Advertisement
Home Blog Page 2892

‘Act of Valor’ Movie Review

By
Ian Forbes
-
Act of Valor Photos
Click to View the Photos

Make no mistake. I support the troops. Their service and skills are appreciated. However, while Navy SEALs may be able to take out Osama Bin Laden and make it look as easy as a trip to the grocery store, there is one activity that they’ll need to drill a lot more on in order to get it right: acting.

Act of Valor is being marketed heavily as being super duper special because it features active duty Navy SEALs portraying the main characters. This works fantastically for the military maneuvers. In fact, the first action scene involving a rescue attempt in Costa Rica is one of the best I’ve seen in a while. The subsequent firefights are also good, though they begin to look like recruiting videos shot on a flip cam or Call of Duty cut scenes; and less like whoever was behind the camera did this for a living (this goes for the editor and cinematographer as well).

Where the film falls short is in letting any of these SEALs read from the SOCOM fan fiction script. Speaking of which, Kurt Johnstad is responsible for penning those words. He also wrote 300 so … well … umm … I think we can all agree dialogue isn’t his strong suit.

Delivering those terrible lines is also a problem, as I spent most of the opening third of the movie stifling laughter and/or wishing the film’s budget had allowed for a script supervisor. There’s no disrespect intended for the SEALs. They’re not supposed to be able to act, they’re supposed to be able to execute missions and perform their duties. So when something as simple as a discussion between two team members at a bar looks like a bad high school theater production, I don’t blame the “actors”, I blame the filmmakers.

To that point, before the movie begins, there are a few minutes of backstory given by the directors directly to the audience as to how they came up with the concept (It’s the DVD extra no one wanted to see! Hooray!). Their rationale was that no actor could pull off portraying a Navy SEAL. Charlie Sheen aside, what they should have also realized is real military personnel might not be able to act. It’s more reminiscent of the type of high drama and superb acting that gamers were treated to in the Command & Conquer: Red Alert series with Kari Wuhrer and Udo Kier.

The story too is your typical “terrorists hate America, elite special forces will stop them in the nick of time” deal. Characters are painted in true extremes, leaving no gray area for who’s wearing which color hat. The decision to use voiceover and foreshadow events with the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the groin was disappointing … but again, who’s really expecting much here? The setup and execution of the action is the lone bright spot unless you’re like me and enjoy laughing hysterically at the terrible dialogue and line reads.

It’s doubtful most audiences even expect competent acting performances or a halfway decent story. They probably just want to see what kind of action can be delivered when true professionals are allowed to handle live ammo and rely on real-life training to get it done. That’s the only true success of the film, and if that’s all you’re looking for, then by all means check out what’s on offer here. Act of Valor is by no means a good film, but it delivers what’s being offered, for the most part.

GRADE: C

Act of Valor hits theaters on February 24, 2012 and is rated R for strong violence including some torture, and for language.




‘Wanderlust’ Movie Review

By
Ian Forbes
-
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston in Wanderlust
Click to View the Photo Gallery

Look. I love Paul Rudd. He’s great. I also love macaroni and cheese. It’s great. But just like I would eventually tire of eating mac ‘n cheese each night, there is such a thing as too much Paul Rudd.

In his latest film, Rudd plays a good guy with a sarcastic sense of humor struggling to find himself and make his relationship work. Although I’m talking about Wanderlust, I just as easily could have said I Love You, Man, Our Idiot Brother, Role Models, Knocked Up, etc., etc. As lovable and witty as Rudd is in all of these roles, it’s the same thing over and over again.

Despite being served the exact same plate of P. Rudd (what? no one calls him that? whatever), there’s still quite a bit to like about Wanderlust. The story is your basic “love is more important than money” rigmarole with Rudd and his wife, played by Jennifer Aniston, testing the limits of their marriage while at a commune intentional community.

The supporting cast is made up of talented comedians like Kathryn Hahn, Joe Lo Truglio, and Ken Marino (who also co-wrote the screenplay). Justin Theroux, Alan Alda, and Malin Ackerman lend their talents to the ensemble as well. They somehow make the hippie enclave gimmick work, which is marginally impressive considering how much of a gimmick this truly is.

