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Nick Frost Hits the Dance Floor in ‘Cuban Fury’ Trailer

By
Rebecca Murray
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Cuban Fury Trailer
Nick Frost stars in 'Cuban Fury'

eONE Films has danced out this new official US trailer for the comedy movie Cuban Fury starring Nick Frost (The World’s End), Rashida Jones, and Chris O’Dowd. Written by Jon Brown and directed by James Griffiths, Cuban Fury will arrive in theaters on April 11, 2014.

The Plot:

In 1987 a thirteen-year-old natural born dancer with fire in his heels and snakes in his hips is working himself up to explode all over the UK Junior Salsa Championships. But then: a freakish bullying incident on the mean streets of London robs him of his confidence, and our young hero finds his life diverted down a very different path.

Twenty-two-years later, an adult Bruce Garrett (Frost) finds himself out-of-shape and unloved – trapped in a downward spiral of self-pity, repression and Nando’s take-outs. Only Julia (Jones), his smart, funny, gorgeous new American boss, gives him reason to live. But she’s untouchable; out of his league. Luckily for him, she also has a secret passion. Thus, Bruce is once again brought face-to-face with the darkest and most powerful of his inner demons. Somehow, someway, Bruce must learn how to unshackle his dancing beast, regain his long lost fury and claim the love of his life…and he’s going to do it all On The Dance Floor…

Movie Review: ‘Need for Speed’

By
Ian Forbes
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Need for Speed Review
Aaron Paul and Dominic Cooper star in 'Need for Speed' (Photo © DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC. All Rights Reserved)

I have exciting news! I just saw a really good movie. It was the first good movie I’ve seen in all of 2014 (granted, I’ve seen fewer movies this year than I normally do). The only problem with this great movie I saw … was that I’m not talking about Need for Speed. Hopefully next week you’ll find out what movie I’m talking about.

But for now, let me start with the good aspects of Need for Speed. Director Scott Waugh, who did 2012’s Act of Valor, comes from a stunt department background. As such, he understands stunts and made sure that there was no CGI in this festival of expensive car crashes. Let me repeat that, there is NO CGI involved when it comes to the cars. Now sure, they’re using body kits when they’re going to wreck something, but even Hollywood isn’t dumb enough to wreck multi-million dollar cars yet. YET. In any case, I was quite impressed with the stunt work involved, and some of the car scenes were exciting.

That being said, while Waugh may understand that it’s better to do things practically than with a computer, he doesn’t quite seem to grasp how to shoot all that action. For a movie with so many ridiculously beautiful and expensive cars doing so many ridiculously crazy and dangerous things, I expected to have more thrills. I realize there’s not going to be a decent script. This is based on a video game series largely devoid of plot, so that there’s no place to go from a writing standpoint than your blasé vengeance angle, with a dash of hackneyed romance thrown in, doesn’t surprise me. But if you’re going to spend millions of dollars to create a brainless action flick, get the action right.

Adding to the “holy crap this movie is terrible” rating that I’ll sum up with some sort of letter grade at the end of this review, it felt like the actors knew how bad the script was and just gave up. Dominic Cooper is capable of very good acting. Aaron Paul is capable of very good acting. But as the respective villain and hero in this tale, they come off like two guys workshopping characters for a college production of go-kart racing. Surprisingly some of the supporting characters were able to add a little bit of energy to the production, but much of the time, it felt like the screenwriters had watched Drive and thought they knew how to mix that seamlessly with Torque. Side note: If you can truly imagine what that would be like, you have my understanding and sympathy.

Adding to the less-than-spectacular overall result is the attempt to use 3D. Every once in a while it felt okay, but any amount of time spent trying to make the gimmick work should have been set aside for a script rewrite. To no surprise to anyone who’s read the words I crafted above, I simply cannot recommend Need for Speed. You’re far better off playing Gran Turismo on your PS3 or watching Top Gear on BBC. Your money is better spent buying a ticket to a car expo. At least then you can take your time to admire the cars. Here, you have to sit through two hours of people trying to compete with the cars for screen time. Pass.

