Martin Freeman (currently at work on The Hobbit) plays a supporting role in the R-rated comedy What’s Your Number? starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans. Faris plays a young woman who’s hit her sexual limit of 20 and decides that instead of looking for a new man, she’ll track down her first 19 conquests.
Freeman plays one of the men from Faris’ past and in this video provided by 20th Century Fox, Freeman talks about the story, Anna’s British accent, and his own personal ‘number.’
The Plot: A woman, having hit her sexual limit at 20 men, decides to track down the other 19 guys in hopes that she’s overlooked one who could be “the one.”
“I’m offering you the chance to be there in time.” That’s Mr. Finch (Michael Emerson), a mysterious billionaire scientist who’s recruiting John Reese (James Caviezel) – an ex CIA operative – to help him save people from violent crimes in the pilot episode of the new CBS drama-thriller Person of Interest.
After 9-11, Mr. Finch, if that’s his real name, helped create a high intelligence super computer for Homeland Security to go through everyone’s social security numbers in New York. The purpose was to analyze who’s most likely to be a target of terrorism, or a terrorist himself, and who is about to become a victim of a violent crime or commit one. Homeland Security, only being interested in stopping the relevant threats (terrorism) and not caring about the irrelevant threats (individual violent crimes), had Finch set the computer to erase non-terrorism material after 24 hours. This act has been eating away at Finch’s soul, knowing he could have helped keep innocent citizens safe from horrific crimes and instead deleted their only hope.
Now, in present day, Finch still has a back door into the computer he designed and created and decides to use the discarded list. He sends his new ally, Reese, to find the person who is either the target or the enemy.
When the computer generates the social security number of a young prosecutor, Reese has to follow her and observe to see if she is the potential victim or the perpetrator and stop the crime from happening. Reese, who until being recruited by Finch was hiding in plain sight as a homeless person from his ex-agency friends, finds the opportunity enticing. Being able to make a difference and not having to deal with any red tape or government officials appeals to the ex-agent.
In episode 2 titled “Ghosts,” Reese and Finch get the social security number of a young teenage girl who was supposedly killed two years ago. This causes Reese to begin to question the infallibility of the computer. “The Machine is never wrong,” insists Finch. After the two of them start to investigate the horrific massacre of the teen’s family, they discover her body was never found. The two men quickly realize that she is on the run, hiding from whoever had her family killed and is still looking for her. This puts Reese and Finch against not just average thugs but a professional hit man.
Person of Interest is an intriguing, original, drama/thriller that is hands-down one of the best new fall 2011 series on television. This is a sharply written, well-acted show with an excellent cast. James Caviezel gives a pitch perfect performance as Reese the ex CIA assassin who’s truly lost and without purpose until meeting Finch. Distrusting anyone and everyone around him because of tragedies that happened to him in the past but still yearning to make a difference for the better in the world, he tracks the potential targets and fights the villains with fierce determination and menace.
Caviezel’s delivery of his lines to the predators in the show have just the right inflection, and at times a little humor reminiscent of the famous secret agent 007. A perfect example of this is in the scene in episode 2 when the mastermind behind the girl’s family’s murder is driving away from closing a deal only to be crashed into by a big diesel truck. Caviezel slowly gets out of the truck, walks over to the trapped injured villain and says, “You should have watched where you were going.” It’s truly crowd-pleasing.
Michael Emerson is simply great as Mr. Finch, the rich computer genius who has found his soul and is trying to use the technology he created to spy on people to now save them. He’s the one character in the series that has a long and extremely complicated background, including his severe injury to his back. The audience only gets to see glimpses of the haunted past of these two men.
The show has a strong cloak and dagger style and feel to it. There’s a heightened sense of paranoia, as well with shots of all the characters at times being viewed on hidden security cameras. The action scenes are solid but toned down for prime time television viewing.
Suspenseful and engaging, Person of Interest is an exciting, surprising spy thriller that will keep the audience fascinated to discover who these two heroes really are, while rooting for them to take down the bad guys in every episode.
GRADE: B
Person of Interest debuted on CBS on September 22, 2011.
Michael C. Hall’s back as Dexter Morgan, the serial killer who kills serial killers, murderers, and other ne’er do wells who thought they got away with their crimes, in season six of Dexter debuting on October 2, 2011. Season six episode one finds Dexter hunting down a prom king at his high school reunion.
Jennifer Carpenter stars as Debra Morgan, Desmond Harrington is Joey Quinn, C.S. Lee is Vincent Masuka, Lauren Velez is Lt Maria LaGuerta, David Zayas is Angel Batista, and James Remar is Harry Morgan.
The Plot: He’s smart, he’s good-looking, and he’s got a great sense of humor. He’s Dexter Morgan, everyone’s favorite serial killer. As a Miami forensics expert, he spends his days solving crimes, and nights committing them. But Dexter lives by a strict code of honor that is both his saving grace and lifelong burden. Torn between his deadly compulsion and his desire for true happiness, Dexter is a man in profound conflict with the world and himself.
