Happy New Year

Mayans be damned, we've actually made it to 2013. Professionally, 2012 was a very good year for me as I finally finished my dissertation and received my doctorate degree. Now I can only hope for a full time professor position in the new year. Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful new year. Thanks as always for reading this blog and look forward to a whole bunch of new content in the next 12 months!

Here's a release date. No, I'm witholding it. Look at me getting off.

UPDATE: Netflix has since confirmed that the new season will be released sometime in May but would not give a specific date. So only 5 more months of waiting now. Huzzah!

Those Arrested Development folks sure like to toy with our emotions. Earlier today, it seemed like the release date for the Season 4 episodes on Netflix had been announced only for Netflix to rebuke the claim. We do know that they'll appear only sometime in 2013, but for now, we'll just have to wait a bit longer to see when exactly it will be. If you're interested, here's a story from Boing Boing.net reporting on the incorrect release date.

Let's end 2012 with some truthiness: gossip site Oh No They Didn't got wind of some new details concerning the fourth season of Arrested Development and its upcoming premiere on Netflix. Apparently, a publicity site for Fox prematurely posted a new image, a May 4, 2013 premiere date, and a list of episode titles before taking it all down. A few sites have reported this as the official release date, but Vulture contacted a Netflix representative who said the date "is wrong."

A debunked rumor is not the most fun way to start out a year of heavily-anticipated entertainment, but at least we know it's on its way! (I'd still count on a May premiere. Seems like it would make a lot of sense -- just as all the network shows are ending, the Bluths swoop in and save us all from summer programming.)

2013 Movie Preview (#6 - 1)

#6. Elysium (August 9)

Plot: In the year 2159 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard line government official will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn't stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.

Personal Opinion: After District 9 was the surprise hit of 2009, everyone has eagerly anticipated what director Neill Blomkamp has in store for a follow-up. While this was originally set to be released in March, fans will now have to wait until August to see this sci-fi thriller. What puts this one over the top for me as it relates to anticipation is the fact that Matt Damon stars, someone who's work I always enjoy and who has become the hallmark of consistency recently with the films he's starred in.


#5 Anchorman: The Legend Continues (December 20)

Plot: A sequel to 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." Will Ferrell, will return to the title role with supporting cast members Steve Carell and Paul Rudd said to be involved as well. The original film also starred Christina Applegate, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell and many more.

Personal Opinion: I cannot understate how much I loved the original Anchorman film. It is one of the best comedies ever. I'm beyond thrilled that the Channel 4 News Team is reuniting, but like any fan there's always that trepidation that the sequel won't be able to live up to the original's greatness. Given that it's taken so long for this sequel to happen and the passion that those involved have for making this good, I've got faith that fans won't be disappointed with the latest adventures of Ron Burgundy.


#4. Monsters University (June 21)

Plot: Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. "Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. Screaming with laughter and fun, "Monsters University" is directed by Dan Scanlon ("Cars," "Mater and the Ghostlight," "Tracy") and produced by Kori Rae ("Up," "The Incredibles," "Monsters, Inc."). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D� in select theaters.

Personal Opinion: The last sequel Pixar did was the worst film in the studio's history and then they followed that up with the lackluster Brave. So why the high anticipation for this one? It's real simple. To begin, this sequel is working from better source material. Second, the trailer that's already been released provided more laughs than the last two Pixar films combined. I really love the idea of watching these characters within the setting of college. This one definitely has a great chance of appealing to parents and kids equally.


#3. Monuments Men (December 20)

Plot: "Monuments Men" is an adaptation of Robert Edsel's 2009 book by Robert Edsel, which is described as follows: At the same time Adolf Hitler was attempting to take over the western world, his armies were methodically seeking and hoarding the finest art treasures in Europe. The Fuehrer had begun cataloguing the art he planned to collect as well as the art he would destroy: "degenerate" works he despised. In a race against time, behind enemy lines, often unarmed, a special force of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Momuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture. Focusing on the eleven-month period between D-Day and V-E Day, this fascinating account follows six Monuments Men and their impossible mission to save the world's great art from the Nazis.

Personal Opinion: I can't see how anyone wouldn't have at least some interest in seeing this film after reading that synopsis. It's almost like a real life Ocean's Eleven. It should come as no surprise then that George Clooney is not only starring in this, but also directing it as well. He's also surrounded himself with a fine cast of supporting actors including Daniel Craig, Bill Murray, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett. I expect this one to do big business at the box office and during the awards season.


#2. Star Trek into Darkness (May 17)

Plot: In Summer 2013, director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes "Star Trek Into Darkness." In the wake of a shocking act of terror from within their own organization, the crew of The Enterprise is called back home to Earth. In defiance of regulations and with a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads his crew on a manhunt to capture an unstoppable force of destruction and bring those responsible to justice. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Personal Opinion: I think everyone was caught off guard by how good Abrams' first Star Trek film was, so now the expectations are sky high. A lot of speculation has been made as to who exactly the villain for this film is. Could it be Khan, another villain from Star Trek history, or someone completely brand new. Given that I was never a fan of the original series, that doesn't concern me as much. As long as the story, acting, and action are on par with the 2009 film, then I'll be one happy moviegoer.


#1. Iron Man 3 (May 3)

Plot: Marvel Studios' "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Personal Opinion: So we've finally made it to the end of the list and of course, Tony Stark is #1, as he believes he always should be. Just like with Thor, everyone is eager to see how they go about following up on The Avengers. Based on the first trailer, this looks like it's going to be awesome. We know Robert Downey Jr. will bring it again and I'm really looking forward to seeing Sir Ben Kingsley ham it up as the Mandarin. You better believe I'll be there for this one on opening weekend.

NMR: Mansome

Directed by noted documentarian Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), this is a small film that explores the recent increase in grooming habits by men. Separated into several segments about what makes a man, the information is interesting even if the people always aren't. For instance, one segment explores beard and mustache competitions. The segment would have been much more engaging had the person they chose to follow didn't come off as such a pretentious douchebag. That unfortunately was a trend throughout the film. The narcissistic nature of the people that care so much about their looks was a turn off, even if I was interested the habits themselves. To counterbalance that, however, there were several talking head segments featuring a lot of comedians like Adam Carolla, Judd Apatow, and Zach Galifianakis to offer some levity to the topic. Best of all there are several interludes featuring Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, who also co-produced the film, attending a day spa while comedically discussing their own personal grooming habits. The subject matter is too slights for mass appeal, but if you enjoy Spurlock's work, you'll likely enjoy this film as well. Rating: *** 1/2

Skyfall? More like windfall!

From EW.com

It’s official — we have reached the era of the billion dollar Bond!

Sony announced today that Skyfall has surpassed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, becoming just the 14th film in history to reach the coveted milestone.

The 23rd entry in the James Bond series has shattered every record in the franchise’s 50-year history. Skyfall, which was produced by MGM, EON Productions, and Sony for $200 million, has earned $289.6 million in North America alone (including $4.6 million this weekend), clobbering the domestic record set by Quantum of Solace, which earned $168.4 million in 2008.

