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Royally in love!

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are celebrating their milestone 70th wedding anniversary with a stunning new portrait.

The gorgeous photo, shot by British photographer Matt Holyoak, was taken in the White Drawing Room at their home of Windsor Castle in early November.

And the Queen, who looks lovely in a cream day dress by Angela Kelly, made sure to wear an accessory close to her heart: a brooch given to her by Philip. The “Scarab” brooch in yellow gold, carved ruby and diamond, was a personal gift from Philip to the Queen in 1966.

Their long-lasting union isn...

Rachel Weisz headlines My Cousin Rachel, adapted from Daphne du Maurier's book. Here's our review...

Gothic romance isn’t as popular a genre as it once was, but Roger Michell’s take on My Cousin Rachel is here to bring it back. There’s a reason Hitchcock adapted author Daphne du Maurier’s work into The Birds and Rebecca, and this film’s source material shares a lot of the same suspense and intrigue as those novels. The result here is an oddly distant look at gender and obsession, offering brief insight into the characters even when their actions don’t make much sense.

When Philip (Sam Claflin) receives news that that the man who raised him has died shortly after marrying the mysterious Rachel (Rachel Weisz), he plans to confront the woman he believes is responsible. After she arrives, however, Philip slowly falls for her charms and begins...

Characters like the one that gives its title to My Cousin Rachel are usually played with broad strokes, either to elicit extreme sympathy, or total disdain, and yet what Rachel Weisz does in Roger Michell’s adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel is unlike either of those, it’s a performance so layered that it would unfair to say it lies even in between. We are supposed to mistrust Rachel from the moment we first hear her name, after all she is the stranger who has seduced Philip’s (Sam Claflin) saintly cousin, made him renounce his bachelorhood, and abandon his beloved England. Not only that, but according to some suspicions, she might have even been behind his untimely death, meaning there is nothing left for Philip to do but seek revenge.

And yet upon meeting Rachel, Philip discovers something quite unexpected, rather than a severe gorgon, he finds her to be quite sensitive,...

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Tuesday’s Season 5 finale of The Americans. Proceed with caution, comrades.

Just when Philip and Elizabeth think they’re out… the Center pulls them back in.

The Americans‘ Season 5 finale shattered the Russian spies’ dreams of returning to the motherland: Kimberly’s CIA dad got promoted to head of the Soviet division, making her an invaluable asset for Philip to hold onto, meaning the Jennings couldn’t abandon their post. Plus, Paige toughened up to the point where she could walk through that scary parking lot by herself at night, and Stan’s girlfriend...

Philip doesn't even have all of the information at his fingertips that could persuade him to make a life-altering decision, and he's on the cusp of making it anyway.

On The Americans Season 5 Episode 5 the buildup of years of espionage on behalf of his homeland, a lifetime of living with and befriending the enemy and spending too much time away from his family has hit Philip hard.

When he discovers they had a recent mission completely turned around, Philip appears ready to throw in the towel – on his career and maybe even his marriage.

Nothing about this stunning development is a surprise, but it's shocking nonetheless.

The powers are still at play against him as Philip is struggling against everything he's ever known and loved.

Philip and Elizabeth have been stretched to their very limits. They spend more time in disguise than they do with their nuclear family and that...

Adrienne's breast cancer storyline could have been powerful.

Judi Evans is an extremely talented actress who has played two very different roles on Days of Our Lives. Three, if you count Adrienne's transformation from impoverished blue collar girl to Kiriakis housewife in recent years.

In her current storyline, she's knocking Adrienne's doubt, fear, and desire to handle (or not handle) her cancer her way out of the park.

The problem is, the story seems to be more about Justin's attempt to re-assert control over his wife than anything else, and that makes this otherwise strong storyline more than a little uncomfortable.

After meeting with her doctor, Adrienne wanted to keep what happened there to herself, but Justin and Kayla pushed her to talk so she finally broke down and cried. She then shared that she needed to schedule chemotherapy prior to her mastectomy and hadn't done so yet. She...

What did Andre do?

That was a key question on Empire Season 3 Episode 8 when he went to extreme measures in order to get Nessa more publicity. 

Watch Empire Season 3 Episode 8 Online

Meanwhile on this hit Fox drama, Tariq teamed up with an unlikely person in his quest to take down Lucious. 

