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Susan Swan’s novel The Biggest Modern Woman of the World is being adapted for television by Orphan Black producer Temple Street Productions.

The Canadian producer has optioned the 1983 book and Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch, who has written on TV dramas including X Company and Played, is adapting.

The book tells the true story of a seven-foot-six giantess who exhibited with P.T. Barnum. It follows Anna Swan, who died in 1888, from childhood as one of 13 children of poor Scottish immigrants in Nova Scotia through a life of showbusiness that took her to New York and across Europe. Barnum billed her as The Biggest Modern Woman of the World in his entertainment palace on Broadway.

David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, Co-Chairmen of Temple Street owner Boat Rocker, will exec produce with Killjoys and Saving Hope’s Trish Williams and Moscovitch. Boat Rocker controls the international rights.

Swan said the novel...

Last month, I had the opportunity to check out the 4Dx in-theater technology for Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of It, and this week, I had a chance to hop into the hot seat once again for Jigsaw, the latest entry of the Saw franchise, which was helmed by Michael and Peter Spierig. As someone who is something of a Saw enthusiast, I was eager to see what the brothers behind such films as Daybreakers and Predestination had in store with their new deadly game of survival and redemption.

**Spoiler Alert: Because I’ll be discussing how the 4Dx technology played into certain specific moments in Jigsaw, there will be some spoilers that follow (plus, I have my own “waxing poetic” moments about this franchise that I’m eager to discuss). I’d recommend seeing the film for yourself first before reading any further.**

First, let’s dig into Jigsaw. It...

Season 2 of ABC’s Designated Survivor, TVLine reported in August, will fade out the freshman hit’s conspiracy storyline, leaving unlikely Potus Tom Kirkman at the center of a more West Wing-like drama. But how does that actually look, in the first two episodes made available for critics?

RelatedDesignated Survivor Season 2: As the Conspiracy Reaches ‘Thrilling’ Conclusion, New Journeys Begin

Wednesday night’s premiere was perhaps the more extreme example of the “straight” Season 2, whereas next week’s episode highlights — if only to wrap up — the 24-like hunt for Patrick Lloyd, the mastermind behind the tragic Capitol bombing...

We thought all the great vintage music documentaries were accounted for, but Murray Lerner’s look at the Newport Folk Festival in the mid-‘sixties is a terrific time machine to a kindler, gentler musical era. The mix of talent is broad and deep, and we get to see excellent vintage coverage of some real legends, before the hype & marketing plague arrived.

Festival: Folk Music at Newport, 1963-1966

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 892

1967 / B&W / 1:33 flat full frame / 97 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date September 12, 2017 / 39.95

Starring: Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Mary Travers, Odetta, Ronnie Gilbert, Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, Theodore Bikel, Cousin Emmy, Horton Barker, Fiddler Beers, Mimi Fariña, Richard Farina, Mrs. Ollie Gilbert, Fannie Lou Hamer, Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, John Koerner, Jim Kweskin, Tex Logan, Mel Lyman, Spokes Mashiyane, Fred McDowell, Brownie McGhee, Pappy Clayton McMichen,...

*full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by Sector 5 Films. Director: Frank Merle. Writers: James Cullen Bressack and Frank Merle. Cast: Tony Todd, Derek Mears, Aaron Abrams, Meghan Deanna Smith and Danielle Taddei. #FromJennifer is the third film in the series. This second sequel was preceded by To Jennifer (2013) and 2 Jennifer (2016). This latest production is from director Frank Merle and writer James Cullen Bressack. And, the series comes to a close with a tale of revenge and internet fame. Mostly comedic, a couple of horror veterans, Tony Todd (Candyman, 1992) and Derek Mears (Hatchet III, 2013) anchor the film. But, there are few scary moments here and more laughs. Meanwhile, Jennifer is her own hero and villain, sabotaging her path to success. The third act goes off the deep end. Still, #FromJennifer is an entertaining time, that goes by quite fast, even considering its short seventy-five minute runtime. The story begins with our damaged hero.

Robert Keeling Apr 25, 2017

Saluting the movie characters who make an impression, the minute they appear on the screen...

One thing that unites all of cinema’s most iconic characters is that they were able to make a memorable first impression. Whether it’s bursting onto the scene in a flurry of noise or slowly skulking their way into shot, there’s a fine art to ensuring a character makes an instant impact on screen. An iconic entrance is not just about a momentary impact however, it can also emphasise a character’s importance and help to cement their influence over the rest of the movie.

See related Westworld episode 10 review: The Bicameral Mind Westworld episode 9 review: The Well-Tempered Clavier

There are any number of contributory factors that can be blended together in order to make an entrance truly memorable. These include the accompanying music, the choice of camera shot, the...

