Costume Party deleted scenes

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NMR: Alien quadrilogy

In the spirit of the season, I opted to check out some scary movies and decided to watch the Alien films - a franchise I had never seen before.

Alien: This one gets the series started right. The film, directed by Ridley Scott is fairly simplistic, but still offers a lot of interesting ideas. You really see the debates play out as the crew tries to determine how they will deal this creature, especially since they've never encountered anything like this before. Throw in some outside obstacles like a greedy corporation and a rouge android and you've got the makings of a solid thriller. The final sequence involving Sigourney Weaver's Ripley in her underwear dealing with this creature on her own will go down as a classic film scene. Rating: ****

Aliens: James Cameron takes over the franchise here and manages to up the ante. Many consider this just as good, if not better than the original and I agree. You can see some of Cameron's visions of space from Avatar first appear here. Weaver gives another compelling performance and it's really interesting to see the creatures evolve in their intelligence and methods of attack. I could have done without the military crew that serves as fodder for the creature and offers no interesting characters, but I liked Paul Reiser's corporate stooge character and the presence of Newt, while nothing special herself adds another dynamic to the Ripley character. Again, the film ends strong with a hell of sequence involving Ripley coming face to face with the queen. Rating: ****

Alien 3: Three films, three amazing directors. This time around it's David Fincher (The Social Network), although this was his first feature film, so it's not on par with his later work. At this point in the franchise Weaver's Ripley character is the only thing worthwhile. She gives another strong performance (without her, I'm not sure how far this franchise would have gone), and continues to find new ways to add depth to her character. Unfortunately, she's surrounded by a group of unengaging convicts who are trying to survive the aliens. The whole film is depressing rather than exhilirating, both in look and in story as they basically shit over everything that had been established in the previous film. Unlike the first two, this one crawls to a finish as there is one chase sequence too many, capped by final shot that was meant to be poetic, but instead was just unfortunate. This one felt like there were too many cooks in the kitchen all offering input and the result was a less than satisfying effort. Rating: ***

Alien: Resurrection: The first 15 minutes or so of this film showed a lot of promise. We finally get to see what happens when those who want to study this creature do once they get their hands on it. Unfortunately, the explanation for how they managed to get it is ludicrous and then they don't even do much with it. From there this turns into a typical fright fest where the creature comes out at opportune to kill off unnecessary characters. Weaver does her best to continue making the Ripley character interesting (this time around it's actually a clone of her character), but I truly question why she decided to come back for another go round. It seemed like the studio was just using the franchise name as a way to lure people in without really offering them anything new to the mythology. A disappointing effort for sure. Not even sci-fi master Joss Whedon, who wrote the script, could salvage this one. Rating: **

The Office Webisodes: The 3rd Floor

Since NBC.com didn't bother to post any deleted scenes from last week's episode, I guess I'll just have to post the latest hilarious webisode series from The Office gang instead.

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Wicked good

It's funny the paths our lives take. Take Ben Affleck for instance. No one could have predicted given his track record as an actor that he would develop into the talented director that he has become. Following up on his depressing, yet well-made debut, Gone Baby Gone, Affleck shows no signs of sophomore slump with his latest The Town. Using Boston as the setting once again, Affleck creates a taut thriller about a group of bank robbers.

Unlike Ben's career, the story feels a little familiar, but the way its delivered still makes the film very effective. In many ways, The Town feels more like some of the great gangster movies like Goodfellas, than it does a heist film. The themes of greed, regret, family, and redemption are all woven into the film without any of it feeling heavy-handed.

The film begins with this group of robbers led by Affleck himself and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) nearly successfully pulling off a heist. However, when they believe the alarm has been tripped, they take one of the tellers (Rebecca Hall) with them. To ensure that she didn't see anything incriminating, Affleck's character keeps tabs on her and ends up developing feelings for her. This of course does not sit well with the rest of his crew. Renner as the hot-headed second in command does a fine job of causing trouble and consistently emitting a sense of menace. You also have actors like Chris Cooper and Pete Postlethwaite around as old-time crooks reminding us all of where this type of life gets you.

While there are obviously a lot of somber, dialogue-heavy scenes the film is certainly not light on action. There are several action-filled scenes that are very well made. They amp up the intensity yet don't overstay their welcome. They are very realistic in their portrayal, which only adds to the tension. One of the best things about these action scenes is that they come of as satisfying without glorifying the bad guys. Unlike say the Ocean's films where you are rooting for the theives to get away with their caper, this film makes no bones about the fact that these are bad guys who deserved to be punished for their actions. It's also refreshing to see the film portray the FBI as being competent and level-headed. Mad Men's Jon Hamm leads the way as Agent Frawley.

If there's one complaint to be made about the film is that everything wraps up a little too tidy, but it's not a major deal. The film offers a satisfying enough conclusion to each of the major players in the film which is often more appealing than abiguity. Overall though, this is a well made, adult film that doesn't come off as outlandish or cartoony. As a director Affleck, who clearly knows and loves his hometown, does a great job of portraying the ins and outs of Boston and its inhabitants. I may not care for the accent or attitude displayed by its residents, but in this case it makes for a compelling film. I could even see this film be considered for a Best Picture nomination, although I think once all the contenders emerge it will likely be on the outside looking in. Credit Ben Affleck for transforming from mediocre actor to first-rate director. If he keeps making films like this, they may have to change Boston's nickname from Beantown to Bentown. Grade: B+

Fern notice

Zack Galifianakis is back with another installment of Between Two Ferns and this time he's got RED star Bruce Willis in studio with him. Cue the hilarity!

