Pedro Pascal arrives at the 2024 SAG Awards (Photo Provided by SAG)
Members of the Screen Actors Guild honored their own at the 2024 SAG Awards held on February 24, 2024 and streaming live on Netflix. The 2024 awards recognized the best performances in film and television of 2023, with Oppenheimer continuing to rule the season with three SAG Awards wins.
The Oppenheimer ensemble won the Outstanding Performance by a Cast award, and Cillian Murphy was named the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role winner. Robert Downey Jr took home a SAG win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category.
On the television side, Succession, The Bear, and Beef cast members were big winners. And The Last of Us‘ Pedro Pascal pulled off a surprise win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series category over three Succession actors and Billy Crudup from The Morning Show.
Members of the Screen Actors Guild honored their own at the 2024 SAG Awards held on February 24, 2024 and streaming live on Netflix. The 2024 awards recognized the best performances in film and television of 2023, with Oppenheimer continuing to rule the season with three SAG Awards wins.
The Oppenheimer ensemble won the Outstanding Performance by a Cast award, and Cillian Murphy was named the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role winner. Robert Downey Jr took home a SAG win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category.
On the television side, Succession, The Bear, and Beef cast members were big winners. And The Last of Us‘ Pedro Pascal pulled off a surprise win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series category over three Succession actors and Billy Crudup from The Morning Show.
- 2/25/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
In the 54 years since Diahann Carroll (“Julia”) blazed a trail as the first Black female recipient of a TV Golden Globe, the list of small screen Black actresses who have won the favor of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has grown to include 12 more names, including 2023 comedic and dramatic champs Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”) and Zendaya (“Euphoria”). While this roster has long since covered TV movies and both continuing program genres, no Black woman has yet been awarded a Golden Globe for a limited series performance. There is a decent chance of that soon changing, however, given the winning potential of possible 2024 Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress contenders Uzo Aduba (“Painkiller”) and Dominique Fishback (“Swarm”).
Possible Golden Globes newcomer Fishback stars on Amazon Prime Video’s “Swarm” as Dre Greene, a mentally unstable young woman whose unhealthy obsession with a Beyoncé-esque pop star drives a wedge between her and her foster sister,...
Possible Golden Globes newcomer Fishback stars on Amazon Prime Video’s “Swarm” as Dre Greene, a mentally unstable young woman whose unhealthy obsession with a Beyoncé-esque pop star drives a wedge between her and her foster sister,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
When Barry Meier first published what would become his explosive book Pain Killer back in 2003, which investigated the billionaire scions behind Purdue Pharma and the drug OxyContin, it was optioned by production firm Anonymous Content. But, the author says, Hollywood wasn’t actually ready to tell the story. “They had a very hard time selling a script at that point, because Purdue had not been indicted yet by the Justice Department,” Meier tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So people in Hollywood were going, ‘Are these good guys; are they bad guys? How do we cast this?’ Well, by 2007, it was pretty clear that this company had pled guilty to a federal crime, and that OxyContin had planted the seed and was the gateway drug to this horrible opioid epidemic that was still unfolding.”
Nearly 20 years later, after Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article “The Family That Built the Empire of...
Nearly 20 years later, after Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article “The Family That Built the Empire of...
- 8/18/2023
- by Jackie Strause
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In the previous episode of Painkiller, we witnessed Edie Flowers and her team of U.S. attorneys on a mission to bring Richard Sackler to justice. Meanwhile, Glen hits rock bottom, and Shannon experiences a reality check regarding the true nature of OxyContin. After being rescued from drowning, she begins to grasp the enormity of the mess she has been involved in. In this sixth episode of Painkiller, our hearts will break as we confront the most horrifying truth about the power dynamics of our world. This will serve as a reminder that escaping such a plight is nearly impossible unless you’re a big shot like Richard Sackler.
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Shannon Help Edie Flowers?
Confronted with the truth, Shannon made the big decision to abandon the luxurious life that Purdue had provided her. She decided to meet with Edie Flowers and help her hold the company accountable for its actions.
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Shannon Help Edie Flowers?
Confronted with the truth, Shannon made the big decision to abandon the luxurious life that Purdue had provided her. She decided to meet with Edie Flowers and help her hold the company accountable for its actions.