Close-Up is a column that spotlights films now playing on Mubi. Jack Hill's Spider Baby (1967) will be showing January 24 - February 23 and Pit Stop (1967) will be showing January 25 - February 24, 2017 in the United States.Quentin Tarantino, unsurprisingly a gushing fan of Jack Hill, once famously compared the exploitation specialist to venerable Hollywood icon Howard Hawks, presumably on the basis of his distinctly personal preferences and his unassuming, across-the-board genre dabbling. Of course, those genres explored by Hawks—from westerns to screwball comedies—were considerably different than those in which Hill excels, but the point is well taken: within his respective niches, Hill does it as well as anyone, with skill and without pretense. This includes quintessential Blaxploitation classics like Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974), and some of the finest women-in-prison films ever made—yes, there are some very fine women-in-prison films—namely The Big Doll House (1971) and The Big Bird Cage...

At this point, seasoned Netflix viewers may feel like they’ve seen it all when it comes to imaginative storytelling, whether it be science fiction, supernatural, fantasy or whatever “The Oa” is. The streaming platform’s latest foreign acquisition, Canada’s “Travelers,” is a much simpler type of project, almost a throwback, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Released on the same day as Guillermo Del Toro’s family-friendly “Trollhunters” and the “Sense8” Christmas special, it appears that “Travelers” is meant to be the third leg in the triumvirate of holiday-binge programming. And in that vein, it fits. It contains just enough intrigue for continuous viewing, but is light enough to not over-tax one’s spirits during such a hectic season.

Read More: ‘Travelers’ Trailer: Mind-Bending Eric McCormack Sci-Fi Drama Brings Mystery to Netflix

“Travelers” is a time travel show that is very light on science. Hundreds of years in our future,...

Well, the fall television season has begun, which means I’ve been watching the return of my favorite series and the premiere of new shows that have tickled my interest. Here’s a rundown.

Timeless (Mondays, 10 P.M., NBC)

Everyone who reads this column regularly knows that I’m a nut for alternate history and time-travel stories, so of course I was going to check out Timeless, which premiered last week, October 3… and, of course, I missed it. So on Saturday I logged onto Hulu and caught up.

The premise is a familiar one to science fiction geeks like me – what happens to our present if someone goes back and either deliberately or accidentally changes the history we know? This is best illustrated, at least for me, by Ray Bradbury’s classic and beautifully written “A Sound of Thunder,” in which a big game hunter travels back to the Jurassic...

Netflix’s superhero dramas, because they don’t have to sweat the week-to-week ebbs and flows in ratings, are able to spend protracted amounts of time with the villain. And that can indeed be a sweet storytelling luxury, as demonstrated thus far by Marvel’s Daredevil and Jessica Jones series.

VideosLuke Cage Takes (and Breaks) a Punch in New Sneak Peek

But there’s a point in Marvel’s Luke Cage (premiering Friday, Sept. 30, all 13 episodes) where two crime bosses are drilling down so deep into their dealings, the viewer almost feels remiss for not possessing a degree in Illicit Business & Finance.

When you walk into the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto, the first thing you see are leaves — crisp-looking, fall-colored, hanging in mass from the low-ceiling over the back seats. It's the sort of aesthetic flourish designed to make you feel that you're not just watching, say, a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, you're sitting in the middle of it. And in its own weird way, this quaint touch added to the experience of seeing the festival's first public showing of Moonlight, Barry Jenkins' ambitious sophomore movie about a...

Editor’s Note: This post is presented in support of Hulu’s original comedy series “Casual.” Watch new episodes on Tuesdays, streaming only on Hulu.

Cities can be scary places to make new friends. It can be hard enough just navigating between boroughs or through traffic, let alone forming bonds with people you may only have time to see once a week. Sure, texts and tweets help connect people in the modern world, but — similar to romantic relationships — you don’t want to come off as overbearing, clingy or “too” interested. So how do you solidify those friendships without alienating your would-be friends?

Let “Casual’s” Alex and his family of students teach you.

Played by Tommy Dewey on Hulu’s hit comedy, Alex has a way with people that’s hard to emulate, but not impossible. Below, we’ve collected a list of his techniques for meeting and sustaining relationships.

Warning: The following contains spoilers from Thursday’s Orphan Black

Orphan Black didn’t just channel its pilot during Thursday’s Season 4 premiere. It turned the clocks way back to tell the tale of how Beth spiraled so badly that she would eventually take her own life.

RelatedOrphan Black Adds Talking Dead-Style Season 4 After-Show

In an unexpected move that had me scratching my head and then squealing in delight, the episode kicked off with a phone call not to Sarah, but Beth, as she slept in bed with Paul (former cast member Dylan Bruce). And those two weren...