Internationally, Skyfall has been even more impressive. The film has amassed a jaw-dropping $710.6 million global haul, and it hasn’t even been released in China yet. (That’s slated for early 2013.) Not surprisingly, the film’s strongest market has been the U.K., where it has quickly become the highest-grossing film of all time and the first film to ever pass £100 million.

Remarkably, even if Skyfall‘s domestic grosses weren’t counted, its international tally would still make it the highest grossing Bond film of all time worldwide. The previous global high-point for a James Bond film was Casino Royale’s $599 million gross in 2006. Yep, Skyfall has earned over $400 million more than that.

2013 Movie Preview (#12 - 7)

#12. This is the End (June 14)

Plot: The comedy "This is the End" follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Once they discover that they are experiencing the Apocalypse, they must come to terms with why they were left behind. Eventually they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.

Personal Opinion: This has been in the cooker for a while now and I had actually made a post several years ago of a short that fueled the inspiration for this film. While the cast isn't perfect (I could have done without Danny McBride), but it does feature a lot of very funny people. If the movie is as crazy as the trailer I posted a few days ago, then this may be the surprise comedy of the summer.


#11. Oblivion (April 19)

Plot: Tom Cruise stars in "Oblivion," an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of "TRON: Legacy" and the producer of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man's confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack's mission is nearly complete. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Personal Opinion: Tom Cruise has proven time and again to always choose the right parts for himself. This latest sci-fi flick where he seems to play a human version of WALL-E seems like it has a lot of potential. Based on the trailer I saw, Joseph Kosinski, who directed TRON: Legacy has once again proven that he's got a flair for the visuals. With this, Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro's latest that just missed my list, and Elysium (yet to come on my list), 2013 could be a very big year for original sci-fi films.


#10. The Hangover Part III (May 24)

Plot: This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

Personal Opinion: A lot of people were disappointed with the most recent effort of the Wolfpack claiming it was nothing more than a carbon copy of the first one. While I agreed with those complaints to a certain degree, I can't help but still be interested in seeing the next adverture of this gang. My hope is that this film is being made as a make-do for the second one, similar to the way Ocean's Thirteen tried to erase the bad taste left in audience's mouths by Twelve


#9. A Good Day to Die Hard (February 14)

Plot: Since the first "Die Hard" in 1988, John McClane has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing, making him enemy #1 for terrorists the world over. Now, McClane faces his greatest challenge ever, this time on an international stage, when his estranged son Jack is caught up in the daring prison escape of a rogue Russian leader, and father and son McClane must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy.

Personal Opinion: There are very few other franchises that I love more than the Die Hard films. Even though they vary in their quality, Bruce Willis simply IS John McClane and inhabits that role so nicely with each film. By coming out in February, this should be the perfect cure for the winter blahs. My only hope is that the filmmakers learn from the mistake of Live Free or Die Hard and make sure that this one is rated R. No one wants to see another muted version of McClane's signature line.


#8. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (March 15)

Plot: Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there's still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act, both onstage and off, if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

Personal Opinion: As I mentioned yesterday, I'm always excited for movies that feature magic. I don't this one to be overly smart or clever, but that's all right because I fully expect to make up for that with plenty of laughs. Expectations are high considering the cast inlcudes Carell, Buscemi, Carrey, and Alan Arkin. Having just one of them typically guarantees hilarity, so all four should be simply magical. Yes, I'm embarassed by the pun, but I couldn't help myself.


#7. Thor: The Dark World (November 8)

Plot: Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel's "Thor" and "Marvel's The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Personal Opinion: After the huge success of The Avengers, the big question will be whether the members can go back to being successful on their own. While someone like Iron Man has already proven himself in solo ventures, the jury is still out on the Asgardian. The first film was solid but sagged under the weight of simply trying to introduce the character to mass audiences. I want to like the Thor character, so my fingers are crossed that this one is able to showcase the character's true potential.

Same old story

Another year and another collection of utter fails by our favorite local news stations. Enjoy, but be careful as some clips aren't exactly safe for work.

2013 Movie Preview (#18 - 13)

#18. Man of Steel (June 14)

Plot: Henry Cavill plays Superman in director Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel." The film also stars Amy Adams as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Laurence Fishburne as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent's adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Diane Lane and Kevin Costner. Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Michael Shannon, and Faora, Zod's evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman's native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman's mother, played by Ayelet Zurer, and Superman's father, Jor-El, portrayed by Russell Crowe. Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy.

Personal Opinion: This will be one of the biggest wild cards of 2013. On one hand, I'm still skeptical that a great Superman movie can be made. The 2006 film was underwhelming at best and in general, the character is just not as dynamic or complex as so many other comic book heroes. What this film does have going for it is the Christopher Nolan factor. Though not directing this movie, his assistance can only help. The first two trailers have not given me a clear sense of what to expect though. For the sake of the DC universe, this needs to be good. For movie fans, let's hope it's great.


#17. Now You See Me (June 7)

Plot: "Now You See Me" pits an elite FBI squad in a game of cat and mouse against "The Four Horsemen," a super-team of the world's greatest illusionists. "The Four Horsemen" pull off a series of daring heists against corrupt business leaders during their performances, showering the stolen profits on their audiences while staying one step ahead of the law.

Personal Opinion: The use of magic or illusions in film, like The Prestige is always a draw for me. This one not only has that, but a stellar cast as well that inlcude Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo, and Morgan Freeman. I initially had this higher on my list until I saw the first trailer. While the plot is solid, it felt like the trailer made the film seem like it would be just a dumb action flick. The key to films about magic is that they need to be smart and keep the audience guessing. If this manages to be intelligent, then this will be a real winner.


#16. Jack Ryan (December 25)

Plot: Based on the Jack Ryan character created by bestselling author Tom Clancy, the film is a contemporary action thriller set in the present day. The original story, written by David Koepp, follows a young Jack as he uncovers a financial terrorist plot.

Personal Opinion: It's been a long time since we've seen the Jack Ryan character on the big screen. Portrayed by both Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford in the past, the Jack Ryan films have been, if nothing else, solid political thrillers. For this reboot, they have a lot of good pieces in place. Chris Pine, after resurrecting the Captain Kirk character, is an actor on the rise. Kenneth Branagh, who is directing this, proved with Thor that he's capable of helming a big budget picture. The one thing that I would have liked was for them to use another story from Tom Clancy, but as long as the plot is solid, this should be nice gift come next Christmas.


#15. The Internship (June 7)

Plot: Vaughn and Wilson portray two old school salesmen who, finding themselves suddenly unemployed and passed-by in the digital world, try to reinvent themselves by becoming interns at a major tech company.

