2010 seemed to usher in a new player into the animation studio field with Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me. It didn’t have the depth of story Pixar normally brings or revolve around princesses like a Disney effort. Instead, it took a story that could just have easily been a live-action effort (minus the hilarious minions) and simply gave audiences a fun ride.
Relying on that pedigree in its marketing and retaining one of the directors (Chris Renaud), the studio’s newest release is Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. Likely familiar to most people who were read books as a child or saw the TV special, moviegoers probably know what they’re getting when they enter the theater in terms of plot. A young boy hopes to impress a girl by finding a tree, which was thought to have all been cut down in order to manufacture multi-use garments called thneeds. We’re told how rampant industrialization destroyed the environment but given hope that it can be corrected if people change their ways.
Seuss was well known for his inclusion of strong messages within his books, and this is probably the most obvious of them all: pushing for people to think more about how industry affects the environment and believing that one person’s actions can make a difference. That message is brought forth loud and clear in the film, with such a heavy touch that even Greenpeace members would feel it was preachy.
However, despite the not-so-subtle nature of the story, if the screening audience I saw it with is any indication, your kids won’t care they’re being lectured to. I can’t remember the last animated feature which kept kids glued to their seats like this one did. Not only that, but after the first few minutes, they kept their mouths shut too. Seriously, it was impressive.
Most of that is due to the bright and fantastical hues and shapes that are the hallmark of Seuss’ work. Even with 3D glasses on, the colors pop and the strange creatures and buildings will fascinate children of all ages. What works best, in fact, are the animals that populate the forest prior to its clear-cutting. The little bear-like creatures and the singing fish are adorable and funny, creating the most enjoyable moments of the film. If the entire movie had been about the activities in the forest, this would have been pure entertainment at its finest. However, there are some elements that not only didn’t work but were also detrimental to the overall project.
Starting with the least egregious offense are the humans in the town. They’re just generally uninteresting; simple archetypes marginally voiced by Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, and yes, even Betty White doesn’t get to do a lot with her character (sorry, Betty). Whenever the story flips back to their activities, the joy factor drops considerably.
But what truly blocks this film from becoming something special are the songs. They’re not just bad, they’re not just terrible, they’re AWFUL. The opening song worried me that I was in for a very long 94 minutes, then the story kicked in and I was marginally appeased, the back story in the forest was told, and I really got into the whole affair, then another song came, and I was wondering how important it was to stay in the theater. I realize that every song can’t be a winner, but these would shame the definition of a loser. And it’s not just one or two of the musical numbers, it’s EVERY musical number. They’re all painful to sit through, and one’s best course of action is to concentrate on background action to ride out the storm.
That being said, I go back to the notion that the kids ate this up like whatever sugar-laced concoction goes with milk these days. Also to the film’s benefit is some very good 3D; Renaud and his team learned from previous failings in this regard and got it right. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax has plenty of problems but a few high points, a positive (albeit clumsily delivered) message, and will keep the little tax deductions you’ve given names quiet for an hour and a half. If that’s all you need, by all means, give it a look-see.
GRADE: C
The Lorax hits theaters on March 2, 2012 and is rated PG for brief mild language.
Daughtry Debuts New Single "Outta My Head" on American Idol March 15 - Photo by RCA Records
Chris Daughtry’s heading back to where it all began to debut his group’s new single, “Outta My Head.” The former American Idol contestant will appear on the March 15th episode of the show and perform the new single with his band. The single’s the third to be released off of Daughtry’s Break The Spell album, which was certified gold less than four weeks after its release.
Daughtry also announced a second leg to the group’s Break The Spell 2012 Tour, with tickets set to go on sale March 2nd at 10am. The second leg of the tour kicks off on May 10th in Indianapolis and finishes up in Austin, Texas on June 13th. On both legs of the tour Daughtry will be donating $1 from every ticket sold to Malaria No More, a non-profit organization working to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015.
“Just a few more weeks in rehearsal and then we finally get to deliver Break The Spell live to our fans,” says singer Chris Daughtry.
