Ok, so as far as sappy romantic comedies go, I'm a sucker for mostly all of them. However, occasionally I can't help but wish I didn't know what was going to happen next.
I've been hearing about Leap Year since last year, and I've heard of its premise many years before that. Not because it's your average boy-meets-girl, girl-hates-boy, and then boy-charms-girl rom-com, but because it's based on a superstition I just happened to have read of once. Apparently, in Ireland, if a girl asks a man to marry her on February 29th, he has to say yes. So in the film, the desperate young lady (Amy Adams) eager to wed her boyfriend flies all the way to Dublin to trap him into an involuntary engagement. Super romantic, right? Of course, if it were that simple, the movie would be shorter than her flight. Fortunately, bad weather, shitty cell phone reception, and the desolate lands of Ireland allow for quite the road trip with a hot innkeeper (Matthew Goode from Watchmen and Chasing Liberty) to help her get to her future betrothed. By the last scene of the trailer, hell by the last sentence I just wrote, you've figured out the happy ending. See for yourself:
Release Date: January 8th
While I realize that Tina Fey and Steve Carrell's star-studded comedy (Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, James Franco, Leighton Meester, Ray Liotta, Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Wiig, and rapper Common) isn't really considered romantic, I do prefer the unpredictability its madcap premise provides. Much like Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker's upcoming Did You Hear About the Morgans?, a married couple going through a turning point in their relationship gets themselves entangled in an illegal situation. But instead of fleeing to Southern small-town witness protection like the Morgans, they spend their kid-free date night in the big city trying to stay alive. While you've probably already guessed that they'll survive, how they survive is the exciting part.
Release Date: April 9th
Saturday, November 28, 2009
TRAILER: Ben Stiller & Noah Baumbach's "Greenberg"
Noah Baumbach (Margot at the Wedding and The Squid and the Whale), who's sort of known for awkward tales of lost characters who only find balance in the harsh truths of life, developed the dark comedy Greenberg with actress Jennifer Jason Leigh (Margot at the Wedding). Starring Ben Stiller, it follows a New Yorker who moves to LA in order to figure out his life while he housesits for his brother (Chris Messina from Julie & Julia). Soon he starts to come out of his shell with the help of his brother's assistant (Leigh).
It's not often that Stiller stars in an indie (Envy), nor is it often that said indie succeeds critically or financially, but when he does, he tries to step as far outside of his comedic box as is physically and emotionally possible. With this film, I think he completed that mission. He's like no other version of Stiller you've ever seen (or I've ever seen), and that alone is reason to watch the trailer, if not to catch glimpses of the supporting cast: Rhys Ifans (The Boat That Rocked), Juno Temple (Year One), Brie Larson ("The United States of Tara") and newcomer Dave Franco ("Privileged" and the new season of "Scrubs"). My favorite line is actually the last one:
It's not often that Stiller stars in an indie (Envy), nor is it often that said indie succeeds critically or financially, but when he does, he tries to step as far outside of his comedic box as is physically and emotionally possible. With this film, I think he completed that mission. He's like no other version of Stiller you've ever seen (or I've ever seen), and that alone is reason to watch the trailer, if not to catch glimpses of the supporting cast: Rhys Ifans (The Boat That Rocked), Juno Temple (Year One), Brie Larson ("The United States of Tara") and newcomer Dave Franco ("Privileged" and the new season of "Scrubs"). My favorite line is actually the last one:
"I'm freaked out by you kids, because your parents were too perfect at parenting—all that Baby Mozart and Dan Zanes songs. You're all ADD and carpal tunnel. I hope I die before I end up meeting one of you at a job interview."
FILM: Reynolds & Faris in "TMI," Worthington in "Last Days of American Crime," and more
• Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation) is making interesting choices for his next few features. He recently signed on for the adaptation of The Last Days of American Crime. "Set in a near future where, as a final response to terrorism and crime, the U.S. government plans in secret to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts. To keep this from the public, the government creates a distraction, installing a new currency system using digital charge cards. A not particularly successful career criminal intends to steal one of the charging stations, skip the country and live off unlimited funds for the rest of his life. The media however has leaked news of the anti-crime signal one week before it was to go live...and now Graham and his team have just a few days to turn the crime of the century into the last crime in American history." That sounds like it could be fun.
• I'm genuinely excited to report that Ryan Reynolds and Ana Faris are reteaming, after their hilarious shenanigans in Just Friends, for the comedy TMI. For those of you who have yet to master web speak, that stands for "too much information." The film will tackle whether there's such a thing as too much honesty. That sounds like trouble.
• I'm not sure what's going on in the world of McG, one of my favorite directors, but none of it seems good. I was positive that after his major debut in reinvigorating the Terminator franchise with Terminator Salvation, he'd have producers and writers banging down his door. I was also positive that his ambitions to shoot the adaptation of Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was good-to-go. But five months later, after Terminator Salvation failed to domestically exceed the $200 million budget and critics failed to be impressed, the rights to the Terminator franchise were put up for grabs and Joss Whedon ("Dollhouse") made a playful play for it, while 20,000 Leagues was put on indefinite hold. Now the only thing on his horizon is a film adaptation of the hit Broadway play Spring Awakening. Fingers crossed for it not to suffer great criticism after the unquestionable future success of Nine.
• There were rumors that Rachel McAdams was set to play the villain Black Cat, who kind of looks like a Catwoman ripoff, in the upcoming Spider-Man 4 flick. Dark Horizons debunked it, and hopefully the character's involvement is squashed altogether, because it sounds lame.
• Elijah Wood has never really been a comedy guy, unless you count his childhood acting in Flipper and North, but he's currently filming a co-starring role in the indie comedy The Romantics with Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin ("True Blood"), Josh Duhamel (Transformers), Malin Akerman (The Heartbreak Kid), and Adam Brody ("The O.C."). The film is about a group of college friends who reunite for a wedding. It certainly has an interesting mix of actors.
• Oooh I almost forgot about Thora Birch, but apparently Hollywood didn't. The last time the former child actress of All I Want for Christmas and Hocus Pocus-fame was in the spotlight was back in 2001 with the indie Ghost World. Now, she's been tapped to play the leading lady in the new Bonnie and Clyde remake alongside Kevin Zegers (Transamerica). Maybe if it doesn't get pandered, she can parlay this into a career revival a la Dakota Fanning.
• Looking to capitalize off of the evergrowing vampire trend, the Scott O. Brown graphic novel Nightfall is being adapted into a film. It can at least boast a somewhat original plotline: "The story centers on a man who finds out just how bad life can get when he discovers that the prison he just entered is controlled by vampires." I wonder which B-list actor will sign on for that.
• The 2007 documentary Young@Heart, which followed a choir of Massachusetts geezers who sang covers of songs from "the likes of The Clash to Coldplay," is being adapted into a narrative film. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you "Glee" for the old folks.
• I'm genuinely excited to report that Ryan Reynolds and Ana Faris are reteaming, after their hilarious shenanigans in Just Friends, for the comedy TMI. For those of you who have yet to master web speak, that stands for "too much information." The film will tackle whether there's such a thing as too much honesty. That sounds like trouble.
• I'm not sure what's going on in the world of McG, one of my favorite directors, but none of it seems good. I was positive that after his major debut in reinvigorating the Terminator franchise with Terminator Salvation, he'd have producers and writers banging down his door. I was also positive that his ambitions to shoot the adaptation of Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was good-to-go. But five months later, after Terminator Salvation failed to domestically exceed the $200 million budget and critics failed to be impressed, the rights to the Terminator franchise were put up for grabs and Joss Whedon ("Dollhouse") made a playful play for it, while 20,000 Leagues was put on indefinite hold. Now the only thing on his horizon is a film adaptation of the hit Broadway play Spring Awakening. Fingers crossed for it not to suffer great criticism after the unquestionable future success of Nine.
• There were rumors that Rachel McAdams was set to play the villain Black Cat, who kind of looks like a Catwoman ripoff, in the upcoming Spider-Man 4 flick. Dark Horizons debunked it, and hopefully the character's involvement is squashed altogether, because it sounds lame.
• Elijah Wood has never really been a comedy guy, unless you count his childhood acting in Flipper and North, but he's currently filming a co-starring role in the indie comedy The Romantics with Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin ("True Blood"), Josh Duhamel (Transformers), Malin Akerman (The Heartbreak Kid), and Adam Brody ("The O.C."). The film is about a group of college friends who reunite for a wedding. It certainly has an interesting mix of actors.
• Oooh I almost forgot about Thora Birch, but apparently Hollywood didn't. The last time the former child actress of All I Want for Christmas and Hocus Pocus-fame was in the spotlight was back in 2001 with the indie Ghost World. Now, she's been tapped to play the leading lady in the new Bonnie and Clyde remake alongside Kevin Zegers (Transamerica). Maybe if it doesn't get pandered, she can parlay this into a career revival a la Dakota Fanning.