The first question one should ask when considering what movie to watch is whether or not Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in it. From Mysterious Skin to The Lookout to (500) Days of Summer, his subdued and quiet brilliance has made for some of the most exciting and fresh cinema in recent years. Of course, not every one of them is going to be cinematic gold, i.e. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Stop-Loss, Havoc … wait, those are also all Channing Tatum films … I’ll blame him.
In any case, JGL’s latest project, 50/50, sees him step into the shoes of Adam, a young man living a decent life in Seattle; working at a local radio station, dating a beautiful artist (Bryce Dallas Howard), and palling around with his best bud (Seth Rogen). Of course, there would be no film without any conflict, and so Adam finds out he’s got a rare form of cancer with a (you guessed it) 50/50 survival rate.
Anna Kendrick plays the student-therapist working on her Ph.D. and crossing doctor/patient boundaries with JGL. Her almost unbearable sweetness and beauty also lend the film an emotional touchstone, as one can’t help but root for the pair to make things happen while wondering if the film has the stones to kill off its main character (obviously a plot element I won’t be revealing).
The supporting cast is equally up to the task. While Anjelica Huston ably portrays JGL’s mother and Bryce Dallas Howard did a nice job of imbuing an easily hated character with touches of sympathy, the two actors that really round out Adam’s cancer experience are Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer. Playing fellow cancer patients, they put the story in perspective-shifting the tone that one extra bit to make it all feel very real. Their characters provide Adam with a social framework that really does understand the toll this disease places on people, something his friends and family cannot possibly give him.
One thing people should know going into it is that while there is an abundance of comedic moments and Rogen’s presence almost always means comic relief, one should also bring some Kleenex with them. We’re dealing with a young man stricken with cancer after all, it’s not all sex jokes and sunshine. And to that end, what struck me so much about the film is that without fully realizing it, I was completely invested and bawling my eyes out. Seeing as many movies as I do, there are generally only one or two a year (if that) which actually elicit tears from this jaded critic’s eyes, and this is one of those films.
But don’t let the seriousness of the movie deter you. 50/50 does a remarkable job of balancing the happy and the sad, with director Jonathan Levine, the cast, a Seattle-influenced soundtrack, and a good score from Michael Giacchino, all coming together in one complete vision. As such, it’s one of the few must-see films of 2011 so far and hopefully, audiences will respond in kind (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
GRADE: A
50/50 hits theaters on September 30, 2011 and is rated R for language throughout, sexual content, and some drug use.
If you’ve ever wondered what the film adaptation of a Cosmo sex quiz would be, look no further than What’s Your Number?.
It stars Anna Faris as a young woman who takes one of those quizzes. She then becomes determined to find the love of her life by reconnecting with her exes so as not to increase her number of sexual partners. Of course, she needs help to find those lost loves and so cue Captain America himself, Chris Evans … only here he’s playing her man-slut of a neighbor. Same difference.
Oh, please tell me the time they spend together actually brings these two love-starved cuties together! – Who the hell said that? Of course, that’s what happens. You didn’t think this film would stray from the chick flick formula did you? Noooo – Oh shut it.
Look, both Faris and Evans are extremely likable, and so the overall saccharine factor is tempered enough to allow the film to succeed on its most basic level. But this is far more like your average Katherine Heigl cinematic failure, just with better casting. Aside from Faris and Evans, Blythe Danner plays a wonderfully superficial mother, and a number of entertaining actors fill the shoes of Faris’ exes – Martin Freeman, Zachary Quinto, Chris Pratt, and Anthony Mackie to name a few.
Not helping matters are director Mark Mylod and anyone involved with the camerawork or cinematography. Most scenes are either reminiscent of your basic cable TV sitcom or feel like some artsy shot Mylod must have used in film school. And the overall look of the film is rather flat and unappealing, though that’s in sync with the script which probably was written on a series of cocktail napkins at a late-night Denny’s outing (having the leads play strip H-O-R-S-E at Madison Square Garden wasn’t just jumping the shark, it was like Olympic pole vaulting).
Still, the hardcore Rom-Com junkies will likely get enough out of this (largely and rightfully so because Faris and Evans don’t mind keeping the clothing to a minimum), though I highly recommend putting any excitement one may have about the film to the side and waiting for it to reach the home market. There’s nothing here that absolutely needs to be seen on the big screen and is it really worth enduring the random strangers nearby who think texting during a film isn’t distracting to others? Probably not.
And while the date movie alternative this weekend of 50/50 deals significantly with cancer and will come off as more serious and less vacant, the result is far more satisfying, even from the romantic comedy angle. What’s Your Number? is cinematic fluff, which is fine if that’s all you want, but don’t be surprised if you see it one night and forget about it before the next morning’s breakfast.
GRADE: C-
What’s Your Number? hits theaters on September 30, 2011 and is rated R for sexual content and language.
