Viola Davis Is an Action Hero President in the ‘G20’ Trailer

The world is not lacking for Die Hard clones. At this point it’s not even lacking for Die Hard clones about the President of the United States. Back in the ’90s Harrison Ford played a heroic president who fights terrorists who hijack his plane in Air Force One. And about a decade ago we got White House Down with Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum and Olympus Has Fallen with Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman — which became an ongoing franchise with movie sequels and TV spinoffs.

So I wouldn’t say G20 is a wildly novel idea — but it sure looks like a fun execution. This time Viola Davis is playing the President, who must save the day after terrorists kidnap pretty much every other world leader and hold them hostage at an international summit in South Africa.

In the movie’s preview, Davis portrays President Sutton skillfully rescuing hostages, battling villains, and demonstrating remarkable combat prowess. (If you’ve watched Davis in The Woman King, you know that delivering impressive fighting performances is something she excels at.)

Check out the G20 trailer below:

There’s a pretty fantastic poster for the film as well.

Here is the film’s official synopsis:

During an assault on the G20 summit, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (portrayed by Academy Award® winner Viola Davis) becomes the prime focus. Escaping capture from the attackers, she must employ cunning strategies to shield her family, uphold her nation, and secure world leaders in this high-octane, suspenseful journey.

G20 premieres on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service on April 10.

TV Shows We Used to Love That Are Cringe Now

The West Wing (1999-2006)

Often, when discussing outdated TV shows that fail to resonate in today’s era, it’s The West Wing that frequently comes up. It’s not because The West Wing was inherently bad or had problematic plotlines or cheesy dialogue (though these issues do occasionally arise). Instead, it was more of an idealistic show than a realistic one, presenting a sense of unattainable moral righteousness that, given the current political climate, seems far-fetched. In The West Wing, the nation was governed by wise philosophers who always prevailed in ethical dilemmas, or if they didn’t, faced consequences later on. However, reality doesn’t function this way, and revisiting such a show now feels hollow instead of comforting. (And let’s not delve into The Newsroom!)

Entourage (2004-2011)

One intriguing possibility for rephrasing the given text could be:

“

In retrospect, Entourage, arguably the most surprising series of all time, is a project that leaves one in disbelief about both its creation and endurance. The premise – following a semi-successful Hollywood celebrity and his circle of showbiz friends navigating Los Angeles – might initially seem innocuous. However, it was produced during the latter half of the 2000s, a time characterized by intense sexual energy and rapidly changing technology-driven lifestyles. Today, Vinny Chase and his cohorts come across as rather irritating characters compared to their portrayal in 2004 as the epitome of masculinity. To put it mildly, the sexual dynamics within Entourage are now outdated by centuries. While it remains slightly entertaining to watch as a relic of pre-pandemic times, this enjoyment is limited.

Supernatural (2005-2020)

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’ve been grappling with this question: Did shows like ‘Supernatural’, initially filled with thrilling monster hunts and an iconic rock soundtrack, inherently possess cringe elements, or did they gradually succumb to them?

In its early days, ‘Supernatural’ was a delightful blend of mythology, monsters, and music that dared to push the boundaries of Biblical lore. However, it seemed to extend its stay beyond its welcome by roughly four or five seasons. The seasonal arcs leading up to Armageddon began to blur together, characters would die only to miraculously return a few episodes later, and the tension between the main trio became a tiresome pattern.

In its final episodes, it even attempted to legitimize the most beloved fan ship, but the way it was handled left fans feeling marginalized and homophobic. Yet, despite these shortcomings, I can’t help but admire its remarkable journey!

The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013)

The show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” known for its depiction of teen pregnancy, was widely popular despite being generally awkward and cheesy. With a title that sounds like it came from a 1970s public service announcement aimed at scaring parents, you’d expect something edgy or thought-provoking about today’s youth. However, the show turned out to be a fairly traditional high school drama with a rather conventional take on teen pregnancy (keep the baby, find a husband, start a family, etc.). The dialogue in this series is so poor that searching for “secret life cringe” yields numerous results, one of which includes this particularly regrettable conversation.

