We’re used to men behaving badly in films, but with Bridesmaids it’s the women who get to act all kinds of crazy.
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Rose Byrne
Directed By: Paul Feig
Release Date: May 13, 2011
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for some strong sexuality, and language throughout
Official Synopsis: Annie’s life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian’s maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love.
Cast and Characters:
Rose Byrne – ‘Helen’
Kristen Wiig – ‘Annie’
Maya Rudolph – ‘Lillian’
Chris O’Dowd – ‘Rhodes’
Ellie Kemper – ‘Becca’
Wendi McLendon-Covey – ‘Rita’
Melissa McCarthy – ‘Megan’
Matt Lucas – ‘Gil’
Jill Clayburgh – ‘Annie’s Mom’
Rebel Wilson – ‘Brynn’
Michael Hitchcock – ‘Don Cholodecki’
Kali Hawk – ‘Kahlua’
Greg Tuculescu – ‘Kevin’
Tim Heidecker – ‘Dougie’
Johnny Depp’s back for his fourth go at playing Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, although this time around he’s got new sidekicks and a new director.
Rob Marshall directs the action/comedy set for release on May 20, 2011.
Official Synopsis: Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penelope Cruz), Captain Jack Sparrow’s not sure if it’s love — or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.
The cast also includes Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa, Sam Claflin as Philip, Astrid Berges-Frisbey as Syrena, Kevin R McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, and Stephen Graham as Scrum. Keith Richards plays Captain Teague, Richard Griffiths is King George, Damian O’Hare is Gillette, and Oscar Jaenada is The Spaniard.
Volume 38 in the bestselling series NOW That’s What I Call Music! will be released on May 3, 2011. The series debuted back in 1998 with this latest compilation CD features tracks from artists including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry.
Per the EMI/Sony Music press release: “NOW has joined forces with eBay to raise funds to help the Red Cross support people affected by last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan by participating in EMI Music and Universal Music Group’s worldwide charitable auctions. All funds raised from both auctions will be used toward the Red Cross’ efforts for the ongoing provision of immediate relief to support the affected population during their recovery.”
NOW That’s What I Call Music! 38 Artists and Songs:
1. Lady Gaga – “Born This Way”
2. Enrique Iglesias featuring Ludacris and DJ Frank E – “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)”
3. Rihanna – “S&M”
4. Britney Spears – “Hold It Against Me”
5. Ke$ha – “Blow”
6. Bruno Mars – “Grenade”
7. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West – “E.T.”
8. P!nk – “F**kin’ Perfect”
9. Diddy Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey – “Coming Home”
10. Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look At Me Now”
11. Jeremih featuring 50 Cent – “Down On Me”
12. The Black Eyed Peas – “The Time (Dirty Bit)”
13. Usher – “More”
14. Adele – “Rolling In The Deep”
15. Cee Lo Green – “Forget You”
16. Avril Lavigne – “What The Hell”
BONUS TRACKS: “NOW What’s Next” New Music Preview
17. Hot Chelle Rae – “Tonight Tonight”
18. Parachute – “You and Me”
19. Michael Franti & Spearhead – “I’ll Be Waiting”
20. Cody Simpson – “All Day”
Jive Records announced Weird Al Yankovic’sAlpocalypse – his 13th studio album – will be released on June 21, 2011. The album marks Yankovic’s first release since 2006’s Straight Outta Lynwood and will feature “Perform This Way,” a parody of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” Yankovich’s video became a YouTube hit viewed 2 million times in the first few days of its release.