GRADE: D

Need for Speed is rated PG-13 for sequences of reckless street racing, disturbing crash scenes, nudity and crude language.




Showtime’s Working on a Dramatic Series About Hedge Fund Billionaires

By
Rebecca Murray
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Showtime Logo

A series about the One Percenters? Showtime’s greenlit a “complex, contemporary drama” pilot about some of the United States’ wealthiest hedge fund billionaires. Billions comes from Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big to Fail), Brian Koppelman and David Levien who wrote the script together and will be executive producing the series.

According to the very brief description offered by the network, Billions “is a fictional drama that focuses on the collision and, at times, collusion between an aggressive U.S. attorney in New York and some of the richest hedge fund billionaires in the country.”

Sorkin, Koppelman, and Levien’s project has the honor of being the first pilot picked up by Showtime in 2014.

Details on the Writers/Executive Producers [Courtesy of Showtime]

Andrew Ross Sorkin is an award-winning journalist and author. He is a columnist for The New York Times and co-anchor of Squawk Box, CNBC’s signature morning program. He wrote the best-selling book Too Big to Fail: How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System – and Themselves (Viking, 2009), which chronicled the events of the 2008 financial crisis. He served as a co-producer of HBO Films’ adaptation of his book in 2011. Sorkin is also the founder and editor-at-large of DealBook, an online daily financial report published by The Times that he started in 2001. He often appears on NBC’s Nightly News, The Charlie Rose Show, Real Time with Bill Maher and many others.

David Levien and Brian Koppelman have written, directed and produced a number of critically-acclaimed projects including Rounders, Runaway Jury, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Girlfriend Experience, Runner Runner – all which they co-wrote, and Knockaround Guys and Solitary Man, which they wrote and directed. Levien and Koppelman also served as producers on The Illusionist, Interview With The Assassin and The Lucky Ones. Levien has authored several novels including Wormwood, Swagbelly: A Novel For Today’s Gentleman, City Of The Sun, Where The Dead Lay and Thirteen Million Dollar Pop. Koppelman is a regular contributor to Grantland, and also hosts the podcast “The Moment with Brian Koppelman.”

Music Spotlight: Jennifer Lopez’ I Luh Ya PaPi (Explicit) ft. French Montana

By
Rebecca Murray
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JLo I Luh Ya PaPi Music Video

Jennifer Lopez has just released her latest music video, “I Luh Ya PaPi” (explicit) featuring French Montana. The video’s full of eye candy for the ladies, with shirtless studs sudsing-up cars. The song itself isn’t one of J-Lo’s better efforts although it is one of her raunchiest. Don’t watch/listen to this one at work. You’ve been warned.

Watch the video:

Emma Watson Graces the April Cover of ‘ELLE’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Emma Watson Elle Cover Shoot
Emma Watson wears a denim jumpsuit by Balmain on the April 2014 ELLE cover (Photo Credit: Carter Smith / Supplied by ELLE)

Emma Watson has grown up in front of our eyes playing the brilliant Hermione Granger in the blockbuster Harry Potter film franchise. There will be millions of Harry Potter fans who will never think of her as anyone other than ‘Hermione’; however, the young actress has accomplished a lot in her 23 years.

Watson wasn’t one of those child stars who couldn’t handle the fame and descended into the world of drugs and/or alcohol. Instead, Watson kept her head about her, went to Brown for a few years, and has been very selective about her film projects post-Harry Potter.

The April issue of ELLE (available March 25, 2014) features gorgeous photos and an interview with the talented actress. Chatting about having a life outside of her film career, Watson said, “I remember reading this thing that Elizabeth Taylor wrote. She had her first kiss in character. On a movie set. It really struck me. I don’t know how or why, but I had this sense that if I wasn’t really careful, that could be me. That my first kiss could be in somebody else’s clothes. And my experiences could all belong to someone else.”

Next up is a starring role in Darren Aronofsky’s big-budget epic Biblical tale, Noah, opposite Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman, and Jennifer Connelly. In the film, Watson plays Noah’s adopted daughter, Ila.

“It’s Shakesperean, what happens to this family when they’re put in this confined space for 40 days and 40 nights,” explained Watson. “It’s the end of the world – how these different human beings are dealing with the impact of that. Are humans good? Are we bad? All of these themes are epic.”

