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‘Margaret’ – Plot Details, Cast, and Trailer

By
Rebecca Murray
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Matt Damon and Anna Paquin in Margaret
Matt Damon and Anna Paquin in ‘Margaret’ (Photo © Fox Searchlight)

Anna Paquin and Matt Damon star in the R-rated drama Margaret. Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, Fox Searchlight has set a September 30, 2011 theatrical release.

The cast also includes J. Smith-Cameron, Jean Reno, Jeannie Berlin, Allison Janney, Matthew Broderick, Kieran Culkin, and Mark Ruffalo.

The Plot: Margaret centers on Lisa, a 17-year-old New York City high-school student who feels certain that she inadvertently played a role in a traffic accident that has claimed a woman’s life. In her attempts to set things right, she meets with opposition at every step. Torn apart with frustration, she begins emotionally brutalizing her family, her friends, her teachers, and most of all, herself. She has been confronted quite unexpectedly with a basic truth: that her youthful ideals are on a collision course against the realities and compromises of the adult world.

Panic! At The Disco Get Set for Fall Headline Tour

By
Rebecca Murray
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Panic at the Disco
Panic! At The Disco (Photo Provided by Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen)

Panic! At The Disco is kicking off their Fall 2011 tour with a performance on October 9th at Reno, Nevada’s Knitting Factory. Heading out on tour with P!ATD will be Patrick Stump and Foxy Shazam, with the tour wrapping up on November 10th in Illinois.

Additionally, the group’s new studio track – “Mercenary” – will be featured on Batman: Arkham City, Rocksteady Studios/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s forthcoming third-person action adventure.

Per the Press Release from Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen:

“Ready To Go (Get Me Out Of My Mind),” the latest single from Panic! At The Disco’s acclaimed new album, Vices & Virtues, has proven a massive fan favorite. The track was just named by Rolling Stone readers as one of the top 5 “Best Songs of the Summer.” “Ready To Go” can also be heard soundtracking Diet Coke’s latest “Stay Extraordinary” ad campaign, now playing at Diet Coke’s official YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/dietcoke.

A live version of “Ready To Go (Get Me Out Of My Mind)” will be featured on Panic! At The Disco’s upcoming iTUNES LIVE EP, pre-order is now available exclusively on the iTunes Store. Recorded June 8th at Chicago’s Apple Store, the six-track collection features exhilarating performances of some of the band’s greatest hits, including “New Perspective,” “Nine In The Afternoon,” and “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.”

In addition, the latter track’s imaginative companion video was recently voted the “Best Video of the Year Winner of the 2000s” by MTV viewers. “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” — directed by Shane Drake (who also collaborated with Panic! At The Disco on the hugely popular videos for “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” and “Nine In The Afternoon”) — was also ranked among the top 3 on Billboard’s recent “The 10 Best ’00s Music Videos” poll.

Vices & Virtues — which also features the hit single, “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” — made a spectacular chart entry upon its release earlier this year, entering the SoundScan/Billboard 200 at #7, while also coming in at #2 on SoundScan’s “Alternative Albums” chart and #5 on the “Digital Albums” ranking. P!ATD celebrated the album’s success with a major North American headline tour, as well as appearances at an array of summer music festivals. The band also made a series of TV appearances, including performances on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, TBS’ Lopez Tonight, Logo’s NewNowNext Awards, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, TBS’ Conan, MTV’s The Seven, and Fuse’s Top Twenty Countdown.