Track List:
1. Perform This Way
2. CNR
3. TMZ
4. Skipper Dan
5. Polka Face
6. Craigslist
7. Party In The CIA
8. Ringtone
9. Another Tattoo
10. If That Isn’t Love
11. Whatever You Like
12. Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me
DVD:
1. CNR
2. TMZ
3. Skipper Dan
4. Craigslist
5. Party In The CIA
6. Ringtone
7. Another Tattoo
8. If That Isn’t Love
9. Whatever You Like
10. Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me
“Weird Al” 2011 Tour Dates
May 19 New Brunswick, NJ The State Theatre
May 20 – Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
May 21 – Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center
May 22 – Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE – Outdoor Stage
May 24 – Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort Casino
May 26 – Marion, OH Marion Palace Theatre
May 27 – Mt. Pleasant, MI Soaring Eagle Casino
May 28 – Waukegan, IL The Genesee Theatre
May 29 – Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music
May 31 – St. Charles, IL The Arcada Theatre
Jun 1 – Effingham, IL Effingham Perf. Arts Center
Jun 2 – Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Casino
Jun 3 – St. Charles, MO The Family Arena
Jun 5 – Springfield, IL Prairie Capital Convention Center
Jun 10 – Chandler, AZ Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
Jun 11 – Tucson, AZ Fox Tucson Theatre
Jun 12 – Riverside, CA Fox Perf. Arts Center
Jun 15 – Del Mar, CA San Diego County Fair
Jun 16 – Santa Ynez, CA Chumash Casino
Dimension Films announced they’ve just picked up The Greys, a spec script by Adam Cohen and producing partners Sean and Bryan Furst. F. Javier Gutierrez (Before the Fall) has committed to directing the project. Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company Bob Weinstein announced the acquisition of the sci-fi thriller on April 28, 2011.
Cohen and TWC are keeping the plot a secret.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating on this exciting script with Adam Cohen, Radar Pictures and The Fursts,” said Bob Weinstein. “As a fan, I have wanted to work with F. Javier Gutierrez for some time and am happy to join forces on his English language directorial debut.”
Sean and Bryan Furst are producing in partnership with Radar Pictures’ Ted Field and Mike Weber. Overseeing for Dimension Films are SVP of Production, Matthew Stein and VP of Production and Creative Affairs, Matthew Signer.
“We’re energized by the incredible level of passion Bob Weinstein and Dimension have shown for Adam Cohen’s thrilling script and for the talented F. Javier Gutierrez, and we all feel it’s that kind of passion that makes for an ideal filmmaking partner,” said the producers.
South Park‘s 15th season kicks off on April 27, 2011 with an episode titled “HumancentiPad” – a mix of the bizarre/twisted film Human Centipede and Apple’s iPad.
Per Comedy Central: “Kyle is intimately involved in the development of a revolutionary new product that is about to be launched by Apple. Meanwhile, Cartman doesn’t even have a regular iPad yet. He blames his mother.”
Author Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants is powerful, passionate, and colorful, and the Depression Era fairly leaps off the page and comes alive while you’re reading her engrossing novel. The film version attempts to live up to bestselling, award-winning novel, with Twilight‘s Robert Pattinson and Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon as compassionate, animal-loving, star-crossed strangers who fall in love under the big top. The big question is, will the film satisfy fans of the book? And the answer is, yes, for the most part.
The Story
As Jacob (Pattinson) sits down to take his final exams at Cornell University, a school administrator delivers the devastating news that his parents have just been killed in an auto accident. At the bank, he receives even more bad news, as he learns that – without his knowledge – his parents took out loans they had no way of repaying to put him through veterinary school. Left penniless and with no family to turn to for support, Jacob packs his entire life away in one small bag and hits the road.
With no plan and no means of support, Jacob sets out along the train tracks in the direction of the next major city where employment might be found. When a train comes along, instead of stepping aside until it passes, Jacob takes a chance and jumps on board, unaware of where it’s heading.
It turns out this particular train belongs to the Benzini Brothers Circus, and after a rough introduction to some of the circus’ employees, Jacob finds himself in front of the boss, August (Christoph Waltz), hat in hand, looking for a job. When August learns Jacob’s a Cornell-educated vet (though Jacob fails to reveal he never passed his final exams), he gives him the job of caring for the show’s animal performers.
His new job as the show’s animal doctor puts Jacob, a shy, soft-spoken, decent young man, in direct contact with the circus’ star, Marlena (Witherspoon), who also happens to be August’s wife. Jacob immediately falls for the platinum blonde beauty who has a way with animals. They bond over their mutual love of the show’s four-legged performers, and that sets August – a man prone to violent outbursts – on edge. August is a powerful, ruthless ruler over every aspect of the Benzini Brothers Circus, a human powder keg ready to explode at any moment.
