Filming is set to begin this summer on Love is Strange and the production has snagged Alfred Molina and Sir Michael Gambon in lead roles. Parts & Labor says the two will star in Ira Sachs’ (Keep the Lights On) upcoming romantic drama playing a couple who’ve been together for nearly three decades. Sachs directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Mauricio Zacharias.
Says Sachs, “In the wake of the personal events depicted in Keep the Lights On, I’ve discovered that all love doesn’t have to be so painful. Love Is Strange is my first pure love story, depicting the possibility of love to blossom and grow richer with time. Molina and Gambon will be amazing as the couple at the center of the film, bringing great depth and heart to this highly emotional story, and relationship.”
Gambon’s currently on the screen in Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, Quartet, and Molina has Truth About the Fishes premiering at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Plot:
Gambon and Molina play Ben and George, a couple who, after 28 years together, finally marry at a City Hall wedding in Manhattan. On return from their honeymoon, however, Ben gets fired from his job as a choir director for a Catholic high school. With not enough money to stay in their small apartment, the two are forced to move in, separately, with a nephew and his family in Brooklyn and the two gay cops next door.
A multi-generational story of love and marriage, Love is Strange depicts the delicate nature of any two people trying to build a long life together, and the possibility of love to grow deeper, and richer, with time.
Game of Thrones‘ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays twins in the Universal Pictures supernatural thriller, Mama, co-starring the super popular Jessica Chastain and executive produced/co-written by Guillermo del Toro. And in support of the film’s theatrical release, Universal provided this video with Coster-Waldau discussing the story, working with first time feature film director Andy Muschietti, and being a part of a Guillermo del Toro production. He also talks about how horror films connect with audiences on an emotional level.
The Plot:
Five years ago, sisters Victoria and Lilly vanished from their suburban neighborhood without a trace. Since then, their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), have been madly searching for them. But when, incredibly, the kids are found alive in a decrepit cabin, the couple wonders if the girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home.
As Annabel tries to introduce the children to a normal life, she grows convinced of an evil presence in their house. Are the sisters experiencing traumatic stress, or is a ghost coming to visit them? How did the broken girls survive those years all alone? As she answers these disturbing questions, the new mother will find that the whispers she hears at bedtime are coming from the lips of a deadly presence.
Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Mary-Louise Parker are joined by Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones for the sequel to Red, Red 2, coming to theaters on August 2, 2013. And judging by the trailer, the action’s amped-up in this sequel – as is the humor.
The Plot:
In Red 2, the high-octane action-comedy sequel to the worldwide sleeper hit, retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. To succeed, they’ll need to survive an army of relentless assassins, ruthless terrorists and power-crazed government officials, all eager to get their hands on the next-generation weapon.
The mission takes Frank and his motley crew to Paris, London and Moscow. Outgunned and outmanned, they have only their cunning wits, their old-school skills, and each other to rely on as they try to save the world-and stay alive in the process.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jimmy Fallon (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC)
Have you heard Arnold Schwarzenegger’s DVD commentary of Total Recall? He literally describes the scenes as they play out – obviously, no one had explained to the ex-Governor of California the real point of commentary tracks before sitting him down before a microphone. But now he’s an expert on DVD commentaries, and he showed off clips from Kindergarten Cop, Commando, and Predator while visiting with Jimmy Fallon.
Arnold’s on the publicity circuit for his new film The Last Stand out in theaters on January 18, 2013.
Blake Shelton will be heading out on a headlining tour kicking off on July 19, 2013 in Virginia Beach, VA. Joining The Voice coach/CMA Entertainer of the Year on his Ten Time Crazier tour will be Easton Corbin and Jana Kramer.
The tour marks Shelton’s second headlining tour, with tickets going up for sale to the general public in March. Members of Shelton’s BS’er Fan Club will find pre-sale info as well as details on meet and greets at Blake’s official site.
“My fans, country radio, friends, family, you name it — they know I love to perform. With The Voice schedule, I was not able to go out and perform as much as I wanted last year but I plan to make up for it this year,” said Blake. “This summer is going to be a blast. I want everyone at my shows to leave feeling like they got every penny’s worth of their ticket. I am going to give them every ounce of me on that stage because they deserve it. My fans are die hard country fans, they love to laugh and have a good time and I’m going to join them in what truly will be the Ten Times Crazier Tour.”