Panic! At The Disco Fall Tour 2011

All Dates with Special Guests Patrick Stump and Foxy Shazam

OCTOBER
9 Reno, NV Knitting Factory
10 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
12 Ventura, CA Ventura Theater
13 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
15 Madison, WI Willow Island @ Alliant Energy Center
16 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
18 San Antonio, TX Back Stage Live
19 Austin, TX Emo’s
20 New Orleans, LA Tipitina’s Uptown
23 Tampa, FL The Ritz Ybor
26 Richmond, VA The National
27 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
28 Portland, ME State Theater
29 Providence, RI Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
30 Huntington, NY Paramount
31 Washington, DC 9:30 Club

NOVEMBER
2 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
3 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
4 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
5 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection
6 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
8 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
9 Des Moines, IA People’s Court
10 Sauget, IL Pop’s

‘The Office’ Has a New Boss

By
Rebecca Murray
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The Office Cast
Phyllis Smith, Rainn Wilson, Angela Kinsey, Mindy Kaling, Jenna Fischer, and James Spader in ‘The Office’ (Photo Credit: NBC)

Spoiler! Spoiler! Spoiler! Don’t even look at the video screen below, much less play the video, unless you A) don’t watch The Office but you like to watch random video clips, B) have already seen the episode and want to laugh all over again, or C) just really, really don’t like surprises and would rather get the news on who is taking over for Michael Scott (Steve Carell) without having to actually wait and watch the full episode.

You’ve been warned…

 
 
 
 
 

don’t watch the video if you don’t want to know the answer…

 
 
 
 
 
 

to who is the new boss on The Office.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Okay, go ahead, watch the video:

 

Bored to Death October Episode Guide

By
Rebecca Murray
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Bored to Death Banner
The HBO comedy series Bored to Death returns for its third season with eight new episodes, kicking off October 10, 2011 with “The Blonde in the Woods.” Returning cast members include Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, Zach Galifianakis and Heather Burns, with guest appearances by Allyce Beasley, Samantha Bee, Olympia Dukakis, John Hodgman, Richard Masur, Bebe Neuwirth, Patton Oswalt, Oliver Platt, Dick Cavett, Chris Elliott, Halley Feiffer, Isla Fisher, Stacy Keach, David Rasche, Sarah Silverman, Mary Steenburgen, Casey Wilson and Zach Woods.

The Plot:

Jonathan Ames continues to ply his trade as an unlicensed private detective, getting caught up in increasingly risky jobs and absurd adventures around New York City with George and Ray, his always supportive partners in solving crime. In addition, a shocking revelation drives him to embark on one of his most important cases yet, the quest to find his biological father. As if that wasn’t enough, Jonathan’s writing career is finally starting to look up with the publication of his long-delayed second book.

Starring Jason Schwartzman as the fictional Jonathan Ames, Bored to Death tells the story of the noir-obsessed writer, who moonlights as an unlicensed private detective listing his services on Craigslist. This season, Ames has published A Blonde in the Woods, his collection of mystery stories, and is living in the topmost apartment of Brooklyn’s Williamsburgh bank tower, while putting his sleuthing skills to the test for a myriad of clients new and old.

Meanwhile, Jonathan’s mentor and benefactor George Christopher, played by Ted Danson, has left the magazine business to open his artisanal restaurant George on Jane, located on Jane Street in the West Village, while also attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter. And Jonathan’s close friend, cartoonist Ray Hueston, played by Zach Galifianakis begins to transform into a Park Slope mom when one of the lesbians who bought his sperm on the black market contact him after her divorce.

October 2011 Episodes:

