One of the great delights of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Mike Flanagan’s latest (and last) Netflix horror series is seeing truly terrible people get what they deserve, courtesy of Edgar Allan Poe classics. As patriarch (and a Richard Sackler-esque pharmaceuticals CEO) Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood) looks on in increasing horror, his six children are picked off one by one in diabolically twisted — yet easily explained! — ways.
As Ben Travers wrote in his IndieWire review, “‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ channels its mushrooming rage into demonstrable blunt force and a number of grisly kills (not to mention eliciting a pair of juicy performances). The writer-director known for crafting ghostly horror stories that double as empathetic examinations of trauma keeps his latest’s plotting rather straightforward, albeit less poignant and more pissed off. Audiences can sit back and savor each Usher death knowing it’s coming,...
As Ben Travers wrote in his IndieWire review, “‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ channels its mushrooming rage into demonstrable blunt force and a number of grisly kills (not to mention eliciting a pair of juicy performances). The writer-director known for crafting ghostly horror stories that double as empathetic examinations of trauma keeps his latest’s plotting rather straightforward, albeit less poignant and more pissed off. Audiences can sit back and savor each Usher death knowing it’s coming,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Mark Peikert and Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Note: the following contains spoilers for “Painkiller” episodes 1-6.
As “Painkiller” viewers make their way to the end of the six-episode limited series, those holding out hope for justice or a happy ending for characters overtaken by opioid addiction might be disappointed — a choice that director and EP Pete Berg says is only “honest” to the tragedy of the crisis.
“As Uzo [Aduba] says in the middle of the series, the story is a tragedy, and … no matter how much money Purdue Pharma pays to the families of dead people, I don’t know that there’s a number that’s going to ever turn this thing in anything even close to happy,” Berg told TheWrap. “We didn’t want to pretend that there is a happy ending to this story. Unfortunately, there is not.”
In the last episode of “Painkiller,” which is now streaming on Netflix, Shannon’s cooperation enables...
As “Painkiller” viewers make their way to the end of the six-episode limited series, those holding out hope for justice or a happy ending for characters overtaken by opioid addiction might be disappointed — a choice that director and EP Pete Berg says is only “honest” to the tragedy of the crisis.
“As Uzo [Aduba] says in the middle of the series, the story is a tragedy, and … no matter how much money Purdue Pharma pays to the families of dead people, I don’t know that there’s a number that’s going to ever turn this thing in anything even close to happy,” Berg told TheWrap. “We didn’t want to pretend that there is a happy ending to this story. Unfortunately, there is not.”
In the last episode of “Painkiller,” which is now streaming on Netflix, Shannon’s cooperation enables...
- 8/21/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
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
Painkiller’s Peter Berg is unfazed by the Dopesick comparison.
Concurrent development of similar projects is a tale as old as time in Hollywood, and while it might be a negative for disaster flicks such as 1998’s Armageddon and Deep Impact, Berg views the Painkiller–Dopesick situation as a positive. It means that more and more people are able to learn about the still-ongoing opioid crisis and the massive role that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family played in its origin. This story has also been told in other films and documentaries, so Berg’s Netflix series with EP Eric Newman, which debuted atop the streamer’s U.S. TV chart with 7.2 million views, and Danny Strong’s Hulu series are by no means alone. And similar to Berg, each present-and-past storyteller likely welcomes additional stories into the fold until this crisis is finally solved.
One of the most devastating aspects of the series,...
Concurrent development of similar projects is a tale as old as time in Hollywood, and while it might be a negative for disaster flicks such as 1998’s Armageddon and Deep Impact, Berg views the Painkiller–Dopesick situation as a positive. It means that more and more people are able to learn about the still-ongoing opioid crisis and the massive role that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family played in its origin. This story has also been told in other films and documentaries, so Berg’s Netflix series with EP Eric Newman, which debuted atop the streamer’s U.S. TV chart with 7.2 million views, and Danny Strong’s Hulu series are by no means alone. And similar to Berg, each present-and-past storyteller likely welcomes additional stories into the fold until this crisis is finally solved.
One of the most devastating aspects of the series,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This article contains spoilers for Painkiller.
The ending of Netflix‘s Painkiller puts a lot of energy into properly punishing its antagonist Richard Sackler (Matthew Broderick).
The series, which Netflix is careful to note is a fictionalized retelling of true events, concludes with Richard being beaten to a bloody pulp by the ghostly apparition of his legacy-obsessed uncle Arthur Sackler (Clark Gregg). Richard is merely trying to explain to his uncle that the Sackler family and their Purdue Pharma company has cut a pretty good deal with the government to avoid criminal punishment for their role in developing the drug OxyContin and perpetuating the opioid crisis. But Arthur is just not having it.
In-between violent punches to Richard’s face, Arthur decries his nephew’s decision to give even an inch to prosecutors, screaming, “You were weak. You conceded. I don’t care about immunity. You tore down the name that I built.
The ending of Netflix‘s Painkiller puts a lot of energy into properly punishing its antagonist Richard Sackler (Matthew Broderick).
The series, which Netflix is careful to note is a fictionalized retelling of true events, concludes with Richard being beaten to a bloody pulp by the ghostly apparition of his legacy-obsessed uncle Arthur Sackler (Clark Gregg). Richard is merely trying to explain to his uncle that the Sackler family and their Purdue Pharma company has cut a pretty good deal with the government to avoid criminal punishment for their role in developing the drug OxyContin and perpetuating the opioid crisis. But Arthur is just not having it.
In-between violent punches to Richard’s face, Arthur decries his nephew’s decision to give even an inch to prosecutors, screaming, “You were weak. You conceded. I don’t care about immunity. You tore down the name that I built.
