Sumter Scene: December 07 - December 13, 2024 by The Sumter Item

Making a murderer: Serial killer origins unfold in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’

BY DANA SIMPSON

Every so often, a story comes along that grips a generation. For many, one such story follows a vigilante serial killer named Dexter Morgan. A semi-sympathetic figure, Michael C. Hall’s (“Six Feet Under”) iconic character from the 2006-13 series “Dexter” walked a razor’s edge between chilling and likable. The Dexter fans know and love is getting a different treatment this time around, as viewers are transported back to a simpler, less criminal time for the budding moral avenger.

“Dexter: Original Sin” premieres Friday, Dec. 13, on Paramount+ with Showtime, and makes its network premiere two days later, Sunday, Dec. 15, on Showtime.

While Hall returns to the project — which should come as no surprise given his ongoing ties to the franchise, which just released “Dexter: New Blood” in 2021 — his involvement is limited to narration duties as the actor passes the baton to “The OA’s” Patrick Gibson. Gibson, who also appeared in the 2019 film “Tolkien” and the Netflix fantasy series “Shadow and Bone,” takes young Dexter back to a place of uncertainty while he grapples with strange urges bubbling to the surface as he begins work as a forensics intern at the Miami Metro Police Department.

“Set in 1991 Miami, ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ follows Dexter ... as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer,”

reads the official Paramount+ press description. “When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry [Christian Slater, “Dr. Death”], he adopts a code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar.”

The series focuses on Dexter’s descent into the dark world that surrounds his everyday life, from his personal troubles at home to the onslaught of cases coming through the door during his first foray into the professional world at the MMPD. In the trailer, Dexter, voiced by Hall, explains how his unique predilections came to fruition.

“I am a killer, but I wasn’t born this way,” Hall says as Dexter’s conscience, over a series of establishing shots. “I was made — by my history, by the people around me. They say it takes a village to raise a killer.”

Joining Gibson and Slater on screen are several other big names in cinema and television, including former “Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey, Christina Milian (“Meet Me Next Christmas,” 2024), “Evil’s” Molly Brown and Reno Wilson of “Good Girls.”

Some fans, however, are most excited for the return of an-

other recognizable figure to television: none other than Buffy Summers herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”). While Gellar will, understandably, not be portraying the snarky, vampire-fighting high schooler of 1990s cable in “Original Sin,” the actress’s return to series television remains highly anticipated.

Announced as a guest star, Gellar plays young Dexter’s boss, crime scene investigation chief Tanya Martin. Her casting announcement sent a wave of excitement through the ranks of the diehard “Buffy” fan base and Gellar, too, has shown much excitement for the role she referred to as her “dream job” at San Diego Comic-Con in July.

“We’re playing in the ‘90s,” says Gellar, who shot to fame in Joss Whedon’s (“The Avengers,” 2012) cult classic series in 1997. “I’m used to playing these formidable women and [Tanya Martin] is no exception ... because women didn’t run departments in those jobs. They certainly didn’t run the science departments, and they certainly didn’t do it in Miami.

“She’s gotta be pretty tough to be able to hang with the guys,” Gellar continued at Comic Con’s Variety booth. “I’m on set all day long and I’m the only girl.”

Horoscopes

The luckiest signs this week:

SCORPIO, SAGITTARIUS AND CAPRICORN

ARIES

You may find yourself deeply contemplating the need to develop your spirituality in line with your beliefs. You might consider taking a pilgrimage to nourish this inner exploration.

TAURUS

You must be vigilant about washing your hands when seeing family and friends to protect your fragile immune system. It’s crucial to take some well-deserved rest to rebuild your strength. You must balance your social commitments with your personal well-being.

GEMINI

You must manage your time wisely. You must make sensible choices to strike the right balance between duty and pleasure. This will give you a sense of harmony in all aspects of your life

CANCER

You’ll contemplate going on a relaxing getaway. You may have already made reservations. Planning some me-time will infuse a welcome sense of anticipation into your daily routine.

LEO Challenges and unexpected events may come your way, requiring you to address neglected tasks. Once you overcome these challenges, new opportunities will arise. This will bring a sense of renewal and give you cause for celebration.

VIRGO

You’ll finalize a professional agreement that will lead to significant transformations. Your determination and competitive spirit will propel you to new heights, whether in your personal or professional life.

LIBRA

You have a busy week ahead with lots of details to take care of. Practice letting go and take on a new philosophy that aligns with your values to alleviate stress and give you a more serene outlook on life.