Personal Opinion: Those waiting for a Wedding Crashers reunion finally have their wish. Not only are Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson back together, but their buddy Will Ferrell will also have a small role in this film as well. Their re-teaming coupled with a story that sounds like it has the potential for a lot of comedy has me excited. My only reservation comes from the fact that Shawn Levy is directing this and he has had a mixed bag of success when it comes to directing comedies. Hopefully the strong cast will be able to rise above any shortcomings he brings to the table.


#14. The Wolverine (July 26)

Plot: Based on the celebrated comic book arc, "The Wolverine" finds Logan, the eternal warrior and outsider, in Japan. There, samurai steel will clash with adamantium claw as Logan confronts a mysterious figure from his past in an epic battle that will leave him forever changed.

Personal Opinion: Like Superman, Wolverine is a popular comic book character whose story is one that I don't find particularly compelling. Wolverine works well within the context of the X-Men, but alone, as we saw in the Origins film three years ago is a different story. Marvel's track record is typically strong, so I'm definitely willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. If they are able to make this as fun as The Avengers then I'll be glad to eat my words and embrace even more films from this franchise.


#13. Captain Phillips (October 11)

Plot: Based on the true-life story of Captain Richard Phillips, who was taken hostage by armed Somali pirates, attempted to escape and was eventually rescued by the U.S. Navy. The film will retell the events that garnered headlines worldwide in April. After his ship was hijacked on the high seas, Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates in order to protect his crew. The married father of two made one unsuccessful escape attempt before an elite squad of Navy SEAL snipers shot and killed three of the four pirates - an action authorized by President Obama. A fourth pirate surrendered and is in custody.

Personal Opinion: Already on this list, I've identified a few films that have the potential to score big during the awards season, but this one seems to have the perfect combination to rack up a number of big prizes. The film focuses on a recent headline-grabbing story, features an multiple Oscar winner in the lead and is being directed by Paul Greengrass who has shown the ability to make films that have mass appeal and are very well received. Though I know the basic details of this story, I'm very anxious to see the whole thing be told on the big screen.

RBR: Butter

After waiting through several delays, I was dismayed when this small comedy about a butter carving competition came out only to be blasted by several critics. Many chastised it for its poor effort at political satire and lampooning of small town America. Though disappointed, I still decided to give it a try and found that I did not share a lot of the critics' complaints. If you look for it, there are some definite parallels between two of the competitions' contestants and Barack Obama and Sarah Palin. When I watched the film though, I didn't really focus on that comparison and found it much more palatable as a result. The film is far from perfect, however. There are subplots, like one involving Olivia Wilde as a stripper that really feel superfluous. It's hard to complain though about seeing her scantily clad for 90 minutes. There's also a little too much of Jennifer Garner, who plays the phony sweet ultra Conservative Palin-esque competitor. Those flaws aside, I will admit to laughing a lot, which is always an essential component to any comedy. I also found the butter carving concept fascinating and frankly wished there had been more of it. If you don't read too much into the film's message, this works as a quirky indie comedy. If you look for sharp satire, then you may want to save your cholesterol and just skip Butter. Rating: ****

2013 Movie Preview (#24 - 19)

#24. 42 (April 12)

Plot: 42 will star Academy Award nominee Harrison Ford (What Lies Beneath, Air Force One, Witness) as the innovative Dodger's general manager Branch Rickey, the MLB executive who first signed baseball great Jackie Robinson to the minors and then helped to bring him up to the show, and Chadwick Boseman (The Express) as Robinson, the heroic African American who was the first man to break the color line in the big leagues. The film also stars Nicole Beharie (Shame) as Rachel Isum, who would become Robinson's wife, as well as Christopher Meloni (upcoming Man of Steel) and T.R. Knight (TV's Grey's Anatomy).

Personal Opinion: As you no doubt know, I'm a baseball fan so anytime a new film about America's pasttime hits the screen I'm instantly interested. The fact that this one is about one of the most prolific players in baseball's history makes it all the more appealing. Based on the trailer that came out this past fall, it seems like this one could feature some very good performances including Ford as Branch Rickey. Oscar films don't usually come out in the spring, but this one may end up being an exception.


#23. Runner Runner (September 27)

Plot: A dramatic thriller based in the world of offshore online gaming and dealing with the tense relationship between the business' owner and his younger protege.

Personal Opinion: After Argo, nobody is hotter right now than Ben Affleck. Though he is not directing this film, I'm still excited to see what he does as a follow-up. Pairing him with Justin Timberlake who's acting career is on the rise gives this film quite the duo. Though there's nothing new about films dealing with competitive rivalries in business, the online gaming aspect of the plot makes this feel like something fresh and original.


#22. Delivery Man (October 4)

Plot: From DreamWorks Pictures comes "Delivery Man," the story of affable underachiever David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn), whose mundane life is turned upside down when he finds out that he fathered 533 children through sperm donations he made twenty years earlier. In debt to the mob, rejected by his pregnant girlfriend, things couldn't look worse for David when he is hit with a lawsuit from 142 of the 533 twenty-somethings who want to know the identity of the donor. As David struggles to decide whether or not he should reveal his true identity, he embarks on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but the father he could become as well.

Personal Opinion: The story here has a lot of potential. The key will be the direction they take this story. If the comedy is too broad, then this could be a disaster. There's also a risk of the film being too serious. But if it strikes the right tone this could be a real comedic gem. Known for his fast-talking charm, Vince Vaughn seems like a good choice to play this 'delivery man'.


#21. RED 2 (August 2)

Plot: "RED 2" brings back the team of retired CIA operatives as they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe.

Personal Opinion: The first film was a surprising treat. It found the proper balance of humor and action while also giving us the joy of seeing these older people having the fun typically engaged in by actors half their age. The key question here though is whether or not there will be Bruce Willis fatigue after the new Die Hard and the G.I. Joe sequel comes out earlier in the year.


#20. The To Do List (August 16)

Plot: Starring Aubrey Plaza ("Safety Not Guaranteed"), "The To Do List" follows the story of Brandy Klark (Plaza), a Type-A, overachiever who comes up with a "to-do list" featuring all the risque extra-curricular activities she missed out on in high school and wants to complete before college. Rachel Bilson ("Hart of Dixie"), Bill Hader ("Men In Black 3"), Andy Samberg ("Saturday Night Live"), Scott Porter ("The Good Wife"), Connie Britton ("American Horror Story"), Clark Gregg ("The Avengers"), Christopher Mintz-Plasse ("Superbad"), Donald Glover ("Community"), Johnny Simmons ("The Perks of Being a Wallflower"), Sarah Steele ("Please Give") and Alia Shawkat ("The Oranges") co-star in the film.

Personal Opinion: I make no pretenses that this will be a small indie comedy that most people won't see, but that doesn't my interest in it in the least. What's not to like about a film that features a cast like the one listed above. Aubrey Plaza proved in Safety Not Guaranteed that she has leading woman capabilities. If this film earns any sort of recognition, she could easily cement that status. If not, then at the very least, this will be harmless comedy that will serve as a nice way to enjoy the final days of summer.