Arrow is pointed in a very dark direction when the CW series resumes Season 4 this Wednesday at 8/7c. Who if anyone will be able or willing to stop him from crossing lines in the name of revenge?

RelatedArrow/Flash Heroes Won’t Fret About Sara, Ray, Other ‘Missing’ Legends

When last we tuned in, Damien Darhk had ordered a brutal attack on the limousine taking Oliver and his fiancee Felicity away from a campaign event. Oliver escaped unscathed, but Felicity took a lot of fire. With his love in no condition to quell his anger, Oliver’s want for...

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We speculate on who Peter Capaldi's Doctor might encounter in the series 9 finale, Hell Bent. Spoilers for Heaven Sent...

Warning: this article contains spoilers for Doctor Who series nine, episode eleven, Heaven Sent. Don't scroll below the Spoiler Squirrel if you don't want to find out more...

So after a couple of years of searching, the Doctor has finally found his way back to Gallifrey. Having been practically off-limits for the last ten years, there’s a rich seam of Doctor Who continuity hidden in plain sight on Gallifrey just waiting to be mined. With that in mind, here’s a run down of some of the characters who could potentially appear in next week’s episode, Hell Bent...

The General

Played by Ken Bones, the General first appeared in The Day Of The Doctor, and was the man who ultimately sanctioned the Doctors’ attempt to...

As Britain digests the results of its General Election, a look back at some of the most memorable prime ministers from TV and the movies reveals a bunch only marginally more disconcerting than some of the real-life options.

Operating on a scale from complete idiocy through to full-blown murderous villainy, were they actually on the ballot paper, you'd probably do well to think twice before putting an X in their box. But you can be sure of one terrifying thought - someone out there would.

So who would you vote for, given the choice between the real prime minister and 8 of TV and film's most memorable premiers? Find out more about our fictional candidates below...

1. Baldrick in Blackadder: Back and Forth

Baldrick became an MP in a rotten borough during the opening episode of Blackadder the Third, mainly thanks to the help of a campaign partner who's especially keen to...

As Britain digests the results of its General Election, a look back at some of the most memorable prime ministers from TV and the movies reveals a bunch only marginally more disconcerting than some of the real-life options.

Operating on a scale from complete idiocy through to full-blown murderous villainy, were they actually on the ballot paper, you'd probably do well to think twice before putting an X in their box. But you can be sure of one terrifying thought - someone out there would.

So who would you vote for, given the choice between the real prime minister and 8 of TV and film's most memorable premiers? Find out more about our fictional candidates below...

1. Baldrick in Blackadder: Back and Forth

Baldrick became an MP in a rotten borough during the opening episode of Blackadder the Third, mainly thanks to the help of a campaign partner who's especially keen to...

Below is a press statement from producer Harinder Sikka aimed to put to rest concerns that have been misinterpreted by various organizations in an attempt to misinform audiences about the film Nanak Shah Fakir.

A first-of-its-kind film in about 600 years of Sikh history that is based on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak titled Nanak Shah Fakir is set to release on April17.

This statement is aimed to put to rest concerns that have been misinterpreted by various organizations in an attempt to misinform audiences about the film.

Guru Nanak Ji Is Not Played By A Human Actor

Guru Nanak has been depicted through high-end computer graphics at a VFX studio. Keeping with Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak Dev Ji has been portrayed from the back, amidst a ray of light.

It is pertinent to mention that there is no order from any of the gurus within the Guru Grant...

The season 2 finale of BBC America’s Orphan Black ended on a tantalizing cliffhanger: in addition to the clone sisterhood, there’s also a squad of male genetic identicals. Now, thanks to the network’s recent trailer drop, there’s a chance to witness exactly how Sarah Manning and her Project Leda sisters intend to deal with this new threat.

The militarized males of Project Castor don’t appear to be quite as loveable as the female clones we’ve all grown to know and love across two seasons. Played with a varied vehemence by Ari Miller, this new squad were designed, created and raised together to form a cohesive unit. In short; they’re nothing like Sarah, Cosima, Alison and Helena. Although, to be fair, there’s no-one quite like Helena.

At the center of this new trailer is, of course, the ever-impressive Tatiana Maslany, who is reprising her...

Some will say they knew all along, and some are still scraping their jaws off the floor A big surprise, a Big surprise.

Dark Water

By Steven Moffat

Directed by Rachel Talalay

Deciding to come clean with her boyfriend Danny, Clara begins to bear all to him over the phone, only to have the call, and his life, cut short as Danny is struck fatally by a passing car. Clara passes through the five stages of grief off camera, and advances to step six – Plan To Get Him Back. She attempts to threaten The Doctor into saving him, but learns quickly that it’s not necessary. As they arrive in a bizarre mausoleum, Danny awakens on the other side of the equation, in the same office where we’ve seen several people arrive, having it explained to him that he’s dead. The Doctor and Clara are told a wild...