After a mishap in the arena, August savagely beats the show’s main draw, Rosie the elephant. Although he’s later remorseful for his despicable actions, it’s obvious he has a history of lashing out and being physically abusive whenever he’s upset. And as Jacob falls deeper in love with Marlena, August is pushed beyond his breaking point.
Director Lawrence is best known for helming the Will Smith post-apocalyptic thriller I Am Legend, and seems an odd choice for handling this contained, character-driven piece. Lawrence does a decent job, but the film’s too sexually subdued, too safe when it should smolder. There’s zero chemistry between Pattinson and Witherspoon, though both gamely attempt to ignite a spark. Witherspoon needed to play it sexier; she needed to show the audience why in just a matter of minutes Pattinson’s Jacob falls completely in love with this older, married woman. There’s also a vulnerability about the character as written by Gruen that’s lost in translation to the screen.
As for Pattinson, he sheds that Twilight image to completely transform into this earnest young man left floundering after the death of parents. He’s totally believable as a veterinary student just a day away from finishing up exams and getting his license, and his interaction with the animals – in particular the elephant, Tai (who plays Rosie) – looks incredibly natural and honest.
But, once again, it’s Christoph Waltz who steals the show. Waltz has perfected this slimy megalomaniac type of character, this outwardly charming, well-mannered gentleman whose brain is inhabited by a nest full of seething snakes. When August beats poor Rosie – a scene that thankfully takes place behind closed doors – and then comes walking out as though he’s the cock of the walk, it’s Waltz doing what only a few actors can do.
Water for Elephants – The Bottom Line
It’s easy to lose yourself in Water for Elephant’s 1930s world on the screen, though it’s not quite as harsh a life as Gruen’s book depicts. Director Francis Lawrence and his team deliver a fantastical circus world, a romantic version of a time when, for the majority of Americans, it was a day-to-day struggle to survive. Gruen made readers believe that starvation and death were just around the bend for any circus employee unlucky enough to get booted off a moving train when the boss didn’t have the means to pay them their weekly check. The film makes the era look less grim, but that was probably necessary to not completely alienate a contemporary audience (particularly those who haven’t read the book).
Richard LaGravenese (writer/director of Freedom Writers, P.S. I Love You) does an admirable job of adapting Gruen’s book for the screen. No key scenes are lost, although it would have been wonderful to have been able to spend more time with the older version of Jacob (exquisitely played by Hal Holbrook), the character who narrates the book. But both LaGravenese and director Lawrence earn kudos for not shying away from the novel’s depiction of violence towards animals.
As difficult and distasteful a subject matter as it is, August’s beating of the animals in his care is integral to the story and helps display his mental state. Serial killers often start by injuring animals before they move on to people, and it’s important that – as the romance between Jacob and Marlena blossoms – we understand just how depraved August is. If we don’t, then the love story between the married woman and the young doctor does not work.
Water for Elephants is a gorgeous production, with the sets, cinematography, and costumes perfectly evoking the 1930s. The love story – though less passionate than depicted in the book – drives the story and should drive audiences to theaters.
GRADE: B
Water for Elephants was directed by Francis Lawrence and is rated PG-13 for moments of intense violence and sexual content.
Robert Pattinson, best known as the brooding vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga, takes on the role of a veterinary student who joins the circus following the tragic loss of his parents in Water for Elephants. Co-starring Reese Witherspoon as a performer Pattinson falls in love with and Christoph Waltz as her abusive husband, Water for Elephants is a dramatic tale of desperate times and desperate people.
In this video, Pattinson discusses the appeal of the project, working with an elephant, and starring in a film set in the 1930s.
Synopsis: A veterinary student from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob, meets and falls in love with Marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. They discover beauty amidst the world of the Big Top, and come together through their compassion for a special elephant. Against all odds – including the wrath of Marlena’s charismatic but dangerous husband August – Jacob saves Marlena from an unhappy life and they find lifelong love.
I have no one but myself to blame for spoiling part of The Hangover experience by watching too many clips and trailers before seeing the film. If you haven’t yet seen every clip out there, I strongly suggest you hold off until after watching the movie. Although the trailer and clips don’t completely ruin the experience, The Hangover‘s one of those comedies where it’s best to go in knowing as little as possible. That way the surprises are bigger, the pay-offs are much more hilarious, and the ‘what the hell oh no they didn’t’ moments – which there are a ton of – work on a grander scale.
