SPLIT Frightens on Bluray: Talking with Jessica Sula

                           

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray next week from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the thriller SPLIT.

This film tells the story of three young women who are being held captive by Kevin (James McAvoy) and his 23 different personalities. Trying to find a way to escape alive is Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia played by Jessica Sula

I had the opportunity to speak with Jessica about SPLIT, working with M. Night Shyamalan, close quarter acting and playing opposite James McAvoy.

Jeri Jacquin: Hi Jessica, thanks for taking the time to talk with us today, it’s a real pleasure.

Jessica Sula: Thank you Jeri, I’m so glad you wanted to talk about the film with me.

JJ: My daughter who writes with me and I absolutely are in love with this movie.

JS: That’s so great, really?

JJ: We think it is the freakiest, twisted, messed up, original films we’ve seen in a long time.

JS: That’s really amazing, that’s so cool, and it is actually. When you are in it you don’t think of it like that but it’s true. When I saw it all put together I thought ‘oh man!’

JJ: It’s like – what have we done!

JS: Absolutely, it’s not something I’ve seen before either so I do agree with you on that.

JJ: When you first saw the script what was your impression of it. I’m sure reading it is different than seeing it done.

JS: It was after I got the part is when I got the script because it was all really very top secret. When I was reading it tried to imagine the scenes because I wanted to know what was going to happen on the next page. I read it in a really short space of time. I’ve never been involved in this genre and it’s M. Night Shyamalan! It was exciting although I didn’t realize how he was going to shoot it which made it even more exciting to see it in a theatre.

JJ: Tell me a little bit about your thoughts when you read what your role was going to be.

JS: I thought oh man….her fate! I was a little bit nervous about how Marcia was going to come across in a survival situation. She is with these two girls who seem very proactive in how we get out. I was worried because I wanted Marcia to have a voice but when we started shooting and talking with Night, it was very much apparent that it was going to be a serious journey for all of them. I thought I was going to be one of those girls who disaster was going to happen to at the hands of James McAvoy. It was kind of funny; I think I laughed a little about it.

JJ: It’s interesting when you said, ‘I was talking with Night’ about your role. Do you know how many people will never say that in their life – ever?

JS: I know! It’s actually quite surreal. You become close especially in the close quarters for the entire shoot and when you leave and start refer to it later I don’t even think about it. He is somebody that always thinks through every shot because what he wants is very particular. It was cool to collaborate with him.

JJ: When Shyamalan does a film he is so in depth about the story and the characters. Did you feel like he has everyone’s role down pat?

JS: A little bit yes because he has it mapped out in his mind already. He is so specific in what he wants. He also will break things down for you if you have a question about a scene or something a character is doing. That is quite nice, especially when you are in a high emotional state and your character is going through trauma.

JJ: Speaking of severe trauma, how long did it take you to get over all this?

JS: It’s more like the energy that goes into it and understanding that the circumstances are frightening, beyond frightening. Just kidnappings in general pop up on the news and it’s strange to be aware of it. When you are in that emotional state everyday and heightened, it was a matter of being tired once it was finished. I went back home after we were done and I just slept.

JJ: You were probably really hyper sensitive to it all because, as you said, the close quarters and the energy.

JS: We talked about scenes and what the characters were going through and no comparison to real life but you do start thinking about it all. There is the thought of not getting out of a real situation like this and that did scare me a bit.

JJ: After seeing SPLIT I didn’t want to be around anywhere dark, forests, and weird areas so I hear you.

JS: We would all talk about that too!

JJ: You are basically in a film, the three of you, with one guy that is many people. Working with James McAvoy in a role like I’ve never seen before, how was that for you?

JS: There were moments where we were watching him and couldn’t believe we were on the same set. He would go through all these changes was amazing. He is a fantastic actor and a lovely person, to get through a subject like this and to work with someone who is going through emotional extremes; he was so kind and made us laugh all the time. He was also really generous, charming and a pure joy to work with. On film when you see it all cut together and he scared me because he was someone I didn’t recognize.