NMR: The Jonses

This was an little seen indie film from this past spring that drew me in due to its unique premise. David Duchovny and Demi Moore pose as a married couple that live with their two kids. The thing is, none of them are related. Instead, they are co-workers who's job it is to get everyone interested in buying all of the products they own without anyone realizing that they're actually salesmen. It's the ultimate soft sell. This idea only carries the film so far, though. The actual emotional crux of the film comes a little too late and what they offer is some typical dysfunctional family drama found in a lot of indie films. It's a shame they couldn't follow through with this idea. In a way, it seems like the concept may have worked better in a TV series than a single film, especially given how neat and tidy they tie things up here at the end. But the film is not a complete waste. The interest concept coupled with some decent acting from the leads, as well as reliable Gary Cole as one of the neighbors makes this worthwhile. It's nothing special, but it certainly will make you think twice about your own neighbors who seem to have it all. Rating: ***

Sex Ed deleted scenes

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NMR: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Man, is this film pure cheese. And leftover cheese at that considered it borrows heavily from other better films like The Mummy and National Treasure. If it had just been a rehash of those film, this might have been tolerable, but then it has to go and insult our intelligence by trying to infuse current political events into the storyline (i.e. a country is under attack for dealing weapons, there are debates about whether or not to invade a 'holy land', etc.). Nothing about this film is particularly creative and I found myself calling out plot points before they actually occured. Even when the film tries to emulate the video game that it is based off of, it's done in such a bland and uninspired way that most who have never seen or played the game before wouldn't think anything of it. The main hook of the film - the fact that a sword exists that allows the beholder to control time - is not used nearly enough. I will say that people like Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays the lead, and Alfred Molina do seem like they are having fun here; it's just too bad they had no business being cast in the film in the first place. Grade: C-

A blast from the Future

Check out this clip that will be an extra in the upcoming Blu-Ray release of the Back to the Future trilogy. For the first time ever, here is actual video footage of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly. Director Robert Zemekis explains they were 5 weeks(!) into shooting the film before he realized that they needed to change actors. Sucks to be Stoltz, but I think we can all agree he made the right call.

Espionage a trois?

There is a new book out detailing the history of MI6, Britain's equivalent of the CIA. There's one particular secret in it that has caught the attention of a lot of people, which I've posted below. This explains so much about James Bond and his bed-hopping way. He was merely trying to send hidden messages!

A diary entry belonging to a senior member of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) has revealed that during the First World War it was discovered that the bodily fluid could act as an effective invisible ink.

In June 1915, Walter Kirke, deputy head of military intelligence at GHQ France, wrote in his diary that Mansfield Cumming, the first chief (or C) of the SIS was "making enquiries for invisible inks at the London University".

In October he noted that he "heard from C that the best invisible ink is semen", which did not react to the main methods of detection. Furthermore it had the advantage of being readily available.

A member of staff close to "C", Frank Stagg, said that he would never forget his bosses' delight when the Deputy Chief Censor said one day that one of his staff had found out that "semen would not react to iodine vapour".

Stagg noted that "we thought we had solved a great problem".

However, the discovery also led to some further problems, with the agent who had identified the novel use having to be moved from his department after becoming the butt of jokes.

In addition, at least one agent had to be reminded to use only fresh supplies of the 'ink' when correspondents began noticing an unusual smell.

The revelations are included in 'MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949' by Professor Keith Jeffery.

Prof Jeffery, of Queen's University, Belfast, was given access to all of MI6's files between those years. The book is published on Tuesday and is being serialised in The Times.

Community effort

I pride myself on being an eagle eye viewer when watching television, but even I missed this one. Apparently on last week's episode of Community, they gave Abed a storyline that was told strictly in the background scenes. Below is a video compilation of the scenes involving Abed helping a pregnant girl deliver a baby. Very clever stuff!

Fall TV Report: New shows

I held off on this post so that I could see a couple episodes from each of the new series I gave a try. That way I could have a better assessment of their value.

The Event: This of course was the show that tried to bill itself as a replacement for Lost. Thus far, it's failed to achieve that crown. The show has a decent enough mystery for now, but its severely lacking in the character department. Most of the central figures are bland and forgettable, which makes it tough to care about their role in this mystery. Still, I'm a sucker for mythologically-driven shows and I figure I'm in for the ride at this point. If things get too crazy or ridiculous without offering sufficient answers along the way, I'll abandon it like I did FlashForward last year. Verdict: Sticking with it

Undercovers: As soon as I heard J.J. Abrams was attached, I was instantly interested. This is the first thing I've seen his name attached to that I did not immediately fall in love with. There's nothing inherently wrong with the show. It has a couple of likable leads (and credit goes to the show for putting two African-Americans in the leads) and some fun spy action. The main problem is that there was nothing here to make me come back every week. Given how loaded my TV schedule is already, I can't make time for procedurals if they offer no incentive for me to tune in every week. I wish the show luck, but I don't see me making this 'appointment tv'. Verdict: Pleasant, but skippable.

