Sumter Scene: December 10, 2022

‘The Equalizer’s’ Liza Lapira ‘Must Love Christmas’ in new CBS movie

BY JAY BOBBIN

Many people know lots of holiday stories, but few likely feel they’re living inside one.

That’s the case for the romance novelist at the heart of “Must Love Christmas,” a new CBS movie airing Sunday, Dec. 11. Liza Lapira – usually seen Sundays on the network anyway, as bar owner Melody on “The Equalizer” – has the central role of Natalie, a New York-based writer of Christmas-oriented stories who sets out on an upstate trek to Buffalo while experiencing a creative block, but ends up stranded by a surplus of snow in enchanting Cranberry Falls. There, her childhood acquaintance Caleb (Nathan Witte, “Superman & Lois”) and ambitious reporter Nick (Neal Bledsoe, “The Man in the High Castle”) vie for her affections.

“It’s really special for me to be the protagonist in this kind of movie,” Lapira says, “because I’ve been a fan (of them) for so long. And on a separate note, it’s

special for me to be a protagonist in something. When I was growing up, I didn’t see many protagonists that looked like me, so this has just been a doubly wonderful thing for me to be a part of.”

Lapira also enjoyed having dual love interests in “Must Love Christmas.” She reflects. “I always enjoy a ‘meet-cute.’ I got both kinds: I got the meet-cute with the high school crush, the guy in my dreams that I haven’t seen in forever, the unrequited-love re-meeting ... and then I got the antagonistic-banter, witty meet-cute, so I’m thoroughly spoiled by this movie.”

“Must Love Christmas” screenwriter Mark Amato is a specialist in such tales, having written CBS’ “A Christmas Proposal” last year and several other pictures in the genre earlier (“A Kiss Before Christmas,” “Christmas Encore,” “Looks Like Christmas,” etc.). However, he maintains that the main catalyst for “Must Love Christmas” was another sort of movie.

“Certainly, the inspiration for me was ‘Romancing the Stone,’ ” Amato explains. “My version was like, if you had somebody who was so completely introverted, who’s just lived in her novels – and the occupational hazard that that would create. And then essentially put (her) into a world where you’re living out the fantasies that you create; that’s what happens with Liza’s character.”

That character, described by Lapira as “an introvert, and it’s for a reason and it’s crafted in the script,” has the actress “really excited.” She notes that the role is different from how the audience has known her lately, “just 180 in terms of a personality shift. Mel, the character I play on ‘The Equalizer,’ is much more self-assured – to put it mildly – and much more aggressive than Natalie is in this movie. I get a kick out of that.”

Johnny Depp gets viral

Child-rearing styles come under the microscope on ABC’s ‘The Parent Test’

Horoscopes Horoscopes

ARIES

Your loved ones are expecting you to prepare everything for the holiday season. Don’t forget to delegate certain tasks to other family members to make things fairer.

TAURUS

You’ll have a lot to talk about this week. You’ll also start wrapping your Christmas presents. It may take you a long time to add your own magical touch to them to impress your loved ones or kids.

GEMINI

You’ll be in the limelight this week because of a special project. You may bring your family together for a spontaneous trip or large-scale holiday event.

CANCER

You’ll be invited to participate in many activities but will decline most. Fortunately, you’ll change your mind at the last minute, especially if it’s a party.

LEO

You may find it hard to stay within your Christmas gift budget. You’ll end up giving your loved ones more expensive gifts than you bargained for. You may also show a few loved ones preferential treatment.

VIRGO

Your credit card will be an important asset this week. You’ll have to choose whether to buy expensive Christmas gifts, go out with friends or take a family trip. You may need to reflect on your decision for a few days.

LIBRA

Even though the festivities haven’t started yet, your house is buzzing with the Christmas spirit. Your young children have already started arranging play dates with their friends.

SCORPIO

Although you may feel like you’re missing out, you’ll get caught up in the magic of Christmas. You’ll make time to volunteer and bring happiness to many people in need.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll get wrapped up in the joy of the Christmas season. You can’t wait to celebrate with friends and family. You’ll be rushing around busy malls this week. Take every opportunity to have fun and enjoy yourself.

CAPRICORN

You may think about going on a trip or getaway. You crave adventure and new experiences. You may consider working abroad for a change of scenery.

AQUARIUS

Depending on your situation, you may return to school. You’ll be presented with an excellent opportunity to ease your financial stress.

