Taylor Swift’s hit single “Blank Space” leaps into the world of Game of Thrones courtesy of Nerdist. Nerdist’s version of “Blank Space” titled “Blank Page” is sung by George R.R. Martin (played by Nick Mundy) with the verses featuring his GoT characters, focusing on Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emily Rudd).
But be warned: there are spoilers littered throughout for those who aren’t up to date on every episode.
The “Blank Space” parody was written by Freddy Scott and directed by Andrew Bowser and Ben Mekler.
“What interests me is a machine that can think and feel,” says Deon Wilson (Dev Patel). Deon’s a brilliant programmer who’s created the first successful AI robots that can be used by the police in South Africa as patrolmen (called Scouts) to help fight crime in the sci-fi action film Chappie.
Not everyone is a fan of Wilson’s robot cops, however. Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman) is a colleague of Wilson’s whose super battle robot project has lost funding due to the success of the Scouts, and he’s out to sabotage Wilson’s work even if it means the city could fall into the hands of criminals. Also out to get Wilson and his Scouts is a down-on-their-luck gang who need a big score to settle a huge debt with a crime lord. The gang, led by Ninja, believes that Wilson has the ability to hit a switch and turn off all the robots, thus allowing the criminals to pull off their big heist without the fear of robot cops shooting them down.
Not content with his huge success, Wilson sets out to secretly build and create a special robot, different from all the others – one that has the ability to learn and feel. Before he can finish his sentient robot, Wilson is kidnapped by Ninja’s gang. When they discover the parts Wilson has for his special robot, the gang forces him at gunpoint to make the robot help them with their heist instead. It’s not long before Wilson creates Chappie (Sharlto Copley), a robot that can think, feel and question, but has the intelligence and simplicity of a child.
As Ninja and his gang attempt to train the new robot to use weapons to aid in the heist, Wilson struggles to get Chappie to learn simple tasks, to express himself artistically, and to develop a moral code that will not allow him to hurt humans or commit other crimes. Things get even more complicated when Moore, who’s been following and spying on Wilson, learns of Chappie and his capabilities and sets out to destroy not only Wilson’s new pet project but also the other police robots in order to give his own project, Moose, the chance to clean up the streets.
Directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium), Chappie is a sci-fi crime thriller that suffers from one-dimensional characters and a soulless script. It’s Robocop meets Short Circuit minus the laughs, originality, and heart. One of the film’s biggest crimes is the waste of extremely talented actors including Hugh Jackman as Vincent Moore, who’s nothing more than a boring, angry, envious bully, and Sigourney Weaver as the CEO of the company responsible for creating the police robots.
Another drawback is the casting of Ninja and Yo-Landi, members of the South African rap group Die Antwoord, as alternate versions of themselves in the film. Their characters look and sound as though they belong in the new Mad Max reboot instead of this sci-fi mess. Dev Patel is adequate as Wilson, Chappie’s creator who gets his greatest satisfaction by reminding the robot he’s his maker.
The best performance in the film is by Sharlto Copley. Copley reunites with his friend, director Neill Blomkamp (the two previously worked on District 9 and Elysium), and not only did he provide Chappie’s voice, he was also on set acting out the character so that the animators could create Chappie over his performance. Copley refers to the way Chappie was put together as being done via a “poor man’s motion-capture” process, and he gives the robot the right amount of childlike innocence and at times an unintentional sense of humor that makes him likable and more “human” than any other character in the movie. Other than Chappie, the CGI effects are solid but not groundbreaking.
Missing the emotion and heart necessary for movie audiences to connect to the thinking and feeling robot, and saddled with boring characters that feel more like caricatures, Chappie is a sci-fi thriller that fails on all levels.
GRADE: D+
MPAA rating: R for violence, language and brief nudity
Elizabeth Hurley as Queen Helena in ‘The Royals’ (Photo by Frank W. Ockenfels 3 / E! Entertainment)
E! is set to premiere their first scripted dramatic series when The Royals debuts on March 15, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT. The series revolves around a fictional Royal Family with Elizabeth Hurley playing the Queen of England, Vincent Regan as King Simon, William Moseley as Prince Liam, and Alexandra Park as Princess Eleanor. And during the Television Critics Association’s winter press day I had the chance to sit down with Elizabeth Hurley (along with a couple of other journalists) to find out what it was like to play the Queen and why we’re still so fascinated by the Royal Family.
How fun is it to play someone so manipulative and complex?