• Looking to capitalize off of the evergrowing vampire trend, the Scott O. Brown graphic novel Nightfall is being adapted into a film. It can at least boast a somewhat original plotline: "The story centers on a man who finds out just how bad life can get when he discovers that the prison he just entered is controlled by vampires." I wonder which B-list actor will sign on for that.
• The 2007 documentary Young@Heart, which followed a choir of Massachusetts geezers who sang covers of songs from "the likes of The Clash to Coldplay," is being adapted into a narrative film. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you "Glee" for the old folks.
Friday, November 27, 2009
BUZZ: Pattinson & Thurman in Bel Ami, Flowers for Algernon Adaptation, "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff, and more
FILM NEWS
• In Bel Ami, Robert Pattinson will play "a young journalist who rose from poverty to become one of the most successful men in Paris via the ruthless and calculating bedding of the city's most glamorous and influential women." I'm not sure why more cougars aren't lining up to play one of Pattinson's conquests in, but Uma Thurman, who hasn't had a hit since 2004's Kill Bill sequel, made the smart move to revive her dwindling career by signing on. I wonder if the ladies of Hollywood don't consider Pattinson worthy of their presence or if the film is so low budget, it can't afford them. Hopefully, after they've seen the trailer for his upcoming indie Remember Me, set for March 2010, they'll have a little more faith in him. It actually looks really well-acted.
• Okay, so maybe it was obvious to everyone else that Will Smith has been gunning for an Oscar for a while now, but I think it's official now that he's signed on to star and produce Daniel Keyes' classic novel Flowers for Algernon. I was forced to read that incredibly depressing book in high school, and I can tell you that it's going to tug on your heart strings. "The story centers on a mentally disabled man who is the first to undergo a surgery that is said to raise intelligence. While the operation is successful, and his IQ raises from 68 to 185, the side effects include social setbacks where he feels ostracized from society." Super super super depressing. I wish someone would give Will an Oscar already so he can get back to saving the world.
• I love when unique stories are adapted onto the big screen. Lauren McLaughlin's young-adult book series Cycler just got optioned. Her novels tell the story of "Jill, a suburban teenager who for four days each month turns into Jack, complete with male anatomy and 17-year-old-boy fantasies. Jill has maintained her life of ordinary teenage worries, such as going to the prom and dealing with a crush, but that changes when Jack, tired of being locked in his room, begins to escape, causing damage to her social life." I can already picture Ellen Page in this role. She looks very androgynous.
• Joe Wright ("Atonement," "Pride and Prejudice") might direct Hanna, an action adventure thriller about "a 14-year-old Eastern European girl who has been raised by her father to be a cold-blooded killing machine. She connects with a French family, forms a friendship with their daughter and goes through the pangs of adolescence. When the girl is dragged back to her father's world and discovers that she was bred as a killing machine in a CIA prison camp, she must fight her way to a free life." Who should play her? Hmmm, maybe Dakota Fanning. She's substantially terrifying for all five minutes she's in New Moon.
TV NEWS
• Colin Hanks has been bravely attempting to make it in this business without any help from his Hollywood dad. Unfortunately, he's yet to achieve maximum stardom through film, despite the company he keeps, which include John Malkovich (The Great Buck Howard), Jack Black (King Kong), Meg Ryan and Antonio Banderas (My Mom's New Boyfriend). Lately, he's been dipping his foot back into TV. Having had his first taste of success in '99 with the WB's "Roswell," it's familiar ground for him. Ocassionally, he's made appearances on CBS's soon to be cancelled "Numb3rs," and last year he had a brief character arc as Peggy's religious conscience on "Mad Men." Now he's heading back to TV with a FOX cop series called "Jack and Dan." The Dan in question will be played by Bradley Whitford ("Studio 60" and "The West Wing"). The series "centers on Jack, an ambitious, by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position at the LAPD. He's partnered with Dan, a drunken, lecherous cop who hangs onto his job only because of a heroic act years before." It could have weight. It all depends on their chemistry.
• If you want even more "Grey's Anatomy," you'll be happy to know that starting in January there will be webisodes featuring several of the cast members. So far Gloria Garayua, the hispanic intern, and Brandon Scott, the black intern, are on board. Leave it to Shonda to make more opportunities for the minorities of the series. It'll be subtitled "On Call," because it will take place in their favorite hangout bar.
• Yay!!!! NBC just ordered three more episodes of the action-packed medical drama "Trauma" after it received a boost in ratings. This is why I'm a firm believer that all shows should get at least a full season to prove themselves. Some people just need the holidays to catch up on their DVR. Duh!
• In Bel Ami, Robert Pattinson will play "a young journalist who rose from poverty to become one of the most successful men in Paris via the ruthless and calculating bedding of the city's most glamorous and influential women." I'm not sure why more cougars aren't lining up to play one of Pattinson's conquests in, but Uma Thurman, who hasn't had a hit since 2004's Kill Bill sequel, made the smart move to revive her dwindling career by signing on. I wonder if the ladies of Hollywood don't consider Pattinson worthy of their presence or if the film is so low budget, it can't afford them. Hopefully, after they've seen the trailer for his upcoming indie Remember Me, set for March 2010, they'll have a little more faith in him. It actually looks really well-acted.
• Okay, so maybe it was obvious to everyone else that Will Smith has been gunning for an Oscar for a while now, but I think it's official now that he's signed on to star and produce Daniel Keyes' classic novel Flowers for Algernon. I was forced to read that incredibly depressing book in high school, and I can tell you that it's going to tug on your heart strings. "The story centers on a mentally disabled man who is the first to undergo a surgery that is said to raise intelligence. While the operation is successful, and his IQ raises from 68 to 185, the side effects include social setbacks where he feels ostracized from society." Super super super depressing. I wish someone would give Will an Oscar already so he can get back to saving the world.
• I love when unique stories are adapted onto the big screen. Lauren McLaughlin's young-adult book series Cycler just got optioned. Her novels tell the story of "Jill, a suburban teenager who for four days each month turns into Jack, complete with male anatomy and 17-year-old-boy fantasies. Jill has maintained her life of ordinary teenage worries, such as going to the prom and dealing with a crush, but that changes when Jack, tired of being locked in his room, begins to escape, causing damage to her social life." I can already picture Ellen Page in this role. She looks very androgynous.
• Joe Wright ("Atonement," "Pride and Prejudice") might direct Hanna, an action adventure thriller about "a 14-year-old Eastern European girl who has been raised by her father to be a cold-blooded killing machine. She connects with a French family, forms a friendship with their daughter and goes through the pangs of adolescence. When the girl is dragged back to her father's world and discovers that she was bred as a killing machine in a CIA prison camp, she must fight her way to a free life." Who should play her? Hmmm, maybe Dakota Fanning. She's substantially terrifying for all five minutes she's in New Moon.
TV NEWS
• Colin Hanks has been bravely attempting to make it in this business without any help from his Hollywood dad. Unfortunately, he's yet to achieve maximum stardom through film, despite the company he keeps, which include John Malkovich (The Great Buck Howard), Jack Black (King Kong), Meg Ryan and Antonio Banderas (My Mom's New Boyfriend). Lately, he's been dipping his foot back into TV. Having had his first taste of success in '99 with the WB's "Roswell," it's familiar ground for him. Ocassionally, he's made appearances on CBS's soon to be cancelled "Numb3rs," and last year he had a brief character arc as Peggy's religious conscience on "Mad Men." Now he's heading back to TV with a FOX cop series called "Jack and Dan." The Dan in question will be played by Bradley Whitford ("Studio 60" and "The West Wing"). The series "centers on Jack, an ambitious, by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position at the LAPD. He's partnered with Dan, a drunken, lecherous cop who hangs onto his job only because of a heroic act years before." It could have weight. It all depends on their chemistry.
• If you want even more "Grey's Anatomy," you'll be happy to know that starting in January there will be webisodes featuring several of the cast members. So far Gloria Garayua, the hispanic intern, and Brandon Scott, the black intern, are on board. Leave it to Shonda to make more opportunities for the minorities of the series. It'll be subtitled "On Call," because it will take place in their favorite hangout bar.
• Yay!!!! NBC just ordered three more episodes of the action-packed medical drama "Trauma" after it received a boost in ratings. This is why I'm a firm believer that all shows should get at least a full season to prove themselves. Some people just need the holidays to catch up on their DVR. Duh!
