Latest news with #Duplicity
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Why ‘Elsbeth' creators Robert and Michelle King still watch dailies. All of them
Elsbeth was created as a deus ex machina. Back in 2010, on 'The Good Wife,' the writers kept painting our characters into corners, finding dilemmas they couldn't escape, and then finding ways for them to do so. Elsbeth Tascioni was such an escape. We wanted Alicia Florrick, our lead, to have to rely on a character who was the exact opposite of her: a quirky and confused lawyer with no color sense who was intuitively brilliant. In other words, a female Columbo — someone Alicia didn't know she needed until she arrived. It was a character meant to last only three episodes. Then we met Carrie Preston. Our casting director, Mark Saks, mentioned Carrie as someone who was available coming off of 'True Blood,' but we remembered her even more from a small part she had in the excellent Tony Gilroy movie 'Duplicity.' She played one of the only honest and vulnerable characters in it. And what was remarkable is she made honesty and vulnerability funny. The first scene we shot with Carrie was her introduction on the show. She entered Alicia's apartment and got the better of a cop who underestimated her. The scene had no obvious comic beats. It had some character shading but not much more. But one of the most valuable things a showrunner can do is to watch dailies. All of them. It's the best way to see how an actor tweaks a character, plays with inflection, finds comedy in lines you never thought were funny. That's what we saw in Carrie. The next episode we started writing toward those tweaks, finding the comic pauses she played up, never aiming straight toward a punchline, giving her an offbeat line or two, letting Carrie find the comedy. Almost immediately, Carrie made the character her own, bringing in a sort of aw-shucks Midwestern sweetness. But also there was a cunning there. Elsbeth knew she was being underestimated by her foe and she wasn't offended. She used it. And that goes to the core of what's fun about Elsbeth. It's never completely clear when her innocence is real or faux. We still watch Carrie in dailies, 15 years on, and love the way she makes Elsbeth both sweet and cunning. On 'The Good Wife' and 'The Good Fight,' we always thought of Elsbeth as a spice — an oddball character who strolls in every eight or nine episodes and offers a contrast to the more serious plot. Then the pandemic hit and we decided to catch up on all the streaming shows we missed. But we realized so many of the 'prestige' serialized shows felt like homework: too much backstory, too many episodes you had to absorb to be up to date. At the end of the day, we decided we just wanted to watch another episode of 'Columbo.' And we realized we missed Elsbeth, we missed Carrie Preston, and she would make a great female Columbo. And that's how it started. We talked to Fred Murphy, our director of photography on everything we've ever done, and discussed the usual cliches of New York police shows. They're gritty and grungy and handheld. We wanted just the opposite for 'Elsbeth': blue skies, a picture-postcard view of New York — Elsbeth's view of New York. We talked to Dan Lawson, our wardrobe designer on everything we've ever done, and we discussed how Elsbeth has to be the stranger in New York. All the New Yorkers had to be stylish, cool, all wearing versions of the same muted palette. Only Elsbeth didn't get the Upper East Side memo, wearing every wild color on earth. Those collaborations led the pilot and series toward its final iteration. Elsbeth was the ultimate tourist, ignoring every trash can and alleyway, seeing only the beauty of New York. Even the murders she sees as classy and pretty. We were running another show at the time, 'Evil,' a streaming series that couldn't have been more different. It was very odd to be on one call about the prettiest tourist locale to best sell Elsbeth's love for New York and another call about what a demon's guts should look like when Andrea Martin's Sister Andrea pops them like a pimple. The answers: Rockefeller Center ice-skating rink and red oatmeal. That's where Jon Tolins came in. Jon is a writer-producer and excellent playwright who we've worked with ever since 'Braindead.' He had Elsbeth's voice and attitude down perfectly, so we asked him to run 'Elsbeth' after the pilot. He's been running the show ever since. One of the joys about writing for TV is how much it's not a lone experience. It's an accumulation of great work from talented collaborators and friends. We'd love to take sole credit, but like the best TV, it's a group effort. And we still watch the dailies.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Action-Packed Heist Movie Is The Top Film On Netflix Right Now
