Guillermo del Toro’s ghoulish “Nightmare Alley” was really two movies in one for Oscar-contending production designer Tamara Deverell with its carnival and Art Deco environments. But both were constructed as places of entrapment for Bradley Cooper’s ruthless grifter, Stanton Carlisle, who gets in over his head with his mentalist “spook show.”
“Once you decide to build something with Guillermo, it gets bigger, and Guillermo’s theme is we’re all in a prison,” said Deverell. The first part takes place in a traveling carnival in 1939, which afforded the production designer the opportunity to build her own carnival from the ground up in the parking lot field of Markham Fairground in Toronto. The color palette resembled the stark hopelessness of Edward Hopper’s paintings, while the shape language consisted of circular patterns and hallways as dead end metaphors.
The banners, meanwhile, were patterned after Fred Johnson, who was the Picasso of that design world.
“Once you decide to build something with Guillermo, it gets bigger, and Guillermo’s theme is we’re all in a prison,” said Deverell. The first part takes place in a traveling carnival in 1939, which afforded the production designer the opportunity to build her own carnival from the ground up in the parking lot field of Markham Fairground in Toronto. The color palette resembled the stark hopelessness of Edward Hopper’s paintings, while the shape language consisted of circular patterns and hallways as dead end metaphors.
The banners, meanwhile, were patterned after Fred Johnson, who was the Picasso of that design world.
- 1/31/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
This article contains The Expanse spoilers.
Many fans of The Expanse on Prime Video who haven’t already read the James S. A. Corey novels upon which the series is based probably have at least thought about checking out the books at some point. But the floodgates likely opened after the series finale aired for those looking to answer the questions left unresolved by the show’s untimely cancelation with books seven through nine still unadapted.
For those still on the fence, we’ll attempt to outline the plot of the remaining story without spoiling the big moments that should be experienced firsthand. The good news is that Persepolis Rising can be a starting point, skipping the first five books with only minor catching up to do. That’s not the recommended path, of course (read the whole thing!), but here’s what’s in store for anyone who takes that shortcut.
Many fans of The Expanse on Prime Video who haven’t already read the James S. A. Corey novels upon which the series is based probably have at least thought about checking out the books at some point. But the floodgates likely opened after the series finale aired for those looking to answer the questions left unresolved by the show’s untimely cancelation with books seven through nine still unadapted.
For those still on the fence, we’ll attempt to outline the plot of the remaining story without spoiling the big moments that should be experienced firsthand. The good news is that Persepolis Rising can be a starting point, skipping the first five books with only minor catching up to do. That’s not the recommended path, of course (read the whole thing!), but here’s what’s in store for anyone who takes that shortcut.
- 1/14/2022
- by Michael Ahr
- Den of Geek
[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for “The Expanse” Season 5 finale, “Nemesis Games.”]
All the way up until its enigmatic, red-hued final moments, Season 5 of “The Expanse” had its share of mammoth-scale moments. But in the season finale, the quietest ones might end up being the longest-lasting.
In the moment, the rescue of Naomi Nagata (Dominique Tipper) is certainly one of the most striking. Completing an arc that began with a daring hard vacuum escape, Naomi’s second untethered journey through space ends with the life-saving help of Bobbie Draper (Frankie Adams). As Naomi processes everything that’s happened to her since leaving her son, the camera stays on Tipper’s face.
“The length to which that scene goes on, it never cuts. You’re just with her,” executive producer and co-showrunner Naren Shakar said. “I remember the first time I saw it on the first director’s cut, and that’s essentially unchanged from what it was at that point.
All the way up until its enigmatic, red-hued final moments, Season 5 of “The Expanse” had its share of mammoth-scale moments. But in the season finale, the quietest ones might end up being the longest-lasting.
In the moment, the rescue of Naomi Nagata (Dominique Tipper) is certainly one of the most striking. Completing an arc that began with a daring hard vacuum escape, Naomi’s second untethered journey through space ends with the life-saving help of Bobbie Draper (Frankie Adams). As Naomi processes everything that’s happened to her since leaving her son, the camera stays on Tipper’s face.