Friday, November 20, 2009
TRAILER: Angelina Jolie in "Salt"
Angelina Jolie is SUPER intimidating. That's why she's the go-to for upscale female-oriented action movies. Even though Jennifer Garner did Electra and five seasons of "Alias," Jolie is the lady you call to bring a man down a few notches. Some would say it's her beauty or even her uncanny bravado, but I think it's her dark hair. That's why it was a really smart move putting Angie in a blonde wig for the first half of the film, so she can appear innocent. It totally helps her sell it. Then she transforms into the Angie we all know and fear—dark hair, cold stare, ready for action:
Plot: As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?"
Release Date: July 23, 2010
Plot: As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?"
Release Date: July 23, 2010
TRAILER: Timur Bekmambetov - "Black Lightning"
Okay, first thing's first, this movie was not directed by Timur Bekmambetov, despite reports of that all over the web. It was co-directed by first-time Russian directors Dmitriy Kiselev and Alexandr Voitinsky, who are said to be friends with Timur Bekmambetov. Even if they're not friends, it's obvious all three have a knack for thinking outside of the box when it comes to Russian action films.
Black Lightning is the story of "a Moscow University student who becomes the owner of a flying car," and accepts the responsibility of having to be the city's sole crimefighter...while trying to bag a hot girl. It's like if Peter Parker's powers were in his car. Plus, the stunts are so sick you might forget it's not in English. :(
It'll hit Russian theaters December 31st, but there's no word on a US distributor yet. Relax, if we can score Timur's other films, Night Watch and Day Watch, I'm sure this'll be available eventually.
Black Lightning is the story of "a Moscow University student who becomes the owner of a flying car," and accepts the responsibility of having to be the city's sole crimefighter...while trying to bag a hot girl. It's like if Peter Parker's powers were in his car. Plus, the stunts are so sick you might forget it's not in English. :(
It'll hit Russian theaters December 31st, but there's no word on a US distributor yet. Relax, if we can score Timur's other films, Night Watch and Day Watch, I'm sure this'll be available eventually.
TRAILER: How to Train Your Pet Dragon
Dreamworks turned the classic book How to Train Your Pet Dragon into an animated film. Unfortunately, after seeing the trailer, I'm not really all that impressed.
I feel sorry for any animated film that follows Up or Wall-E or even Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. They set the bar so high that anything that half-asses it looks like crap. If you're like me, and you love dragons—I mean, loved, because now I'm an adult and that would be weird. *clears throat* Anyway, if you like dragons, then you've probably seen a lot of different versions in films like Reign of Fire, Dungeons and Dragons, Dragonheart, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and Eragon, which means that by now you have standards. This dragon looks ugly and lazily drawn. It really kind of looks like a lizard bat.
Plus, the lead character Hiccup's voice sounds wayyy too monotone to listen to for 2hrs, especially since he's not being sardonic like "Daria." Sorry, Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up). Ending on a high note: I did like the last part of the trailer when he says, "Thank you for nothing—you useless reptile." It sounds mean, but...listen for yourself:
Release Date: March 26, 2010
Oh and this is even worse. That looks like a cheetah that got pulled out of the sewers:
I feel sorry for any animated film that follows Up or Wall-E or even Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. They set the bar so high that anything that half-asses it looks like crap. If you're like me, and you love dragons—I mean, loved, because now I'm an adult and that would be weird. *clears throat* Anyway, if you like dragons, then you've probably seen a lot of different versions in films like Reign of Fire, Dungeons and Dragons, Dragonheart, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and Eragon, which means that by now you have standards. This dragon looks ugly and lazily drawn. It really kind of looks like a lizard bat.
Plus, the lead character Hiccup's voice sounds wayyy too monotone to listen to for 2hrs, especially since he's not being sardonic like "Daria." Sorry, Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up). Ending on a high note: I did like the last part of the trailer when he says, "Thank you for nothing—you useless reptile." It sounds mean, but...listen for yourself:
Release Date: March 26, 2010
Oh and this is even worse. That looks like a cheetah that got pulled out of the sewers:
FILM TOPIC: Mel Gibson Returns with "Edge of Darkness"
I'm sure Mel Gibson and his team of agents carefully thought out what his first acting project after a seven year absence from the big screen would be. I'm sure they realized that unlike Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan, Harrison Ford, and even Clint Eastwood, he has NOT aged well. A romantic comedy would've been a stretch. A buddy comedy would've posed the question of whether or not he actually has any friends. And an action movie would've required a collective rooting for his character, which would've been difficult to encourage considering no one's actually rooting for him. So, I think a dramatic thriller was the right choice. Playing a loving father slash homicide detective whose activist daughter is murdered for "knowing too much" about a corporate cover-up and government conspiracy was a great idea. Giving him a Boston accent, so we're so focused on determining whether he's doing the city's natives justice, was an even greater idea.
BUT, I don't think it was such a great idea for the trailer to end on this line:
BUT, I don't think it was such a great idea for the trailer to end on this line:
"You better decide whether you're hanging on the cross or banging in the nails."Really? You were soooo close to just sweeping that whole anti-semitism scandal under the rug, but you just had to mention religion. The film comes out January 10th. I suspect after that excruciatingly long weekend, he'll see just how forgiving this "Catholic" nation really is:
TRAILERS: Matt Damon's Green Zone vs. Invictus
Do you prefer the badass Matt Damon in Paul Greengrass's adaptation of Rajiv Chandrasekaran's Green Zone
Plot: Discovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer (Damon) to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons on Mass Destruction in an unstable region.
Release Date: March 12, 2010
OR the inspiring Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood's adaptation of John Carlin's Invictus?
Plot: A look at life for Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) after the fall of apartheid in South Africa during his first term as president when campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup event as an opportunity to unite his countrymen.
Release Date: Dec. 11, 2009
They're both politically oriented. They both showcase Damon as the pioneer of peace. But I, personally, find amped up, mission-oriented Damon to be the most entertaining.
Plot: Discovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer (Damon) to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons on Mass Destruction in an unstable region.
Release Date: March 12, 2010
OR the inspiring Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood's adaptation of John Carlin's Invictus?
Plot: A look at life for Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) after the fall of apartheid in South Africa during his first term as president when campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup event as an opportunity to unite his countrymen.
Release Date: Dec. 11, 2009
They're both politically oriented. They both showcase Damon as the pioneer of peace. But I, personally, find amped up, mission-oriented Damon to be the most entertaining.
VIDEO: Beyonce's "Video Phone" feat. Lady Gaga
WOW! Beyonce is a genius!!!!! NOT because of the video. The video is crap, as is the song. She's a genius because every time she acknowledges a threat to her diva-hood, she conspires against them, while pretending to be their friend. The only time she does female collaborations is to benefit herself. She once did a barely memorable video with Shakira to capitalize off of her Spanish fanbase. Now, she's collaborating with Lady Gaga, and managed the unthinkable. She got her to NOT wear a costume. She got Lady Gaga, the consummate visual artist and shock-stylista to NOT wear a costume. Name one time you've seen Lady Gaga without some bizarre ass clothing. Name JUST ONE!! She wears that shit to the airport. Beyonce got her to rock normal hair, normal makeup, and a white leotard, while she rocked like 20 different costumes. She stripped her of all of her creativity, reduced her to a video HO, and owned her ass. Now THAT'S diva.
TV Topic: "Vampire Diaries": Alaric's Identity, Tyler's Odd Behavior, and the 2010 Return Date!
The last two weeks have unveiled a lot of interesting subplots. I don't even know which revelation to be the most excited about:
Revelation #1: Caroline and Matt
What a curve ball of a relationship. I could've sworn Bonnie was jonesing on his baby blues, but I guess she's so busy wiccing out she can't deal with boys right now.
Last night, she didn't even seem in the least bit jealous. She also didn't seem interested in witchcraft anymore. I was hoping for a Willow-transformation. Hell, even a trick-per-episode Sabrina the Teenage Witch template, but I suppose she's just a catalyst character, meant to drive everyone else's storylines. As for the lovebirds, I'm not sure why Matt felt pressured to label their relationship. It's not like he'd been hanging out with a troll (or a vampire), so he didn't really have anything to be ashamed about. Maybe he was just trying to leave his options open. The intense look he gave Elena once she confirmed that she and Stefan were over, due to his pending departure, made it seem like he was hoping (and wishing and praying) to be her runner-up. Thankfully, the moment was diffused by Stefan's watchful gaze, leaving Matt to come to terms with the single option he had left. I was seriously amused when he made it official by yelling to Tyler: "Stop your little bromance bitch-act." What? lol Defeated much?
