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October 5, 2016 The Skanner Page 9 ‘The Birth of a Nation’ dollars in damages to thousands of aggrieved parties. Directed by Peter Berg (Battleship), “Deepwa- ter Horizon” revisits the infamous incident primarily from the perspective of the rig’s Chief Electronics Tech- nician, Mike Williams. The picture reunites Berg with Mark Wahl- berg with whom he pre- viously collaborated on Lone Survivor. Wahlberg plays Wil- liams, a working-class hero of unquestioned integrity. As the ilm un- folds, we ind him bid- ding adieu to his family before departing for a 21-day tour on the Hori- zon. If only Mike had heeded warning signs like his wife’s (Kate Hud- son) premonitions and his daughter Sydney’s (Stella Allen) science project with a Coke can geyser gone kabluey, he might have had the good sense to call in sick. The same could be said of his colleague Andrea Fleytas (Gina Rodriguez), a mechanic who couldn’t get her car started that same morn- ing. Even the helicopter ferrying them to work experienced an ominous bird strike en route to the platform. And upon landing, they’re greeted by a pal with a macabre skull and crossbones emblazoned on his hard hat. Of far more signii- cance are Don Vidrine (John Malkovich) and Bob Kaluza (Brad Le- land), the bigwig BP bureaucrats who begin bullying their employ- ees from the minute the chopper lands on the deck. This clueless pair of villains prove willing to put proits before any safety concerns, so it’s no surprise when the platform’s unstable drill pipe pops its cork. The spectacular, pyro- technic calamity which follows afords Mike an opportunity not only to play hero in a sea of ire but to later shame the cowardly culprits responsible in court. A harrowing tale of sur- vival topped of by jus- tice duly being served. What more could you ask for from an ac- tion-oriented morality play? Excellent HHHH Rated PG-13 for intense action sequences, disturbing images and brief profanity Running time: 107 min. Distributor: Lionsgate Films Movies cont’d from pg 8 for gun reform legisla- tion in the wake of the mass murder of 6 teach- ers and 20 students at an elementary school. across the street from the church where he works. With Paul Rodriguez, James Russo and Victoria Gates. Theo Who Lived (Un- rated) Radical Islam doc- umentary chronicling the harrowing ordeal of Theo Padnos, an Amer- ican journalist who was kidnapped by terrorists in Syria and held for 22 months, but lived to tell the tale. Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey (PG-13 for nu- dity and disturbing im- Torchbearer (Unrat- ed) Faith-based docu- mentary delineating the philosophy of Phil Rob- ertson, patriarch of the family featured on the reality-TV series Duck Dynasty. Voiceless (PG-13 for violence and mature themes) Pro-life drama about a Born Again war veteran (Rusty Joiner) who relocates with his wife (Jocelyn Cruz) to Philly where he puts his marriage and new job in jeopardy by tak- ing a stand against an abortion clinic opening View movie trailers at TheSkanner.com ages) Terrence Malick directed this ethereal eco-documentary, nar- rated by Cate Blanchett, exploring the Earth’s past as well as humani- ty’s future prospects on the planet Documentary series looks at housing, education, health care, education and voting rights NEW YORK (AP) — Norman Lear, a show business legend and full-throated humanist, set out last spring to rent a modest apartment in the Bronx. The landlord welcomed this incognito white man with a couple of ofers. Not so lucky was an African American man who had come to him the day before. The land- lord, insisting nothing This image released by Epix shows Rob Robinson, left, with producer was available, brusquely Norman Lear in a scene from the documentary, “America Divided.” The turned that man away. ive-week docuseries, which premieres Friday at 9 p.m. EDT on Epix. This undercover mis- sion, as well as Lear’s to shoot his report, “but I started as a subsequent blowing the whistle on kid in the Depression whose father was the landlord, was ilmed for “America serving (prison) time. But what was Divided,” a star-driven, eye-opening wonderful about America was it of- probe into systemic inequality in the fered me opportunity. And it promised U.S. today not only in housing but also that opportunity to everybody else, re- education, health care, labor, criminal gardless of the color of their skin. Ater justice and voting rights. all these years, that promise has yet to The ive-week docuseries, which pre- be delivered on. I care about that.” mieres Friday at 9 p.m. EDT on Epix, Others who care include: employs the 94-year-old Lear (armed • Hip-hop artist and actor Common, with a hidden camera) as one of its cor- who explores disparities in the crimi- respondents as well as an executive nal justice system in his hometown of producer. Chicago in the atermath of the 2014 “I’m happy to have reached the 1 police killing of teenager Laquan Mc- percent,” said Lear, back in New York, where he spent part of his childhood, See DIVIDED on page 15 NICOLE RIVELLI/EPIX VIA AP Deepwater cont’d from pg 8 Arts & Entertainment Stars Expose Problems, Seek Solutions on ‘America Divided’