Running Wilde: This is a new sitcom on FOX that comes from the people that created Arrested Development and stars Will Arnett. I was surprised to see this get such poor reviews from critics. While this show is a far cry from the genius that was AD, I find there to be enough quirky humor here to keep me entertained. They've gotten a good cast that not only includes Arnett, but Keri Russell and David Cross. Thus far, it has not done well in the ratings, which may mean it's on life support, but I'm hopeful it can stick around. And if it doesn't well then hopefully that will just encourage Mitch Hurwitz to get back to work on that Arrested Development movie. Verdict: Enjoying it while it lasts

No Ordinary Family: Filling the hole that Heroes left, this shows provides me with my superhero fix. I still haven't gotten a great sense yet on whether or not this show will be good. At times it's a bit too light and concerned with the family elements. The fact that none of the family members' superpowers are very original is a bit disappointing too. Still the lead actors are solid and they've established some mysteries involving who else may have abilities to keep me intrigued for a while. Verdict: Hoping for a hero, but fearing the show may be merely mortal.

Smell like a monster

Check out this Sesame Street parody of the Old Spice Guy commercials. Ha!

NMR: MacGruber

MacGruber follows a long line of movies based off of Saturday Night Live skits that just can't quite make the transition from 4-minute skit to feature length film. Nestled inside this film are several funny moments, but the collective page reeks of amateur hour. The film tries too hard to have most of its humor come from paying homage to 80s action movies and not enough for its actual source material - MacGyver. I also would have liked to see the MacGruber character interact more with the real world. There is an isolated feel to the film where the characters seem very seperated from the rest of humanity. Will Forte is too likeable to totally hate this film, but I just wish they would have taken a little bit more time to develop something great instead of trying to strike while the iron was hot and rush this out there underdeveloped. MacGruber isn't a bomb, but it's certainly not da bomb either. Grade: C+

Andy's Play deleted scenes

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Pro-Social

It seems premature to do a film about the origins of Facebook and its controversial founder Mark Zuckerberg so soon after these events took place. It feels like there has not been enough passage of time to truly see what the significance of these events really are. However, given the technological age that we live in where things are constantly updating and adapting, maybe there is no better time than now to make The Social Network, lest it seem outdated.

I certainly had a vested interest in seeing this film given the amount of time I've spent investigating Facebook as part of my doctoral research. As much as I knew about the key players involved with the website, I still found this to be a wholly engrossing film that touches on a lot of human characteristics.

Directed by David Fincher, The Social Network tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg through a broken narrative flashing back and forth between the website's origins and the two seperate deposition hearings that resulted from its creation. Using the deposition hearings to set up the flashback scenes works and allows you to see how things fell apart so quickly between Zuckerberg and his partners all the while Facebook continued to thrive and grow.

This is just one of the many interesting facets about this film. As you watch Zuckerberg try to deal with the people around him, you begin to wonder how someone who displays his intellectual superiority to all who are present thus alienates everyone, including friends could create a website designed for making social connections. Credit definitely deserves to go to Jesse Eisenberg, who has played the awkward nerd before, but never with the confidence and authority that he exhibits here. He commands the screen and does a nice job of displaying the complexities of Zuckerberg.

The other fascinating aspect of this film is how well it expressed the legal uncertainties associated with the Internet. Zuckerberg and co. set out to push the boundaries of what is acceptable and/or legal with Facebook and it blew up in their face when they began to fight with each other over ownership rights. It's both captivating and hilarious as you watch the lawyers not only have to deal with the ornery nature of their respective clients, but also trying to find precedent when none existed for a case like this. Those involved with Facebook really didn't know the monster they had created.

The film is filled with a lot of solid performances including Justin Timberlake as Napster founder, Sean Parker, Andrew Garfield (who will be the new Spiderman) as Zuckerberg's friend Eduardo, and Arnie Hammer, who has the difficult role of actually playing twin Harvard students. Each of them rise up to the challenge of the dense script by Aaron Sorkin and give nuanced performances that show how they were all complicit in this mess.

I'm not sure what kind of mainstream appeal this film will have, but I think anyone who is a member of Facebook owes it to themselves to see this film. Like most benefits we have thanks to the internet, we often take for granted the freedoms it affords us and the problems it can create for others. Watching this film will give you a new appreciation for the act that is social networking. It's not about clicking 'accept' to random individuals, its about being able to connect on a certain level with someone because you have a better understanding of who they are. Networking may have eliminated some of Zuckerberg's problems, but it also would have prevented us from seeing this excellent film. Grade: A

Being Franco

I linked the teaser trailer for 127 Hours in my Fall Movie Preview posts, but here's the newly released feature trailer. This film, based on a true story, has a lot of early buzz and this trailer seems to validate it.

