Running Lawyer, Really Furious “Furious”, Funny Idiots (Maybe)
“The Runner” is a British film that was made in cooperation with the Amazon-MGM studio. The film premieres on Amazon Prime Video on Sept. 2.
Here is the “official” premise: A successful London-based attorney, Maia Marten, is thrust into a tense and dangerous chase across the city after her son is abducted. Forced to obey a series of cryptic commands from a mysterious Caller, she races against time through a web of secrets and threats in a desperate bid to save her son.
GAL GADOT, 41, the well-known Israeli actress, plays Maia Marten. English actor Damian Lewis plays “the Caller.”
The film’s Scottish director, Kevin MacDonald, and its American screenwriter, Mark Gibson, combined to make “Runner.” Early on, they cast Gadot.
I have a feeling that Gadot and MacDonald have long known each other pretty well.
MacDonald, 58, had “only” one Jewish grandparent. He was EMERIC PRESSBURGER (1902-1988). He was a screenwriter, director and producer. He was born in Hungary. He moved to Germany, as a journalist, and later he wrote screenplays. He had to leave Nazi Germany in 1935 and he settled in England. He’s best known for directing and writing acclaimed British films with Michael Powell (“The Red Shoes” is one).
MacDonald talked some about his grandfather around the time he was promoting “One Day in September” (1989). He directed this documentary about the 1972 murder of 11 Israeli athletes. “One Day” won the Academy Award for best documentary and MacDonald was the recipient of this Oscar.
“Furious” is an original Hulu series. The first 10-episode season began on July 27 and concludes on Aug. 31. The series follows FBI agent Alice Black (EMMY ROSSUM, 39) and a calculating female serial killer.
I have watched the first three episodes and they are good, but it’s all “tough” stuff. I have taken a little break until I watch the rest of these episodes. Maybe you might do that too.
Rossum was raised by her single, Jewish mother. Her Protestant father deserted her mother during her pregnancy. (Emmy says that she has only met him twice.) Her mother did okay in New York City as a corporate photographer.
Rossum has always identified as Jewish and she has said so. Her first marriage, to a Jewish guy, ended pretty short. In 2017, she married Sam Esmail, a talented and successful Arab Muslim filmmaker. They married in the Central Synagogue in Manhattan. They have 2 children.
Back on her career: Rossum was a talented teen actress and singer. The ladders of her career include co-starring in “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004) and a star role in “Shameless” (2011-19), a hit Showtime series.
Early on, we learn in “Furious” that Alice Black left the NYC police and became an FBI agent. She left the NYC police because Marshall, her police officer boyfriend, beat her and she spent a month in the hospital. He “got away” with it. This is the type of real, but hard to watch stuff.
Constance Shulman, 68, is the only Jewish actor/actress (beside Rossum) in “Furious.” She plays Marshall’s mother! (Oy!). Shulman is a veteran character actress. Nice to know: her Jewish grandmother, SADIE LIPNER SHULMAN, was the first woman judge (1924) in Massachusetts.
One footnote: “Furious” was based on the hit movie “Black Widow” (1987). Debra Winger, now 71, was the FBI agent. Bob Rafelson (1933-2022) directed, and Ron Bass, 84, wrote it.
You might find it a lot lighter than “Furious,” as weird as that is.
“Idiots” is a dark comedy movie that opens in theaters on Aug. 28. Two rock-bottom drivers transport a wealthy teen to rehab, but their simple job spirals into a chaotic journey of drugs, danger and crime as their passenger derails their plans. DAVE FRANCO, 41, plays one of the idiots and he produced the film.
This might be fun. It does have in the cast of my favorite actor — Peter Dinklage — has a big role. Always good.
Financially, Franco has nothing to worry about. He had a big voice role (“Titus,” an insect) in “Hoppers,” an animated film that opened in February. It was well-reviewed and the film made mucho gelt. In September, he has another voice role in another big-time animated film: “Forgotten Island.” He’s the voice of a “special type” of dog.