Played out before an enthusiastic crowd on Friday (March 14) night, the PaleyFest debut for Netflix's "Orange Is The New Black" was a mixed-to-positive affair.  Mostly positive. The 70-minute panel, which proceeded by only a brief Season 1 clip reel, was a fantastic showcase for the chemistry of the deep ensemble cast, which was represented by 11 returning stars, one fresh face and one unannounced guest. Plenty of time was spent on the show's progressive stance for women, racial diversity and diversification of gender and sexual roles. Plenty of time was also spent buttering Netflix up, as seemingly the entire cast raved about the idea of binge-watching TV, but only referenced "House of Cards" as a show that might be binged. Paying near-religious tribute to series developer and showrunner Jenji Kohan, the "Orange" team celebrated their unique working environment and the freedom it gives them. As a big fan of "Orange Is The New Black,...

Line of Duty : BBC Two, 9pm

Lindsay Denton is left fighting for her life as the conspiracy theory around her tightens. Hastings also comes under pressure and is urged to arrest Dcc Dryden, as links between him and the ambush grow.

Meanwhile, in order to further protect his secret identity as 'Caddy' Dot is forced to call in a favour from an old friend.

Law & Order: UK: ITV, 9pm

DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) has a new partner as series eight begins tonight. Played by newcomer Ben Bailey, DS Joe Hawkins is recently transferred from child protection services and has a sensitive style of questioning which Brooks finds difficult to deal with. However, Bailey soon proves his worth and it looks like a friendship between the two may blossom.

The team then find a dead jewellery dealer, minus his hands and teeth, and the hunt for the killer begins,...

A Clockwork Orange is one of those rare films that socks you in the gut but also scrambles your brain. This is an investigation on why it is so effective at doing two things at once and, because of this, why I think it is one of the most influential films ever made.

Each month the Cinelinx staff will write a handful of articles covering a specified film-related topic. These articles will be notified by the Movielinx banner. Movielinx is an exploration and discussion of our personal connections with film. We’ll even submit reviews of the films we discuss so that you can get a better idea of what we’re talking about. This month we look at movies that are influential to us. What movies are influential to you? Feel free to add your own comments or reviews of movies that you find personally influential.

Some people have...

This post will be retroactively published on October 30, 2013. We apologize about the delay but we know you will enjoy the list the same. Thanks for your patience.

With the remake of Carrie being released in a few days, we celebrate this month’s The Thirteen column with our top 13 female villains and anti-heroes! I have culled the staff together and picked the best of all the names given. Caution: There may be spoilers.

Angel Blake from the film ‘The Blood on Satan’s Claw‘ Played by Linda Hayden

I first saw 1971’s “The Blood on Satan’s Claw” a couple of years ago, as an assignment for a long-running podcast that had a knack for uncovering cinematic, oddball gems. I remember saying that Satan’s Claw is like watching a 90+ minute car crash; impossible to look away from. But let’s get to what makes Angel Blake a great villain.

When The Flash’s alter ego Barry Allen makes his entrance on Arrow this season, he’ll make fast friends with the vigilante’s crew.

“He has a very easy relationship with Felicity, because Barry’s a forensic scientist,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg revealed during TVLine’s visit to the CW hit’s Vancouver set. “He’s young and a little socially awkward, like she is. So there’s a lot of fun with that.”

Photos | Fall TV Spoiler Spectacular: Exclusive Scoop on Arrow, Plus 44 Other Returning Faves

Played by Glee‘s Grant Gustin, Barry is also a bit of...

Sci-fi fans in the U.S. may know her best as Lisa from V, Kara/Supergirl/Brainiac from Smallville, or Arla at the end of last season’s Haven (ooo that was creepy) but now we’ll get to know her as werewolf Elena Michaels, as Syfy today announced the acquisition of Canadian series Bitten, starring Laura Vandervoort:

September 17, 2013

Syfy Acquires New Original Werewolf Drama Series Bitten From Entertainment One

Bitten – Based On The Best-selling Novels By Kelley Armstrong – Will Premiere On Syfy In 2014

New York – September 17, 2013 – A new breed of werewolves is coming to Syfy with the acquisition of the first season of the new Canadian scripted series Bitten from leading independent studio Entertainment One (eOne).

Season 1 of Bitten, consisting of 13 one-hour episodes, will premiere on Syfy in 2014.

Based on the New York Times best-selling Women of the Otherworld novels by Kelley Armstrong, Bitten is an emotionally charged...