JJ: The first glimpse I had of hearing about the film and I thought ‘no way that is him!’

JS: He is brilliant.

JJ: When you were talking about working in close quarters, the only way I can describe how I felt watching it was that your character was confined in a confined space. Was as difficult to shoot as it was to watch?

JS: It had its technical challenges with moving around and figuring things out. When we were all in one room it was very cramped and it worked. I think it helped drive the scene I think. It was intensely shot with everyone feeling it because of the confined space. I mean your sweating and wanting to get out of there and so I think it adds to the intensity quite nicely.

JJ: That intensity is almost another character in the film.

JS: Very much so, I think Night proves that very well.

JJ: All of you also created that very well and what this cast put together truly does work wonderfully.

JS: That is so lovely for you to say Jeri, thank you. You don’t think about those things when you are working.  

JJ: I think Night has his own genre because his films aren’t horror yet they are, they are not gory yet they are – what ever goes on in that mind of his is some serious business.

JS: We are lucky he is the director.

JJ: When people watch the film on Bluray, what would you like them to know about the film that they wouldn’t otherwise know?

JS: That’s a really good question. I would have to say that I really love everything about the way it was shot, every frame is amazing. I think what was done was really smart.

JJ: Do get more into it and be aware of the surroundings just like the characters had to for the entire film.

JS: Yes, that’s a good way of putting it. I think it’s something that I love from watching thrillers like Hitchcock. Focus on James and everything that he does.

JJ: I don’t think that will be a problem – my daughter has a thing for James, even if his 23 characters are seriously unhinged.

JS: Everyone does, everyone loves James.

JJ: Thank you so much Jessica for your time and for talking about the film and your experience with SPLIT.

I have a horror genre in my own home theatre library and SPLIT will have a special spot on the shelf. Turing our own fears inside out, this film will have you talking long after it is over. James McAvoy leads Sula, Richardson and Taylor-Joy in a cast that gives our spines a reason to shiver and stay out of dark places.

On Bluray this Tuesday from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is a thriller that will leave you breathless – just like a good thriller should! Director M. Night Shyamalan is back in the business of giving us all the shivers with SPLIT.

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS Revs Up Their Engines Once Again!

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres this Friday from director F. Gary Gray and Universal Pictures come the next installment when it comes to knowing THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS.

Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are on their honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Not there long before Dom has to put his foot to the pedal for the respect of family. Returning to the hotel, he is stopped by a woman named Cipher (Charlize Theron) who isn’t pulling any punches by letting Dom know that he will soon be working for her.

Hobbs goes from coaching his daughter’s soccer team to a job that gets him a nice stint in the slammer but Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) offers him a deal to stay out of jail. Backed up by Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) on the deal, Hobbs refuses. Waiting in a cell across from Hobbs is his least favorite person Deckard (Jason Statham) as the two immediately begin to verbally spar.

It takes no time at all before Mr. Nobody gets Hobbs, Deckard, Letty, Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) in a room to tell them that Dom has gone rogue! The get the intel of Cipher but they have no idea what they are up against as the game of cat and mouse begins. Letty doesn’t believe it but the mission is to stop him.

Dom knows he is hurting his new bride and friends by working with Cipher but there is something they do not know and he can’t tell them. Every time the gang gets close, Dom has back up from Cipher and her muscle Rhodes (Kristofer Hivju) to elude them once again. That is until they all end up on the Barents Sea in the arctic for a showdown like nothing the gang has experienced before.

All of it to stop an anarchist and discover what made their leader go rogue!

Diesel as Dom returns to the hard and tough role that fans have loved about this franchise. Knowing that taking care of family, whether blood or otherwise, means taking each step carefully. His performance is totally spot on and the scenes with Theron are filled with tension that is amazing to watch from them both.

Diesel recently announced at CinemaCon that there will be a 9^th and 10^th installment of the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise. He told the audience, “We are proud of how we defied expectations with this series of films.” Of course the topic of Paul Walker came up and he said, “It was a hard decision to make the film without Paul but his legacy is in every frame we shoot. He was the concept of brotherhood! When I thought of going into the 8^th chapter, it was Paul that said ‘8 is guaranteed!’