There are plenty of funny moments, and if you’ve liked Rudd’s recent films, this will fall right in line. Be forewarned that there is plenty of nudity … just not of anyone you want to see in the buff. Also, the humor is often vulgar and slightly awkward. At times a scene lingers a bit too long on something particularly tasteless, and it seems that director/co-writer David Wain is pushing the envelope simply for the sake of doing so. Aniston has never been a particular favorite and feels a bit out of place here too, but whatever blandness she brings to the table (some people would call it “Rachelness”) is mostly made up for by the actors around her.

The biggest problem is in trying to bring everything together in the end, as the resolution feels rushed and slapped together. It’s clear the cast and crew had fun working together, which is most evident in the first two-thirds of the production. Figuring out a way to get to the end credits falls back on your basic screenwriting 101 principles.

Still, Wanderlust delivers consistent laughs and will satiate fans of its stars. This won’t end up being something you re-watch over and over again but consider it a lovely way to spend 98 minutes on a lazy afternoon. And don’t be so quick to leave the theater; there are some bloopers early in the credits and a quick joke all the way at the end.

GRADE: C+

Wanderlust hits theaters on February 24, 2012 and is rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, language, and drug use.




New American Reunion Trailer Arrives

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Universal Pictures is bringing back the gang for an American Pie reunion, appropriately titled American Reunion. Alyson Hanigan, Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Chris Klein, Mena Suvari, Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas, and Shannon Elizabeth are back for more R-rated antics when American Reunion opens on April 6, 2012.

The Plot:

It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler’s mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about—and get inspired by—the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend.

Tele Munchen Gets ‘Anger Management’ with Charlie Sheen

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Charlie Sheen stars in Anger Management
Charlie Sheen stars in ‘Anger Management’ – Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/FX

Charlie Sheen’s returning to series TV with a starring role in Lionsgate Television’s Anger Management, and in one of the largest sitcom deals in the territory, Tele Munchen Group (TMG) picked up the Germany, Austria and German speaking Switzerland distribution rights to the show. Anger Management is inspired by the Adam Sandler/Jack Nicholson feature film of the same name and will find Sheen playing an ex-professional baseball player with anger management issues.

Co-starring with Sheen in the new series are Shawnee Smith and Selma Blair. Bruce Helford is the head writer and the series’ show runner.

“We’re delighted to extend our longstanding relationship with TMG, and we believe their media leadership and reach make them a perfect partner in the German speaking territories of Europe,” stated Jim Packer, President of Lionsgate Worldwide Television and Digital Distribution. “We expect Anger Management to entertain audiences for many years to come, and we’re pleased to continue the strong momentum we’ve already developed in selling this series in territories around the world.”

Filming will begin on March 19, 2012, with Anger Management set to premiere in June. And in an unprecedented deal, FX committed to an “initial order of 100 episodes – subject only to the first ten episodes exceeding a certain ratings level which was pre-negotiated between FX and Lionsgate.”

J.K. Rowling Announces a New Novel for Adults

By
Rebecca Murray
-
J.K. Rowling Announces Pottermore
J.K. Rowling Announces Pottermore

We don’t know the title, the publication date, or any real details, but we do know that J.K. Rowling (pictured announcing Pottermore) is working on her first novel for adults. The Harry Potter author is leaving the wizarding world behind for this new project which Little, Brown Book Group and Little, Brown and Company will be publishing in both print and ebook formats.

Further details will be announced later this year.

In the press release, J.K. Rowling said, “Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world. The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life.”

Publisher, Little, Brown Book Group David Shelley stated, “Tim Hely Hutchinson, Ursula Mackenzie and I, and the whole team at Little, Brown in the UK, along with our colleagues David Young and Michael Pietsch at Little, Brown in the USA, are thrilled, honoured and proud to be publishing J.K. Rowling’s new book. For me, quite simply, it is a personal and professional dream come true to be working with J.K. Rowling. She is one of the best storytellers in the world, and I am looking forward enormously to helping bring her new novel for adults to her fans and admirers, and to introducing her writing to new readers the world over.”