SCORPIO

All eyes will focus on you this week. You’ll be the recipient of extra recognition. Your ability to accomplish important tasks will open doors to professional advancement.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll be encouraged to shake up your daily routine by accepting several invitations to go out. These moments of escape will help brighten up your week, whether on a personal level or in the company of a loved one.

CAPRICORN

If you have real estate aspirations, this is the week to act. You may decide to redecorate your home before Christmas to create a cozy atmosphere that will impress your family.

AQUARIUS

You’ll be asked to express yourself candidly. However, make sure you have the right information to avoid confusion. You may need to translate a text to clarify things.

PISCES

You may be tempted to make expensive purchases. However, you must manage your budget, whether for Christmas gifts or luxurious splurges. You’ll need to find an outlet for your overburdened mind.

New Streaming Movies & Shows

“Secret Level” - Season 1 (Dec. 10)

This new animated anthology series for adults features original stories set within the worlds of some of the world’s most beloved video games. From the creative minds behind “Love, Death + Robots,” each of the 15 episodes is a celebration of games and gamers.

Word Search

“Sugarcane” (Dec. 10)

A stunning tribute to the resilience of Indigenous peoples and their way of life, this debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. In 2021, evidence of unmarked graves was discovered on the grounds of an Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in Canada. Set amidst a groundbreaking investigation, the film illuminates the beauty of a community breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and finding the strength to persevere.

Where all the top choices can be found in one place!

“The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga” (Dec. 11)

“The

Simpsons Funday Football” (Dec.

9)

A small-town feud, an internet conspiracy, an Elvis impersonator, black market body parts, and an assassination attempt on the President. Welcome to Mississippi where this jaw-dropping story spirals from local drama to a national scandal. Buckle up for a wild ride. This isn’t fiction — it’s Tupelo.

BY JAY BOBBIN

For its second annual event, Disney, ESPN, NFL and Sony team up to bring fans of all ages another “Funday Football” specials. This year, featuring classic characters from “The Simpsons,” a real-life game between the Cincinnati Bengals at the Dallas Cowboys is animated in real-time for fans to enjoy and they watch from Atoms Stadium in Springfield.

Q: Is the Jill Wagner who’s on the series “Lioness” the same Jill Wagner who used to be a co-host of “Wipeout”?

A: She is. Jill Wagner also co-created (with “Yellowstone’s” Taylor Sheridan) and is an executive producer of “Lioness,” the militaryespionage drama that’s wrapping up its second season on Paramount+. She has given herself a distinctive acting role in the show as well as Bobby, the tough-talking leader of a unit within the terrorism-fighting Lioness program — and Wagner likely used her father, a U.S. Marines veteran, at least partially as a model for the character.

At the time Wagner landed her “Wipeout” job on the original ABC incarnation of the game show, as a field reporter who interacted directly with contestants on the series’ obstacle course, she was launching an acting career that included roles in Spike TV’s “Blade; The Series” and Fox’s “Bones.” She stayed with “Wipeout” for four seasons (2008-11) before deciding to leave and focus on acting exclusively again, which she did in part by joining MTV’s “Teen Wolf.” But, a year later, she returned to “Wipeout” (where she had been succeeded by Vanessa Minnillo, later known as Vanessa Lachey of CBS and Paramount+’s “NCIS: Hawai’i”) and stayed until “Wipeout’s” ABC tenure ended in 2014.

WE PAY TOP DOLLAR

18. “___. Bilko” (1996) 21. “Interesting...” 22. “Mr. Robot” network 24. Cause panic in a theater, perhaps 25. Cygnet’s father 26. “___ Arnold!” 30. Angels’ div. 31. Film genre 32. Uttered loudly 33. Butterfingers 35. Southpaw 36. Killer whales 37. Junk E-mail 38. Fraternity party attire 39. Manages, with “out” 40. “I ___ at the office” 41. Suggestion 42. Queen who wrote “Leap of Faith”

Steven Spielberg’s game is on with “Ready Player One”

BY JAY BOBBIN

You may find yourself so overwhelmed by “Ready Player One,” you’ll need to stay in your seat for a few minutes when it’s over, just to come down from it. And that makes complete sense when you know this is a case of Steven Spielberg in charge of a video-game universe.

If there’s any question that the director still has a sense of fun as a moviemaker, the 2018 release — which TNT shows Sunday, Dec. 8 — will erase any and all doubts. His version of a novel by Ernest Cline, who also co-wrote the screenplay, defines the phrase “fast and furious” as it crams in every pop-culture reference of the preceding 30 years that it can. And then it stuffs in some more, making the picture a genuine game for those who want to identify every iconic nook and cranny here.

