DENVER (CBS4) – Denver City Council voted 9-2 on Monday night to approve a $9 million agreement between the city and Aramark, a private company that provides food services for jails and prisons. The two-year contract will begin on July 1 with the option for three additional one-year extensions.
(credit: CBS)
Last week, the Denver Sheriff Department defended its decision to hire Aramark after a report by the Denver Post highlighted inmate complaints about food quality in other counties. In a 2019 lawsuit, an Arapahoe County inmate claimed they were underfed by Aramark and in December, a Jefferson County inmate claimed they found metal shavings in a brownie.
In a statement to CBS4, Aramark said, “allegations included in inmate lawsuits do not accurately represent the work of our people or the quality of what we provide to those we serve.”
(credit: CBS)
Mississippi prisons ended their contract with Aramark in April. An attorney representing 230 inmates said food at the Mississippi State Penitentiary was often “spoiled, rotten, molded or uncooked” and that portion sizes were too small. In Michigan, Maggots were reportedly found twice in a prison’s food service area in 2014.
“Aramark serves over 400 correctional facilities around the country and we’ve heard about some serious problems in some of them,” said Councilman Kevin Flynn. “I don’t want to be one of those that has the complaints. I want to make sure we have a mechanism in place to terminate the contract in case there is a breach.”
Councilman Kevin Flynn (credit: CBS)
Flynn voted in favor of the resolution after an attorney confirmed the city could terminate the contract with Aramark if the company failed to meet the standards outlined in the agreement. Councilwomen Candi CdeBaca and Amanda Sawyer were the two no votes against the contract.
DSD says the contract with Aramark is needed because fewer low-security inmates are eligible to work in jail kitchens. The sheriff’s department says the decline is due to sentencing trends during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(credit: Denver Public Safety)
“Sheriff Diggins and Chief Line are confident that Aramark, a company that offers food services in 22 countries and about 400 domestic clients, will provide quality meals to the people in our custody and our staff,” stated the Denver Sheriff Department. “We have safeguards in place to ensure this occurs and look forward to a successful transition.”
Chief Vincent Line will oversee Aramark’s food service operations at the Denver jails. The company is required to comply with Denver Food Establishment Regulations and regular city health inspections. DSD inmates can also file complaints about food service through the department’s Grievance and Incident Review Team.
“It’s not uncommon for us to get complaints from those in our care about either the quantities, if they believe the quantities are too small, or perhaps they believe their meal was too cold,” said Chief Line during Monday night’s meeting.
Vincent Line, Chief of Operations at Denver Sheriff Department (credit: CBS)
The sheriff department says it has voluntary accreditations with the American Correctional Association and National Commission on Corrections Healthcare. According to documents, the department plans to hire Steritech to conduct a third-party food safety audit each year.
The Link Lonk
Flex your film muscle!
Get all the best moments in pop culture & entertainment delivered to your inbox.
Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel star in Universal's "F9."
Univeral
In a time when franchises reign supreme at the box office, Fast and Furious may have hit a speed bump.
The ninth installment in the series about strong family ties and high-octane car racing, Universal's "F9" has raised the bar on ridiculous action sequences and "soap opera drama," critics say.
The Fast and Furious saga has had its critical highs and lows since the first film was released two decades ago. The films center on Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family and his chosen family. At first, the action films largely concerned illegal street racing and heists, but have grown to include high-stakes global missions that have turned the beloved scrappy racers into spies.
The physics-defying stunts that have become staples of the franchise are grounded by the rag-tag team of characters, which features a diverse collection of actors including Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang.
In the latest feature, Dom is living a quiet life off the grid with Letty (Rodriguez) and his son, when his crew is brought back together to stop a skilled assassin and driver, named Jakob (John Cena). This adversary turns out to be Dom's estranged brother.
As of publication Thursday, "F9" held a 62% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 114 reviews. As more reviews come in, that score could change. If it dips below 60%, the film will be considered "Rotten" on the site.
"The title doesn't lie," wrote Darren Franich in his review of the film for Entertainment Weekly. "'F9' isn't bad, and it's not good. It's just fnine."
The film, which debuts Friday domestically, was released internationally last month. It has already tallied more than $300 million in ticket sales, including more than $200 million in China.
Here's what critics had to say about "F9."