2013 TEN TIMES CRAZIER TOUR DATES:
7/19 Virginia Beach, VA – Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
7/20 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
7/21 Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
7/26 St. Louis, MO – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7/27 Noblesville, IN – Klipsch Music Center
7/28 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
8/1 Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
8/2 Burgettstown, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
8/3 Tinley Park, IL – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
8/9 Raleigh, NC – Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
8/10 Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
8/11 Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
8/29 Atlanta, GA – Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
8/30 Tampa, FL – 1-800-ASK GARY Amphitheatre
8/31 West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre
9/5 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
9/6 Hartford, CT – Comcast Theatre
9/7 Mansfield, MA – Comcast Center
9/12 St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
9/13 Milwaukee, WI – Bradley Center
9/14 Auburn Hills, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills
9/19 Charleston, WV – Charleston Civic Center
9/20 Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
9/21 Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
9/26 Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
9/27 Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
9/28 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
10/3 Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
10/4 Tulsa, OK – BOK Arena
10/5 Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
Jennifer Love Hewitt stars in 'The Client List' - Photo by Michael Desmond / Lifetime
Jennifer Love Hewitt returns to star in Lifetime’s The Client List, kicking off season two on March 10, 2013. And in case you need to catch up on season one, Lifetime will be airing ‘mini-marathons’ of the first season on March 3rd and March 10th.
The Client List is based on the 2010 original Lifetime movie of the same name. The drama scored high among women 18 and over its first season, and in fact, the series proved so popular that season two has an order of 15 episodes, up from season one’s 10-episode run.
What to Expect from Season #2 [Courtesy of Lifetime]:
After last season’s cliffhanger finale, season two of The Client List promises to be no easier for Riley Parks (Hewitt) at home or at work. The Texas single mother of two who, after being deserted by her husband and left in financial straits, took a job at a seemingly traditional day spa only to learn that sexual favors are being offered there on the side. After her estranged husband “Kyle” (Brian Hallisay) returns, for better or for worse, Riley must walk the fine line between her anger and love for him and the romantic feelings she has for her brother-in-law “Evan” (Colin Egglesfield).
Riley also takes a larger role at the spa, resulting in added power, responsibility and burden, further complicating her life. New threats abound this season and trust becomes an overwhelming issue for Riley as everyone, even those she believes she can count on the most, seems to be hiding their own secret.
Starz’s critically acclaimed series, Spartacus: War of the Damned, premieres on January 25, 2013 at 9pm, and it’s with mixed emotions that fans of the show greet the upcoming season. History dictates how the show will end, and although it may have been possible to carry on for a few more seasons, creator Steven DeKnight and the network came to the decision they would send the series off while it’s still at the top of its game.
Liam McIntyre returns for a second season as Spartacus, commander of the powerful rebel army. And in this interview during the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, the talented actor discusses Spartacus’ journey over the course of the show and what fans can expect from this season.
Liam McIntyre Interview – Spartacus: War of the Damned
I don’t know about you, but I was kind of a little sad when I heard that this was the last season.
Liam McIntyre: “Everyone was devastated.”
How did you take the news?
Liam McIntyre: “Obviously, when I first found out it was definitely the last season, it was sad because I just love this character so much. He’s so exciting to play and so different to anything I ever thought I’d actually get to do. I was always like if I ever got into a career in this, I might be like the guy next door, best friend kind of guy or something. But to be like an action hero is the bomb. It’s amazing.
Yeah, so it was really sad. But then you think about things, and you go, ‘How many TV shows that I’ve loved got to go out at the biggest they could possibly ever be?’ Because it just keeps getting bigger. Steven [DeKnight’s] told me you can imagine a point where running away from Romans and sometimes fighting them might get a little tired, maybe. Like you don’t want to think about it but, fortunately…”
No!
Liam McIntyre: [Laughing] “As a fan, that’s my immediate reaction is like, Don’t be stupid. I hate you! Shut up. Shut up and do more.’ But I try to think about that because I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, sure.’ Heaven forbid that actually did happen and it was like, ‘You know what? We should probably wind this up now.’
It’ll be heartbreaking for all the actors because it’s been such an up-and-down show. I can only imagine what people like Manu [Bennett] are going through because he’s had to go, obviously, to move between two different Spartacus’s and stuff like that. There’s so much sad trials and tribulations. The story itself, which is such a heartbreaking story in many ways, mimicked in many ways by the show itself. For me it was…I mean, I’m so lucky to even have this job. It’s a dream come true and so I’m lucky just to be doing any seasons.”