And director Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler) has high praise for Watson’s acting skills. “We started off with one of Emma’s hardest scenes. We shot in Iceland on a beach with an extremely difficult weather situation. The force of the wind – we could barely hear the actors. The sun kept coming in and out. We had to wait for the right light, then, Go, go, go! Then, Wait, wait, wait! She was able to block out all those ridiculous external forces and just focus on the emotion at hand,” said Aronofksy.

For more with Emma Watson, visit ELLE.com.

 

DreamWorks Animation and Netflix Announce Three New Original Shows

By
Rebecca Murray
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DreamWorks Animation and Netflix Lineup

DreamWorks Animation’s Turbo isn’t the only film that’s transitioning to an animated kids show on Netflix. DreamWorks Animation and Netflix announced King Julien from the Madagascar film series is going to be the star of his own animated series. The lemur king’s new series will debut later this year. Also heading to the small screen is Puss in Boots, and Veggie Tales will be returning with a rebooted series.

“We could not be having more fun as we create this content for Netflix,” said Margie Cohn, Head of Television at DreamWorks Animation. “Each show is so diverse and the platform gives us so many opportunities to play with our characters in new and surprising ways. Our goal is to keep the audience always wondering what we’ll come up with next…”

“I am pretty sure this is the first time the word ‘beloved’ has been applied to a cat, a lemur, vegetables, and snails in the same sentence, but DreamWorks Animation has an incredible knack for creating characters that kids around the world adore,” said Cindy Holland, Netflix Vice President, Original Content. “We’re very excited to launch the new episodes of Turbo FAST in the coming weeks and the three new series by the end of the year.”

Turbo FAST will stream new episodes beginning April 4th.

Hunter Hayes Tries to Break a Record for Charity

By
Rebecca Murray
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Hunter Hayes 24 Hour Road Race

Four-time Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes is going to be racing around like a crazy man as he attempts to set a new Guinness World Record. Hayes isn’t just doing this stunt for fun, it’s to raise money for a good cause. Teaming up with ConAgra’s Child Hunger Ends Here program, Hayes will be attempting to set a new record for the most concerts played in multiple cities in a 24-hour period.

The Hunter Hayes’ 24 Hour Road Race to End Child Hunger will take place on May 9, 2014 with his schedule set to include stops in 10 cities to play 10 shows. The current record is held by Flaming Lips who did eight shows in 24 hours. During the 24-hour period, the Martin OM-42 guitar Hayes uses in each show will be auctioned off at the end of each concert. Funds raised will go to benefit the Child Hunger Ends Here program.

VIP packages for the 24 Hour Road Race are on sale now. Visit hunterhayes.com for more information.

Hayes has been a supporter of ConAgra’s Child Hunger Ends Here campaign since 2012. In an interview with the New York Times, Hayes said he was astonished by the number of children who have no idea where their next meal is coming from. “Awareness is key with something like this, but just as important is that everyone can pitch in to make this story a better story — and how easy it is for us to help,” said Hayes.

Hunter Hayes 24 Hour Road Race To End Child Hunger Cities and Door Times:

May 9
8:00am – New York, NY on Good Morning America
9:15am – Boston, MA at Paradise Rock Club
11:30am – Worcester, MA at Palladium Upstairs (Acoustic Show)
1:45pm – Providence, RI at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
4:15pm – New London, CT at Garde Arts Center
6:45pm – New Haven, CT at Toad’s Place
9:00pm – Stamford, CT at Palace Theatre
11:30pm – South Orange, NJ at South Orange Performing Arts Center

May 10
2:00am – Asbury Park, NJ at The Stone Pony (Acoustic Show)
5:00am – Philadelphia, PA at Trocadero

CBS Renews 18 of Its Primetime Shows

By
Rebecca Murray
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Person of Interest Season 3 Review
Michael Emerson, Kevin Chapman, Taraji P Henson, and Jim Caviezel star in 'Person of Interest' (Photo © 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc.)
If you’re keeping track of renewals and cancellations, add nine dramas, five comedies, two reality series, and two news programs to the renewal side of your scoreboard. CBS made it official today, greenlighting new seasons of 18 primetime shows but leaving hanging the future of The Crazy Ones, Intelligence, and The Mentalist. Survivor and The Big Bang Theory‘s renewals were announced previously by the network.
 