Also, Jamal used Philip to his advantage in his quest to get over his Ptsd and move on with his life. 

Use the video above to watch Empire online to get caught up with the latest developments for the characters as we approach the midseason finale. 

We can't wait to see what happens next!

Real-life drama has rewritten Kassie DePaiva‘s imminent Days of Our Lives encore, as pot-stirrer Eve Larson née Donovan.

RelatedSoaps Dish: Days of Our Lives‘ Philip to Exit

DePaiva had long ago resumed taping scenes at the NBC sudser, to begin airing later this summer, when during a three-week July production hiatus, “I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and have spent six of the last nine weeks in the hospital,” the actress shared via her blog on Thursday.

With three more months of treatment ahead of her, “My prognosis is good,” DePaiva said. “I will not likely need a stem cell/bone marrow transplant,...

Chloe was left reeling by the revelation that she’s pregnant with Deimos’ baby... Chad broke the news to Jennifer and Jj that Abigail is presumed dead ... and Aiden ousted Justin to become Salem’s newest District Attorney as Days of Our Lives began its hiatus for NBC’s Olympics coverage.

Our TV Fanatics Jack Ori and Christine Orlando are joined by Andyroo from MyHourglass a Days of Our Lives fan forum to debate what Chloe will do about the baby, if Jennifer is headed for a relapse and did Hope and Rafe hit the sheets too soon?

What do you think Chloe will do now that she’s pregnant with Deimos baby?

Jack: I think Chloe is going to ask Philip to pretend to be the father of the baby so that she doesn't have to deal with Deimos. All that talk about how Parker turned out not to...

Summer TV is still in the early “I’m not too sunburnt yet” stage, but the stars of your favorite returning shows are already readying for fall.

RelatedFall TV 2016: Your Handy Calendar of 90+ Premiere Dates

Many of broadcast and cable’s biggest shows, including Arrow, Shameless, Lucifer and Madam Secretary, are currently in production on their new seasons — and lucky for us, their casts and crews are giving fans a very early sneak peek via social media.

A few highlights from our back-to-work photo gallery (so far):

♦ Rob Lowe literally scrubbing in as Code Black‘s newest doc...

Eddie Cibrian and Jamie-Lynn Sigler are helping Baby Daddy usher in one of its most uncomfortable moments ever. (And keep in mind: Ben pretended to be his mom’s husband last week.)

RelatedBaby Daddy Renewed for Season 6

In TVLine’s exclusive clip from Wednesday’s episode (Freeform, 8:30/7:30c), Riley and “old man” Ross (Cibrian) engage in an uncomfortable morning-after chat with Ben and “Ms. Gilcrest” (Sigler) in the hallway of their apartment building.

But what could possibly be awkward about running into your ex-girlfriend — who’s also your brother’s ex-girlfriend — after she just slept with another of her exes,...

In a truly unprecedented twist, Tuesday’s Pretty Little Liars actually provided an answer to one of the biggest mysteries of the season. (Trust me, I’m just as surprised — and satisfied — as you are.)

PhotosPretty Little Liars: Who Is A.D.? We Examine 6 Potential Suspects

The mystery, of course, was “Who were the Liars burying in the season premiere?” And the answer, as revealed in the episode’s final moments, was Elliott. The latex lover was mowed down by Hanna as she and the girls combed the woods for Alison, who had just escaped from her husband/doctor/tormenter’s clutches.

Next year, you’ll be able to binge-watch the whole season of Arrow just over a week after the premiere of its finale.

In sealing with The CW a new multi-year content licensing deal, Netflix hasn’t just secured the continued exclusive right to stream previous seasons of the network’s fare, it’s made provisions to stream full seasons of CW series starting only eight days after each of their finales air.

RelatedThe CW Fall Schedule: Supergirl Retains Monday Perch, Supernatural on Move, The Originals and iZombie Mia

The new agreement includes not only The CW’s current...

Emily’s fellow Pretty Little Liars might want to start listening to her. At this point, she’s the only one who knows what’s up.

PhotosPretty Little Liars: 15 Season 7 Spoilers About the Wedding, Deaths and a Special Surprise for ‘Ezria’

TVLine has an exclusive clip from Tuesday’s episode (Freeform, 8/7c), in which Emily tells the other girls what she learned about Elliott and Mary Drake, that they’re “familiar with each other.”