The All-American Rejects Announce 2012 Tour Dates

By
Rebecca Murray
-

All American Rejects
All American Rejects (Photo Courtesy of Interscope Records)
<

The All-American Rejects will be kicking off their six-week North American 2012 “The Kids In The Street Tour” on March 31st in Flagstaff, Arizona. The group will be hitting the road in support of their record, A Rocket To The Moon, with the final stop on this spring tour set for Cincinnati on May 13th.

“If you want to see this band at their best, and probably the best they’ll ever be, and hear all the songs you want to hear and all the songs you haven’t heard yet then you should make it a point to come out. It will be the show you tell your children you saw. It will be a great evening and a lot of fun with your four favorite Okies,” stated Tyson Ritter.

The All-American Rejects 2012 Spring Tour:

March 31 Flagstaff, AZ Northern Arizona University
April 2 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
April 4 Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club
April 5 Kearney, NE University of Nebraska-Kearney
April 6 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom
April 7 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
April 9 Chicago, IL Metro
April 10 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
April 11 Detroit, MI Motor City Casino
April 13 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata
April 14 Glassboro, NJ Rowan University
April 15 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
April 17 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
April 18 Montreal, QC Le National
April 20 Potsdam, NY Clarkson University
April 21 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
April 22 N. Hampton, MA Pearl Street
April 24 Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
April 25 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
April 27 Cambridge, MA MIT
April 28 Boston, MA Royale
April 29 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
May 1 Richmond, VA The National
May 2 Norfolk, VA Norva
May 4 Orlando, FL Beacham Theatre
May 5 West Palm Beach, FL Sunfest
May 6 St. Petersburg, FL Vinoy Park
May 9 Ashville, NC The Orange Peel
May 11 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
May 12 Louisville, KY Expo Live
May 13 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
May 15 Rochester, NY Blue Cross Arena Blink-182 Tour
May 17 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena Blink-182 Tour
May 18 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Blink-182 Tour
May 19 Asbury Park, NJ Bamboozle
May 20 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Event Center Blink-182 Tour
May 22 Quebec City, QUE Colisee Pepsi Arena Blink-182 Tour

Watch the “Beekeeper’s Daughter” music video:

More on The All-American Rejects [Courtesy of Interscope Records]:

Since forming in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999, The All-American Rejects have released three studio albums: their platinum self-titled debut, featuring the breakthrough hit “Swing Swing,” followed by 2005’s double-platinum Move Along, which spawned the Top 10 hits “It Ends Tonight,” “Dirty Little Secret,” and “Move Along,” as well as the gold-certified When The World Comes Down, featuring the 4-million seller “Gives You Hell,” – the most played song of 2009 at Top 40 radio – which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Top 40 charts, and more than 13 weeks in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The All-American Rejects, which includes lead singer, lyricist, and bassist Tyson Ritter, guitarist Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor, have sold more than 4 million albums and 16 million singles worldwide. The All-American Rejects are ranked in both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 Artists of the Decade.




‘SNL’ Announces March 2012 Hosts

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Lindsay Lohan in I Know Who Killed Me
Lindsay Lohan in 2007's 'I Know Who Killed Me' - Photo © TriStar Pictures

One is the December 2011 Playboy centerfold who has been in the news the past few years due more to her bad behavior off-screen than her acting ability, and the other upcoming host is one of the most popular young funny guys working in feature films. NBC confirmed Lindsay Lohan will be back as host of SNL – her fourth time handling the gig – for the March 3, 2012 episode. Jack White will make his first appearance as the musical guest that night in support of his upcoming album, Blunderbluss.

Jonah Hill will be back as host for the second time with the March 10th episode. Hill’s up for an Oscar for his supporting role in Moneyball and has 21 Jump Street heading to theaters on March 16th. The musical guest that evening will be The Shins who are also returning for the second time.

Oscars Biggest Blunders: When the Academy Got It Wrong

By
Kevin Finnerty
-

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

This weekend is the big event in Hollywood, with all the stars ready to walk the red carpet and say hello to the crowds of adoring fans gathered to see who will go home with Oscar. The 84th Academy Awards is this Sunday, February 26th, and with it is the return of the best host since Johnny Carson and Bob Hope, Mr. Saturday Night himself: Billy Crystal.

There have been many years when Oscar truly recognized the best picture of the year. There have been times when Oscar was downright boring and predictable, and then there are times when Oscar had its biggest blunders or “When Oscar Got It So Wrong.”

