The CineManiac

NBC Goes Christmas

2010-12-09T16:58:00.000-06:00

Tonight NBC's Thursday night comedies are celebrating the holidays with some hilarious looking episodes. And after the jump we've got some sneak peaks for you.
First up is the highly anticipated Claymation episode of Community which sees the gang turned into clay characters a la the classic Rudolph and Frosty Christmas Specials as Abed searches for the true meaning of Christmas.

Then 30 Rock celebrates the holidays with Jack's parents reuniting for the first time since he was born, it also includes possibly the best Christmas Card ever.

Finally The Office celebrates with the return of Michael's true love Holly and hilarious office hijinxs.

And what's an episode of The Office without some Jim and Dwight fun.

Indie Giveaway: Exit Through The Gift Shop

2010-11-23T06:57:00.000-06:00

Earlier this year one of the most controversial and talked about documentaries was released, Exit Through the Gift Shop. The movie is out now on iTunes and On Demand, and to celebrate we have a special giveaway just for you readers. Hit the jump to find out more.
Exit Through the Gift Shop available now on iTunes and VOD!

Become a fan on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/ExitThroughTheGiftShopContest
Buy on iTunes at http://bit.ly/BanksyiTunes

This is the inside story of Street Art - a brutal and revealing account of what happens when fame, money and vandalism collide. Exit Through the Gift Shop follows an eccentric shop-keeper turned amateur film-maker as he attempts to capture many of the world's most infamous vandals on camera, only to have a British stencil artist named Banksy turn the camcorder back on its owner with wildly unexpected results.

One of the most provocative films about art ever made, Exit Through the Gift Shop is a fascinating study of low-level criminality, comradeship and incompetence. By turns shocking, hilarious and absurd, this is an enthralling modern-day fairytale... with bolt cutters.

ENTER TO WIN an EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP prize pack!

Prize Includes:

Exit Through the Gift Shop DVD
Limited Edition “Exit Through the Gift Shop” Theatrical Poster

Watch the trailer:

To enter simply send an e-mail to contests@thecinemaniac.com with your name. A winner will be chosen at random. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on Dec. 21.

Bullying: The Sequel

2010-11-19T09:36:00.000-06:00

Last week I wrote about Glee's new storyline that covers bullying and the problem with bullying in our schools. Little did I know that this week has been Anti-Bullying Week in some schools. Today while I was reading the stories in my RSS feed I noticed one from Topless Robot (It's not as dirty as it sounds) that really got my blood boiling.
The story was about a blog posted by Carrie, a blogger for Chicago Now, in which she told about her daughter being bullied in first grade for being into Star Wars:

I have often thought of bullying as a problem that faces children older than mine, but a recent conversation with my first grader has given me pause. Maybe it starts right here, right now with our little ones.

At summer's end, Katie and I went to Target to pick out her backpack, lunchbox and water bottle for the new school year. After great deliberation, she chose a Star Wars water bottle to match her Star Wars backpack.

Katie loves Star Wars, and she was very excited about her new items. For the first few months of school, she proudly filled her water bottle herself and helped me pack her lunch each morning.

But a week ago, as we were packing her lunch, Katie said, "My Star Wars water bottle is too small. It doesn't hold enough water. Can I take a different one?" She searched through the cupboard until she found a pink water bottle and said, "I'll bring this."

I was perplexed. "Katie, that water bottle is no bigger than your Star Wars one. I think it is actually smaller."

"It's fine, I'll just take it," she insisted.

I kept pushing the issue, because it didn't make sense to me. Suddenly, Katie burst into tears.

She wailed, "The first grade boys are teasing me at lunch because I have a Star Wars water bottle. They say it's only for boys. Every day they make fun of me for drinking out of it. I want them to stop, so I'll just bring a pink water bottle."

I hugged her hard and felt my heart sink. Such a tender young age, and already she is embarrassed about the water bottle that brought her so much excitement and joy a few months ago.

These kids are in First Grade and already they are picking on someone for being different. Possibly the most confusing thing about this for me, is they are picking on her for liking something that most, if not all, of them like themselves. Shouldn't these kids be embracing the fact that there is a girl that likes the same things as them?

Carrie asked for other females who love Star Wars to comment so that Katie could see that she's not alone. Currently there are over 1000 comments on the site, and happily there is an update reporting that Katie has been sitting with her parents a reading a few of the comments every night. She even wore a Star Wars shirt to school!

But how many other kids are there out there who are being bullied into submission at such a young age? How many boys and girls are being teased because they like something different from the other kids of their gender until the give up liking it to conform? I am glad Katie got a happy ending, but I'm worried about all the kids out there who won't.

So what say you people, is there something we can be doing to raise awareness about bullying and try to stop it? Leave your ideas in the comments.

Top Gear Giveaway

2010-11-16T11:46:00.000-06:00

Follow the jump for details on the series and how to win a great prize pack.

On Sunday, November 21st at 10/9c, HISTORY is bringing the worldwide sensation Top Gear to the USA! Featuring super-cars, extreme stunts and challenges, car reviews and celebrity interviews, Top Gear is the home for anyone with a love of cars. The U.S. version will be packed with high-adrenaline action entertainment as it tracks the colorful history of the automobile as well as the eccentric adventures of its hosts with Top Gear’s customary wit and humor. Hosts Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood will take you on a high-octane ride on every episode of Top Gear! Visit the official website at http://www.history.com/shows/top-gear for photos, videos and more. Check out the Top Gear tab on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/TopGearUS

ENTER TO WIN A TOP GEAR PRIZE PACK!

Prize Pack Includes:

Top Gear Branded Remote Control Car
Top Gear Branded Auto Roadside Kit
History Fleece

To win simply send an e-mail to contests@thecinemaniac.com with your name and favorite car. Contest is open to US residents only, prize is courtesy of HISTORY and has a value of $200. The contest will run until 11:59pm on Dec 5.

One Thing Leads To Another: An Advanced Review of Glory Daze

2010-11-16T11:35:00.000-06:00

TBS new series Glory Daze is about a group of freshman students who decide to pledge a fraternity in the mid-80s. The series centers on Joel (Kelly Blatz), a sweet geek who's not quite sure about pledging, Eli (Matt Bush), a sex obsessed virgin, Jason, a prudish young republican who plans to pledge the "preppy" fraternity, and Brian, a star baseball player whose being force to play by his dad.

The first episode, which features cameos by Brad Garrett and Cherie Oteri, introduces us to the boys and the various fraternities on campus. Quickly it becomes apparent which fraternity the boys are going to pledge, the party house, Omega Sigma. (To be honest the entire show reminds me a bit of ABC Family's Greek, but set in the 1980s, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as I love Greek.)

The first episode nicely sets up the series with the boys being introduced to a great cast of characters from the various fraternities and faculty. Possibly the best part of the series thus far is the excellent Tim Meadows as Professor Haines, a recently divorced man who makes fun of his students, and might be a bit of a conspiracy nut. In fact, Meadows steals every scene he's in.

The first episode, a bit like this review, is kind of all over the place, but does show some promise. Hopefully as the series progresses it will find the right blend of comedy and drama and become the series it has the potential to be.

Glee: Teenage Nightmare

2010-11-11T16:00:00.041-06:00

This week Glee started a storyline covering the topic of Bullying. In the episode the bullying of Kurt, the show's openly gay character, goes from simple taunting to full-on physical attacks. The story was inspired by the recent string of suicides caused by bullying. The episode, titled "Teenage Dream" shows the teenage nightmare that many of the nation's youth deal with every day.

In the last couple of months no less than 4 young, homosexual men have committed suicide because they were being bullied. It has spawned an outcry from the media and website, It Gets Better, which boosts testimonials from people, both homosexuals and straight, encouraging those being bullied, specifically LGBT teens, that it gets better as you get older and to plead with them to not turn to suicide.

The problem with bullying isn't limited to LGBT teens although the fact that 4 young men have committed suicide because of bullying should be enough to cause a public outcry whether they were gay or not. The fact is that teachers, faculty, and even other students turn a blind eye every day to the bullying of teens for being different in any way and then wonder why someone comes to school with guns loaded and goes on a killing spree. The way to handle it isn't through more violence, but there are some teens who see death as their only way out, be it their own or that of their tormentors.

It doesn't matter if someone is being bullied because they're gay, perceived as weak, nerdy, etc. We as a society need to step up and do something about it. We already have drug free and gun free zones for schools, why can't we have a bully-free zone? We need to do something to stop it from happening. Whether that means setting up a series of increasingly severe punishments for bullies, or starting zero tolerance policies, I don't know. All I know is something needs to be done.

As someone who was bullied in middle school I know how these kids feel. I used to dread going to school, and some days I would come home and cry in the bathroom. And for me it was only 2 or 3 jerks who picked on me every chance they got. I never wanted to kill them or myself, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope someone or something else would take care of them for me. I was a kid with a good amount of friends, and enough sense to turn to self-deprecating humor to get through it, but I can only imagine what it must be like for someone with few to no friends who is alienated because they're different.

So I'm proud of Glee for taking the effort to shed more light on this subject. I don't know where they are going with the plot, but I'm hoping it's somewhere positive. I also hope bullies who love Glee as much as the rest of America get something out of it, and don't just laugh and go back to destroying the lives of those they see as lesser people.

Watch Chris Colfer's It Gets Better video below:

Burn Notice Returns Tomorrow and Contest Details

2010-11-10T15:14:00.001-06:00

This Thursday at 10/9c USA's Burn Notice returns with all new episodes! I am a big fan of this show, which is kind of like MacGyver for today's audience, but only if MacGyver was about 20 times more Awesome and had the amazing Bruce Campbell in the cast. Well the show is returning and to celebrate we're giving away some free SWAG, so continue after the jump for more info.
When last we saw Michael and the gang, Michael had just gotten the beaten up and injured in a car wreck, Jesse was pissed at Michael for burning him, and the rest of the gang was shoot it up with the bad guys. I don't know about you, but I'm excited to see where the story goes next.

To celebrate the shows return we've been provided a prize pack from USA Network values at $130. The Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada. Further details on the contest are below:

USA’s hot roster of hit series gives viewers something to warm up to as the days get shorter and the nights grow colder. November sees the return of fan-favorite Burn Notice on Thursday, November 11, at 10/9c with brand new episodes. Visit the official Burn Notice website for games, photos and weekly prizes: http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/ . Visit USA Network’s Character Arcadehttp://www.characterarcade.com/ to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

ENTER TO WIN a BURN NOTICE Gift Bag!
Gift Bag includes:

Season 3 DVD Set
Burn Notice Book: The Getaway
Burn Notice “Chuck Finley T-Shirt
Logo Hat

To enter all you have to do is shot me an e-mail at cinemaniaccontests@gmail.com and tell me what your favorite mission has been thus far. The contest is open until 11:59pm on December 2nd.

Conan Kicks Network Butt!

2010-11-09T13:58:00.000-06:00

Last night was the highly anticipated return of Conan O'Brien to television after his much talked about debacle with NBC. The first episode of his new series, Conan, on TBS, started out with one of the best cold opens in recent memory and continued to soar throughout the episode. Personally, I was laughing almost the entire show. Between a great monologue, some memorable sketches, and the wonderful song he performed with musical guest, Jack White, Conan showed he was back with a vengeance.

Conan's return also marked some pretty amazing ratings with his premiere beating out both Leno and Letterman. Obviously it's because it was his first night back, so it will see where the show settle at in the ratings game. Personally I hope Conan continues to best Leno for a long time, it would only be right. You can see all the info on the ratings as well as more info on tonights episode in the press release below.

Conan O’Brien’s Long-Awaited Return to Late-Night Television
Attracts a Young Audience with Median Age of 30

Conan O’Brien’s new TBS talk show was a hit with young viewers Monday night, delivering an audience with a projected median age of just 30. Conan – which featured guests Seth Rogen, Lea Michele and Jack White – was watched by 2,451,000 adults 18-34; 3,285,000 adults 18-49; and 4,155,000 viewers.

O’Brien has a strong following among younger viewers, and social media has proven to be a key way for him to connect with his fans. “Conan’s audience has been very vocal online, and he clearly made a smooth transition from Twitter to TBS,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. “Conan delivered an extraordinary audience and stands out as the youngest late-night talk show on television.”

Tonight, Conan will welcome guests Tom Hanks, Jack McBrayer and Soundgarden. Upcoming guests include Jon Hamm, Fistful of Mercy and Charlyne Yi on Wednesday; and Michael Cera, Julie Bowen and Jon Dore on Thursday.

Conan originates from Stage 15 at Warner Bros. Studios and is produced by Conaco LLC. Jeff Ross is the executive producer.

Jimmy Fallon's 'Suckers'

2010-11-09T09:30:00.000-06:00

If you missed The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon last night you also missed the unveiling of his new parody show, "Suckers". Following in the footsteps of "The Hills" parody "7th Floor West", "The Real Housewives of Late Night", and the hilarious "Glee" Spoof "6-Bee" "Suckers" takes on the pop-culture creature of the day, Vampires.

In the sketch a new writer joins the show and quickly learns that much of the crew are vampires. The premiere episode, which you can watch below, features stabs at True Blood, Vampire Diaries, and all the other vampire shows you'd expect. As Fallon described it "If Twilight and True Blood were crossed with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and Rocky Horror and then met our show for coffee and struck up a relationship and started a boy band, broke up, went solo, and then got back for a reunion."

Psych Returns This Week and We've Got Free SWAG!!!

2010-11-08T11:18:00.000-06:00

This Wednesday at 10/9c USA's Psych returns with all new episodes! If you've followed this blog for any length of time you probably know that I'm a huge fan of the show and look forward to it all week long. And after a couple of months we're finally getting new episodes! Continue after the jump for more info on this season and how you can win a bag full of SWAG!

When we last saw Shawn, Gus, Juliet, and the rest of the gang Shawn and Juliet had finally kissed, but things were left in the air as Juliet was about to go on a romantic vacation with her new boyfriend, millionaire Declan (Lost's Nestor Carbonell).

The first episode back, Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part, sees Shawn and Gus traveling to Canada to heed the call of Pierre Despereaux (Guest Star Cary Elwes), who was last seen being arrested in Season Four's Extradition: British Columbia. Having seen the episode I can tell you it is a great one and not to be missed.

To celebrate the shows return we've been provided a prize pack from USA Network values at $130. The Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada. Further details on the contest are below:

USA’s hot roster of hit series gives viewers something to warm up to as the days get shorter and the nights grow colder. November sees the return of fan-favorite Psych on Wednesday, November 10, at 10/9c with brand new cases waiting to be solved Visit the official Psych website for games, photos and weekly prizes: http://www.usanetwork.com/series/psych/ Visit USA Network’s Character Arcade http://www.characterarcade.com/ to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

ENTER TO WIN a PSYCH Gift Bag!
Gift Bag includes:–Pineapple Pillow
–Season 4 DVD Set
–Psych Book: A Fatal Frame of Mind
–80s Candy Pack

To win all you have to do is shoot me an e-mail with Psych Giveaway in the subject line telling me who you're favorite guest star has been in the 4 and a half seasons thus far. You have until 11:59 p.m. on November 30th to enter.

You can see a preview of this week's episode below:

New to Blu: The A-Team & Machete

2010-11-05T14:02:00.000-05:00

The next couple of months sees the DVD/Blu-ray release of two of this summers most talked about movies, one an over the top spectacle, the other a mex-plotation indie film. Follow the jump to hear more.

Summer always brings a large variety of movies to the screen, and this summer was no different. Two of the most talked about films this summer were The A-Team and Machete. And now we have details on their upcoming blu-ray release.