Episode #17: “The Blonde in the Woods”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 10 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 11 (11:00 p.m.), 12 (12:30 a.m.), 13 (10:00 p.m.), 14 (9:30 p.m.) and 16 (4:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 12 (11:00 p.m.), 14 (11:00 p.m.), 15 (4:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.) and 16 (8:00 p.m.)
After celebrating the release of his new book, “The Blonde in the Woods,” Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman) learns some distressing familial news. George (Ted Danson) reunites with his daughter Emily (Halley Feiffer) and meets her new boyfriend Bernard (David Rasche). Ray (Zach Galifianakis) spends time with his biological son Spencer. Meanwhile, Jonathan’s latest case leaves him in a precarious position.
Written by Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Episode #18: “Gumball!”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 17 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 18 (11:00 p.m.), 19 (12:30 a.m.), 20 (10:00 p.m.), 21 (9:30 p.m.) and 23 (3:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 19 (11:30 p.m.), 21 (11:00 p.m.), 22 (3:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.) and 23 (8:00 p.m.)
On the lam, Jonathan and Ray try to hunt down the person who framed Jonathan. Meanwhile, George covers for them, despite his growing cannabis-induced paranoia.
Written by Martin Gero and Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Episode #19: “The Black Clock of Time”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 24 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 25 (11:00 p.m.), 26 (12:30 a.m.), 27 (10:00 p.m.), 28 (9:30 p.m.) and 30 (4:00 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 26 (11:00 p.m.), 28 (11:00 p.m.), 29 (3:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.) and 30 (8:00 p.m.)
As a guest on “The New Dick Cavett Show,” Jonathan runs into his nemesis. George is surprised to hear Bernard and Emily’s news, and Ray sets off an AMBER Alert.
Written by Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Episode #20: “We Could Sing a Duet”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 31 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Nov. 1 (11:00 p.m.), 2 (12:30 a.m.), 3 (10:00 p.m.), 4 (9:30 p.m.) and 6 (3:55 a.m.)
While showing Emily a “youthful” time, Jonathan discovers a classified ad for a detective impersonating himself. On a night out with Bernard, George learns that Richard Antrem (Oliver Platt) has opened a restaurant aimed at hurting George’s restaurant. In hot water with Leah (Heather Burns), Ray finds himself drawn to Belinda (Olympia Dukakis), a lonely older woman.
Written by Luke Del Tredici & Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Source: HBO

Man on a Ledge First Trailer and New Photos

By
Rebecca Murray
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Sam Worthington in 'Man on a Ledge'
Sam Worthington in 'Man on a Ledge' - © Summit Entertainment

Sam Worthington (currently on screen in The Debt) stars as the man referenced in the film’s title – Man on a Ledge – a thriller also starring Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, and Ed Harris. The trailer looks intriguing, although I’m not sure why amidst all the action and drama there’s a shot of a woman standing around in her red underwear, but the cast and premise are appealing enough that we can overlook that seemingly gratuitous sexy shot for now.
 
Watch the first trailer:
 

 
And Summit’s also released new photos and the Man on a Ledge poster: View the Gallery
 

Puss in Boots – The Cat Haz Swagger Video

By
Rebecca Murray
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Puss in Boots
A scene from 'Puss in Boots' - © DreamWorks Animation

I’m not sure which marketing campaign is more effective, but the creative types behind both Puss in Boots and The Muppets are doing a fantastic job of promoting their films. The latest new video from DreamWorks Animation featuring the world’s most adorable swashbuckling cat is yet another winner.
 
Check out the new ‘The Cat Haz Swagger’ Video:
 

 

More on Puss in Boots:

—‘He’s So Legendary’ video
—Info and cast list
 

Michael Buble Delivers Christmas in October

By
Rebecca Murray
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Michael Buble Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…a Michael Bublé Christmas, that is. Grammy winner Michael Bublé’s doing his best to get his fans into the holiday spirit a little early this year by releasing his holiday album, Christmas, on October 24, 2011. Christmas includes such classic holiday tunes as “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells,” as well as a new original song, “Cold December Nights,” that he wrote for the holiday-themed album.

Thalia, Shania Twain and the Puppini Sisters join him for tracks on Christmas. Christmas was produced by David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica.

Bublé will be performing some tracks off of Christmas on his own upcoming NBC Special airing in December. He’ll also be performing during the November 30th NBC Christmas Tree Lighting event, and is scheduled to be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on December 17th.

Christmas Track Listing:


1. “It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas”
2. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
3. “Jingle Bells” featuring The Puppini Sisters
4. “White Christmas” duet with Shania Twain
5. “All I Want for Christmas is You”
6. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas”
7. “Santa Buddy”
8. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
9. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
10. “Silent Night”
11. “Blue Christmas”
12. “Cold December Night”
13. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
14. “Ava Maria”
15. “Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad” duet with Thalia

Source: Warner Bros Records – Sept 21, 2011

‘Dolphin Tale’ Movie Review

By
Kevin Finnerty
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Nathan Gamble and Harry Connick Jr in 'Dolphin Tale'
Nathan Gamble and Harry Connick Jr in 'Dolphin Tale' - © Warner Bros Pictures

“She really seems to respond to you. Maybe she’s not giving up after all,” says one of the trainers at the Clearwater Marine Hospital in Florida to young 11-year-old Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) about the seriously injured dolphin named Winter in the family film, Dolphin Tale.