Elizabeth Hurley: “Well, you know actors often say that it’s more fun to play bad than good, and I have played more villains than good people, actually, lately. I think it’s always something you can get your teeth into. But I think with my character Queen Helena the jury’s very much out whether she’s more good or bad. I think without a doubt she does bad things, but I think it’s definitely open to a jury that some of those things are for the greater good. She loves the nation; she loves her subjects. She does love her family and she does want everyone to be fabulous. Unfortunately, she does sometimes take devious steps to make that happen. But I would argue that it’s very possibly for the greater good.”
The idea of abolishing the Monarchy makes great television, but does that idea horrify you as a Brit?
Elizabeth Hurley: “I would hate the Monarchy to be abolished! I love it! I think it’s just fabulous. I get hours of enjoyment from watching them do their thing. I think they’re kind of fab.”
What do you like most about Queen Helena’s wardrobe?
Elizabeth Hurley: “The big rocks. She’s got a lot of diamonds. She has tiaras, rings… When they first started doing my costumes they brought in, in my opinion, some rather disappointing jewelry. I said, ‘She’s the Queen of England. She has to have big rocks!’ And so the big rocks came in.”
They aren’t real, are they?
Elizabeth Hurley: “Some are real. Some are definitely real. I wanted to steal all of them. Sadly, I didn’t get any of them.”
Who has the better style: Queen Helena or Kate Middleton?
Elizabeth Hurley: “Queen Helena has the advantage in that she’s allowed to wear a great deal of foreign designers, whereas our real Royal Family tend to wear only British designers which are fabulous but Queen Helena’s got the variety.”
What were the responses from your friends when you told them about playing the Queen of England?
Elizabeth Hurley: “I think it’s very important for us to say it’s a fictitious view. I’m personally not very interested in actors portraying living anybody, actually, living monarchs when we don’t know anything about their private lives. I think it’s a very grey area when you’re just making up stuff. So for us, I think once people know it’s fiction…if you’ve watched any of it you’ll know after the first 10 seconds that it’s fiction. You can see it’s fiction. I think then people just love it. Why not? It’s a good story with great characters. There’s a million storylines you can think of.”
Manpreet Bachu, Ukweli Roach, Merritt Patterson, William Moseley, Lydia Rose Bewley, Jake Maskall, Sophie Colquhoun, Hatty Preston, Elizabeth Hurley, Oliver Milburn, Vincent Regan, Alexandra Park, and Tom Austen in ‘The Royals’ (Photo by Frank W. Ockenfels 3 / E! Entertainment)
Why do you think Americans remain so fascinated by the Royal Family?
Elizabeth Hurley: “Well I think they are the first celebrity family of the world, and they always have been. No matter how much other non-Royal people become famous, it’s still the Royals that make people just go, ‘Wow.’ I suppose it’s a combination of their birth along with they just kind of look fabulous and we kind of see it as a fantasy world of which we have no part. We’re looking through the window and it’s great.”
Is your son interested in watching the show?
Elizabeth Hurley: “My son’s obsessed with the show. My son’s nearly 13 and he came to the set every day of shooting. He sort of stood behind every department; he was allowed to watch in the editing suite. He could stand with the lighting crew. He could be with the camera crew for a while. He really loved it. He read all the scripts and he learned all of my lines, and then he learned everybody else’s lines. He was running lines all day. He just thought it it was the biggest treat on earth.”
Universal Pictures just debuted an extended three-minute video clip for Furious 7 that shows this new Fast and Furious movie is pulling out all the stops. The action franchise isn’t known for worrying about logic or realism, and in this new clip the gang takes to the air, driving cars out of an airplane at 8,000 feet. Why? Who knows, but it could be just because the sequence looks cool on screen.
James Wan (The Conjuring, the Saw franchise) directs this seventh film of the action franchise set to open in theaters on April 3, 2015. The cast is led by Vin Diesel and Paul Walker and includes Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Elsa Pataky, Lucas Black, Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, and Ronda Rousey.
TMZ broke the news that actor Harrison Ford has been injured in a plane crash. Ford, a pilot with years of experience, apparently crashed his small vintage World War II plane onto a golf course in Santa Monica, CA. Ford was the pilot and he was treated on the scene by people on the golf course before being transported to the hospital by ambulance.
The accident took place this afternoon at around 2:20pm PT. A man on the scene told NBC news that there was blood on Ford’s face following the single engine plane crash, and that Ford was the only person on board the plane. The plane crashed not long after departing the Santa Monica airport.
LAFD is reporting Ford, 72, is in fair-to-moderate condition. In a press conference, Ford was described as suffering “moderate trauma” but was alert and conscious when he left the scene.