In part one of this roundtable interview video provided by Summit Entertainment, Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anna Kendrick, and Will Reiser discuss the most difficult part of working on 50/50: coming up with the film’s title.
The cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam, Seth Rogen as Kyle, Anna Kendrick as Katherine, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Rachael. Angelica Huston stars as Diane, Serge Houde is Richard, Philip Baker Hall is Alan, and Matt Frewer plays Mitch.
In part two, the 50/50 cast and screenwriter talk about the rules to making a movie and how they got into their characters.
Official Synopsis: Inspired by personal experiences, 50/50 is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis.
50/50 hits theaters on September 30, 2011 and is rated R for language throughout, sexual content, and some drug use.
Foo Fighters are confirmed of the headline act at the closing concert at BlizzCon 2011 taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center October 21-22. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. made the announcement on September 28th, with CEO and co-founder Mike Morhaime stating, “There’s no better way to cap off two days of gaming entertainment than by blowing the roof off the convention center with an awesome rock concert. Everyone attending BlizzCon and watching from home can look forward to ending the show with a bang when Foo Fighters bring the house down.”
Tickets are already sold out to the event,; Foo Fighters fans can watch the show online (as well as other coverage from the event) by ordering a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket thru www.blizzcon.com/live-stream.
The Artist Formerly Known as Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain will open up for Foo Fighters, playing familiar and new songs “drawn from the Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo universes.”
“We’re pretty sure that in the future, music historians will look back at BlizzCon 2011 as the unquestionable pinnacle of Foo Fighters’ long and illustrious career,” commented Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters founder and frontman. “We look forward to living up to that prediction by bringing the Horde and Alliance together to rock the hell out of Anaheim next month.”
Watch “The Pretender” Video:
More on Foo Fighters [Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment]:
Over the course of their 16-year career, the Foo Fighters have sold tens of millions of records, won half a dozen Grammy awards, and raised countless voices in singalongs of iconic anthems like “Everlong,” “My Hero,” “Learn to Fly”, “All My Life,” “Best of You,” and “The Pretender.” Foo Fighters’ BlizzCon debut marks founder Dave Grohl’s triumphant return to the convention after playing drums for Tenacious D in last year’s show, and comes during an international arena, stadium, and festival tour promoting their seventh album, the international #1 record Wasting Light.
Note to Chargers: make the playing field even by getting your own private screening of the film. It may not help you win, but at least you’ll be seeing one of the best films of the year and taking away the Dolphins’ psychological advantage.
Lionsgate announced the Dolphins’ request for a screener, saying the team asked for a copy of Warrior “to watch for inspiration before Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.”
I did warn you this wasn’t really news.
About Warrior:
Haunted by a tragic past, Marine Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Joel Edgerton), an ex-fighter-turned teacher, returns to the ring in a desperate bid to save his family from financial ruin. But when Brendan’s unlikely, underdog rise sets him on a collision course with the unstoppable Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront each other and the forces that pulled them apart, facing off in the most soaring, soul stirring, and unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed.
Starring: Chloe Csengery and Jessica Tyler Brown [full cast list under the ‘Cast’ tab]
Directed By: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Release Date: October 21, 2011
Running Time: 84 minutes
Genre: Horror
MPAA Rating: R for some violence, language, brief sexuality and drug use
The Synopsis: The third film of the series takes place back in 1988 when sisters Katie and Kristi first encountered the demonic entity as kids.
[tabs style=”default” title=”‘Paranormal Activity 3’ Resources”] [tab title=”Cast”]
Chloe Csengery – ‘Young Katie’
Jessica Tyler Brown – ‘Young Kristi’
Katie Featherston – ‘Katie’
Sprague Grayden – ‘Kristi’
Lauren Bittner – ‘Julie’
Christopher Nicholas Smith – ‘Dennis'[/tab]
Connie Britton as Vivien Harmon, Dylan McDermott as Ben Harmon, Taissa Farmiga as Violet Harmon in 'American Horror Story' airing on FX.- Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman / FX
Ryan Murphy’s introducing the world to American Horror Story, a twisted anthology series, premiering on FX on October 5, 2011. Season one stars Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton as the new owners of the murder house.
The cast also includes Jessica Lange as Constance, Taissa Farmiga as Violet Harmon, Evan Peters as Tate, Denis O’Hare as Burnt Man, Frances Conroy as Moira O’Hara, Alexandra Breckenridge as Young Moira, and Kate Mara as Hayden McClaine.
Season 1 Synopsis: The drama chronicles the lives of Ben and Vivien Harmon (Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton) who relocate from Boston to Los Angeles with their daughter in an attempt to put the dark memories of their past behind them. Their new residence in an old mansion hides dark secrets, as do next-door neighbor Constance (Jessica Lange); the home’s housekeeper, Moira O’Hara (Frances Conroy); and Larry, a former resident of the estate (Denis O’Hare).
