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TNT Greenlights ‘Dallas’ Reboot

By
Rebecca Murray
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Dallas Cast Photo
The cast of the new ‘Dallas’ (Photo by Martin Schoeller © TNT)

Original Dallas stars Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, and Linda Gray will be back for more back-stabbing and family rivalries with the return of Dallas. This new series, based on the popular series from the ’70s and ’80s, will star Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, and Brenda Strong, and will once again feature a Texas oil and cattle-ranching dynasty.

The new Dallas will be set in Texas (of course) and is scheduled to premiere on TNT in the summer of 2012. 10 episodes have been ordered, according to the network.

Per the network: TNT will give viewers their first look at Dallas on Monday with a special sneak peek during the season premieres of the network’s blockbuster hits The Closer, which starts at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), and Rizzoli & Isles, which airs at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). TNT is unveiling today a website dedicated to the new DALLAS series, where fans can view an online photo gallery that features a first look into the show’s new and returning cast. Fans can visit the new site, dallastnt.com, to watch sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes videos. The website will be periodically updated with new materials.

“TNT has explored the possibility of an updated version of Dallas for several years, but it wasn’t until we read Cynthia Cidre’s outstanding pilot script that we knew we had the foundation for a great new series,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “It is incredibly exciting to see both new and familiar characters in the hands of a dream cast under the guidance of the enormously talented Cidre and Mike Robin. We couldn’t be more pleased with how Dallas has come together.”

The original Dallas aired from 1978 to 1991 and centered on the Ewing family, a cattle and oil dynasty occupying the expansive Southfork Ranch in Texas. A long and bitter rivalry between brothers J.R. Ewing (Hagman) and Bobby Ewing (Duffy) eventually led to J.R. losing control of most of the Ewing industries.

In the new Dallas, this explosive rivalry now lives on through another generation, with the future of the family fortune in the hands of the Ewing offspring: cousins John Ross Ewing (Henderson), the son of J.R. and ex-wife Sue Ellen (Gray), and Christopher Ewing (Metcalfe), the adopted son of Bobby. Brewster stars as Elena, who is involved in a love triangle with Christopher and John Ross. Gonzalo stars as Christopher’s fiancée, Rebecca. And Strong stars as Ann, Bobby’s wife.

Executive producer Cynthia Cidre, who wrote the acclaimed film The Mambo Kings and produced the TV series Cane, wrote the pilot for the new Dallas. TNT’s series is based on the original series created by David Jacobs. The new Dallas comes to TNT from Warner Horizon Television. Michael M. Robin (The Closer) is the director and executive producer of the pilot.




‘A Better Life’ Movie Review

By
Ian Forbes
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Jose Julian and Demian Bichir in 'A Better Life'
Jose Julian and Demian Bichir in ‘A Better Life’ (Photo © Summit Entertainment)

The more erudite and well-bred film critics may liken director Chris Weitz’ A Better Life to Vittorio De Sica’s> The Bicycle Thief. And seeing as if you replace “bicycle” with “truck,” the basic premise of the story is the same, this comparison seems quite apropos (though few would call me erudite or well-bred).

In A Better Life, Carlos (Demián Bichir) is an illegal immigrant working as a day laborer who scrounges enough money together to purchases his friend/boss’ truck in order to help him head up his own landscaping business; continuing to utilize the common method of hiring other illegal immigrants – to keep costs low and also help out others in the same situation. Carlos relies on this business model to not only keep a roof over his own head but that of his ungrateful son, Luis (José Julián), who’s ashamed of his dad’s status in life. When the truck is stolen, father and son must undertake a quest to find it. And of course, the journey brings them closer together.

Holding the production together is a strong showing from Bichir. His presence commands each scene and fully conveys the range of emotions the character must be feeling in his situation. Julián does okay as his son, nicely portraying the spoiled side of things but not being fully convincing when it comes to bringing the character full circle.

And essentially, that’s the problem with the overall production. Weitz, and the writers, want to tell a powerful story about illegal immigration AND a father/son tale but fall a little short in making it feel like the two stories go together in this case. Part of the problem is in splitting the focus as we learn about each of the main characters; are we looking at things from Dad’s point of view or his son’s? Worse still, Carlos’ scenes all seem germane to the plot while Luis’ dealings with a local street gang his girlfriend’s older brother runs feels like some cliché 90’s film thrown haphazardly into the middle of things.

Despite Bichir’s excellent performance, the formulaic and predictable story of A Better Life simply falls flat. It’s a story anyone living near the U.S./Mexico border is familiar with and makes much more sense for audiences to wait for its appearance on TV rather than take the effort and spend the cash to find in theaters.

GRADE: C

A Better Life hits theaters on June 24, 2011 and is rated PG-13 for some violence, language and brief drug use.




‘Horrible Bosses’ Movie Review

By
Ian Forbes
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Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day and Jason Bateman in Horrible Bosses
Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day and Jason Bateman in ‘Horrible Bosses’ (Photo © New Line Cinema)

A really odd thing happened after all was said and done watching Horrible Bosses.