- 8/14/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
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 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
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
Netflix’s new limited series “Painkiller” tackles the Sackler dynasty and Purdue Pharma’s role in the opioid crisis through a fictional retelling of the epidemic — similar to Hulu’s 2021-released “Dopesick.”
“Painkiler” EP and director Pete Berg says the coincidence was simply a matter of timing.
“We were sort of moving at the same pace,” Berg told TheWrap about the Netflix six-episode series and “Dopesick.” “Both shows were in development around the same time, which happens every once in a while and our business. They went first.”
“Dopesick,” which premiered October 2021, stars Kaitlyn Dever, Michael Stuhlbarg and Michael Keaton, whose portrayal of a doctor getting bit by addiction Berg called “shattering.” Centering on similar themes of the destruction prompted by the opioid epidemic, “Painkiller,” which was released Thursday on Netflix, balances its critique of the Sackler family — led by Matthew Broderick’s Richard Sackler — with touching vignettes portrayed by Uzo Aduba,...
“Painkiler” EP and director Pete Berg says the coincidence was simply a matter of timing.
“We were sort of moving at the same pace,” Berg told TheWrap about the Netflix six-episode series and “Dopesick.” “Both shows were in development around the same time, which happens every once in a while and our business. They went first.”
“Dopesick,” which premiered October 2021, stars Kaitlyn Dever, Michael Stuhlbarg and Michael Keaton, whose portrayal of a doctor getting bit by addiction Berg called “shattering.” Centering on similar themes of the destruction prompted by the opioid epidemic, “Painkiller,” which was released Thursday on Netflix, balances its critique of the Sackler family — led by Matthew Broderick’s Richard Sackler — with touching vignettes portrayed by Uzo Aduba,...
- 8/11/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
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
‘Painkiller‘ is a limited series directed by Peter Berg, and starring Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick. The series has premiered on Netflix on August 10th.
It is based on the investigative news articles “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe and “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic” by Barry Meier.
Premise
This drama delves into the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in America, shedding light on the individuals responsible, the victims affected, and an investigator determined to uncover the truth.
About the Series
Many of us know how the Purdue Pharma / Sackler saga went down. In the six episodes of “Painkiller” we are offered a recount, in fictionalized form, of the events that left the Sackler family in disgrace thanks to the case against Purdue Pharma concerning the pharmaceutical’s pushing of OxyContin into the market,...
It is based on the investigative news articles “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe and “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic” by Barry Meier.
Premise
This drama delves into the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in America, shedding light on the individuals responsible, the victims affected, and an investigator determined to uncover the truth.
About the Series
Many of us know how the Purdue Pharma / Sackler saga went down. In the six episodes of “Painkiller” we are offered a recount, in fictionalized form, of the events that left the Sackler family in disgrace thanks to the case against Purdue Pharma concerning the pharmaceutical’s pushing of OxyContin into the market,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Elisabeth Plank
- Martin Cid - TV
‘Painkiller‘ is a limited series directed by Peter Berg, and starring Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick. The series has premiered on Netflix on August 10th.
It is based on the investigative news articles “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe and “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic” by Barry Meier.
Premise
This drama delves into the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in America, shedding light on the individuals responsible, the victims affected, and an investigator determined to uncover the truth.
About the Series
Many of us know how the Purdue Pharma / Sackler saga went down. In the six episodes of “Painkiller” we are offered a recount, in fictionalized form, of the events that left the Sackler family in disgrace thanks to the case against Purdue Pharma concerning the pharmaceutical’s pushing of OxyContin into the market,...
It is based on the investigative news articles “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe and “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic” by Barry Meier.
Premise
This drama delves into the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in America, shedding light on the individuals responsible, the victims affected, and an investigator determined to uncover the truth.
About the Series
Many of us know how the Purdue Pharma / Sackler saga went down. In the six episodes of “Painkiller” we are offered a recount, in fictionalized form, of the events that left the Sackler family in disgrace thanks to the case against Purdue Pharma concerning the pharmaceutical’s pushing of OxyContin into the market,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Elisabeth Plank
- Martin Cid - TV
Adam McKay’s name is nowhere to be found in the credits for Painkiller, for the very good reason that he had nothing to do with it.
Yet it’s hard not to see his influence all over the Netflix miniseries. It’s there in the restless pacing, in the heavy-handed metaphors, in the choice to have the entire thing narrated by a character who all but reaches out from the screen to grab the audience by the lapels and shake them into action.
And it’s there, too, in the accompanying limitations. Painkiller, created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harper, presumably intends for all that flash to draw attention to its weighty central narrative about the launch of OxyContin and the ensuing opioid epidemic. But it overshoots that mark. The style is so ostentatious it distracts from the substance, even as it means to hammer home how important that substance really is.
Yet it’s hard not to see his influence all over the Netflix miniseries. It’s there in the restless pacing, in the heavy-handed metaphors, in the choice to have the entire thing narrated by a character who all but reaches out from the screen to grab the audience by the lapels and shake them into action.
And it’s there, too, in the accompanying limitations. Painkiller, created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harper, presumably intends for all that flash to draw attention to its weighty central narrative about the launch of OxyContin and the ensuing opioid epidemic. But it overshoots that mark. The style is so ostentatious it distracts from the substance, even as it means to hammer home how important that substance really is.
- 8/10/2023
- by Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s hard to say how “Painkiller,” a fictionalized Netflix limited series based on America’s opioid crisis, would play had one never seen the similarly themed and structured – and vastly superior – 2021 Hulu limited series “Dopesick.”
The new show’s misuse of lead actors Uzo Aduba, who plays a crusading U.S. Attorney’s office investigator, and Matthew Broderick, who plays real-life former Purdue Pharma head Richard Sackler – would be evident either way. So would director Peter Berg’s overuse of early aughts-style rock ‘em sock ‘em shaky camera work, quick edits and blue light.