PISCES

It’s time to get rid of friends and social connections that no longer serve you. You don’t need negative people interfering with your quality of life or causing drama.

New Streaming Movies & Shows

“Last Chance U: Basketball”

The sophomore round of this documentary series returns to East Los Angeles College in the wake of the COVID epidemic that cut short the team’s 2020 championship run and finds head coach John Mosley going into the season with an almost entirely new roster, including talented but troubled Division 1-level athletes looking for a last chance. (ORIGINAL)

“The Recruit”

From “The Rookie” and “Castle” creator Alexi Hawley comes this espionage thriller about a fledgling lawyer at the CIA who becomes enmeshed in dangerous international power politics when a former asset threatens to expose the nature of her long-term relationship with the agency unless they exonerate her of a serious crime. Noah Centineo and Laura Haddock star. (ORIGINAL)

“Tom

Papa: What a Day!”

The comedian and former “Marriage Ref” host discusses the ups and downs of parenting, his reliance on modern technology, rescuing his pet pug and how his marriage has evolved over time in this stand-up performance filmed this past fall at the Wilbur Theater in Boston. (ORIGINAL)

“Movie: A Unicorn for Christmas”

TV stars from the 1980s Charlene Tilton (“Dallas”) and Ed Marinaro (“Hill Street Blues”) head the cast of this 2022 holiday family drama about a little girl who discovers a unicorn at a Christmas carnival and must protect it from a greedy fair owner. Sunny Mabrey, Christian Finlayson and Catherine Dyer also star.

“Movie: Johnny English Strikes Again”

Bumbling ex-spy Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is summoned out of retirement when MI-7 confronts a desperate shortage in field agents after a massive cyber attack launched from the south of France exposes the identities of all personnel currently working for the agency, in this 2018 sequel to Atkinson’s two earlier Johnny English films. Supporting players include Ben Miller, Emma Thompson and Jake Lacy.

“Cook

at All Costs”

The question of whether expensive ingredients translate to better meals is addressed in this competition series in which contestants are given money that they will have to budget while bidding on ingredients that they will then use in their dishes. The cook who best impresses the celebrity guest chef will win all the money left in their bank. Chef and restaurateur Jordan Andino hosts. (ORIGINAL)

“Movie: Fruitvale Station”

It didn’t make a ton of money at the box-office, but writerdirector Ryan Coogler’s gripping 2013 recreation of a real-life tragedy reaped critical raves and a slew of awards. Michael B. Jordan stars as Oscar Grant, a young man killed by a transit police officer during an altercation on an Oakland, Calif., train platform. Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand and Chad Michael Murray also star.

Q&A with Aisha Tyler

“Kindred”

Octavia E. Butler’s novel served as the basis for this drama series about a young Black woman who embarks on her future in Los Angeles only to find herself pulled back and forth in time, emerging at a 19th century plantation to which her family is linked. Mallori Johnson stars as the central character, Dana James; Micah Stock, Ryan Kwanten and Gayle Rankin also star. (ORIGINAL)

There was a real feel in that last season, a lot of hugging and a lot of that “last few days of summer camp” feeling. A part of that was just feeling like there was a dream team assembled that was working together really beautifully, and that we could keep doing that forever. So that call (to return) was so easy, because we were like, “Oh, hell, yeah. I’ll go back to work with this team of people.” It was pretty exciting.

As “Criminal Minds: Evolution” approaches its midseason finale, did you feel confident about rejoining most of the earlier show’s cast for this sequel series?

“The Bad Guy”

From Italy comes this dark comedy about a Sicilian prosecutor who spent his life fighting organized crime only to be accused of being one of the people he was targeting — a mobster — which sets him on a course of revenge. Luigi Lo Cascio, Claudia Pandolfi, Vincenzo Pirrotta and Selene Caramazza head the cast. (ORIGINAL)

One couple — a zombie and a human,

Hoult and

— could be the key to saving the world from a rampage of the undead in this satire of a genre. The fellow is the zombie who saves the young woman, one of the few humans left, from others of his kind; their ensuing relationship could have an impact on many others.

“Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge”

Actress, author and foodie Tamera Mowry-Housley is the host of this competition series in which teams of two bakers will be challenged to use their imaginations to craft jaw-dropping creations inspired by beloved Dr. Seuss characters. Judges Clarice Lam and Joshua John Russell determine the winner, who will receive a $50,000 grand prize.