The A-Team

Why relax at home this holiday season when you can surge on an adrenaline high with THE A-TEAM? Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is on a mission to kick up the excitement level this year with the launch of THE A-TEAM Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, December 14. The 2-Disc Blu-ray pack promises more than 90 minutes of bonus material, including exclusive action, adventure and attitude for all -- whether they have been naughty or nice. There’s more action, more adventure — and more attitude — in THE A-TEAM Extended Edition, which includes a never-before-seen version of the film with spectacular added footage not shown in theaters!

Fans of the hit 1980’s TV series—which included 80 million viewers—will love this fast and furious action-adventure motion picture with awesome FX, stunts and memorable phrases. The Blu-ray and DVD SKUs go beyond the movie with an All-Adrenaline extended cut and the 2-Disc Blu-Ray edition contains 90 minutes of new action and stunt-packed footage, interactive features, and the movie in all formats.

Buckle up for an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride starring Liam Neeson (Taken), Bradley Cooper (The Hangover), Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (UFC Star), and Sharlto Copley (District 9). Convicted by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit, a daring team of former Special Forces soldiers must utilize their unique talents to break out of prison and tackle their toughest mission yet. It’s going to take guts, split-second timing and an arsenal of explosive weapons...this is a job for The A-Team!

THE A-TEAM will be available on a 2-Disc Blu-ray package for suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S / $49.99 Canada and a 1-Disc DVD for suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. / $43.48 Canada. Prebook is November 17.

THE A-TEAM 2-Disc Blu-ray Special Features:

Disc One:

Movie Theatrical Version
Explosive Extended Cut
The Devil is in the Details: Inside the Action with Joe Carnahan
Never-before-seen Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
A-Team Theme Mash-Up Montage
Plan of Attack
Character Chronicles

Liam Neeson
Bradley Cooper
Rampage Jackson
Sharlto Copley
Jessica Biel

Visual Effects Commentary with Visual Effects Supervisor James E. Price
Digital Copy “How To”
BD-Live Extras

What’s New
Live Lookup

Disc Two:

Digital Copy of THE A-TEAM Theatrical Release

Machete

WARNING:
The out-for-revenge, action-driven MACHETE is ready to serve up some justice with guns blazing and bloody blades slicing. On January 4, 2011 keep an eye out for MACHETE on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The sharpest way to see it is on Blu-ray, with killer deleted scenes that deliver more guns, more girls and more Machete action!

From director Robert Rodriguez (Grindhouse, Sin City), and featuring an all-star cast including Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro and Jessica Alba, comes an action-packed, bare-knuckled fistful of carnage asada! Set up, double-crossed and left for dead, Machete (Trejo) is an ass-kicking ex-Federale who lays waste to anything that gets in his path. As he takes on hit men, vigilantes and a ruthless drug cartel, bullets fly, blades clash and the body count rises. Any way you slice it, vengeance has a new name--Machete.

REWARD:
And now get the full Machete story with exclusive deleted scenes that reveal never-before-seen characters, twisting plot lines, and more bloody good action! MACHETE is available as a 2-Disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy and 1-Disc DVD for the suggested retail prices of $39.99 U.S. / $49.99 Canada and $29.98 U.S. / $43.48 Canada, respectively. Prebook is December 8, 2010.

Machete now includes another way to get a Digital Copy of the movie. Through Digital Copy via Pocket BLU, consumers can now transfer a Digital Copy of a movie wirelessly from a BD-Live enabled Blu-ray player directly to a portable device. The Machete Blu-ray release still includes a physical Digital Copy disc but now offers this new wireless transfer method as well. Always simple, fast and portable, this next generation of Digital Copy makes it even easier for consumers to enjoy movies on the go. Digital Copy via Pocket BLU currently plays on Apple portable devices and soon will be extended for Android platform support.

Giveaway: Scooby-Doo

2010-11-05T10:50:00.001-05:00

Do you or your kids love Scooby-Doo? If you're like me and my son, the answer is yes. Well from now until 11:59pm on Friday the 12th you have a chance to get some Scooby-Doo for free!!! Keep reading after the jump for more info.

Can’t get enough of Scooby-Doo and the gang? Take him on the go! Find your favorite Scooby-Doo TV Shows and Movies all in one place! Download on iTunes:http://bit.ly/DD_Scooby

That's right Scooby-Doo can now be found in one convenient location with its very own iTunes page. And to help promote it I'll be giving away one free download of any of the Scooby-Doo movies you see in the picture below.

All you have to do is send me an e-mail with your name, your favorite Scooby-Doo character, and why they're your favorite. I'll pick my favorite answer to win.

CW Presents Vampire Diaries Marathon

2010-11-05T09:19:00.000-05:00

“THE VAMPIRE DIARIES” WEEK-LONG MARATHON,

BEGINS MONDAY, DEC. 13

The CW to Rebroadcast the First 10 Episodes from the Sophomore Season,

Airing Two Episodes Each Night (8:00-10:00p.m. ET/PT) From

Monday, Dec. 13 through Friday, Dec. 17

November 4, 2010 (Burbank, CA) ─ The CW Network today announced plans for a special marathon week featuring The Vampire Diaries, starting on Monday, December 13. For the second year in a row, this week-long event offers fans the opportunity to catch up with season two of The Vampire Diaries and allows the uninitiated the chance to get into one of TV’s breakout hits.

Airing two episodes each night from Monday, Dec. 13 through Friday, Dec. 17 (8:00-10:00p.m. ET/PT), The CW will rebroadcast the first 10 episodes of the second season of its addictive hit The Vampire Diaries across its entire primetime schedule that week, beginning with this season’s explosive premiere. The Vampire Diaries is The CW’s most-watched and highest-rated series among adults 18-34 this season.

The Vampire Diaries is the story of two vampire brothers obsessed with the same beautiful girl, and battling to control the fate of an entire town. During season one, Stefan (Paul Wesley, “Fallen”) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder, “Lost”), returned to their hometown of Mystic Falls, Virginia, for very different reasons − Stefan was determined to get to know Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev, the upcoming film, “The Killing Game”), who bears a striking resemblance to Katherine Pierce, the beautiful but ruthless vampire the brothers knew and loved in 1864, while Damon was intent on releasing Katherine from the tomb where he believed she was trapped by a witch’s spell all those years ago. In season two, the appearance of the villainous Katherine in Mystic Falls has thrown a wrench into the love triangle between Stefan, Elena and Damon, and the other residents of Mystic Falls must choose sides as they fall victim to a new breed of danger.

Based on the series of books by L. J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is from Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Kevin Williamson (“Scream,” “Dawson’s Creek”), Julie Plec (“Kyle XY,” “Wasteland”), Leslie Morgenstein (“Gossip Girl,” “Private”) and Bob Levy (“Gossip Girl,” “Privileged”).

You can see a clip from star Nina Dobrev's appearance on last night's episode of The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon below:

TCM Presents Moguls and Moviestars - The History of Hollywood.

2010-11-02T15:00:00.000-05:00

Starting this past week TMC began airing a new series, Moguls & Movie Stars. If you missed it don't worry you can check out the premiere again next Monday at 7/6c followed by episode 2 at 8/7c. This groundbreaking, seven-part documentary series will tell the comprehensive story of the men and women who built the American film industry and explore the American Movie Dynasty, from it’s conception, to the ups and downs, the twists and turns of creating the film industry we have today. Each installments features rare footage, and photographs of the people that started it all, plus interviews with distinguished historians and major Hollywood figures: Sidney Lumet, Richard Zanuck, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., just to name a few.

The series will be narrated by award winning actor, Christopher Plummer. One by one, each documentary will be followed by the respective film that represents each Hollywood era, from 1890’s silent movie to Peepshow Pioneers, to Fade-in, Fade-Out of the 1970’s. The lineup is truly fantastic!

Spanning from the invention of the first moving pictures to the revolutionary, cutting-edge films of the 1960s, this ambitious production is an epic history of Hollywood, detailing the personalities, inter-personal relationships, collaborations and conflicts that created an industry and an art form. The series also serves as a history of America, looking at how moviemakers responded to such major events as the Great Depression, World War II and the Civil Rights movement.

MOGULS & MOVIE STARS is executive-produced by Bill Haber (TNT's Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King; Broadway's The History Boys and Monty Python's Spamalot) and written and produced by Jon Wilkman.

You can see what's coming up on the show via the interactive schedule below:

New Release: The Girl Who Played With Fire

2010-10-26T10:51:00.000-05:00

The Millennium Trilogy by Steig Larson is one of the best selling book series of the last decade. So it's no surprise that it's being turned into an English language film series. What may come as a surprise to some is that it's already been turned into a brilliant and faithful film series in Sweden, the book series country of origin.

Today sees the release of the second film in the series, The Girl Who Played with Fire. Like the first film, this movie stars Noomi Rapace as the titular 'Girl' Lisbeth Salander and Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomvist. In this sequel Lisbeth is on the run as she is blamed for the murder of two people, one a journalist with ties to Blomvist. Meanwhile, Blomvist is trying to find the real killer on his own. Who killed the journalist and his girlfriend, why was Salander framed, and what exactly does all this have to do with her own dark past?

One thing of note in this movie: real life boxer, Paulo Roberto play himself. In the book Salander has a connection to the Swedish Welterweight Champion, and in the film Roberto plays himself. It's pretty cool in a Meta kind of way.

If you've enjoyed the books be sure to check out the original Swedish versions of these films before you see any Americanized movie. I promise these movies are very true to the source material. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire are both out now on DVD. The third and final film, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest starts playing in limited release this Friday.

Vote for Chuck's 1st Tv Guide Cover!!!

2010-10-26T10:29:00.000-05:00

CHUCK is facing a unique challenge: Earn its first-ever TV Guide Magazine cover! This is the first-time in the magazine’s 57-year history that it is letting fans pick which series they want gracing its cover (of the December 13 issue)... and our very own CHUCK is a finalist!

If Chuck Bartowski is your candidate this TV Guide election season, please get out the vote and encourage any Nerd Herders you know to mobilize as well. Fans can vote as many times as they want before November 1 at the following site: http://www.tvinsider.com/coverpoll/index.php.

Nice Guy Johnny Releases Today & We Have A Contest!

2010-10-26T09:41:00.002-05:00

Edward Burns new film, Nice Guy Johnny comes out today and we have an amazing giveaway for you. Keep reading after the jump to find out how you can find a copy of the Screenplay & Poster signed by Edward Burns, a copy of the film on DVD and the soundtrack!

Nice Guy Johnny available on iTunes, DVD, VOD and more on October 26th!

Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/niceguyjohnnymovie

Order the Move on iTunes at http://bit.ly/NiceGuyiTunes

Sure, she can be a little overbearing sometimes, but baby-faced Johnny Rizzo loves his fiancée Claire, and he made her a promise: by the time he's 25-years-old, he'll trade his current dream job as a local sports talk radio host (even if it is the 2 a.m. slot) for something that'll pay bigger bucks. And Johnny's nothing, if not a man of his word.

Now he's flying to New York to interview for some snoozeville job that Claire's well-to-do father set up. Enter Uncle Terry, who lives in New York, a rascally womanizer bent on turning a day in the Hamptons into a final fling for his nephew. Nice guy Johnny's not interested, of course, but then he meets the lovely Brooke...

Starring: Edward Burns, Matt Bush, Kerry Bishé, Anna Wood and Max Baker

ENTER TO WIN a NICE GUY JOHNNY Gift Bag!

Gift Bag includes:

Signed Nice Guy Johnny poster by Ed Burns
Signed Nice Guy Johnny screenplay by Ed Burns
DVD of Nice Guy Johnny
Soundtrack from Nice Guy Johnny

To win all you have to do is send my an e-mail with "Nice Guy Johnny" in the subject to cmniceguyjohnny@gmail.com

Watch the trailer here:

30 Rock Live: East vs. West

2010-10-18T17:10:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday night I watched NBC's 30 Rock Live episode. Since I'm a Central time zone guy, I watched the East Coast feed. Early today I had a chance to watch the West Coast feed. (Both of which are located in their entirety at Hulu.com here and here respectively. Or watched below.)

Out of the two I definitely thought the West Coast version was funnier. While there were a couple of jokes I thought landed better and Tracy flubbing his lines in one scene in the West Coast version, most of the reason I liked it more boiled down to the fact that I could actually hear what was going on. The East Coast version had a hard time balancing the sound with the audience and the house band being too loud during most of the episode.

If you haven't seen them both I highly recommend it as they were both very well done and hilarious. Whether you've seen them both or not, you'll want to check out the first video posted below which features all the differences between the two version.

30 Rock: East vs. West

30 Rock Live: East Coast

30 Rock Live: West Coast

The Social Network: Get Offline and To The Movie Theater

2010-10-03T17:44:00.000-05:00

By Scotty C.

“The Social Network” is the best film no one will see this year. It opened up at number one but only $23 million. Hopefully word of mouth will go viral on this masterpiece because the hardest thing will be getting people into theaters to see it. Once they’re in, Fincher and Sorkin have won. People oblivious to the founding of Facebook have no idea what a great story is in the source material.

I read an article in Rolling Stone a few years ago about Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard and how he led some people along while he took their idea and put it online screwing them over. This made me dislike Zuckerberg yet I still opened a Facebook account a few months later because I wanted to connect with old friends and Myspace had run its course.

This movie might not work financially because average Joe Moviegoer doesn’t know who David Fincher is much less Aaron Sorkin. The idea for a Facebook movie sounds stupid until you hear Aaron Sorkin, the man behind “The West Wing”, “Charlie Wilson’s War”, and “A Few Good Men” is writing and David Fincher from “Fight Club, “Seven” and “Zodiac” was directing. I will see any movie either of them are involved in. I was there opening night when they decided to super team together for a movie.

“The Social Network” even brought in Trent Reznor, the man behind Nine Inch Nails to score the soundtrack with Atticus Ross that rivals Hans Zimmer’s for “Inception” for best score of the year. Reznor adds a whole dimension of tension with the score that lurks in the background while Zuckerberg hacks or devises algorithms. The score fills the film with danger and paranoia. Only the three masterminds of Fincher, Sorkin and Reznor could make a movie set for a good part in depositions engaging.

I knew the film was going to be great when The White Stripes “Ball and Biscuit” opened the film. Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg, is talking to Erica Albright, Rooney Mara, about how super smart people in China differentiate themselves. This leads the socially oblivious Zuckerberg to talk about Harvard’s “Final Clubs”, elite clubs that allow you to make friends and contacts. Zuckerberg says if he were to get into one, he would take Erica with him to meet people she wouldn’t get to meet otherwise. Unaware of how offended Erica is, Mark asks about getting something to eat, then Erica breaks up with Mark.

Mark then goes home, starts drinking and blogging about Erica criticizing her name and her bra size. Then he wants to set up a page where people can rank how hot girls are on campus. He hacks into Harvard’s Housing webpages to take pictures to set up the site. The face smash site is so popular it crashes the network.

This gets him the attention of Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss who meet with Mark to see if he could do the coding and programming for a social networking site for all Harvard students. In their conversation, Mark talks of an application he created that Microsoft wanted to buy but he uploaded it for free. Mark agrees to help them with their site.

We find out all we need to know about Zuckerberg in the first twenty minutes. He’s socially awkward, doesn’t care about money, ridiculously smart and wants to be popular. These traits follow him throughout the film.

His friend Eduardo Saverin, Andrew Garfield, who helped him with the algorithm for the face smash website, helps Mark with the start up cash for the social network idea, not knowing the idea came from the Winklevoss brothers. Eduardo is invited to start a process for a final club called the Phoenix Club. Mark is noticeably jealous that Eduardo was chosen.

After delaying and stalling with the Winklevoss brothers, Mark launches the Facebook website. This leads to success and notoriety for Mark and Eduardo followed by legal action by the Winklevoss brothers. Instead of shutting the site down, Mark expands it, adding more colleges to the site. When it gets to Stanford, Napster founder Sean Parker, Justin Timberlake, is intrigued by the site and must be a part of it.