Cue one of the Liars’ classic brainstorming sessions! (I’d say I’m going to miss these little chats, but that would imply that...

Everyone was on the hunt for Abigail, Maggie kicked Victor out, and Kate tried to thwart Deimos return to Salem.

Our TV Fanatics Jack Ori and Christine Orlando are joined by Oquossoc from MyHourglass a Days of Our Lives fan forum to debate the Devereaux’s distrust of Chad, what’s Philip Kiriakis’ future and if Victor and Maggie’s marriage can survive.

Are Jennifer and Jj right to distrust Chad?

Jack: Yes! While Chad is generally trustworthy, he has explicitly stated he will hide Abigail from Jj and Jennifer should he find her first and that he plans to use his ability to break the law to do so. It's very clear he's not thinking straight and that he sees the rest of Abby's family as the "enemy" right now.

Oquossoc: Maybe it isn't entirely unreasonable, but I think they are a bit quick to turn on him when...

She may have given birth a little over one week ago, but Princess Sofia of Sweden is already getting back into her royal duties. The new mom - who gave birth to Prince Alexander on April 19 - was joined by her husband Prince Carl Philip to honor his father, King Carl Gustaf, for a special Te Deum Thanksgiving Service at the Royal Palace in honor of the monarch's 70th birthday on Saturday. Sofia looked elegant in a short-sleeved light pink dress while Carl Philip donned his traditional navy uniform. Meanwhile, Carl Philip's sister Crown Princess Victoria - who gave birth to her second child,...

A review of tonight's The Americans coming up just as soon as I vandalize a payphone for the greater good... "The sentence of death will remain unchanged. It will be carried out shortly." -Soviet administrator Let's start off with a transcript of every single conversation I had with other TV critics after one of us had just finished watching tonight's episode. If the phrasing wasn't identical from one conversation to the next, it was pretty damn close: Other critic: "Nina Sergeevna!!!!!!!" Me: "Niiiiinaaaaaaaa!!!!!" Other critic: "Those bastards!" Me: "Fields and Weisberg are inhuman monsters!" Other critic: "I can't believe they killed her off! Nina is the best!" (long pause) Me: "But they had to do it." Other critic: "Oh, absolutely." We make a pact with our dramas — particularly the profoundly serious, ambitious ones like The Americans — where ask them to fully commit to the implications of their stories, and where...

Tonight's The Americans was a particularly momentous installment of the series (here's my review), and one that prompted me to get on the phone with showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields to talk about what happened, and why, and also where their heads are at as the series gets ever closer to its conclusion(*). (*) Though there's been no renewal yet (FX almost always waits until very late in a show's current season to do it), the default assumption from everyone on the show and at the network seems to be that there will definitely be a fifth season, and possibly a sixth if Fields and Weisberg decide the story needs two years rather than one for a proper ending. Very big spoilers are coming up just as soon as I tell you about the married man I'm dating... So, as everyone who watched knows, Nina (Annet Mahendru) was executed by...

Mubi in the United Kingdom is showing P.S. Jerusalem in partnership with the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. The film will run on Mubi from March 15 - April 14, 2016.“We have seen that what men thought was true was often more than the truth itself. The origins of Israel bear witness to the power wielded by ideas over the minds of men.” —The Israelis: Founders and Sons, Amos Elon“You never went back there?”“Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.” —The Magus, John FowlesUnder a falling iris sky, three boys huddle in hooded sweatshirts; conspirators at dusk. All are under ten years of age. Cloaked in streetlamp bronze and clutching skateboards longer than their torsos, they creep along a thin alleyway leading to the car park that serves Heikhal David Synagogue in Pat, a Jewish neighborhood in Southwest Jerusalem. They near Nishmat, an advanced school for women studying the Torah. One of the boys says,...

Please hold off on asking How to Get Away With Murder Ep Pete Nowalk about his vision for Season 3.

RelatedHow to Get Away With Murder Boss on Annalise’s Grief, Michaela’s Sexytimes

“There are several ways we’ve backed ourselves into a corner” with Thursday’s Season 2 finale (10/9c on ABC), he explains. “That’s my favorite thing to do, but it means I really don’t know [which direction] we’ll head next.”

Network promos for the episode promise, “Three backstabbers exposed, two dead bodies added to the count, and one bloody good ender” (with images of gore dripping...