When the film begins, Winter is swimming freely in the ocean when she gets her tail caught in a crab trap. Washed up on the beach and dying, she is discovered by Sawyer who almost instantly connects with the mammal. Whenever he’s around, she becomes alert to his presence and attempts to do whatever he tells her to.

Winter is transported to the Marine Hospital for care, but her injury is too severe and Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.) has to remove her tail. Sawyer, who now helps out at the hospital instead of attending summer school, asks the question that is on everyone’s mind, “How does a dolphin live if she can’t swim?”

Winter is one determined mammal and begins to swim by moving the remainder of her back tail end from side to side instead of up and down. At first, everyone is overjoyed to see Winter doing so well, but after an examine and x-rays show that the dolphin is doing damage to her muscles and will eventually ruin her spine and die, Sawyer becomes desperate to save his closest friend.

While visiting a recovering veteran in a hospital with his mother (Ashley Judd), Sawyer approaches Dr. McCarthy (Morgan Freeman), a specialist in prosthetics, and tells him about Winter’s condition. It’s not long after that that Dr. McCarthy joins forces with Sawyer and Dr. Haskett to build a very special prosthetic tale for Winter in the hopes of saving her life.

Nathan Gamble in Dolphin Tale
Nathan Gamble in ‘Dolphin Tale’ (Photo © Warner Bros Pictures)

Inspired by a true story, Dolphin Tale is a touching family drama that will have the audience cheering for Winter and Sawyer even after the credits roll. The film has a perfect blend of heart, humor, and soul, and captures the struggles and emotions of everyone involved in trying to save the dolphin.

Harry Connick Jr. is effective as Dr. Hackett, Winter’s first doctor who is impressed by her determination to recover and by the bond between the injured dolphin and young Sawyer. Nathan Gamble is, unfortunately, not convincing in his role at first as the lonely shy boy who discovers a whole new world and his first friend…a dolphin. It’s in the second part of the film when he becomes the team leader of Winter’s care that he finally grows into the part.

Morgan Freeman is perfectly cast as Dr. McCarthy, the brilliant prosthetics expert who becomes Winter’s only hope for survival. If anything the film should have used more of Freeman’s character. The best performance by far in the movie is Winter, the dolphin playing herself who steals every scene she’s in. She becomes a symbol of hope and encouragement to all those with disabilities, especially children.

There are two drawbacks to the film: the pacing is a little slow, especially in the beginning, and it gets too sappy and cute in a few scenes. But despite the rough spots, Dolphin Tale is inspirational and heartfelt, a charming, sweet, fun, family film that will entertain both kids and adults and have the audience yearning to learn more about Winter as they leave the theater.

GRADE B-

Dolphin Tale hits theaters on September 23, 2011 and is rated PG for some mild thematic elements.




‘Moneyball’ Movie Review

By
Ian Forbes
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Brad Pitt in Moneyball
Brad Pitt in ‘Moneyball’ (Photo © 2011 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc)

Do you like baseball? I mean, really like baseball? If not, just skip this review and go about your day, never ever thinking of buying a ticket to Moneyball.

However, if you still hold a special connection to America’s third favorite pastime, the true story of Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and his attempt to change how baseball teams selected players might be up your alley. I say ‘might’ because the fundamental problem with the film is trying to manufacture drama, much like the principle of Beane’s statistics-based approach to filling a team roster is in trying to manufacture wins.