"If you're turning up for a world-class script and character development, perhaps stay at home with Netflix," George Simpson wrote in his review of "F9" for Express. "But if you're up for some ridiculously entertaining action set pieces and you're willing to suspend belief, then grab the popcorn and get ready for another wild ride."
"F9" dials up the action, pushing Toretto's crew to the limits of physics with death-defying stunts. From speeding through a field of land mines to snagging a falling cable on a car to glide across a canyon like Tarzan, the latest Fast and Furious film is all about spectacle, critics say.
"What would be a 2 star film is saved by 4 star action, hence our 3 stars overall," Simpson wrote. "Fast and Furious 9's high-octane set pieces really are terrific fun and even led to spontaneous bursts of applause in our cinema audience."
John Cena and Charlize Theron star in Universal's "F9."
Universal
While "F9" uses the "family" thread of the previous films to ground the story in some reality, the out-of-this-world storytelling leaves much to be desired for some critics.
"Something special drained out of this series when the heroes transformed from crusading car-heisters into world-saving explodo-spies," Franich wrote in his review. "Much of the' F9' story happens because Mr. Nobody tells various somebodies to do various somethings. I don't want my heroes to do things because a generic espionage manager tells them what to do. I want them to do things because they feel a passionate need to do those things..."
As the series has pushed the limits of its stunts, it's also pushed the limits of its narrative.
"Inventing a new sibling out of thin air is how soap operas fill time in season 27," Franich wrote.
Cena's physicality is enough to go one-on-one with Diesel, but the charm the actor has shown in other projects like "Blockers" and "Trainwreck" is notably absent, critic said.
The character's motivation, a contrived notion that he's trying to step out of his big brother's shadow, is "just goofy enough to be interesting," Franich said. But his villainy is weighed down by the return of Cipher (Charlize Theron) and the addition of money man Otto (Thue Ersted Rasmussen).
"F9" could benefit greatly from its exclusive theatrical release. A number of critics, including San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle lauded the film for being "too enormous to be streamed."
"It's huge, it's stupid and it's wonderful," he wrote in his review. "It's a total blast and an invitation to put your mind into suspended animation for two giddy, ridiculous hours. If you're looking for a movie to escape into, you cannot do better than 'F9.'"
Yes, the action doesn't obey the laws of physics. But, that's just fine, says LaSalle.
"The imagination of the filmmakers is further unbound by their willingness to be outrageous," he wrote. "Early in the movie, Vin Diesel's Dominic Toretto drives off a cliff. So what? Anybody can drive off a cliff. But Diesel drives off a cliff and steers the car in midair. You can't find entertainment like this elsewhere."
Still from Universal's "F9."
Universal
A sequence in which two members of Toretto's team get slung into space in a make-shift car rocket may be a bit too absurd for some moviegoers.
"We're thinking: Is this when the Fast and Furious series jumps the shark?" Owen Gleiberman wrote in his review of "F9" for Variety.
"Not so fast. At that moment, there's no doubt that the movie walks right up to the shark, takes a good hard look at it, maybe even climbs aboard it, but doesn't totally, fatally jump it," he said. "For one thing, there's way too much going on apart from that borderline ludicrous space-camp interlude. But I'm not sure if that's the kind of close call 'F9' wanted to be remembered for."
The Fast and Furious saga has certainly come a long way from its humble street racing roots. But has it gone too far?
"Sometimes, when you least expect it, a successful franchise will essentially morph into a different series," Gleiberman wrote. "Over time, the 'Mission: Impossible' films became Bond films. The 'Fast and Furious' films have become 'Mission: Impossible' films."
"But 'F9' isn't constructed around an exciting mission," he added. "It's built around Vin Diesel and John Cena playing out the angst from the Toretto brothers' past. The family plot 'works' (even as you're aware of how thinly written Cena's character is), but it's not enough of an anchor; it's more like an excuse. This series didn't need more 'heart.' It needed everyone onscreen to get up to speed."
Read the full review from Variety.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC. NBCUniversal is the distributor of "F9" and owns Rotten Tomatoes.
Back to the Future, which has had an on-again off-again relationship with Netflix, is set once more to off as the trilogy exits the streaming service at the end of June 2021. Other notable films flying the coop include paradigm-shifting Bonnie and Clyde, gangland classic Scarface, and nostalgic favorite The Land Before Time.