#19. White House Down (June 28)

Plot: The storyline concerns a para-military takeover of the White House.

Personal Opinion: Though it's not indicated above, this film is being directed by Roland Emmerich, which will likely mean that this will be one big, noisy mess of a film and yet somehow I'm still intrigued by it. A White House takeover is a plot that hasn't been overdone and when done right, like it was on 24, it can make for a very compelling story. While he doesn't do much for me, the fact that Channing Tatum, after the big year he just had, is in the cast can only help its cause.

Magic is in the air

You'll be hearing more thoughts from me on The Incredible Burt Wonderstone later this week in my 2013 Movie Preview, but for now, you'll just have to settle for the trailer.

A gift from St. Nick

Amidst the holidays, I neglected to report on this big Indians news here when it was first announced. In case you missed it, here's the details on how we managed to get Nick Swisher.

The Indians got what they wanted for Christmas: outfielder Nick Swisher. On Sunday, MLB.com confirmed that Cleveland has reached an agreement on a four-year contract with Swisher. The deal with the outfielder is pending a physical and is unlikely to be officially announced until after the holiday. As such, the ballclub would not comment on the agreement.

Adding Swisher to the fold was the latest move within an aggressive offseason for the Tribe, which is trying to swiftly move beyond its 94-loss showing last year. Cleveland already brought in a new manager in Terry Francona, signed a new first baseman in slugger Mark Reynolds, and added a top-flight pitching prospect via trade in Trevor Bauer. Swisher now becomes the biggest free-agent signing in Indians franchise history.

The agreed-upon contract will pay Swisher $56 million over his four guaranteed seasons and includes a vesting option based on plate appearances for 2017. If the outfielder reaches the required plateau in the 2016 campaign, he could earn another $14 million in '17, pushing the deal's potential value to $70 million. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News first reported the agreement.

Swisher took to social media to share his excitement. "Wow! What a crazy few weeks," he wrote on his Twitter account, @NickSwisher. "Hey Cleveland! Are you ready? Because I'm coming home!"

The handshake deal completes what was a strong push to acquire Swisher by the Indians, who treated the free-agent outfielder like a star recruit throughout the process. Last week, the Indians hosted Swisher and his wife, JoAnna, in Cleveland for a two-day visit on Monday and Tuesday. Swisher met with Francona, team president Mark Shapiro, team CEO Paul Dolan and other club executives. During the visit, the Indians also had former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel on hand to try to help sway Swisher to bring his family to the Buckeye State. Swisher -- born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Parkersburg, W. Va., near the southeast Ohio border -- played baseball at Ohio State. His father, former big leaguer Steve Swisher, attended Ohio University.

The Tribe focused on Swisher's Ohio roots during the negotiations. As part of Swisher's tour of Progressive Field, Cleveland showed his image in an Indians uniform on the scoreboard above the left-field bleachers, and then played a special video message featuring the likes of OSU football coach Urban Meyer and basketball coach Thad Matta, among others. Swisher and his family were impressed by their visit with the Indians.

The outfielder brings more than local appeal to Cleveland, though. The Indians wanted to bring him into the mix to provide some added power and on-base ability to a lineup that ranked just 13th in the American League in runs scored last season. The 32-year-old Swisher can also provide some veteran leadership to a relatively young roster, taking some pressure off of Cleveland's up-and-coming players. Adding Swisher to play right field completes the starting outfield picture for the Tribe, which projects to have Drew Stubbs and Michael Brantley filling the other two spots. It remains undetermined if Brantley -- Cleveland's starting center fielder for most of the past two seasons -- will shift to left field to allow Stubbs to patrol center.

Right field was vacated earlier this winter when the Indians teamed with the Reds and D-backs for a blockbuster nine-player trade that shipped Shin-Soo Choo from Cleveland to Cincinnati. As part of that deal, the Indians aquired Stubbs from the Reds and Bauer, along with relievers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw, from the D-backs. Besides Choo, Cleveland parted with infielder Jason Donald and $3.5 million (to Cincinnati) and left-handed reliever Tony Sipp and Minor League first baseman Lars Anderson (to Arizona). The Reds sent shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius to the D-backs to complete the complicated trade.

Swisher, who spent the past four seasons with the Yankees, turned down a one-year qualifying contract offer from New York worth $13.3 million in order to test free agency this winter. By turning down the offer, the Yankees secured a compensation pick in next June's First-Year Player Draft. Under the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement, however, the top 10 selections are protected from free-agent compensation. That means that Cleveland will not lose the fifth overall pick in the first round by signing Swisher. The Indians will lose their second round pick, though. The Yankees will earn a compensatory pick between the first and second round.

During his four years in the Bronx, the switch-hitting Swisher posted a .268/.367/.483 slash line with an average of 26 home runs and 87 RBIs per season. Over his nine-year career in the big leagues -- spent with the A's, White Sox and Yankees -- Swisher has hit .256 with a .361 on-base percentage and a .467 slugging percentage. An American League All-Star in 2010, Swisher has averaged 151 games over the past seven seasons, posting an average of 27 homers and 84 RBIs in that span. He set his career bests in homers (35) and RBIs (95) in 2006 with the A's, and equaled a personal high in doubles (36) this past season with the Yankees.

In 148 games last year, Swisher hit .272 with a .364 on-base percentage and a .473 slugging percentage. Along the way, he piled up 24 home runs, 75 runs scored, 77 walks and 93 RBIs in helping the Yankees to their third AL East crown in his four years in New York. With the Swisher signing nearly in the books, Cleveland will likely turn its attention to its starting rotation. The Indians, who added lefty Scott Kazmir on a Minor League deal earlier this week, would like to add an arm or two to the mix before Spring Training. The aggressive Tribe also has a vacancy at designated hitter.

2013 Movie Preview (#30 - 25)

Now that we've survived the end of the world, we can begin looking forward to a new year. And with that comes a whole new slate of big movies to preview. This seems to be a particularly solid year of comedies, dramas, and action films. Without any further ado, here's what you can look forward to in the next 12 months.

#30. Gangster Squad (January 11)

Plot: Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and--if he has his way--every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It's enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop...except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen's world apart. "The Gangster Squad" is a colorful retelling of events surrounding the LAPD's efforts to take back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time.

Personal Opinion: You may recall that this film was originally scheduled to come out last year, but after the tragic Colorado movie theater shooting last July reshoots were needed on this film in order to eliminate a similar scene. You may also recall that I had this on my 2012 movie preview and fairly high on the list at that. Its placement here should in no way indicate that I've lost faith in the film. Rather, I just felt that since I've already given it coverage and that it's coming out in just a couple of weeks that we should merely give everyone a reminder here and focus the rest of the list on the fresh films for 2013.


#29. Saving Mr. Banks (December 20)

Plot: Two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson and fellow double Oscar-winner Tom Hanks topline Disney's "Saving Mr. Banks," inspired by the extraordinary, untold backstory of how Disney's classic "Mary Poppins" made it to the screen.