Glee (2009-2015)

Another series that often left viewers cringing, “Glee” constantly teetered on the edge of being truly awful yet somehow entertaining, much like an accident you can’t help but stare at. Following the “I can’t believe I’m watching this” principle, creator Ryan Murphy seemed to have made “Glee” his signature style. In contrast to “The Secret Life” which was too tame for its supposed insights into teenage life to be engaging, “Glee” took things to an extreme, concocting bizarre storylines that grew increasingly absurd with each episode. Each character was either underdeveloped or overly complex, and their renditions of popular songs often left us yearning for something else. A performance of “Blurred Lines” led by a school teacher is just one of the many eccentricities “Glee” has to offer.

Sherlock (2010-2017)

The show “Sherlock” has a remarkable disparity between “we adored this” and “we’re no longer fond of it,” for numerous reasons. Initially, it was incredibly popular and turned its main actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, into a global sensation. Its unique blend of classic tales with a contemporary twist appealed to viewers craving something more imaginative than the routine police procedurals available elsewhere. However, due to the release of only three extensive episodes every couple of years, the show may have grown too grandiose for its own good. By the time it reached later seasons, many fans who cherished the earlier episodes had moved on, as they had outgrown the series. The “mind palace” scene, once praised as brilliant, is now remembered as being less engaging.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

A popular series that garnered much love during its premiere but received criticism in its final episodes, “Game of Thrones” transitioned from admired to awkward before it had concluded. Despite this, we firmly believe the show remains good, even exceptional – up to a certain point. However, the decline in quality post that point is significant. The series required a great deal from its viewers, including memorizing fictional titles and places, as well as keeping track of numerous intricate plots within each episode. Over time, this became tiresome, particularly when the show was approaching its climax and killing off beloved characters, each death seeming increasingly undeserved. Nowadays, when someone claims to be a fan, they often feel compelled to specify “of the earlier seasons,” to avoid potential conflicts that could rival a Dothraki battle.

House of Cards (2013-2018)

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say it’s not entirely fair to claim that a series like “House of Cards,” which lost its leading actor, is suddenly bad. However, I do believe that the show may have never really reached its full potential. Initially, Netflix’s pioneering original series was billed as the intellectual’s political drama, a darker version of “The West Wing” that followed a ruthless congressman and his equally ambitious wife on their path to the White House through manipulation and betrayal.

At first, the show’s unique breaking of the fourth wall was intriguing, but over time, the escalating one-upmanship in its season finales became monotonous and lost its charm. Few viewers stayed loyal to the end primarily because the show struggled to handle its lead actor’s public controversy effectively.

Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)

Just like “House of Cards,” the fascination for “Orange Is the New Black” started declining well before its final episode. Initially, it captivated audiences with its unique blend of prison drama and dark comedy, set in an all-women’s facility, featuring a diverse cast and an intricate web of plotlines that hinted at numerous seasons filled with mystery and thrill. However, the show’s primary flaw was its tendency to zero in on the least captivating character in any given scene. This issue became glaringly apparent in the main character, who even die-hard fans acknowledged as the most uninteresting character on “OITNB,” yet consistently received the majority of screen time. After a couple of seasons of this, viewers began questioning their continued engagement, and today it serves as a cautionary tale on how not to manage subsequent seasons of a critically acclaimed series.

The Mandalorian (2019-2023)

The popular show “The Mandalorian” and its spin-offs have arguably tarnished the prestige of the Volume, a groundbreaking video wall soundstage that facilitated shooting scenes with digital backdrops simultaneously with special effects. In its initial season, it offered an appealing blend of a Wild West-inspired “Star Wars” tale about a solitary gunfighter traversing a harsh desert world. However, subsequent seasons veered off course by inundating viewers with excessive lore that held little interest, coupled with poor effects and visually muddled landscapes that fell short of the technological prowess promised by its creators. By the time its final season limped along, viewership had significantly dwindled, marking a steep decline from what was once an intriguing premise.

2025-02-12 17:55