And we’d be remiss to not mention some major shows leaving Netflix soon: Original Twilight Zone will be slipping beyond the fifth dimension, along with David Lynch’s towering, enigmatic Twin Peaks, which has been on the service since 2011. Fill up on all the pie and coffee while you can, folks.
Read on to get the full list of movies leaving Netflix at the end of June 2021.
45% 30 Minutes or Less (2011)
64% A Bridge Too Far (1977)
96% Back to the Future (1985)
66% Back to the Future Part II (1989)
80% Back to the Future Part III (1990)
88% Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
86% Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
79% Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
83% Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
38% From Paris with Love (2010)
15% Gothika (2003)
46% Immortals (2011)
76% Invictus (2009)
19% Jason X (2002)
27% Leprechaun (1993)
82% Scarface (1983)
100% The Accountant of Auschwitz (2018)
70% The Land Before Time (1988)
- - The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (1999)
- -
73% Training Day (2001)
42% Two Weeks Notice (2002)
100% The Twilight Zone: Season 1 (1959)
92% The Twilight Zone: Season 2 (1960)
82% The Twilight Zone: Season 3 (1961)
57% The Twilight Zone: Season 4 (1963)
79% The Twilight Zone: Season 5 (1963)
91% Twin Peaks: Season 1 (1990)
63% Twin Peaks: Season 2 (1990)
Thumbnail: Universal
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
The Link LonkIf you really thought Michael Myers burned to death in Laurie Strode’s rat-trap basement bunker at the end of Halloween (2018), all we can say is we envy you in what is clearly your first slasher franchise experience. Not to stomp all over your new snow, but the Man in the William Shatner Mask is very much coming back again, along with ultimate Final Woman (c’mon, you’re not calling the incomparable Jamie Lee Curtis a “girl”) in Halloween Kills.
With our full first glimpse at Part Two – Part 2 Vol. 2? Part 2B? – in the form of a just-released full trailer, this franchise has gotten extremely messy with its timelines and continuity. To help, we have gathered up everything we know so far about Haddonfield’s favorite son and his refusal to retire gracefully.
Right from the start, director David Gordon Green (Our Brand is Crisis, Pineapple Express) and writer Danny McBride (yes, that Danny McBride) planned their return to the Halloween franchise as a trilogy. In fact, they intended to shoot all three back-to-back-to-back but decided to pause in between: First to gauge the response to Halloween (2018) and make sure fans and new audiences were down with their franchise-course-correcting efforts, and second, because, reportedly, Halloween Kills was a really intense shoot. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actress Andi Matichak (who plays Laurie Strode’s granddaughter, Allyson) explains, “They thought about doing them back to back. But Halloween Kills was just so ambitious. It was such an intense shooting schedule that it would have been a bit much to try to do them at the same time.” The final installment, bluntly titled Halloween Ends, is slated for a 2022 release.
(Photo by © Universal)
Perhaps no horror franchise is messier than Halloween. You’ve got reboots, remakes, disowned sequels, and warring continuity all jumbled together into a hodgepodge of indecipherable nonsense. There’s the original 1978 Halloween, then the straight sequel Halloween II (which added the “huh?” element of Laurie being Michael’s sister), and then things get really nutty. Halloween III: Season of the Witch takes a hard left turn by having nothing at all to do with Michael Myers or Laurie Strode. (It’s a standalone story about a sinister corporation making killer Halloween masks.) The franchise then spiraled into increasingly silly and more generic cash-ins like Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (which added the “huh?” of Laurie having a daughter named Jamie out of nowhere); Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (said daughter shares a psychic link with Michael? Because, sure, why not?); Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (Um, Michael was “created” by a Druid cult?); then Halloween H20 (which sees Curtis return as Laurie because this movie pretends that Halloween 4, 5, and 6 didn’t happen – the first but not last instance of selective memory); and then Halloween: Resurrection (also known as the one where Michael fights Busta Rhymes). Exhausted? We’re not even done.
After all this, Rob Zombie decided to do a complete reboot with Halloween (2007) that starts from scratch with new actors, and then he followed it up in 2009 with a second Halloween II. And finally, in 2018, Green and McBride gave us their own Halloween, which is actually a third try at Halloween II, since it’s meant to be a direct sequel to the original 1978 Halloween and ignores everything that came after it. Whew. It’s a lot, but streamlining and focusing the main storyline is exactly what this franchise needs – especially since it looks like the events of Halloween, Halloween Kills, and Halloween Ends will all take place in a relatively short period of time.