Personal Opinion: This is one of two high-profile, awards season-caliber films starring Tom Hanks coming out next year. There are few bigger figures in Hollywood than Walt Disney, so it will be very intersting to see how Hanks depicts him here. From the little I've read about this story, it seems like it was quite the bumpy road getting the film version of Mary Poppins made, so I'm definitely excited to see this film and learn more about it. The only question is that since this is a Disney film, will the depiction of Walt be accurate or simply a puff piece that paints their founder in an entirely favorable light.


#28. We're the Millers (August 9)

Plot: David Burke (Sudeikis) is a small-time pot dealer whose clientele includes chefs and soccer moms, but no kids - after all, he has his scruples. So what could go wrong? Plenty. Preferring to keep a low profile for obvious reasons, he learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished when he tries to help out some local teens and winds up getting jumped by a trio of gutter punks. Stealing his stash and his cash, they leave him in major debt to his supplier, Brad (Ed Helms). In order to wipe the slate clean - and maintain a clean bill of health - David must now become a big-time drug smuggler by bringing Brad's latest shipment in from Mexico. Twisting the arms of his neighbors, cynical stripper Rose (Aniston) and wannabe customer Kenny (Will Poulter), and the tatted-and-pierced streetwise teen Casey (Emma Roberts), he devises a foolproof plan. One fake wife, two pretend kids and a huge, shiny RV later, the "Millers" are headed south of the border for a Fourth of July weekend that is sure to end with a bang.

Personal Opinion: I typically do not gravitate toward pot movies, but this one seems to be less about the wacky tabacky and more about the wacky road trip adventure of these characters. And the characters in this film include a large list of my favorite comedic actors. In addition to the cast members listed above, people like Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn will also pop up here. If nothing else, the story about Jennifer Aniston working a stripper pole in this movie was enough to convince me to check it out.


#27 Rush (September 20)

Plot: Set against the sexy, glamorous and spectacular golden age of Formula 1 racing, "Rush" portrays the exhilarating true story of two of the greatest rivals the world has ever witnessed - handsome English playboy James Hunt (Hemsworth) and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Niki Lauda (Bruhl). Following their personal lives on and off the track, Rush follows the two drivers as they push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error. If you make one mistake, you die.

Personal Opinion: The last time director Ron Howard teamed up with writer Peter Morgan, it was for the fantastic adaptation of Frost/Nixon. With Rush they're giving us a different face off, but one that sounds just as intriguing. Though I don't know much about these racers, the little that I've read sounds like a fascinating story. Given its placement in mid-September I would look for this to kick off the awards season buzz. And even if it's quality isn't up to snuff as it relates to the Oscars, the racing scenes should no doubt thrill audiences.


#26. Side Effects (February 8)

Plot: "Side Effects" is a provocative thriller about Emily and Martin (Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum), a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Emily's psychiatrist (Jude Law) - intended to treat anxiety - has unexpected side effects.

Personal Opinion: Based on the trailer I saw, I have mixed feelings on this one. It could be a very cool thriller on the dark side of experimental drugs or it could be a sad weepy that bores me to tears. Ultimately what wins out is that this is directed by Steven Soderbergh and will be his last film as he claims to be retiring. I typical love Soderbergh work so I'll be checking this out to see what he has in store for a grand finale.


#25. R.I.P.D. (July 19)

Plot: Based on the Dark Horse mini-series, "R.I.P.D." (short for "Rest In Peace Department") is Peter Lenkov's comedic amalgam of the police and zombie genres featuring two dead police officers whose job it is to help the dead "rest in peace."

Personal Opinion: With the recent success of The Walking Dead, you can expect to see a LOT of zombies on the big screen in the next year. Most of them I'll be skipping, but this one has a unique enough premise to even pique my interest. I can't rate it higher though given the mixed bag of a cast. It features Jeff Bridges, which instantly propels the quality of the film. However, Ryan Reynolds appears to be the film's lead and he has yet to prove to me that he's leading man material. His most recent features have all been underwhelming and his performance was often a reason for that. Hopefully Bridges' awesomeness wins out here.

RBR: The Watch

Originally called Neighborhood Watch, this film got off to a bad start before it was even released thanks to the Trayvon Martin case. If the film had been any good, all would have been forgotten. Instead, this is a lazy effort that makes one bad decision after another with regard to plot and character development. Ben Stiller playing yet another version of the high strung good guy establishes a neighborhood watch after a security guard at the Costco he runs is mysteriously murdered. He puts together a ragtag group of vigilantes that include Vince Vaughn, playing another version of his fast-talking schlub, and Jonah Hill, playing another version of his smart aleck who puts up a tough act. If there had been a realistic threat endangering the town, then there could have been some fun in seeing this cast of characters patrolling the streets. Instead, they opt to take the science fiction route and have the threat be aliens. There's nothing fresh about this angle and the attempt at mixing genres simply doesn't work. There are some laughs peppered throughout the film, but those exist simply because it's impossible for there not to be a few laughs when you have a cast like this. For the most part, however, this is an uninspired comedy that probably isn't worth your time, even as a rental. Rating: ** 1/2

Anchor dropping

From EW.com

Get ready for more bad hair, mustaches, funky leisure suits, and laughs.

Paramount Pictures has set the theater release date for the sequel to 2004′s Anchorman for Dec. 20, 2013.

Will Ferrell will be back as deep-voiced newsman Ron Burgundy, along with Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner in the comedy directed by script co-writer Adam McKay. McKay has hinted that the sequel will have whole song sequences, and we can only imagine Ferrell’s thick Burgundy mustache fluttering in the breeze during a diva number backed by the Channel 4 News gang.

My only friend, the End

There seems no more fitting day than today when the purported apocalypse was supposed to happen to post this trailer for next year's comedy This is the End starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, a whole host of other funny people, and Danny McBride. This 'end of days' seems like it could be a whole lot of manic fun with a bunch of guys who are clearly real life friends and know how to riff off of each other. Warning, trailer is Not Safe For Work.

Early Christmas present

From Deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Good news for Arrested Development fans. The new season of the cult Mitch Hurwitz comedy commissioned by Netflix will be larger than originally planned. I’ve learned that, during production on the 10 new episodes ordered by Netflix, Hurwitz shot more material than planned and also came up with ideas for additional scenes and storylines. Hurwitz, producing studio 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV approached Netflix, which agreed to expand the order to what I hear will be 12-15 episodes. As a result, production on the show, originally slated to wrap right after Thanksgiving, was extended for a few more weeks. But, given the complexity of adding material as you go on a show where none of the actors are in first position and filming has to be done around their existing schedules, I hear 20th TV at the end of last week decided to pause production so Hurwitz can review the footage already in the can and take his time figuring out the best way to incorporate the new arcs. Once he is done, the studio will begin working on securing the actors needed. Filming is tentatively slated to resume in late January. The producers have some breathing room as Netflix is targeting a spring premiere date for Arrested Development when it plans to make all episodes available at the same time.