But “Painkiller” likely would not seem so wholly unnecessary if “Dopesick” did not exist.
Unfolding over six hour-long episodes, “Painkiller” makes compelling points about Purdue, the pharmaceutical company that overhyped the painkilling potential of its drug OxyContin while underplaying its addictive qualities. Characters repeatedly call OxyContin what it is: heroin in candy coating. Such frankness...
The new show’s misuse of lead actors Uzo Aduba, who plays a crusading U.S. Attorney’s office investigator, and Matthew Broderick, who plays real-life former Purdue Pharma head Richard Sackler – would be evident either way. So would director Peter Berg’s overuse of early aughts-style rock ‘em sock ‘em shaky camera work, quick edits and blue light.
But “Painkiller” likely would not seem so wholly unnecessary if “Dopesick” did not exist.
Unfolding over six hour-long episodes, “Painkiller” makes compelling points about Purdue, the pharmaceutical company that overhyped the painkilling potential of its drug OxyContin while underplaying its addictive qualities. Characters repeatedly call OxyContin what it is: heroin in candy coating. Such frankness...
- 8/10/2023
- by Carla Meyer
- The Wrap
Looking for your next binge-watch, or just need to fill an hour? Welcome to Your Weekly Watch List, our curated collection of the best shows on television. Here's what to watch from Sunday, August 6 through Saturday, August 12.
Two years after Hulu's Dopesick skewered Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, Netflix takes up the torch with Painkiller, a six-episode limited series starring Matthew Broderick as disgraced chairman Richard Sackler. Also this week: Only Murders in the Building investigates a murder on Broadway in Season 3, Winning Time continues the saga of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers dynasty, and Mc Lyte and Queen Latifah celebrate women in hip-hop.
Sunday, 9:00 Pm Et on HBO...
Two years after Hulu's Dopesick skewered Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, Netflix takes up the torch with Painkiller, a six-episode limited series starring Matthew Broderick as disgraced chairman Richard Sackler. Also this week: Only Murders in the Building investigates a murder on Broadway in Season 3, Winning Time continues the saga of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers dynasty, and Mc Lyte and Queen Latifah celebrate women in hip-hop.
Sunday, 9:00 Pm Et on HBO...
- 8/6/2023
- by Claire Spellberg Lustig
- Primetimer
Matthew Broderick has enjoyed a career lasting 40 years on stage, screen and now TV, but he accepts the headline of his legacy will always be Ferris Bueller.
The star of new Netflix drama Painkiller, a fictionalized retelling of the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in which he plays former president of Purdue Pharma Richard Sackler, told the UK’s Guardian newspaper: “What’s my legacy? Well, I’m Ferris Bueller, I suppose. I have to accept it. And I like it. I’ve made my peace with it.”
Of his evolving career since the hit 1986 film written and directed by John Hughes about a teenage schoolboy playing truant in Chicago, he said: “People associated me with younger roles, but I wanted them to come with me and get used to the fact that I’m wrinkly. And it was hard. The 90s were hard. Lots of ups and downs.
The star of new Netflix drama Painkiller, a fictionalized retelling of the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in which he plays former president of Purdue Pharma Richard Sackler, told the UK’s Guardian newspaper: “What’s my legacy? Well, I’m Ferris Bueller, I suppose. I have to accept it. And I like it. I’ve made my peace with it.”
Of his evolving career since the hit 1986 film written and directed by John Hughes about a teenage schoolboy playing truant in Chicago, he said: “People associated me with younger roles, but I wanted them to come with me and get used to the fact that I’m wrinkly. And it was hard. The 90s were hard. Lots of ups and downs.
- 8/5/2023
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
In some ways, August is a month of endings, at least on television. Both Billions and Archer begin their final seasons as does a great, unusual comedy covered below. But as melancholy as that sounds, there’s plenty of new stuff on the horizon, too, including everything from a new take on (part of) Dracula and an ambitious miniseries about the opioid crisis. We’ll kick things off with a fresh take on an old favorite. Here’s everything you should watch in theaters, plus more on Prime Video, Hulu,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Keith Phipps
- Rollingstone.com
The trailer for Netflix’s new limited series “Painkiller” has arrived.
Inspired by real events based on America’s opioid crisis, the look-ahead clip sees an investigator with the US attorney’s office (Uzo Aduba) look into “how something so legally prescribed could be killing so many people.”
Read More: Uzo Aduba Expecting Her First Child With Husband Robert Sweeting: ‘I Am Beyond Excited’
Uzo Aduba as Edie in episode 102 of “Painkiller”. — Photo: Keri Anderson/Netflix
The official synopsis reads: “A fictionalized retelling of events, ‘Painkiller’ is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin.”
Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger, Carolina Bartczak as Lily Kryger in episode 101 of “Painkiller”. — Photo: Keri Anderson/Netflix West Duchovny as Shannon Shaeffer in episode...
Inspired by real events based on America’s opioid crisis, the look-ahead clip sees an investigator with the US attorney’s office (Uzo Aduba) look into “how something so legally prescribed could be killing so many people.”
Read More: Uzo Aduba Expecting Her First Child With Husband Robert Sweeting: ‘I Am Beyond Excited’
Uzo Aduba as Edie in episode 102 of “Painkiller”. — Photo: Keri Anderson/Netflix
The official synopsis reads: “A fictionalized retelling of events, ‘Painkiller’ is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin.”
Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger, Carolina Bartczak as Lily Kryger in episode 101 of “Painkiller”. — Photo: Keri Anderson/Netflix West Duchovny as Shannon Shaeffer in episode...
- 7/11/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
There’s a thin line between pain and pleasure, and if you’re not careful, people looking to get rich off your threshold will take advantage. Netflix‘s new Painkiller trailer looks at the ongoing opioid crisis, with the war between medicine and money raging like roaring wildfire in certain parts of the world. According to Netflix, Painkiller presents a 6-episode series exploring the “how” and the “who” of the epidemic.