NMR: Repo Men

It seems like it's been forever since I've done one of these. This one has been sitting on my end table for a while and I probably should have sent it back without even watching it. I was drawn by the interesting premise - Jude Law and Forest Whitaker play men who repossess human organs when people are behind on their payments. Sadly though, this movie quickly turns into an amalgam of borrowed ideas from films such as Minority Report, The Bourne Identity, and Children of Men. On top of that, this is a bloody and morose affair that fails to generate any sympathy for its characters. The only energy comes from Liev Schriber's small role as the head of this organ repossession company. The kicker here comes from their attempt at a shock ending that isn't all that shocking given how many times they hint at it earlier in the film. In general a disappointing film that failed to live up to its potential. Grade: C

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Fall TV Report: Returning Favorites (Sunday)

The Amazing Race: The new season got some early buzz thanks to a viral video involving one of the contestants catapulting a watermelon into her face on accident. Click the link, if you haven't seen it yet. The was just one of the highlights from what looks to be another exciting season. Unlike with Survivor, there seems to be some likable contestants here and the teams that I didn't seem to care for were struggling, which hopefully means an early exit for most of them. It definitely seems like the female contestants are going to be at the forefront of this season, which should be interesting to watch since there's never been an all-female team that has won this competition. Stonehenge made for a good starting location and I'll be excited to see where else they'll travel to this season. It's too early to tell how good this season will be, but for now I'm hopeful. Now if they could just start filming this series in HD... Grade: B+

Family Guy: Speaking of HD, this show is now being done in HD and they were eager to show it off in the premiere. The murder mystery plot showed a lot of promise, but I was disappointed that they spent more time with the visual effects and tracking shots than on the actual story. Having the entire town gathered should have given everyone an easy chance to get in a good joke or too, but they kept things more serious. The characters they killed off were no great loss, so the show didn't really succeed on that end either. Based on the past few ones they've done, it seems like they would be better off sticking to half hour episodes because the hour long ones (save for the Star Wars spoofs) just don't seem to be that funny. Grade: C+

The Cleveland Show: I seemed to be one of the few people who actually found this show very funny, particularly in the later half of the season. For that reason, I was excited to have this show back, but it too disappointed me. If Family Guy was too preoccupied with its visuals, this show was too focused on its guest star - Kanye West. His 'Kenny West' character did nothing for me and with so much of the story focused around him and Cleveland's attempt to make him into a star, the rest of the characters weren't given much to do. I understand you want to draw eyeballs in and big guest stars will help with that, so I'll cut the show some slack. For now, I'll write this off as a rare miss and hope they return to form in their second episode. Grade: B-

The Simpsons: Guest stars were also featured prominently here, but that's nothing new for this show. Now in it's 22nd season, I don't expect much from this show and those lowered expectations help. I was really worried that this episode would suffer from Glee overload, based on the commercials. Instead, the guys from The Flight of the Concords got the lion's share of the screen time. The songs they developed were decent, but they also took away from the show's plot. Likewise, the B story involving Krusty getting caught in a Roman Polanski-style sting sounded good but needed more time to develop. However, while the show was far from perfect, of all the Animation Domination shows, it actually yielded the most laughs from me. They've certainly had better openers, but this was fine for what it was. Grade: B

Getting to the nitty Gritty

Here's your first look at the Coens' remake of the John Wayne classic, True Grit.

Fall TV Report: Returning Favorites (Thursday)

I know I'm a little behind, but I'll do my best to catch up over the next couple of days. Please note that my comments and grades are based solely on these shows' season premiere episodes.

Community: This show really tries hard, but can never seem to put the pieces together to make a truly awesome show. There are always elements in each episode that seem like they would be exceptionally funny and yet the execution is lacking. Having Betty White come in as a new instructor was a nice touch, but it really seemed like a wasted opportunity relegating her to potty humor and physical comedy. I stick with this show because it's clear they are working hard to make quality TV, but they just can't quite get it right. Grade: B-

30 Rock: Here we have the complete antithesis of Community. This show just breezes by on its formula and reliance on big name guest stars - all of which produces typically fun episodes, but are never memorable. Given the talent found on this show, it would be interesting to see if they really tried hard. Instead, they just seem happy to be on the air, so they continue to produce the status quo. Since the show is often funny, they can get away with it, but occasionally I would like to see them work outside of their comfort zone. Grade: B-

The Office: Knowing that this is Steve Carell's last season, this show easily could have phoned it in and they still would have generated good ratings. Thankfully that doesn't appear to be the case. They absolutely knocked it out of the park with this opener. While Michael was of course at the forefront of the episode's main story, the entire cast was well used and each got some decent screen time. I often scoff when I hear returning shows trying to plug their new season by claiming they have a renewed energy, but it appears these guys weren't lying. I have very high hopes now for this season after what I saw in that opener. Grade: A

The Big Bang Theory: Moving to Thursday nights doesn't seem to have phased this show at all. In fact, they've moved into a comfortable routine with their storytelling. Time will tell if that's a positive or not. If they are too reliant on some of their recurring jokes, it will wear out its welcome. If they find ways to keep things fresh, this show will likely shift from cult favorite to mainstream success (based on the first episode's ratings, I'd say it's well on its way to getting there). I like the idea of Mayim Bialik as Sheldon's not-girlfriend, but I wish they would have given her more to do in this episode. Then again, I love Penny so much that I didn't mind her presence on their 'date'. Nothing amazing here, but a typically good time. Grade: B