On The Americans, Alison Wright plays Martha Hanson, the dowdy, plain, timid secretary to FBI counter-intelligence agent Gaad, and secret wife to Clark, one of the many aliases of Matthew Rhys' Kgb deep cover operative Philip Jennings. In real life, Wright is striking in appearance, speaks loudly and confidently in her native English accent, and dresses far more stylishly (here's what she wore when I interviewed her in January) than her alter ego. In other words... acting! The Americans returns Wednesday night at 10 on FX. It was, is, and will likely continue to be for as long as it's on the air (my guess would be we have at least another season to look forward to after this one), one of the very best shows on TV. The first four episodes are stunning, and the premiere in particular is a great showcase for Wright as Martha. I will be,...

So, I was right. And then I was wrong.

Oliver got a little too hack-happy and did in fact get kidnapped by the über-sketchy Philip, the geeky, socially stilted bastard Hapstall child who the Keating Company hopes has the matching DNA to link him to the Hapstall murder scene. But! While I thought Ollie's abduction was the first of a series of unfortunate events that would lead to Connor's undoing on the Night of the Fancy Mansion, the whole thing was … well, resolved relatively quickly.

Philip and his abductee, Oliver, surprise everyone by showing up at the Keating house unscathed...

Sneak Peek new footage from the upcoming Starz, 13-part anthology TV series "The Girlfriend Experience" in 2016, based on director Steven Soderbergh's 2009 feature "The Girlfriend Experience", that starred adult film performer Sasha Grey:

Soderbergh ("The Knick") and Philip Fleishman executive produce the new series, to be written and directed by Lodge Kerrigan and Amy Seimetz.

"We’re in an exciting period of auteur-driven television right now," said Soderbergh.

"When Philip floated the idea of a 'Girlfriend Experience'-inspired television show, I thought: 'Let’s make it a different woman in a different city, let’s pair two independent writer/directors, one male and one female, and let them do the whole thing.'

"I’ve known Lodge for 20 years and I became a fan of Amy’s when I saw her first feature last summer. We went to Chris Albrecht because he and I have been trying to find something...

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden continued their two-day trip to Dalarna County, where the princess grew up, on Tuesday. On the second day of their visit, the couple made their way to Älvdalen, the village Princess Sofia moved to at six years old. The pair's special stop came after Monday's trips to meet with kids in Borlänge, see the Falun Mine world heritage site, and spend time at a bread bakery in Landsvägen. At one point, Princess Sofia jokingly introduced Prince Carl Philip to local well-wishers, saying, "This is the husband." The royal couple's visit comes amid exciting news for Prince Carl Philip, who will reportedly be the godfather to his nephew, Prince Nicolas. Princess Madeleine and her husband, Christopher O'Neill, welcomed Nicolas back in June, and the royal baby's christening is set to take place on Oct. 11. Keep reading for more pictures from Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's trip,...

Director: Alex Ross Perry; Screenwriter: Alex Ross Perry; Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Joséphine de La Baume, Krysten Ritter; Running time: 108 mins; Certificate: 15

The daggers are out for Jason Schwartzman's novelist Philip Lewis Friedman in this acerbic comic character study that doubles as a rib-tickling guide in how to lose friends and alienate people. Indeed, it's the titular writer who is the architect of his own misery (not the critics) by treating people with disdain. Similarly, writer/director Alex Ross Perry challenges viewers by making his antihero so anti-everything.

Playing the erudite idiot is second nature to Schwartzman, having done so in films dating back to Wes Anderson's Rushmore, and it's hard to imagine anyone else hurling elaborate insults with the same devastatingly flat delivery. His arrogance is countered by a deliciously dense voiceover from Eric Bogosian who speaks with the air of superiority you would...

Last week, I published the first two of the interviews I did on “The Americans” set in December, with producers Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields , and with actress Holly Taylor. Now it’s time for one of the show’s two leads, as charming Welshman(*) Matthew Rhys and I talked about where Philip’s head is at in season 3, the pros and cons of so much wig work, why Keri Russell is referred to on set as “The Hulk,” how “The A-Team” helped inform his performance as Philip, and more. (*) My biggest regret about this interview? That I turned off the recorder right before FX’s Lana Kim prompted Rhys to share a memory of one of his first American jobs, as the killer in the final “Columbo” movie. This involved him doing a dead-on Peter Falk impression as he recalled that Falk wanted him to play the killer as a Cockney gangster,...