What could you possibly do next? You have to become Bond now.
Liam McIntyre: [Laughing] “Well, if I have to, I will, all right? No, I’ve decided Batman and Bond, and if I ever got those two roles then I’d have to retire because I’d have nothing else left to do. Batman and Bond, if anyone’s casting. No, it’s cool. Already I’ve got some cool stuff in the works and I’ve got some things I’m writing which has got some interest, so I may have a TV show, and a TV show I’ve created as well one day – or a video game. No, sorry, I’m just going to my own space now.”
What about a Spartacus movie?
Liam McIntyre: “Yeah. Well, I don’t know. I heard something about that. I’d love that. That was the best thing about meeting Kirk Douglas, which was so cool. He’s like, ‘Why wasn’t I asked to be cast as Spartacus?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, sir. If you want it, sir, there are still five episodes to go. You can have it.’ That’s cool.
There’s a Spartacus video game. I played it yesterday. It’s me in a video game. What years of trying to edit facial features in kind of ‘slider’ worlds, where you make the nose a little bigger, the eyes a little smaller, now someone’s doing it for me. It’s amazing.”
Did you win?
Liam McIntyre: “Yeah, I beat Steven DeKnight. Take that, Steven, wherever you are. But then the designer of the game, like the actual producer of the game who plays it all the time, played me, and I won. I went, ‘No, wait a minute. You let me win, didn’t you?’ He was like, ‘No.’ I’m like, ‘I know when a guy lets me win. You let me win.’ He was like, ‘Well, I want you to have fun. I want you to enjoy your own game.’ I’m like, ‘You beat me. You do it now!’ He played me properly and he beat me pretty well.”
Speaking of victories, last season you were pretty successful. What’s up for Spartacus in this season?
Liam McIntyre: “He’s really, again, in a pretty different place because while last season was kind of the journey to becoming a leader and that difficult change of state from the journey he was on as a person, his personal agony, through to, ‘I have a whole bunch of people that need me to live in some way,’ but now he’s that guy. He’s very much the commander of this group and he doesn’t doubt himself like he used to. He’s absolutely certain that the only way is complete focus towards victory. That’s tough to play because if you just be that guy it’s quite boring.
Acting’s about relationships. What I’ve found is really interesting this season is a guy who, in a very manly, masculine kind of way, has had so much pain and hurt that he’s almost trying to shutter his emotions off, and he’s trying to shut himself down from them, but he can’t. That, in itself, is really fun to play because every death – and there’s thousands of them – is his fault in some way. He is the leader of this thing and it’s his job to keep all these people safe, even though he knows he can’t and against almost impossible odds. So he’s fighting a very emotional battle every day to try and keep these people alive.”
What’s next now that he’s got what he wanted? Have his motives changed?
Liam McIntyre: “Well, it’s moved on because that’s the thing I always liked at the end of last season. He put the full stop on that personal pain somewhat, but he’d already gone, ‘I have to do this but I’m already realizing that that’s not where my life lies anymore. I’m not going to kill this guy and go back home and things are going to be the same. Right now I have a job. I have a debt to all these people now that are expecting me to change the world, and that’s so heavy,’ and that does weigh really heavy on him this season.”
Does he almost regret getting into that position?
Liam McIntyre: “Never. Not this season. He doesn’t regret; it’s just it is what he does now. He’s like, ‘So whatever’s gone past, I have this now and this is what I do.'”
What does Spartacus mean to you now that you’ve played him?
Liam McIntyre: “It’s brought into focus what already…because I always loved history, especially that Roman era of history, and I knew about Spartacus. One of the things I realized through just doing all my research is how much the Kirk Douglas story of Spartacus has shaped our understanding of who he was as a person because in the history there’s only so much about him.
People’s perception of Spartacus is highly informed by that, and finding out in the way we told the story, a different person who isn’t necessarily such a slave-freeing, noble-hearted person. He sort of becomes that guy, but he starts off [with] a lot of darkness in Spartacus, and that’s been fun to play.
The thing that blows my mind the most is that he could have done anything like what he achieved. He took 70-odd people from the slave quarters and rallied an army of up to 100,000 people by some telling of totally different nationalities that never knew each other, with no kind of flag to fly, and somehow made a war work that was on the verge of succeeding. To me, the fact that a guy could be that person and actually be that strong-willed and that determined and survive that long against the greatest military force of the age is mind-blowing.