'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' is currently the most popular movie on Netflix, according to the platform's public ranking system. The heist film premiered in theaters on Jan. 10 to mixed reviews from critics and subsequently joined the streaming service on March 20. It's a sequel to 2018's 'Den of Thieves.' Starring Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr., the movie follows a police officer who aims to team up with a professional thief for a big diamond heist in Europe. Read on for more trending movies of the moment across streaming services, including Hulu, Max, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. And if you want to stay informed about all things streaming, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter. 'Tyler Perry's Duplicity' premiered on Amazon Prime Video on March 20. The new legal thriller stars Kat Graham as a high-powered attorney who takes on the case of the fatal police shooting of her best friend's husband. Tyler Lepley, RonReaco Lee, Meagan Tandy and Joshua Adeyeye also appear in 'Duplicity.' The most popular movie on Hulu right now is the buzzy Academy Award winner 'Anora.' Written and directed by Sean Baker, the movie tells the story of a New York stripper who marries the son of an ultra-wealthy Russian oligarch. 'Anora' won five Oscars ― Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. Another Academy Award winner, 'Wicked,' began streaming on Peacock on March 21. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in this film adaptation of the hit 2003 Broadway musical, which was inspired by Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel. 'Wicked,' which won Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, offers a backstory for the famous 'Wizard of Oz' characters the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Yet another Oscar movie is trending on Max. 'Sing Sing' is the second most popular film on the platform at the moment. Based on a true story, the plot centers on inmates at Sing Sing maximum security prison as they participate in a theatrical program and put on stage shows. Starring Colman Domingo, 'Sing Sing' features both professional actors and formerly incarcerated people who took part in the real-life program. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Song. Tyler Perry's New Movie Is A Disaster 'Wicked' Feels Disturbingly Relevant During Trump's First 100 Days 'Snow White' Is A Strange, Hot Mess
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tyler Perry is 'tired of people taking movements' and 'hijacking them' for financial, political gain. His new movie 'Duplicity' takes the issue head-on.
Tyler Perry hopes his "twisted" new movie Duplicity "will entertain you," and if audiences resonate with the racial injustice message at its core, then that's an added bonus. During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Perry said not everything in the film needs to be so deep and political. "If you get something from [the movie], great. If you don't and you were entertained, then that's great too," he said. Tyler Perry's Duplicity follows high-powered attorney Marley, played by Kat Graham, who investigates the shooting of her best friend's husband, an unarmed Black man killed by a white police officer. As Marley looks into his death, she's taken on a wild ride and realizes not all is as it seems. "I was tired of people taking movements and hashtags and hijacking them for financial gain, for political gain," said Perry, who wrote and directed the film. "I wanted to just kind of make people think maybe we should look a little deeper at both sides of this to see where the truth is, because that's where the help is," he continued. "That's where the change will come. So that's what I was thinking when I started to write it, but then when these people, crazy-ass [characters] start getting more and more twisted, I was like, 'Whoa, this is something.' I've been on stage for 30 years with my audience and I know this kind of story really resonates and moves us." Perry knows true-crime dramas and documentaries click with audiences, but he "didn't want to do one of those" with this subject matter. "I wanted to have a fictional character so you can just watch and feel without realizing that this is actually a person that you're watching, as if you're in a true-crime documentary or watching a true-crime story," he said. "For me, what I hope people will take away from it is it's just entertainment." At the end of the film, Graham's character gives a powerful speech about racial injustice and how it's become such a political hot-button. If there's a message to take away from the thriller, she sums it up in the final scene. "I think every answer we need is in the middle," Perry said of writing her speech. "Either extreme is too bad. Every answer we need is right in the middle, no matter what it is. If we can meet in the middle, have the conversation, that's where the change is going to happen. So that's what was important to me." Perry is one of the busiest people in Hollywood, but at some point, he'll be looking to slow down and enjoy his billion-dollar empire. What's keeping him inspired right now are the young actors coming through his Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. "[They] have incredible work ethic, they're seeing themselves in a business that they never thought they could be in. They're coming to the studio, coming through the gates, eyes bright and bushy-tailed and they get this moment to actually live out their dream," he said. "That's what's keeping me going at this point, because at 55 and having done everything I wanted to do, I'm looking for the exit and I want to be able to pass it on to so many of them who are ready for it." is now streaming on Prime Video.