(ORIGINAL)

“Movie: Nanny”

This psychological horror film stars Anna Diop (“Titans”) as Aisha, a Senegalese immigrant who goes to work as a nanny for an affluent New York couple so she can afford to bring the son she left behind to the U.S. But she’s haunted by a violent presence that invades her dreams and reality. Morgan Spector and Michelle Monaghan also star.

(ORIGINAL)

“Tom

Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season 3” (Prime Video — season premiere, Dec. 20)

The third season of this original action thriller finds Ryan (John Krasinski) working as a CIA case officer in Rome, when he learns that the Sokol Project, a secret plan to restore the Soviet Empire, is being resurrected more than 50 years after it was thought to have been shuttered. Wendell Pierce and Michael Kelly also return; new cast members include Nina Hoss and Betty Gabriel.

Reimagining Musical Enchanted Homage Beloved

Reimagining Musical Enchanted Homage Beloved

“Movie: Warm Bodies”

played by Nicholas

Teresa Palmer

Johnny Depp gets viral in a world of ‘Transcendence’

BY JAY BOBBIN

The Internet may take over our lives.

If this comes as a news flash, you may be just a little bit late (that’s sarcasm there) ... and that’s also the problem with “Transcendence,” a 2014 sci-fi thriller whose timing was off even when the picture first hit theaters. That’s especially the case if you remember television’s “Max Headroom,” to which it bears a resemblance that’s very hard to miss. HBO shows the picture Saturday, Dec. 17.

Johnny Depp, who never seemed to shy away from an acting challenge while his career was going full-steam, largely appears via a computer screen as a scientist whose physical being meets with disaster. While there’s still time, the contents of his brain are uploaded into the world of bits and bytes.

He’s become a victim of a radical group that is against the very technology that he and his wife (Rebecca Hall) want to advance. Once his essence has been digitized, though, his iteration in that form wants to usurp every bit of information there is in the cyberworld – which presumably is destined to give him ultimate power over everything and everyone.

“Transcendence” is a cautionary tale, to be sure ... and if it has the markings of a movie made by the much-lauded Christopher Nolan,

it just so happens that he was an executive producer here. This marked the directorial debut of his usual cinematographer Wally Pfister (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight”), so it’s expectedly a highly visual effort. However, on its own, that aspect isn’t quite enough, especially when it comes to being part of the arena of modern sci-fi.

Artificial intelligence long has been an interesting subject, but that’s just the thing: It’s been around for quite a while, dating back to such genre classics as “2001: A Space Odyssey” and used again numerous times since. If you’re going to come at it again then, you’d better have a pretty original way to do it.

Unfortunately, “Transcendence” relies on ideas that really aren’t all that original by this point in time. A good cast – also including Kate Mara, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy and the ever-authoritative Morgan Freeman – does what it can with the material, which is reasonably substantial, an appropriate situation given the caliber and talent of these actors.

In the end, though, “Transcendence” can’t transcend what has come before it: so many other movies that have done so much more that has managed to be innovative with the same theme.

Johnny Depp’s Top 10 Movies

BY JAY BOBBIN

“Black Mass” (2015): Though he has uniformly solid acting support, a riveting Depp stays the centerpiece of this portrait of Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger.

“Alice in Wonderland” (2010): Depp proved an inspired choice as the Mad Hatter in frequent collaborator Tim Burton’s take on the classic tale.

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007): In an adaptation of the stage musical, Depp yielded another superbly macabre portrayal via director Burton.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005): Expectedly playing a darker Willy Wonka than Gene Wilder did, Depp reinvented the role, helped in no small measure by filmmaker Burton.

“Finding Neverland” (2004): An appealingly gentler Depp helped tell the story of how author James M. Barrie devised “Peter Pan.”

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003): If Depp didn’t seem to have the makings of a Disney character, his first outing as Capt. Jack Sparrow proved otherwise.

“Donnie Brasco” (1997): Depp and Al Pacino made a great team in the factbased story of an incognito FBI man and a mob underling.

“Ed Wood” (1994): Depp and Burton struck again in a stylish portrait of the “B”-movie maker.

“Benny & Joon” (1993): A tricky role was pulled off beautifully by Depp, playing a street mime who became the salvation of a deeply troubled young woman (Mary Stuart Masterson).

“Edward Scissorhands” (1990): A long- and sharp-nailed Depp evoked empathy for the ultimate outsider in the project that cemented the actor’s association with Burton.