Chicago – Jason Schwartzman likes to portray writers – he was one in his HBO series “Bored to Death” – and he portrays one in his latest film, “Listen Up Philip.” He also has played many characters in director Wes Anderson’s universe, and did a fantastic turn as composer Richard M. Sherman in last year’s “Saving Mr. Banks.”

The laconic and dryly witty Schwartzman was born in Los Angeles, the son of actress Talia Shire (Adrian in “Rocky” and director Francis Ford Coppola’s sister) and producer Jack Schwartzman. He was discovered at age 17 by director Anderson, when he starred in the cult epic, “Rushmore” (1998). He has continued in the Anderson acting company, also starring in “The Darjeeling Limited,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Moonrise Kingdom” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” for the director. He’s also done memorable work in “I Heart Huckabees,” “Funny People” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”

Jason Schwartzman...

After two critically adored novels, success has hardened Philip’s heart and calcified any remaining slivers of decency that may have once existed. As a result, “notability” has turned him into an insufferable, self-involved and repulsive egotist, interested only in his writing and the potential acclaim that may follow. At first glance it doesn’t appear that Philip (Jason Schwartzman) is fraught with internal pain, but it is there. Underneath the narcissistic veneer is a man who neither understands himself nor the world he lives in, thus making it impossible for Philip to emotionally connect with anyone or anything. This recent bout of despondency propels him out of the sonically assaultive milieu that is New York City and into an idyllic country home, away from his photographer girlfriend Ashley (Elisabeth Moss), where he can begin working on his next novel. This is the concise, swiftly constructed setup of Listen Up Philip, the...

Girls, “Two Plane Rides”

Written by Lena Dunham

Directed by Lena Dunham

Aired March 23rd, 2014

Do you remember how last season’s Girls run ended? Well this season things culminated in an entirely different tone. This time, there were no grand gestures or fireworks. Season three isn’t quite as dark as season two, but man is the finale rough. If the season two finale frustrated fans because it suggested that Hannah might be too dependent on the man in her life, the season three finale seems intent on underlining that Hannah’s ready to move on, with or without Adam. And she isn’t the only one moving on, but she seems to be the only one moving in the right direction: Hannah gets into the country’s best grad school, Adam gives a truly “bad” performance in his Broadway debut, Marnie finds herself in another destructive relationship, Shosh...

This October, we’ll all get a chance to find out what Philip has to say—and what people have to say to him.

Variety reports that Tribeca Film has acquired North American rights to Alex Ross Perry’s dark comedy Listen Up Philip. The film stars Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore) as an abrasive novelist in a collapsing relationship with his photographer girlfriend, Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men). Along the way, Philip also faces off with his literary idol, Jonathan Pryce (Brazil) and the man’s daughter, Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad).

Perry, a 2006 Nyu Film grad, gained acclaim for his sophomore feature The Color Wheel.

Is "The Girlfriend Experience" about to become the new "Fargo"? Starz announced on Monday (June 23) that it has ordered a somewhat fascinating -- in concept, if Tbd in terms of execution -- 13-part anthology series based on Steven Soderbergh's 2009 indie. "The Girlfriend Experience," if you've somehow forgotten, featured adult actress Sasha Grey as a high-end Manhattan escort offering Gfe, Girlfriend Experiences meant to simulate the intimacies of actual marriages or relationships. A 2009 Sundance premiere, "The Girlfriend Experience" wouldn't immediately seem to be the most likely movie-to-tv transfer. It grossed under $700,000 at the domestic box office and reviews were more "curious" than positive/negative for the drama, which had a running time of under 80 minutes. "The Girlfriend Experience" is probably thought of among Soderbergh's digital experiments, projects like "Full Frontal" or "Bubble," rather than positioned among the Oscar and Emmy winner's bigger critical or popular successes. It appears that the...

The Americans Season 2, Episode 6 “Behind the Red Door”

Written by Melissa James Gibson

Directed by Charlotte Sieling

Airs Wednesdays at 10pm Et on FX

For a season that opened with a family being brutally murdered in their hotel room, “Behind the Red Door” reaches new levels of darkness for The Americans, a display of just how ugly things can get when love is involved (and when its in the dangerous minefield of espionage, multiply that potential ugliness by about a thousand). Openly dramatic but also intensely intimate, “Behind the Red Door” is not only one of the best episodes of The Americans this season, but in the series.