The story goes back and forth through testimony in two depositions to give us the beginning of Facebook. I left liking Mark Zuckerberg more than I did before the film. He became CEO of a hugely successful company in his early twenties so he was acting like someone who is CEO of a hugely successful company in his early twenties. Example: Business cards that say, “I’m CEO Bitch!!”

While most of us would listen to music or drink after a breakup, Mark starts a site that gets the Harvard network to crash. Mark needs an Uncle Ben to tell him, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

While Zuckerberg is in his own bubble looking to grow the company and Sean Parker is the human equivalent of Russian Roulette, Eduardo is the most levelheaded character, the cautious one, the responsible one. Jesse Eisenberg gives us a reason to like Zuckerberg through all of his flaws. Andrew Garfield gives us the one rational voice amidst all the chaos. Justin Timberlake nails it as vengeful partier Parker.

This is Fincher’s best work since 1999’s “Fight Club” and Sorkin’s best work since “The West Wing.” “The Social Network” shows us not how we interact online but how we destroy people behind their back and to their face. This film is infinitely more interesting than anything any of your friends could post in two hours on Facebook. Take the time to go see this movie.

Jimmy Fallon: A History of Rap Ft. Justin Timberlake & The Roots

2010-09-30T10:39:00.000-05:00

Last night's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon featured Justin Timberlake as a guest, out promoting his new film, The Social Network. Timberlake, for those of you who may not watch Saturday Night Live, is one of the funniest and most natural performers of our times, he also happens to be an amazing singer. In the clips following the jump you can see some of his interview with Fallon, but you'll also get a very special treat.

In one of the best things I've seen in a long time Fallon & Timberlake, with The Roots backing them, perform a melody of Hip-Hop songs over the years. It may be the best 4 minutes of television you'll see this week (although some of this past week's Glee might tie with it.) Watch both videos below:

The Interview

The History of Hip-Hop

Ice Road Truckers: Dealiest Roads Giveaway

2010-09-28T10:39:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, October 3rd at 10/9c The History Channel will premiere it's newest season of Ice Road Truckers. Titled IRC:Deadliest Roads, the series will cover truckers tackling some of the most dangerous roads in the World. To celebrate the return of the show History and I are teaming up to bring you an awesome prize pack. Get more info after the break.

HISTORY adds a boost of adrenaline to your Sunday nights with its brand new series, IRT: Deadliest Roads at 10/9c (new episodes following the premiere will air on Sundays at 9/8c). Set in the highest and most dangerous mountain ranges in the world, the Himalayas, three seasoned truckers will be forced to drive through the deadliest and most unpredictable routes that the road has to offer. Follow drivers Lisa Kelly, Rick Yemm and Alex Debogorski as they deliver goods to small villages along untouched highways. Visit the official IRT: Deadliest Roads website for photos, videos and episode guides and become a fan on Facebook.

ENTER TO WIN an IRT: Deadliest Roads Prize Pack!

Prize Pack includes:
- IRT Bumper Stickers
- IRT Apron
- IRT Temporary Tattoos
- Alex Debogorski’s Book “True Tales From a Legendary Ice Road Trucker”

To enter simply send me an email with your name and address and what would scare you the most about traveling the roads seen in IRT. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. Prize is courtesy of HISTORY and has a value of $60. Contest will run until Midnight on Sunday, October 17. One entry per person.

"Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is a Blue Chip Film

2010-09-25T19:14:00.000-05:00

By Scotty C.

Oliver Stone releases Gordon Gekko back into the world and on screens this weekend with “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”, a sequel to the classic “Wall Street” starring Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen. This time around Gekko is the only character from the first film involved in the story taking place in 2008 right before the economic meltdown. Trade the Sheens in for Shia Labeouf (Transformers), Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men) and Carrey Mulligan (An Education) and you have new characters to go with a new economic landscape.

“Someone reminded me I once said greed is good,” Gekko says, “Now it seems it’s legal.” The film begins as Gekko is released from prison in 2001 with nothing but a gold money clip and a huge cellular phone. Then seven years later in 2008 he has published a book “Is Greed Good?” and is warning about how he was small potatoes compared to the people running the financial sector these days. Gekko looks to be a rehabilitated man who has changed his ways, talking about people are living beyond their means, how greed has taken hold of society. The 21st Century Gekko is no longer looking for insider trades to sell his soul for.

Shia Labeouf plays Jake Moore, an up and coming financial master of the universe who is doing all he can to make sure an alternative energy company gets what it needs to succeed. Jake works for his mentor Louis Zabel (Frank Langela) who after a long life in finance doesn’t understand the way things are run now with profits made off of losses. His company ends up being taken down by Bretton James (Josh Brolin). Mini spoiler, Zabel commits suicide after the disintegration of his life’s work. This is the beginning of what will be the economic meltdown of 2008.

This leaves Jake to propose to his daughter Winnie (Carrey Mulligan) who has had nothing to do with her father for many years. Jake is filled with revenge and wants to take down the man he feels responsible for Zabel’s death. This leads him to Gordon Gekko with something to dangle in front of him; a reconnection with his daughter. Gekko wants to rekindle a relationship with his estranged daughter and take down Bretton James.

The story is ambitious and shoots for the moon as it attempts to illustrate the people behind the meltdown on Wall Street while serving a personal story of redemption for Gekko. The story succeeds more on the Wall Street aspect than the Gekko aspect. The scenes involving Winnie Gekko are nowhere near as fulfilling as are attempted. Mulligan is fresh from an incredible performance in “An Education” and is given very little to do here aside from a one note pout.

Douglas is great as Gekko and the film really moves and comes alive with him onscreen. Unfortunately Gekko is off screen for a good chunk of the film. This is Shia Labeouf’s film and he carries it well as he begins to take on more adult roles. Josh Brolin is great as a white collar Wall Street billionaire.

The Wall Street aspect of the story with Gekko, Jake and Bretton James works much better than the family story of Gekko and his daughter. For a film that sets itself before and during the financial meltdown of a generation, Stone doesn’t take full advantage. Finance and white collar crime are never going to be as visual and entertaining as other types of crime and Stone gets awfully close but it feels like he came up short illustrating how these people work and get away with crashing the economy and getting bailed out for it. This movie has a long drawn out set up. This movie probably has another hour that didn’t make it in the final cut. Hopefully it will be available as a Director’s Cut. The setup is an hour and a half and then the repercussions and pay off leave everything to have to be wrapped in 45 minutes leaving everything feeling rushed. There’s not a second to take in what is happening because there’s another crisis awaiting the next frame. Perhaps the quick finish and climax symbolizes how it took America 30 years to get to this meltdown and how easy it was for the culprits to get back on top and act like it never happened.

I loved this movie. I felt engaged during all of it except for the lulls with Gekko’s daughter. It captures the scene of an economic reality that most people are oblivious to. The only drawbacks to the film are that it isn’t an instant classic. For whatever reasons, this film does not reach its full potential that could make it one of the great ones. Nevertheless go see it.

For a sequel 20 years after the original, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” is incredible. While the film doesn’t succeed at everything it attempts, it comes very close, leaving it better than most films. Simultaneously, it is great that Oliver Stone got to make this film with Michael Douglas before he got sick. This film works because of Michael Douglas and in these times of diminishing 401Ks and high unemployment, the world needs Oliver Stone, Michael Douglas and “Wall Street.”

Jimmy Fallon: Fun with Animals!

2010-09-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

After the cut, some fun clips of last night's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon which featured guest, Jeff Musial bringing out animals to delight and terrify Jimmy.

NBC's Undercovers Permiere's Tonight!

2010-09-22T15:25:00.000-05:00

NBC's Undercovers premieres TONIGHT at 8/7c! The spy series follows CIA agents Steven and Samantha Bloom, who are pulled out of their quiet married life and pushed back into service, fighting the good fight in locations around the world.

Below you'll find four videos to get you ready for the new series. The videos showcase scenes from the premiere, interviews with the cast and more – everything to paint the perfect picture of the outstanding spy couple. You can get more info on the show at the official Facebook and Twitter profiles, as well! And if you’re on Twitter tonight, be sure to share your thoughts about the premiere using #Undercovers!

Undercovers - Full Length Trailer

For Steven and Samantha, lives hang in the balance when they rejoin the CIA to rekindle their relationship. This spy drama proves that marriage is still the world's most dangerous partnership.

Game Changer

Falling in love with a fellow CIA agent changes everything.

It Only Took One Look

When you know, you know.

Sexpionage

Samantha Bloom has sexpionage covered.

NBC Video Round-Up featuring The Office Season Premiere Cold Opener

2010-09-22T15:10:00.000-05:00

As the premier week continues we've got some new videos from NBC including your first look at the new season of the Office, a clip from last night's Parenthood (which can be watched in it's entirety here), and some great clips from last night's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Check them all out after the break.

The Office: Season Premiere Cold Open:

Parenthood

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Charades w/ Tina Fey and Colin Hanks, Part 1

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Charades w/ Tina Fey and Colin Hanks, Part 2

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Lazer Eye Duel with Colin Hanks

NBC's The Event Giveaway

2010-09-16T12:44:00.001-05:00

With the new fall season upon us, and most of the new and returning shows starting to air next week, it's time to decide which new shows you will be watching. I for one know that I will be tuning in to NBC's The Event.

I had a chance to check out the pilot a few weeks back and I really enjoyed it. The show jumps around a bit too much, but overall it held my interest, especially when it was focusing on Jason Ritter's character. And the ending to the pilot guaranteed I would be back for episode 2.

This weekend in preparation for Monday night's airing of The Event premiere NBC and I are teaming up to offer you 5 chances at winning a "The Event" hat! The contest is open to all U.S. Residents. All you have to do is RT this Tweet and you'll be entered. One entry per person please. You have until Monday night at midnight to enter.

And to get you ready for the premiere that airs Monday night on NBC at 9/8c I have another Behind the Scenes look at The Event:

The Mythology of Christian Slater>Christian Slater

2010-09-14T21:07:00.003-05:00

By Scotty C.

There was a blink of an eye when Christian Slater could have been the next Jack Nicholson. He was a bad boy in a time when he was alone. This was after Judd Nelson, Rob Lowe and Charlie Sheen’s Brat Pack era and before Leo and Brad Pitt took over in the 90s. He was wild, charming and dangerous. Instead of Generation X’s James Dean, he was more the James Dean of 1989.

Christian Slater got typecast as Christian Slater. He was great at being Christian Slater. By the time he tried to show a little diversity with some dramatic roles, he didn’t remind anyone of Jack Nicholson. Was it too late? Was his moment over? Sure he’d get the occasional TV show and once in a while a leading role in a film, but it’s usually to be the essence of Christian Slater. Very few have gotten that mixture right. Slater started out great.

Slater was in “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He was the big brother in “The Wizard” when people still cared about Fred Savage.

I always liked his vulnerability in parts mixing with his edge. He was always a razor’s edge a few steps away from falling apart. His character’s suicide is the only one in a movie splattered with it. Hard Harry was a great alter ego to shy Mark Hunter in “Pump Up The Volume” who takes it to the edge but reevaluates things after a listener kills himself. Mark’s breakdown gave the film a little bit of depth that it sorely needed. “Pump Up The Volume” was great. In fact it’s so good, I don’t know why they haven’t remade it as a podcast instead of a radio DJ. They would make it PG-13 and more tween friendly ala “Disturbia”. Maybe Shia Labeouf could be in it.

“Gleaming the Cube” was a fun skating movie that showed a sulking Slater over the death of his adopted brother. His brother was murdered but made to look like, suicide. Slater had made three films that hit upon suicide as a major or minor theme. Was this the issue in the early 90s? If an actor did this now he would be written off as the Emo Prince.

He was in the brat pack western sequel “Young Guns II.” That movie might be terrible now as it has not been revisited but in 1990, Young Guns were cool and so was Christian Slater. In 1991 he starred alongside Kevin Costner in “Robin Hood.”

Slater starred in “Mobsters” as Charlie Lucky Luciano. This would seem like a good move to be in a mobster film. He was a gangster, someone who probably never went to high school. He was with other regulars of Tiger Beat Magazine like Richard Grieco after his career peaked in “If Looks Could Kill” and between “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Grey’s Anatomy” McDreamy Patrick Dempsey. Obviously if you are making this film for any other reason besides the hope of pulling teenage girls into a gangster film, it makes no sense. It’s not like Scorsese directed it.

For a career in the early 90s, these looked like great moves. This was before Sundance and independent films could be used to flex acting street cred. Maybe if he had taken some bold independent films on, he would have cut his teeth with some great indie filmmakers.

In “Kuffs” Slater grows up sorta by playing a guy who never graduated high school and inherits a patrol special district from his brother. “Kuffs” had moved on from suicide to brother’s revenge. Just like “Gleaming The Cube”, it is about a brother’s justice with Benny from L.A. Law as the villain. This movie was fun and had Milla Jovovich pre-Fifth Element.
The legend of Christian Slater had far more reach than the man himself. It wasn’t him so much as his own mythology as dangerous teen heartthrob that elevated the mythology but not the man into pop culture.

“All I want to do is graduate from high school, go to Europe, marry Christian Slater, and die.”-Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The Kristy Swanson film starred Luke Perry. Was Luke Perry the new Christian Slater? Luke Perry had an even smaller film career than Slater. Buffy says she wants to marry Christian Slater before she becomes the vampire slayer. Her love for Christian Slater is when she is a self consumed cheerleader. Would the shallow Buffy like anything besides Slater’s looks? Would she find “Heathers” a downer? Would “Pump Up The Volume” had been a better fit for her? Maybe after she defeats Lothos, she would have seen “Kuffs.”

The problem with Slater began to show when he left B-List stars and high school scripts. His best film is probably “True Romance”, a Tony Scott directed film written by Quentin Tarantino. Unfortunately Slater is outshined by everyone else in the film: Val Kilmer as Elvis, Brad Pitt as stoner Floyd, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, James Gandolfini prepping for Tony Soprano, Christopher Walken, Bronson Pinchot’s peak performance, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Rapaport. In a script written by Quentin Tarantino, Slater’s character, Clarence, is outgunned by more interesting characters. Against real talent, was Slater showing he couldn’t keep up?

He co-starred with Joe Pesci in Barry Levinson directed “Joe Hollywood”, a film I saw but haven’t thought about since 1994. He was the interviewer in “Interview With The Vampire” overshadowed by still superstar Tom Cruise and an emerging Brad Pitt.

"Let's blow off seventh and eighth, go to the mall, have a calorie fest, and see the new Christian Slater.”-Cher, “Clueless”

In 1995, the year “Clueless” was released, the only Christian Slater film on tap was “Murder in the First.” Was this something Cher would have seen at any point in the film, especially a movie to pick her up? Maybe “Clueless” was released in 1995 but set in 1989. That can’t be because Beavis and Butthead, flannel shirts and “Ren and Stimpy” are referenced along with “Rolling with the Homies” which was released in 1995. Cher is also saving herself for Luke Perry. But Luke Perry wouldn’t gain notoriety until “Beverly Hills 90210” in 1990. In 1995 Luke Perry is 30 years old. None of this makes sense unless we add flashbacks and flashforwards in a weird time paradox. The solution lies in the peak of the mythology of Christian Slater. By this time Slater was aging and not playing high school parts anymore. When he wasn’t able to play the outsider new to school, his career eased up. No more Nicholson comparisons.

1996 would give us Christian Slater directed by John Woo and career resurrected John Travolta in “Broken Arrow” in an attempt to become an action star. This was fun at 15 years old but probably doesn’t hold up as a John Woo, John Travolta or Christian Slater film. He also did “Bed of Roses” with Mary Stuart Masterson. It grossed $19 million at the box office. I haven’t seen it nor have I heard anyone mention it ever.

