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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2020)
A scene from “Les Miserables” By Jessica Gosse TV Media “Les Miserables” This isn’t the same “Les Mis” Victor Hugo wrote in 1862, and it certainly isn’t the 2012 film filled with songs and dances performed by Hollywood stars. French director Ladj Ly’s film does, however, call back to the themes of Hugo’s novel, and takes place in the same Paris suburb where Jean Valjean meets Cosette (Montfermeil, which is also where the directer grew up). The film paints an image of French authority’s treatment of the poor, and subtly says, “Look! Things haven’t changed!” Police officer Stephane Ruiz (Damien Bonnard, “Dunkirk” 2017) takes a new job in Paris, and is assigned to a Montfermeil anti- crime team alongside fellow officer Gwada and team leader Chris, played by newcomers Djebril Zonga and Alexis Ma- nenti. Stephane watches as Chris abuses his position of power until a brutal confrontation involving a young slum kid, teargas, a flash Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall star in “Sex and the City” ball and lions, is caught on tape. Stephane urges Gwada to do the right thing with the tape of Chris’s actions. The film is mod- ern and enlightening and, with a feather-light touch, it issues callbacks to the famous 1800s story it’s named after, creating a poignant call for justice that is empowered by its similarities to the story first told more than 150 years ago. The Oscar-nominated feature will be available on Prime as of Friday, April 10. “Rambo: Last Blood” (2019) Sylvester Stallone stars in “Rambo: Last Blood” Vietnam War veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone, “Rocky,” 1976) returns in the fifth installment of this famous franchise, and this time he heads to Mexico to take on a cartel. Amazon is making the film available to stream starting Friday, April 10. Rambo lives on a Ranch in Arizona with Maria (Adriana Barraza, “Babel” 2006), an old friend, and her granddaughter, Gabriela (Yvette Monreal, “Faking It”). When Gabriela sneaks away to Mexico to confront her biological father, she is kidnapped and beaten by the cartel. Rambo finds out, and is having literally none of that — he rushes across the border to get her back. What ensues is a vicious, bloody battle for revenge on the cartel and its leaders Hugo (Sergio Peris-Mencheta, “Life Itself” 2018) and Victor Martinez (Oscar Jae- nada, “The Losers” 2010). The film wasn’t exactly a hit with critics, but if you’re looking for intense action and Sly’s return to one of his most iconic roles, you won’t be disap- pointed. BINGE THIS: “Sex and the City” Relive the hilarious antics of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker, “Divorce”), Samantha (Kim Cat- trall, “Tell Me a Story”), Charlotte (Kristin Davis, “Bad Teacher”) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon, “Stray Dolls,” 2019) with all six seasons of this award-winning comedy series available now on Prime. Based on the novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell, the series follows Carrie Brad- shaw, a thirty-something-year- old columnist trying to navigate the ups and downs of life in New York City with her friends. While each of the women are very different — Carrie is the fun-loving party girl, Miranda’s a determined lawyer, Charlotte the optimist and perfectionist, and Samantha the sexually con- fident business woman — they come together to help each other through difficult times. Whether they are facing Miranda’s rocky relationship with Steve (David Eigenberg, “Chicago Fire”) and his health problems, Samantha’s commitment issues, Charlotte’s hopelessly romantic outlook or Carrie’s on-again, off-again rela- tionship with Mr. Big (Chris Noth, “The Good Wife”), everything is manageable when discussed together over Cosmos. Despite a strong focus on romantic rela- tionships, this series truly shows the importance of good friends. Pour yourself a Cosmo, call up your friends and start binging “Sex and the City” for the perfect girls night in. “Friday Night Lights” One of the most beloved dramas in network television history is available on Prime, and you can stream all five seasons now. The series takes place in a small town in Texas, and revolves around the local high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. Integral to the ensemble cast of characters is the team’s head coach, Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, “Argo” 2012), and his wife, Tami (Connie Brit- ton, “Nashville”), who is also the school’s guidance counselor. Many young stars got a start in this 2006 series, including Aimee Teegarden (“Notorious”), Taylor Kitch (“Only the Brave,” 2017), Jesse Plemons (“The Irishman,” 2019) and Minka Kelly (“Titans”). Fans and critics alike praise the show for its real- ism, and for tackling contemporary issues that remain relevant to this day. Despite the sizable cast, each character is explored deeply, with purpose and intent, allowing them to grow throughout the series. Much of this is due to the story be- ing based on real life, specifically H.G. Bissinger’s non-fiction novel of the same name. Whether you’re re-watching or tuning in for the first time, this binge-worthy drama should be checked off of everyone’s “must-see” list. East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald | April 8, 2020 Screentime | 11