“We are thrilled with the direction of the show, with the footage we have seen and with the relationship between Mitch, Imagine, 20th and Netflix,” a Netflix spokeswoman said. “At this time, we are not confirming or announcing the final episode count but we are sure fans will be thrilled when we do.”

RBR:Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

While few people saw it in theaters, many critics seemed to be charmed by this apocalyptic romantic comedy starring Steve Carrell and Keira Knightly as two lost souls who bond in the planet's last few days. While both leads can be very likeable, I failed to see what enchanted so many other reviewers. The opening part of the film is its strongest. While disturbing at times, it gives a bleak, yet fascinating look at how people would react if there was definitive proof that the planet would be gone in a matter of weeks. Once the main protagonists are suitably introduced the film veers off track as it struggles to find a tonal balance. You get scenes featuring cameos from people like Patton Oswalt and Rob Corddry that are meant for laughs but fall flat. But then you're also supposed to buy into a relationship between Carrell and Knightly that just never worked for me. Sitting through their journey, I was actively wishing for the asteroid to just hit already and put everyone out of their misery. I can appreciate attempts to blend genres, but this is an experiment that just goes horribly wrong. Given that it was written by the same person who wrote the insufferable Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, it's not that surprising that I didn't care for this. If our world is going to end, I wholeheartedly recommend that you don't waste your precious last few hours watching this. Rating: * 1/2

They Choo Choo Choose somebody else

The Indians continue making offseason moves. This time it's a three team trade with the Reds and the Diamondbacks. On the downside, we lose a popular player like Shin Soo Choo. But on the upside, we gain a really great pitching prospect, as well as three other players that could pan out nicely for us. Experts feel like we made out pretty well in this trade, and I'm felling pretty good about it too. For all the details on the move, here's the article from SI.com.

Shin-Soo Choo didn't want to be part of the Indians' future. So they're moving on without him. Cleveland traded the talented outfielder to the Cincinnati Reds and acquired prized pitching prospect Trevor Bauer from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in a three-team deal involving nine players.

The Indians obtained center fielder Drew Stubbs from Cincinnati and received Bauer, the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft, along with right-handers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw from the Diamondbacks. "This is a trade that can impact our team not only for 2013, but for the future," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. "Three of the players we acquired we will have under control for at least the next three seasons."

Cleveland shipped Choo, infielder Jason Donald and about $3.5 million to the Reds, while sending left-handed reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson to Arizona.The Diamondbacks also received shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius from Cincinnati.

Choo, who has been Cleveland's primary right fielder since 2006, will play center and bat leadoff for Cincinnati. "It was very difficult giving up home-grown talent, but we think Choo can fill the missing parts in our lineup both offensively and defensively," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement. "He is an exciting player, and we expect him to set the table."

Dealing Choo was almost a necessity for the Indians. He was entering the final year of his contract and is eligible for free agency in 2013. The Indians have not been able to work out a deal with agent Scott Boras, who has turned down several extensions in recent years. The 30-year-old Choo batted .283 with 16 homers and 67 RBIs in 155 games last season. He had been considered a core player for the Indians, who collapsed in August and finished finished 68-94 - two games out of last place in the AL Central.

"It was really tough," Antonetti said of trading Choo. "I talked with Shin-Soo tonight and expressed my profound appreciation for his professionalism. He is always one of the first to arrive for workouts, whether it is spring training or just a game." With plenty of power in the middle of the lineup, Cincinnati has lacked a prototypical leadoff man to get on base consistently in front of sluggers such as Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Ryan Ludwick and Todd Frazier. Brandon Phillips, who previously batted cleanup at times, was pressed into leadoff duty last season despite a .322 career on-base percentage.

Choo can also hit the ball out of the ballpark, but his .381 career OBP fits the bill at the top of the order. He also had 43 doubles and 21 steals this year. The speedy Stubbs has played center exclusively for the Reds, helping them win NL Central titles in 2010 and 2012. He batted .213 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs last season, striking out 166 times in 493 at-bats. He has 100 stolen bases over the past three years, including 30 in 2012.

Antonetti said the team hasn't decided where Stubbs will play. Michael Brantley played center for the Indians last season, but has also spent some time in left. "In Drew Stubbs, we received a great defensive player who brings an element of speed and power to our lineup," Antonetti said. "We are happy with the job Michael Brantley did for us in center field, but Drew is one of the best out there. He brings a great deal of athleticism to our team."

Bauer, one of baseball's top pitching prospects, became the first member of the 2011 draft class to reach the majors and went 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA in four starts for Arizona this year. The 21-year-old right-hander struggled with his control, compiling 13 walks and 17 strikeouts in 16 1-3 innings. Bauer spent most of the season in the minors, going a combined 12-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 22 starts at Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno. He had 157 strikeouts and 61 walks while allowing 107 hits in 130 1-3 innings.

"We are getting a young pitcher with a ton of potential," Antonetti said. "He can be a top-of-the-rotation guy with development. He is somebody we have been interested in for a long time, since he was at UCLA." Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said he was sorry to part with Bauer, but "we're fortunate to have a lot of pitching depth."

The 22-year-old Gregorius, considered a defensive whiz, spent last season with Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville before appearing in eight games for the Reds. He hit a combined .265 with seven homers and 54 RBIs in 129 minor league games, adding 21 doubles and 11 triples while scoring 70 runs. The Diamondbacks have been looking for a shortstop to replace Stephen Drew, traded to Oakland in August after returning from a serious ankle injury. They were thought to be interested in Indians All-Star Asdrubal Cabrera, though Towers wouldn't comment on that. Towers said Gregorius reminds him "of a young Derek Jeter." Gregorius will go to spring camp and compete for the starting job in the big leagues. Arizona completed a $15.5 million, two-year contract with right-hander Brandon McCarthy on Tuesday and also acquired reliever Heath Bell from Miami earlier this offseason. Towers said those additions make it "highly unlikely" the team will trade slugger Justin Upton.

Kent keep a good Man down

Tis the season for trailers and this one is the second look at next summer's Superman reboot, which definitely seems to have the whole Batman Begins vibe too it. If it's as good as that film, maybe this franchise has a chance of being successful.

Make your Mark

This isn't a real flashy move, but it seems like a solid acquistion that will attempt to address some of the Indians' key needs.

The Indians' need for right-handed power in their lineup has become glaringly obvious over the past few seasons. If only for one year, Cleveland believes it has found a solution.

On Sunday evening, the Indians agreed to a one-year contract with corner infielder Mark Reynolds, sources told MLB.com. Reynolds will presumably take over as the Tribe's first baseman and will earn a base salary of $6 million, with another $1.5 million available in incentives. Pending the completion of a physical, an official announcement will likely come within the next few days.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti could not be reached for comment.

This seemingly takes the Tribe out of the running for free-agent infielder Kevin Youkilis, who has a one-year contract worth $12 million on the table from the Yankees to handle third base. It is believed that Cleveland offered Youkilis a two-year deal worth a reported $18 million to play first base, but the Reynolds signing potentially renders that proposal moot.