“The best way to launch new shows in the fall and throughout the season is to surround them with a strong and stable lineup of successful series,” said Nina Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment. “The shows we’re picking up today cut across every night of the week and feature genre leaders, time-period winners and the most-watched shows on broadcast television.”
 
By process of elimination, that leaves the following shows as being renewed for the 2014-2015 season:
 
The Dramas:
NCIS: Los Angeles
Person of Interest
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Hawaii Five-0
Blue Bloods
Criminal Minds
Elementary
The Good Wife


The Comedies:
2 Broke Girls
The Millers
Mike & Molly
Two and a Half Men
Mom
 
Reality Shows:
The Amazing Race
Undercover Boss
 
News Programs:
60 Minutes
48 Hours
 
Source: CBS
 
-Posted by Rebecca Murray

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Can You Spot the Veronica Mars Kickstarter Backers?

By
Rebecca Murray
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This scene from the Veronica Mars movie features the very subtle appearances of several Kickstarter backers who contributed $10,000 or more to the campaign to fund the film. The backers were guaranteed a chance to be in a scene in a restaurant and to deliver the line, “Your check, sir.” The “leaked” scene features Kristen Bell, Ryan Hansen, and Jason Dohring sitting at a table engaged in a serious conversation. See if you can spot the Marshmellows who made it to the set.
 

 
The Plot:


In the film, Veronica Mars has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her on the eve of graduating law school. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don’t seem right with how Logan’s case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind.
 
-Posted by Rebecca Murray

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New ‘Smurfs’ Movie, ‘Hotel Transylvania’ Sequel on Sony Animation’s Slate

By
Rebecca Murray
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Sony Pictures Animation Movie Slate
Photo Courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

Sony Pictures Animation is revisiting the world of Smurfs while giving the film series a facelift, and the studio will be inviting Dracula back to Hotel Transylvania‘s sequel as confirmed by Sony Pictures Digital Productions President Bob Osher. “I am really excited by the variety of our upcoming projects as well as the amazing talent working on them,” said Osher, announcing the slate of projects coming to theaters in the next few years.

Here are the details:

— Sony Pictures Animation has hired animation industry veteran Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet) to direct an all-new, fully computer-animated film featuring the world’s most popular blue creatures. The family adventure, currently going by the working title The Untitled Smurfs Movie, is anticipated in theaters August 2015. Jordan Kerner (The Smurfs) is producing, with Mary Ellen Bauder (Hotel Transylvania) co-producing. The original two live-action/CG hybrid Smurfs movies from Sony Pictures Animation grossed a combined $910 million worldwide.

— Genndy Tartakovsky will return to the director’s chair for Hotel Transylvania 2 scheduled for September 2015, which will bring back Adam Sandler’s Dracula. Sandler and Robert Smigel are taking on writing duties for the comedy.

— The uber prolific Genndy Tartakovsky is also busy working an all-new CG take on the comic strip hero, Popeye, all the while developing an original idea for Sony Pictures Animation titled Genndy Tartakovsky’s Can You Imagine?, described as a fantastic journey through one boy’s imagination. Producer Michelle Murdocca will once again work closely with Tartakovsky.

“I’m really excited about taking the Smurfs in a completely new fresh direction,” said Shrek 2 director Kelly Asbury. “We’re not making a Smurfs 3 film. Our character designs and environments will be stylistically closer to the original artwork created by Peyo. Our story will explore the beginnings of the beloved little blue creatures in a fun full CG animated comedy-adventure for every generation to enjoy.”

“It’s good to be back at the Hotel Transylvania, and I’m very excited to work on Popeye, a character that I’ve loved since I was a kid,” explained Tartakovsky. “I’m also looking forward to developing an entirely new and original animated feature here at Sony Pictures Animation. This is an exciting time for me and for the studio.”




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