The Americans begins teasing much larger ideas for season two in “Behind the Red Door”, introducing Laric as a very savvy (and very gay) wild card for Elizabeth and Philip to deal with. He’s tied up in some deal about Nicaraguan rebels being funded (or armed?...

I'm sorry, were there missions Philip and Elizabeth attended to in this episode ("Behind the Red Door")? Because it was pretty damn hard to concentrate on their interrogation of Emmett and Leanne's alleged killer or his involvement in a U.S.-funded Nicaraguan-Contra training program when Elizabeth insisted on having rough sex with "Clark."

'The Americans,' A to Z

"Door" offered no shortage of plot-driving narrative, but the more important scenes tended to focus on the overriding themes of family and marriage. Martha's loose lips about Clark's "wild...

A review of tonight's "The Americans" coming up just as soon as I'm the Kenny Rogers of Haifa... "You're a monster! You're not a man! Whatever you once were, whoever you were, they trained it out of you! No feeling, no humanity, you may as well be dead!" -Anton "The Deal" is an installment of "The Americans" where the whole isn't as strong as the sum of the individual parts, because even though the parts are mostly terrific, there are too many of them. FX has given this show, like many of its dramas, the freedom to come in long when the creative team needs the extra time, but in this case I would say being forced to hit a rigid time would have been useful. So much of what's strong about the episode comes from the tension of the ticking clock on Philip's situation, where there's only so long...

Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com

She Beast (1966)

Written and Directed by: Michael Reeves

Cast: Barbara Steele (Veronica), John Karlsen (Count von Helsing), Ian Ogilvy (Philip) Mel Welles (Landislav Groper)Richard Watson (Comrade Police Lieutenant)

This week I’m going really old school with a British Italian horror classic, “The She Beast”. There’s the strong possibility that I have seen this movie in the past maybe on a local channel from back in the day, but I don’t recall it if I did. I should have though, because, it’s definitely an important film in the history of horror. It won’t change your life if you watch it now, but I bet it inspired some horror filmmakers early on, whose work we enjoy today.

“The She Beast” tells the story of the evil witch Vardella, who is terrorizing villagers in 18th century Transylvania. Finally, the townspeople have had enough,...

To the casual observer, Elizabeth Jennings is still a paragon of Directorate S: During this week's rather mundane mission, which was to steal propeller schematics from a factory mid-move (thank you, Brush-Pass Fred for the heads up), all she needed was to fondle a crowbar and pocket the photo of a low-level cog's youngest son to ensure his silence. There was no physical harm, there were no threats – yet Keri Russell gave off such a menacing vibe with her understated mannerisms that I wasn't so sure Derek was going to...

The Americans Season 2, Episode 2 “Cardinal”

Written by Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg

Directed by Daniel Sackheim

Airs Wednesday nights at 10pm Et on FX

With everyone reeling from the climatic events of “Comrades”, there really isn’t a lot of progress made in “Cardinal”; in the narrative sense, this hour represents the time in between chess moves, with each side re-gathering and assessing their current situation. However, there is a lot more at stake than a few glass game pieces, a fact “Cardinal” refuses to shy away from, forcing Elizabeth and Philip to face the one fear they’ve never experienced before: fear for the lives of their children, now undeniably a part of the shit storm that ended the season premiere.

There really isn’t much going on but some table-setting in “Cardinal”; Paige is growing more suspicious (even calling to look up the name and address on one of...

Philip and Elizabeth are coming close to a crossroads when faced with the reality that their kids could be killed as a result of their criminal activities in "Comrades," the second season premiere of The Americans.

Philip (Matthew Rhys) begins the episode by pulling a standard undercover operation, resulting in the death of two Afghans at his hands. The standard op, however, did not go entirely smoothly. In a moment of panic, Philip also shot an innocent busboy after his disguise was destroyed and his face was in plain sight. In a snap decision, Philip decided to kill the busboy to protect his identity.

And, no rest for the wicked means that Philip returns home to embark on yet another operation with Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and comrades Leanne (Natalie Gold) and Emmett (Jeremy Davidson), another spy couple who have two children, Jared (Owen Campbell) and Amelia (Gracie Bea Lawrence), not unlike Philip and Elizabeth.