Being Spartacus and following his journey through this story is hard, but then to think about the actual Spartacus doing this for real… It’s all fine when it’s scripted, but he did it for real. That to me is something that’s been brought into focus, something that’s nigh on impossible.”
And what he did still resonates today. He changed the world, as you say.
Liam McIntyre: “That’s the best part because even though I guess militarily it went down as a loss, this is a guy that people are still holding up as someone who represents the hope of freedom and liberation of people, and the underdog fighting against the big machine that wants to crush them under their feet. That in itself, it’s nice to keep that story alive and young, and that’s really nice.”
How has being a part of this show changed your life?
Liam McIntyre: “I mean, I’ve gone from a guy who was super happy to play a Shakespeare role in a park somewhere down the road from where I live to I’ve met like every major casting director there is now – and that doesn’t make any sense. I’ve got a photo of me in Times Square. I don’t understand the life I’m living now. I kind of hope I don’t, ever.”
Why?
Liam McIntyre: “I don’t know. It’s not about being famous. I like telling stories. That is the hardest thing about this story going away is that I loved the story of Spartacus so much. All the other stuff is kind of cool and a little bit scary sometimes, but from an actor’s point of view, I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities and such a big set, like a ready-made fan base and amazing storytelling and writing and pretty much everyone in the departments are head of their field. It’s like, when am I going to find an experience like that? And to tell a historically important character, to tell the story in a way that hasn’t been told before? I’m still the luckiest person I know.”
Manu said he broke a rib recently.
Liam McIntyre: “Yeah. I punched him so damn hard. It wasn’t even on set.”
Did you have any injuries on the set?
Liam McIntyre: “Well, funny you should say that. Manu gave me these. I’ve slowly growing them back. I had knuckles.”
That’s from punching him in the face?
Liam McIntyre: “Yeah. He’s got a really good stubble and I kind of glanced a blow and just cut my knuckles up. No, I mean we did this thing and yeah, they’re growing back though and it’s fine. So far, I’m pretty injury free, touch wood. But they’re going to give it a red hot go. I’ve done some moves already that I’m like, ‘Maybe the best American wrestler could do this, but this is ridiculous.’ So far it’s a goal to keep my stunt double out of work.”
Since this is the last season, is it going to go out with a big bang?
Liam McIntyre: “Oh, just that it ends with every piece of epic that you expect from the show, and it will. Every episode I’ve read feels like the ending episode of any other season. With the first episode we got I went, ‘That would end any other show ever, and if that’s where you’re starting, God knows where you’ll end.’ It will do every character that you love justice, and I’m very proud of that.”
This was going to be a grand review, discussing Arnold’s first big feature since leaving the California Governor’s mansion. And then, in an ironic title twist, this review of The Last Stand has been hijacked by my immune system’s attempt to make a “last stand” against some mild version of the plague.
So, as I sit here, hopped up on medicine, downing orange juice like a 17th century British sailor trying to avoid scurvy, and being let down by the difference between the thought of microwavable chicken noodle soup and the reality of microwavable chicken noodle soup, the idea of putting a whole lot of effort into a review about a movie that few people should make a whole lot of effort to see in the theaters … well … frankly … it’s not worth it. Also, I love run-on sentences.
The January curse maintains its hold on the film industry with this one. It starts as a good idea, pitting Sheriff Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville, Luis Guzmán, Xerxes, and a smokin’ hot brunette deputy against a drug cartel kingpin who’s hired teams of mercenaries to ensure his safe passage back to Mexico. As fate and a hastily written script would have it, said kingpin plans to pass through a sleepy town situated at the Arizona/Mexico border which just so happens to be the same one protected by Herr Arnold. Gunfights and occasional comedic chemistry ensue.
Had this simply been about a bad guy trying to get through the Sheriffnator’s town, where the pluckiness of its citizens prevails against well-trained ex-military types led by Peter Stormare, then the chances of success would have increased. Adding in an FBI subplot where Ghost Dog Whitaker delves into his Criminal Minds‘ character and letting the story constantly slow down to make sure the audience feels connected to these stock characters only made this 107 minute movie feel a whole lot longer.