Johnson as Hobbs is bigger and bulkier than ever bringing a softer side to his character as a soccer coach. That also brings a big of comedy to his character and it really is quite funny. That being said, when the comedy stops – Hobbs gets to business and as much as he doesn’t want to go after Dom, he will and he will without hesitation.

Statham as Deckard is a mixture of hilarious, bad ass, softy and perfection with his interaction with Johnson’s character. This actor keeps getting better and better in the sense that he can be a tough in some roles that are scary and then amazing comedy as in the film SPY (which still cracks me up every time I see it) and now a mixture of both for THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS.

Rodriguez as Letty is dedicated to her man and there isn’t anyone that’s going to convince her otherwise. Although she helps Hobbs and the gang, she sees it more as saving Dom from something she doesn’t understand and not take him down. Emmanuel as Ramsey is the high tech gal who is working overtime to stay ahead of Cipher.

Gibson as Roman is back looking for the fastest and baddest looking car in the bunch. Ludacris as Tej works well with Emmanuel trying to discover how Cipher manages to do the unthinkable with the technology she has.

Russell as Mr. Nobody is smart and witty and I’d expect nothing less form him. I’m still amazed with the diversity of his characters and the fantastic way he portrays them. Eastwood as Little Nobody doesn’t yet understand how the gang works and soon learns that they have a way of doing things and it’s not always by the book.

I’m giving a shout out to Hivju as Rhodes. He is such a cool bad guy with the ability to give anyone crazy-eye. Then again this shouldn’t be a shock for anyone who is a Game of Thrones fan of his character Tormund Giantsbane.

Theron as Cipher is frakken brilliant as this character. She is smart, doesn’t take any guff and isn’t afraid of anyone – including Dom’s gang. In fact, this character seems to find great joy in staying many steps ahead of anyone trying to stop her from getting what she wants. Using Dom is her insurance policy and he is definitely a policy worth having. I love Theron every moment she is on the screen!

Other cast include: Luke Evans as Owen, Elsa Pataky as Elena, Patrick St. Esprit as DS Allan and Janmarco Santiago as Fernando.

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS is definitely a high octane ride from start to finish. Fans of the franchise aren’t going to be disappointed with the action, car chases and even an ice breaking submarine. It is fun, humorous, and even cute in a few places which just adds more fun to the film.

This is a large cast which keeps the intensity flowing and there isn’t much time to sit back and relax. Trust me when I say I’m leaving tons of details out because this is a film that doesn’t need everything put out there. Instead, it’s a film where everyone gets together and goes to have a good time so let’s not over think it.

This weekend, do just that! Grab friends, get a huge tub of popcorn and get ready for the ride that one THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS can provide.

In the end – the ride isn’t over!

TOMMY’S HONOUR Brings Just That to the Game of Golf!

Jeri Jacquin

In selected theatres this week from director Jason Connery and Roadside Attractions is a family history with the swing of a club and TOMMY’S HONOUR.

Golf is in the blood of the Morris family as Old Tom (Peter Mullan) is the head greens keeper at St. Andrews Club teaching his son Young Tommy (Jack Lowden) the game. Both of their skill is well known being supported by the wealthy men of the club like Alexander Boothby (Sam Neill).

Tommy is consistently being told he will never be a gentleman, but he makes it clear to his father that he doesn’t want to be a caddy but a golfer. After three years of being the Open Champion at St. Andrews, he is asked to go to England to play there. Tom is not happy and believes Tommy’s place is at home with his family.

Then Tommy meets Meg (Ophelia Lovibond) who works as a server. Immediately smitten with her and lavishes attention to her surprise. Now earning a good living playing in tournaments, Tommy is finding happiness and takes on the Captain changing the financial relationship. The Captain is furious but agrees to the new arrangement because even he knows how good Tommy is.

