American Idol coach Mariah Carey will be kicking off Good Morning America‘s 2013 Summer Concert Series with a concert the morning of May 24th. Carey’s concert marks the start of 15 weeks of big name musical acts that includes Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, The Wanted, and Alicia Keys.
Good Morning America‘s concert series will feature artists from the Country, hip-hop, pop, and soul genres, with huge music stars as well as break-out acts such as Little Mix and Emblem3. The concerts will take place in Rumsey Playfield in Central Park every Friday. All of the concerts are free and will be held between 7-9am ET.
May 24 — Mariah Carey — #GMAMariah
May 31 — Pitbull — #GMAPitbull
June 7 — Little Mix and Emblem3 — #GMALittleMix / #GMAEmblem3
June 14 — Carly Rae Jepsen — #GMACarlyRae
June 21 — John Legend — #GMALegend
June 28 — Demi Lovato — #GMADemi
July 5 — Imagine Dragons — #GMADragons
July 12 — OneRepublic — #GMAOneRepublic
July 19 — Jennifer Lopez — #GMAJLo
July 26 — Selena Gomez — #GMASelena
August 2 — Ne-Yo — #GMANeYo
August 9 — Kenny Chesney — #GMAKenny
August 16 — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis — #GMAMacklemore
August 23 — The Wanted — #GMATheWanted
August 30 — Alicia Keys — #AliciaGMA
Donald Sutherland as Dorn, Richard Flood as Tommy McConnel, William Fichtner as Carl Hickman, Gabriella Pession as Eva Vittoria, Tom Wlaschiha as Sebastian Berger and Marc Lavoine as Louis Bernard in 'Crossing Lines' (Photo by Dusan Martincek/Tandem)
Want to know what’s heading to the small screen this summer? You must be really into planning ahead.
For those trying to figure out their summer 2013 viewing schedule, NBC’s announced the premiere dates of their new shows. First up, Crossing Lines will debut on Sunday, June 23rd at 9pm (a special two-hour show). The network also confirmed The Winner Is… will premiere on July 11th at 9pm followed by Hollywood Game Night at 10pm.
Details on the Three New Shows:
Crossing Lines:
Crossing Lines, from creator Edward Bernero, taps into the charter of the International Criminal Court to investigate serialized cross-border crimes and to hunt down global criminals. The series stars William Fichtner, Donald Sutherland, Marc Lavoine, Gabriella Pession, Tom Wlaschiha, Moon Dailly and Richard Flood.
Crossing Lines will usually air in its 10 p.m. Sunday timeslot beginning June 30. NBC has ordered 10 episodes.
The Winner Is …:
Hosted by Nick Lachey, The Winner Is … infuses the performance of a singing competition series and the strategy of a game show. Each episode features six acts that go head to head each week and sing for a shot at a $1 million grand prize. The aim of the game is simple: Contestants must believe in their own performance, edge out their competition and avoid cash temptations to move forward.
Hollywood Game Night:
Hollywood Game Night, hosted by Jane Lynch, features A-list celebrities partaking in a cocktail party atmosphere that is based on the real-life game nights of creator Sean Hayes.
'Scream' on DVD - Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney VideoScream‘s making the transition from the big to the small screen, according to an announcement just made by MTV. The network has greenlit a series based on the horror franchise which brought us the Ghostface killer and is hoping to add the show to their line-up next summer.
The first film of the series was directed by Wes Craven and hit theaters back in 1996. Made on a budget of $15 million, the original Scream collected $162 million worldwide before exiting theaters. Sequels followed in 1997, 2000, and 2011 – all directed by Craven. And in fact MTV’s hoping to bring Craven back into the fold as the director of the TV series’ one-hour pilot.
According to MTV, the series will “reinvent” the horror comedy franchise.
Colin Firth as Arthur Newman and Emily Blunt as Mike Fitzgerald in 'ARTHUR NEWMAN' directed by Dante Ariola. Photo Courtesy of: Cinedigm
Loyal readers know that if I could inject one emotion into a film, it would be melancholy. I love a good wallow and if there’s one thing that Arthur Newman is able to do, it’s allow the main characters to feel, experience, and dwell on their pain.