Fringe: People are sure missing the boat if they are not watching this show. It's a shame too many people write it off as sci-fi, because it's so much more than that. At its core, it's a family drama and a better one than most shows that bill themselves as family dramas. This show just has the ability to also seamlessly blend in the sci-fi stuff as well. It's an interesting storytelling device they are choosing to use this season by alternating between the two universes each episode. I fear I many not enjoy the alternate universe episodes (like the opener was) as much, just because there are so many more unlikeable/evil characters that dominate each episode; which is weird considering so many of them are the same actors that we've come to know and love in our universe. Despite the more depressing nature of the opener, they set the seeds in motion for another exciting season and I can't wait to see how it unfolds. Grade: A-

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Muted response

Looks like those fat cats in Washington finally got one right. From USAToday.com...

Legislation to turn down the volume on those loud TV commercials that send couch potatoes diving for their remote controls looks like it'll soon become law.
The Senate unanimously passed a bill late Wednesday to require television stations and cable companies to limit the volume of commercials and keep them at the level of the programs they interrupt.

The House has passed similar legislation. Before it can become law, minor differences between the two versions have to be worked out when Congress returns to Washington after the Nov. 2 election.

Ever since television caught on in the 1950s, the Federal Communication Commission has been getting complaints about blaring commercials. But the FCC concluded in 1984 there was no fair way to write regulations controlling the "apparent loudness" of commercials. So it hasn't been regulating them.

Correcting sound levels is more complicated than using the remote control. The television shows and ads come from a variety of sources, from local businesses to syndicators.

Managing the transition between programs and ads without spoiling the artistic intent of the producers poses technical challenges and may require TV broadcasters to purchase new equipment. To address the issue, an industry organization recently produced guidelines on how to process, measure and transmit audio in a uniform way.

The legislation, sponsored by Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., requires the FCC to adopt those recommendations as regulations within a year and begin enforcing them a year later. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., is the driving force behind the legislation in the House.

In for a Penny, in for a pound

Check out this funny video promoting the cast of The Big Bang Theory's appearance on The Late Late Show tonight with Craig interviewing to be the gang's new friend.

Fall TV Report: Returning favorites (Monday)

How I Met Your Mother: I made no bones about it last season that I felt this show had lost its way. A lot of the sharp humor that defined the show was gone and the stories veered away from the creative and into a more pedestrian sitcom. Worst of all, the primary story of the show was by and large ignored. I figured the show would take a downward spiral from here, but that prediction may have been premature. I was pleasantly surprised with the opener. Both the actors and the writing seemed to have a renewed sense of energy about them. And from what I've read by the show's creators, they have made a pledge to be more on task this season and finally give its viewers some answers. For now, I'm back on board with the show and once again eager to see who the titular mother will end up being. Grade: B+

Chuck: A rather ho-hum start for a show that usually is full of fun and energy. One of the most notable things was the lack of the ancillary characters like Ellie/Awesome and Jeffster. There was just too much Chuck and Morgan, which I know is a key pair, but has never been my favorite. I much prefer Chuck's interactions with Sarah and Casey. I do like how the government has taken over the Buy More and that should provide a lot of interesting scenes and story points this season. I also think the introduction of Chuck's mom (Linda Hamilton) was fine, but time will tell how that storyline will play out. Lastly, I do want to credit the writers for throwing in so many wonderful pop culture references like Seinfeld's Vandalay Industries or having guest star Dolph Lundgren utter his famous phrase, "I must break you". Grade: B-

Kid-ding around

I hope you're not getting tired of Inception trailer posts, because I have another gem. This time it is kids who have recreated the infamous trailer and I gotta say it's quite impressive. I wish I have that much imagination/editing equipment when I was younger.

Getting the band back together?

Here's some very interesting news for all of the Lost fans out there...

Forget Rizzoli & Isles: Are you ready for Linus & Locke? In news that could cause the Lost fan base to have a synchronized aneurysm, Vulture hears that last week, J.J. Abrams and frequent collaborators Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Alias, Mission: Impossible 4) began pitching a comedic drama to the networks that would have Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn — a.k.a. Benjamin Linus and John Locke/Smokey — playing former black-ops agents.

The idea of Emerson and O'Quinn reuniting isn't completely new: In February, the duo told TV Guide that they were looking to put together a post-Lost TV project for themselves; the rumors were revived again last month when Emerson repeated his hopes for a new show while doing publicity for the Lost full-series DVD collection. Still, all the talk seemed to be in the realm of "maybe one day." Turns out plans for a show are very real and very active — and the involvement of Abrams and other Bad Robot types means there's a really good chance the project will soon find a home.

As always with all things Abrams, details are sketchy, but insiders said the potential show — which we've heard carries the working title Odd Jobs — would have a dose of humor. It's not clear whether Appelbaum and Nemec will include any elements of an idea floated by O'Quinn last winter that had the two former Lost-mates serving as suburban hit men.

Put up your dukes

Here's another trailer for you. This time it's David O. Russell's The Fighter starring Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams. Based on what I saw here, I think Christian Bale may finally earn that elusive Oscar nomination.