In the meantime Tommy’s mother Nancy (Therese Bradley) isn’t happy with her sons choice of companionship and seeks out a secret about Meg she believes will change things. When confronted, Tommy doesn’t care at all and instead marries his love without either parent attending the ceremony.

Tom accepts his son’s choice and with the rest of the family attends dinner at the home Tommy recently purchased for his bride. When mother Nancy doesn’t attend, Meg confronts her with the story behind the secret and the pain it still causes her.

Again Tommy decides to expand and become more independent from those who back him, especially since he and Meg are expecting. While the golfing Morris’ are at a tournament, Tom receives word about Meg and withholds it from Tommy.

The results are devastating and as Tommy begins to follow a heartbreaking path, Tom stands by his son with a legacy that lasts to this very day!

Lowden as Tommy is a young man who believed that his destiny wasn’t to teach golf but to play the game. Constantly working on his game and with the help of his father creating new and inventive clubs, Lowden gives the younger Tommy a bit of grit and sass that one would expect. As he realizes what he wants for his life, he begins to stand up when others want him pushed down. I enjoyed Lowden’s portrayal very much.

Mullan as Tom is a man who is set in the way of how it’s always been. He sees Tommy’s path as fool-hearty and believes that each person should know his station in life. He is also a man who handles things quietly and tries to do what is best for his family. It is hard to read Tom and Mullan keeps it that way until the last frame of the film. What an amazing performance.

Lovibond as Meg is a young woman who has a secret but one that should never define her. When Tommy gives her attention it is easy to see that she believes she doesn’t deserve it, but after they are married she stands tall against anyone, including his mother!

Neill as Boothby has an attitude problem as I’m sure was common during this era. Boothby had no problem making money off of Tommy because he thought him inferior. When he is called out for it, Neill’s character takes a step back. I have to say I have enjoyed Neill’s ability to portray so many different characters and loved every one of them – good character or not-so-good.

Other cast include Peter Ferdinando as Major Molesworth, Max Deacon as David Strath, Kylie Hart as Lizzie Morris, Benjamin Wainswright as George Atwood, Willie Park as Ian Pirie, James Smillie as SKH Boyd, Paul Reid as George Atwood Snr. and Christopher Craig as Durie.

TOMMY’S HONOUR is a beautiful film that is about the legacy of golf to be sure but also about those who gave the game heart and soul. The director has put together a piece that gives a brief history of this family because I’m sure there was so much more to tell.

The scenery and cinematography is absolutely amazing and the costumes added believability to the story that is told. I personally know a little about golf but had no idea the history of the Morris family and their contribution.

What makes TOMMY’S HONOUR even more compelling is the beauty of the Morris family. Even with their trials and the clash of the two golfers who each believe that what they do is right. It’s not that either are wrong, just the changes that occur between generations.

In the end – it’s the pride of a father, love of a wife and soul of a rebel that brings the heart of a champion!

National Geographic’s MARS is an Epic Adventure that Needs to be Seen on Bluray!

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray this week from National Geographic, 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment and the Executive Producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard is the series MARS.

The year is 2033 and a mission to Mars that is not starting off well. With the crew consisting of Commander Sawyer (Ben Cotton), Hana Seung (Jihae Kim), Amelie Durand (Clementine Poidatz), Robert Foucault (Sammi Rotibi), Javier Delgado (Alberto Ammann and Marta Kamen (Anamaria Marinca) they are being observed carefully by CEO of Mars Mission Ed Grann (Oliver Martinez).

On Mars the terrain is difficult as the crew of the Daedalus look for a place to set up a base camp. The story also unfolds as SpaceX works on a reusable rocket in the present and Kelly becomes the only person in NASA to spend the most time in space while Antarctica becomes a practice settlement.

Jumping four years on Mars, a massive storm means the crew must look for somewhere else to set up a camp. Walking through the blinding storm they find the most unexpected place to begin again.

At the same time some of the crew is suffering from “cabin fever” and the commander is made aware of it. It isn’t in time however as a botanist opens an airlock sending the camp into chaos and killing himself and other members of the team. So much is lost setting the mission back but repairs begin.