Starring Brits Colin Firth and Emily Blunt playing American, the story is a tad bit complicated and spoilery so I’ll just give a quick summary. Essentially, the pair of them meet at turbulent times in their own separate lives and wind up together on a road trip, each attempting to escape some element of their past and finding in one another a kindred spirit and perhaps something more.
Performance-wise, they’re both pretty much on-point. I sensed a good deal of A Single Man in Firth and Sunshine Cleaning in Blunt but seeing as there were some similar emotional states going on for each of them, I suppose those comparisons are inevitable. What sells the movie is the manner in which they connect to each other; there’s this poignant and beautiful sadness that gives the characters the safety to be honest in a way that they obviously aren’t able to be with anyone else in their limited social circles.
The tone of the movie is evident from the opening, thanks to first-time feature director Dante Ariola. He lets the camera linger on the characters as they attempt to work through the emotions and thoughts rattling around in their head, looking for a way out. There’s nothing too showy about his style, and it’s clear he understood that this was about character studies, not a traditional a-b-c narrative.
To that end, there’s really only one clear negative, which made appreciating and attempting to recommend this movie so hard to do – the script. Becky Johnston hasn’t been credited with a screenplay in quite some time (you have to go back to 97’s Seven Years in Tibet and 91’s The Prince of Tides) and for whatever that may be worth, the manner in which Firth and Blunt pick up and leave their everyday lives behind them is a bit truncated. Just hours after seeing the movie, I’m still trying to process and balance their selfishness versus their pain. I think we all can identify with the desire to run away and start fresh but actually doing it is at a whole other level, one which shouldn’t be so easy to come back from.
One other thing to keep in mind is that as far as dramedies go these days, this is definitely on the darker and more dramatic side of the scale. There are certainly some funny moments, and there’s such a freeing and endearing quality to the relationship that forms between Firth and Blunt, but the film is usually quite quick to remind the audience that this isn’t just a happy-go-lucky jaunt in a BMW convertible.
This is something I’m going to want to see again a little later down the road to determine if the emotion it stirred can be replicated or if it was partially a by-product of a week that already feels long (and I’m writing this on a Monday). I went into it blind, only knowing it starred Firth and Blunt, though I can be definite about feeling justified in that decision. Their performances, their chemistry, and the film’s mood were all up my alley. Hopefully, whatever I’ve just rambled off will help you determine if it’ll be up yours.
(And yes, I just ended a review with “up yours” … don’t be so narcissistic, this time it’s just a figure of speech. Geez.)
GRADE: C+
Arthur Newman is rated R for brief drug use, sexual content, and language.
The most interesting thing about Pain & Gain is that it’s based on a true story. Back in 1994, a couple of gym trainers decided to make a huge score and kidnap a rich businessman. It didn’t all go to plan.
What followed was a succession of terrible decisions and even worse execution, which you can read all about in Pete Collins’ piece in the Miami New Times. It’s a substantial article that spans dozens of pages. Michael Bay’s movie? Well, it spans about two hours … and when has anyone ever said something he did was substantial? I think I just did the opposite of ‘burying the lead’ but suffice it to say that this isn’t the movie that proves critics have been wrong to bash Bay’s movies for over a decade.
The problem isn’t the actors. Mark Wahlberg, The Rock Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie all do an excellent job slipping into their characters (that NO ONE in the cast looks ANYTHING like their real-life counterparts is a whole other issue); and Tony Shalhoub ably holds up his end of the bargain as the target of their aggression and greed.
The problem isn’t the story. It’s a fascinating study of criminals who dream far bigger than they can think. To say truth is stranger than fiction, in this case, is an understatement. And the real events are even crazier than what gets put to film so for those who find such tales interesting, I wholeheartedly recommend Collins’ article.
The problem is that the screenwriters and Michael Bay seem to have changed their minds about what movie they were making halfway through production (and the marketing team apparently only saw the first half). From the opening scene, there’s a definite humor to the proceedings, and the audience is encouraged to laugh at the over-the-top nature of the characters. However, the laughs slow to a trickle once Shalhoub is kidnapped … I guess torturing him into signing away his wealth isn’t so funny? And yet, Bay and company do still go for laughs from that point, but in what seems to be all the wrong ways.