Fall TV Report Card - Survivor: Nicaragua

Since Survivor returned earlier than everything else, it gets its own post. Last night, we saw season 21 kick off and they've decided to do old vs. young this year. That created an interesting dynamic right from the start since the older tribe seems to have a lot more likeable players, but I'm not sure how they will do in the challenges. The young tribe seems to be consisting of mostly dumb, yet cocky contestants. It is tough though to make any real impressions about anyone in just the first episode. The other new addition this year is this Medallion of Power, which gives the tribe that possesses it the opportunity to have an advantage in challenges. I'm not sure if I like this twist. If it's so powerful, then it's going to make the challenge uncompetitive, which doesn't make for compelling tv. And if a tribe opts not to use it, then what's the point of it? I also wasn't crazy how discovering the clue for the Hidden Immunity Idol was a result of blind luck. You should have to earn those.

OK, now for some quick takes on some of the standout castaways:
Jimmy Johnson - I'm sure he'll be a polarizing figure for many fans, but I have to respect that the guy is a true Survivor fan and this was not a case of stunt casting. His social game could take him far, but it appears he may have trouble holding up physically.

Marty and Jimmy T. - Both guys seem like big personalities and neither one appears to want Jimmy Johnson around for very long, which I don't get. They're likely to cause a lot of fireworks in their camp. If they can get over their jealousy of Jimmy and focus on more pressing tribe issues, they could turn out to be assets. Somehow, I don't think that will happen though.

Jane - Good for her for learning how to make fire before the show and then actually succeeding once she got there. She seems to be very plucky and is very sympathetic. I hope she's able to stick around.

Holly - appears to be the best strategist on her tribe. She tried to make an early alliance with Wendy, but eventually recognized her flaws and made the right move come tribal council. If anyone could go far on the older tribe, it's her.

Yve - Don't really know much about her or her gameplay, but I was stunned to see she was on the older tribe. She looks great for someone over 40!

"Fabio" - Seems like he'll be providing the comedic relief for the season. Most will likely keep him around for a while just for entertainment reasons.

Kelly B - You'd love to see her overcome the adversity of being an amputee and do well in this game. However, based on the first episode it seems that none of her tribemates have any intentions of keeping her around for a while. Her best chance will be if there are enough other horrible people on her tribe that they need to be voted out before her.

NaOnka - Speaking of horrible people, she appears to be one. Can Survivor ever cast a young black woman that isn't loud, ignorant, and antagonistic? Not looking forward to her spats with her tribemates.

Shannon - I can't tell whether his insulting remarks will tend to be comical or offensive. Either way, he'll likely stick around for a while given that he'll be a physical asset for his team.

Brenda - Already looked impressive by finding the Medallion of Power in the first episode. She seems to have the right blend sweetness and cutthroat behavior to have her succeed. I'll make her my early favorite to win it all.

Overall, while this season will most likely feel like a let down after the past two Russell-fueled awesome seasons, Survivor has a formula that works year-in and year-out and I would imagine it will be no different this time out. Grade: B+

Whirlwind Tour

So here's the first trailer for The Tourist. There's no denying this has appeal based on its star power, but does anyone else feel like this is the third time we've basically seen this movie this year after Killers and Knight and Day? Given that neither of them were very successful with critics or at the box office, I wonder why the studio would fast-track this film and have it come out this year. Let's hope this offers enough variety to make it worthwhile.

NMR: Cop Out

A total misfire here. I don't know how such talented people could produce such a loser, but they did. None of director Kevin Smith's unique style appears in this film. Tracy Morgan's antics are more grating than hilarious. And Bruce Willis seems completely bored out of his mind. I really think it was a mistake to cast him here since all it does it urge the audience to compare this lousy performance to Willis' prior great cop roles. This comedy about a pair of mismatched cop partners out to solve a crime involving a stolen baseball card tries to make fun of the cop film cliches, but ends up being just a poor man's version of classics like Beverly Hills Cop or 48 Hours. The film lacks compelling villains and fails to give the story any sense of urgency. There are a few stray laughs here or there, but for the most part this thing just plods around from scene to scene until it reaches its inevitable conclusion. Do yourself a favor and just watch The Other Guys instead. Rating: **

Critic proof

I was disappointed when At the Movies was cancelled last month after its 30 year run in various formats going back to when it first started with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. Well it appears that the show's disappearance won't last for very long. Earlier this week Roger Ebert announced that At the Movies will be returning home to public television next January. The show will feature two new critics, but Ebert himself will have a segment on the show where he will use a computer to speak for him (he lost his lower jaw after a bout with cancer a few years ago). The trademark thumbs up/down will also be back. All in all it seems like a good show and one that is still needed, even in today's day and age when everyone is a critic. Below is a short video highlighting what we can expect when the show premieres next year.