In 1998 he played the Slatere edge to a tee in “Very Bad Things” a dark comedy with co-star Jon Favreau and Jeremy Piven. This seems like a movie that would’ve had Vince Vaughn in it. At this point Vaughn was remaking “Psycho” with Gus Van Sant so Christian Slater could just slip right in. “Very Bad Things” was Slater in overdrive. It didn’t work. What made his earlier roles so memorable was the volatility between danger and emotion. You felt there was a heart lurking there somewhere.

It’s unfair to act like he dropped off the map because he has worked steadily the last twenty-two years. He has been in films and television, but teenage girls are no longer waiting for his proposal.

According to Yahoo! Movies, Slater’s brushes with the law, guns, drugs and rehab were reasons why his star faded. Supposedly directors didn’t want to work wit him because of that. Did that stop Robert Downey Jr., Charlie Sheen or the countless other Hollywood stars who have succumbed to the seduction of an “E True Hollywood Story.” Is he the greatest actor of his generation? Should he have to be? I think given the right script and a director wanting to tap what we loved about Christian Slater or show us something new, Slater could prevail. In 2010 Christian Slater may not be Buffy or Cher worthy, but he probably has something left in the chamber for the rest of us.

Glee: The Complete First Season Available Today!

2010-09-14T12:57:00.001-05:00

Today I arrived home from lunch to find a very welcome gift sitting on my front porch, Glee: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray! I'm not lying when I say that I was so happy I actually danced a jig. The show's title is completely accurate, in fills me with Glee every time I hear a song, watch an episode, or even find it on my doorstep.

If you don't know, Glee was one of last season's biggest hits. The series follows teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) as he tries to take his school's Glee club from a bunch of rag tag losers to competition winning singers. Filled with amazing musical numbers, award winning performances (Both Jane Lynch and Neil Patrick Harris won Emmys for their performances last season), and touching plot lines, Glee is one of the most hard to define shows on TV. The series spans from musical to comedy to drama, I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry multiple times during the show's first season.

The new release is filled with special features including featurettes on Madonna, the Style of Glee, choreography, Jane Lynch, and more. The Blu-ray also offers a wonderful visual commentary of the pilot featuring many members of both the cast and crew. But the best special feature is hands down the Glee Music Jukebox which allows you to watch the many different musical performances all by themselves. You can either choose which performance you want to watch, watch them all in order, or my personal favorite, put it on shuffle. As I write this I'm in the 27th minute of the jukebox, and that's just on Disc 1!

And if the 1st Season being available isn't enough to tide you over until next week's Season 2 premiere, there's much more to meet your Glee needs. And if you already bought the Glee: Road to Regionals DVD be sure to head over here to find out how to get your Gleebate.

Glee Your Life Application Figure out the theme song to your life through this fun and insightful question and answer application. We all live our lives differently and they are constantly changing and so would our theme songs if we were characters in a TV show. This application will tell you what song best fits your life as it is now.

Detention…With Sue! Send your friends and loved ones to detention with the nefarious Sue (via Facebook Connect)! Once in detention, Sue begins to berate the friend, nonstop and without fail. Their picture will begin to deteriorate as Sue’s lecture goes on and eventually evaporate into dust. During the lecture, they will not be able to navigate away until the detention period has ended will be able to shoot spitwads at Sue, but beware, if they hit her in the head, it extends Detention!

'Table 7' is Ready for Your Viewing Pleasure

2010-09-13T15:22:00.000-05:00

I like short films, they come in all shapes and sizes, they come in all different genres, and so many times they can blow your mind in how much awesomeness they pack into such a small morsel. But I don't often post the short films I watch here, because usually I watch them, tweet about them, and move on with my life.

However, the following short-film, entitled Table 7, was just so well done that I had to spread the love via the inter-webs. The video from director, Marko Slavnic, is short and oh so sweet. I don't want to give anything away, but I'll give you a little synopsis from the Vimeo site "A couple has an intimate conversation in a restaurant, unaware that their every word is being closely monitored." And with that I invite you to watch the short, and if you like it you should head on over to Slavnic's website to learn more about him and see more of his films.

Table 7 from Marko Slavnic on Vimeo.

DVD/Blu-Ray Roundup: 2 New Indies & 1 Doc's Anniversary

2010-09-13T14:04:00.000-05:00

I've got info on 3 new DVD releases after the jump, including the newest from frequent Kevin Smith collaborator, Jason Mewes, the newest release in the film adaptations of the best selling Millennium Trilogy, and a Special Edition of the wonderful documentary, Super Size Me.

On October 19th, Virgil Films & Entertainment presents the high-octane action-comedy Shoot the Hero! starring Jason Mewes and Nick Turturro alongside legendary badass, Danny Trejo (Machete). Directed by Christian Sesma (On Bloody Sunday, 6:30), who affectionately describes his movie as a “rom-action comedy.” The film, which had its world premiere at the 21^stCSI: NY) as Mewes' fiance, Fred Williamson (From Duck Till Dawn), and Katie Morgan (Zack and Miri). The DVD includes several video diaries from the Director and crew. Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival earlier this year, is a genre-twisting action/comedy about a 30-something couple who become unintentionally involved in a botched jewel heist while shopping for wedding rings. The film also stars Samantha Lockwood (

On October 26th, Music Box Films presents the 2nd film to be adapted from Larsson’s best-selling Millennium Trilogy of crime novels following last year’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the highest-grossing European production of 2009 and a certified smash in the U.S. with its box office earnings of $9.9 million, The Girl Who Played With Fire marks the return of Lisabeth Salander, the pierced and punked-out computer-hacking heroine of Larsson’s celebrated series, which have sold some 40 million copies in nearly 50 countries around the world.

Swedish author Stieg Larsson is one of the world’s most acclaimed and successful authors. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest—his Millennium Trilogy—were all published after his death in 2004. Their popularity has since made him the world’s second best-selling author of 2008 and 2009.

When a researcher and a Millennium journalist about to expose the truth about the sex trade in Sweden are brutally murdered, Lisbeth Salander’s (Noomi Rapace) prints are found on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and violent behavior makes her an official danger to society. Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), Salander’s friend and Millennium’s publisher, is alone in his belief of Salander’s innocence. Digging deeper, Blomkvist unearths evidence implicating highly placed members of Swedish society – as well as shocking details about Salander’s past. He is desperate to get to her before she is cornered– but no one can find her anywhere.

The Girl Who Played With Fire is directed by Daniel Alfredson and stars the inimitable Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist, both of whom reprise their roles from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The movie hits shelves just in time for the October 29th release of the 3rd and final film in the series, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest.

On September 28th, Virgil Films & Entertainment is proud to present a brand new Special Edition DVD of one of the most popular, successful and talked-out documentaries ever made on its six and a half year anniversary. Super Size Me (2004) documents how Oscar® nominated filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock, went on a quest to expose the obesity problem facing America and to show how fast food restaurants—the McDonald’s chain, in particular—have played their part in this epidemic. Spurlock’s method? Subsisting solely on meals from McDonald’s for 30 days in a row, forcing himself to eat three McDonald’s meals a day, trying every offering on the chain’s extensive menu at least once, and “super-sizing” his meal if it was offered to him. The final results—coupled with the filmmaker’s ongoing travels across the U.S. to examine the business and culture surrounding the nation's fast-food industry and to attempt to gain an interview the executives at McDonald’s—are, at the same time, very serious, very personal, and very, very funny!

The new edition comes with more than an hour of additional features including The 10 most asked questions about the film, and a Speech and Q&A Spurlock did with students at New Jersey's Rider College.

Resident Evil: Afterlife Goes 3D But Stays the Same

2010-09-11T17:12:00.004-05:00

“Resident Evil: Afterlife” returned Alice to theaters in 3D this weekend. The trailers promised it would be the latest in 3D technology. I have enjoyed all of the “Resident Evil” films even though it has the same problems as “The Bourne” films. I enjoyed them but cannot tell a difference between the sequels. I feel like there is almost no difference in “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “The Bourne Supremacy” except in the third one Jason Bourne finds out more about his past. Except for that, it’s the same tricks, the same awesome fight choreography and the same handheld cameras. The “Resident Evil” films are similar. I don’t remember much about the second or third films except I enjoyed them. I never bought them or watch the whole thing on cable. It is fun at the theater though. “Resident Evil: Afterlife” is enjoyable even though it treads through the same paths as the previous films.

On Thursday night, I caught an hour or so of the first “Resident Evil” and that was the shot I needed to get me pumped to see Afterlife. I didn’t see it in 3D though so this review will not have that experience. The “Resident Evil” films are good but I don’t know if they’re worth an extra three or four dollars. If the movie is great, it won’t need 3D to hold it up. None of the movies I have seen in 3D this year have been worth the money. I only want to see 3D if it is someone like James Cameron making the film. The film will probably take in a juiced intake this weekend thanks to IMAX screens and 3D surcharges. I saved my three dollars though and you should too.

I saw “Afterlife” in an afternoon matinee and towards the end of the trailers, three people with a baby in a stroller asked me if the seats next to me were taken. I said no and they sat down. I immediately went to another section in the auditorium for a seat. Why would someone bring a baby to an R-Rated zombie film? In my new seat, I noticed it’s not that unheard of because someone thought it was fine to bring a two year old who started crying during some of the trailers cause they were scary. The toddler ended up walking up and down the aisle at one point in an attempt by the parents to not traumatize their kid. Maybe I would have been safer in the 3D screening. Who knows?

Director Paul W.S. Anderson directed the first film and wrote the two middle films. It is funny and absurd that his initials are with the rest of his name in the credits. Do people really think that the other Paul Anderson would be directing these films? Paul W.S. Anderson might be obligated to distinguish that he is not Paul Thomas Anderson, the director who has given us “Boogie Nights”, “Magnolia” and “There Will Be Blood.” With the exception of “Punch Drunk Love”, Anderson’s films are considerably longer than any of the “Resident Evil” films. I would love to see Paul Thomas Anderson direct a “Resident Evil” film and the head of the Umbrella Corporation ends up being Daniel Plainview and it is up to Alice and Dirk Diggler to stop him.

Spoilers for “Resident Evil: Extinction”, at the end Alice finds all of these clones of herself and she vows to take revenge on the evil Umbrella corporation. The ending of the film and the trailer for “Afterlife” lead you to believe the film is about multiple Alices wreaking havoc on Umbrella. Mini spoiler for first fifteen minutes of “Afterlife”: Do we get that? A little bit but it isn’t the main storyline.

Instead Alice is flying an old school airplane on the lookout for Arcadia, an infection free community that offers safety and security to survivors. She finds no one at its supposed location until she finds Claire Redfield (Ali Larter) not as she last saw her.

They end up landing in Los Angeles where there are survivors atop a building surrounded by the undead. Their goal is to find a way to a ship off the coast called Arcadia that is promising safety and security. How will they get there? What will it take? What does the Umbrella Corporation have up its sleeve? You’ll have to see it to find out.

If you liked the last three films, you’ll enjoy “Afterlife”. It is not giving anything we haven’t seen before. Alice is awesome. The action is good. From what I could tell, the 3D probably wasn’t doing anything groundbreaking. I think that because nothing in the film is groundbreaking. There is a new villain, Albert Wesker, and he dodges bullets and wears black like Neo in bullet time that is soooo 2000. The only reason the 3D could be worth it is if you want to see Ali Larter and Milla Jovovich look hot in “cutting edge 3D”. It is amazing to me that the heroines in the film have flowing hair, nice makeup and no need for a dermatologist in a world ravaged by zombies. I guess the world fell but not Loreal makeup.

Milla Jovovich is awesome as Alice as always but she’s the same. The coolest element in these movies is the Umbrella Corporation and it is not capitalized for a huge chunk of the movie. When I think of the world they have created, I think of what cool things they could do with the mythology and the characters. Unfortunately, we get more of the same, unless that’s what you like and you’ll be right at home. It’s a fun matinee with no competition this weekend, unless you haven’t seen “Machete.”

Sneak Peek: The Event

2010-09-09T09:49:00.000-05:00

This fall one of the most anticipated new shows is on NBC Monday Nights. I am of course talking about The Event. The Event follows in the steps of such shows as Lost, V, and other recent serialized shows. Unlike some of the past shows (I'm looking at you Flash Forward) The Event promises to offer answers more often than not. To learn more hit the jump.

The Event is an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter, "The Class"), an everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his would-be fiancée Leila (Sarah Roemer, "Disturbia"), and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history.

Sean's quest will send ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including newly elected U.S. President Elias Martinez (Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, "In Treatment"); Sophia Maguire (Emmy Award nominee Laura Innes, "ER"), who is the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Leila's shadowy father (Scott Patterson, "Gilmore Girls"). Their futures are on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind.

Ian Anthony Dale ("Daybreak"), Clifton Collins, Jr. ("Star Trek"), Taylor Cole ("The Violent Kind"), Lisa Vidal ("The Division"), Bill Smitrovich ("The Practice"), and Emmy winner Željko Ivanek ("Damages") also star in the ensemble drama.

The Event is a production of Universal Media Studios and Steve Stark Productions. Evan Katz ("24") serves as executive producer/showrunner; Steve Stark ("Medium," "Facing Kate") serves as executive producer; Jeffrey Reiner (NBC's "Friday Night Lights," "Trauma") is director/executive producer; and Nick Wauters ("The 4400," "Eureka") is creator/co-executive producer.

If you want to know more about The Event check out the videos below and be sure to check out these great online resources:

Keep track of the latest video updates on The Event site

Delve deeper into the mystery on The Event Is Coming site

And follow the official Facebook and Twitter profiles

The Event - Full Length Trailer

When an average guy stumbles upon a secret so powerful it could change the course of humanity, and a cover-up so big that the President is on a need-to-know basis, answers can only lead to bigger questions.

Begging For More

A wonderful puzzle where each week you'll find out something new.

The Eve of The Event

This Fall, the world will change forever.

Fan Q&A with Blair & Laura

Blair and Laura answer fan questions at NBC's Fall Press Tour.

Fan Q&A with Sarah & Jason

Sarah & Jason answer fan questions at NBC's Fall Press Tour.

Fan Q&A with Scott & Zeljko

Scott & Zeljko answer fan questions at NBC's Fall Press Tour.

Ramamurthy Divulges Covert Affairs

2010-09-05T17:31:00.007-05:00

Sendhil Ramamurthy plays Jai Wilcox on USA’s “Covert Affairs” and recently took in a conference call for bloggers. Cinemaniac was there.

Jai Wilcox’s character has changed since the inception of the show.
“I think originally as conceived the character wasn’t going to be going out into the field and once they cast me, they saw some merit, some advantage to bringing me into the field,” Sendhil Ramamurthy said.

Wilcox is a second generation CIA man and it brings another dynamic to the character.
“His father, Henry Wilcox, was the Head of Clandestine Services, so he’s CIA royalty,” Ramamurthy said. “There’s some baggage that comes with being Henry Wilcox-my character’s father’s name is Henry Wilcox-there’s some baggage that comes with being his son and it kind of permeates through the CIA.”

Research into the CIA was important for the authenticity of the show and led to some interesting tidbits.
“The CIA encourages dating within the agency, which I thought would not be the case to kind of the way things operate there,” Ramamurthy said. “I didn’t know even the basic things, like you can’t have your cell phone with you inside the CIA. I didn’t know the CIA didn’t carry weapons on U.S. soil. So it’s interesting, we actually just shot a scene where I’m chasing somebody and they’re shooting at me and I have no gun, but I keep chasing them, even though I have no weapon.”

