Posts by Jeremy Butler

“If I could stay funny, I can stay alive!”

That was the mantra that kept Jamie Foxx alive, which he explains in this testimonial stand-up special about the events that nearly cost him his life back in 2023. We all heard the rumors about what happened. Renowned triple threat Jamie Foxx suffered a serious medical event resulting in him becoming hospitalized. Amid conflicting reports about the nature of his condition, including rumors that he was gravely ill, his condition for the most part remained a mystery and a closely guarded secret within his family. Then the rumor mill started to include tales that the actor had died, and the family was keeping it secret. And as if that was not outlandish enough, following the actor posing a video clip in which he commented about his health, saying that he had been to "hell and back,” then the rumors started that the actor had been cloned, this coming after the release of the film They Cloned Tyrone, in which the Jamie Foxx is featured. The irony of such an idea was not lost on the actor. Now hear it from the man himself in a one-of-a-kind of comedy special that only he could have made. Now I will warn, Jamie will take you on an emotional rollercoaster as he lays out the life-threatening medical emergency and his long journey back to the stage.

“Project Shadow is far beyond anything we've encountered. Shadow's story began a lot like yours, Sonic. But where you found family and friends, Shadow only found pain and loss.”

I’ve been patiently awaiting this installment since the 2022 mid-credit scene hinted at the idea of Shadow’s introduction into the franchise. Now here we are with that idea becoming a reality, and with Keanu Reeves voicing the character, no less. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 takes the series in a darker direction than the previous installments as the happy-go-lucky Sonic finds his worldview challenged by the reveal of another hedgehog that received a much worse reception than he did. In that regard, I appreciated the director staying true to form with Shadow’s backstory. Shadow’s story is intended to be tragic and explain his worldview, which is intended to be the polar opposite of Sonic’s worldview. The characters are intended to be two sides of the same coin, and the film excellently delivers on that.

Folie a Deux. French for madness of two. From the moment that title was an announced, it was presumed that Harley Quinn would be making an appearance, and I applaud the selection of Lady Gaga as Joaquin Phoenix's counterpart. However, I suspect that the reasons for her selection were twofold given the decision to make the film a musical. Perhaps not an official musical, but in my humble opinion, I don’t think it could have been any more official. Unfortunately, this was among my issues with the film. It was too long, and there were too many songs. The film felt like it was movie promoting the soundtrack rather than vice versa. I’ve never been one for musicals, and this sequel did not move me off that mark, as the film essentially fell apart towards the end with a bittersweet ending. I think I preferred the ending to the first film. Picking up two years after the events film, Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is brought to trial for the five murders he committed, including the one he did on live television. With little to work with, his lawyer hopes to mount an insanity defense, which when you consider the fact that he imagined an entire relationship with a neighbor in the first film, you wouldn’t think would be hard. However, ambitious assistant district attorney Harvey Dent wants to send a message with Arthur’s trial and plans to seek the death penalty. Despite the dismal circumstance, Arthur remains a popular figure and has amassed a devoted fan following, having become the face for challenging the established order.

But none more devoted than Lee Quinzel. The attraction is instant owing to the chemistry between Phoenix and Gaga. The pair are good match-up, though if I had to choose who gave the stronger performance, I’d have to give the edge to Gaga, as she had a bit more to work with. Given her character’s backstory, we know that she is well versed in psychology, and this plays a factor in the pair’s dynamic. Phoenix gives a very nuanced performance, embodying both the character’s charisma and vulnerability. However, I resonated more with Gaga’s character. I enjoyed the shift in the dynamic. Normally, Joker is the more dominant role, but that circumstance is flipped, which makes sense, as he is on trial for murder and more reliant on her than she is on him.

“Although this feels less like a reunion and more like a reboot.”

I can echo that sentiment, as this continuation movie for the popular SyFy series, which concluded in 2021, has the distinct feeling of a long episode. I’m not complaining, because it means that all the elements that made it work as a television series are now still on display in a longer format. Besides, there was a need for this movie, as the series finale really left things up in the air as to where the characters would go from here. Last we saw the gang, after saving Waverly (Dominique Provost-Chalkey) from reentering the garden and leading a rebellion against the Black Badge Division, Waverly and Nicole (Katherine Barrell) tied the knot while Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano) had to make a decision about her future vis-a-vis whether to remain in Purgatory or leave town with Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon), ultimately choosing the latter. While this provided are our foul-mouthed yet endearing heroine with the prospect of a bright future, it left things rather ambiguous as to what that future ultimately looked like.