#Middlebury
Q: I’ve seen previews for a new, live-action “The Little Mermaid.” Is there anything you can tell me about it? It looks really good! – Jeanette F. in Florida
A: You can catch the fantasy drama – which stars William Moseley, Poppy Drayton, Shirley MacLaine and Gina Gershon – in theaters now. I spoke with Poppy, who plays Elizabeth, the mermaid, and she said, “It follows the story of a young man called Cam and his little niece Elle. He’s an investigative journalist, and he goes to a town in Mississippi to find out more about this healing water. In the process, he discovers a circus where a mermaid, Elizabeth, is being held captive – an evil lord has caged her soul and her spirit. It’s all about their attempt to rescue her and set her free.
Poppy Drayton (Photo courtesy Poppy Drayton)
“It’s a really beautiful, beautiful story, and Blake Harris, who’s the writer and director, wrote a beautiful script that immediately captured the hearts of all of us involved. The power of belief is incredible, and if you can try to not allow your mind to get confused or bogged down by things and keep a childlike wonder for the world, hopefully magical things will happen.
“There’s a lovely quote by Ron Wild that says, ‘Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child.’ That quote really captures what the movie’s about.”
Q: Is there any news about another season of “Documentary Now!”? – Scott H., via email
A: The hilarious Fred Armisen/Bill Hader mockumentary series premieres its seven-episode third season on Feb. 20 at 10/9c on IFC. One installment I am particularly looking forward to is the segment that stars Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett. She stars in a takeoff of the much-lauded 2012 documentary “Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present.”
The episode, which is titled “Waiting for the Artist,” follows Izabella Barta (played by Cate) as she “prepares for a major career retrospective.” Izabella also is reconciling with her former lover, Dimo Van Omen (played by Fred Armisen), who is an infamous figure in the art world. Other guest stars this season include Taran Killam, John Mulaney, James Urbaniak, Richard Kind, Paula Pell and Renee Elise Goldsberry.
Q: Are Matt Damon and Ben Affleck going to collaborate on anything soon? It’s been a while. – Jack F., via email
A: Yes, they are. Fox recently bought the story rights to the McDonald’s Monopoly game scandal that hit the news a few months back, wherein an ex-cop rigged the game and allegedly stole more than $24 million, which was shared among himself and fellow co-conspirators. Ben is attached to direct and Matt will star in the big-screen adaptation of “How an Ex-cop Rigged McDonald’s Monopoly Game and Stole Millions” by Jeff Maysh, detailing the years-long heist that surprised the nation when the news was first published in July in “The Daily Beast.”
Write to Cindy at King Features Weekly Service, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803; or email her at letters@cindyelavsky.com.
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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