He wasn’t in on the show when the pilot was shot and missed out on access to the CIA.
“Valerie Plame was our CIA advisor on the pilot, and so they had access to her and were able to ask her all sorts of questions,” Ramamurthy said. “Piper went to the CIA before starting shooting of the pilot and met with them and got to meet with a CIA agent that was her age who was kind of her and got to ask her questions to help her with the role.”

Though he missed out on the start, he worked hard to make up for lost time by research and prep for the show.
“The CIA is about protocol,” Ramamurthy said. “Okay, what would a CIA operative be doing in this situation? What are the steps? Everything has to be run up the ladder, run up the flag post and what are the steps to get what you need done? There are certain things that need to be done and Jai is very conscious of the hierarchy of the CIA.”

The relationship between Jai and Annie has something Ramamurthy would like to focus on in the future.
“There’s a conversation between Jai and Annie where they kind of mention past relationships and I think that there’s a past relationship in Jai’s life that deeply affected him and I don’t think it ended up the way that he wanted it to end up, and I think I’d like to see that explored a little bit as to why he’s able to connect with Annie in the way that he does,” Ramamurthy said. “I hope that’s something we can look into.”

Ramamurthy was in “Heroes” and hopes there will be a film to wrap things up.
“I feel like we owe it to the fans who were incredibly loyal and supportive of us through all the ups and downs of ‘Heroes’, it would be nice to do it for them to have some sort of closure,” Ramamurthy said.

He would like to see Jai Wilcox challenged as a character.
“Jai’s pretty by the numbers as far as following the rules and all that and I’d like to see there be some instances where he’s faced with maybe having to do something, that yes is ‘wrong’ but will accomplish something that he knows is right,” Ramamurthy said. “I’d love to see that decision he makes and how he goes about making it to do that.”

As more and more celebrities are using Twitter and social media as a means to connect with fans or push product but Ramamurthy probably won’t be taking it up.
“I can’t see why anybody would be interested in what I’m doing during my day,” Ramamurthy said. “Like I’m having a coffee at the coffee shop; like, who cares?”

Psych Shouts About Everyone Wanting To Rule This Mad World!

2010-09-01T16:24:00.001-05:00

If you a fan of 80s music you know that this blog must have something to do with Tears for Fears. And you'd be correct. On tonight's all-new Psych, airing on USA at 10/9c, Tears for Fears' Curt Smith cameos as himself, and redoes the theme song! I had the opportunity to join in on an interview with Smith yesterday and he had some interesting things to say about Psych, acting, music, and more. Continue past the jump for more.

Tonight's episode, Shawn 2.0, finds Shawn faced with a man (guest star Nestor Carbonell) whose criminal profiling skills rival that of his own - and who also has eyes for Juliet. During the investigation they run into Tears for Fears' Curt Smith playing himself, at least a version of himself.

Smith had plenty to say about the experience of shooting Psych. He said that the opportunity came about when James Roday and Timothy Omudson came to a concert and somehow made it back stage. Smith was already aware of the show as someone, possibly his manager, had sent him the second season episode, American Duos, in which Shawn and Gus perform 'Shout' dressed up as Tears for Fears' Roland Orzabal and Micheal Jackson, respectively. Smith said he thought it was "pretty hilarious, especially the "Sham On."

Smith said he loved shooting and that it was great, even though it was a "boiling hot day." He said unlike videos, it required a lot more "sitting around in a trailer waiting to get called." Possibly the best part was that all the actors, with the exception of Omudson, are a lot like their characters, and it was basically like a two day "frat party."

When asked about the music Smith said recording the theme was a "really enjoyable experience" and that "I made it as retro as I possibly could with some humor." He went on to say that it was different matching it to the credits. "Rhythmically you’ve got to match that so that it all kind of fits in and there’s an explosion and different things. So basically it was a mixture of going back to very old synthesizers and adding some humor to that as well."

When asked about the resurgence of Tears' song "Mad World" in the past few years being in both Donnie Darko and on American Idol Smith said "Well it’s going to get even bigger after tomorrow night when it’s in Psych also. But it will be the acoustic version of it, not to give the plot away or anything. But I mean it - it’s gratifying I guess. I mean it’s a testament to the strength of the song that it can be done in various different ways and it still has the same, you know, emotional draw. You know, I like to hear other people’s versions of it providing they’re good. And I think that, you know, Gary Jules’ version was great, Gary and Michael Andrews. And I think that Adam Lambert kind of did their version of it more than he did our version of it which I thought was, you know, pretty cool also. So, you know, I’m good with it."

To see Smith's cameo, hear an acoustic version of "Mad World" and hear the all new Curt Smith version of the Psych Theme, tune in tonight at 10/9c on USA.

The Last Exorcism Drives Out The Boredom From Theater

2010-08-29T13:16:00.005-05:00

“The Last Exorcism” follows in the faux documentary footsteps of “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity” and takes the demon out of the screen and into the theater.

“The Last Exorcism” stars Patrick Fabian as Rev. Cotton Marcus, a man whose family have traditionally been preachers with a knack for exorcisms. Marcus has performed exorcisms but does not believe in their power or in demons. He does them as a placebo treatment to help families heal, a way for them to move on because they think the hand of God has flushed the demon out. Marcus becomes disturbed after reading that a young boy was suffocated and killed during an exorcism. Marcus hires two documentary filmmakers to film an exorcism to show the world that it is not real in an effort to save lives.

Marcus receives a letter from Louis Herthum about his daughter Nell who is possessed by a demon. While looking for the farm, Marcus stops and asks a boy for directions, the boy says, “Take a u-turn and go back from where you came.” Marcus and the filmmakers proceed to find Herthum’s house. Marcus meets the family and shows the filmmakers all the tricks to put on the show for the exorcism. He performs an exorcism on Nell and is paid for his services. Marcus and the film crew drive off and get a motel for the night. Later that night Nell shows up in Marcus’s motel room in some sort of sleepwalking episode. This pulls Marcus back in to find out what is really going on.

Producer Eli Roth has developed a genuinely terrifying film. The first thirty minutes to an hour is character development. This time gives you a reason to care for all of these characters. Most of the film is nuance and imprints of the terror that is happening at the farm. It is a slow burn that gives you goose bumps. This kind of tension keeps you scared as opposed to a million jump scares that horror movies have resorted to in the last decade.

The faux documentary horror film is booming right now because it isn’t overused and we know how to decipher it. “Paranormal Activity” was a very good scare and audiences loved it. “The Blair Witch Project”, the first film of its kind back in 1999 suffered because no one knew what to make of it. The hype could never be matched. There were stories of people vomiting in the theater it was so scary. Then there were rumors that all of this was real, that some people just happened to find these tapes of a documentary crew. No movie could match that kind of anticipation.

“The Last Exorcism” proves that you can make a scary movie with the notion that less is more. Some viewers may want to know more about Marcus or more details about Nell or other characters. If it weren’t for the documentary style, you would get that. Even in the documentary style you could get that, but then it becomes forced. “The Last Exorcism” works because it works on shoestring exposition. The mystery of the film is what makes it haunting.

Live from the Red Carpet: The 62nd Emmy Awards

2010-08-29T12:00:00.004-05:00

The Emmys are tonight! And starting at 4:00PM PT /7:00 PM ET you'll be able to watch the Red Carpet live right here! Sure you could watch it on NBC, but here you'll see things you won't see on TV! What kind of things? I don't know it's live so anything could happen! Hit the jump to enjoy the video, check out the social stream, or chat with other Emmy fans!

The Emmy's Are Coming!

2010-08-26T10:25:00.002-05:00

The 62nd Primetime Emmy's are this Sunday on NBC with Jimmy Fallon at the helm. And today I've got a couple of announcements coming from NBC and including a video featuring Fallon himself.

First up, Fallon is asking fans and Emmy viewers to join in on the live event by submitting a funny line via Twitter. Basically it works like this. You go to this website, sign in to your twitter account, pick a presenter and tweet something funny about them. If your line is chosen Jimmy will read it in hit introduction of that presenter. You can get more info at the site above or via the video from Jimmy below:

If backstage access is more your thing than you may be excited to know that for the first time there will be a companion show, "Backstage Live @ Emmys" streaming live online. Seven cameras positioned in various areas backstage at the Emmys will "eavesdrop" and capture exciting moments and candid reactions from television's biggest stars. Viewers will be able to see nominees, presenters and performers prepare to take the stage on the most anticipated night in television. Another unprecedented Emmy first is the live "thank you" camera, where Emmy Award winners will be able to express their emotions and continue their speeches once they walk off the stage. The show is sure to add a totally new level of interaction with the stars throughout the night. The show will stream on Emmys.com, NBC.com, and Ustream.com.

NBC will also be streaming a live Red Carpet show before the Emmys. NBC is teaming up with Ustream to bring viewers an exclusive look at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards red-carpet action with a special live webcast airing Sunday, Aug. 29 (4:00PM PT /7:00 PM ET) here. Viewers can experience all the red carpet excitement with a one-hour live event that will capture un-interrupted glitz and glamour as celebrities arrive and are interviewed as they walk down the red carpet of the star-studded event in Los Angeles. Fans from around the world can experience the event first-hand and interact by posting comments and questions using Ustream's Social Stream or chat. I will also be posting the stream on my site this Sunday, so come back here to check it out.

Betty White is Confused

2010-08-25T15:43:00.000-05:00

Last season brought us several great new shows the biggest of which are probably Glee and Modern Family. But last season also brought us a show that hasn't been in the pubic eye as much, but which is as funny or funnier than those other shows on a weekly basis. I'm talking about Community, NBC's fantastic series about a community college starring Joel McHale, and a hilarious cast.

Community's second season kicks off on Thursday, September 23rd with guest star Betty White. The new promo, which you can see below, shows White getting a little confused about which show she's going to be on. With all the press of that other show set at a school it's easy to see how White might get confused.

Leverage Season 3 Now on TNT

2010-08-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

In the past few years cable TV has starting bringing us some of the best programs on TV, and especially in the realm of summer and winter TV when most network programing is in repeats or giving us junk like American's Got Talent or The Gates. One of the shining stars among those cable networks is TNT, which continues to bring us more and more great shows like HawthoRNe, Dark Blue, and my personal favorite Leverage.

If you haven't been watching, Leverage is the tale of former insurance investigator Nate Ford (Timothy Hutton) and his merry band of criminals: Eliot (Christian Kane), the muscle, Hardison (Aldis Hodge), the tech support, Parker (Beth Riesgraf), the thief, and Sophie (Gina Bellman), the con-woman. Each week the series follows the team as they con someone, usually out of their money. But rather than using their skills to benefit themselves, the team is usually working for the little man or woman who have been hurt in some way.

I've always been a fan of movies and shows about cons, as its always a blast to try and figure out what is actually going on, and what the long con really is. Leverage is probably the best show in this genre I've seen in a long time and it never disappoints in its weekly cons. It also helps that the cast of characters assembled on screen is a riot to spend an hour with.

Currently in its 3rd season, Leverage air on Sunday nights at 9/8c. On this week's all new episode, Sophie must face her past, as the Leverage team go after a black market antiquities trafficker who takes advantage of refugee children.

In honor of its on-going season TNT has supplied me with a great looking prize, a copy of The Con Artist's Handbook. To win all you have to do is send me an email telling me you're favorite show or movie about con artists. You have until this 11:59pm this Sunday, August 29th to enter. Now for the legal info: Contest is open to US residents over the age of 18. Prizes are supplied by the Leverage team at TNT. One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. The winner will be contact on Monday, August 30th.

DVD/Blu-Ray Roundup: HIMYM Season 5, SGU Season 1, & Troll 2

2010-08-24T16:12:00.000-05:00

There are a few great releases headed to shelves at the end of next month/beginning of October and below we've got info on three of them for you. One is a cult classic beloved for its awfulness, one is the first season of a spin-off of a beloved show, and one the newest season of one of my most beloved shows. You might have noticed a theme, in that all three are beloved in some way, by someone.

How I Met Your Mother Season 5

How I Met Your Mother has been one of my favorite shows for the past five years. And while this past year had some rough patches with Ted being a bit of a douche, it also had some amazing episodes like the season finale, Doppelgangers. The season was also full of some great emotional moments like the very end of 'Of Course' when Barney gives his perfect date to Robin and her new beau. Plus it had the shows 100 episode, Girls vs. Suits, which featured an amazing musical number.

The 5th season hit shelves on September 21, with legendary bonus features including the trailer for The Wedding Bride, the fictional film based on an exaggerated and one-sided version of Ted’s breakup with Stella from season four, behind the scenes of the 100th episode, a blooper/gag reel, commentary and more.

Stargate Universe Season 1

SyFy's Stargate SG-1 is probably one of the most popular science-fiction shows of the past 20 years. A spin-off of the the 1994 film, the series ran for 10 successful seasons. This past year brought us Stargate Universe or SG-U, a spin-off starring Robert Carlyle, which offers an in-depth look at human nature and the inner struggle between right and wrong.

The complete first season, which hits shelves on October 5, showcases all 20 episodes, and features an extended pilot with never-before-seen footage, exclusive behind-the-scenes featurettes, video diaries and commentary on every episode. In addition, fans can enjoy Blu-ray exclusive special features such as extra Destiny SML (Star Map Log) and the SGU: Survival Instinct Game. The brand new interactive game challenges players to use their knowledge, intelligence and skillfulness to jump through a series of time loops in order to return to the Destiny.

Troll 2

And finally we have Troll 2, a movie I have been dying to see for quite some time. If you've ever heard of this movie, it's probably because it's considered one of the worst movies of all time. It's so bad that people all across the country get together to celebrate its awesome horribleness. In fact the new documentary, Best Worst Movie, chronicles how the movie became a cult classic, and how it's cult status has affected those involved with the production.

The movie follows young Joshua Waits, who has been warned by his grandfather’s ghost that his family is about to embark on a dangerous vacation to the town of Nilbog. Although he tries to stop them, Joshua fails to make his parents see that there is something suspicious about the town. The residents are extremely friendly, but are constantly trying to feed the Waits with strange, green delicacies. Joshua soon realizes that the town of Nilbog is actually “goblin” spelled backwards, and that his family has been lured into a trap. With the help of Grandpa Seth, Joshua must save his family from being turned into vegetables and devoured by the vegetarian goblins!

The film hits store on DVD and Blu-ray on October 5.

Early Look: Tonight's Covert Affairs

2010-08-24T12:57:00.000-05:00

USA's newest series Covert Affairs has had it's ups and downs in its freshman season. While the pilot was great the following couple of episodes were merely ok, but recently the series has been hitting it out of the park, and tonight's episode, titled "Communication Breakdown," looks like a Grand Slam.

Dubbed "the Auggie episode" by some, the episode centers heavily on Christopher Gorham's character as a citywide technology blackout hits D.C. The blackout comes at a bad time as the city is hosting a conference between the government and hackers from across the globe. When the blackout is traced back to Auggie's ex-girlfriend, Natasha, he gets his wish to be sent back into the field. The episode has been getting great reviews, especially for one particular fight scene, which sounds amazing.

I was hoping to have a review for you here today, but I've been having technical issues and haven't had a chance to watch the episode myself. Instead I'll be tuning in to USA tonight at 10/9c to see if the episode is as good as I've heard. I recommend you do the same. Below you'll find a preview and a scene from tonight's episode.

TV Tonight: TNT's Hawthorne and Memphis Beat

2010-08-24T12:55:00.021-05:00

TNT's summer programing winds down they are pulling out all the stops to bring us some of the best summer finale's around. Tonight brings the end of another season of two great dramas, HawthoRNe and Memphis Heat. So what's in store for your favorite quirky nurses and Elvis-obsessed officer's of the law? Check out a preview from tonight's episode of Hawthorne after the cut for a look, then tune in to TNT tonight starting at 9/8c to find out.