To some degree, I don’t even blame the filmmakers – to some degree. The story is so massive and sprawling that there really wasn’t going to be a way to tell it all within the span of two hours, which makes me question why they even tried in the first place. This is the kind of saga best told over the course of a miniseries or perhaps even a full season of television; it’s that detailed of a yarn. Trying to compress it all into a movie simply wasn’t prudent, and it creates significant pacing problems in the last third of the film.
So while I will freely admit Pain & Gain starts with promise, it loses all steam in the end, and I would have been checking my phone for the time had there not been security eyeing me like a hawk at the screening. Bay needed to decide if he was going for the comedy or the drama. He’s not a good enough director to pull off a movie that endears you to characters that will end up going bad, and I’m not certain that’s what you’d want to do in this case anyway. The point should have been to make their charisma evident, not to make them sympathetic.
If you were like me and hoping this was a return to Bay’s glory days of The Rock and Bad Boys, put that hope away in a box. And considering his next effort is Marky Mark vs. the Decepticons in Transformers 4: The Search for More Ways to Disappoint Fans of the Transformers, you can probably safely tuck that box up high on a shelf. You won’t be looking for it anytime soon.
GRADE: D+
Pain and Gain is rated R for bloody violence, crude sexual content, nudity, language throughout and drug use.
Tye Sheridan (left), Jacob Lofland (middle) and Matthew McConaughey (right) star in Jeff Nichols' 'MUD' - Photo credit: James Bridges
2011 was the breakout year for writer/director Jeff Nichols. His film, Take Shelter, received a lot of critical notice (deservedly so) and cinephiles probably wondered whether he could follow it up adequately. Audiences wouldn’t have to wait too long, as he’s back now with Mud.
Although the movie does include Michael Shannon (marking the third collaboration between the actor and Nichols), he plays a supporting character this time around. It’s Matthew McConaughey that takes top billing, as a mysterious man befriended by two kids in a small town along the Mississippi river. He’s there to meet up with the love of his life (Reese Witherspoon), only there are some people who’d like to get their hands on him for a previous misdeed and all parties involved realize she’s the bait for a deadly trap.
That’s … a really odd synopsis … but I don’t want to give everything away and of more importance than the traditional plot development is the kind of exploration Nichols is attempting. Sure, there’s the dramatic tension and cat & mouse games being played by McConaughey and most of the adults but all of that is structure for the manner in which father/son relationships are being examined.
The true protagonist of the movie is Tye Sheridan, a decent kid just trying to find his way in life; balancing both remarkable compassion and a gigantic desire to prove himself. He wants what most teenage boys want, some adventure and to be in a relationship with that hot girl a few years ahead of them in school. His best friend (Jacob Lofland) goes by the moniker Neckbone and the pair gallivant around and act like kids their age are supposed to act. Their discovery of an abandoned boat, and McConaughey nearby, steer them into a world beyond their years but they’re eager to impress this straight-talker who treats them like adults and help a woman seemingly in need of help; quickly finding themselves over their head in the process.
Jacob Lofland, Matthew McConaughey and Tye Sheridan - Photo Credit: James Bridges
All of the performances, especially that of Sheridan, Lofland, and McConaughey, are excellent. Nichols really understands the locale in which he’s placed these characters and everything feels remarkably authentic. Had there not been a significant number of well-known actors, this could almost have passed at times for a documentary of life in the region. The cinematography is superb, and many of the scenes involving cruising down the river are so well shot that it almost felt like 3D (just without any of the hassle of those tinted glasses and general failure accompanied by the technology at the moment).
It’s understandable that some audiences may find the pacing a bit on the slow side but rather than stemming from a place of indecision, it’s clear that Nichols is in control of the proceedings and is just allowing the environment and characters within it to soak into your own psyche. His treatment of so many different father/son relationships is spectacular. Rather than feeling forced or like not enough time was devoted to any one set of characters, the end result is a tapestry of character studies and encompasses so many different approaches to how the dynamic works.
Simply put, Mud is easily one of the best films I’ve seen in 2013, and my esteem only grew as time passed between the screening and when I wrote this review. It will likely remain on my radar come awards season and audiences more interested in delving into the characters and appreciating good filmmaking than car chases and explosions should definitely check this out. Even though it’s not a big budget film and the story itself can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, it’s shot so beautifully that the trip to the theaters is worth the effort and expense. But no matter where you see it, the important thing is that you do … as long as you like quality movies. Otherwise, I’m sure there’s another Michael Bay film in the works that you can see with your brain safely in the off position.