(Photo by © Universal)
Although it’s a shame the late Donald Pleasence won’t be able to join in as indomitable Myers hunter Dr. Loomis, Halloween Kills is taking a page from Cobra Kai and bringing back all of the familiar faces (or at least character names) that it can. Actress Nancy Stephens will reprise her role as Marion Chambers, a nurse and colleague of Dr. Loomis who appears in the original Halloween (and the original Halloween II and is actually killed off in the opening of now-retconned Halloween H20) – which seems especially appropriate given that the trailer suggests Halloween Kills could heavily reference the original Halloween II with some hospital-based horror. Kyle Richards (of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame) will return as Lindsey, one of the two kids Laurie babysat in the original 1978 film, and Charles Cyphers, who played Haddonfield sheriff Leigh Brackett (whose daughter Annie was one of the original film’s victims), will also be back. A grown-up Lonnie, who is name-checked in the 2018 movie, will actually show up too. And finally, the character of Tommy Doyle (the other kid Laurie babysat in 1978) will be back as well… for the second time.
Yes, Tommy actually returned once before, in 1995’s Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, where he was played by none other than Paul Rudd (Ant-Man). Read that again: Yes, it’s 100% true. Although it would be absolutely show-stopping if Rudd reprised his role in Halloween Kills, it’s just not happening. But Tommy will be played in Halloween Kills by another cult icon: Anthony Michael Hall.
(Photo by © Universal)
The 2018 Halloween dealt primarily with Laurie’s trauma, and how it shaped her life and turned her into a paranoid, bunker-dwelling alcoholic. But there is more than nostalgia behind bringing back so many old characters – Laurie wasn’t the only one traumatized by Halloween night, 1978. The trailer shows glimpses of the town’s collective angst, and the movie was filmed under the working title “MOB RULES.” This installment is about all of Michael’s victims facing unstoppable evil once again and confronting their own traumas and scars – from the nurse who treated Michael in the sanitarium to the sheriff who couldn’t protect his own daughter, much less the town. It may be The Town of Haddonfield vs. Michael Myers.
In a recent interview, Curtis explained more about the “mob rule” theme behind Halloween Kills and how it was influenced by the politics of the past four years. She says the movie will deal with “what happens when trauma infects an entire community, and we’re seeing it everywhere, with the Black Lives Matter movement. We’re seeing it in action, and Halloween Kills, weirdly enough, dovetails onto that.” Speaking with NME, director Green added, “it’s one thing to be afraid of the Bogey Man, to have someone who might be in the closet, under the bed, creeping around your house, but what we wanted to explore next was confusion, misinformation, and paranoia. What happens when fear goes viral? You can’t stick your head under the covers anymore.”
Halloween Kills has been in the can for a while now. It was originally due to come out in October 2020 but was held back due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the mass closure of theaters.
(Photo by © Universal)
One of the reasons fans were excited about the 2018 Halloween wasn’t just because it meant a proper return for Laurie Strode/ Jamie Lee Curtis (can you believe they tried to kill her off – via an off-screen car accident, no less – in Halloween 4? Put some respect on her name), there was another monumental reunion to celebrate. For the first time since the disastrous Halloween III, John Carpenter agreed to lend his name to a Halloween project not only as a producer but also to retool and revamp his classic score alongside his son (with The Fog actress Adrienne Barbeau) Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies (son of The Kinks’ Dave Davies). The trio will be back for Halloween Kills (and Halloween Ends).
When asked by MovieWeb about Halloween Kills, new writer Scott Teems – who came on to collaborate with Green and McBride on the sequels – called it “like the first one on steroids, I guess. It really is the bigger, badder, meaner version of the first one.” If that’s enough to make horror hounds howl, even Carpenter himself was taken aback by the new film’s bloodlust. Speaking to IndieWire, Carpenter mentions seeing an early cut of the movie and describes it as “fun, intense, and brutal, a slasher movie times one hundred, big time. It’s huge. I’ve never seen anything like this. The kill count!” When a Master of Horror is that impressed, you know you’re onto something…
Halloween Kills opens in theaters on October 15, 2021.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
The Link Lonk