After everything that has happened to the crew and the question of whether to continue or return home is the topic of conversation. That could possibly be a useless conversation when the crew believes they have found life on Mars!

Other cast include Kata Sarbo as Ava, Antoinette Fekete as Sam, and Cosima Shaw as Leslie Richardson.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The series filled with realism mixing drama and documentary adds the appearances by Elon Musk, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Petranek. There is everything to be pulled in by MARS and it’s our human curiosity to know more about the planet that makes this series inviting.

This cast brings everything unique to each character and although they are sharing the same experience, they are experiencing it so very differently. Knowing that they must rely on one another, it isn’t as if they can call ‘home’ and get help.

I found myself jaw dropped, gasping for a breath (especially when the airlock opened!), curious, wondering, shocked, and more which is, I’m sure, exactly the intent of MARS. To bring out the amazing emotions that are engrained in our desire to know more about the red planet. Added to this is the breath taking cinematography and special effects that invite the audience to be on MARS with the crew.

The Bluray includes the episodes Novo Mundo, Grounded, Pressure Drop, Power, Darkest Days and Crossroads. The Special Features include Making MARS, BEFORE MARS – A Prequel, BEFORE MARS Behind the Scenes, Getting to MARS Featurettes, Living on MARS Featurettes, More MARS Featurettes, and Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes.

It is so worth the time to watch the special features of MARS because they are as amazing and stunning to see as the series itself. With two hours of cast and crew interviews, how often does a series give you a prequel on the same Bluray as the series? I can’t recall it happening.

In the end – we went to the moon because we wanted to; we went to Mars because we had to!

WALKING WITH THE ENEMY Shares a Moving Story on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming this week to DVD and Digital HD from director Mark Schmidt and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is a film based on a true story when WALKING WITH THE ENEMY.

It is World War II when Elek Cohen (Jonas Armstrong), a young man who is aware that the Germans are moving into villages all around them. Going away to be part of a work crew, their treatment is nothing short of horrible.

When Elek walks away with his friend Miklos (Simon Dutton), they return to their village in Budapest only to discover none of their family can be found. They have disappeared and a new family has taken over the house.

They learn that the families may have been moved west but no one really knows for sure. Told they are in Yellow Star houses, Elek finds Hannah (Hannah Tointon) who tells them Jozsef (Simon Kunz) is there.

Told there is a place up in the mountains called Waldensee where they might be. It is hard to know. Needing Schutz-pass, they are told it is the only way to be safe. But, when Hannah is chased home by German soldiers, the unthinkable happens in a series of horrific events.

Regent Horthy (Ben Kingsley) of the town is under pressure by Col. Skorzeny (Burn Gorman), a man who doesn’t reason at all. Niklos Horthy (Shane Taylor) tries to back up his father but to no avail.

Elek is taken in by Miklos, Hanna’s Uncle who gives him a job delivering the precious Schutz-passes. Soon Col. Skorzeny announces that these passes will no longer be valid putting the Hungarian Jews in even more jeopardy.

When Elek has to rescue his friend from the Germans, they dig up a suit belonging to soldiers and make a daring rescue like nothing that has been seen before. When an armistice comes it doesn’t stop the Germans for attacking. Now Regent Horthy does what he must to protect Hungarian citizens but to no avail.

The Germans begin to tear the city apart and its Jewish citizens are rounded up. Elek decides the only way to help is by putting on the German uniform and using it to their advantage. Saving those he can he knows that Eichmann continues to deport more and more Jews. The Glass House were they are taken too is overflowing with those they have saved.

When the trains are cut off, Elek knows there has to be another way to get them out. Walking on the road are those who are holding Swiss passes and when a German convoy comes upon them, he knows not all can be saved. The Germans attack the Glass House and take everyone into custody but as they come under attack from the Russians, Elek is still in the German uniform.

He will never stop trying to save as many as he can.