Tye Sheridan plays the story’s young hero, seeking escape from a grim mid-21st century by tackling a video platform called OASIS. The person who conquers all the challenges it throws forth will be the virtual-reality kingdom’s new ruler, and also win the fortune of its late co-creator (Mark Rylance, who won an Oscar for his earlier work with Spielberg on “Bridge of Spies”).

Not only does the main game player have to get past perils that often reference other Spielberg films — hey, how about a T. rex for starters? — but he’s also trailed by a very human enemy, a businessman played by Ben Mendelsohn, who deploys a video terror with the voice of actor-comedian T.J. Miller. Olivia Cooke, Simon Pegg and Lena Waithe also have major roles.

As technically proficient as “Ready Player One” is (and from Spielberg, who would expect less?), it has a hurdle to get past with viewers who aren’t attuned to the virtual-reality gaming world. Of course, the younger generation is likely to eat this up, but Spielberg and his colleagues are smart enough to include a substantial dose of the heart and sincerity that have marked so many of his other ventures with all-ages appeal. For many older watchers, that should compensate a lot.

You can talk about “Ready Player One” all you want, but the most effective thing simply is to experience it. Those who can’t keep up may gripe about its constant whirlwind of sight and sound ... but for those who can, it provides an exhilarating time.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR MOVIES

BY JAY BOBBIN

“After the Fox” (1966): This Neil Simon-written vehicle for Peter Sellers casts the actor as a master-of-disguise crook who escapes from prison and poses as a movie director to steal a shipment of gold; co-stars included Britt Ekland who was then Sellers’ wife.

“Barefoot in the Park” (1967):

Jane Fonda and Robert Redford had their second of several screen teamings in Simon’s tale of newlyweds whose first apartment together challenges their temperamental differences.

“The Odd Couple” (1968): Not only did Simon score an out-of-thepark movie hit with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau’s pairing as mismatched roommates Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison, it has fueled several television versions, including the 1970s Tony Randall-Jack Klugman classic.

“The Out-of-Towners” (1970): In a story Simon wrote directly for the screen (remade in 1999), Lemmon and Sandy Dennis play an Ohio couple experiencing just about every mishap a traveler can encounter in New York City.

“Plaza Suite” (1971): Simon’s frequent movie muse, Matthau, has the central male role in each of the three stories set at different times in the same suite at New York’s Plaza Hotel; Maureen Stapleton, Barbara Harris and Lee Grant are his leading ladies.

“The Heartbreak Kid” (1972): The tale was adapted for a 2007 remake, but Simon’s imprint is much more on the original version, casting Charles Grodin as a newlywed who falls for another woman (Cybill Shepherd) while he’s on his honeymoon.

“The Prisoner of Second Avenue” (1975): Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft are terrific as a couple thrust into the writer’s “Out-of-Towners” syndrome as New Yorkers plagued by nearly every problem the city can throw at them.

“The Sunshine Boys” (1975): George Burns became a late-in-life Oscar winner for teaming memorably with Walter Matthau as embittered ex-vaudeville partners maneuvered into a reunion.

“Murder by Death” (1976): Just about every famous literary detective, from Miss Marple to Charlie Chan, got a send-up in Simon’s star-packed satire of the mystery genre.

“The Goodbye Girl” (1977): Marsha Mason received a strong screen role from her then-husband Simon, but it was Richard Dreyfuss who won an Oscar for the film, portraying a struggling actor thrown by circumstance into sharing a New York apartment with a single mom (Mason) and her wise-beyond-her-years daughter (Quinn Cummings). Turner Classic Movies shows the picture Sunday, Nov. 24.

“Chapter Two” (1979): Veteran playwright Simon’s own life was very much a part of this comedy-drama, a thinly disguised account of his own second marriage ... with Marsha Mason essentially playing herself as the story’s female lead.

The bottom line: Stars share personal experiences with cancer during special

Stranger than fiction: Author’s complicated relationship with creation unpacked in ‘Holmes vs. Doyle’

BY DANA SIMPSON

Fictional detective Sherlock Holmes has undoubtedly had an impact on the readers of the world (and in the realms of fashion and home decor, too, it would seem), but perhaps no one has been more affected by the sleuth than his own author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In the new, three-part docuseries “Lucy Worsley’s Holmes vs. Doyle,” the titular television host does some investigating of her own, uncovering how the lives of the man and his most popular creation came to echo one another in an uncanny harmony, often to the author’s detriment. The series begins Sunday, Dec. 8, on PBS, and airs hour-long episodes weekly until its Dec. 22 finale.

