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The Reel: 'Downton Abbey’ and ‘Ad Astra’ offer grown-up entertainment

The Reel: 'Downton Abbey’ and ‘Ad Astra’ offer grown-up entertainment

FromThe Envelope


The Reel: 'Downton Abbey’ and ‘Ad Astra’ offer grown-up entertainment

FromThe Envelope

ratings:
Length:
29 minutes
Released:
Sep 20, 2019
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Two films designed for grown-ups hit theaters this weekend.“Ad Astra,” a space thriller starring Brad Pitt, takes a moody, meditative approach to science fiction.Director James Gray invests in character development and emotion, and the film is that rare fusion of blockbuster spectacle and thoughtful sensibility, says the Times’ Justin Chang (@JustinCChang).Chang also tells host Mark Olsen (@IndieFocus) that the plot of “Ad Astra” is “kind of preposterous,” but that’s why he likes it.Pitt delivers a memorable performance, holding long close-ups as the camera gazes deeply into his eyes — the kind of scrutiny not many actors can pull off.“Downton Abbey” picks up where the beloved television series left off, with 20 of the regular characters showing up in the theatrical release.There’s an optimistic, uplifting spirit to the film, and the Times’ Kenneth Turan (@KennethTuran) tells Olsen that “Downton Abbey” offers an escape from the unrelenting news days of 2019. It’s a comforting, far-away world in which problems are solved and everything works out.
Released:
Sep 20, 2019
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

The Envelope podcast pulls back the curtain to reveal intimates stories from this award season’s top contenders. Every Tuesday, A-list actors, directors and showrunners join Los Angeles Times entertainment reporters Yvonne Villarreal and Mark Olsen for conversations about their personal lives and creative processes — and how it all fuels their art.