Armstrong as Elek is devastated that his family was gone when he returns to the village. Watching all the Jews around him go through the same, his plan to save them by wearing the German uniform is as dangerous as one would imagine. Armstrong gives his character such sadness yet a strength that comes across so genuinely.

Kingsley as Horthy is a small role but important in that he wanted to protect all the citizens of his country. Trying to keep the Germans at bay for as long as possible, it was only a matter of time before even his attempts would fail. I enjoyed his performance as I always do.

Dutton as Miklos is of the same heart as Elek in his passion for saving as many lives as he can working with others who sacrifice everything – even their lives. Kunz as Jozsef does what he can and his sacrifice includes a beard.

Gorman as Col. Skorzeny is as vicious as he can be. Pushing his way past Regent Horthy, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks when putting Eichmann in charge of the Jewish population. Gorman has the perfect appearance of someone to be afraid of!

Tointon as Hannah is the one thing Elek has to keep him whole. She tries to stay strong for him, even at the cost of losing her own family. Tointon is a bright spot in the middle of darkness.

Other cast includes, William Hope as Carl Lutz, Flora Longhurst as Rachel, Simon Hepworth as President Szalasi, Andrew Brooke as Capt. Kovarcz, Charles De’Ath as Lt. Krieger, Mark Wells as Ferenc Jacobson, Mark Wingett as Sorenzi and Charles Hubbell as Adolf Eichmann.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

WALKING WITH THE ENEMY is a story that not only teaches history of a dark time but what human beings are capable of. Elek is just one of so very many who put their lives at risk to save anyone they could. That is what makes these story’s that come to screen so very powerful.

The film is inspired by the story of Pinchas Rosenbaum who dealt with the German occupation of Hungary and the towns and village of Budapest toward the end of World War II.

WALKING WITH THE ENEMY is love, loyalty, family, community all rolled in to self-sacrifice and dignity to always do the right thing. That makes this film a teachable moment for us all.

In the end – a hero emerges!

HBO Brings VEEP: The Complete Fifth Season on Bluray and Your Chance to Get it Home!

Jeri Jacquin

One of the best shows brought to us all by HBO Home Entertainment is none other than Julia Louis-Dreyfus and VEEP: The Complete Fifth Season.

Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is on the move and working everyone to get a decision on the presidency. Of course she is also dealing with a stock market, hackers from China and the infamous female fear of her face breaking out because of the stress. She’s not the only one wondering what to do next when Amy (Anna Chlumsky) has to make the decision to get back into the lions den.

The staff itself seems to be rethinking things! Working in Nevada, Richard (Sam Richardson), Jonah (Timothy Simons), Amy and Dan (Reid Scott) are stomping but the later two have an awkward moment when Amy’s sister Sophie shows up.  Selina brings in a man knows as The Eagle aka Bob Bradley (Martin Mull) for a task force on banking.

Have a Twitter moment gone totally wrong; this is a perfect time for the gang to blame the Chinese hackers to cover it all up. That’s the least of it when there are ballots missing that could put Selina in the big chair.

In politics, the death of a family member can help in the polls and Selina is no different but it’s not going to stop what’s going on in China. The count continues in Nevada as Dan and Amy do what they can to try and save the day.

Selina decides that Thanksgiving is as good a time as any to get away from everyone and she must decide what to do about Charlie (John Slattery) and their relationship. Dan knows something is not all mashed potatoes and gravy with Tom James (Hugh Laurie).

As if there needs to be just a few more things, an article comes out saying that a staffer on Selina’s team called her the c-word and Amy has to find out who it is. The answer shouldn’t shock anyone but just in case a shocker is needed, Catherine (Sarah Sutherland) comes clean about who she’s in love with.

Tom James it at it again when Selina discovers that her White House Holiday Party is being used for wooing, of course she’s doing it herself. Off to Camp David, Selina tries to talk reason with the President of China.

Then it all turns for Selina as James pulls out the presidency and when Selina asks about the post of Secretary of State, she is thrown under the bus by Vice President Doyle (Phil Reeves). Even her deal for the Chinese government to free Tibet is stolen from her.