NMR: Unthinkable

This was a straight-to-DVD release, which was kind of baffling given the star power in it. Michael Sheen plays a terrorist who claims he has set bombs in three unnamed cities and will set them off unless his demands are met and Samuel L. Jackson plays an interrogator with unorthodox methods of getting answers. Carrie Anne Moss is also along for the ride as an FBI agent who is uneasy with Jackson's tactics. Most of the film plays like an episode of 24, only more gritty and not as engaging. The film runs out of steam as it reaches its climax, only to then provide an ending that is meant to be thought provoking, but instead reeks of desperation with its 'shocking for the sake of shocking' approach. For a straight-to-DVD release, this isn't that bad, but I can also understand why it never found its way into theaters. Rating: **1/2

Here we go

After months of speculation, the first trailer for Clint Eastwood's latest film, Hereafter has finally arrived and it looks like it has Oscar buzz already surrounding it.

It's (maybe) the most wonderful time of the year!

Back to school time has finally happened for me. I started back up at Wright State on Tuesday, which has yielded mixed results. There have been a lot of headaches thus far, more than usual, which has been frustrating. However, these frustrations have yet to weaken my resolve and I still absolutely love teaching. Being in the classroom still gives me a thrill and I hope that never disappears. Anyways, this post is primarily a means of saying that posts maybe be fewer and farther between than they were over the summer. I'll still do my best though to share any or all thoughts I have on the stuff I normally talk about on here.

Penn pal

Between Two Ferns is back - this time Sean Penn drops by to talk with special guest host Seth Galifianakis!

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Sean Penn from Between Two Ferns

All Better

Are you a Better Off Ted fan? Well if you are, you may or may not have realized that there were two episodes from its second season that never aired...until now. While ABC has decided not to show them on TV, there are several ways that you can access these shows. Alan Sepinwall from hitfix.com explains...

Hey, remember those two "Better Off Ted" episodes that weren't aired before ABC canceled the show, and that were going to air in June if the NBA Finals didn't go to a Game 7? Well, unfortunately, the Lakers and Celtics just wanted to keep playing and playing, and ABC never rescheduled the episodes, and with the new TV season about to begin in a few weeks, it doesn't look like they'll air anytime soon in this country. (Both aired in Australia a few weeks ago.)

But there is now a legal means of seeing both, as they were released to iTunes this morning. (One of them is also on Amazon's video on demand service.) UPDATE: And if you're a Netflix subscriber, you can stream both of them.

So go enjoy your last rush of Veronica, Lem, Phil and company. Haven't had a chance to watch yet myself, but hopefully there's a Veridian Dynamics commercial or two in there.

Heading in the Right direction?

Here's an early look at some of the big changes you can expect to see in the upcoming 39th season of The Price is Right to pricing games both new and old.

Fall Movie Preview (#4-1)

Sorry it's taken a few days to finish this list - I was out of town and didn't have the time to add this last entry. But let's not waste anymore time and get to the best of the bunch.

4.Red (Oct. 15) - Trailer

Plot: Based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer, "Red" is an explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA's top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

Quick thoughts: If you thought The Expendables showcased old people still kicking ass, you aint seen nothing yet. This looks like it will just be a pure blast. I mean, how can you not get a kick out of seeing Helen Mirren firing away at people with that massive gun. I'm not sure how strong the story will be here, but I don't think it will matter. This is the kind of film you gladly turn of your brain and just enjoy watching the insanity unfold.


3.Due Date (Nov. 5) - Trailer

Plot: Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife's due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan--on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter's last nerve.

Quick thoughts: There may not be two hotter actors right now than Downey Jr. and Galifianakis, so the pairing of them seems like a dream. While the premise seems a bit familiar (mismatched guys on a road trip), I can't see why these two comedians won't be able to rise above that and make a memorable film. Director Todd Phillips' track record is a bit sketchy; while he's had big hits like The Hangover, he's also had some duds like School For Scoundrels. Let's hope this is another one that falls into the former category.


2.The Social Network (Oct. 1) - Trailer

Plot: On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history... but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications. From director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin comes "The Social Network," a film that proves you don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Ceán Chaffin and based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich.

Quick Thoughts: I feel like I've done enough promotion for this film already. It's clear why this is one that I'm interested in - it's got a great director, a pedigreed cast, and a subject matter that I'm interested in learning more about. Working on a dissertation that involved Facebook has made me all the more curious about the social networking website's origins.


1.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (Nov. 19) - Trailer

Plot: Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became "the Boy Who Lived." No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.

Quick Thoughts: And so it's the beginning of the end. We're finally going to see this famed literary series come to a close on the big screen. Those who read the books pretty know what happens here - the only real mystery is where they are ending this film and apparently that information has been leaked, although I haven't read what it is yet. As usual, I don't need to do much persuasion here, pretty much everyone has already made up their mind whether they are seeing this or not and you can bet that I will be seeing in.

Hair-brained scheme

Saw this infomercial video online and thought it was so ridiculous that I just had to share it on here. There are so many things wrong with this ad/product. 1)Let's start with the obvious - was it really that hard to create a decent looking goatee before? 2)The thing requires that you bite down on a mouthpiece, which seems like it would change the contour of your face and actually cause the goatee to look worse. 3)Is the woman in this video capable of making eye contact with her fake boyfriend - every shot involves her seemingly trying to find the camera instead of admiring his facial hair. Feel free to add any other problems with this video as well.

Fall Movie Preview (#8-5)

8.Buried (Sept. 24) - Trailer

Plot: Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time - fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true.