"Bond of Silence" Premieres Tonight on Lifetime!

2010-08-23T14:49:00.000-05:00

You're probably asking yourself, why is there a post on this site about anything airing on Lifetime? While normally I wouldn't go anywhere near Lifetime, as it's just not my cup of tea, tonight's all new original movie, Bond of Silence, actually has me pretty intrigued.
Kim Raver stars as Katy McIntosh, a woman whose husband, Bob (David Cubitt), is mysteriously murdered while trying to quell a wild teenage house party on New Year’s Eve. Searching for answers about her husband’s death, Katy faces a shroud of secrecy from the teens and their protective parents as they attempt to prevent her from finding out the truth. Greg Grunberg stars as Paul Jackson, the detective helping Katy uncover the secrets behind what really happened.

"Sure it's got Kim Raver and Greg Grunberg, but it's on Lifetime." is what I thought to myself when I first heard about this movie, but then I saw the preview, located below, and I was intrigued. So tonight at 9/8c my DVR will be recording this murder mystery. You can find out more about the movie at it's Official Site.

Will you be tuning in tonight? Does the preview peak your interest like it has mine? Let me know your thoughts, as well as what you think of the movie, if you tune in, in the comments section.

New to Blu: Diary of a Wimpy Date Night

2010-08-20T15:08:00.000-05:00

Over the last couple of weeks several great movies have hit shelves. Two of those movies I've had a chance to watch on Blu-Ray, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Date Night. One is a whimsical fairy tale and the other is a kid's movie.

Date Night stars Tina Fey and Steve Carell as Phil and Claire Foster, a married couple who, like a lot of married couples, have fallen into a sexless, boring rut. They go out for a date every couple of weeks and eat at the same place, have the same food, and come home to quickly fall asleep. But one night, they decide to mix it up and head into The City (you know New York). They head to the newest upscale restaurant, which they can't get into as they have no reservations. Trouble starts when they steal someone else's table and get mistaken for them.

And that's where the whimsy and fairtale ideals start to seep into an otherwise real life tale. Only this is a modern fairytale, so there are no unicorns, magical creatures, or witches. Instead there are Audi R8 sports cars, helpful men who look like Mark Whalberg, and dirty cops. There's also no prince and princess who meet and fall madly in love and living happily ever after. Instead there's a rekindling of the flame the Foster's had let dwindle. In fact I'd say its a fairy tale for married couples, with the moral, that sometimes to save our relationships we have to try new things, and maybe have an adventure.

Then there's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, based on the best selling book series. The movie follows Greg Huffley as he tries to make the transition to middle school. The movie is clearly for kids in elementary and middle school, but I have to be honest, I thought it was a very cute movie, and one I didn't turn off.

The movie features a great supporting cast including, Rachel Harris, Steve Zahn, and the new It girl, Chloe Grace Moretz. But it's Zachary Gordon as the title whimpy kid who steals the movie. He does a great job playing a kid who clearly thinks a bit too much of himself. As the school year goes one he finally realizes his place in his class, and with grace comes to accept it.

As far as live action kid movies go, it's way ahead of the competition, and it's funny enough to keep the adults entertained as well. It's a great one to watch for a family movie night.

The Emmy's Are Gonna Be Mad, Man!

2010-08-20T10:44:00.000-05:00

The Makers of Piranha 3D Are My Heroes!

2010-08-20T10:04:00.000-05:00

Jerry O'Connell as Not Joe Francis in Piranha 3D

Yep, you read the headline correctly, the writers, producers, stars, etc of Piranha 3D are officially my new heroes, and not because they made a horrible looking B movie filled with nudity and gore. No instead they are my new heroes because they have upset a man I believe is one of the most reprehensible human beings on the planet, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis.

Scumbag who preys on young, drunk girls

In the new movie, out today, Jerry O'Connell plays a character which is best described as Joe Francis, or at least someone very closely based on Francis. The character is described as "a soft-core pornographer, looking for young women with tight bikinis and loose morals to put on on-camera shows." Yep, sounds like Mr. Francis to me.

Well apparently Francis, and his attorneys aren't very pleased and have sent a letter to The Weinstein Company's legal department demanding that all involved with the movie :refrain from maligning Mr. Francis in promoting the film or otherwise." They then go on to say that "any defamatory or disparaging statements; or depictions, in the media or the film itself, or statements that portray Mr. Francis in a false light, will be met with swift litigation to recover substantial damages, including punitive damages to discourage such conduct in the future." So basically if anyone associated with the flick says anything to defame of disparage Joe Francis, they will be met with a lawsuit.

My only question is how on earth could anyone possibly defame or disparage Joe Francis? He's already the one of the lowest human beings on the planet. Is there really any chance that his good name will be besmirched?

What are your thoughts? Is Joe Francis in any danger of having his name dragged through the mud? Are he and his lawyers overreacting? Am I foolish for depicting him as a scum bag who preys on young drunk girls and someone with little to no human emotions? Is the casting almost too perfect?

Scott Pilgrim vs Itself?

2010-08-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

This past weekend saw the release of 3 new movies, The Expendables, Eat, Pray, Love, and Scott Pilgrim vs The World. It was fairly easy to predict which movie would come out on top, as action movies typically do good, especially during the summer. What wasn't easy to predict was just how bad Scott Pilgrim, one of the most original movies of the past few years, would perform at the box office.

What is especially vexing is that if we look at the reviews for the movie things should be quite different. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Scott Pilgrim is the 2nd best reviewed movie currently in the top ten, second to only Inception. In fact with an 81% rating, Scott Pilgrim has a score which is twice as good as both The Expendable and Eat, Pray, Loven which have ratings of 41% and 39% respectively.

So what exactly is the problem with the movie, and why didn't it fair well at the box office, when it's had a ton of praise in the past couple of months? I honestly have no clue, but many are pointing to it's limited appeal and horrible marketing. You can see what others thought here, here, here, and here.

Personally I think marketing has a lot to do with it. While I was enthralled by everything I saw, I know people, such as my wife, who I think would genuinely like the movie, who saw the trailers and tv ads and said it looked ridiculous. And let's be honest, a movie where a guy must fight his new girlfriend's 7 evil exs, is a bit ridiculous, but in a fun way.

Here's my plea, if you like romance, comedy, action, or old 8-bit video games check the movie out. It is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time (a review is forthcoming), and I'd have already seen it twice if it wasn't an hour drive each way to see it.

Now it's your turn: If you didn't see the movie this past weekend, and especially if you have no plans to see it at all, how come? Was it the marketing of the film? Was it Micheal Cera? Let me know in the comments section.

SyFy Sneak Peek: Week of August 17th

2010-08-17T13:23:00.000-05:00

I've got a look at this week's brand new episodes of SyFy's Ghost Hunters International, Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, and Eureka after the break.

Ghost Hunters International

This week's all new episode titled "Pirates of the Caribbean" see the team ready to set sail and explore the Caribbean waters for ghosts. The episode airs Tomorrow, August 18^th @ 9/8C on Syfy.

Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files

This week's episode, The Caretaker, is the series summer finale and finds the team facing it's most mysterious case yet. The episode airs Thursday, August 19^th @ 10/9C on Syfy

Eureka

This week's all new episode, Stoned, sees the rivalry for Allison between Carter and Grant rises to new heights. The episode airs Friday, August 20^th @ 9/8C on Syfy.

Contest Alert: TBS' My Boys

2010-08-17T12:56:00.001-05:00

My Boys is back for Season 4!!! The TBS hit comedy centers on group of close friends who always make time to get together, drink beer, play their weekly poker game and support each other through the ups and downs of dating, break-ups and career highs and lows. Continue past the break for more info on the series and details on how you can win Season 2 & 3 on DVD as well as some My Boys playing cards.

Season 3 ended with the gang in Arizona for the Cubs spring training game. Brendan is threatened by a professional baseball player meanwhile sparks fly between Kenny and Stephanie, Mike tries his best to get a base hit off a professional pitcher and Bobby helps P.J. write her best article yet. As the group returns to Chicago, Bobby and P.J. stumble upon Kenny and Stephanie kissing...

As a new season blossoms, the friends continue to joke around, bond over beer and poker and have fun, but this time around, they also have to face the realities of life – financial issues, career decisions, and getting into serious relationships.

If you want to get caught up on the show, I've got the perfect way for you to do so. Simply send me an email and tell me which is your favorite 'Boy' and why. One entrant will be chosen at random to receive My Boys Seasons 2 & 3 on DVD and a set of Playing Cards, so you can gather your own boys to have a weekly poker game. You have until 11:59pm on Sunday, August 29th to enter.

Catch new episodes of My Boys every Sunday night at 10/9 central on TBS. Grab a beer and tune in or set your DVR to watch their latest trials and tribulations.

CW to Air Concert Honoring Gulf Coast Residents

2010-08-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Fresh off his Comedy Central Roast, David Hasselhoff will host a one-hour special paying tribute to the people of Mississippi and the entire Gulf region. The special will air on The CW on Friday, August 27, at 8/7c. Get full details after the break.

THE CW TO AIR “THE GULF IS BACK,”

AN INSPIRING TRIBUTE CONCERT HONORING THE COURAGE OF GULF COAST RESIDENTS,

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 8:00-9:00 PM ET

photo credit: Paul Gregory

David Hasselhoff Hosts the One-Hour Special

Filled with Musical Performances and Real-Life Stories of Resiliency

In the Face of an Environmental Disaster

Dean Cain, Shannon Elizabeth and B.B. King will appear, along with musical acts including Lonestar, Ricky Skaggs, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice and Brian McKnight

August 17, 2010 (Burbank, CA) – The CW Network will air THE GULF IS BACK, an emotionally charged one-hour special paying tribute to the people of Mississippi and the entire Gulf region, on Friday, August 27 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET).

Actor and singer David Hasselhoff will host the special, which focuses on the resiliency of the residents of the Gulf Coast region and how they are bouncing back from the worst oil spill in the nation’s history while working tirelessly to restore their communities and lives.

Musical performances filmed during two days of free concerts at the Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi will include such artists as Lonestar, Ricky Skaggs, Bo Bice, Taylor Hicks, Ace Young, Kyle and Chris Massey, Terri Clark, Drake Bell and Brian McKnight. The show will also feature special appearances by stars including Dean Cain, Shannon Elizabeth and B.B. King, along with moving real-life stories of the heroic actions taken by everyday people to overcome problems caused by the devastating oil spill. Additional stars will be joining the show and filming segments during the next week.

The special is produced by Associated Television International and will air in HD.

What Is The Event?

2010-08-17T09:36:00.002-05:00

In the past week or so NBC has released a huge onslaught of videos for The Event, including behind the scenes looks, Fan Q&A's, and much, MUCH more. Today I've got a round-up of those videos, which you can see after the jump. Personally The Event is one of the shows I'm most excited about this season, it is definitely the best thing I've seen out of NBC so far.

Promo:

The Event: The Attack is Already Underway

Behind The Scenes:

Introductions

And So It Begins: Shooting Day 1

Crashing Cars: Shooting Day 3

Shooting Day 4: The Presidential Retreat

Fan Q&A

Scott & Zeljko

Sarah & Jason

Blair & Laura

Contest Reminder: Covert Affairs

2010-08-17T09:23:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder you have until 11/10c tonight to enter the Covert Affairs Contest. Details are below. All entrants are limited to three entries. Details after the Jump.

USA has given me a prize pack to give away. All you have to do to win is follow me on Twitter and ReTweet this message before Tuesday, August 17th at 11/10c, immediately following that night's episode of Covert Affairs. One winner will be chosen at random. Here's what up for grabs:

Covert Affairs Gift Bag including:
Tumi Maps Set
Hard Cover Spy Book
Covert Affairs Hat
Covert Affairs T-Shirt

USA Network has your Tuesdays covered with the best looking night on television with the new hit series Covert Affairs at 10pm. COVERT AFFAIRS stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher , Kari Matchett, Anne Dudek and Sendhil Ramamurthy. Visit the official Covert Affairs website for games, photos and weekly prizes. Visit USA Network’s Character Arcade to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

Now for the Legal Stuff:
- Open to residents of the U.S. & Canada
- Prizes courtesy of USA Network. Covert Affairs prize pack value: $150

Leonardo DiCaprio: Inception's Totem

2010-08-13T11:18:00.010-05:00

by Scotty Coppage

“Inception” is everything a studio could want after a $200 million gamble on Christopher Nolan’s dream filled film. The focus of the film is the character Cobb played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Is this film a success because of Leo? Could anyone have played Cobb as well? George Clooney and Brad Pitt are getting a little long in the tooth for this kind of ride though they both could have done well. Keanu Reeves might have brought more Johnny Mnemonic and less Neo. Ten years ago Tom Cruise may have been able to pull it off, but he currently treads safer ground than this.

The key to DiCaprio's success, his his ability to choose films that rarely revolve around him alone, but rather hinge on great story, directors and other actors.

He did gritty dramas in his youth never a “High School Musical”, “American Pie” or even “Rushmore.” His stepfather was crazy Robert De Niro in “This Boy’s Life.” With “Titanic”, he had James Cameron and the most expensive film of all time. “Titanic” proved everyone wrong and DiCaprio was a big reason the film grew Olympian legs and became the highest grossing film of all time. Girls were in love with Leo. They couldn’t get enough of him. He had another film done before the Titanic phenomenon, “The Man in the Iron Mask”, a film that had no right to make $50 million, but it did on Leo power alone.

The actor had the world at his feet. He didn’t overdose or burn out. He took a year off, let things cool down knowing he could make any film he wanted if he played his cards right. His first film back was “The Beach” which only pulled in $39 million. It wasn’t the “Titanic” success but he got to work with Danny Boyle on a good story based off a great book. When “The Beach” underperformed, I’m sure every suit and handler wanted to pull back and put Leo in some romantic comedies, exploit his heartthrob status. Leo has never been in a romantic comedy. The one romance he was in ended in a double suicide. Still nothing wrong with romantic comedies, Matthew McConaughey makes his living trading his acting chops for biceps and Kate Hudson films.

Instead of pulling back, Leo did “Gangs of New York”, a film Martin Scorsese had been trying to make for 20 years. This would be the first of four Scorsese films in ten years. “Gangs of New York” wasn’t exactly gold at the box office. It only took in $77 million. There is an anomaly that gets forgotten though. “Gangs of New York” opened on Christmas Day against Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can” starring DiCaprio. “Catch Me If You Can” also had Tom Hanks and was a fun more accessible film than “Gangs.” It’s possible “Gangs” would have made more if Leo hadn’t been pitted against himself but the film had already been delayed a year due to the corrupt firemen and policemen in the film. “Catch Me If You Can” soared to $164 million.

Leo turned to the well of Scorsese in the underrated “The Aviator” playing Howard Hughes. The film played better bringing home $102 million.

In 2006, Leo reteamed with Scorsese again for “The Departed” this time with Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg. “The Departed” is a flawless film with great performances by everyone involved. Every scene is brilliant, with not a single frame wasted. “Blood Diamond” was released directed by Edward Zwick in a film that gave awareness to how everyday diamonds are finding their way to our malls and stores. It took in $57 million.

On paper, “Body of Lies” looked like it would be great. Russell Crowe and DiCaprio directed by Ridley Scott. This movie didn’t resonate with audiences, bringing in only $40 million. In 2008, he reteamed with Kate Winslet for “Revolutionary Road” directed by Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”, “Road to Perdition”). This is not a romance or romantic comedy but a hard drama about an unfulfilling marriage. Oscar nominations and Golden Globes all around but just managed to pull $22 million.

2010 has been a great year for DiCaprio. “Shutter Island” is Scorsese’s biggest opening to date with $120 million. “Inception” opened at $60 million.