Pass the comedy, please – memorable Christmas dinner scenes in movies

BY GEORGE DICKIE

Ah, the Christmas feast.

It’s something we plan for weeks and consume over the course of hours. Then we spend months at the gym getting the excess off our hips and midsections.

It’s also something that has catalyzed memorable Yuletide film scenes over the past century as the turkey, pumpkin pie and other comestibles become backdrop to holiday shenanigans.

So without further ado, we present for your consideration some of the ones that we think stand out above the rest. Now bring us some figgy pudding.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (Airs on AMC; streams on HBO Max and Spectrum): Clark (Chevy Chase) wants to have the perfect Christmas but

as with the all things Griswold, nothing is. Including the turkey, which is so dry there is only air inside when Clark carves. And then there is Aunt Bethany, who when asked to say grace instead gives the Pledge of Allegiance. To which everyone responds “Amen.”

“Elf” (Airs on AMC; streams on HBO Max and Spectrum): It’s a sweet and savory Christmas for North Pole elf Buddy (Will Ferrell) in this 2003 holiday comedy, when he reconnects with his birth father (James Caan) and consumes his first meal with his new family – spaghetti and maple syrup. Which is followed by a long, foghornlike belch.

“The Santa Clause” (Airs on Freeform; streams on Disney+): It’s on to Plan B for Christmas Eve dinner for divorced dad

Scott (Tim Allen) early in this 1994 classic when he burns the holiday turkey and is forced to take his son (Eric Lloyd) to Denny’s – which it turns out is out of just about everything.

“Almost Christmas” (Airs on FX and Freeform; streams on Spectrum): All Walter (Danny Glover) wants is a nice Christmas dinner with his grown children in this 2016 family comedy but it’s clear from the little jabs crisscrossing the table that all is not well. That breaks out into all-out hostility when one storms away and and all reveal that they are not happy with their aging Dad for selling the home where they all grew up.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ gets a new makeover on ABC

BY JAY BOBBIN

For the holiday season, and to mark a milestone for the classic Disney movie, “Beauty and the Beast” is going hybrid.

In the style used for a 2019 television staging of “The Little Mermaid,” new live-action sequences will be combined with portions of the animated film in the ABC special “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” Thursday, Dec. 15. Technically, it’s the 31st anniversary of the 1991 classic that included the voice of the late Angela Lansbury among others ... but the saga of Belle and the prince cursed to be the Beast has stood the test of time, with the Disney variation earning Oscars for the title song and the overall score.

A large and diverse cast has been assembled for the live-action parts of the new rendering, led by Oscar and Grammy winner H.E.R. as Belle and Josh Groban as the Beast.

Also on board: the muchhonored Rita Moreno as the narrator, Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts; Martin Short as Lumiere; David Alan Grier as Cogsworth; Joshua Henry (“Hamilton”) as Gaston; Rizwan Manji as

Le

Variety-show veteran Hamish Hamilton, who also guided the aforementioned “Little Mermaid” revision, is directing the new “Beauty and the Beast.” Co-star Grier says it was significant to move from a rehearsal studio to the Disney lot, and he reports that the set looks “really great, beautiful and impressive.” He relates the experience to live telecasts of “The Wiz” and “A Christmas Story” that he was in: “It’s all kind of within the same realm, but this (new production) is definitely unique.”

Though Grier enjoys being in the new cast of “Beauty and the Beast,” he hasn’t necessarily gotten to work with everyone. He explains, “Josh Henry’s stuff is kind of separate from Martin (Short) and me. My scenes are mostly with Martin and H.E.R. and Shania Twain. And I love Martin; that’s really why did this project. When they called, I said, ‘If Martin’s really going to do it, I’ll say ”Yes“ today.’ ”

Child-rearing styles come under the microscope on ABC’s ‘The Parent Test’

BY JAY BOBBIN

Any parent will tell you that raising children is an inexact science at best. But a new series on ABC intends to shed light on the matter.

“The Parent Test,” an hourlong unscripted series that premieres Thursday, Dec. 15 (and streams the next day on Hulu), explores the many different styles of parenting, from helicopter parenting to child-led, and puts 12 families through various situations to learn where the emotional hot-button issues lie and foster conversations among parents who may have conflicting opinions on child-rearing.