Revelation #2: Damon's Agenda
The extent of Bonnie's powers are pretty impressive, but the way in which they were used in last week's episode brought on the most exciting new development. Stefan spent the entire episode trying to soften Damon up and get him to spill on why he wanted the pendant. A few beers, darts, and football passes later, and Damon, who seems to not hate his brother, but miss him, was perfectly willing to reveal that he was going to resurrect Katherine. By the way Emily haunted Bonnie, we were led to believe she was evil and on Damon's side. But after she revealed that freeing Katherine, who was said to be trapped, immobile and unfed in a tomb, meant freeing dozens of other vampires that were trapped with her, the plan seemed insane. The chances of any of them being as kind and...vegan as Stefan are completely dashed by the fact that the townspeople tried to burn them alive—the same townspeople whose relatives now reside in the town. Mayhem and massacre are sure to follow, but Damon was willing to risk it all. It was amazing to discover that his secret agenda all along was to return to the life he once had: Stefan by his brotherly side and Katherine in his arms. But since Bonnie's ancestor possessed her and destroyed the pendant, any chance of that happening seemed impossible. Damon seemed defeated. Last week, I thought "Will he keep searching for a way to release her or will he try to woo Elena to replace her?"
Last night, however, Damon was presented with an alternative. Some other mysterious vamp knows how to free the entombed vampires, which means Damon isn't leaving until he finds them and frees Katherine. Of course!!! Why wouldn't some other vampire be just as devoted to one of those entombed vampires, like he is to Katherine? Brilliant!!
Revelation #3: Stefan Never Loved Katherine
Stefan admitted that he believes he was "glamoured" (I forget the VD word for it) into loving Katherine, and Damon fervently declared that he was completely of sound mind during their affair. Stefan tried to convince Damon that Katherine was just using them. Damon even said that Katherine told him about the pendant on their last night together, prompting Stefan to regrettably inform him that he was the last one to "see" her that night. You could see the hurt in Damon's eyes. I'm truly convinced after last week's episode that Katherine is pure evil, which makes me want her resurrected even more. I usually hate it when one actor plays twin characters, but I would love to see a Katherine vs. Elena throwdown, assuming Katherine actually cares if Stefan moved on or that Stefan really doesn't love her. It makes me wonder if Katherine's control over Damon is still in effect despite her entombment, or if he's actually controlled by love itself.
Last night, Damon said something really interesting. He told the newly turned and eager to learn Logan that every emotion you had for someone or something before being turned will be amplified after. So Damon's desire to be loved for who he is, despite his inner darkness, increased tenfold when he was turned, and Katherine is the only one who's ever accepted him. It's like Stefan said, he has no friends and no one loves him. Where would he go and who would accept him? The only person he can count on is Katherine.
Last night, after they finally got it on, she discovered Katherine's image (which apparently just lies around the house, lol). I don't know if she felt everything I expected, but she was definitely no longer interested. Moral of the story kids: Never sleep with a guy until you determine that you look nothing like his ex. Do yourself a favor and make time for a quick facebook search.
But last night, after he humiliated Tyler's dad, saved Jeremy from getting an ass kicking, and killed Logan to protect Jenna, I was dying to skip ahead and google the hell out of his character's name. From his actions, all signs point to "good vamp," because we all know if Damon wanted something from Jeremy, he'd just trick him into doing it or kill him. So after an impatient 5 seconds of g-search, I found a yahoo forums link that suggested that perhaps he's a Slayer!!!!!!! and that the ring is just a memento. I don't know for sure, but that would be AMAZING! Think about it. He could've vamped out just like Logan. He could've crept up on him like Damon does. He could've been totally sadistic about the kill. But instead, he was a little wary, he had a stake prepared, and he totally didn't look like he enjoyed any moment of it. Whatever his agenda is, I doubt it'll harm anyone good, which is good because Stefan could use a little backup, since his brother's so schizo.
Revelation #6: The Strange Behavior of Both Jeremy and Tyler
Alright so last week, Jeremy was acting weird—weird in the sense that he was acting normal. No more brooding or whining. He did his homework. He read books. He even adhered to the mandated curfew. It would seem that Damon turned him into a saint.
Last night, he was even more "back to normal," drawing and making friends. Why he chose to befriend Tyler, however, I have no idea. Okay, so they both know how to draw. So! He's a douche! Alright, try to brush past how he tried to console Tyler after his dad's psycho speech about "being a man," and focus on why Tyler was behaving the way he was. It's true that it's pretty humiliating to be berated and emasculated in front of your romantic rival and that he might miss Vicki, but this is Vampire Diaries, not Dawson's Creek. His behavior has to be supernatural, right? I mean, what he drew wasn't normal. Granted, some teenage boys tend to draw superheroes and villains and monsters and machines all the time, but again, this is not 90210. When you draw what looks like a bald demon, chances are you've seen it somewhere before. Add that bizarro discovery to his mellowed-out act, the unnaturally long focus on the moon after he sucker-punched Jeremy and stormed off camera, and the creature that repaired itself after Elena hit it with his car, and I'm starting to think that maybe Tyler isn't human. I'm starting to think that maybe his father's desire for him to tap into a dormant testosterone-filled reserve isn't just about growing up to be an equally repulsive politician. What if vampires weren't just eradicated from the town by humans? What if something else took over the town? Okay, so the reasons I'm not throwing the word werewolf around is because 1) there would be more animal attacks reported (unless the rich can have whole animal carcasses delivered) and 2) Tyler wouldn't be able to stroll around under the full moon, unless he's the only wolf on xanax. But I'm still suspicious. There's something off about that kid. That said, I'm sure that whiny little drama queen is fine. She barely grazed her face in the accident. If someone doesn't come to save her, whoever it is will probably be harmless. And if not, considering how they deliberately stood in the middle of the road, maybe they'll make her a little more interesting. Fingers crossed.
Unfortunately, there won't be anymore episodes until January 14, 2010, but if you missed any episodes or just love it to pieces, then you can catch 2-hr installments of the entire season every night from Dec. 14-Dec. 18.
Revelation #1: Caroline and Matt
What a curve ball of a relationship. I could've sworn Bonnie was jonesing on his baby blues, but I guess she's so busy wiccing out she can't deal with boys right now.
Last night, she didn't even seem in the least bit jealous. She also didn't seem interested in witchcraft anymore. I was hoping for a Willow-transformation. Hell, even a trick-per-episode Sabrina the Teenage Witch template, but I suppose she's just a catalyst character, meant to drive everyone else's storylines. As for the lovebirds, I'm not sure why Matt felt pressured to label their relationship. It's not like he'd been hanging out with a troll (or a vampire), so he didn't really have anything to be ashamed about. Maybe he was just trying to leave his options open. The intense look he gave Elena once she confirmed that she and Stefan were over, due to his pending departure, made it seem like he was hoping (and wishing and praying) to be her runner-up. Thankfully, the moment was diffused by Stefan's watchful gaze, leaving Matt to come to terms with the single option he had left. I was seriously amused when he made it official by yelling to Tyler: "Stop your little bromance bitch-act." What? lol Defeated much?
Revelation #2: Damon's Agenda
The extent of Bonnie's powers are pretty impressive, but the way in which they were used in last week's episode brought on the most exciting new development. Stefan spent the entire episode trying to soften Damon up and get him to spill on why he wanted the pendant. A few beers, darts, and football passes later, and Damon, who seems to not hate his brother, but miss him, was perfectly willing to reveal that he was going to resurrect Katherine. By the way Emily haunted Bonnie, we were led to believe she was evil and on Damon's side. But after she revealed that freeing Katherine, who was said to be trapped, immobile and unfed in a tomb, meant freeing dozens of other vampires that were trapped with her, the plan seemed insane. The chances of any of them being as kind and...vegan as Stefan are completely dashed by the fact that the townspeople tried to burn them alive—the same townspeople whose relatives now reside in the town. Mayhem and massacre are sure to follow, but Damon was willing to risk it all. It was amazing to discover that his secret agenda all along was to return to the life he once had: Stefan by his brotherly side and Katherine in his arms. But since Bonnie's ancestor possessed her and destroyed the pendant, any chance of that happening seemed impossible. Damon seemed defeated. Last week, I thought "Will he keep searching for a way to release her or will he try to woo Elena to replace her?"
Last night, however, Damon was presented with an alternative. Some other mysterious vamp knows how to free the entombed vampires, which means Damon isn't leaving until he finds them and frees Katherine. Of course!!! Why wouldn't some other vampire be just as devoted to one of those entombed vampires, like he is to Katherine? Brilliant!!
Revelation #3: Stefan Never Loved Katherine
Stefan admitted that he believes he was "glamoured" (I forget the VD word for it) into loving Katherine, and Damon fervently declared that he was completely of sound mind during their affair. Stefan tried to convince Damon that Katherine was just using them. Damon even said that Katherine told him about the pendant on their last night together, prompting Stefan to regrettably inform him that he was the last one to "see" her that night. You could see the hurt in Damon's eyes. I'm truly convinced after last week's episode that Katherine is pure evil, which makes me want her resurrected even more. I usually hate it when one actor plays twin characters, but I would love to see a Katherine vs. Elena throwdown, assuming Katherine actually cares if Stefan moved on or that Stefan really doesn't love her. It makes me wonder if Katherine's control over Damon is still in effect despite her entombment, or if he's actually controlled by love itself.