- 8/14/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
In the fifth episode of Painkiller, the distressing reality of OxyContin abuse is portrayed alongside the efforts of Richard Sackler to prevent the downfall of his empire through any means possible. The determined attorneys are also in the process of holding the Sacklers accountable for the devastation they’ve caused. Edie Flowers stands as a symbol of resilience, actively seeking justice for the affected families. She ensures that the Sacklers do not escape the consequences of their wrongdoing by shifting blame, which marks the very beginning of the pursuit of justice.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happened to Glen?
Painkiller Episode 5 depicted the most traumatic portrayal of how addiction pushed the addicts to the brink. Glen Krygar, who once led a serene lifestyle and was content with his family, found himself hitting rock bottom. He became frustrated and couldn’t manage without drugs, leading Lily to come to the decision of separation...
Spoilers Ahead
What Happened to Glen?
Painkiller Episode 5 depicted the most traumatic portrayal of how addiction pushed the addicts to the brink. Glen Krygar, who once led a serene lifestyle and was content with his family, found himself hitting rock bottom. He became frustrated and couldn’t manage without drugs, leading Lily to come to the decision of separation...
- 8/14/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
In the third episode of Painkiller, Edie found indisputable similarities between Oxy and crack cocaine, as both had severe negative impacts on people’s health and lifestyles. Despite these findings, the marketing demand for Oxy skyrocketed. Amidst this, Shannon began to see some red flags when she spotted junkies getting high on Oxy. However, Britt dismissed her concerns, shifting the blame entirely onto the junkies rather than the marketing of the drugs. In the fourth episode of Painkiller, we witnessed how the negative influence of the drug escalated, leading the Sacklers to testify in front of Congress. Let’s see whether they’ll be blamed or whether the entire blame will fall upon the addicts and lowlife abusers of the drug.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happened To Shannon?
Painkiller Episode 4 began with Shannon arriving at the headquarters of Purdue, where she found many more representatives like herself waiting to join a conference with Howard Udell.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happened To Shannon?
Painkiller Episode 4 began with Shannon arriving at the headquarters of Purdue, where she found many more representatives like herself waiting to join a conference with Howard Udell.
- 8/13/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
In the second episode of Painkiller, we saw how medical representatives like Britt and Shannon were endorsing the drugs only to make money and fund their lavish lifestyle. Edie, on the other hand, was reviewing the side effects of the drugs among the patients who had taken them, and she found that they were showing signs of withdrawal. Glen was one of those users of the drug who developed a strong addiction and fell unconscious due to its overuse. Painkiller Episode 3 is by far the most disturbing episode, portraying the horror of addiction and the darkness that loomed over the population of America due to the over prescription of OxyContin. A high crime rate and skyrocketing drug overdoses and deaths followed the drug’s introduction into the marketplace.
Spoilers Ahead
How Did The Sacklers Deal With Curtis Wright?
Painkiller Episode 3 began with Glen waking up in the hospital, where a...
Spoilers Ahead
How Did The Sacklers Deal With Curtis Wright?
Painkiller Episode 3 began with Glen waking up in the hospital, where a...
- 8/13/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
In the first episode of Painkiller, Edie Flowers visited the lawyers to share her findings about the drug OxyContin and its fatal effects on ordinary people who took it as a mere painkiller. In the second episode of Painkiller, we will witness the further grave consequences that this drug caused for its victims, such as Glen Krygar, who developed an addiction to this pill, casting a dark shadow over his life. Simultaneously, this episode showcases the rampant advertisements and marketing promotions for the drug, aiming to attract more customers to take these death pills.
How Did Shannon And Britt Promote The Drug?
Painkiller Episode 2 begins with Edie shedding light on Arthur Sackler’s cunning business strategies, which he once utilized to push the marketing of Valium. He fabricated the names of doctors and their endorsements of the drug to increase demand for the medicine in the marketplace. Edie claimed that in this regard,...
How Did Shannon And Britt Promote The Drug?
Painkiller Episode 2 begins with Edie shedding light on Arthur Sackler’s cunning business strategies, which he once utilized to push the marketing of Valium. He fabricated the names of doctors and their endorsements of the drug to increase demand for the medicine in the marketplace. Edie claimed that in this regard,...