At first, the story vacillates between Beane as a high school senior choosing between being groomed for the majors or taking a full ride to Stanford and Beane as a GM looking for a new way to do things following the A’s 2001 loss in the ALDS (American League Division Series for you non-sporty types). I suppose it informs the character somewhat, but really it feels more like director Bennett Miller’s attempt to make the film more interesting by shifting backwards and forwards since it largely relies on two-person conversation or shots of Pitt brooding.

Then, once the team has been formed, Miller decides to focus on a winning streak the 2002 A’s put together and tries to make us care if they reach the magical 20-game mark, a feat not accomplished in 100-plus years of professional baseball. It’s here that it feels like I’m stuck at a sports bar and no one will let me change the channel (I’d rather be watching ESPN 8 – The Ocho).

Once that bit has gone by, we’re back to seeing if the A’s can pull off a playoff run. Those who follow baseball will know how it all ends, and I guess you can kind of call this section of Moneyball the sports equivalent of Titanic. And then once the season is over, we’re “treated” to seeing if Beane can be wooed away by the Boston Red Sox (again, sports fans know the answer, so ‘anti-climactic’ is the nice way of putting this).

There are attempts to soften Beane via the relationship with his daughter. Jonah Hill plays one of the key influences of the statistics-based approach so it’s obvious they were hoping his dry wit would add some humor to an otherwise straightforward and rather pedantic snapshot of one man’s journey to change the game that he loves.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is wasted as the A’s coach, Robin Wright mysteriously agreed to play Beane’s ex-wife for two minutes of screen time, and the lone bit of actual energy injected into the film comes from Chris Pratt playing A’s first baseman Scott Hatteberg (but the film isn’t about him, so his ability to help pick up the film is few and far between).

The overall result is rather lackluster, and although Pitt delivers a decent performance, it doesn’t hold a candle to his turn in The Tree of Life and it simply doesn’t make any sense as to why anyone would choose to watch this without a true love of baseball.

Moneyball comes in with a lot of hype because of Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin working on the screenplay but the film ultimately strikes out looking.

GRADE: C-

Moneyball hits theaters on September 23, 2011 and is rated PG-13 for some strong language.




‘Killer Elite’ Movie Review

By
Kevin Finnerty
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Jason Statham in Killer Elite
Jason Statham in 'Killer Elite' - © Open Road Films

“He’s like a father to you, right? You don’t do this, he’s a dead man.” That’s how ex-special ops agent Danny (Jason Statham) is brought out of retirement to try to save his friend and mentor Hunter (Robert De Niro) from certain death at the hands of ruthless, powerful men seeking revenge and retribution in the action movie Killer Elite.

Trusting only two other ex-special ops who are now mercenaries-for-hire, Danny sets out to kill three assassins after taping their confessions of the murders they committed. This puts Danny up against a secret military order, operating under the auspices of British Intelligence, and their leader, a cunning ex-agent named Spike (Clive Owen) who’ll stop at nothing to protect the men he served with.

Covering the globe from the Middle East, Paris, Australia, and London, Danny and his team gather information about their three targets and set traps for them, trying to stay one step ahead of Spike and any other operatives who could stop them.

Based on a true story, Killer Elite is an action-adventure thriller with a solid cast that suffers from a flimsy, uninteresting plot. The writing is weak, with one-dimensional characters that the audience has seen way too many times before. Jason Statham as Danny delivers the same silent, threatening performance he’s done before in other films such as Crank and The Transporter. There is absolutely nothing new here from him on the screen.

Clive Owen is effectively menacing as Spike the ex-agent whose only redeeming value is the loyalty he feels and shows to his ex-comrades in arms. Perhaps the worst thing about the film is the complete waste of a great actor, Robert De Niro, who basically sits most of the action out – with the exception of a brief, failed escape attempt early in the film – waiting to be rescued or released.

Another big problem with the film is the uninspired action scenes featuring shootouts and fistfights which have been choreographed and directed much better in other superior films. There’s no real sense of tension or drama, and the pacing is choppy.

Unoriginal and uneven, Killer Elite is a forgettable action film.

GRADE: D

Killer Elite hits theaters on September 23, 2011 and is rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality/nudity.




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