Here’s the official synopsis for Painkiller:
A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the book “Pain Killer” by Barry Meier...
Here’s the official synopsis for Painkiller:
A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the book “Pain Killer” by Barry Meier...
- 7/11/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
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
Uzo Aduba shot to stardom ten years ago for her work as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Netflix's groundbreaking drama Orange is the New Black.
The role won Aduba countless awards, and now, the star is reteaming with Netflix for a fictionalized retelling of the opioid crisis that plagues the U.S.
Netflix went public with the official trailer and premiere date for the series on Tuesday morning, and it looks to be another phenomenal performance from Aduba.
The series is set to premiere its entire six-episode-run in Netflix territories around the globe on August 10.
On the casting news front, the series is stacked.
Aduba's Edie goes up against Matthew Broderick's take on Richard Sackler, and let's just say the pair are very different, which adds to the dynamic the two stars bring to the show.
The cast includes Sam Anderson as Raymond Sackler, Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger,...
The role won Aduba countless awards, and now, the star is reteaming with Netflix for a fictionalized retelling of the opioid crisis that plagues the U.S.
Netflix went public with the official trailer and premiere date for the series on Tuesday morning, and it looks to be another phenomenal performance from Aduba.
The series is set to premiere its entire six-episode-run in Netflix territories around the globe on August 10.
On the casting news front, the series is stacked.
Aduba's Edie goes up against Matthew Broderick's take on Richard Sackler, and let's just say the pair are very different, which adds to the dynamic the two stars bring to the show.
The cast includes Sam Anderson as Raymond Sackler, Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
How did the Opioid Crisis begin? Netflix’s upcoming series “Painkiller” looks at the origin of OxyContin and its resulting impact. A Purdue Pharma creation, the drug would be championed by the company’s owners — namely Richard Sackler. Peter Berg directs this adaptation of a New Yorker article from Patrick Radden Keef and the Barry Meier book “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic.” It also represents a major step in Berg’s deal with Netflix.
Continue reading ‘Painkiller’ Trailer: Matthew Broderick & Uzo Aduba Star In Peter Berg’s New Netflix Opioid Drama at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Painkiller’ Trailer: Matthew Broderick & Uzo Aduba Star In Peter Berg’s New Netflix Opioid Drama at The Playlist.
- 7/11/2023
- by Valerie Thompson
- The Playlist
Painkiller, Netflix’s anticipated and upcoming new limited series about the U.S. opioid crisis, has dropped its first trailer.
The six-episode series releasing Aug. 10 from the EP team of Eric Newman (Narcos, True Story) and director Pete Berg (Friday Night Lights, Spenser Confidential) is inspired by real events amid the country’s opioid crisis and features a cast including Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch (marking a Fnl reunion with Berg), Dina Shihabi, West Duchovny and John Rothman.
Alex Gibney (The Crime of the Century, Going Clear) also executive produces with creators, showrunners and writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood).
The trailer introduces Aduba’s character as Edie, the investigator leading the case against Purdue Pharma, with Broderick playing Richard Sackler, a scion of the billionaire family that controls Purdue and a senior executive at the company.
Sackler explains that human behavior is...
The six-episode series releasing Aug. 10 from the EP team of Eric Newman (Narcos, True Story) and director Pete Berg (Friday Night Lights, Spenser Confidential) is inspired by real events amid the country’s opioid crisis and features a cast including Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch (marking a Fnl reunion with Berg), Dina Shihabi, West Duchovny and John Rothman.
Alex Gibney (The Crime of the Century, Going Clear) also executive produces with creators, showrunners and writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood).
The trailer introduces Aduba’s character as Edie, the investigator leading the case against Purdue Pharma, with Broderick playing Richard Sackler, a scion of the billionaire family that controls Purdue and a senior executive at the company.
Sackler explains that human behavior is...
- 7/11/2023
- by Jackie Strause
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix’s upcoming limited series “Painkiller” is lifting the veil on America’s opioid crisis, investigating the role of one family in making OxyContin “the No. 1 opioid in the country.”
“All of human behavior is essentially comprised of two things: run from pain, run toward pleasure; pain, pleasure,” Matthew Broderick’s Richard Sackler said in the series’ official trailer. “If we place ourselves right there between pain and pleasure, we will never have to worry about money again.”
As the Sackler dynasty’s Purdue Pharma recruits a batch of fresh-faced sales workers who they claim will convince doctors to “take pain seriously,” an investor from the U.S. attorneys office (Uzo Aduba) is determined to take the family responsible for countless deaths down.
“You lie, you hurt people, you go down,” Aduba said. “They are doing the exact same thing as crack dealers but they are getting rewarded it.”
Also...
“All of human behavior is essentially comprised of two things: run from pain, run toward pleasure; pain, pleasure,” Matthew Broderick’s Richard Sackler said in the series’ official trailer. “If we place ourselves right there between pain and pleasure, we will never have to worry about money again.”
As the Sackler dynasty’s Purdue Pharma recruits a batch of fresh-faced sales workers who they claim will convince doctors to “take pain seriously,” an investor from the U.S. attorneys office (Uzo Aduba) is determined to take the family responsible for countless deaths down.
“You lie, you hurt people, you go down,” Aduba said. “They are doing the exact same thing as crack dealers but they are getting rewarded it.”
Also...
- 7/11/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
Comedian Hannah Gadsby is speaking up about the controversial ties the Sackler family has to their upcoming art show.
Gadsby, who uses they/them pronouns, co-creates the exhibit “It’s Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby” at the Brooklyn Museum, a show dedicated to unwrapping the complicated legacy of the artist. The program’s curators also include Catherine Morris, Sackler Senior Curator for the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.