Then there’s the fact that the movie is really just an extended Chevy commercial. From the villain’s ride of choice, to the one fast car in town, to the SUVs used by the cops, to pretty much every other vehicle that spins its tires, it’s pretty much all Chevy, pretty much all the time. Whee. Why not just call this movie The Last Corvette?
Anyway, I doubt many people were expecting this to be some great action opus. However, I’m sure audiences would simply just like the action to be thrilling but for 95% of the movie, that dream never becomes a reality. It’s a shame really, as Korean director Kim Jee-woon finally makes a Hollywood movie and he wasn’t able to bring some of the inventiveness of his previous works like The Good The Bad The Weird or I Saw the Devil. This whole effort is pretty run of the mill.
If you’re like me, a diehard Arnold fan who can happily endure cheesy dialogue and stilted acting as long as the action and the camp factor is high … you’re better off waiting for the home market. I was never bored enough to want to leave but I can tell you that my last stand wouldn’t be in a theater showing this. Maybe the upcoming Stallone flick, A Bullet to the Head, will have better luck marrying the aging action star and modern cinematic sensibilities.
Ugh, how did I write so much when I feel so bad? Come here orange juice, I’m thirsty.
GRADE: C-
The Last Stand hits theaters on January 18, 2013 and is rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, and language.
Click to View the PhotosFox has placed photo booths across the US in support of The Following‘s premiere on January 21, 2013, using the words “thrilling” and chilling” to describe the promotion. According to Fox, fans can step into the booth to snap a photo and then choose either ‘The Cast’ (to team up with former FBI agent RYAN HARDY (Kevin Bacon) or go on the trail of JOE CARROLL (James Purefoy)) or ‘POEtic Writing’ of the words from ‘The Raven.’
Fans can then share the photos on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
The cities hosting the photo booths are:
New York:
Jan. 17-18: News Corp. Building – 48th St. Courtyard
1211 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036
(corner of 6th & 48th)
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Jan. 19-21: South Street Seaport – Food Court Area
19 Fulton St., New York, NY 10038
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Los Angeles:
Hollywood and Highland – Grand Staircase
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Boston:
Faneuil Hall – near Cheers
1 South Market St., Boston, MA 02109
Hours: Noon – 8:00 PM
Dallas:
West End Village – South Alley
3699 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75204
Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Atlanta:
Atlantic Station – West District Ave. (across from Central Park)
391 17th St. Northwest #1012 Atlanta, GA 30363
Hours: Noon – 8:00 PM
Houston:
The Houston Galleria – Ice Rink level
5085 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77056
Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Seattle:
Pioneer Square – at 1st Ave. & S. Washington St.
201 1st Ave. South Seattle, WA 98104
Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Phoenix:
Mill Ave. – at South Mill Ave. & 4th St.
401 South Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281
Hours: 4:00 PM – Midnight
San Diego:
The Gaslamp Quarter – at 4th St. & J. St.
45 4th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Noon – 8:00 PM (Jan. 17, 20 and 21)
Hours: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Jan. 18 and 19)
Miami:
Lincoln Road Mall – near Hofbrau Beerhall
943 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, FL 33139
Hours: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Jan. 17, 18, 19 and 21)
Hours: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Jan. 20)
And if you’re not in any of those cities on any of those dates, you can try out the photo-altering app at www.facebook.com/TheFollowing.
The Plot:
Former FBI agent RYAN HARDY (Bacon) is called out of retirement to track down JOE CARROLL (Purefoy) after he escapes from prison. Hardy works closely with an FBI team, which includes young, razor-sharp MIKE WESTON (Shawn Ashmore). The investigation also leads Hardy back to CLAIRE MATTHEWS (Natalie Zea), Carroll’s ex-wife and the mother of the criminal’s young son, JOEY (newcomer Kyle Catlett). Hardy soon discovers that Carroll has an ever-growing cult of followers and it’s a race against time to track them down.
“Yes or no. Did you ever take banned substances to enhance your cycling performance?” – Oprah Winfrey
“Yes.” – Lance Armstrong
“Yes or no. Was one of those banned substances EPO?” – Oprah Winfrey
“Yes.” – Lance Armstrong
“Did you ever blood dope or use blood transfusions to enhance your cycling performance?” – Oprah Winfrey
“Yes.” – Lance Armstrong
Armstrong finally admits to what his ex-teammates and others have claimed for years, that he used banned substances to enhance his performances during the Tour de France. After years of threatening legal action on anyone who claimed he did, Armstrong came clean to Oprah.