Here’s a list of when the Oscar went to the wrong film for Best Picture:

1932 – Cavalcade beats out I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

No film before or since I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang had captured the ruthless brutality of the Chain Gangs in the South and how a justice system goes from being about upholding the law to revenge and hate. The true crime was the Academy not honoring a film that exposed what was going on in America at the time to the movie-going public but instead rewarding a stylish melodramatic film that has culture and grace but no substance.

1940 – Rebecca wins over The Grapes of Wrath for Best Picture

John Ford’s film The Grapes of Wrath captured perfectly the struggle of a family trying to stay together and survive during the Great Depression. It showed how people stopped believing in the American system and started questioning their own values and beliefs of what is right and wrong. Henry Fonda’s unforgettable performance as the oldest son and his inevitable break from the family is the heart and soul of the picture.

Rebecca, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is a very strong film in its own right but doesn’t match the cinematic realism and emotional depth of Grapes.

1948 – Hamlet beats out The Treasure of the Sierra Madre for Best Picture

John Huston’s film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is perhaps the best movie to ever show what Gold Fever can do to an individual with the wonderful, stunning and powerful performance of Humphrey Bogart. The mesmerizing performance of Walter Huston as the ‘old timer’ fortune-seeker and the incredible script make this film, without a doubt, the Best Picture of 1948.

1949 – All the King’s Men wins over Twelve O’Clock High

Never in movie-making history had a movie ever captured or dared to show the emotional, physical, and mental struggle the American pilots had to endure during their bombing missions in WWII until Twelve O’Clock High. The raw, powerful performance of Gregory Peck as Frank Savage, the lead officer who has to be extremely hard on his men to get them ready for the horrors that await them, IS the very heart and soul of the film. The movie shows how the mental and physical strain on the men can become destructive and all-consuming, with Peck’s character eventually cracking on the day of a big mission.

Although All The King’s Men is a strong film about the corruption of a decent but flawed man, it doesn’t merit taking Oscar away from Twelve O’Clock High.

1969 – Midnight Cowboy wins the Oscar over Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Not only is it one of the Top 10 Best Westerns ever made (yes, that’s another list that will be coming soon), but the best buddy film of all time. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was out and out robbed of the Oscar it so clearly deserved by the Hollywood elite who had an agenda to promote. What was it? Pushing Midnight Cowboy, a mediocre and X-rated film with two very good actors (Dustin Hoffman & Jon Voight), into the spotlight to push the edge of the envelope of what the American movie-going public should go see and accept as art.

Paul Newman and Robert Redford were the perfect outlaw partners in a Wild West which was now becoming civilized and had no place for them, two men who could only depend on each other and would never leave the other behind. They would, however, quickly blame each other for the mess or trouble they were trying to escape from. With a great script, fantastic cinematography, a beautiful soundtrack, unforgettable performances, and a brutal yet stylish ending, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was without a doubt the Best Picture of 1969.

1977 – Woody Allen’s Annie Hall walks off with Oscar for Best Picture instead of Star Wars

The greatest space fantasy film of all time, which captured the hearts and imaginations of moviegoers all over the world and inspired generations of filmmakers, was snubbed and almost ignored by Hollywood on Oscar night. Even the great Sir Alec Guinness lost for his performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi, the aged Jedi Knight helping the film’s hero battle The Dark Side of the Force. It seemed as though the Academy didn’t feel or think a film that had broken every box office record at that time and had been praised by both film critics and film lovers around the globe was deserving of THEIR approval.

1981 – Chariots of Fire wins over Raiders of the Lost Ark

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Raiders of the Lost Ark is hands-down the ultimate action/adventure film of all time. Bringing to the big screen the best hero since James Bond with Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) and pitting him against the evil Nazi army in the 1930s just before war breaks out in search of The Ark of the Covenant, the movie has some of the most memorable action scenes ever put on film such as the rolling boulder, a wild truck chase, and a truly stunning and unpredictable ending.

With great writing, wonderful art direction, costumes, strong performances, and an unforgettable score, Raiders of the Lost Ark is what every action/adventure film strives to be but usually comes up short in delivering.