BREAK THE SPELL TOUR
March
20 Buffalo, NY Shea’s Performing Arts Center
21 Reading, PA Reading Eagle Theater at the Sovereign Center
24 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
25 Cleveland, OH Palace Theatre
27 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
28 Little Rock, AR Robinson Center Music Hall
30 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
31 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace Theater
April
2 Columbus, OH Veteran’sMemorial
3 Cincinnati, OH Music Hall
4 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center
7 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
9 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
11 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
12 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
14 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Park Amphitheater
15 Jacksonville, FL Moran Theatre at the Times Union Center
17 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium
18 Richmond, VA Landmark Theater
20 W. Long Branch, NJ The MAC at Monmouth University
21 Syracuse, NY Landmark Theater
23 Lowell, MA Lowell Memorial
25 Newark, NJ NJ PAC
29 Albany, NY Palace Theater
May
1 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
SECOND LEG:
May
10 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room
11 Waukegan, IL Genesee Theatre
13 Minneapolis, MN The Brick
15 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theatre
16 St. Louis, MO Peabody Opera House
18 Kansas City, MO The Midland by AMC
19 Tulsa, OK Brady Theatre
21 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
22 San Diego, CA San Diego Civic Theatre
24 Las Vegas, NV The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
30 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live
31 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
June
2 Portland, CA Keller Auditorium
3 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre
5 Salt Lake City, UT Abravanel Hall
7 Denver, CO Jim Beam Live Music Series at Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
11 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
13 Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
Paramount Pictures just announced a ‘Discover Your Destiny’ contest inspired by the comedy movie Jeff, Who Lives at Home. The contest is open to US residents 18 and over, but you have to enter by March 21, 2012.
The Details:
– Jeff is on a quest to leave his mother’s basement and discover his destiny. He just needs a little inspiration.
Do you have a “Jeff” in your life, or do YOU need to be inspired?
Enter the DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY contest now.
The winner will receive a “Seduction of Spirit” retreat with Deepak Chopra.
ENTER NOW: Facebook.com/JeffWhoLivesAtHome
And Paramount’s also just released a new clip from the film, which is hitting theaters on March 16th.
The Plot: On his way to the store to buy wood glue, Jeff looks for signs from the universe to determine his path. However, a series of comedic and unexpected events leads him to cross paths with his family in the strangest of locations and circumstances. Jeff just may find the meaning of his life… and if he’s lucky, pick up the wood glue as well.
Project X is all about a party that escalates completely out of control, but let’s hope the after-party for the LA premiere stays PG-13 rated. NowLive and Warner Bros. Pictures are providing this livestream of the party, which will feature performances by Kid Cudi, Tyler The Creator, A-Trak, Drop The Lime, and Hundred in the Hands.
The event takes place tonight at 9pm PT/12am ET.
(The livestream’s no longer available however Warner Bros has provided a highlight video.)
Richard Linklater reunites with his School of Rock star Jack Black and Dazed and Confused star Matthew McConaughey for the dark comedy Bernie, hitting theaters on April 27, 2012. Take a look at the first trailer and see what you think.
The Plot:
In the tiny, rural town of Carthage, TX, assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) was one of the town’s most beloved residents. He taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Everyone loved and appreciated Bernie, so it came as no surprise when he befriended Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), an affluent widow who was as well known for her sour attitude as her fortune. Bernie frequently traveled with Marjorie and even managed her banking affairs.
Marjorie quickly became fully dependent on Bernie and his generosity and Bernie struggled to meet her increasing demands. Bernie continued to handle her affairs, and the townspeople went months without seeing Marjorie. The people of Carthage were shocked when it was reported that Marjorie Nugent had been dead for some time, and Bernie Tiede was being charged with the murder.
Take a look at Kurt Russell as a high school football coach in the dramatic film Touchback written and directed by Don Handfield. Melanie Lynskey, Marc Blucas, and Christine Lahti also star in the sports drama set for an April 13, 2012 release.
The Plot:
Former high school football star turned farmer and family man, Scott Murphy (Brian Presley) finds himself with a unique opportunity to revisit his glory days during the Ohio State championship game where he permanently injured his knee in a game-winning play. Given a second shot at his destiny, Scott seeks counsel from Coach Hand (Kurt Russell), Scott’s longtime mentor on and off the field, to help him decide whether to let his fate unfold, or follow a path that will change his future.
Former The Monkees lead singer Davy Jones has died at the age of 66. Jones passed away as the result of a heart attack this morning in Florida.
Jones was a member of The Monkees, a bubblegum pop band formed in the 1960s to star in an NBC sitcom of the same name. The show, which was created to cash in on The Beatles’ popularity, premiered in 1966. Although it was wacky and fun, the comedy never really caught on with viewers. But even without high ratings, Jones and his fellow band members Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, and Micky Dolenz made the Billboard charts with a handful of tunes, including “I’m a Believer” and “Daydream Believer.”
Reacting to the news of Jones’ death, Micky Dolenz posted on his Facebook page:
“Can’t believe it…Still in shock…had bad dreams all night long. My love and prayers go out to Davy’s girls and family right now…”
Peter Tork posted this message:
“It is with great sadness that I reflect on the sudden passing of my long-time friend and fellow-adventurer, David Jones. His talent will be much missed; his gifts will be with us always. My deepest sympathy to Jessica and the rest of his family. Adios, to the Manchester Cowboy. Peace and love, Peter T.”
Davy Jones was born in Manchester, England, and was the youngest – and shortest – member of The Monkees. He’s survived by his wife, Jessica, and four daughters.