NBC News
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Kat Graham's racial justice work comes through in new Tyler Perry film ‘Duplicity'
Kat Graham stars as a high-powered attorney who finds herself entangled in a deeply personal case in Tyler Perry's new film, 'Duplicity,' out on Prime Video. Graham, who had a breakout role in 'The Vampire Diaries,' plays Marley Wells, a lawyer pursuing justice for her best friend's husband, who was shot by a white police officer. There are, of course, dramatic twists and turns along the way. The actress said she was immediately drawn to the project because of its real-world relevance. She told NBC News that losing her brother to gun violence a few years ago has deeply shaped her perspective on justice and the importance of addressing systemic violence. 'When I got the script and realized that the character was seeking justice for an unarmed Black man who was shot by police, I felt an immediate connection,' she said. 'I knew I had to be part of telling this story.' Graham, who added that she is 'drawn to any and everything that Tyler Perry does,' said that she wants the film to ignite meaningful conversations about police violence and systemic injustice among audiences. 'I hope people start looking at what's happening in the news and asking the hard questions,' she said. 'We've become desensitized to these stories, and that's not normal.' Graham's commitment to social justice goes beyond the screen. 'Equal rights and human rights have been my focus,' she said. She's worked with the United Nations since 2013, and serves as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on refugee rights and displacement crises. She has also collaborated with Rotary International to support global humanitarian efforts, including education and clean water initiatives. 'I spend a good chunk of my life working to amplify the voices of marginalized communities,' she said. 'Playing this character felt like a gift from God — it gave me the opportunity to be on the right side of history and to tell a story that matters.' In 2020, Kat Graham produced 'At Risk Youth,' a PSA for the Black Lives Matter movement directed by Darren Genet and inspired by the police killings of Laquan McDonald and Tamir Rice. Graham called the PSA's message 'more relevant now than ever,' urging continued justice and accountability. 'Watching a movie is just the beginning,' she said. 'Use your voice, support organizations that advocate for change, and don't be afraid to have difficult conversations. If this film makes even one person more aware, then we've done our job.' As Graham continues to seek out roles that align with her advocacy work, she remains committed to using her platform to elevate marginalized voices. 'I always want to play characters who fight to win, who empower others,' she said. 'This film is more than just a thriller — it's a reminder that we have a responsibility to keep these conversations alive.'
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Tyler Perry's 'Duplicity' premieres on Prime Video: Legal thriller explores injustice, deception and the fight for truth
Tyler Perry's latest legal drama Duplicity premiered on Prime Video on 20 March 2025, delivering a powerful narrative that explores police brutality, betrayal and injustice. Led by Kat Graham as attorney Marley Wells, the film follows her quest to defend best friend Fela Blackburn, played by Meagan Tandy, whose husband Rodney played by Joshua Adeyeye is shot under suspicious circumstances by police. As Marley digs deeper, she discovers a web of secrets and deceit that not only tests her legal skills but challenges her ethics and emotional strength. Perry stated, 'Once you think you know what's going on, you got no clue,' a reflection of the film's plot twists and tension. The ensemble cast also includes RonReaco Lee as Detective Harris, Tyler Lepley as Marley's boyfriend Tony Wells, and Nick Barrotta as Sam, a news producer. Perry's film highlights systemic failures and community struggles. 'I'm tired of seeing people in this industry, especially Black people mistreated, misused, not paid,' Perry said recently, underlining the personal activism that informs his work. Duplicity is now available to stream on Prime Video.
