by IMDb-Editors | Public
From the moment Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace), a slick former IBM executive, blows into Texas’s Silicon Prairie and seduces his way into a tiny software company called Cardiff Electric, it becomes clear that this series could become AMC's next great pulse-pounding character study. It's also a period piece, set in the stylistically-transitional era of the early '80s, at the dawn of the modern tech age. But Pace, Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis make a great team of clashing personalities, and by the end of the first episode, they succeed in making subject that's not particularly exciting on the surface into a thrilling tale powered by innovation, hunger and greed. Which, as one seminal 1980s character was famous for observing, is good. --Melanie McFarland
Series Premiere: 10pm Sunday, June 1 on AMC.
I was late to the mass-viewing party for the first season of "Orange is the New Black". I heard nothing but rave reviews. However, since it was readily available on Netflix, I felt no sense of urgency to watch. But when I finally got around to watching the series, I devoured the whole season in two days! I have been waiting rather impatiently for the upcoming season, and I'm planning to binge-watch once again.
I was relieved to hear that Laura Prepon is returning for the new season (and is already signed on for season three). In fact, it looks like most of our favorite inmates will be back, including cray cray Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning), plus we'll meet some new prisoners including Lorraine Toussaint as Vee.
To view our gallery of the latest season two images, click here. --Michelle Bryant
Season Premiere: 12:01am Friday, June 6 on Netflix.
Initially, I was mostly interested in seeing Supermensch to get a closer look at Shep Gordon's infamous years of managing the careers of the some the world's most famous musicians, but then watching the trailer stirred my curiosity on a deeper level. It seems Gordon's dedication to guiding the careers of so many famous musicians, actors, even chefs, belies his own need to avoid fame for himself; watching as Mike Myers tackles this notion with a documentarian's eye could be an unusual, challenging treat. --Heather Campbell
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon opens in limited release June 6th.
Australian director David Michod attracted a lot of attention with his debut feature Animal Kingdom, a crime drama that reached theaters in 2010. Four years later, follow-up The Rover finds Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson attempting to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The trailer shows off some impressive imagery, and promises a story that’s both dramatic and thrilling. It will also be interesting to see how Pattinson fares in his first post-Twilight movie. At the very least, The Rover will provide a nice alternative to the season’s big-budget fare. -- Ray Subers
The Rover opens in limited release on June 13th ahead of a nationwide expansion on June 20th.
The big-screen version of 21 Jump Street was one of the biggest surprises of 2012. It cleverly managed to both pay homage to and lampoon the 80s TV series upon which it was based. Perhaps more importantly, it showed that Channing Tatum is more than just a good-looking dude: he’s also a likeable comedic talent.
22 Jump Street finds Tatum and 21 Jump Street pal Jonah Hill moving on to college, where they’ll once again try to bust up some kind of drug ring. Comedy sequels do have a pretty poor track record (The Hangover Part II, Meet the Fockers, etc.), though LEGO Movie directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord could be the ones to buck that trend. -- Ray Subers
22 Jump Street opens nationwide on June 13th.
The haunting beauty of this Sundance drama has a central conundrum at its foundation: the central character, Daniel Holden, appears to be a calm, if tortured, soul resolved to move on and connect to the world around him, even if the other people occupying that world would rather see him dead or in prison.
Daniel, you see, was sentenced to death as a teenager for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl. Now, 19 years later, he is a free man. But his sentence was only vacated; he could still be tried, and he may indeed be guilty.
In the end, the mystery of Daniel's guilt or innocence takes a back seat to "Rectify's" themes of granting absolution to one's self, and the challenge a person faces in attempting to move forward when the rest of the world would rather see one buried. As second two begins, Daniel is recovering from a terrible beating. But his inner mending process is due to take much longer. -- Melanie McFarland
Season Premiere: 9pm Thursday, June 19 on Sundance.
Anyone who saw Legion may be wondering what in the heck possessed anybody to think, "You know what? This would make a great series." On the channel that has brought us Sharknado and so many other ridiculous delights, why not? Plus, "Supernatural" has done mighty well for itself with the whole "angels are trying to kill us!" theme, so bring it... Bring. It. Bonus point: It has Anthony Head in it. That's right, Giles is in a show about humans at war with the Heavenly host.
The only thing this series is missing right now is a Quaid. No piece of disaster-related entertainment can truly be complete without a Quaid in the mix. But as long as Syfy can deliver us from summer primetime boredom with this show, that oversight is easily forgiven. --Melanie McFarland
Series Premiere: 9pm Thursday, June 19 on Syfy.
We've reached the final season of "True Blood", and I readily admit it is definitely time to wrap up the series and let the inhabitants of Bon Temps head off into the mists of television history; some part of me hopes the beleagured survivors of the town's many supernatural disasters band together and blow up Bon Temps at the end, "Little House on the Prairie"-style. I do still love so many of the characters (Lafayette forever!) and will miss seeing them on a regular basis, that parting is somewhat bittersweet. The promos for this season look very end-of-days and I do hope there are plenty of bloody surprises in store, mixed well with the confident sense of humor that buoyed the series' early seasons. --Heather Campbell
Final Season Premiere: 9pm Sunday, June 22nd on HBO.
Fans of Wet Hot American Summer, rejoice! David Wain, Michael Showalter and the usual suspects return, this time to skewer the romantic comedy genre with their deliciously discomforting, persistently absurd humor. Paul Rudd is Joel, whose corporate candy company (hmm, this seems strangely familiar somehow) aims to shut down Molly's (Amy Poehler) tiny candy shop, when love and wackiness ensue. Here's hoping we get years of quote-along joy out of this latest effort too. Frankly, Rudd and Poehler should be required by law to co-star in something each year, forever. --Heather Campbell
They Came Together opens in limited release June 27th.
A brilliant series doesn't always have to start out with an uplifting premiere. It merely has to be intriguing. The first hour of "The Leftovers" was certainly that -- as well as sad and nihilistic. When I say this, I mean that after seeing it I wanted to take a dip in a bathtub while cuddling a plugged-in hairdryer. Yes. It's that depressing. But it is also weird, ethereal at times, and mysterious enough to make me curious to see more episodes which, ultimately, makes it a successful sell.
Besides, as I have previously written, it is plain that something else is waiting to emerge from the opening episode's bleakness. What it is, I can't say. But I'm curious enough to stick around for a bit to find out. --Melanie McFarland
Series Premiere: 10pm Sunday, June 29 on HBO.