The politics just treat Selina like a bug and a windshield!

Louis-Dreyfus as Selina continues to bring in a performance that IS the reason I keep coming back. She is stunning and brings everything to Selina and by that I mean she handles things the way I probably would. I watch each episode and just shake my head because I know this to be true. Even more so everyone I know who watches the show agrees with me. This is one of the shows I never want to be over.

Chlumsky as Amy is all grown up right before our very eyes. Yes, I still see her occasionally as Vada, I won’t deny it, but that little girl is fading farther and farther away. It’s alright though because Chlumsky is absolutely fantastic and her talent has grown right along with her.

Scott as Dan just love networking, I think I’d definitely want him on my side. Simons as Jonah is the thorn in everyone’s side yet I can’t imagine him not being part of the group – ever. Walsh as Mike is, this season, wants to be part of a family with Wendy played by the uber fantastic Kathy Najimy. I just wanted to give him a hug for his efforts.

Sutherland as Catherine is a girl trying to find something in her life but always comes back to Mom, and in this season she brings along a friend! Slattery as Charlie doesn’t know what Selina is contemplating but then again what guy does.

Mull as Bradley – I mean what can be said about this actor that hasn’t been said before except astounding. I just love whenever he is on the screen no matter what he does. Tom James played by Hugh Laurie just shoes me that you never know what this actor is going to do with a character until he does it. Don’t let the charm fool you!

HBO Home Entertainment has an extensive array of critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking programs found on Bluray, DVD and Digital HD. They have provided viewers with some of the most amazing programs with huge fan bases that include the shows True Blood, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, True Detectives, The Wire, Entourage and Game of Thrones. Launched in 1984, HBO is world wide in viewed entertainment in more than 70 territories around the world! For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

VEEP: The Complete Fifth Season includes the episodes: Morning After, Nev-AD-a, The Eagle, Mother, Thanksgiving, C**tgate, Congressional Ball, Camp David, Kissing Your Sister, and Inauguration. Also includes are Deleted Scenes and Audio Commentaries.

This original HBO series has a winning season each and every time. The following is huge and this is your chance to catch up! VEEP is a 3 time Emmy Award winning show including Outstanding Comedy Series with Season 6 coming in April.

Need to catch up? I can make that happen! Go to http://moviemaven.homestead.com and find out how you can get a copy of VEEP: The Complete Fifth Season for your own home entertainment library.

In the end – the buck stops somewhere near here!

SILICON VALLEY: The Complete Third Season Comes to Bluray and DVD & Win a Copy!

Jeri Jacquin

This week from HBO Home Entertainment is another awesome addition to anyone’s home library with SILICON VALLEY: The Complete Third Season.

Demoted to Chief Technology Officer of Raviga-run, Richard (Thomas Middleditch) is now being courted by Flutterbeam but he doesn’t bite. At a meeting, Jack says they need fast money but Richard learns it is at the cost of their product with a tacky commercial adding insult to injury.

Belson at Hooli fires the entire staff to take back stock options for Big Head. Gavin (Matt Ross) wants to manipulate the algorithm for the bad searches about Nucleus. Jared (Zach Woods) is having difficult reclaiming his condo when the tenants don’t pay rent and aren’t leaving and Jian-Yang (Jimmy O. Yang) is looking to move.

Richard can’t seem to let go and wants Pied Piper as a platform but Jack isn’t about to let that happen. Laurie (Suzanne Cryer) is the only other person who agrees with Richard but isn’t sure how that will play out.

Gilfoyle (Martin Starr) knows he has two Hooli coders and uses them to crack Richard’s algorithm. Jack thinks everything is going as planned when actually Gilfoyle and company are doing a side by side with Pied Piper as a platform and box appliance.

Secrets have a way of coming out and the platform idea is no exception, Jack threatens the staff but Richard tells him flat out that he is aware the company can’t meet the Maleant deadline. This is all pretty much a moot thing when Gavin calls Richard to let him know he acquired Endframe which means the Pied Piper platform is now in play.