“Just when you thought it was safe to put your 3D glasses back on…” The Piranha 3DD trailer is now online (thanks to ShockTilYouDrop for pointing it out) and it’s disgusting, gross, and loaded with DDs. The sequel to Piranha 3D finds the sharp-toothed flesheaters feasting on bathing beauties as well as finding their way through the pipes to become unwanted bathtub buddies.
The Plot:
There’s something in the water . . . again. And this time no one is safe from the flesh eating fish as they sink their razor sharp teeth into the visitors of the best summer attraction, The Big Wet Water Park.
Dimension Films hasn’t set a release date yet for Piranha 3DD.
For Willie Nelson, the difficult part about recording an album of Country classics wasn’t deciding what to record — it was deciding what not to record.
“I probably know two or three thousand songs,” said the member of CMA’s Country Music Hall of Fame, “everything from Jimmie Rodgers’ ‘Blue Yodel No. 1’ to the songs of today. There’s not enough room on one record for all of my favorites. There aren’t enough records, either — not in one lifetime.”
Fourteen of Nelson’s favorite oldies can be found on his latest album, Remember Me Vol. 1, released on R&J Records. As its title suggests, he has recorded more than can fit on one album. “Eventually, we got it down to 32 songs,” Nelson said. “The biggest problem was cutting it down.”
He and producer James Stroud both contributed to selecting the repertoire. “Me and James got together and chose the songs and chose the keys I would sing them in,” Nelson said. “I came up with a few. James came up with a few. James went into the studio with the Nashville musicians and cut the tracks. Then he brought those down to Austin and I put my vocals on them.”
“We started out with about 75 songs,” Stroud remembered. “It was sort of a combination of music that we loved and music that we could apply to Willie’s style.”
Stroud’s production credits include new hitmaker Chris Young, superstars Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Randy Travis and Wynonna, living legends Charlie Daniels, Neil Diamond and Hank Williams Jr., plus Country Music Hall of Fame members Merle Haggard and Barbara Mandrell. As a session drummer years before he began producing, Stroud worked with hundreds of others as well.
His association with Nelson goes back a long way, but neither man can remember exactly how they met. “I played on one of his records that Chips Moman produced (in the 1980s) but Willie wasn’t there,” Stroud recalled. “Then, sometime in the early to mid ‘90s, a mutual friend introduced us and we played golf in Nashville. The first music I produced for Willie was for a TV special, maybe 11 years ago. I was working with one of my heroes, so it was a combination of feeling intimidated, excited and thrilled. I’m on a small list of producers who have worked with him, one of the top three or four Country artists in history. Honored is not the word, because I was beyond honored. And I still feel that way. But he never makes you feel that way.
“Willie is about as easy to work with as anybody I’ve been around,” Stroud added. “Working with Willie is like pouring water. It’s just that easy. He’s very knowledgeable. He certainly understands everything that he can do — his inflections, the way he sings, the way he plays, the way he ties his (vocal) phrasing in around the way he plays his guitar. Everything that he does, he’s an expert at being Willie Nelson.”
Nelson’s vocal performances on Remember Me Vol. 1 sound astoundingly strong for a man who will celebrate his 79th birthday on April 30. What is his secret?
“If I knew, I’d bottle it up,” he answered, with a chuckle. “I do an hour-and-a-half show every night, and that’s the best (vocal) exercise you can do. When other singers ask me, that’s what I tell them: Sing all the time. If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
“Willie has an awesome range today,” Stroud confirmed. “If he sang a song more than three or four times, it was rare. I mean, he had each vocal on that record done perfectly by three or four, every one of them.
“He’s very spontaneous as far as the way he records,” the producer continued. “He would sit and play his guitar and have fun. He’d sing a song, and then we might go out to eat or go hit a golf ball, because his studio is on his own golf course. I remember one day we did a couple of vocals and then he said, ‘Let’s go play golf.’ So we went outside and got in his Mercedes. He popped the trunk, we put our golf clubs in the back and he drove it onto the course. We played golf in his Mercedes! He said, ‘I like to play golf with it being air-conditioned.’ That’s how we worked. We take our time. He doesn’t stress out.”
The oldest song on the album is “Roly Poly,” a Western Swing tune by Fred Rose that was popularized by Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys in 1946. Nelson had a particular connection to Wills, so he and Stroud gave it an especially swinging treatment. “I grew up on Bob Wills’ music,” the singer explained. “And I got to know him personally. Very early in my career, I did some concert promoting, and I hired him for some shows. He was such a great guy.”
From 1947 comes “Smoke That Cigarette,” a hit for Tex Williams, who co-wrote it with Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Travis. Phil Harris took it up the pop charts that same year. It was this song that actually jump-started the album.
“One day we were talking about ‘Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette),’” Stroud recalled. “I remembered my mother hearing that song on the radio and then seeing her actually smoking a cigarette. So Willie and I were laughing at that. He said, ‘You know what we should do? We should look at all of our favorite songs.’”