“I’m doing a show at the Brooklyn Museum. There’s one Sackler on the board [trustee emerita Elizabeth A. Sackler]. We vetted this. Apparently, they’ve separated their earning streams from the problematic one,” Gadsby told Variety. “I mean, take that with a grain of salt. Doesn’t matter what cultural institution you work with in America, you’re going to be working with billionaires and there’s not a billionaire on this planet that is not fucked up. It is just morally reprehensible.
Gadsby, who uses they/them pronouns, co-creates the exhibit “It’s Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby” at the Brooklyn Museum, a show dedicated to unwrapping the complicated legacy of the artist. The program’s curators also include Catherine Morris, Sackler Senior Curator for the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.
“I’m doing a show at the Brooklyn Museum. There’s one Sackler on the board [trustee emerita Elizabeth A. Sackler]. We vetted this. Apparently, they’ve separated their earning streams from the problematic one,” Gadsby told Variety. “I mean, take that with a grain of salt. Doesn’t matter what cultural institution you work with in America, you’re going to be working with billionaires and there’s not a billionaire on this planet that is not fucked up. It is just morally reprehensible.
- 5/9/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Netflix has just released an exclusive first look at the new limited series drama that’s due to hit the service later this summer. Painkiller features an all-star cast and deals with one of the many crises that currently plagues our world — the opioid epidemic. The series will feature six episodes that clock in at an hour an episode. It stars an ensemble that includes Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, Dina Shihabi, West Duchovny, and John Rothman.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the...
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the...
- 5/8/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Matthew Broderick and Uzo Aduba are teaming up in Netflix’s limited series Painkiller, which will make its debut on Thursday, Aug. 10, the streamer announced Monday.
According to the official synopsis, Painkiller is a fictionalized retelling of events “that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin.” The series serves as “an examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans.”
More from TVLineQueen Charlotte: Alicia Keys Enlists Women...
According to the official synopsis, Painkiller is a fictionalized retelling of events “that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin.” The series serves as “an examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans.”
More from TVLineQueen Charlotte: Alicia Keys Enlists Women...
- 5/8/2023
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
After narrowing down 144 eligible documentary features to a remarkably strong shortlist of 15 docs, the Academy’s nonfiction branch whittled down that batch to five nominees: “All That Breathes,” “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” “Fire of Love,” “A House Made of Splinters,” and “Navalny.”
It’s a quintuplet of powerful films from five formidable helmers. It’s also a list that, as every year, is notably missing several heralded docus including Brett Morgen’s “Moonage Daydream,” Ondi Timoner’s “Last Flight Home” and Alex Pritz’s “The Territory.” But despite the omissions, five beautifully crafted movies remain from both veteran and relatively green directors.
Interestingly all but one of the nominated films, “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022, which is a testament to just how vital the fest is to the nonfiction genre. But despite four of the five nominated docus having more than 12 months of exposure,...
It’s a quintuplet of powerful films from five formidable helmers. It’s also a list that, as every year, is notably missing several heralded docus including Brett Morgen’s “Moonage Daydream,” Ondi Timoner’s “Last Flight Home” and Alex Pritz’s “The Territory.” But despite the omissions, five beautifully crafted movies remain from both veteran and relatively green directors.
Interestingly all but one of the nominated films, “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022, which is a testament to just how vital the fest is to the nonfiction genre. But despite four of the five nominated docus having more than 12 months of exposure,...
- 2/11/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmakers and critics rarely spend time in the same spaces, which is probably good for the mental health of the former and the physical health of the latter. But on Saturday night, they peacefully — even joyously — coexisted in a ballroom at the Biltmore hotel in downtown Los Angeles for the 48th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.
Things got off to a convivial start with a reel of clips highlighting each of Lafca’s 2022 honorees, which were announced last December. People chuckled at a scene of best actress winner Cate Blanchett melting down in Tár, aww-ed at a clip from best film not in the English language winner Eo and clapped along to the “Naatu Naatu” musical number from Rrr, the winner of best music/score.
Acceptance speeches were uniformly compact and generous. M.M. Keeravani, Rrr’s composer and a writer of “Naatu Naatu,” explained how impacted he had been by the score of Jaws,...
Things got off to a convivial start with a reel of clips highlighting each of Lafca’s 2022 honorees, which were announced last December. People chuckled at a scene of best actress winner Cate Blanchett melting down in Tár, aww-ed at a clip from best film not in the English language winner Eo and clapped along to the “Naatu Naatu” musical number from Rrr, the winner of best music/score.
Acceptance speeches were uniformly compact and generous. M.M. Keeravani, Rrr’s composer and a writer of “Naatu Naatu,” explained how impacted he had been by the score of Jaws,...
- 1/15/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Emmy Awards are always full of fun fashion and surprises.
Did the right people win? Were there any surprises?
Squid Game already made history this year: will they win any of the top prizes?
So many talented people get nominated, and this year is no different.
Check out the winners of the Primetime Emmys below!
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Dopesick: Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix -- Winner
The Staircase: Colin Firth as Michael Peterson
Under The Banner Of Heaven: Andrew Garfield as Detective Jeb Pyre
Scenes From A Marriage: Oscar Isaac as Jonathan
Station Eleven: Himesh Patel as Jeevan Chaudhary
Pam & Tommy: Sebastian Stan as Tommy Lee
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
The White Lotus: Murray Bartlett as Armond -- Winner
The White Lotus: Jake Lacy as Shane Patton
Dopesick: Will Poulter...
Did the right people win? Were there any surprises?
Squid Game already made history this year: will they win any of the top prizes?
So many talented people get nominated, and this year is no different.
Check out the winners of the Primetime Emmys below!