“The length to which that scene goes on, it never cuts. You’re just with her,” executive producer and co-showrunner Naren Shakar said. “I remember the first time I saw it on the first director’s cut, and that’s essentially unchanged from what it was at that point.
- 2/3/2021
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
This The Expanse article includes Major spoilers for the ending of Season 5, Episode 10.
Much like Marco Inaros, The Expanse Season 5 finale writers used a bit of misdirect to distract from the fact that, while (most of) the crew of the Rocinante were finally reunited and Acting Secretary General Chrisjen Avasarala was gathering her team in preparation for war, the culmination of Marco’s deal with a rogue Martian fleet was coming to a head. In the final moments of “Nemesis Games,” the shape of the alliance between Inaros and the rogue Martian fleet (including the Barkeith) comes into focus, and it is not good news for Chrisjen & Co. But, before we get into that, let’s recap what happened with the Barkeith and the rogue Martian faction this season, and how we got to The Battle For the Sol Gate and the alien worlds beyond.
The Barkeith’s Season 5 Journey...
Much like Marco Inaros, The Expanse Season 5 finale writers used a bit of misdirect to distract from the fact that, while (most of) the crew of the Rocinante were finally reunited and Acting Secretary General Chrisjen Avasarala was gathering her team in preparation for war, the culmination of Marco’s deal with a rogue Martian fleet was coming to a head. In the final moments of “Nemesis Games,” the shape of the alliance between Inaros and the rogue Martian fleet (including the Barkeith) comes into focus, and it is not good news for Chrisjen & Co. But, before we get into that, let’s recap what happened with the Barkeith and the rogue Martian faction this season, and how we got to The Battle For the Sol Gate and the alien worlds beyond.
The Barkeith’s Season 5 Journey...
- 2/3/2021
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
This The Expanse review contains spoilers.
The Expanse Season 5 Episode 4
Ever since it began, The Expanse has known how to build action, which isn’t remarkable in itself for a sci-fi show. What makes this series different is that with very little exposition, it can create a sense that, as unsettled as things seem now, they’re about to get a lot messier. That’s a tricky balance to achieve since early episodes must also take the opportunity to create emotional beats before all hell breaks loose, and “Gaugamela” does just that.
The title of the episode refers to a decisive battle in Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire in 331 BC. Like the Macedonians, the Belter insurrectionists commanded by Marco are small in number, but their tactics have now decimated huge numbers of their enemy. The asteroids that hit Earth killed millions without a ship firing a single shot,...
The Expanse Season 5 Episode 4
Ever since it began, The Expanse has known how to build action, which isn’t remarkable in itself for a sci-fi show. What makes this series different is that with very little exposition, it can create a sense that, as unsettled as things seem now, they’re about to get a lot messier. That’s a tricky balance to achieve since early episodes must also take the opportunity to create emotional beats before all hell breaks loose, and “Gaugamela” does just that.
The title of the episode refers to a decisive battle in Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire in 331 BC. Like the Macedonians, the Belter insurrectionists commanded by Marco are small in number, but their tactics have now decimated huge numbers of their enemy. The asteroids that hit Earth killed millions without a ship firing a single shot,...
- 12/23/2020
- by Michael Ahr
- Den of Geek
The Expanse season 5 returns the series to the weekly format it enjoyed while it aired on Syfy, but it’s still probably best that Amazon is dropping the first three episodes on December 16 given the amount of exposition in the opening installments. Fortunately, the triple installment ends with a bang, and the series doesn’t let up from then on. Not only are fans in for a ton of action and intrigue; there’s also plenty of rich backstory to please those anxious to revisit with their favorite characters.
The buildup in the initial episodes is not without suspense, but it’s difficult to depict the danger presented by asteroids that are weeks away from colliding with Earth. There’s an early encounter with a science vessel looking into rogue asteroids that creates some clues to follow, but other than that there are only whispers of dark shapes passing in...
The buildup in the initial episodes is not without suspense, but it’s difficult to depict the danger presented by asteroids that are weeks away from colliding with Earth. There’s an early encounter with a science vessel looking into rogue asteroids that creates some clues to follow, but other than that there are only whispers of dark shapes passing in...