The basic premise is a tried and true one. Guys take off for a rowdy weekend to celebrate the impending end of their buddy’s life as a single dude. But The Hangover explores everything that could possibly go wrong in such a completely riotous way that even what’s old feels new again. And even the jokes that don’t quite work are at least played out to the full extent. Nothing’s held back, and no subject matter is off limits. And if you stay for the credits, you’ll see some things you may never have seen before in a big studio feature film. I’m not saying it’s stuff you’d necessarily want to ever, ever see again. It’s just different and even kind of envelope-pushing.
The Story:
Junior high school teacher Phil (Bradley Cooper), dentist Stu (Ed Helms) and the wacky man-child Alan (Zach Galifianakis) join Doug (Justin Bartha) for a road trip to Vegas a couple of days before his wedding. Phil’s the unofficial leader of the group, Stu is the voice of reason, and Alan…well, he’s just plain weird. So this motley group checks in to Caesar’s Palace and makes their way to the roof for a toast to the impending loss of Doug’s bachelorhood. Flash forward eight or so hours, and it appears as though all hell has broken loose in their hotel suite.
Stu comes to on the floor next to a chicken (why? we’ll never know) missing a tooth and without a single memory of how he spent last night. The same goes for Alan who, clad only in his undies, stumbles into the bathroom only to be forced into a fully awakened state by the appearance of a tiger. Phil’s in no better shape, although he does escape having a startling encounter with an animal as his first conscious thought after coming to. A chair is smoldering away, the place looks like a tornado blasted through it, Doug’s nowhere to be found, and there’s a baby – yes, a baby – in a closet. And not one of these guys remembers anything.
And so The Hangover takes off from there. Retracing their steps, the guys discover their time in Vegas was loaded with some of the most bizarre encounters and events imaginable. And if you haven’t seen the trailer, I’m not going to blow any surprises for you here by going into all the juicy details of their night on the town. Suffice it to say, their exploits symbolize what makes ‘what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’ such a powerfully important edict.
The Cast:
You know, there’s not a bad apple in the The Hangover bunch. Bradley Cooper’s usually the best friend or part of the ensemble and although this is also an ensemble piece, Cooper’s given more to work with here than in most of his previous films. Cooper takes full advantage of the opportunity, fully embracing the role of a married teacher who may look like a player on the prowl but who really is a dedicated family man just out for one night of unadulterated fun. Zach Galifianakis is annoyingly funny as a clueless guy with a surprisingly good heart hidden under layers of social ineptness.
And The Office‘s scene-stealing Ed Helms is terrific as Stu the dentist, a guy who finds his orderly world turned on its head when he wakes up without an incisor and wed to a stripper. Of all the characters in The Hangover, it’s really Stu you’re empathizing and connecting with. You want him to grow a pair and get rid of his harpy girlfriend (played by Rachael Harris), and you root for him to come out of this weekend nightmare stronger for having gone through the experience.
The Hangover also benefits from some strong comedic performances in supporting roles including Bartha as the missing for most of the film groom-to-be, Heather Graham as Stu’s stripper wife, Ken Jeong (seen naked in the trailer) as the film’s villain, and Mike Tyson as Mike Tyson. Who knew the heavyweight had a sense of humor and enough acting ability to not make a fool of himself onscreen?
The Bottom Line:
The Hangover has a Judd Apatow-esque style to it and blends well the raunchy comedy with screwball antics and a little heart (contributed by Helms’ character, Stu). It’s also got some surprisingly difficult and hilarious action scenes that you wouldn’t expect from a comedy about three hungover guys in Vegas.
A baby, a tiger, a chicken, and Mike Tyson (no, that’s not the beginning of a ‘So, a…walked into a bar’ joke) contribute a lot of absurdity and laughs to this over-the-top R-rated comedy directed by the guy who brought us Old School. The Hangover‘s nutty, naughty fun that never takes itself the least bit seriously.
GRADE: B+
The Hangover was directed by Todd Phillips and is rated R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.