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Dopesick: Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix -- Winner
The Staircase: Colin Firth as Michael Peterson
Under The Banner Of Heaven: Andrew Garfield as Detective Jeb Pyre
Scenes From A Marriage: Oscar Isaac as Jonathan
Station Eleven: Himesh Patel as Jeevan Chaudhary
Pam & Tommy: Sebastian Stan as Tommy Lee
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
The White Lotus: Murray Bartlett as Armond -- Winner
The White Lotus: Jake Lacy as Shane Patton
Dopesick: Will Poulter...
- 9/13/2022
- by Michael T. Stack
- TVfanatic
Cast members from The White Lotus and Dopesick dominate this year’s Emmy nominees for best supporting actor in a limited series. But could Seth Rogen play spoiler?
Just like they did in the supporting actress category, the actors of White Lotus and Dopesick have claimed the vast majority of slots in this race — six of the seven, to be exact. Three White Lotus actors earned their first career Emmy nominations here for their work in HBO’s luxury hotel-set comedy: Murray Bartlett, as self-destructive resort manager Armond; Steve Zahn, as oversharing dad Mark Mossbacher; and Jake Lacy, as demanding newlywed Shane.
Just like they did in the supporting actress category, the actors of White Lotus and Dopesick have claimed the vast majority of slots in this race — six of the seven, to be exact. Three White Lotus actors earned their first career Emmy nominations here for their work in HBO’s luxury hotel-set comedy: Murray Bartlett, as self-destructive resort manager Armond; Steve Zahn, as oversharing dad Mark Mossbacher; and Jake Lacy, as demanding newlywed Shane.
- 9/2/2022
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Emmys Collective
Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Emmys Hub
To see old predictions and commentary,...
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Emmys Collective
Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Emmys Hub
To see old predictions and commentary,...
- 8/19/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Actor-writer-director Danny Strong is no stranger to celebrating on Emmys night. He earned two Emmys in 2012 for writing and producing HBO’s political drama Game Change, which followed his Emmy-nominated screenplay for the similarly ripped-from-the-headlines HBO film Recount in 2008. Since that double win a decade ago, Strong has gone on to co-create the Fox drama series Empire with Lee Daniels (who also directed The Butler from a script by Strong).
Strong is a multiple nominee again this year for Hulu’s limited series Dopesick, for which he earned nods for writing and directing in addition to outstanding limited series. Dopesick follows the rise of the opioid crisis in the United States and the nefarious actions of Purdue Pharma, which developed and aggressively marketed OxyContin while hiding its highly addictive properties. The result is a multi-layered true crime saga that traces the Sackler family-controlled Purdue’s shady business practices,...
Actor-writer-director Danny Strong is no stranger to celebrating on Emmys night. He earned two Emmys in 2012 for writing and producing HBO’s political drama Game Change, which followed his Emmy-nominated screenplay for the similarly ripped-from-the-headlines HBO film Recount in 2008. Since that double win a decade ago, Strong has gone on to co-create the Fox drama series Empire with Lee Daniels (who also directed The Butler from a script by Strong).
Strong is a multiple nominee again this year for Hulu’s limited series Dopesick, for which he earned nods for writing and directing in addition to outstanding limited series. Dopesick follows the rise of the opioid crisis in the United States and the nefarious actions of Purdue Pharma, which developed and aggressively marketed OxyContin while hiding its highly addictive properties. The result is a multi-layered true crime saga that traces the Sackler family-controlled Purdue’s shady business practices,...
- 8/15/2022
- by Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dopesick, the Hulu drama series starring Michael Keaton, Kaitlyn Dever and Peter Sarsgaard, tells the story of the opioid crisis in the U.S. between 1996 and 2007.
Creator Danny Strong said during a panel discussion at Deadline’s Contenders Television: The Nominees event that there’s still a chance of justice against Richard Sackler and his family, owners of OxyContin producer Purdue Pharma.
Contenders TV: The Nominees — Deadline’s Complete Coverage
He said he hasn’t given up thinking that there will be justice as activists still are trying to get a U.S. attorney to indict the family for the crimes documented in the eight-part series.
“People haven’t given up,” he said. “I don’t want to call it retribution, but [if that happens], I would just say justice will have maybe finally happened. For some loved ones, they’ll be thrilled if that happens, but it’ll never truly be true justice without [their] family members.
Creator Danny Strong said during a panel discussion at Deadline’s Contenders Television: The Nominees event that there’s still a chance of justice against Richard Sackler and his family, owners of OxyContin producer Purdue Pharma.
Contenders TV: The Nominees — Deadline’s Complete Coverage
He said he hasn’t given up thinking that there will be justice as activists still are trying to get a U.S. attorney to indict the family for the crimes documented in the eight-part series.
“People haven’t given up,” he said. “I don’t want to call it retribution, but [if that happens], I would just say justice will have maybe finally happened. For some loved ones, they’ll be thrilled if that happens, but it’ll never truly be true justice without [their] family members.
- 8/6/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Gold Derby can exclusively reveal the episodes selected by the seven nominees for Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actor as their 2022 Emmys episode submissions.
There are three nominees representing the Hulu limited series “Dopesick.” Michael Stuhlbarg, who was previously nominated in this category for “The Looming Tower” (2018), plays pharmaceutical executive Richard Sackler. He submitted to Emmy voters the fifth episode of the eight-episode series, “The Whistleblower,” in which Richard makes a play for power within Purdue Pharma, angling to become the company’s president while planning the release of a new 160mg dosage of OxyContin despite how addictive it is.
Rookie Emmy nominee Will Poulter plays drug sales representative Billy Cutler in “Dopesick” and submitted the seventh episode, “Black Box Warning,” in which Billy becomes disillusioned with Purdue Pharma after learning of a plan to use an Fda warning as a marketing tool to increase sales; he ends up stealing incriminating...