Dan Stevens at the Toronto International Film Festival for DreamWorks Pictures’ ‘The Fifth Estate’ (Photo by Eric Charbonneau / Invision for DreamWorks Pictures / AP Images)
Downton Abbey fans may still be in mourning over Dan Stevens’ exit a few seasons back, but Stevens hasn’t been at a loss on how to fill his work hours after leaving that critically acclaimed series. Last year Stevens drew rave reviews for his starring role in The Guest and this year the handsome Brit is changing things up with a lead role in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Stevens will be starring as the ‘Beast’ opposite Emma Watson’s ‘Beauty’ in the live-action version of the classic fairy tale.
Beauty and the Beast marks a reunion for actor Stevens and director Bill Condon who previously worked together on The Fifth Estate. The cast will also include Luke Evans (Dracula Untold) as Gaston.
Watson confirmed the rumors of Stevens and Evans’ casting via twitter, welcoming both of her new co-stars to the Beauty and the Beast production.
Nick Jonas will not only be hosting Nickelodeon’s 28th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards, he’s also set to perform the opening number on the show. In addition to Jonas, Nickelodeon announced Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Hudson, and 5 Seconds of Summer will be taking the stage to perform on the awards show on March 28, 2015. The Kids’ Choice Awards will take place at the Forum in Inglewood and will air live on the East Coast at 8pm.
Jonas will be performing his hits “Jealous” and “Chains.” Hudson and Azalea will be teaming up on “Trouble,” and 5 Seconds of Summer is confirmed to perform “What I Like About You.” Commenting on the show, Favorite New Artist nominee 5 Seconds of Summer stated, “We are so excited to be nominated and perform at the Kids’ Choice Awards! It’s our first time at the show and it’s going to be awesome!”
Iggy Azalea is nominated for her songs “Fancy” and “Problem” (Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea) in the Favorite Song of the Year category and is up for Favorite New Artist.
Jay Baruchel as Josh and Eric Andre as Mike in ‘Man Seeking Woman’ (Photo by Michael Gibson / FXX)
FXX’s Man Seeking Woman just earned a second season renewal which is great news for people who like their comedies bizarre and twisted. Created by Simon Rich, the series stars Jay Baruchel as the ‘man’ in the title who is horrible at connecting with women. Eric Andre plays his best friend, Mike, who constantly gives the worst dating advice possible.
As the series heads toward its season one final, Andre took part in a conference call to discuss the comedy series, his character, and working with Jay Baruchel.
Man Seeking Woman airs on Wednesdays at 10:30pm ET/PT on FXX.
How much of your character is you, and how much of him is not you?
Eric Andre: “I improvise a lot, and they actually end up using some of the stuff I improvise. The character I take from all of the biggest douchebags I grew up with in Florida and I channel them and put them into Mike.”
Is he a guy you would hang out with in normal life?
Eric Andre: [Laughing] “No. I would run for the hills.”
How is it working with Jay Baruchel?
Eric Andre: “Jay’s the best. He’s a maniac. He’s a smart, smart cookie. He’s coming up with funny [lines]. He’s a real funny guy. The good thing is he’s a writer as well as an actor so I can always go to him for funny lines.”
Your character is basically the moral center of the show, in that everybody should do the opposite of what he says. Do you think we’ll ever get a piece of good advice from Mike?
Eric Andre: “I think so, with time. […] We saw some softer sides of Mike. Towards the end of the season, the subtle nuances of Mike’s character will come out where he’s a bit of a walking contradiction. He has a softer [side] or he’s in touch with his feminine side more than we think, eventually.”
How did you hear about Man Seeking Woman in the first place, and what made you want to do it?
Eric Andre: “I read the script. My manager sent me the script and I read it, and I loved it. Then I found out that Jon Krisel was directing it, and he’s fantastic, I just auditioned really hard. Then I met with Simon [Rich] and we clicked right away. I auditioned and got it.”
What do you think Mike sees in Josh that most people don’t?
Eric Andre: “That’s a good question. What do I think Mike sees in Josh that most people don’t? I think there’s an inner playboy in Josh that Mike is trying to channel. They have a Mr. Miyagi – Ralph Macchio kind of relationship sometimes there I think he’s trying to change. He sees potential. He thinks Josh is like the young grasshopper and his flower is waiting to blossom like a Georgia O’Keeffe painting.”
I don’t know how you guys make it through some of those scenes.
Eric Andre: “Ha, we don’t.”