GRADE: A-
Mud is rated PG-13 for some violence, sexual references, language, thematic elements and smoking.
In this quieter scene from Iron Man 3, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) talks to Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) about how he’s having a difficult time sleeping and putting his life back together since the huge battle that took place in New York. Opening in theaters on May 3, 2013, Iron Man 3 marks the first Iron Man film with Shane Black as director.
The Plot:
Marvel’s Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?
The new trailer for Disney/Pixar’s prequel to Monsters, Inc shows off what it’s like to attend MU – Monsters University. This is where learning to scare begins and this new Monsters University trailer finds our Monsters Inc heroes – Mike and Sully – getting off on the wrong foot as college roommates.
Coming to theaters on June 21, 2013, the voice cast includes Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Dave Foley, Sean P. Hayes, Joel Murray, Peter Sohn, Charlie Day, Nathan Fillion, Bobby Moynihan, Julia Sweeney, Aubrey Plaza, Tyler Labine, John Krasinski, Bonnie Hunt, Beth Behrs and John Ratzenberger.
The Plot:
Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voiced by John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right.
After the season one finale I gave up on The Killing and when the cancellation of the series was announced, I can’t say that I was either shocked or disappointed. The Killing season one pulled a bait and switch on viewers, and that’s not the way to treat loyal audiences. But the show’s been revived and AMC promises that this season will focus on one case which, they say, will be solved over the season’s 10 episodes.
Series stars Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos are returning for season three with new cast members including Peter Sarsgaard, Elias Koteas, and Amy Seimetz. Season three will debut on June 2, 2013 at 8pm.
The Plot:
Season 3 begins one year after the close of the “Rosie Larsen” case (the focus of the series’ first two seasons) with Sarah Linden (Enos) no longer working as a detective. But when her ex-partner Stephen Holder’s (Kinnaman) search for a runaway girl leads him to discover a gruesome string of murders that connects to a previous murder investigation by Linden, she is drawn back into the life she thought she’d left behind.
Phil, Si, Jase and Willie Robertson from A&E's Duck Dynasty - Photo by Zach DilgardDuck Dynasty posted some seriously impressive season finale numbers, drawing in 9.6 million viewers (a new record) to its final show of the season and averaging 8.4 million viewers over the entire season. That’s good it enough to make it the #2 original cable series (surpassed only by The Walking Dead) and the #1 cable non-fiction series, according to A&E.
The A&E reality series also scored big on social media. Bluefin Labs and Trendrr.tv report it had more “total activity across all major social media platforms” on the night of its season finale than even American Idol or Survivor.
And, of course, the Duck Dynasty gang will be back for another season. A&E says filming is expected to begin on season four soon and will premiere later this year.
The Plot:
A&E Network introduces the Robertsons, a Louisiana bayou family living the American dream as they operate a thriving business while staying true to their family values and lifestyle.
Ask anyone in Louisiana and they’ll tell you that the bayou state’s favorite first family doesn’t live in the governor’s mansion but in the backwoods, where the Robertsons’ rags-to-riches story is still unfolding. A homegrown mom-and-pop operation, Duck Commander has become a sporting empire by fabricating top-of-the-line duck calls and decoys out of salvaged swamp wood.
This newly minted multimillionaire family is kept in line by business-savvy Willie, who runs Duck Commander with the help of his brother Jase, their respective wives Korie and Missy, patriarch and founder of the company, Phil, and uncle Si. Together they run a booming business that employs half their neighborhood, but at the end of the day, you can find the whole family around matriarch Miss Kay’s dinner table.
Each episode brings a new set of challenges, met with a special brand of Southern know-how and a down-home sense of humor.
American Idol coach Mariah Carey will be kicking off Good Morning America‘s 2013 Summer Concert Series with a concert the morning of May 24th. Carey’s concert marks the start of 15 weeks of big name musical acts that includes Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, The Wanted, and Alicia Keys.
The new trailer for Disney/Pixar’s prequel to Monsters, Inc shows off what it’s like to attend MU – Monsters University. This is where learning to scare begins and this new 