As things stand, the Indians plan on handing the keys to third base over to youngster Lonnie Chisenhall, leaving first base as the only infield spot in need of a starter. Cleveland does have a vacancy at designated hitter, so it is possible the club could try to sell Reynolds and Youkilis on a rotation at first and DH. At-bats would also be available at third base on days Chisenhall did not play.

The 29-year-old Reynolds -- non-tendered by the Orioles last month -- made $7.5 million with Baltimore last season. Amid a thin free-agent class of first basemen, Reynolds, who would have made around $9 million in arbitration, was willing to return to the O's, but not at a significantly reduced salary.

The Orioles never offered Reynolds any type of deal, and several teams expressed interest in Reynolds at last week's Winter Meetings. One of them was Cleveland, which has its Spring Training facility in Arizona, allowing Reynolds to live at home during big league camp.

Reynolds opened the 2012 season at third base, but he committed six errors in 40 chances and was moved across the diamond to first, where he worked himself into an above-average first baseman. Reynolds frequently took some good-natured ribbing for his tendency to leave his feet, but he became adept at picking balls in the dirt and making excellent scoops, resulting in a .995 fielding percentage in 108 games at the position.

Offensively, Reynolds recovered from a poor first half to post a .221 batting average with a .335 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage, collecting 23 homers and 69 RBIs in 135 games.

Sixteen of his homers came in the final two months of the season after he got past the most prolonged slump of his career. Through Reynolds' first 85 games, he hit .211 with eight homers and 33 RBIs and struck out 104 times. He did draw walks throughout the season, leading the team in free passes for a second straight year, with 73, and he helped the Orioles reach their first postseason in 15 years by hitting 15 homers and posting a .517 slugging percentage in his final 50 games.

A well-liked player in the clubhouse, Reynolds played through numerous injuries during the season. He was hit by a pitch six times during the regular season and twice in six postseason games. Health was a question to everyone but Reynolds, who deflected any notion that he might need to miss time.

The Orioles acquired him from the D-backs on Dec. 6, 2010, in exchange for right-handers David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio.

Arguably the best season of Reynolds' six years in the big leagues came in 2009, when he hit .260 with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs for Arizona. The right-handed hitter also set a single-season Major League record with 223 strikeout that year. Reynolds is the only player in big league history to turn in at least two seasons with 200 or more strikeouts, and he has done so three times in his career.

Reynolds makes up for the high volume of strikeouts with solid power, having launched an average of 30 home runs per year in his career. In two years with Baltimore, he averaged 30 home runs, 78 RBIs and 145 games per season. Even in a down year, Reynolds' 23 long balls a year ago would have led the Indians, whose team leader had just 18 (Carlos Santana).

Jack of all trades

Tom Cruise's next movie, Jack Reacher hasn't even hit theaters yet and we already have a trailer for another film featuring him playing a character named Jack. This one is a sci-fi film called Oblivion that is being directed by the guy that did TRON: Legacy. This looks to be pretty epic and will no doubt be on my 2013 movie preview list later this month.

RBR: Moonrise Kingdom

It may surprise some of you, given my love for movies, that Moonrise Kingdom was my first entry into the Wes Anderson universe. The only other film of his that I've seen is Fantastic Mr. Fox, which doesn't exactly fit into the mold of his typical films. If you've seen Anderson's work, then you know to expect a strange, yet beguiling story filled to the max with quirky character. This one centers around a geeky young boy and a disillusion young girl who meet and run off together abandoning their boy scout troop and family, respectively. I found the first half of the film to be wholly enchanting. The relationship between the two protagonists as they go on their journey is sweet and charming while the laughs come from the adults who go on the hunt to find them. This includes Frances McDormand and Bill Murray as the girl's parents, Bruce Willis as the town's sheriff, and Edward Norton as the boy scout troop leader. There's a lot of fun in watching the kids act grown up while the adults have some serious arrested development issues. If the entire film had been the chase for these kids, this would have been a great movie. However, the kids are discovered midway through and the film has difficulty in continuing the story past that point. Things turn even more bizarre and surreal in the second half and a second escape by the kids isn't nearly as engaging. Those who enjoy Anderson's work will no doubt love this latest effort but I think it is worth seeing even if you are a neophyte to his work like I was. It appears I may have to play catch up now and start watching some of his older stuff to see if I've been missing out all of these years. Rating: **** 1/4

Star gazing

Your first look at the new Star Trek sequel has finally arrived. It's not much, but still manages to get me hotly anticipating its arrival next summer. If this isn't enough to whet your appetite, you can see a 9 minute preview of the film in IMAX starting next week with The Hobbit

RBR: Brave

After a rare mistep for Pixar last year with the ill-conceived Cars 2, the animation king looked to right their wrong with this tale about the relationship between a Scottish queen and her rebellious daughter. While Brave has the right look of a Pixar film, there's something off about this picture. This feels like Disney made an unfair trade with Pixar by giving them one of their simplistic princess stories while keeping the genre-bending innovative story (Wreck-It Ralph) for themselves. As a result, this is a film that's hard to hate because it's technically sound and has a nice message, but is also difficult to embrace, especially for someone in my demographic. The first half of the film which deals with Merida, the film's central character, and her problems assimilating to the princess lifestyle are solid. However, the film sort of goes off the rails after an ill-worded wish (how many times are we going to see that trope used) changes Merida's mother and their relationship. It would not have been the direction I would have gone with and it just doesn't seem to provide a lot of humor and/or dramatic tension. This seems to be a movie that will appeal to only a very small segment of viewers who are old enough to not be scared by some of the more tense moments and young enough to still find the story's cliches to be fresh. While I haven't lost my confidence in Pixar, I certainly hope that they have not grown complacent into thinking this is an acceptable quality level for future films. Rating: *** 1/2

Call them, maybe

There's a really insightful and detailed interview with Dan Ackroyd about Ghostbusters 3 and the development hell it's currently in. In it he expresses his (and fans') frustration and also reveals some details about what we can and shouldn't expect if the film actually gets made. The Esquire interview is too long to post here, so I'll just provide a link for you to check out. If you're a fan like me, it's definitely worth a read.

It's the end of the year as we know it

I'm sure there will be a bunch of these coming out over the next couple of weeks, but this is the first I saw and was very impressed with it. Here's a mashup of the greatest moments from the 2012 movie trailers. What's even more impressive is that the creator of the video actually has a purpose behind the organization of his clips. If you visit the actual YouTube page, you can see how he broke the video into three distinct sections, each with its own theme.

Trading louses

From EW.com:

You may now exclaim, “Holy crap! Woo hoo!”: Seth MacFarlane has recorded a guest spot on The Simpsons.