Throughout his 137 years on the page, Sherlock Holmes has solved 60 separate cases across 56 short stories and four novels, but the biggest mystery of them all has been lying just beneath the surface of the fiction. For years, it appeared that Doyle — a private detective in his own right — despised his most prized creation, but why he grew to dislike the fictional character was never quite clear ... until now.

In the first episode of PBS’s “Doyle vs. Holmes,” Worsley travels back in time to the British author’s not-so-humble beginnings as a medical student in the lowland Scottish city of Edinburgh before diving into the cultural movements of the Victorian era in what is now the United Kingdom.

View from the Couch

[Worsley] ... unpacks the early stories, revealing the dark underbelly of late Victorian Britain, from drug use to true crime,” the official PBS news release reads. “She explores how Doyle infused his stories with cutting-edge technological develop ments and traces the author’s growing disenchant ment with his detective, heading to Switzerland to visit the site of one of the most famous deaths in literature.”

Moving through Doyle’s life and ever-growing oeuvre, Episode 2, titled “Fact and Fiction” (Dec. 15), is heavily based upon the writer’s decision to kill off his beloved case cracker in his 1893 work “The Final Problem,” set two years earlier, in 1891.

cancer testing and research” (per Fox), during “The Real Full Monty,” a two-hour event airing Monday, Dec. 9, on Fox.

“[Worsley] explores Doyle’s desire to distance himself from Sherlock after the detective’s apparent death at the Reichenbach Falls,” the description reads. “From the delights of the ski slopes to the horrors of the Boer War, she reveals how far Doyle went to make himself the hero of his own story. He even took on the role of detective himself in one of the most important legal cases of the 20th century.”

By the time viewers arrive at the conclusion of the PBS docuseries, Worsley investigates the parallel timelines of both author and authored. By analyzing Doyle’s decision to bring his most iconic character back from the dead, the presenter illustrates where Doyle’s and Holmes’ personalities, decisions and life events began to converge before dovetailing, ultimately resulting in the character eclipsing the now-aging crime novelist.

According to writer and editor Ronald B. De Waal in his 1995 four-volume compilation titled “The Universal Sherlock Holmes,” the character has now been adapted into more than 25,000 forms, including works translated into 63 languages worldwide. From the written form to visual mediums such as film and television, Holmes’ reach extends far beyond that of the vast majority of living (or once living) people, something which continued to baffle Doyle long into his life and career.

“The curious thing is,” Doyle mused aloud to a camera in a 1928 interview with William Fox, “how many people around the world who are perfectly convinced that he is a living human being.”

BY JAY BOBBIN

“INTERSTELLAR: 10TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR’S EDITION”

Just in time to catch the cut-off date for its one-decade anniversary milestone, director and (with his brother Jonathan) co-writer Christopher Nolan’s space saga gets a new edition on 4K Ultra HD. Matthew McConaughey plays the leader of a habitation-seeking NASA expedition who runs into trouble in a black hole near Saturn, resulting in his absence from Earth — and from his daughter (portrayed as a young adult by Jessica Chastain) –for more than two decades. Anne Hathaway, Wes Bentley and David Gyasi appear as other members of the mission’s crew, with Bill Irwin lending his talents to the characters of two robots who also are

on board. John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Topher Grace, Ellen Burstyn, David Oyewolo, Timothée Chalamet, William Devane and (in a supporting part) Matt Damon also are in a cast that is stellar, indeed. The picture won an Oscar for its visual effects; the striking cinematography is by Hoyte van Hoytema (“Spectre”). A new documentary featuring the Nolan siblings is among the special features. **** (PG-13: AS, P)

“TED”

A foul-mouthed teddy bear brought in big profits as the box office in this 2012 comedy, directed (in his first turn in that job) and co-written by Seth MacFarlane, and coming to 4K Ultra HD for the first time. He also voices the title character, magically brought to life to fulfill the wish of Ted’s owner John (Mark Wahlberg), with whom he shares a lifestyle marked by profanity and unhealthy habits. John’s relationship with his girlfriend (Mila Kunis) reaches a crisis point, but that’s not the only trouble brewing, since a stalker (Giovanni Ribisi) who covets Ted is lurking. Patrick Stewart narrates the tale, which led to a movie sequel and a Peacock series; Joel McHale and (playing himself)

“Flash Gordon” star Sam J. Jones also are featured. *** (R: AS, N, P, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)

“NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN”