Last night, Damon said something really interesting. He told the newly turned and eager to learn Logan that every emotion you had for someone or something before being turned will be amplified after. So Damon's desire to be loved for who he is, despite his inner darkness, increased tenfold when he was turned, and Katherine is the only one who's ever accepted him. It's like Stefan said, he has no friends and no one loves him. Where would he go and who would accept him? The only person he can count on is Katherine.
Revelation #4: Katherine's Unveiling
I'd honestly give anything to make Elena a little more interesting, and a little less helpless. Last week, after Stefan rejected her for the second time, I wanted her to find out that she looks exactly like Katherine. I wanted her to be repulsed and outraged and dismissive.Last night, after they finally got it on, she discovered Katherine's image (which apparently just lies around the house, lol). I don't know if she felt everything I expected, but she was definitely no longer interested. Moral of the story kids: Never sleep with a guy until you determine that you look nothing like his ex. Do yourself a favor and make time for a quick facebook search.
Revelation #5: Who the hell is Alaric?
Last week, I was ecstatic that there was a new hot vamp in town named Alaric aka Ric (Matthew Davis from Blue Crush)! He was sporting a ring that looked similar to the Salvatores and it seemed like he couldn't enter Jenna's house without being invited in. I didn't really care that she could fall victim to his charm—she bores me too; it's an all-in-all boring family—but I was interested in why he wanted to know about their family. I thought he might have a vendetta against them or the brothers, or that he was in love with Katherine too. (Like I said, I'd give anything for her to be resurrected.) But last night, after he humiliated Tyler's dad, saved Jeremy from getting an ass kicking, and killed Logan to protect Jenna, I was dying to skip ahead and google the hell out of his character's name. From his actions, all signs point to "good vamp," because we all know if Damon wanted something from Jeremy, he'd just trick him into doing it or kill him. So after an impatient 5 seconds of g-search, I found a yahoo forums link that suggested that perhaps he's a Slayer!!!!!!! and that the ring is just a memento. I don't know for sure, but that would be AMAZING! Think about it. He could've vamped out just like Logan. He could've crept up on him like Damon does. He could've been totally sadistic about the kill. But instead, he was a little wary, he had a stake prepared, and he totally didn't look like he enjoyed any moment of it. Whatever his agenda is, I doubt it'll harm anyone good, which is good because Stefan could use a little backup, since his brother's so schizo.
Revelation #6: The Strange Behavior of Both Jeremy and Tyler
Alright so last week, Jeremy was acting weird—weird in the sense that he was acting normal. No more brooding or whining. He did his homework. He read books. He even adhered to the mandated curfew. It would seem that Damon turned him into a saint.
Last night, he was even more "back to normal," drawing and making friends. Why he chose to befriend Tyler, however, I have no idea. Okay, so they both know how to draw. So! He's a douche! Alright, try to brush past how he tried to console Tyler after his dad's psycho speech about "being a man," and focus on why Tyler was behaving the way he was. It's true that it's pretty humiliating to be berated and emasculated in front of your romantic rival and that he might miss Vicki, but this is Vampire Diaries, not Dawson's Creek. His behavior has to be supernatural, right? I mean, what he drew wasn't normal. Granted, some teenage boys tend to draw superheroes and villains and monsters and machines all the time, but again, this is not 90210. When you draw what looks like a bald demon, chances are you've seen it somewhere before. Add that bizarro discovery to his mellowed-out act, the unnaturally long focus on the moon after he sucker-punched Jeremy and stormed off camera, and the creature that repaired itself after Elena hit it with his car, and I'm starting to think that maybe Tyler isn't human. I'm starting to think that maybe his father's desire for him to tap into a dormant testosterone-filled reserve isn't just about growing up to be an equally repulsive politician. What if vampires weren't just eradicated from the town by humans? What if something else took over the town? Okay, so the reasons I'm not throwing the word werewolf around is because 1) there would be more animal attacks reported (unless the rich can have whole animal carcasses delivered) and 2) Tyler wouldn't be able to stroll around under the full moon, unless he's the only wolf on xanax. But I'm still suspicious. There's something off about that kid. That said, I'm sure that whiny little drama queen is fine. She barely grazed her face in the accident. If someone doesn't come to save her, whoever it is will probably be harmless. And if not, considering how they deliberately stood in the middle of the road, maybe they'll make her a little more interesting. Fingers crossed.
Unfortunately, there won't be anymore episodes until January 14, 2010, but if you missed any episodes or just love it to pieces, then you can catch 2-hr installments of the entire season every night from Dec. 14-Dec. 18.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
FILM: The New Actors in Twilight Saga: New Moon
There are a ton of new actors that'll appear in New Moon. Check out the members of Jacob's wolf pack and of the Volturi:
THE WOLF PACK
THE VOLTURI
THE WOLF PACK
Sam Uley: Wolf-pack leader
(Chaske Spencer)
Emily: Sam's fiancee
(Tinsel Korey)
Quil: the last of Jacob's best friends to learn of his wolf heritage
(Tyson Houseman)
Paul: the most volatile member
(Alex Meraz)
(Alex Meraz)
Embry: Jake's right hand man
(Kiowa Gordon)
Jared: the jokester
(Bronson Pelletier)
THE VOLTURI
Aro: the leader of the ancient Italian vampire coven
(Michael Sheen)
Caius: one of the leaders
(Jamie Campbell Bower)
Marcus: one of the leaders
(Christopher Heyerdahl)
Jane: a guard who has the ability to torture people with illusions of pain.
(Dakota Fanning)
Alec: Jane's brother who can block the others' senses
(Cameron Bright)
Demetri: a member with unparalleled tracking abilities, speed, and strength.
(Charlie Bewley)
Felix: an enforcer
(Daniel Cudmore)
Heidi: a provider of food to the vampires
(Noot Seear)
Gianna: a human who works for the vampires
(Justine Wachsberger)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
TV REVIEW: ABC's "V" (Season 1, Episode 1)
The running conspiracy theory by the sect of people who question the Visitors' arrival is that they've been here for a while, weakening our community's infrastructure. They're the ones who turned us against our government. They're the ones who plunged us into a recession. They're the ones who polluted our Earth.
Let's put aside how convenient it is to blame aliens for our irresponsibility, and focus on why they did it. Supposedly, it was to put us in a state of dire desperation. When a nation is in turmoil, the people unite against a common enemy or problem. When they start to question their faith, they turn to an appeasing God. And when they seek change or improvement, they elect a hopeful hero. The Visitors preyed on our patterns and positioned themselves to meet every need. In return for resources, they offered to share alien technology, to provide jobs, and to administer free health care worldwide. They are the answer to all of our recession problems. After hearing their promises, one can even imagine them accusing Obama of being a Visitor, as he toted "change" and "peace" throughout his campaign.
It's that intriguing concept that has me, and I'm sure many other viewers, hooked. The only characters I'm actually interested in are Erica (Elizabeth Mitchell from "Lost") and Father Jack (Joel Gretsch from "4400"), and while I'm impressed by how non-cheesy the lizard skin looked and the twist where Ryan (Morris Chestnut) was revealed to be a traitorous Visitor, I'm even more interested in the manipulations the visitors have in store for us, what they think we need, and what they think we'll fall for. Erica was right. The most dangerous weapon on Earth isn't a warhead, or a plane, or a biohazard, it's devotion. With hope, you can do anything, including destroy the world.
The ratings were epic, 14.3 million viewers, but we'll see if the nation feels the same way after the second episode airs at 8pm tonight. I also worry about ABC's plan to only air four episodes this year and have it return in March. They'll have to fill up these next three episodes with enough plot development and end it with a major cliffhanger for anyone to greatly anticipate its return. They'll have to make us remember it even after "Lost" returns.
FILM: "Paranormal Activity" Alternate Endings
Needless to say, Paranormal Activity is doing very well, having grossed $97 mil in less than two months after creating the film with merely $11,000. Even the actors are profiting, getting an upgrade from their original $500 salaries.
I haven't jumped on the bandwagon as of yet, because I can't watch horror movies, but after reading the EW article on how the film got made and distributed, I stumbled upon not only the ending, but the alternate endings.
In the original ending, the police try to arrest Katie after they find Micah dead. But when a door slams, they get startled and shoot her. Two other endings involved Katie killing Micah, then returning to the bedroom to slit her own throat with an evil grin on her face in front of the camera, and Katie bludgeoning Micah to death with his camera.
The ending that's in theaters was actually suggested by Steven Spielberg because "he didn't think [it]delivered a big enough payoff," despite the fact that he could only watch it in broad daylight. lol Wow! If you can scare the guy behind Jaws, then you might actually have a future in this business.