The film is billed as a comedy wherein Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day plot to kill their a-hole bosses. Normally when a film is billed as a comedy this year, it falls short (Just Go With It, Take Me Home Tonight, etc.).

Thankfully, all six major players in Horrible Bosses (the employees and the employers) knew what they needed to give to their characters and the film is fairly consistent at delivering laughs. Obviously, going into much detail about the plot would only ruin punch lines so we’ll just leave it there.

Much of the credit obviously goes to that cast, which shared a wonderful chemistry. Bateman’s more deadpan style contrasted beautifully with the spasticness of Day and the blowhard stylings of Sudeikis.

As for the bosses, Kevin Spacey got to relive a little bit of his Glengarry Glen Ross/Swimming With Sharks history; Colin Farrell clearly enjoyed playing a coked out, whore-loving, ungrateful bad boy; and Jennifer Aniston held a clinic on how to sexually harass your co-worker.

The supporting cast was also up to scratch, with Jamie Foxx, Ioan Gruffudd, and Julie Bowen all adding to the mix. There’s even a super quick cameo with King of Kong’s Steve Wiebe as a security guard, probably thanks to director Seth Gordon who helmed both films.

While the overall effort was enjoyable and spotlighted a very funny cast, this probably still won’t land itself in the pantheon of great comedies. There’s a disjointed nature to how the story develops, which is good for the runtime of 100 minutes but there wasn’t a great deal of fluidity when it came to transitioning between scenes. Also, as much fun as Day and Sudeikis are having with each other, you can see the exact same wacky friendship between the pair in 2010’s Going the Distance.

However, if asked whether one should see the ridiculously over-rewarded The Hangover Part II or this, I’d answer with the latter in a heartbeat and hope moviegoers trying not to spend an entire month’s paycheck on films this year will choose wisely. Horrible Bosses is as dark as it needs to be and as goofy as it can be – something the Wolfpack didn’t quite understand.

GRADE: B

Horrible Bosses hits theaters on July 8, 2011 and is rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language and some drug material.




Relativity Picks Up ‘Machine Gun Preacher’ with Gerard Butler

By
Rebecca Murray
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Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler at the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Premiere (Photo © Richard Chavez)

It appears as though not only has Machine Gun Preacher, the biopic starring Gerard Butler (300), found a new studio to call home but also has a 2011 release date.

Relativity Media announced today that it has acquired North American rights from Lionsgate to theatrically market and distribute Machine Gun Preacher. Directed and produced by DGA and Golden Globe®-nominee Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) and written by Jason Keller (Relativity’s Untitled Snow White Project), the film stars Gerard Butler and will release in Los Angeles and New York on September 23, 2011. The film will expand markets in the weeks to follow.

“This is a powerful story, and we feel strongly that it is one audiences need to see. Forster once again proves that he is among the best directors of our time and Butler delivers a career-defining performance bolstered by a rock solid supporting cast,” says Relativity’s President of Worldwide Production, Tucker Tooley.

“The film is blessed to have two passionate partners in Relativity and Lionsgate. I’m excited to be working with both companies to bring the incredible story of Sam Childers to the world. I’m really proud of my cast, and all of their hard work in making this movie that means so much to all of us personally,” said Forster.

The film also showcases powerful performances by an ensemble cast, including Michelle Monaghan (Due Date), Kathy Baker (Cold Mountain), Oscar-nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road), Madeline Carroll (The Spy Next Door), and breakout actor Souleymane Sy Savane (Goodbye Solo).

Producing are Relativity’s Robbie Brenner, Safady Entertainment’s Gary Safady and Craig Chapman, and GG Filmz’s Deborah Giarratana.

The Plot: Machine Gun Preacher is based on the true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who finds faith leading him on a path to East Africa. Shocked by the mayhem in Sudan, Childers becomes a crusader for hundreds of refugee children. Inspired to create a safe haven for the multitudes fleeing enslavement by the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army, he restores peace to their lives and eventually his own.




‘Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout’ Starring Taylor Lautner

By
Rebecca Murray
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Are you ready for some football? Are you anxious to have the NFL lockout end and the players get down to the business of preparing for the upcoming season? Hopefully, an agreement will be reached and the NFL season will go forward as planned. But just in case the lockout’s still on, the guys at Funny or Die have put together Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout starring Twilight‘s Taylor Lautner with real NFL players Ray Lewis, Tony Gonzalez, Dwight Freeney, DeSean Jackson, Shawne Merriman, Antonio Cromartie and others – and some incredibly funny cameos.

Shot in early July in Thousands Oaks, Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout is Funny or Die’s biggest production to date.

Little Tybee Announces 2011 Summer Tour Dates

By
Rebecca Murray
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Little Tybee Tour

Atlanta indie-pop group Little Tybee has revealed their summer of 2011 tour dates, with the group hitting cities on the East Coast and in Canada throughout July. The tour’s in support of their sophomore album, Humorous to Bees, which dropped this last spring on Paper Garden Records. Their next EP is scheduled for release this fall, and the group will be hitting the road again for a short European tour as well as a fan-chosen slot in the 2011 Rombello Cruise lineup to coincide with that release.