Now getting Criterion Collection treatment on both 4K Ultra HD and

Blu-ray, filmmaking siblings Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2007 drama – adapted from the Cormac McCarthy novel — earned four Oscars including best picture and, for the two brothers, best director and best adapted screenplay. Named best supporting actor for the film, Javier Bardem plays a hit man among those pursuing a Vietnam War veteran (Josh Brolin) who gets into big trouble after coming across, and helping himself to, the profits from a Texas drug deal gone bad. A sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) also is involved in the chase. The Coens and cinematographer Roger Deakins (the latter of whom would reunite with Bardem on the James Bond movie “Skyfall”) participate in new interviews included in the special features. Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper and Barry Corbin also are featured. **** (R: AS, P, V)

“WILLOW”

Coming to 4K Ultra HD for the first time, this 1988 fantasy from director Ron Howard and executive producer George Lucas has built quite a following of all ages over the years, truly generating a world of its own. Available in a Steelbook collector’s edition, it finds the diminutive title character – an aspiring magician played by Warwick Davis — appointing himself the protector of a child who will grow up to oppose a sinister queen (Jean Marsh). He gets assistance from a rogue warrior (Val Kilmer) who be-

Taking its title from the award-winning 1997 film “The Full Monty,” this star-studded special sees Anderson joining some of Hollywood’s leading men — including Taye Diggs (“All American”), Kansas City Chiefs player Chris Jones, Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”), Bruno Tonioli (“Dancing With the Stars”) and James Van Der Beek (“Varsity Blues,” 1999) — as they “train and rehearse for the most revealing performance of their careers, culminating with a big striptease dance, choreographed by Emmy Award winner Mandy Moore (Choreographer for ‘So You Think you Can Dance,’ ‘La La Land’ and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour), where they will bare all in front of a live audience,” says Fox.

Fans will also catch a glimpse of the weeks leading up to this performance, in which the stars “test their modesty and strengthen their bond with a series of rehearsals and experiences, both private and public, designed to build confidence and remove them far from their comfort zone,” according to the network.

Throughout the special, each of

their lives. One celebrity in particular — Van Der Beek, 47 — is likely to touch on his current battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer, a diagnosis he shared with fans in early November. Eager to raise awareness of the disease — now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men under 50, according to the American Cancer Society — Van Der Beek spoke with People, sharing: “I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy — or as far as I knew it at the time.”

The actor went on to explain that his cancer was discovered following a colonoscopy procedure.

“I felt really good coming out of anesthesia, that I’d finally done it,” he explained. “Then the gastroenterologist said, in his most pleasant bedside manner, that it was cancer. I think I went into shock.

“I’ve been dealing with this pretty much in secret for a while, and in the past, I’ve found it helpful and cathartic to share things publicly. And I’ve found a lot of support that way,” Van Der Beek concluded.

Listen, learn and laugh, as stars share their stories during “The Real Full Monty,” Monday, Dec. 9, on Fox.

comes the object of affection for the queen’s daughter (Joanne Whalley, who was married to Kilmer for eight years after meeting while making this movie together). The highly imaginative tale earned Oscar nominations for its visual effects and sound-effects editing. *** (PG: AS, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)

“HATARI!”

One of director Howard Hawks’s several collaborations with John Wayne, this lengthy but entertaining 1962 adventure – making its 4K Ultra HD debut, with a new Blu-ray edition also included – is one of “The Duke’s” more unusual ventures, for its setting and its theme. The iconic actor plays one of several hunters in Tanganyika (as it then was called, and where the movie was made on location, evident from the large-scale chase sequences that helped the film to land an Oscar nomination for its cinematography), pursuing wild animals to supply them to zoos. The group’s usual rhythm is thrown off by the presence of a reporter (played by Elsa Martinelli) who develops affection for some of the hunters’ quarry, causing conflict. Hardy Kruger, Red Buttons, Gerard Blain and frequent Wayne co-star Bruce Cabot also are featured. The Henry Mancini score includes “Baby Elephant Walk,” which became a hit song. *** (Not rated: AS, P)

“DEMOLITION MAN”

Considerable humor is mixed in with bountiful action in this 1993 sci-fi tale, now coming to the 4K Ultra HD format for the first time. Sylvester Stallone displays a fun spirit along with his trademark brawn as a policeman who’s cryogenically frozen after a hostage situation goes enormously awry, Also put on ice is the crime’s perpetrator (Wesley Snipes), and when both men are defrosted in 2032, their battle resumes. Sandra Bullock plays a futuristic officer teamed with Stallone to stop the Snipes character’s revived wave of vice; Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt and Denis Leary also appear. *** (R: AS, N, P, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)