Leo stands apart from other actors because of his edge, the gritty intensity he brings to every film. He has been able to show us something different each film. His nose for a good project is as close to perfect. As king of the world, he had offers for everything from Anakin Skywalker to Spiderman. He passed. After ten years audiences can now see he made the right choice. Skywalker would have cut Leo off at the knees. Commitment to the Star Wars prequels would have preluded his work with Scorsese. In the same manner, “Spiderman” had Tobey Maguire locked up for a decade robbing years from his talent and our enjoyment of the same. Christian Bale is good but loses a few notches for John Connor, bringing nothing to the role. (But regaining points by working with Nolan.)

In the late nineties, Ben Affleck was in the race for biggest movie star but he never saw a script he didn’t like. Edward Norton does some great work but he doesn’t do enough of it and Ryan Gosling isn’t in enough films to be in the conversation. Mark Wahlberg is great with a great director. Wahlberg was excellent in “Boogie Nights”, “The Perfect Storm”, “I Heart Huckabees” and “The Departed” but he has also been in “Shooter” and “Max Payne.” Let's not forget his idiotic performance in "Planet of the Apes."

The only actor working the same formula as DiCaprio is Matt Damon, but is he a box office powerhouse? He is not a box office lock unless "Bourne" or "Oceans" is in the title. Damon was in an Edward Zwick film “Courage Under Fire”, a Speilberg film “Saving Private Ryan” and Scorsese’s “The Departed.” He even has his own Scorsese in Steven Soderbergh with whom he has made multiple films. Matt Damon has shown an ability to be selective with scripts and not just doing every film offered. He still lacks Leo’s edge. It’s very possible Damon could have played Cobb in “Inception” but would he have been able to bring the intensity Leo did?

Leo’s brilliance is in knowing he has to do good stories with good directors and actors. His “Titanic” status was able to take him out of Sundance films forever and allow him to take interesting chances with studio money. Even when he underperforms at the box office, it is with ambition and the intent to make a great film in mind, the polar opposite of Nic Cage. Leo has played his cards right for over ten years which puts him in a great position for the next ten years, and that is good for cinema and audiences alike.

NBC's New Fall Series

2010-08-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

NBC has a ton of new series heading to your screen this fall. Last week I came home to find a package containing pilots for many of these series. To get you ready I've got some thoughts on some of the shows, as well as some videos for your enjoyment. Because all of the pilots I've seen are rough cuts I'm not going to do a full review, but just give you some thoughts on them. Get all the info after the jump.

The Event (Mondays 9/8c)
This was the first pilot I watched as it's probably the NBC series I'm most excited about. I can tell you the pilot lived up to my expectations. In fact the pilot for The Event, did what any good pilot should do, it got me excited for episode 2. In fact, I was kind of upset I got to watch it early, because it means I have to wait that much longer to find out what happened. The mystery is intriguing and while I still have no clue what is going on, I am dying to know more. Also, the cast is fantastic, featuring Blair Underwood (Dirty Sexy Money), Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls), Laura Innes (ER), Sarah Roemer (Fired Up!, Disturbia), and Zeljko Ivanek (True Blood, Damages, Any Show Needing a Bad Guy), among others. But among all this talent its Jason Ritter (Parenthood, The Class) steals the show. It helps that he has the most compelling story line, but he's also just such a like able actor that you can't wait for the show to return to his story. All in all I'm dying to see episode 2.
You can get a look at The Event below:

The Disappearance

The CIA Cover-Up

The Assassination Plot

Chase (Mondays 10/9c)
Chase follows Annie Frost, a US Marshall, as she chases fugitives across the country. A case of the week style procedural, but with the ability to hop locations, and likely, given the name, a lot of emphasis on chase scenes. Kind of like Criminal Minds, but without each week being about a serial killer. The characters are interesting, and the mystery of Annie's past my be enough to keep viewers coming back.
Here's a Sneak Peek:

Undercovers (Wednesdays 8/7c)
JJ Abrams, the mastermind behind Felicity, Alias, and to some extent Lost, bring us a new spin on the spy genre. Steven and Samantha Bloom (Boris Kodjoe, Soulfood and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Doctor Who, respectively) are a married couple who own a catering business. They've clearly been married for years, and are kind of stuck in a rut. But the old spark is rekindled when the CIA, their former employer, comes calling to help them find a former colleague. The pilot was entertaining, but was a little too stand-alone for me, and the end really didn't make me feel a need to return for episode 2. But Kodjoe and Mbatha-Raw do a great job as a married couple who find they don't know everything about their spouse, like they thought they did.

Full Length Preview:

Sneak Peek:

Outlaw (Fridays 10/9c)
Also heading to TV's this Fall is Jimmy Smit's (Dexter, NYPD Blue) new series, Outlaw. Smits stars as a Supreme Court Justice, who's sick and tired of stepping on the little guy and decides to step down from the Supremes and form his own law firm. I have a rough cut of the pilot sitting on my mantel, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. But considering the show co-stars another Dexter alum, David Ramsey (not the Finance Guru), and CineManiac favorite's Carly Pope (Popular) and Jesse Bradford (Bring It On, Hackers) I'm pretty psyched to watch it. Check out a preview below:

Contest: Covert Affairs

2010-08-02T10:54:00.007-05:00

In case you weren't aware, USA's newest series Covert Affairs is wonderful. The series stars the beautiful Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly) and the always wonderful Christopher Gorham (Popular, Ugly Betty, Harper's Island). Perabo plays Annie a new CIA recruit who had a former romantic connection to a mysterious man, which I assume will be the source of a lot of mystery this season. Gorham is he friend, and tech expert, Auggie, who happens to be blind. The series follows Annie as she learns how to be a spy in the field. Read more, including how to win a Covert Affairs prize pack, after the break.

The first 3 episodes have aired and if you missed them you can catch up on Hulu or check out the mini-marathon from 12:30/11:30c to 4:00/3:00c on USA tomorrow. In tomorrow night's episode (10/9c), No Quarter, Annie is stranded in Zurich with a Mossad agent she can't trust, and while Auggie tries to bring her home, Arthur (Peter Gallagher) and Joan (Kari Matchett) track a leak within the CIA and all signs point to Auggie!

To celebrate the new series USA has given me a prize pack to give away. All you have to do to win is follow me on Twitter and ReTweet this message before Tuesday, August 17th at 11/10c, immediately following that night's episode of Covert Affairs. One winner will be chosen at random. Here's what up for grabs:

Covert Affairs Gift Bag including:
Tumi Maps Set
Hard Cover Spy Book
Covert Affairs Hat
Covert Affairs T-Shirt

USA Network has your Tuesdays covered with the best looking night on television with the new hit series Covert Affairs at 10pm. COVERT AFFAIRS stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher , Kari Matchett, Anne Dudek and Sendhil Ramamurthy. Visit the official Covert Affairs website for games, photos and weekly prizes. Visit USA Network’s Character Arcade to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

Now for the Legal Stuff:
- Open to residents of the U.S. & Canada
- Prizes courtesy of USA Network. Covert Affairs prize pack value: $150

Chuck Full Comic Con Panel

2010-08-02T09:40:00.002-05:00

From all reports, the Chuck Panel at Comic Con was a blast, and for those of us who couldn't make it, the full panel is online, thanks to NBC. You can check out all the Nerd Herding fun below:

Review: Dinner For Schmucks

2010-07-31T14:34:00.003-05:00

Dinner For Schmucks opened this past weekend and Scotty C. Is back with his thoughts on the movie, after the break.

“Dinner For Schmucks” is the comedy of the summer that works the laughs with a sweet center at its core.

Paul Rudd plays Tim, an analyst looking to get promoted so he can marry the girl of his dreams Julie (Stephanie Szostak). After speaking up in a meeting about a possible account, the boss Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood) likes Tim’s take and invites him to a secret dinner. At the dinner, everyone brings a guest that is an idiot and the party becomes a night of laughing at these people. If Tim brings a great guest to the dinner, he is assured the promotion. It just so happens that Tim runs Barry (Steve Carrell) over with his car while he is picking up a dead mouse off the street. After an ideal conversation after a car wreck involving Barry paying Tim to not get lawyers involved, Tim invites Barry to the dinner in two nights.

Barry is a taxidermist in his spare time putting together dioramas of mice. He is almost like a savant in that as irrational or hopeless he seems, he isn’t without some good ideas.

Tim’s girlfriend is an art curator and right now she is working with Kieran (Jemaine Clement), an unconventional artist whose artistic process involves lots of sex. Tim is threatened by Kieran and with good reason, he has his sights set on Julie.

Barry shows up to Tim’s apartment one night before the dinner telling him that no one was at that address. Tim tries to tell him that the dinner was the next night. Barry is not convinced. The sheer act of allowing Barry into Tim’s apartment opens a Pandora’s Box of disaster for Tim. Throughout the film, Barry always has a solution that just might work.

I will leave it at that because this movie is best left spoiler free going in much like “Inception.”

This is the biggest cast in a movie since “The Invention of Lying” (seriously that film had a great cast even though it was a mediocre film.) No fear here. This movie delivers. The cast is a stacked deck of great comedy actors. Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell are heavyweights. Ron Livingston from “Office Space.” Zach Galifianakis from “The Hangover.” Jemaine Clement from “Flight of the Concords.” Larry Wilmore and Kristen Shaal from “The Daily Show.” And Bruce Greenwood from “Firehouse Dog.”

Director Jay Roach has made his living off the “Austin Powers” and “Fockers” franchises so it’s great to see him make an original film. Oh yeah, this isn’t totally original. It’s a remake of the French film, “The Dinner Game.” Critics have been mixed on this movie. Maybe “The Dinner Game” is great. I haven’t seen it. Maybe this is the equivalent to a Chris Rock remake of “Down To You” or “Death at a Funeral.”

Judging this movie on its own merit, it is funny but what makes this movie stand out from most comedies that are applying the Judd Apatow gross out effect is this film has a soul. You feel for the characters you are supposed to care for. You’re invested in Barry and Tim like a 401K. The sweet center is the ingredient that will pull women into the film and it should have a great weekend at the box office.

Whedon Projects Heading Home

2010-07-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

Me & Joss Whedon During the Writer's Strike

Joss Whedon is brilliant.

If you have watched any of Whedon's projects in the past you probably know the above statement to be true. From co-writing (and winning an Academy Award) for Toy Story to creating Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, Dollhouse, & Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, or his work on other's creations such as Marvel's Astonishing X-Men and Runaways, Whedon is always at the top of his game.

He's also the master of taking a failure in one medium and creating a cult classic in another. Witness the life of Buffy, it started out as a failed movie, was turned into a long running, cult classic television series that was a hit with critics, and now it's a several year long Comic book.

Now 2 of Whedon's projects are heading to your home. On October 12 Dollhouse Season 2 hits shelves on DVD and Blu-ray and on January 4th the 8th Season of Buffy does the same.
Dollhouse is Joss Whedon’s take on the ultimate identity theft and follows a cast of Actives, or Dolls, who serve as agents of Dollhouse, an illegal underground organization providing elite clientele with programmable human beings. Personality imprints allow Actives to temporarily become anyone or anything—the perfect burglar, lover, spy or assassin. When the mission is completed, memories are wiped clean. The all-star Dollhouse cast is led by Eliza Dushku as Echo (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tru Calling, Angel) and Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard (Battlestar Galactica).

The second season comes with several special features including a retrospective with Joss Whedon and cast roundtable about the series. A gag reel and deleted scenes from top episodes. But probably the coolest, and most anticipated extra is the 28 page exclusive limited edition comic book by Dark Horse Comics.

In the comic, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, joined by longtime Buffy the Vampire Slayer artist Cliff Richards, take us on an intricate trip through the precise moment when the Active technology went global, and how the protagonists from Epitaph One and Two narrowly avoided death, and worse. Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen wrote the Epitaph episodes of Dollhouse Seasons One and Two, and currently write for the Starz series Spartacus. This is their first work in comics. Artist Cliff Richards has drawn more Joss Whedon-related comics than any other artist, including issues of Buffy Season Eight.If you don't follow comics, you might be wondering what Buffy season 8 is, as the television series ended with Season 7. Well for the past several years Buffy, as mentioned above, has lived on in comic book form. This 8th season picks up after the destruction of the Hellmouth in the explosive finale of the television series, Buffy and her trusted friend Xander have relocated to a citadel in Scotland to oversee the thousands of newly activated slayers from across the globe. Using their new home as command-central in their fight against evil, Buffy and her allies lead these new slayers as they take on vamps, zombies and now the U.S. government who declare, in the wake of Sunnydale’s destruction, that slayers are nothing more than international terrorists.

Those comics have been turned into Motion Comics, in which the frames from the comic are animated and voice actors read the lines, instead of their being text bubbles. The very first episode of the motion comic series is available now on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com), with new episodes available every week from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. iTunes episodes are available for $.99/$1.99 HD each, or with a season pass for $14.99/$29.99 HD and can be found at www.iTunes.com/Buffy. All 19 episodes will make their official debut on DVD January 4, 2011 which will include limited edition Jo Chen packaging and a collectible reprint of Dark Horse Comic’s first book in the series.

And if that's not enough Jones Soda has created 6 custom themed “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” Motion Comic labels which can be purchased on their website. You can see them below:

As a big fan of Whedon I can honestly say I'm eagerly awaiting these releases.

Chuck ComicCon Vids

2010-07-28T13:47:00.002-05:00

If you, like me were unable to attend the awesomeness that is ComicCon this year, you are in luck. NBC has released some videos with the Chuck Cast from their time at ComicCon. Enjoy!

Zachary Levi & Josh Gomes discuss ComicCon

Yvonne Strahovski discusses connecting with the Fans

Adam Baldwin discusses the Fans

Ryan McPartlin (Devon AKA Captain Awesome) & Sarah Lancaster (Elle) discuss the casting of Mama Bartowski

Vic Sahay (Lester) and Scott Krinskyi (Jeff) reveal what super-power they want

Mark Christopher Lawrence (Big Mike)talks about the fans.

NBC's The Event

2010-07-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

I recently got a chance to see a rough cut of NBC's new fall series The Event, and for now all I'll say is it did what a good pilot should, it made me want to see the next episode immediately. Today NBC has released some interviews with the cast and director of The Event from this past weekend's Comic Con. And stay tuned here for more on The Event.

Sarah Roemer talks about Season 1:

Blair Underwood talks about Fan reactions to the pilot:

Jason Ritter talks about Comic-Con

Director Jeffrey Reiner on the globe-trotting aspect of the show

Laura Innes on her first trip to Comic-Con

Back in White: An Interview with Tiffani Thiessen

2010-07-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

After being on two hit shows in the 90s, popular cheerleader Kelly Kapowski on “Saved By the Bell” and the vixen villain Valerie Malone in “Beverly Hills 90210”, Tiffany Thiessen is back on USA’s “White Collar” as Elizabeth Burke. Thiessen took part in a Q&A Session with several bloggers, including our own Scotty C., to talk about the new season of “White Collar” among other things.

The new episodes of “White Collar” have Thiessen excited for what’s in store for her character Elizabeth.

“I would love to explore a little bit more of the history between Peter and Elizabeth and how they met,” Thiessen said. “And possibly maybe a little bit more, I think what they’re wanting to do, which I’m excited about is really starting to see me interact more with Matt’s character as well as Willie’s character.”

After being on “Saved By The Bell” and “Beverly Hills 90210”, it is still hard for Thiessen to get roles.

“When you have a successful show, and thankfully so far I’ve had two and going on my third, that people sometimes have a hard time taking you out of that once it’s over,” Thiessen said. “But I worked really hard to get it and luckily I won the job. I won them over.”