- 8/12/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
When atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the country responsible for the detonation thought only of victory in the war, disregarding the ordinary people who lost their lives in the blasts. This illustrates how extremely powerful individuals in a nation make drastic decisions that have the potential for economic or broader advantages, even at the cost of risking the common people’s lives. In Netflix’s latest offering, Painkiller, director Peter Berg depicts such drastic circumstances through its fictional retelling of a horrific true story. Painkiller is a story about a pharmaceutical company known as Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family, that came up with a life-threatening drug called OxyContin disguised as a seemingly harmless painkiller that led a significant portion of the American population to develop addictions and subsequently lose their lives.
Spoilers Ahead
Who Was Edie Flowers? What Was She Investigating?
In the opening of each episode of Painkiller,...
Spoilers Ahead
Who Was Edie Flowers? What Was She Investigating?
In the opening of each episode of Painkiller,...
- 8/12/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
There are many serious factors that led to a stunningly high portion of the American population getting addicted to drugs. Socio-economic tension, along with corrupt medical practices and pharmaceutical marketing, escalated the issue to a dangerous level. This turned an alarming number of people into drug addicts through painkillers. Among these pharmaceutical companies, Purdue Pharmaceuticals, founded by John Purdue Grey and owned by the Sackler family, altered the course of medical practices by introducing an extremely dangerous and addictive drug as a pain reliever.
Pain is an unbearable feeling, much like a sharp blade slicing through our skin or a heavy weight burdening our spirit. Whether physical or mental, humans tend to try to get rid of this pain using any means possible. If someone were to profit from exploiting pain, a strong, intolerable sensation and a fundamental aspect of humanity, they could potentially become a dominant figure. This is...
Pain is an unbearable feeling, much like a sharp blade slicing through our skin or a heavy weight burdening our spirit. Whether physical or mental, humans tend to try to get rid of this pain using any means possible. If someone were to profit from exploiting pain, a strong, intolerable sensation and a fundamental aspect of humanity, they could potentially become a dominant figure. This is...
- 8/12/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
Making a compelling show about the opioid crisis was certainly a challenge for “Painkiller” executive producer Eric Newman — especially one that kept viewers engaged for the entirety of the Netflix six-episode limited series without feeling like the show was overly burdensome emotionally.
“Because so many people know someone [or] have lost someone from opioid abuse, it can appear daunting, to jump into a show on the subject, and we were very conscious about not wanting it to feel an exercise in grief,” Newman told TheWrap.
With the hopes that Netflix’s broad reach will share the tragic story of the epidemic that has destroyed so many lives and crushed an uncountable number of families — and “why it can’t happen again” — with as many people as possible, the “Painkiller” team adjusted the series’ tone to ensure viewers would stick it out until the end.
“The tone, the casting, all of it...
“Because so many people know someone [or] have lost someone from opioid abuse, it can appear daunting, to jump into a show on the subject, and we were very conscious about not wanting it to feel an exercise in grief,” Newman told TheWrap.
With the hopes that Netflix’s broad reach will share the tragic story of the epidemic that has destroyed so many lives and crushed an uncountable number of families — and “why it can’t happen again” — with as many people as possible, the “Painkiller” team adjusted the series’ tone to ensure viewers would stick it out until the end.
“The tone, the casting, all of it...
- 8/11/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
Netflix's "Painkiller" tells the story of how one family built a business that helped launch the opioid crisis, and how they evaded real consequences for a long time even amid ongoing legal struggles. The limited series, which premieres on Aug. 10, is based on Patrick Radden Keefe's 2017 New Yorker article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain" and Barry Meier's book "Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic," which both chronicle how Purdue Pharma - led by the Sackler family - obscured the truth about their product OxyContin.
Are the Characters in "Painkiller" Based on Real People?
"Painkiller" is a scripted series, but it sticks closely to real-life events as it traces the rise and fall of the Sackler family's empire. Most of its main characters are fictional, including Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a lawyer from Virginia who, in the series,...
Are the Characters in "Painkiller" Based on Real People?
"Painkiller" is a scripted series, but it sticks closely to real-life events as it traces the rise and fall of the Sackler family's empire. Most of its main characters are fictional, including Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a lawyer from Virginia who, in the series,...