The 2011 Summer Tour Dates:

7/7 – Atlanta, GA @ The Star Bar

7/8 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt

7/9 – Macon, GA @ The Rookery

7/10 – Savannah, GA @ The Sentient Bean

7/12 – Charleston, SC @ Village Tavern

7/13 – Charleston, SC @ The Mill

7/14 – Charlotte, NC @ Milestone

7/16 – Boone, NC @ Boone Saloon

7/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Danger Danger

7/18 – New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall

7/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory

7/20 – TBA

7/21 – Montreal, QC @ Boutique Tone + House show

7/22 – Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo

7/23 – Buffalo, NY @ Griffis Sculpture Park

7/24 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick

7/26 – Rock Island, IL @ Daytrotter

7/27 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

7/28 – Indianapolis, IN @ MOKB/Laundromatinee session

7/29 – Nashville, TN @ The End

7/30 – Atlanta, GA @ The Buckhead Theatre

First ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ Photo of Nori, Ori and Dori

By
Rebecca Murray
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Nori, Ori and Dori The Hobbit Photo
Nori, Ori and Dori in ‘The Hobbit’ (Photo © New Line Cinema)

New Line Cinema’s just released the first photo of Jed Brophy as Nori, Adam Brown as Ori, and Mark Hadlow as Dori in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. And for those of us who aren’t up on our Hobbit characters, the studio’s also issued this description of the threesome:

“These three brothers, all sons of the same mother, could not be more different from each other. Dori, the oldest, spends much of his time watching out for Ori, the youngest; making sure he’s not caught a chill or got himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Nobody quite knows what Nori gets up to most of the time, except that it’s guaranteed to be dodgy and quite probably, illegal. Dori, Nori and Ori are intensely loyal to each other – and whilst they are perfectly happy fighting amongst themselves, woe-betide anyone who means harm to one of these brothers.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie Synopsis: The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild.

Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s ‘precious’ ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.




‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2’ World Premiere Video

By
Rebecca Murray
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It All Ends 7.15. Watch the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 live on July 7 from 8am PT/ 11am ET/ 4pm BST.

It’s not quite the same as being there, but it’s close enough. Livestream is hosting live coverage of the red carpet at the World Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, catching interviews with the film’s stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, as well as author J.K. Rowling, director David Yates, and producers David Heyman and David Barron. In addition, Harry Potter fans can chat during the event via Facebook and Twitter.

The World Premiere of the final Harry Potter film is taking place in London’s Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square on July 7, 2011 at 11am ET / 4pm BST.

Official Synopsis: In Part 2 of the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

‘Torchwood: Miracle Day’ Ready to Debut

By
Rebecca Murray
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Torchwood: Miracle Day
John Barrowman, Mekhi Phifer and Eve Myles in ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day’

Starz is ready to debut their original series Torchwood: Miracle Day with episode #1 “The New World” set to air on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 10pm ET/PT. The show, which is a ‘reimagining’ of the British series (the original Torchwood), will air 10 episodes this year.

Torchwood stars John Barrowman and Eve Myles star in the American version alongside Mekhi Phifer and Bill Pullman. Lauren Ambrose has an extended guest starring role.

The Plot: Torchwood: Miracle Day begins with a day when nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep aging — they get hurt and sick — but they never die. The result: a population boom, overnight. With all the extra people, resources are finite. It’s said that in four months’ time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can’t be a natural occurrence – someone’s got to be behind it.

It’s a race against time as C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking “What is Torchwood?,” he’s drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.

Pia Toscano Signs with 19 Recordings/Interscope Records

By
Rebecca Murray
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Pia Toscano
Pia Toscano (PRNewsFoto/Interscope Records, Andrew McLeod)

She may not have made it to the end of the 2011 season of American Idol, but one of the best performers of the season – Pia Toscano – hasn’t let that deter her from pursuing a singing career. Toscano has just signed on with 19 Recordings/Interscope Records and will be releasing her first single, “This Time,” digitally on July 12, 2011.

Toscano will also be part of the American Idols Live! Tour which begins on July 6th in Salt Lake City, Utah and ends in Rochester, New York on September 10th.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Interscope and 19 Recordings family,” Toscano stated. “Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine was an amazing mentor during my time on Idol and I’m looking forward to working with him and everyone at Interscope Records and 19 Recordings. This is a dream come true.”

Toscano’s single “This Time” was written and co-produced by Esther Dean. According to the press release, “the acoustic guitar and beat-driven track is just a taste of what’s to come when the Queens, NY, native releases her debut album, which she is currently working on, later this year.”

Toscano’s elimination was a real shocker, even for judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler. Tyler said of the voting public’s decision: “They’re wrong. I don’t know what happened with this. She’s beautiful. When she sings, she’s a bird.”

Even celebrity fans sounded off on her early elimination. “I think she was probably the best pure singer on the show, and she’s got all the makings of what it means to be a star in my opinion, so I was just irked [when she was voted off],” said Ashton Kutcher on host Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, “On the Air with Ryan Seacrest.”




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