Moderating the discussions are host Ali Wentworth and parenting expert Dr. Adolph Brown, a clinical psychologist and father of eight who likens parenting in some ways to being a manager in a company.

“The first order of being an effective leader is knowing that the people you are leading are not you,” he explains. “And the same applies to being a great parent – recognizing that your child is not you. So when your child does something that’s the antithesis of your core values, oftentimes we

take it personally as opposed to seriously.

“And there’s a difference,” he continues. “When we take things personally, we own it. When we things seriously, we see it from a different vantage point and we can actually help and do something about it.”

Of course, mistakes come with the territory and parents have ample opportunity to learn from failure here. The series also shares best practices and encourages parents at home to do a little self-reflection on their own techniques and perform self-correction if they see fit.

Parenting is one of the most humbling endeavors anyone can undertake but Brown says it’s done by everyone coming from the same place – love.

“The best parents basically guard and guide their children,” he says. “(All parents) want their children to be healthy and happy. ... They want their children to stay out of trouble, know right from wrong. They want their children to do well in school. And I think one of the things that we want subconsciously as parents that we don’t always vocalize is the fact that we want our children to outshine us in every possible way.”

View from the Couch

FIRST SEASON”

The “Sex and the City” characters – well, most of them, anyway – continue their friendships and exploits in this HBO Max sequel series, though some don’t get very far into the show (as was reported widely when this comedy-drama debuted). Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis are back as Carrie, Miranda and

BY JAY BOBBIN

Charlotte, the close friends who face and share issues as women negotiating life in New York in their 50s here. Willie Garson passed away during production, so his character Stanford appears only in early episodes; Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg and Evan Handler are among other co-stars returning from the original show. Bridget Moynahan (“Blue Bloods”) also reappears. ››› (Not rated: AS, P)

“TICKET TO PARADISE”

Famously good friends offscreen, George Clooney and Julia Roberts also have been co-stars on a number of occasions, and they have another professional reunion in this engaging comedy. They play ex-spouses who join forces to stop their daughter (Kaitlyn Dever), a would-be lawyer, from making what they deem a major mistake by suddenly sacrificing everything to marry a young seaweed farmer (Maxime Bouttier) she meets while vacationing in Bali. The parents hastily fly there to try to forestall the nuptials, and in the process, they’re surprised

to come to terms with their own strained relationship. Billie Lourd (“American Horror Story”) also appears. DVD extras: four “making-of” documentaries. *** (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray, Digital and On Demand)

“THE WOMAN KING”

Oscar winner Viola Davis is known for giving fierce performances, and that’s certainly the case with her work in this fact-inspired actiondrama from director Gina Prince-Bythewood. The actress plays a general who trains a female army to defend an African nation against enemies, one of whom poses a large and immediate threat. Former “NCIS” co-star Maria Bello was a writer and producer of the tale, on which star Davis also served as a producer; co-stars include Lashana Lynch (“No Time to Die”) and John Boyega. DVD extras: two “makingof” documentaries; audio commentary by cast and crew members. ››› (PG-13: AS, N, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, Digital and On Demand)

“CALL JANE”

In a very well-cast drama that turned out to be exceedingly timely when it was released earlier this year (after being showcased at the Sundance Film Festival), Elizabeth Banks stars as a 1960s family woman whose second pregnancy ends up endangering her life. When she can’t get assistance through traditional channels, she seeks it from two members of an underground group –played by Sigourney Weaver and Wunmi Mosaku – who are fiercely dedicated to providing such aid. Chris Messina, Kate Mara and Aida Turturro also star. DVD extras: “makingof” documentary; audio commentary by director Phyllis Nagy and producer Robbie Brenner; deleted scenes. ››› (R: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray, Digital and On Demand)

“SMILE”

Horror fans still will show up at theaters for entries in the genre, as proven by the considerable box-office take of this recent example. Sosie

Bacon, the daughter of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, plays a therapist who observes an alarming situation involving a patient. She then endures a series of terrifying experiences that can’t be explained logically, but pose very real threats to her safety. Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Caitlin Stasey (“Bridge & Tunnel”) and Kal Penn also star in the chiller, which filmmaker Parker Finn developed from a short subject he made. ››› (R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, Digital and On Demand)

“AND JUST LIKE THAT ... : THE COMPLETE

Family Viewing Ratings

Adult situations

Profanity V Violence N Nudity

Fou; Jon Jon Briones as Maurice; and Leo Abelo Perry as Chip.