Singer/songwriter Stuart Hamblen created the original version of “(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You” in 1950. During that same year, Ernest Tubb also had a big hit with the song. Hamblen is represented on the album as well by Nelson’s revival of his “This Ole House,” from 1954.
Also dating from 1950 is “I’m Movin’ On,” the signature song of Hank Snow, a previous Nelson collaborator. During the 1980s, Nelson sought out many of his musical heroes to record duet albums, including Snow. The first of these was San Antonio Rose with Ray Price in 1980. “Release Me,” written by Eddie Miller, Dub Williams and Robert Yount and introduced by both Price and Kitty Wells in 1954, is revived on Remember Me Vol. 1.
In 1982 came Nelson album collaborations with Roger Miller (Old Friends) and Webb Pierce (In the Jailhouse Now). Nelson revives Pierce’s 1954 smash “Slowly” (written by Pierce and Tommy Hill) on the new album. Also in 1982 were the first of four Nelson duet albums with Waylon Jennings (WWII) and the first of three with Merle Haggard (Pancho & Lefty).
In 1985, Nelson reacquainted audiences with the songs of Faron Young (Funny How Time Slips Away) and Hank Snow (Brand on My Heart), including “I’m Movin’ On.” All seven of these classic duet partners are members of CMA’s Country Music Hall of Fame, and all except Haggard and Price have since passed away. Were these projects a way for Nelson to get to know his boyhood favorites while he still could?
“I’ve done a lot of duet projects,” Nelson reflected. “I did an album of Lefty Frizzell songs (To Lefty from Willie). And then I did whole albums with Ray Price and Roger Miller (Old Friends). It’s just that I loved their music. It’s just that I loved the sound of people like Webb and Hank. Those two were guys I just really liked the unique styles of what they do.”
Three big hits from 1955 “made the cut” after Nelson and Stroud trimmed their song list. “Sixteen Tons” was written by Merle Travis and popularized by Tennessee Ernie Ford. George Jones broke through to stardom with “Why Baby Why,” which he’d written with Darrell Edwards. “Satisfied Mind” (Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes) was a 1955 hit for three future members of CMA’s Country Music Hall of Fame: Red Foley, Jean Shepard and Porter Wagoner.
Though songs from the 1940s and 1950s dominate on Remember Me Vol. 1, other eras are represented too. The 1960s gave us “Today I Started Loving You Again,” introduced by songwriters Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens in 1968. And Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” a massive hit for Johnny Cash in 1969, was named CMA Song of the year in 1970. Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kristofferson and Nelson were billed on albums they recorded in 1985 (Highwayman), 1990 (Highwayman 2) and 1995 (The Road Goes On Forever).
“I had the best seat in the house,” said Nelson, fondly recalling his tours with the group. “I was at the right of the stage, Kris was on the left, with Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings between us. I felt like I had a front-row seat at the best concert in the world, every night. I consider those records and those tours with The Highwaymen as a major highlight of my life.”
A rocking remake of Haggard’s 1977 hit “Ramblin’ Fever” represents the 1970s. Haggard, Hamblen and Travis are the only songwriters featured twice on the album. “James and the musicians in Nashville had the idea to crank it up on ‘Ramblin’ Fever’ and make it rock,” Nelson said. “I thought it turned out great.”
The late Vern Gosdin had a 1989 hit with “That Just About Does It.” Nelson becomes the first artist to revive this mournful ballad, written by Gosdin with Max D. Barnes. “That’s the most recent song on there,” Nelson commented. “I just love Vern Gosdin. He’s the best. Again, a real stylist.”
In assessing Nelson’s perspective throughout Remember Me Vol. 1, Stroud ventured, “I think his state of mind right now is grateful. He’s lost some friends over the years, and I think he looks back and is grateful that he knew them. He’s grateful that he’s still able to play well and perform at a real high level. But we always talk about what’s next. He’s always looking forward. He’s as excited about his music right now as ever.”
The February 29, 2012 episode of Revenge, titled ‘Scandal,’ promises to be a game-changer. The plot: “The murder scandal at the Fire & Ice party rocks the Hamptons, and someone has to take the fall. The devastating turn of events call for desperate measures, as the Graysons form a united front, Emily grows more anxious, Ashley steps up for the family, and Jack is not the only one wondering where Amanda has gone, on Revenge.”
ABC’s Revenge stars Madeleine Stowe as Victoria Grayson, Emily VanCamp as Emily Thorne, Gabriel Mann as Nolan Ross, Henry Czerny as Conrad Grayson, Ashley Madekwe as Ashley Davenport, Nick Wechsler as Jack Porter, Josh Bowman as Daniel Grayson, Christa B. Allen as Charlotte Grayson, and Connor Paolo as Declan Porter.