Jack (Stephen Tobolowsky) is out and the CEO position is once again back open and working on the new platform is back up and running.

Erlich (T.J. Miller) goes to the Big Head mansion and makes a deal to live their with the BH gang. Also wanting to save cash, Pied Piper leaves the office and its trappings behind for Erlich’s digs. Laurie is also told she never should have gotten rid of Richard as CEO.

An article about Richard and Pied Piper is pretty inflammatory but Erlich knows how to help. In order to get writer Cantwell to back off, Erlich lets it out that Belson wanted a cover up of negative publicity from the internet taken care of by his staff. He also announces a new partnership deal calling it Bachmanity.

Belson is on the warpath and Erlich is told that if he finds out how the story leaked, it could ruin him. What does he do? Well, Erlich buys Code/Rag which has Cantwell’s blog and the info can’t be revealed. Richard decides to date a Facebook coder named Winnie but it doesn’t last because of a peccadillo.

After a Hawaiian party costing several pretty pennies, Erlich learns that Bachmanity can’t pay its debts. Learning there is $6 million floating about; he can’t get the district attorney to do something immediately. When that doesn’t work, it’s Laurie to the rescue.

Richard waits for the launch of Pied Piper and it hits 100,000 downloads in a matter of days but his glee is short-lived when he learns Erlich owns no shares! Even as Pied Piper gets ready to hit Hooli’s app store, Laurie has to explain to Richard what has happened with Erlich’s shares.

When five hundred thousands downloads happen, Laurie throws a party. It’s Richard that isn’t celebrating knowing that he needs to have a way to teach others how to use the platform for it to be truly successful. Belson learns about the low DAU’s from a Pied Piper employee looking to move up the ladder.

Trying to turn everything in their favor at Hooli, Richard discovers that Jared and Dinesh (Kumail Nanjiani) has been padding the numbers to make them spike with a click of a Bangladeshi mouse! Needing money to continue, Erlich finds some in Coleman Blair Partners but Richard can’t continue with what he knows about the numbers.

When it all comes crashing down it bringing a result that no one could have seen coming – except for the new owners of Pied Piper!

HBO Home Entertainment has an extensive array of critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking programs found on Bluray, DVD and Digital HD. They have provided viewers with some of the most amazing programs with huge fan bases that include the shows True Blood, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, True Detectives, The Wire, Entourage and Game of Thrones. Launched in 1984, HBO is world wide in viewed entertainment in more than 70 territories around the world! For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

SILICON VALLEY: The Complete Third Season includes the episodes Founder Friendly, Two in the Box, Meinertzhagen’s Haversack, Maleant Data Systems Solutions, The Empty Chair, Bachmanity Insanity, To Build a Better Beta, Bachman’s Earning’s Over-Ride, Daily Active Users, and The Uptick. The Bluray/DVD also includes Deleted Scenes.

SILICON VALLEY has received 11 Emmy Nominations and SILICON VALLEY begins its fourth season soon on HBO!

Let me tell you what I love about this show – it leaves me totally confused but in an awesome way. When I first began watching I wasn’t sure where the show was going. Of course this means I knew absolutely nothing about Silicon Valley, programs, apps, tools – none of it. All I knew about computers is pretty much how to turn on one.

I then found myself taken in by what was going on, how these characters thought and the actors who made it all happen and I was taken in. Season after season I wonder where it’s going to go and how I’m going to be confused by the technology I should understand after all these years.

And although the technological side is interesting enough, it is the characters that I watch continually ride the roller coaster of ‘what could possibly go wrong now?’ It is the way they make everything about the show happen that keeps me coming back. Each character brings something to the table and if you remove one – it doesn’t work. Congratulations HBO for knowing that about this extremely talented ensemble.

To win your own copy of SILICON VALLEY: The Complete Third Season please visit http://moviemaven.homestead.com and find out how to get a Bluray/DVD for your own home entertainment library!

In the end – they’ve got company!