When "The Americans" comes back for Season 2, it doesn't mess around.

Only one hour into the new season, and "Comrades" has already served up mass murder (twice), family drama, sex (sorry Paige!), betrayals, a mail-delivery robot (!!!!!) and Meryl Streep. It's going to be one heck of a season.

Back in action

Some time has passed since the Season 1 finale -- long enough for Philip to run an entire operation with some Afghans (and then kill them) and for Elizabeth to fully recover from that gunshot wound. She comes home just in time for Henry's birthday, and everyone is happy and smiling. That is, they're happy and smiling until Philip and Elizabeth leave for "date night."

Naturally, the only dating happening is with other people. The Jennings and a new couple -- also in Directorate S -- set up a Lockheed employee with sex and misdirection. Then they go talk about the kids.

When "The Americans" returns for season 2 next month on FX, Russian spies Philip and Elizabeth Jennings will commit to giving their fake marriage and real go, but that doesn't mean their problems are over. "We saw the first season very much as about the marriage," creator and executive producer Joe Weisberg says at TCA's Winter press tour. "At the end of the season, Elizabeth tells Philip to come home and after that there's a sense they're going to be solid and more together. [In season two] we're going to see how this family struggles and tries to hold it together."...

The little prince made his way to Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 15 for a very special meeting — Prince George is being introduced to his great-grandfather, Prince Philip, for the very first time! How exciting!

Prince George made a very special trip on Sept. 15 — the newborn heir flew to Scotland to meet his 91-year-old great-grandpa Prince Philip for the first time. He made the trip with his parents Kate Middleton and Prince William to meet more of his family. The elder prince’s health has prevented him from meeting the tiny monarch in the months following his birth.

Prince George Meets Prince Philip, Great-Grandpa, In Scotland

The royal family flew out to Scotland early on Sept. 15, Us Weekly confirmed. The purpose of the young parents’ trip was to introduce their son to his great-grandpa!

Queen Elizabeth II met Prince George just one day after his birth in July — but her husband,...

What is the point of this stupid, painful life if not to be honest? If not to stand up for what you are in the core of your being?

As the cast of Jamie Lloyd’s revival of The Pride return to take their second bow, before a packed and emotional house, they each bear a placard with a dedication that causes the audience to rise to its feet: To Russia, With Love. The fond gesture is a fitting way to end a play which explores the themes of compassion and courage which punctuate the loneliness of a life half lived. A pair of love triangles intersect, when alternate incarnations of the same threesome try to find a way to live their lives honestly and their sexuality openly. The journey towards self-discovery forces one couple apart but offers hope for the future of another.

In 1958 Philip and Sylvia are waiting...

Do you want to quiz the Observer film critic before he retires? Here's your chance

For decades Philip French has been a fixture of British Sundays, "a heavyweight of film criticism", "an exemplar of the very best". ("I tend not to read reviews," said director Kevin Macdonald in 2008, "but I do read his.") Next month Philip retires, 50 years and thousands of reviews since he first wrote for this paper in 1963, taking in a dozen Martin Scorseses, 30-plus Woody Allens, three cinematic releases of Apocalypse Now, seven Batmans… To mark the end of an era we've invited Philip to take part in our "You ask the questions" series, and we need your input. Do you have a burning question for Philip French? Let us know.

Perhaps you'd like to ask him what it can possibly be like to absorb so much film over the hours (days, weeks – years?) he's spent in screening rooms.

Breathe. Do not forget to breathe.

Your enjoyment of "The Americans" requires you to stay alive long enough to truly appreciate the incredible -- but real -- genius of the show's Season 1 finale. No matter how much anyone studied history or could have guessed about what was coming, "The Colonel" still managed to shock and surprise from beginning to end.

It's going to be a long almost-year to wait before we find out what happens next.

Crises of conscience and related international crises

Philip and Elizabeth Jennings (Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell) have not one but two missions to accomplish before the season ends. The first is an everyday thing: Someone has to go retrieve a recording from Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger's study bug. The other mission is a little more dangerous, as it requires one of them to meet with a Colonel who knows all about the Reagan administration's Star Wars program.