The Family Guy creator and voice actor (not to mention one of EW’s Entertainers of the Year and the host of the upcoming Oscars) will try to romance Marge in an episode that’s slated to air next fall as the season 25 premiere, EW has learned. The two popular animated shows, of course, share a network, a night, an overweight patriarch that falls well shy of role model, and a rivalry as they’ve playfully jabbed each other on screen over the years. “We wanted to come together in a bipartisan way to make Fox Sunday night rock,” sums up Simpsons executive producer Al Jean of the MacFarlane casting. “This was all very fun.”

In the episode, titled “Dangers on a Train,” Marge mistakes an Ashley Madison-type website for a Dolly Madison-type cupcake site, not realizing that it’s a destination for married people to arrange affairs. While on the site, she encounters the charming Ben (MacFarlane), who pursues her as they bond over their mutual love of a Downton Abbey-ish series, Upton Rectory. “A lot of him trying to go after her is over the phone, so it’s a perfect part for someone with his voice,” says Jean, who adds that the smooth-voiced MacFarlane croons “The Way You Look Tonight” in the episode. (By the way, Ben’s wife is voiced by comedian Lisa Lampanelli, “which explains what’s wrong with his marriage,” quips Jean.)

MacFarlane — who lent his voice to Matt Groening’s other animated series, Futurama, in 2009 — welcomed the offer to visit Springfield. “We thought we had a great part that he’d be perfect for, and it would be great to have him on our show, so it worked out just right,” says Jean, noting: “There’s been a little rivalry. We’re both humor shows and we make jokes, but it’s always been friendly.”

In fact, “Dangers on a Train” contains a joke that tweaks both Family Guy and The Simpsons. During one of Marge and Ben’s conversations, says Jean, “they talk about this Downton Abbey show and they say, ‘There’s so much great stuff on Sunday nights… except on Fox.’”

Will Family Guy flip the script and feature some Simpsons talent on an upcoming episode? MacFarlane was unavailable for comment, but Jean says, “I’m hopeful that there will be something of us on their show but that’s up to them. We’d certainly welcome it.” In any case, he adds, “for Seth, it completes the Saturday Night Live/Oscar host/Simpsons triple crown that exists only in my head.”

(UPDATE: Some of you have astutely noted that Dan Castellaneta had a one-line cameo in an October episode of Family Guy. We were asking if Family Guy will return the favor with a prominent guest role like MacFarlane’s.)

RBR: Lawless

Somewhere buried inside Lawless, the true story of the Bondurant brothers who ran the biggest moonshine outfit in Virginia during prohibition, is a really good movie. It's unfortunate that director John Hillcoat is unable to get that on screen. For everything going for this film, there seems to be some sort of counteracting element. Tom Hardy, who more people saw as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises this summer, actually gives a more compelling performance here as Forest Bondurant. He is a man of few words and yet you hang on to everything he says. But then there's Shia Labeouf who is completely out of place here. Too much of the film centers around his petulant character that becomes more grating as the movie goes along. Labeouf's hacky performance though is not the only problem with this film. Gary Oldman who plays a Chicago gangster is excellent as always but is severely underutilized. I expected him to play a much larger role, yet by the film's climax he's completely gone. There are also some major pacing issues with the film. The first half of the film feels very choppy and unfinished. Scenes are strung together with no real coherency. At times I felt like I had been drinking moonshine and kept blacking out. The second half of the film turns into a traditional shoot-out that felt needlessly bloody and violent without giving a completely satisfactory conclusion. While I've focused on a lot of the negatives, I don't want to give the impression that this is a film without merit. The flaws of this film are only more apparent because of how close it was to being a great movie. I think if the subject matter is of interest to you, I would definitely recommend checking this film out now that it's available to rent. Though it's not a 100 proof, there's still enough here to give you a decent buzz. Rating: ****

Bonehead appetit

Courtesy of The Soup, I give you the "charismatic", "culinary expertise" of Steven Reed who helps the students of Weber State with all of their food needs. This guy needs his own Food Network show right now! Below, Steven offers viewers some insight on how to make a delicious dish of rice, or something.

Sullying his good name

The last time director Robert Zemeckis made a film involving live human beings was 2000's Cast Away. That was the story of Tom Hanks trying to go through life after surviving a plane crash. In his latest effort, Flight, Zemeckis once again gives us a tale of a plane crash survivor and his life in the aftermath. The focal survivor in this film is the airplane's pilot, Whip Whitaker, played by Denzel Washington.

In this case, the events leading up to the crash are just as important as the ones that proceed it. We learn quickly that Whip has a problem with alcohol and drugs. He not only drinks prior to the flight, but on the plane as well. During one flight, a mechanical problem with the plane occurs and Whip is forced to flip the plane mid-air in order to land the plane with minimal damage. Without the maneuver the plane would have crashed and killed everyone instantly. But thanks to his efforts, there was minimal loss of life and Whip becomes a hero

It is only when the crash comes under investigation that Whip's problems with alcohol come to light. From there, the film examines in detail Whip's demons and the effects it has on those around him. Whenever a film tackles the subject of addiction, the results can be vary wildly from overblown melodrama to sobering realism. For the most part, Washington is very effective in his performance. What makes his portrayal so fascinating is the way he is able to be so functional in most aspects of his life despite his crippling dependency on booze. Given the subject matter, it would not surprise me in the least if this earns Washington another Best Actor nomination come Oscar time

But for as strong of a performance as Washington gives, I couldn't help but feel cheated that the film chose to strictly focus on it. I would have preferred the story to be more mystery-centered, leaving the audience wondering if Whip had been drunk while flying the plane and if that was the result of the crash. That aspect gets thrown to the side in favor of an uninteresting subplot involving Whip forming a relationship with a fellow addict (Kelly Reilly). More time should have been spent with either Don Cheadle, who plays a lawyer representing Whip, or John Goodman who plays hippie who helps supply Whip with drugs. These are characters that Cheadle and Goodman have played before, but they are so good at what they do you can't help but want to see their screentime maximized.

As with Cast Away, the story ultimately lets down what would have otherwise been a good movie. Clearly Zemeckis knows what he's doing when it comes to visual effects. The scenes involving the plane crash is harrowing in the way it is depicted. Those who are uneasy with flying to begin with will likely want to stay away from this movie. However, seems to have trouble sticking the landing, no pun intended, when it comes to finishing his movies. With Cast Away, he opted to go for a realistic, ambiguous finish when that story desperately needed a feel-good Hollywood ending. In Flight, he delivers the exact opposite problem. Up until the ending, this movie is a grim, realistic portrayal of an alcoholic. Then in the closing minutes things gets wrapped up in a tidy, saccharine manner that would be more fitting of a movie made for Lifetime.

There's a lot to like about Flight, but like its protagonist, it is deeply flawed. On the weight of the acting performances and visually stunning crash scenes, I'd say this movie is worthy of a recommendation. It helps, though, to come into this movie knowing what you can expect to see so you can better appreciate what the film is trying to accomplish. Even if he failed to soar to new heights, Zemeckis manages to keep the movie cruising at a consistent level of entertainment. Grade: B