Side Story” Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, Alessandro Nivola and Christopher Abbott also are featured. The film’s writers include Richard Wenk, who also worked on all of Denzel Washington’s “Equalizer” movies. DVD extras: two “making-of” documentaries; outtakes. *** (R: AS, P, GV) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital)
“DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA”
Several of the key players from the first “Den of Thieves” crime drama — including stars Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (both producers here as well) and writer-director Christian Gudegast – return for this sequel, inspired like the original 2018 film by the 2003 Antwerp diamond robbery that was widely dubbed “the heist of the century.” Jackson plays one of the thieves who are planning another caper by targeting France’s World Diamond Center, a scheme that the disgraced lawman portrayed by Butler finds out about. The latter then
With Phil Keoghan (“Human Edge”) returning as producer and host, this next season of the reality-adventure series sees 14 teams of adventure-loving globetrotters take on an epic journey as they race across cities, countries and continents for a shot at the $1 million prize. Along the way, the contestants must stop to take part in entertaining and educational experiences, trying everything from riding bullet trains in Japan to taking part in a traditional Bulgarian folk dance.
Dubbed the “season of surprises” by Keoghan himself, this season is said to feature the largest cast of players in the show’s history — but it doesn’t stop there. Throughout the season, these players will encounter game-changing twists and turns in every episode. While some classic challenges will make an appearance — such as Fast Forward and U-Turn — others will be brand-new to racers and dedicated fans alike, like the “Fork in the Road,” for example.
insinuates his way into the criminal gang, using his accumulated skills to make his mark on the other side of the law. Cast members also include Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito and Meadow Williams. DVD extras: theatrical trailer; audio commentary by Gudegast, producer Tucker Tooley, cinematographer Terry Stacey and editor Roberth Nordh; “making-of” documentary; deleted scenes. ***
(R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital)
“THE WAGES OF FEAR”
Co-adapted and directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, this 1953 classic based on a Georges Arnaud novel rightfully becomes a part of the Criterion Collection with its new releases on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD. Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Folco Lulli and Peter van Eyck play work-desperate men who literally risk their lives to transport truckloads of nitroglycerin to extinguish a South American oil-well fire. The journey takes them over a rickety road that threatens to set off the explosives at numerous points. Highly unique in its style, the film inspired several remakes including director William Friedkin’s 1977 drama
“Sorcerer.” Filmmaker Clouzot’s wife Vera also appears in the picture that won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. **** (Not rated: AS, V)
“AMERICAN GIGOLO”
The movie largely credited with making Richard Gere a star (though it had been intended for John Travolta earlier), writer-director Paul
This new twist calls for the players to think on their feet as they are offered the opportunity to choose their own adventure, following one of multiple offered paths forward. While some choices may lead to advantages or involve shortcuts, others could have major consequences on a player’s game — even leading to elimination for some.
While speaking with Gold Derby regarding the upcoming season, Keoghan shared: “I think we’re getting more excited about it because we are continuing to be part of the mix of what’s considered the best reality shows.
“It’s almost like that’s our measure of, ‘Are we still hitting the mark? And are we still part of people’s reality television-watching?’” he continues. “[So] it’s something that we never get blasé about because we’re striving to be there with the best shows and there are some good ones out there. And I think for us to still be in the mix is pretty awesome.”
Featuring supersized, 90-minute episodes, this game-changing new season of “The Amazing Race” is set to premiere on CBS this Wednesday, March 5.
Schrader’s hugely stylish 1980 drama gets 4K Ultra HD treatment. The actor plays Julian Kay, a paid escort whose casual and self-assured manner earns him personal admirers as well as professional enemies ... a duality that turns out to be a big problem for him when he becomes a murder suspect. Lauren Hutton also stars as a politician’s wife who becomes involved with Julian, with Hector Elizondo as a police detective both intrigued by and wary of the gigolo; Bill Duke and Frances Bergen (mother of Candice) also appear, and the music score includes Blondie’s hit “Call Me.” The striking cinematography is by John Bailey, who worked with Schrader multiple times (including on the 1982 version of “Cat People”). *** (R: AS, N. P) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
Coming Home Soon
“MASTERPIECE: ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL — SEASON 5” (MARCH 11) “THIEF” (CRITERION COLLECTION) (MARCH 11)
“MOANA 2” (MARCH