- 12/11/2020
- by Michael Ahr
- Den of Geek
Way back in The Expanse Season 1, before the Roci left Tycho on their mission to find “Lionel Polanski,” Naomi told Fred Johnson: “One day, I’m gonna ask you to find someone no questions asked.” Readers of the book series no doubt realized right away that this was a reference to Filip, Naomi’s long-lost son with charismatic and manipulative Opa terrorist Marco Inaros, but TV viewers didn’t hear Naomi bring up her son until well into Season 2. Later, we find out that Naomi hasn’t seen now-teen Filip since he was a baby.
In Season 4, finding Filip is no doubt increasingly on Naomi’s mind, both as tensions between the Opa and Earth rise and as Naomi sees her own regrets reflected in Lucia’s struggles on Ilus. It all comes to a head in the Season 4 finale, when Naomi calls Fred Johnson to call in her favor.
In Season 4, finding Filip is no doubt increasingly on Naomi’s mind, both as tensions between the Opa and Earth rise and as Naomi sees her own regrets reflected in Lucia’s struggles on Ilus. It all comes to a head in the Season 4 finale, when Naomi calls Fred Johnson to call in her favor.
- 11/10/2020
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
Michael Ahr Dec 16, 2019
There’s always a bit of setup for the next season of The Expanse in the finale, and season 4 gave us many clues about what’s to come.
As is typical with The Expanse, the ending moments of season 4 represent a narrative shift to prepare for a new story arc in season 5, following the same natural borders presented by successive novels in the James S. A. Corey series upon which the show is based. With the protomolecule no longer a factor, at least as it applies to Miller and the search for what happened to the Builders, it appears that a larger alien threat looms in the future: the superior force that killed the already powerful and advanced civilization that created the galaxy-spanning transport system of gates. And that’s not even taking into account what Marco Inaros has planned for Earth!
In fact, let’s start...
There’s always a bit of setup for the next season of The Expanse in the finale, and season 4 gave us many clues about what’s to come.
As is typical with The Expanse, the ending moments of season 4 represent a narrative shift to prepare for a new story arc in season 5, following the same natural borders presented by successive novels in the James S. A. Corey series upon which the show is based. With the protomolecule no longer a factor, at least as it applies to Miller and the search for what happened to the Builders, it appears that a larger alien threat looms in the future: the superior force that killed the already powerful and advanced civilization that created the galaxy-spanning transport system of gates. And that’s not even taking into account what Marco Inaros has planned for Earth!
In fact, let’s start...
- 12/14/2019
- Den of Geek
Kayti Burt Jul 29, 2019
We talked to The Expanse cast about what's next in Season 4 for one of our favorite dynamics: Amos and Naomi.
The relationship between The Expanse's Amos and Naomi is one of the most compelling on the show. We met the two as best friends and found family members in Season 1, and saw their relationship perhaps irrevocably broken when Naomi gave Fred Johnson and the Belters the protomolecule at the end of Season 2.
"She's not the person I thought she was," Amos tells Alex concerning Naomi in the Season 3 premiere—quite the telling statement from a person who, previously, would have followed Naomi anywhere, often using her judgment as his own moral compass in Seasons 1 and 2.
Naomi spends much of her time in Season 3 away from Amos, Holden, and Alex, working with the Opa as the Belter government uses humanity's precarious investigation of The Ring as part of...
We talked to The Expanse cast about what's next in Season 4 for one of our favorite dynamics: Amos and Naomi.
The relationship between The Expanse's Amos and Naomi is one of the most compelling on the show. We met the two as best friends and found family members in Season 1, and saw their relationship perhaps irrevocably broken when Naomi gave Fred Johnson and the Belters the protomolecule at the end of Season 2.
"She's not the person I thought she was," Amos tells Alex concerning Naomi in the Season 3 premiere—quite the telling statement from a person who, previously, would have followed Naomi anywhere, often using her judgment as his own moral compass in Seasons 1 and 2.
Naomi spends much of her time in Season 3 away from Amos, Holden, and Alex, working with the Opa as the Belter government uses humanity's precarious investigation of The Ring as part of...
- 7/26/2019
- Den of Geek
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