Sumter Scene
THE SUMTER ITEM
SEPTEMBER 11– SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
7
Showtime’s ‘American Rust’ a tale of family, despair and murder BY GEORGE DICKIE
Del Harris is a man whose calm, composed exterior belies a war going on inside. As played by Jeff Daniels (“The Newsroom,” “Steve Jobs”) in the Showtime drama series “American Rust,” premiering Sunday, Sept. 12, he’sthe chief of police in Buell,
Jay Leno
Pa., a forlorn Rust Belttown outside of Pittsburgh that’s pockmarked by deserted fac-
away and a son, Billy (Alex-
in a bar fight. But when a dead
tories and empty, decaying
Neustaedter, “Colony”), who
body turns up in an abandoned
buildings.
has a propensity for getting into mill and Billy is implicated, Del trouble after turning down a
must decide the lengths to
he takes a cocktail of opioids
football scholarship and getting
which he will go to protect the
to keep his PTSD at bay but
dumped by the love of his life,
son of the woman he loves.
struggles with maintaining the
Lee (newcomer Julia Mayorga).
diminishing dosages his doctor
But despite everything, Del
Philipp Meyer, the series is the
prescribed. He has a love in-
still pines for Grace and is pro-
story of good people making
terest in Grace (Maura Tierney,
tective of Billy, even stepping
bad choices in places that
“The Affair”), but she also has
into get the kid probation after
progress seems to have left
an exhusband who won’t go
he clubbed a guy with a board
behind, the type of people that
A veteran of the war in Iraq,
Based on the novel by
Daniels, a native Michigander, knows well. “I am one of those folks that comes from a part of the country that can feel less, can feel inferior, the fly-over country, the you’re-not-fromthe-coasts,” the actor explains. “So I understand that. I’d lived with it as an actor going in and sitting in waiting rooms against people from Yale and Juilliard and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. I understand those people and that person.” Del’s relationship with Grace is reflective of that. He clearly cares for her but she seems on the fence about him, and when he sees her with her ex, he backs off. But Daniels’ working relationship with Tierney is theopposite. He praises his co-star for being a smart actress, a worthy acting partner and someone who “jumped off the cliff with me” in terms of making acting choices.
View from the Couch
BY JAY BOBBIN
both down if they don’t achieve the opposite first. William Hurt reprises his role from previous Marvel offerings in director Cate Shortland’s supporting cast that also includes two alumni of the James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace,” David Harbour and Olga Kurlyenko; Rachel Weisz, who happens to be the wife of soon-to-exit Bond star Daniel Craig, and Ray Winstone also appear. DVD extras: two “making-of” documentaries; deleted scenes; outtakes; introduction by Shortland. ››› (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Bluray, 4K Ultra HD, Digital and On Demand)
AS Adult situations P Profanity
of grown-ups. Eva Longoria, Jimmy Kimmel and Lisa Kudrow also are heard in the picture, which received exhibition on the for-pay levels of the Peacock streaming service while it was debuting in theaters. The film also is available on Blu-ray with the original “The Boss Baby” in a two-movie collection. ››› (PG: V) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, Digital and On Demand)
“MARE OF EASTTOWN”
Kate Winslet recently earned raves for her title performance in this limited HBO series, a mystery about a Pennsylvania “BLACK WIDOW” detective probing a murder “THE BOSS BABY: while trying to hold the loose Showing just how quickly major FAMILY BUSINESS” ends of her own life together. theatrical features are making Disappearances deepen local their way to physical home video Alec Baldwin again voices the title role in this animated concern and make Mare’s in the current age – though comedy sequel, but the case all the more challenging, this also had a simultaneous character is now an adult, at especially as it comes to involve debut on Disney+ (for an extra least initially ... making room people she knows extremely “Premier Access” charge) – for another Boss Baby from well ... and the possibility that this latest Marvel adventure the same family, who has the they’ve done some heinous gives Scarlett Johansson her voice of Amy Sedaris. She has things. Julianne Nicholson, Jean own showcase in the franchise a magical method of letting Smart, Evan Peters, Guy Pearce, by drawing the past into the brothers with Baldwin David Denman, Cailee Spaeny what becomes the character’s and Sosie Bacon (daughter of extremely dangerous present. It and James Marsden’s voices Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick) turns out she isn’t the only Black experience their childhood again, enabling them to discover also are in the very solid cast. Widow, with Florence Pugh Though a second edition isn’t playing another one, making the just what a scheming fellow baby (voice of Jeff Goldblum) planned at this point, HBO has two women allies in fighting a said it would entertain that if conspiracy that could take them is plotting against the world
‘You Bet Your Life’ revival brings Jay Leno back to TV regularly BY JAY BOBBIN
Steve Harvey: The come-
Once a popular series leaves the air, it isn’t necessarily forever ... and that’s particularly true of game shows.