Who’s more likely to break up, you or Jay?
Eric Andre: “I’m pretty bad. I guess we’re both pretty guilty of it. It depends on the scene.”
How do you recover?
Eric Andre: “We don’t. We usually just disintegrate on set.”
Mike staged an intervention for Josh a little bit earlier in the season when he was getting too serious about Kayla. Why do you think it’s important for Mike that Josh remain single?
Eric Andre: “Because I think Mike always needs a wingman. I think it’s for selfish needs. Also, I think Mike is a little jealous. That’s his bro. He doesn’t want anybody to take his bro away from him.”
Do you think Mike will ever get a serious girlfriend, or will want to?
Eric Andre: “Maybe with time. Mike’s a complex individual. His brain is like a Rubik’s Cube with some of the pieces missing, so you never know if you got it correctly.”
Do you have any trouble explaining the series to people?
Eric Andre: “Yes. It’s not easy. I say cartoon come to life. I say John Cusack rom-com mixed with a Salvador Dali painting. I say the Meg Ryan movie You’ve Got Mail on Peyote. It’s a psychedelic rom-com.”
Do you think that Josh and Mike have a symbiotic relationship, as in Josh needs Mike as much as Mike needs Josh?
Eric Andre: “I think so a little bit. There’s a little bit of co-dependency in their relationship, for sure.”
How would you separate Mike from other best friend characters? Do you really approach it differently, or is it just pure Id?
Eric Andre: “A little more of the latter. I think it’s pure Id, but it has some of that classic…I get my best friend into sh**ty circumstances. I don’t know. I think it’s just pure Id, and I’m just pulling from all the kids I hated in high school.”
Kiernan Shipka (Photo Courtesy of GKIDS and Studio Ghibli)
GKIDS and Studio Ghibli revealed the English language voice cast for When Marnie Was There from director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty) and based on the children’s book by Joan G. Robinson. Hailee Steinfeld and Kiernan Shipka lead the voice cast that includes Kathy Bates, Ellen Burstyn, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, John C. Reilly, Raini Rodriguez, and Vanessa Williams.
GKIDS has set a May 22, 2015 release date in New York and Los Angeles and will open the animated movie in other cities at later dates.
The Plot: When Marnie Was There follows a troubled 12-year-old named Anna who finds herself drawn to an abandoned house. It’s there where she encounters a mysterious young woman named Marnie.
Shania Twain will be back on the road for a North American tour for the first time in 10 years with the Rock This Country Tour kicking off on June 5, 2015 in Seattle, WA. Shania Twain will be joined on the tour by Wes Mack June 5 through June 28, and Gavin DeGraw will take over opening act duties beginning June 30 and continuing through the end of the tour on August 23 in Fresno, CA. The Rock This Country tour – which will be Twain’s farewell tour – will include 48 shows and will include stops in New York, Boston, and Miami.
Tickets for the Rock This Country Tour will go on sale for most dates on Friday, March 13 at 10am local time.
Shania Twain Rock This Country Tour Dates:
Jun 5 Seattle, WA KeyArena at Seattle Center
Jun 7 Vancouver, BC Pepsi Live! At Rogers Arena
Jun 9 Vancouver, BC Pepsi Live! At Rogers Arena
Jun 11 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Jun 12 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Jun 14 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
Jun 15 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
Jun 19 London, ON Budweiser Gardens
Jun 20 London, ON Budweiser Gardens
Jun 22 Hamilton, ON FirstOntario Centre
Jun 24 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Jun 25 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Jun 27 Ottawa, ON Wesley Clover Parks
Jun 28 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Jun 30 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Jul 1 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
Jul 3 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Jul 7 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Jul 8 Boston, MA TD Garden
Jul 10 Pittsburgh, PA CONSOL Energy Center
Jul 11 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
Jul 13 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Jul 15 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Jul 16 Miami, FL AmericanAirlines Arena
Jul 18 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Jul 19 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
Jul 21 Washington, DC Verizon Center
Jul 22 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Jul 25 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
Jul 26 Moline, IL iWireless Center
Jul 28 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Jul 29 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
Jul 31 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
Aug 1 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Aug 3 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
Aug 4 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Aug 6 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
Aug 7 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Aug 9 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
Aug 10 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Aug 12 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
Aug 14 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Aug 15 Salt Lake City, UT EnergySolutions Arena
Aug 17 San Jose, CA SAP Center at San Jose
Aug 19 Anaheim, CA Honda Center
Aug 20 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
Aug 22 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
Aug 23 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