- 8/11/2023
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
Just about everything you need to hear from “Painkiller” is conveyed within its familiar yet hard-hitting first hour. There’s an aptly scathing introduction to the Sackler family, starting with Arthur (Clark Gregg), who transformed the pharmaceutical industry through public-facing advertising campaigns, then his nephew/”disciple,” Richard (Matthew Broderick), who followed his uncle’s playbook when pushing OxyContin to the masses. Next there’s Shannon Schaeffer (West Duchovny), a broke college grad who’s recruited by the Sackler’s company, Purdue, to help push their new wonder drug to doctors. Then there’s Glen Kryger (Taylor Kitsch), a loving husband and father who’s prescribed — you guessed it — OxyContin after an on-the-job injury. And finally, providing the framework for all these stories, there’s Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a lawyer at the U.S. Attorney’s office who was among the first to investigate the tragic impact of OxyContin — and...
- 8/10/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
While Fentanyl now dominates headlines as the drug wreaking havoc on our society, back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was OxyContin that led conversations about the impact of overprescribed opioids. Formulated, produced, marketed and sold by the family-run organization Purdue Pharma, Oxy quickly grew in popularity because it was marketed as a safe, “non-addictive” opioid. Oxy was then pushed onto patients through respected healthcare professionals who were misinformed about the drug and profited greatly from prescribing it.
Barry Meier’s book “Pain Killer” and the New Yorker article “The Family That Built the Empire of Pain,” by Patrick Radden Keefe, documented the rise of OxyContin and the lasting impact it had here in the U.S., and both serve as the foundation for Netflix’s new limited series “Painkiller.” Directed by Peter Berg, the show is a fictionalized account of the opioid epidemic as told from the perspective of the survivors,...
Barry Meier’s book “Pain Killer” and the New Yorker article “The Family That Built the Empire of Pain,” by Patrick Radden Keefe, documented the rise of OxyContin and the lasting impact it had here in the U.S., and both serve as the foundation for Netflix’s new limited series “Painkiller.” Directed by Peter Berg, the show is a fictionalized account of the opioid epidemic as told from the perspective of the survivors,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Aramide Tinubu
- Variety Film + TV
Cults come in many shapes, sizes and forms, not all of them involving a charismatic figurehead, secluded hideaway, or cache of weapons. Sometimes, as in Netflix’s lively new Sackler family takedown Painkiller, the angels of death are short-skirted sales reps, heroin Barbies who scream their heads off at sales “conferences” and seduce doctors with gifts, hefty speaker fees, and, sometimes, sex. They’re paid handsomely, plied with Porsches and luxury apartments, all for spreading the lethal lies that Oxycontin isn’t terribly addictive and doctors are professionally if not...
- 8/10/2023
- by Chris Vognar
- Rollingstone.com
In the second episode of Netflix’s Painkiller, two sales representatives (West Duchovny and Dina Shihabi) call in on various doctors’ offices to push a pill that promises to reduce pain and enhance quality of life. Like all good sales reps, they come bearing gifts, among them a cute stuffed toy in the shape of a pill, a recurring motif throughout the series meant to represent danger disguised as something innocuous. The drug in question is OxyContin, and the sales reps work for Purdue Pharma, the company that, under the ownership of the now infamous Sackler family, marketed the opioid to millions of Americans to devastating results.
The plot unfolds as Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a jaded state investigator, recounts her findings to the lawyers trying to build a case against the Sacklers. The series attempts to address every possible angle of the scandal, from the company that created the drug,...
The plot unfolds as Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a jaded state investigator, recounts her findings to the lawyers trying to build a case against the Sacklers. The series attempts to address every possible angle of the scandal, from the company that created the drug,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Amelia Stout
- Slant Magazine
The national opioid crisis has inspired a new series that hopes to lead to change. On Tuesday, Netflix released the trailer for Painkiller, a six-episode fictional series inspired by the real events that led to the rise of Purdue Pharma and Oxycontin.
Uzo Aduba plays the lead prosecutor Edie Flowers, who works to take down Purdue Pharma, as her character accuses the company of “doing the same as every crack dealer in America, but they’re getting rewarded for it.”
The trailer follows Matthew Broderick in the role of Purdue...
Uzo Aduba plays the lead prosecutor Edie Flowers, who works to take down Purdue Pharma, as her character accuses the company of “doing the same as every crack dealer in America, but they’re getting rewarded for it.”
The trailer follows Matthew Broderick in the role of Purdue...
- 7/11/2023
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
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