dianactor- author has had a
In recent years, there’s been a real renaissance of that format, especially with ABC getting back into the (forgive us) game by reviving numerous contests for its “Summer Fun & Games” concept. Syndication also has been a big market for such revivals, and it’s about to offer another example proving what’s old is new again.
Family Feud.”
“You Bet Your Life” nominally was a game, but it also was a showcase for host Groucho Marx to bounce wisecracks off contestants (and, sometimes, off announcer George Fenneman as well). The show’s television rebirth in weekday syndication Monday, Sept. 13, will service another comedy star known for humorous interactions: Jay Leno is taking the reins of the new “You Bet Your Life,” reportedly incorporating some elements from his “Tonight Show,” with his former “Tonight” bandleader Kevin Eubanks by his side again.
Monty Hall on “Let’s Make a
Comedy stars generally have fared well as game-showreboot hosts, and here are some other examples.
Family Viewing Ratings V Violence N Nudity
writer-director Brad Ingelsby comes up with another story that merits telling. DVD extras: four “making-of” documentaries. ›››› (Not rated: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray)
“THE WIZARDING WORLD 10-FILM COLLECTION” Given its umbrella name, fans of a certain author should be able to guess without much trouble what’s in this release ... J.K Rowling being the writer in question. The eight “Harry Potter” movies certainly have had solid workouts on home video via a number of editions, but this is the first time they’ve been combined with the two films to date in the Rowlinginspired “Fantastic Beasts” franchise. This is a complete set at least for the moment, since work has been going on in and around the coronavirus pandemic on a third “Beasts” movie. Daniel Radcliffe toplines the “Potter” pictures, of course, while Eddie Redmayne gets first billing in the “Beasts” offerings. A Blu-ray edition of this collection is slated to be released in October. ››› (PG and PG-13, varying by title: AS, V)
“MASTERPIECE MYSTERY: GUILT”
long run as the latest survey revealer on “Family Feud,” also parlaying that into “Celebrity Drew Carey: Succeeding “The Price Is Right” legend Bob Barker was no easy task, but Carey’s popular tenure is heading into the current daytime version’s 50thanniversary season. Wayne Brady: Keeping the flame for series originator Deal,” Brady also continues as a regular on the pseudo-game “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Alec Baldwin: The oftencomedic actor has spent severalyears holding the same style of stick microphone used by predecessor Gene Rayburn on the current iteration of “Match Game.” Anthony Anderson: Concurrent with his run on the hit sitcom “black-ish,” Anderson – along with his “Mama Doris” – has been presiding over “To Tell the Truth.” Joel McHale: Known for his snark, the “Community” alum has been helping players play the odds on “Card Sharks.”
GV Graphic Violence
The title perfectly describes what the two central characters feel in this tale that’s currently airing on the PBS anthology series – and will have just wrapped up the broadcasts of its four episodes when this set goes on sale. Mark Bonnar and Jamie Sives play brothers who are driving home from a wedding when they become involved in a hit-and-run accident in Edinburgh. Rather than tell authorities just what happened, they try to cover up the incident, something that becomes increasingly complicated to do as things evolve. Ruth Bradley and Bill Paterson also star. ››› (Not rated: AS, P, V)
Coming Home Soon “CRUELLA” (Sept. 21) “BATWOMAN: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON” (Sept. 21) “THE BLACKLIST: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH SEASON” (Sept. 21) “A CLOCKWORK ORANGE” (4K Ultra HD) (Sept. 21) “F9” (Sept. 21)