If you'd like to know the rest of the film's backstory, check out the EW article.
I haven't jumped on the bandwagon as of yet, because I can't watch horror movies, but after reading the EW article on how the film got made and distributed, I stumbled upon not only the ending, but the alternate endings.
In the original ending, the police try to arrest Katie after they find Micah dead. But when a door slams, they get startled and shoot her. Two other endings involved Katie killing Micah, then returning to the bedroom to slit her own throat with an evil grin on her face in front of the camera, and Katie bludgeoning Micah to death with his camera.
The ending that's in theaters was actually suggested by Steven Spielberg because "he didn't think [it]delivered a big enough payoff," despite the fact that he could only watch it in broad daylight. lol Wow! If you can scare the guy behind Jaws, then you might actually have a future in this business.
If you'd like to know the rest of the film's backstory, check out the EW article.
Monday, November 09, 2009
VIDEO: Taylor Swift's Impression of Shakira on "SNL"
I remembered Taylor Swift was doing "SNL" this weekend Sunday morning. Dagnabit! Luckily, Hulu provided me with all her skits. While I thought her monologue song was really funny, name-dropping both Joe Jonas and Taylor Lautner, and the "parents are bad drivers" skit was spot-on, I was especially impressed with her impression of Shakira.
TV NEWS: Mark's Love Child on "Grey's," Sean Faris to Join "Vampire Diaries," and more
• There's a rumor that one of Mark's upcoming patients is going to be DRUM ROLL his long-lost daughter, played by Leven Rambin ("Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles"). He'll have to seek Addison's help on "Private Practice," because she's pregnant and severely ill.
• Lisa Kudrow will play a judgmental dermatologist on her fellow friend's series "Cougar Town." Her character will even get her hooks into Jules' ex-husband. Uh-oh! Cat fight!
• AHHHHHHHH! I love Sean Faris (Never Back Down)! He's so pretty, and now he's going to go be pretty on "Vampire Diaries" as an ex-high school football star-turned-bartender who becomes Matt's buddy when he starts working at Mystic Grill. Naturally, they wouldn't waste his hotness on a friendship, so I wonder which lucky lady he'll woo. Me thinks since he's older, Elena's sister might be the logical fit. But since she's kind of boring, I'm hoping for maybe Caroline, since it's obvious Bonnie is crushing on Matt.
• "Trauma" may have been canceled, and last week's episode may have seemed like a finale, but there are still 6 more episodes to air. Hopefully, they'll figure out a way to wrap it up nice and tight for us steady viewers.
• Lisa Kudrow will play a judgmental dermatologist on her fellow friend's series "Cougar Town." Her character will even get her hooks into Jules' ex-husband. Uh-oh! Cat fight!
• AHHHHHHHH! I love Sean Faris (Never Back Down)! He's so pretty, and now he's going to go be pretty on "Vampire Diaries" as an ex-high school football star-turned-bartender who becomes Matt's buddy when he starts working at Mystic Grill. Naturally, they wouldn't waste his hotness on a friendship, so I wonder which lucky lady he'll woo. Me thinks since he's older, Elena's sister might be the logical fit. But since she's kind of boring, I'm hoping for maybe Caroline, since it's obvious Bonnie is crushing on Matt.
• "Trauma" may have been canceled, and last week's episode may have seemed like a finale, but there are still 6 more episodes to air. Hopefully, they'll figure out a way to wrap it up nice and tight for us steady viewers.
FILM: Children's Book Adaptations: Berenstain Bears, Yogi Bear, and Guardians of Childhood
Where the Wild Things Are's mild success may have opened the floodgates for unorthodox children's books to be adapted. Next up is William Joyce's The Guardians of Childhood, a story about a group of iconic figures (Santa Claus, Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Sandman), who join together to stop the Boogeyman from engulfing the world into darkness. The film is set for Christmas 2010.
Two more familiar children's characters are being adapted Garfield-style, where live action will be mixed with animation. The more familiar children's book, The Berenstain Bears, will focus on contemporary topics that are relevant to both children and parents. That sounds really ambitious. And the cartoon series Yogi Bear will be voiced by Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris, and Dan Aykroyd.
FILM: Spiderman 4 Villain, 2012 TV Series, Jolie & Depp, Paranormal Activity Knockoff, and more
• Woa! I never thought the day would come when George Clooney would be playing a dad. He just signed on for the family dramedy The Descendants written by the first-time novelist Kaui Hart Hemmings. It's about "a wealthy landowner who takes his two daughters on a search for his wife's lover in the hopes of keeping his family together." I would love it if her lover were someone like Gilles Marini and the wife were Julia Roberts, cause they have great chemistry and that guy is smoking hot.
• Robert Pattinson just scored a role he was born for. Girls have been ogling him ever since his Twilight debut, and once he stars in the biopic of Guy de Maupassant, Bel Ami, women will be allowed to as well. He'll play "the 19th Century French writer, a young man who scandalously slept his way to the top of Paris' high society in the 1890's with some of the city's most influential women." Can't wait to see who he'll rustle bed sheets with. If he's lucky, maybe Angelina Jolie or Marion Cotillard will get in on this. And if we're lucky, there'll be plenty of nude scenes.
• 2012's finale has been leaked in favor of promoting its proposed spinoff series. [SPOILER] Super lucky and most likely important people are sardined into giant metal arks and shipped off to the only land mass that survives the cataclysmic destruction of Earth: Africa. Capitalizing off of the dystopian and apocalyptic trend that "FlashForward" and the "V" remake erupted from, ABC is developing a series called "2013." It'll chronicle the aftermath and the rebirth of a civlization, but on a smaller scale. At the core of it will be a group of people who managed to survive without getting on the boats. So it's kind of like "Lost," except there's no going back. It'll be an interesting insight into human nature, examining how certain people react when faced with the task of having to redo their lives. No more Twitter, no more cable, no more 9-5, no more cheerleading practice—just a reset button. Hopefully, they won't couple it with "FlashForward" or "V." That might be apocalypse overkill.
• That Tourist spy thriller is really having trouble nailing down a cast and crew. First Charlize Theron and Tom Cruise were attached with director Bharat Nalluri (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day), then Angelina Jolie and Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation) jumped on board, along with German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. Now, with claims of "creative differences," Worthington and Florian have dropped out to be replaced by Johnny Depp and Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men). I'm sure this happens in Hollywood all the time without public knowledge, but "creative differences" sounds like Jolie didn't want to headline a film with someone who was so green, and preferred someone with a little more box office clout. Clearly, she hasn't heard the buzz around Avatar, whose latest trailer is pretty sick.
• I'm loving the rise of Juno Temple (Year One and Atonement). In one of her upcoming projects she'll have the good forutne of starring alongside Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), Lisa Kudrow, and William H. Macy in Dirty Girl. "Set in the 1980s, the story centers around a high school tramp who becomes pals with a shy and overweight gay teen. They team up to find her real father in California." Too bad Josh Peck (The Wackness) isn't chubby anymore. Maybe Jonah Hill can fill in for him.
• I don't know how Isla Fisher, the wife of a comedian who's created so many humorous personalities, could possibly get so many horrible movie pitches. The latest project she's signed on for is Desperados, where she'll play a woman who "sends an indignant e-mail to her new beau, who's gone silent after they have sex. When she discovers he's comatose in a Mexican hospital, she races south of the border with her friends in tow to intercept the e-mail before he recovers." Really? Then again, Sacha Baron Cohen just signed on for a non-mockumentary comedy called Accidentes, where he'll play "a personal injury lawyer who becomes a blue-collar hero when he helps an immigrant win a case against his employer after an on-the-job accident."
• It sounds like Ashley Greene (Twilight) has signed on for a Paranormal Activity knock-off. The thriller dubbed The Apparition is a story "inspired by true events, which centers on a young couple haunted by a supernatural presence unleashed during a college experiment." Yeah, that sounds like a carbon copy. Lame.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
TV Topic: "Grey's Anatomy": Jackson & Christina + Reed & Alex
I had high hopes for the new docs on "Grey's." Actually, I was mostly hoping that Jackson would be a far more interesting character than he is. To date he's just a catalyst for Owen and Christina's tumultuous relationship. We don't have any backstory or reason to love him. All we know is that he's as ambitious, competitive, and driven as Christina. So it stands to reason that he'd eventually be attracted to her. I admit I was excited at the prospect of a love triangle, but when he kissed her, it almost felt cheap. This wasn't the result of a tense courtship. It was a drunken attempt to get laid after a high-intensity operation and a disregard of authority. But with any luck he'll eventually redeem himself with an episode that makes us actually give a crap that he exists.