There are three nominees representing the Hulu limited series “Dopesick.” Michael Stuhlbarg, who was previously nominated in this category for “The Looming Tower” (2018), plays pharmaceutical executive Richard Sackler. He submitted to Emmy voters the fifth episode of the eight-episode series, “The Whistleblower,” in which Richard makes a play for power within Purdue Pharma, angling to become the company’s president while planning the release of a new 160mg dosage of OxyContin despite how addictive it is.
Rookie Emmy nominee Will Poulter plays drug sales representative Billy Cutler in “Dopesick” and submitted the seventh episode, “Black Box Warning,” in which Billy becomes disillusioned with Purdue Pharma after learning of a plan to use an Fda warning as a marketing tool to increase sales; he ends up stealing incriminating...
- 7/28/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Click here to read the full article.
“We have to hammer on the abusers in every way possible.” This quote from Richard Sackler, the man widely considered to be the “godfather” of OxyContin, perfectly exemplifies how his company, Purdue Pharma, got away with addicting millions of people through lies and deception — by blaming the victims for Purdue’s crimes.
As the creator of the Hulu limited series Dopesick, I was shocked and outraged by the obscene criminality of Purdue Pharma, which was owned and managed by members of the Sackler family. The company’s “big lie” was to aggressively market an addictive narcotic while significantly understating the risk of addiction by using misleading studies, manipulated blood charts and deceptive slogans and by pushing “expert” testimony regarding OxyContin’s safety from “independent” doctors who were in actuality on Purdue’s payroll.
These actions that created the opioid crisis might be the greatest crime in U.
“We have to hammer on the abusers in every way possible.” This quote from Richard Sackler, the man widely considered to be the “godfather” of OxyContin, perfectly exemplifies how his company, Purdue Pharma, got away with addicting millions of people through lies and deception — by blaming the victims for Purdue’s crimes.
As the creator of the Hulu limited series Dopesick, I was shocked and outraged by the obscene criminality of Purdue Pharma, which was owned and managed by members of the Sackler family. The company’s “big lie” was to aggressively market an addictive narcotic while significantly understating the risk of addiction by using misleading studies, manipulated blood charts and deceptive slogans and by pushing “expert” testimony regarding OxyContin’s safety from “independent” doctors who were in actuality on Purdue’s payroll.
These actions that created the opioid crisis might be the greatest crime in U.
- 7/28/2022
- by Danny Strong
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hawkeye has a new target: the opioid crisis. Jeremy Renner will appear in an upcoming film as David Armstrong, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who was instrumental in uncovering the involvement of billionaire pharmaceutical chief Richard Sackler and his family in the U.S. opioid epidemic. The as-yet-untitled movie has been in the works since at least early 2020, when 101 Studios committed to financing and distributing it.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Renner will play Armstrong in the film, which hails from Oscar-nominated producer Julie Yorn. Yorn is currently shopping it around to other potential partners at the Cannes...
The post Jeremy Renner To Play Journalist David Armstrong, Who Exposed the Sackler Family Opioid Scandal appeared first on /Film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Renner will play Armstrong in the film, which hails from Oscar-nominated producer Julie Yorn. Yorn is currently shopping it around to other potential partners at the Cannes...
The post Jeremy Renner To Play Journalist David Armstrong, Who Exposed the Sackler Family Opioid Scandal appeared first on /Film.
- 5/23/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Scrolling through Michael Stuhlbarg’s filmography on Wikipedia, you’ll notice that quite a few of his roles are written in blue font, with hyperlinks that lead to other Wikipedia pages. The real-life characters he’s taken on include former New York Times executive editor Abe Rosenthal in “The Post,” Golden Age-actor Edward G. Robinson in “Trumbo,” and even disgraced pharmaceutical executive Richard Sackler on “Dopesick.”
But Stuhlbarg says his role as defense attorney David Rudolf on “The Staircase,” HBO Max’s adaptation of the true crime docuseries, was his hardest biographical challenge yet.
“I’ve played a lot of people who’ve actually lived, some of whom are still alive and some who are not,” Stuhlbarg told Variety. “I had played a criminal defense lawyer briefly on a ‘Law and Order’ episode once before, but never with the amount of depth or time or as much information to sift...
But Stuhlbarg says his role as defense attorney David Rudolf on “The Staircase,” HBO Max’s adaptation of the true crime docuseries, was his hardest biographical challenge yet.
“I’ve played a lot of people who’ve actually lived, some of whom are still alive and some who are not,” Stuhlbarg told Variety. “I had played a criminal defense lawyer briefly on a ‘Law and Order’ episode once before, but never with the amount of depth or time or as much information to sift...
- 5/12/2022
- by Sasha Urban
- Variety Film + TV
“It’s almost a statement for the show in a way, that this was the plan,” newly-minted DGA nominee Barry Levinson declares about how the pilot episode of “Dopesick.” It opens on a raspy-voiced Richard Sackler (Michael Stuhlbarg) nefariously setting the scene for the destruction his company Purdue Pharma will eventually wreak across America.
We talked with the Oscar winner (“Rain Man”) as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a roundtable event with 2022 Directors Guild Awards nominees. Watch our exclusive video interview above.
See Gold Derby interviews with 2022 Oscar contenders
It sounds initially altruistic when Sackler calmly addresses his co-conspirators with the simple proposition that “the time has come to redefine the nature of pain,” demanding that they address the “epidemic of suffering.” But the audience is immediately aware of what and who he is, as Levinson frames the entire opening scene on his face, slowly...
We talked with the Oscar winner (“Rain Man”) as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a roundtable event with 2022 Directors Guild Awards nominees. Watch our exclusive video interview above.