The Soviet Union was the number one enemy of the United States, but while watching The Americans it's easy to forget that. Even though the Jennings are undercover Kgb spies and were taught to fight against America, it's often difficult to hate them. They are individuals, a couple, and parents raising two American children that are also capable of friendship and love.

"Covert War" was on the face about the escalation of the violence between America and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but really it was about the personal cost that affected those on both sides of the war. No one was safe from suffering the emotional strain of their job, regardless of if they were American, Soviet, or living a life in-between.

The Americans isn't a big picture, epic look at the Cold War or what it is like to be a spy. Instead, it succeeds because...

Stars: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Annet Mahendru, Holly Taylor | Created by Joseph Weisberg

There’s an interesting idea raised this week on The Americans. It’s a idea that is always something that rolls around in a show about covert operations and that idea is the shifting of paradigms. We’ve seen from the get-go that Elizabeth and Philip are people fostering an air of falsity. They are not who they are. It’s the mission. It’s how it has to be. But, we look at Stan Beeman, noble FBI agent or at least what we think. There was always talk of how he maybe devoted himself too much to the job, he spent all those years with the supremacists and is further falling away from his wife, sleeping with Nina and so forth. So, both parties devoted to bringing the other down, are becoming more and more alike in the end.

“If you start to think of your marriage as real, you’re of no use to us.” Claudia, a.k.a. Granny, says that to her distrustful Kgb agent Elizabeth Jennings in an early scene in “Mutually Assured Destruction.” (What a great title!) The minute she said it, I realized that some of the commenters on last week’s recap were likely right about that business in New York, with Phillip sleeping with an old flame (Irina, a.k.a. Anne from Montreal) who tells him he has a son he didn’t know about, and invites him to leave his wife and kids and start over with her and the boy. A comment by SayWhatNow is so prescient that I’m going to quote it at length here:“Part of me thinks that this ‘Son’ is not real and was a setup for Mischa/Philip to have the anger...

Each year there are just a handful of television shows that take us by complete surprise and knock our socks off; yet because they are not usually launched on big network, it is nearly impossible to see them coming. It then becomes a heady feeling of “love at first sight” – all the more treasured because we were not simply seduced by glamorous posters or sizzling preview trailers. Instead, these are shows that were intriguing on concept and deemed worthy of a peek; and once seen, we know that we had fallen head-over-heels in love

Each Fall, avid TV viewers anxiously await the debut of the traditional Fall season of television shows that launch and find places on our viewing lists. But with the ever-expanding market of cable and off-cable networks launching television shows all year round and offering some of the best shows on television, it has become intriguing to...

Park Chan-wook is a South Korean film director, screenwriter, producer, and former film critic. The director of Thirst and Oldboy is one of the most acclaimed and popular filmmakers in his native country and is a cult figure among fans of offbeat foreign films. Now Park Chan-wook has brought his novel sensibilities to Hollywood, where he’s made his first English-langiuage film, the bloody soap opera Stokrt starring Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, and Nicole Kidman.

Read my We Are Movie Geeks review of Stoker Here

http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2013/03/stoker-the-review/

Representing We Are Movie Geeks, I recently participated, along with several other film journalists, in a conference call interview with Park Chan-wook.

Question: Your film Stoker is being compared to being on par with the masterful director, Alfred Hitchcock. How does the comparison make you feel? And of his work, has any of it influenced you in your career and on the set of Stoker?...

Stoker is Chan-wook Park’s American film debut. Destroy the Brain was fortunate enough to sit in on a roundtable interview with the director and his translator. Stoker stars Mia Wasikowska, Dermot Mulroney, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode. If you are in St. Louis, Stoker will be opening on March 15th at the Landmark Tivoli Theater.

Trailer

[Editor's Note: Since this one of the first times we are publishing a roundtable interview, we have included all the questions asked with ours, the last question, highlighted. I have reworded all responses to make them sound like Mr. Park personally answered them instead of through his translator.]

Your film Stoker is being compared to being on par with the masterful director Alfred Hitchcock. How does the comparison make you feel and of his work, has any of any of it influenced you in your career and on the set of Stoker?

The film that made me decide to become a filmmaker in the first place is the film Vertigo. Vertigo, to me, is synonymous with Hitchcock. For me, Vertigo is Hitchcock’s representative work. When I first started out studying film, I drew a great influence from Hitchcock. Of course,...