At the same time, I'm psyched for what Reed is bringing to the plot. I don't think Izzie deserves to be cheated on, but I do think Alex deserves to have some fun for once. Denny got the happy and courageous Izzie, and Alex gets the depressed and irresponsible Izzie. Love may be about patience, selflessness, yata, yata, but I'm afraid if he doesn't at least become friends with Reed, he's going to revert to the old, hostile, mysoginist Alex—a resentful cancer on the outside of Izzie.
At the same time, I'm psyched for what Reed is bringing to the plot. I don't think Izzie deserves to be cheated on, but I do think Alex deserves to have some fun for once. Denny got the happy and courageous Izzie, and Alex gets the depressed and irresponsible Izzie. Love may be about patience, selflessness, yata, yata, but I'm afraid if he doesn't at least become friends with Reed, he's going to revert to the old, hostile, mysoginist Alex—a resentful cancer on the outside of Izzie.
TV Topic: "90210": Dixon Attracts the Crazies!
This week's 9-0 was pretty interesting in that Liam seems to be rebounding with his new surfer chic, Navid is slowly edging back into the dating game (at the urging of Sam Ronson no less), Annie is sticking by her drug-dealing boyfriend, Adriana is back to popping pills, and Jen is digging her claws even deeper into Ryan making their relationship exclusive. But the major woa-moment had to go to Dixon's mom, who laid the smackdown on the cougar who faked a pregnancy to keep him under her thumb.
I knew that bitch was lying the moment she said she was a month along. She answered too quickly and the number was too round. But I don't think she's to blame. I'm starting to see a pattern when it comes to Dixon and women. First his mom is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is no laughing matter, then his first serious girlfriend Silver is also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And now, he meets a perfectly normal girl who he has a lot in common with, and somehow she loses all sense of reality once he rejects her. Dixon drives women literally insane. Luckily, his romantic history has proven that once these women separate from him, they regain their sanity. I bet someday he'll walk past her on the boardwalk, she'll be pregnant, and holding hands with her hubby. With any luck, both me and his mom will have been right, and that child won't be his. lol
I knew that bitch was lying the moment she said she was a month along. She answered too quickly and the number was too round. But I don't think she's to blame. I'm starting to see a pattern when it comes to Dixon and women. First his mom is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is no laughing matter, then his first serious girlfriend Silver is also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And now, he meets a perfectly normal girl who he has a lot in common with, and somehow she loses all sense of reality once he rejects her. Dixon drives women literally insane. Luckily, his romantic history has proven that once these women separate from him, they regain their sanity. I bet someday he'll walk past her on the boardwalk, she'll be pregnant, and holding hands with her hubby. With any luck, both me and his mom will have been right, and that child won't be his. lol
Saturday, November 07, 2009
ALBUM REVIEW: Carrie Underwood's "Play On"
I don't normally listen to Carrie Underwood, but I decided to give her third album since winning American Idol a shot. While I didn't love it all, the songs I did like, I have on permanent replay.
"Undo It" sounds like a song Rihanna would have on replay:
"Unapologize" is also worth a listen. It's one of those songs that has you scream-singing in your car. She's really good at those heart-wrenching upbeat love songs.
"Undo It" sounds like a song Rihanna would have on replay:
"Unapologize" is also worth a listen. It's one of those songs that has you scream-singing in your car. She's really good at those heart-wrenching upbeat love songs.
Friday, November 06, 2009
FILM: DiCaprio & Maguire in The Third Man Remake, Mad Max Sequel, Galifianakis & Adams, and more
• Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire are rumored to star in a remake of the cinematic classic The Third Man, a mystery thriller about a novelist who moves to Vienna to work for a friend, only to discover that he died in a shady traffic accident. I'm excited for two reasons: 1) Steven Knight (Eastern Promises) is adapting. 2) I hope Leo is playing detective because from the trailer for Shutter Island it looks like he has a knack for it.
• Tom Hardy (RocknRolla) will replace Mel Gibson in the fourth Mad Max film, subtitled Fury Road, and Charlize Theron will play his leading lady.
• Jessica Biel figured out the only way to get roles that don't involve playing pretty is if she produces them herself. She's co-producing the drama The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, which she'll star in with Jason Sudeikis ("SNL"). She'll play a wisecracking adventure-seeker who builds a raft to cross the Atlantic with the help of an introverted architect who lost his wife. And I guess in an effort to not stray from what we're accustomed to seeing her in, she's also producing the rom-com Fucking Engaged, which "follows a couple who make a pact to have sex every day leading to their wedding so they don't turn into their crusty old parents." I wish Ryan Reynolds were free to pair up with her.
• Milla Jovovich is slowly transitioning away from brainless action roles, and veering into slightly familiar territory in the vein of thrillers and horror flicks. Her next project is the psychological thriller Faces in the Crowd, where she'll play a "woman who barely survives an attack by a serial killer and wakes up in hospital with a head injury that leaves her 'face-blind,'" which means she's no longer able to recognize faces and "facial features change each time she loses sight of them." She has to recover before her killer finishes what he started.
• Zach Galifianakis is set to star opposite Amy Adams in the adaptation of Tish Cohen's dramedy Town House. He'll play an agoraphobic man, who lives with his teenage son in a historical town house he inherited from his rock star father. Running low on royalties, he's "forced to come to terms with his life," and in the process befriends a prostitute (Adams).
• I love when TV actors get together and make magic. Anne Heche ("Hung") and Ed Helms ("The Office" and Hangover) will star in the rom-com Cedar Rapids, which is about a "down on his luck insurance agent who goes to an industry convention to try to save the jobs of his colleagues." It's good to see that Helms isn't letting the industry typecast him.
• January Jones isn't really properly utilizing her 15 minutes of fame. While Jon Hamm has the Ben Affleck-directed crime drama The Town and Zack Snyder's fantasy thriller Sucker Punch, she has two thrillers, taking backseat to Liam Neeson in Unknown White Male and Nicholas Cage in The Hungry Rabbit Jumps. Get a lead January, before you're banished to TV forever.
• I hear they're thinking of doing a Men in Black III, and Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones haven't signed on yet. Why not start a new generation of detectives? I vote for Danny Pudi and Donald Glover, the hilarious young comedic duo on NBC's "Community," to take the lead.
• I love when film plots are derived from real life experiences. Julia Wertz wrote I Saw You, a romantic novel about the missed connections posted on Craigslist. Can't wait to see who they cast.
• Tom Hardy (RocknRolla) will replace Mel Gibson in the fourth Mad Max film, subtitled Fury Road, and Charlize Theron will play his leading lady.
• Jessica Biel figured out the only way to get roles that don't involve playing pretty is if she produces them herself. She's co-producing the drama The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, which she'll star in with Jason Sudeikis ("SNL"). She'll play a wisecracking adventure-seeker who builds a raft to cross the Atlantic with the help of an introverted architect who lost his wife. And I guess in an effort to not stray from what we're accustomed to seeing her in, she's also producing the rom-com Fucking Engaged, which "follows a couple who make a pact to have sex every day leading to their wedding so they don't turn into their crusty old parents." I wish Ryan Reynolds were free to pair up with her.
• Milla Jovovich is slowly transitioning away from brainless action roles, and veering into slightly familiar territory in the vein of thrillers and horror flicks. Her next project is the psychological thriller Faces in the Crowd, where she'll play a "woman who barely survives an attack by a serial killer and wakes up in hospital with a head injury that leaves her 'face-blind,'" which means she's no longer able to recognize faces and "facial features change each time she loses sight of them." She has to recover before her killer finishes what he started.
• Zach Galifianakis is set to star opposite Amy Adams in the adaptation of Tish Cohen's dramedy Town House. He'll play an agoraphobic man, who lives with his teenage son in a historical town house he inherited from his rock star father. Running low on royalties, he's "forced to come to terms with his life," and in the process befriends a prostitute (Adams).
• I love when TV actors get together and make magic. Anne Heche ("Hung") and Ed Helms ("The Office" and Hangover) will star in the rom-com Cedar Rapids, which is about a "down on his luck insurance agent who goes to an industry convention to try to save the jobs of his colleagues." It's good to see that Helms isn't letting the industry typecast him.
• January Jones isn't really properly utilizing her 15 minutes of fame. While Jon Hamm has the Ben Affleck-directed crime drama The Town and Zack Snyder's fantasy thriller Sucker Punch, she has two thrillers, taking backseat to Liam Neeson in Unknown White Male and Nicholas Cage in The Hungry Rabbit Jumps. Get a lead January, before you're banished to TV forever.
• I hear they're thinking of doing a Men in Black III, and Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones haven't signed on yet. Why not start a new generation of detectives? I vote for Danny Pudi and Donald Glover, the hilarious young comedic duo on NBC's "Community," to take the lead.