See Gold Derby interviews with 2022 Oscar contenders
It sounds initially altruistic when Sackler calmly addresses his co-conspirators with the simple proposition that “the time has come to redefine the nature of pain,” demanding that they address the “epidemic of suffering.” But the audience is immediately aware of what and who he is, as Levinson frames the entire opening scene on his face, slowly...
- 2/24/2022
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
We're at the part of the festivities where nothing that's happening is nearly enough.
A Discovery of Witches Season 3 Episode 6 wasn't bad by any means, but with only two hours remaining, it's just not where I want the focus to be as the series rides off into the sunset.
Truthfully, The Book of Life was my least favorite out of the three All Souls books, too, but even that had a lot more meat to enjoy.
So, what's my beef, exactly?
We're getting to the crescendo, but there won't be any time to come down once it peaks.
A Discovery of Witches Season 1 focused on Diana and Matthew finding each other, falling in love, Diana's acceptance of her powers, and Matthew's acceptance of falling in love with a witch.
A Discovery of Witches Season 2 solidified their love, added depth to their relationship, and Diana got the help she needed to...
A Discovery of Witches Season 3 Episode 6 wasn't bad by any means, but with only two hours remaining, it's just not where I want the focus to be as the series rides off into the sunset.
Truthfully, The Book of Life was my least favorite out of the three All Souls books, too, but even that had a lot more meat to enjoy.
So, what's my beef, exactly?
We're getting to the crescendo, but there won't be any time to come down once it peaks.
A Discovery of Witches Season 1 focused on Diana and Matthew finding each other, falling in love, Diana's acceptance of her powers, and Matthew's acceptance of falling in love with a witch.
A Discovery of Witches Season 2 solidified their love, added depth to their relationship, and Diana got the help she needed to...
- 2/12/2022
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Michael Keaton thought he knew the basics of the vast opioid crisis crippling this country — until he signed on to star in the Hulu limited series “Dopesick.” In hindsite, he says, “I didn’t know how it really worked, what really happened or how it was formed. I’m really fortunate I have a job where you have to learn something. I knew about the Sacklers [the family behind OxyContin manufacturer Perdue Pharma]. But I didn’t even know probably an eighth of it.”
Now he does. For “Dopesick,” creator Danny Strong adapted Beth Macy’s 2018 nonfiction book of the same name to create the limited series, which stars Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever. A chronicle of the introduction and marketing of the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin, “Dopesick” toggles between timelines to show the rise of Richard Sackler within Purdue Pharma, and the attempt by justice officials to curtail the company’s deceptive marketing practices as the drug infiltrates an Appalachian coal-mining community.
Now he does. For “Dopesick,” creator Danny Strong adapted Beth Macy’s 2018 nonfiction book of the same name to create the limited series, which stars Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever. A chronicle of the introduction and marketing of the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin, “Dopesick” toggles between timelines to show the rise of Richard Sackler within Purdue Pharma, and the attempt by justice officials to curtail the company’s deceptive marketing practices as the drug infiltrates an Appalachian coal-mining community.
- 12/22/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
This week on Hulu’s limited series Dopesick, some characters made progress… while others took two steps backward.
Bridget Meyer certainly evolved. Not only did the DEA agent figure out a way to spark a media war with Purdue Pharma in Episode 5, but she fought sexism among her all-male coworkers. Bridget had to pick her battles, though, so she agreed to let a white male coworker handle a press conference because he comes across as nicer than her.
More from TVLineDopesick Episode 5 Sneak Peek: A Whistleblower EmergesDopesick Episode 4 Recap: The Doctor (Tragically) Becomes the Patient Wu-Tang: An American Saga Finale...
Bridget Meyer certainly evolved. Not only did the DEA agent figure out a way to spark a media war with Purdue Pharma in Episode 5, but she fought sexism among her all-male coworkers. Bridget had to pick her battles, though, so she agreed to let a white male coworker handle a press conference because he comes across as nicer than her.
More from TVLineDopesick Episode 5 Sneak Peek: A Whistleblower EmergesDopesick Episode 4 Recap: The Doctor (Tragically) Becomes the Patient Wu-Tang: An American Saga Finale...
- 10/27/2021
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
There is nothing predictable about Hulu’s limited series Dopesick. The minute you think the drama is going to swerve right, it goes left and vice versa. Nowhere is this more evident than with Michael Keaton’s Dr. Samuel Finnix.
The widower started prescribing OxyContin for his patients because he really thought it could help with their chronic pain, especially for those who worked as coal miners. Finnix attended a pain management seminar on Purdue Pharma’s dime in Arizona, and while he was there, he met with doctors and specialists he admired and idolized. He even spoke at the seminar as an expert.
The widower started prescribing OxyContin for his patients because he really thought it could help with their chronic pain, especially for those who worked as coal miners. Finnix attended a pain management seminar on Purdue Pharma’s dime in Arizona, and while he was there, he met with doctors and specialists he admired and idolized. He even spoke at the seminar as an expert.
- 10/20/2021
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
Countless American lives have been touched by opioid addiction or lost to it. And this crisis, more and more, is getting covered by TV. High-profile projects in which opioids play a part include HBO’s “Mare of Easttown,” with Kate Winslet’s title character in slow-motion grief over the loss of her son to drugs, and Showtime’s “American Rust,” featuring Jeff Daniels as a cop in a town governed by its need for pills — who is himself addicted. But Hulu’s “Dopesick,” currently streaming, targets the source of the problem, depicting corporate malfeasance and ineffective government oversight while displaying empathy for those struggling with addiction.
The limited series, starring Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever, has its roots in a real-life crime story — the introduction and marketing of the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin. But in order to convey the ravages of the drug, it borrows a sense of dread from fiction.
The limited series, starring Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever, has its roots in a real-life crime story — the introduction and marketing of the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin. But in order to convey the ravages of the drug, it borrows a sense of dread from fiction.
- 10/20/2021
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV
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