1990 – Dances with Wolves beats out Goodfellas

Kevin Costner’s epic-but-all-too-familiar Western rode off with what should have been the Oscar for Martin Scorsese’s shocking and brutal gangster film, Goodfellas. Starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci, the crime drama showed the underworld of the mob for what it is…a vicious, violent, and greedy world where those who you trust will betray and kill you with a smile.

1998 – Shakespeare in Love wins over Steven Spielberg’s WWII Epic Saving Private Ryan

The greatest and most authentic film ever made about World War II, which director Steven Spielberg made for the veterans, was forgotten by the Academy when it came time to present the Oscar for the Best Picture, going instead to a melodramatic, superficial romance movie. Saving Private Ryan is a film that did something which had not been done in decades, it captured perfectly exactly what war is…Hell on Earth. It showed the horrors of war, the storming of the beaches, the blood-soaked sand, and the true shock of witnessing your brothers in arms being gunned down by machine guns while using their dead bodies to shield themselves from the spray of bullets. Everything about the film, from the camera work to the costumes, the sound, the incredible performances of Tom Hanks (he should have won his third Oscar for this performance) and the rest of the cast, is flawless.

WWII veterans told Spielberg after seeing the film that it was so realistic it brought it all back to them. They thanked him for honoring and remembering what they and their fallen comrades had gone through. This is definitely the Biggest Oscar Blunder of all time.




Sam Mendes Records a ‘Skyfall’ Videoblog

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Director Sam Mendes discusses his love for the Bond franchise in this first behind-the-scenes videoblog from the director of Skyfall. The 23rd James Bond movie is set to hit theaters on November 9, 2012 and stars Daniel Craig (back as James Bond for the third time), Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Whishaw.

The Plot:

In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Rachel Crow from ‘The X Factor’ Signs TV and Recording Deals

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Rachel Crow on 'The X Factor' - Photo Credit: Nino Munoz / FOX
Rachel Crow on 'The X Factor' - Photo Credit: Nino Munoz / FOX

Viewers fell in love with Rachel Crow on the first season of The X Factor, with her elimination even sparking threats of violence against then-judge Nicole Scherzinger. But things worked out well for Crow, who was just 13 when she won over audiences on the singing competition show.

Nickelodeon and Columbia Records announced they’ve signed up the adorable teen to acting and recording deals, with Nickelodeon developing a comedy series for the now 14-year-old performer.

“It’s such an honor to be signed to Columbia Records,” stated Crow. “To think that I am signed to the same label as my idols is a dream come true. I can’t wait to get in the studio and start making music.” Added Crow, “And I am so excited to now be a part of the Nickelodeon family. I grew up watching Nick, and I’m a huge fan.”

Crow is also set for a recurring role on Nickelodeon’s Fred: The Show starring Lucas Cruikshank. According to Nickelodeon, Crow will play “Starr, an imaginative, confident, but awkward teenager. Like Fred, Starr’s self-perception doesn’t match up with how the world sees her. To her classmates, she seems a bit eccentric, but in her own mind, Starr is a wildly talented actress and singer and ready to break out of her boring town.”

Paula Kaplan, Executive Vice President, Talent Strategy and West Coast Operations, commented on Crow’s deal with the network: “Rachel is an original. She’s funny, genuine, and has raw talent and a passion for performing. We’re delighted to be home to her first acting project and think she is poised to join the ranks of our next generation of Nick stars.”

More on Rachel Crow [Courtesy of Nickelodeon]:

From Colorado, Rachel Crow was fostered as a young baby by Barbara and Kelly Crow. Crow sang her first song (Faith Hill’s “Breathe”) at 18 months old and first performed in public at age six as part of her school’s talent show. Her parents brought her to Los Angeles in 2010 to support her dream of being a performer and she auditioned at age 13 for The X Factor in early 2011.

After being chosen as a contestant out of over 100,000 people who auditioned for season 1 of The X Factor (USA), she wowed audiences with her powerful voice and bubbly personality and placed fifth in the competition for the season. A fan favorite and darling among the judges, L.A. Reid deemed her a “funky, feisty singer with soul” with Simon Cowell declaring that audiences would be “hearing a lot more about her.”




1...2,8912,8922,893...3,080Page 2,892 of 3,080

Trending

All Rights Reserved – Showbiz Junkies 2020