• I love when film plots are derived from real life experiences. Julia Wertz wrote I Saw You, a romantic novel about the missed connections posted on Craigslist. Can't wait to see who they cast.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
MUSIC: Rihanna's "Hard"
I wasn't impressed with Rihanna's latest singles, "Russian Roulette" and "Wait Your Turn," off her upcoming album Rated R. I accept the new sound—musicians always get better after they've suffered—but it didn't feel right just yet. Not until I heard her collaboration with Young Jeezy, who I don't even listen to on the regular, and got blasted by her bold-faced honesty. With lyrics like:
it's obvious she's reached her bullshit-limit and she's ready to fight back. The chorus may be a little subpar, but at least she's on the right track. This one is worth a listen:
"That Rihanna-rain just won't let up ... Where them girls talking trash? / Where they at? / Where they at? / Where they at? / Where them bloggers at? / Where they at? / Where they at? / Where they at?"
it's obvious she's reached her bullshit-limit and she's ready to fight back. The chorus may be a little subpar, but at least she's on the right track. This one is worth a listen:
Monday, November 02, 2009
VIDEO: Shakira's "Did It Again" vs. JET's "She's a Genius"
I love when musicians find new and innovative ways to entertain me while I watch their music videos.
Shakira really brought new meaning to "a roll in the hay" with this one. I wonder how many takes before they stopped bumping into each other and giving each other bruises. I hope she recreates some of it on stage for an awards show.
I haven't downloaded a JET song since '03, but after listening to their latest album, Shaka Rock, I youtubed the track "She's a Genius," and immediately fell in love with the video. I know the model/actress probably didn't perform any of those bike tricks, but the prank-filled plot was still pretty awesome. It was like watching a modern Teen Wolf goof off for a while.
Shakira really brought new meaning to "a roll in the hay" with this one. I wonder how many takes before they stopped bumping into each other and giving each other bruises. I hope she recreates some of it on stage for an awards show.
I haven't downloaded a JET song since '03, but after listening to their latest album, Shaka Rock, I youtubed the track "She's a Genius," and immediately fell in love with the video. I know the model/actress probably didn't perform any of those bike tricks, but the prank-filled plot was still pretty awesome. It was like watching a modern Teen Wolf goof off for a while.
TV NEWS: Syfy is Remaking BBC's "Being Human"
Mitchell = VampireAidan Turner, an Irish 26-year-old, plays your typical vampire—sexy and isolated. He's a WWI hero, who traded his life for the life of his men, allowing an old vampire to turn him in exchange for their release. Of the trio, he represents the one who wishes to integrate himself into human society and behave as normal as possible, which to him means becoming a hospital janitor, buying a house, making friends with the neighbors, and fending off bullies for awkward little kids. He, much like all lovable vampires, longs to be human again, and struggles with his vampiric urges and temptations. He's so desperate for human contact that he even befriends a ghost. His main issue throughout the series is avoiding his old life. He's like a junkie or a former gang member in that his friends, who insist on feeding on humans, try to lure him back into the lifestyle and go to great lengths to leave him with no other choice.
Russell Tovey, an English 27-year-old, who you may have seen in the film adaptation of the lovely History Boys, plays your typical unwilling werewolf. He was on vacation with his fiancee when he and another man were attacked by a creature. The other man died, but he was only scratched. When he discovered what he was, he abandoned his family, his fiancee, and any chance of having a scholarly future, and became a hospital porter. Before Mitchell's grand idea to buy a house and act normal, he would go out into the woods every time there was a full moon and turn into the beast that he loathed. He hates himself and his inner beast so much that he deprives himself of nearly all human interaction, which is why his best friend is a vampire. He goes to geat lengths to separate his "condition" from his normal reality, but sometimes even when he's not the beast, the beast controls him. The symptoms of the change, intense anger and a heightened libido, affect his behavior, making him both dangerous and fun to watch. In the first few episodes, we actually get to see his ex-fiancee's reaction to this new side of him, to meet the man who changed him and find out why he did it, and to see him try to maintain a normal relationship with a fellow hospital worker. Oh yeah, and we also get to see him change a lot, which means we see him naked...A LOT.
Lenora Crichlow, an English 24-year-old, plays your typical ghost with unfinished business. She lives in the house that Mitchell and George buy. Her fiancee has been trying to sell it ever since she accidentally fell down the steps and died, but every new owner runs screaming when they realize it's haunted. Mitchell and George are the first "people" to actually see her. Finally, she can get some of her questions answered from other supernatural beings. Mitchell is the most helpful, accepting her neurotic need to make tea every other hour even though she can't drink it, encouraging her to leave the house and wander the city, and introducing her to other ghosts. In the first few episodes, she sees her ex-fiancee and his new girlfriend, she learns what happens when a ghost resolves their issues, and, best of all, she remembers why and how she died. Her story is the saddest, because while Mitchell and George feel biologically unconnected to the rest of the human race, she is physically unconnected. She feels so dead and insignificant that it isn't until she starts to feel more in control of her fate that humans start to see her. There's something special about her death that makes it seem like she'll never move on. This is her afterlife.
The series is fantastic! It does a great job of posing the question of what it means to be human. It's not your DNA, but who you choose to be. I held off on watching the finale, because I wanted to make sure it was renewed before I got too attached. It was and now there'll be an American version. Now I'm not sure if they'll both follow the same plot lines or whether or not they'll go with well-known actors for the lead roles, but I am excited for season 2 of the BBC version. It seemed the first season was gearing up for an all-out battle for the right of "being human." Mitchell's maker and his minions were threatening his makeshift family, and certain tragedies that he causes leads him down a path that his friends might not be able to pull him back from.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
TV Topic: Damon & Elena Getting Closer on "Vampire Diaries"
If you're wondering why Elena's brother Jeremy didn't kill Vicki to save her, like a good brother would, it turns out originally he was supposed to. They chose to have Stefan kill her because it enhances his status as the "hero" of the series. Plus, they couldn't justify Jeremy knowing how to kill a vampire. (Doesn't everybody know how?)
What's interesting is that while they were trying to establish Stefan as the hero, it turns out in the end that Damon was really the helpful one. He not only disposed of the body, but he whiped Jeremy's memory of the murder and replaced it with one that might give him closure. Elena may not have thanked him, but it's certainly the start of a more amicable relationship, which I'm really psyched to see. The main allure of Twilight for me is how a girl can be attracted to two different personalities: an exciting one and a safe one. Damon was kind of being a jerk, telling Elena that Vicki's death didn't mean anything to him—that none of these human interactions and consequences mean anything to him. Then he did this 1-80 and pretty much highlighted the benefits of having an evil boyfriend—cruel enough to dispose of a dead body and well-fed on enough human blood to make his memory-whiping powers extremely effective—as if to suggest that even though he's not Prince Charming, he is reliable.
But can she really trust Damon? Kayla Ewell, the actress who used to play Vicki, says that there's a chance she could come back. Since Stefan pulled the steak out of her chest and she didn't turn to dust, there's no telling what Damon did with her body or whether she can wake up. My hopes are actually for a different scenario. I find damsels in distress incredibly annoying. Stefan is all about coddling Elena, and I can't blame him. Vicki almost killed her, and this week a hostile, hot blonde visits for his birthday. She needs to learn how to defend herself, how to properly execute a vampire, and I think the only person who would teach her is Damon. I wouldn't advise it, because she could use it against him, but it could also be an excuse for them to get closer. I'm dying for him to make up an excuse. lol
What's interesting is that while they were trying to establish Stefan as the hero, it turns out in the end that Damon was really the helpful one. He not only disposed of the body, but he whiped Jeremy's memory of the murder and replaced it with one that might give him closure. Elena may not have thanked him, but it's certainly the start of a more amicable relationship, which I'm really psyched to see. The main allure of Twilight for me is how a girl can be attracted to two different personalities: an exciting one and a safe one. Damon was kind of being a jerk, telling Elena that Vicki's death didn't mean anything to him—that none of these human interactions and consequences mean anything to him. Then he did this 1-80 and pretty much highlighted the benefits of having an evil boyfriend—cruel enough to dispose of a dead body and well-fed on enough human blood to make his memory-whiping powers extremely effective—as if to suggest that even though he's not Prince Charming, he is reliable.
But can she really trust Damon? Kayla Ewell, the actress who used to play Vicki, says that there's a chance she could come back. Since Stefan pulled the steak out of her chest and she didn't turn to dust, there's no telling what Damon did with her body or whether she can wake up. My hopes are actually for a different scenario. I find damsels in distress incredibly annoying. Stefan is all about coddling Elena, and I can't blame him. Vicki almost killed her, and this week a hostile, hot blonde visits for his birthday. She needs to learn how to defend herself, how to properly execute a vampire, and I think the only person who would teach her is Damon. I wouldn't advise it, because she could use it against him, but it could also be an excuse for them to get closer. I'm dying for him to make up an excuse. lol
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