Hitting theaters near the end of a summer movie season filled with explosions, over-the-top action and general silliness, Julie and Julia is a delightful, tasty treat for adults. Julie and Julia is cooked to cinematic perfection and filled with terrific performances from the entire ensemble cast, led by Doubt co-stars Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. The story – like the delicious food served in Julie and Julia – will satiate moviegoers looking to fill up on a full-bodied film for their box office dollars.
Julie and Julia, though based on two true stories, plays out as a tale almost too good to be true. Julia, as played by Streep, is so completely engaging and so loved by all who come in contact with her that she seems like the creation of a very imaginative mind rather than a flesh and blood woman. Julie, on the other hand, is a timid, can’t-accomplish-anything young woman who, with the help of a famous chef she’s never met yet leans on daily, blossoms into a determined, self-reliant woman.
What Julie learns from studying Julia takes her from handling phone calls from relatives of victims of 9/11 to juggling interview opportunities and book deals. It would seem the story of Julia and Julie’s strangely intertwined lives could only spring from a screenwriter’s pen, but Julie and Julia is based on the real lives of these two captivating women.
The Story:
Julie and Julia is culled from two books. One book tells the story of Julia Child as she transitions from the bored wife of a diplomat stationed in France to student at the famed Le Cordon Bleu school to cooking teacher and ultimately cookbook author and star of her own TV show. The second book was written by New Yorker Julie Powell, a cubicle-dwelling government worker who, back in 2002, decided to stir things up in her life by cooking all 500+ recipes in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking over the course of just 365 days.
In addition to tackling Child’s recipes, Julie charged herself with creating and updating a blog based on her daily adventures in the kitchen. Julie had a history of not completing things but was determined to see this year-long experiment through to the end. Fortunately, she had an understanding, level-headed husband on her side to steady her when the going got rough (i.e. when she had to kill lobsters, poach eggs, and perform other hazardous duties) and a strength of spirit she didn’t know existed until she followed Julia’s lead.
The Cast:
Although Powell’s book dwells, as expected, more on her own portion of the story, the film divides its time fairly equally between Julia’s story and Julie’s. Meryl Streep plays Julia as a gigantic woman with a real gusto for life, showing her to be as passionate about eating and cooking as she is about her loving husband, Paul (Stanley Tucci). It’s a joy (not of cooking but of watching) to see The Devil Wears Prada‘s Streep and Tucci reunite onscreen as a happily married couple who absolutely adore the ground the other walks on.
Amy Adams has a tougher row to hoe playing a struggling woman trying to find herself in a world that doesn’t care in the least if she succeeds. Even at lunch with her closest female friends, Adams as Julie is put down, her life brushed off as trivial. But as Julie sees her universe expanding as the number of readers commenting on her blog increases, Adams takes Julie from shrinking violet to a strong woman in her own right. And if you’re like me, you’re going to walk out of Julie and Julia wondering who Chris Messina is and where he’s been hiding. As Julie’s husband, Eric, Messina is a revelation.
The Bottom Line:
Julie and Julia isn’t just a movie for foodies, although I’ll warn you now not to go to this movie on an empty stomach. Restaurants immediately adjacent to theaters screening Julie and Julia are likely to see an uptick in business from people driven crazy by the mouth-watering dishes on display in Julie and Julia.
And if you don’t know how to cook…well, I need to stop for a moment to let you know where I’m coming from in the culinary skills department. I once ruined a skillet attempting to cook a grilled cheese sandwich. The result was an inedible disaster and a pan that looked like someone had held it under a space shuttle as it was taking off. That was a few years back and I’m better now, but I’m still far from feeling comfortable around the kitchen. If it’s microwaveable, I’m all good. Anyway, Julie and Julia made me want to rush out and whip up a souffle or some exotic beef dish. It also made me long for more films of this ilk, movies that don’t need tricks, gimmicks or special effects to compete in theaters.
It’s so refreshing to see strong female characters drive a story. Streep and Adams don’t share a single scene in Julie and Julia, but they do share the ability to engage the audience. Together though separate, these powerful actresses make Julie and Julia a scrumptious moviegoing experience.
GRADE: B+
Julie and Julia was directed by Nora Ephron and is rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality.