On “White Collar” she gets to play a strong female character and that is what hooked her.

“She really is a woman who takes her marriage, it’s very important to her and her relationship with her husband and her home life, but as well really balances her career,” Thiessen said. “I strive to do that every single day of my life, and now that I add the title ‘Mother’ to it it’s even more so. She’s very diplomatic, which I really like. She’s very reasonable. She seems to be a person that has a sense of knowing where to go down the middle when she’s helping the relationship between Peter and Neal, and I like that about her a lot.”

Thiessen thought she had a great audition for “White Collar” but waited and still hadn’t heard anything.

“I was supposedly on the short list,” Thiessen said. “And they said, ‘Oh, they actually wanted to go a different route. They thought you were too young.’ Then I started hearing some of the girls that were actually going in and auditioning with Tim and they were actually younger than I was. So I was like, wait a minute, that doesn’t sound right. So I actually thought I lost the job, but then supposedly they never found the girl, they were definitely trying to go younger and it didn’t work, and so they called me back again. I did a chemistry read with Tim and we totally hit it off, and I knew it was my job.”

“White Collar” has die-hard fans and Thiessen attributes that to the writers.

“It’s very character driven, which USA strives as a station to be,” Thiessen said. “I think the biggest reason of all is the writing. Our writers are so on top of it and they really make such great scripts that we just so enjoy portraying them live.”

Thiessen has embraced ways to interact with her fans like Twitter as a way to avoid the funnel of tabloid fodder.

“To me I think it’s a much more honest way to really connect with your fan base without it being the horrible magazines out there that might not get the truth right,” Thiessen said. “At least this gives a little bit of an honest glimpse into someone’s life without it being too overdone and too personal. You get to control it, which is what I like about it.

Thiessen collaborated with the writers of “White Collar” for what her Elizabeth’s profession would be.

“Once it got picked up we really tried to explore what exactly would be the best fit for her and for the show,” Thiessen said. “I came up with the event coordinator only because-many reasons. One was I always wanted to do that and personally if I never acted again that was what I wanted to do for a living.”

With “In Plain Sight” and “Covert Affairs”, USA is helping to pave the way for strong character roles.

“This is the first time I’ve ever gotten to work for a cable network, and they’ve been one of the most passionate networks for their shows that I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve been doing this for 26, 27 years,” Thiessen said. “They’re so extremely passionate and very connected to their actors and their writers and their shows. You can see it on screen.”

The writers of “White Collar” have taken a detour from standard television by writing a good marriage for their characters.

“They’ve made the relationship between Peter and Elizabeth a strong marriage, and I don’t think you see that on TV very often. I really admire them,” Thiessen said.

Thiessen’s career span is almost 30 years in the making and thinks roles for middle-aged women have improved.

“I think there’s definitely much more (opportunities for women) in 30s and 40s both,” Thiessen said. “From watching TV myself and watching film myself I see a lot more 30s and 40s on screen, which just makes me very, very, very happy. It’s what we should be watching.”

Between “90210” and “White Collar”, she was in “Fastlane” on Fox.

“Fastlane was totally adrenaline, really fun, it was great, very stylish,” Thiessen said. “Stylish in the sense like ‘White Collar’, but much more in the sense of just the drive of the stunts and things like that. It was a great show. I was actually very sad that it went off. I still to this day get a lot of people not understanding why Fox took it off the air.

Her biggest role remains Kelly Kapowski on “Saved By the Bell” and after all of these years, people are still clamoring for a reunion.

“I think it was really great to do that reunion last year with ‘People’ magazine and we got to see everyone,” Thiessen said. “I definitely still talk to Mark Paul and Elizabeth and Mario, but to have us all together for ‘People’ magazine last year was really fun and I think that was a reunion that we felt was enough. We’re all doing our own projects and doing other things, so I don’t think we’re going to see a reunion in what the public is thinking.”

White Collar air tonight at 9/8C on USA, scroll down for a peek at tonight's all new episode.

Review: Salt

2010-07-23T15:05:00.002-05:00

Scotty C. gives us his take on This Week's new release, Salt, starring Angelina Jolie. Be warned there may be spoilers. (I admit I haven't read it because I'm hoping to see Salt tonight and don't want to know anything.) I may or may not have my own review up sometime this weekend/early next week.

“Salt” begins with Evelyn Salt (Jolie) in a North Korea detainment center pleading with them that she is not a spy as they aggressively interrogate her. Later she is released, in part by her husband willing to go to the media and anyone else to make a big mess out of her imprisonment. Flash forward two years and the building Salt works in is a CIA office. She is looking at an online video for how to fold napkins. She is celebrating her anniversary and wants everything to be just right. Just as Salt and her CIA friend, Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber) are about to walk out of the office, an agent tells them a Russian defector walked in. Salt will talk to him but she has to leave in a half an hour. The defector tells Salt that a Russian spy will kill the Russian President and her name is Evelyn Salt. After hearing this, Winter and Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) working with a different agency detain Salt for questioning only for her to escape.

Supposedly she ran because she is worried about her husband because once an agent’s cover is blown, their whole family is killed. I don’t know if it’s the writing (most likely culprit) or Jolie’s performance but this motive never seems genuine, and not genuine as a psych either. It may have been better if they cut this out of the film in general but maybe they felt that women would want Salt to have a family motive. Why not have an adorable daughter she has to get home to? The fact that she is a potential Russian spy is more interesting than any family issues they have set up.

So now we’re on the run. There is lots of running, climbing and fast cars. None of this equals suspense. What is difficult about the spy genre is if someone is a superspy, you rarely fear for their life. They are trained for every scenario set forth on screen. The plot gets more intricate and layered. You don’t know who is good or who is bad? I’m fine with that. I’m sure the audience is fine with that. I would like the filmmakers to know where we are going though.

Director Phillip Noyce has directed a ton of films in this genre: “The Bone Collector” (another Jolie film that resembles this), “Clear and Present Danger” (I think the worst of the Jack Ryan films) and “Patriot Games”, a good entry into the Jack Ryan franchise with Harrison Ford. Noyce doesn’t direct films with much suspense or uptempo styles. His films run at a slower pace. Now I know why I was thinking about Harrison Ford half the movie. Take a look at “The Fugitive”. It is a simple storyline. There are no double agents, no moles in the government. It’s Richard Kimble and Samuel Gerard. The tagline from IMDB reads: “A murdered wife. A one-armed man. An obsessed detective. The chase begins.” That’s all the movie has and it is a much better film. You are invested in Kimble. You are invested in Gerard. You care about those characters.

Did I ever care about Evelyn Salt? When her husband is missing? No. When you find out about her childhood? Not really. Did I care about her? I don’t know what her motive is so I cannot get attached to her at all. There was a scene where she took her dog before her apartment got gassed by agents and paid a girl to take care of him. That was heartwarming.

How Salt is able to get away from almost every situation is predictable but interesting. This film does get good in the last twenty minutes or so. It finishes rather well. Can a movie be limping along for an hour and a half and wow you in the end and leave you with a good taste in your mouth. Unfortunately, it kinda does.

A movie like this can’t be successful anymore. “24” has done every type of mole inside the government with Jack Bauer saving the day for too many years. This whole genre will have to be reinvented to remain relevant.

I read that before Jolie took this film it was a script for a man. Tom Cruise was going to be in it. So they spend a day changing all the pronouns and the script is for a woman. As I watched it, I wondered if Tom Cruise would’ve been better for this. It was a great decision for Cruise to leave this project. I hope he left it because he saw the director and writer had no idea what they were doing. Obviously Jolie had no problem with it because she was directed by Noyce in “The Bone Collector”. Guess what? That movie is horrible. Much like this movie, it has a twist ending but in “Salt” the ending saves the movie.

The studio will probably be happy. More people were at my noon showing than when I saw “Knight and Day” or “Inception.” Keep your chin up Tom Cruise, ditching this movie means you still have some good judgment.

USA Brings Comic-Con To You!

2010-07-22T10:54:00.002-05:00

Can't attend Comic Con this year, but still want to be able to know what's going on at the USA panels? You're in luck. USA Network will offer fans unable to attend this year's Comic Con a chance to follow a live social stream of highlights from each show panel. The live text feed will begin with Burn Notice at 1pm (all times pacific)followed by White Collar at 2:15 and conclude with Psych at 3:30. Fans will also have a chance to win exclusive Comic Con premiums from each show.

You can get the live feed below:

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=17ee1e5b70" &amp;gt;USA Network at Comic Con! Panels: Burn Notice at 1pm, White Collar at 2:15 &amp;amp; Psych at 3:30&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Review: Inception

2010-07-20T11:28:00.004-05:00

In recent months, you may have noticed that "The CineManiac" has kind of turned into "The TVManiac", so in an effort to get back to the Cinema aspect of the blog I am hoping to post more movie reviews. Because I am sometimes strapped for time between my family and my job, I have decided to bring in some colleagues to do reviews and other columns from time to time. This site will continue to cover television, but I'm hoping to cover both a bit more equally.

Having said that I'd like to introduce you to my newest reviewer/blogger Scotty C. Scotty is a teacher and has his own movie blog, FunkSoulBrother1980. This week Scotty, like $60 million worth of Americans, saw Christopher Nolan's newest film, Inception. You can read Scotty's thoughts on the film below.

WARNING: If you have not seen Inception I would advise you stop reading now! The following review contains spoilers.

NO SERIOUSLY: You want to know as little as possible about Inception before you see it.

I AM NOT KIDDING: This review contains spoilers and I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND you don't read it, unless you've seen the movie.

OK, IT'S YOUR LIFE, BUT DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!!

My jaw dropped. My eyes were opened with the jaws of life of “Inception.”

“I specialize in a very specific type of security. Subconscious security,” Cobb says.

“You’re talking about dreams,” Robert Fischer, Jr. says.

That is all you need to know about this film. It is about dreams, the latest from “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan, “Inception”.

Cobb (Leonardo Dicaprio) works with Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and others using extraction, way to enter someone’s subconscious through their dreams to steal information.

The opening of “The Dark Knight” rivals any opening scene in history with the reveal of the Joker. “Inception’s” opening is definitely the opening scene of the year that kicks the audience into this journey. Cobb washes up on the shore only to be taken by goons to an old man Saito (Ken Watanabe). Cobb begins talking to him and then we go back to where this started. Cobb, Arthur and Saito are all asleep, dreaming on a train. In the dream, Cobb is explaining their services to Saito. Then as Cobb is trying to break into a safe for some secret document, his wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) shows up and wreaks havoc on the dream.

Cobb and Arthur wake up and are on the run because they didn’t succeed in their mission. Cobb can’t go home to his kids. Saito kidnaps one of their colleagues and asks about inception, planting an idea in someone’s subconscious. Arthur says it’s impossible. Cobb says it can be done. The job is to take the heir to an energy company (Murphy) and give him the idea to breakup his father’s empire. Cobb will need some help to reach their objective.

A kick is how they wake you up. The team dives deeper into dreams within the dreams. The deeper you go, the bigger the kick.

Cobb enlists one of his father’s best students Ariadne (Ellen Page) to be the architect, the builder of the dream world. Then he gets Eames (Tom Hardy), a forger. According to Cinematical.com, “This name has two meanings. In the real world he can forge identities using his contacts and his ability to fake documents. In the dream world, he can alter his appearance and take on the personality of someone else he's studied, probably using much the same methods used to construct buildings.”

To complete the team is Yusuf (Dileep Rao), a chemist who formulates the drugs for the team to enter the dream world under heavy sedation.

The job isn’t an open and shut case because when the mind detects a foreigner in the subconscious, projections of the subconscious seek it out and attack. This leads Cobb’s team running from gunfire at every turn. Add in the fact that Cobb’s secretive past leads his wife to be obstructing him from his mission and you have some serious problems.

The cast looks super cool throughout the film. Did the costume designer from “Mad Men” get this gig? They are wearing some incredible suits but I don’t know why they would when they are running from gunfire? Why not wear some Nikes?

Every character has a purpose. The forger. Arthur is the point man. The Chemist stays in the first dream to install the kick from the van. Cillian Murphy was the target. Ariadne is the mother figure looking out for everyone including the audience with her lines meant to unfold exposition. Mal is seductive enough to make you want to stay in a dream for a lifetime.

The score by Hans Zimmer is not merely epic, it gives the pacing and tension a steroid shot.

This might become a philosopher’s favorite the way “The Matrix” is because in the end this isn’t about a foreign enemy like the machines. The enemy comes from within, Freud style.

Some critics have complained that the movie is too literal and Nolan didn’t take advantage of being in a dream world. Maybe David Lynch would have done something truly Dali with it but Nolan isn’t that type of filmmaker.

Only a handful of filmmakers could get the capital in this cash strapped era to make the film on this spectacular level. Peter Jackson and George Lucas couldn’t make this film let alone a better one. Speilberg’s take would have been interesting but I don’t know if he has the force to pull you in like Nolan at this moment. James Cameron could have done something good unless he already did. Maybe the Navi’ and the world of Pandora are all Cameron’s subconscious. In 2010, Nolan is at the top of his game and he pulled off the masterful.

Creativity and originality take a backseat to sequels and reboots especially in the summer. The last original property to blow past that line of thinking was “Avatar.” In “Inception’s” success is hope that filmmaking won’t be ruined by suits looking for the next “Pirates of the Caribbean.” On Sunday afternoon, I ran across four men talking about the film and what was happening, what the ending meant. What was the last summer movie that provoked discussion besides how much it sucked? “Inception” brought in $60 million in its first weekend. Maybe the subconscious of dollar signs will lead to more inventive films by visionaries like Nolan.

A Vampire, A Werewolf, & A Ghost Share a Flat....

2010-07-16T13:12:00.005-05:00

No that's not the beginning of a joke, it's the premise for the BBC show Being Human. The show, whose 1st Season hits shelves on DVD & Blu-ray Tuesday (keep reading for a chance to win a copy), returns to BBC America for season 2 on Saturday, July 24th at 10/9c, immediately following the Season Finale of Doctor Who.

The series follows George, the werewolf, and Mitchell, the Vampire, as they move into a new flat, which happens to be haunted by Annie, a lovesick ghost, as they try to live normal lives, despite their dark secrets. You can see the first 7 minutes of Season 2 below:

And if you want to catch up with the 1st season, now's your chance, as BBC America has provided me with a copy on Blu-ray for one lucky winner. Just send me an e-mail before Monday night at midnight with your name, address, and which monster you like best, Vampire, Werewolf, or Ghost, and why.

You can see more info on the set and some videos below.

Available on DVD and Blu-ray July 20th:
(Prizing provided courtesy of BBC)

BEING HUMAN: SEASON 1 BONUS FEATURES
• Deleted scenes
• Behind the scenes featurettes
• Video diaries
• Character profiles
• Interview with creator Toby Whithouse

BEING HUMAN: SEASON 1 CAST:

George Russell Tovey (Little Dorrit, Gavin & Stacey)
Mitchell Aidan Turner (Desperate Romantics, The Clinic)
Annie Lenora Crichlow (Sugar Rush, The Bill)

Synopsis: Being Human is an extraordinary look into the lives of hospital porters George (Tovey) and Mitchell (Turner). Toiling anonymously in Bristol, England, they lead lives of quiet desperation under the burden of a terrible secret - Mitchell's a vampire and George is a werewolf. Deciding to start life afresh and leave behind the dark side, they move into a house, only to find that Annie (Lenora Crichlow), the ghost of a woman killed in mysterious circumstances, haunts it. As the three deal with the challenges of their new lives together, they're united in their desire to blend in with their human neighbors. However, with unwelcome intruders into their world, a threatened revolution from the vampire underworld, constant threats of exposure, and the day-to-day issues faced by young people - the only thing they may be able to rely on is each other.