Quick thoughts: I've already share some comments about this film when I posted its trailer originally. This is a claustrophobia movie, in a similar vein as Phone Booth; so if you're into that type of film, this seems like it could be really cool. If it's as good as early buzz says it is, it could help give Ryan Reynolds that indie cred to go along with the mainstream success he's likely to have with next year's Green Lantern film.


7.Megamind (Nov. 5) - Trailer

Plot: "Megamind" is a diabolically funny, and satirical take on the superhero genre. We follow the story of Megamind, the most brilliant supervillain the world has ever known – and the least successful. Over the years, he has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. Each attempt, a colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as "Metro Man."

Quick thoughts: This is my lone computer animated film for the season. We saw Despicable Me have success earlier this year with a similar story that used a superhero villain as its protagonist. While some may not want to see the same thing again (although with kids that's usually not true), this one has the added appeal of a voice cast featuring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Brad Pitt. If this one doesn't do well, it will be a megasurprise.


6.Unstoppable (Nov. 12) - Trailer

Plot: "Unstoppable" is about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. The film pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They're chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.

Quick thoughts: The pair of Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott has become Hollywood's version of 'old reliable'. Their movies are never classics, but they are always suitable popcorn fare and this one appears to be no different. The most interesting thing to me about this film is Chris Pine. He really impressed me as Kirk in the Star Trek reboot, so I'm curious if that was a case of inspired casting or if this guy will become the next breakout star.


5.How Do You Know (Dec. 17) - Trailer

Plot: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher.

Quick Thoughts: Director James L. Brooks has a proven track record of great comedies that also reflect real human emotion. Films like As Good As It Gets and his work with The Simpsons proves that. I'm real excited to see this new effort by him and think he has assembled an excellent cast here. I don't know of two more likeable actors out there right now than Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon. I greatly anticipate seeing the two of them work off of each other. Throw in Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson in there as well and you've struck comedy gold. This may be the most 'girly' film on my list, but you better believe I'll be seeing this one.

Chuck full of news

A pair of interesting stories regarding some upcoming casting choices for the new season of Chuck.

First, from Comingsoon.net:

Timothy Dalton will guest-star in a multi-episode arc on the NBC's action-comedy "Chuck."

Dalton will be playing a mysterious stranger who has a history with Chuck's (series star Zachary Levi) mom, played by Linda Hamilton (Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day). This marks Dalton's first series appearance on American television since he guest-starred on "Charlie's Angels" in 1979.

Then this scoop from EW.com:

I pity the fool who doesn’t crack up over Chuck‘s latest piece of stunt casting.

Six-time WWE champion Batista, Expendables villain Eric Roberts, and Bones squintern Joel David Moore have signed on to guest-star as Casey’s former soldier-of-fortune buddies from the Clinton era.

His A-Team, if you will.

The trio—who turn up in this season’s fifth episode, “Chuck Versus The Couch Lock”—have gone rogue and are back to seek revenge on their ex-comrade.

Both stories seem like inspired choices that make me super-excited for the new season.

Fall Movie Preview (#12-9)

12.The Next Three Days (Nov. 19) - Trailer

Plot: Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.

Quick thoughts: I hope I'm not being led astray by this movie. If it focuses on the prison break aspect and remains a thriller, then this should be a a winner. If it gets too melodramatic and depressing, this film may feel like it is three days long. I really like the cast here, even if I don't necessarily buy that Elizabeth Banks would marry Russell Crowe. Having Liam Neeson as an ex-con, who successfully escaped the prison is a nice touch as well.


11.Hereafter (Oct. 22)

Plot: "Hereafter" tells the story of three people who are touched by death in different ways. George (Matt Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile De France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus, a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might--or must--exist in the hereafter.

Quick thoughts: Thus far, there has been very little seen or heard about this movie, despite the fact that it comes out in less than two months. I hope this is not a case where I hear news in the next couple days that it has been pushed back. If I recall correctly, I think it's just a matter of Clint typically keeping his films close to the vest until it's near the release date. If that's the case, fine. Overall, I've been very impressed with Clint's work in recent years and am interested to see what he does with this subject matter.


10.Freakonomics (Oct. 1) - Trailer

Plot: "Freakonomics" is the highly anticipated film version of the phenomenally bestselling book about incentives-based thinking by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Like the book, the film examines human behavior with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies, bringing together a dream team of filmmakers responsible for some of the most acclaimed and entertaining documentaries in recent years: Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "Casino Jack and the United States of Money"), Academy Award® nominees Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing ("Jesus Camp"), Academy Award® nominee Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight") and Seth Gordon ("The King of Kong").

Quick thoughts: It's a shame that I never read the book that this film is based on. It was a huge hit and certainly seems like it is something I would have enjoyed reading. I'm hoping to make up for that by catching this documentary when it comes out. As seen above, it has a lot of talented directors collaborating on it and I think the end result is going to be a provocative film for all. It may even prompt me to finally read the book after all.


9.Little Fockers (Dec. 22) - Trailer

Plot: It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get "in" with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack's suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back. When Greg and Pam's entire clan -- including Pam's lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson) -- descends for the twins' birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he's fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack's final test and become the family's next patriarch... or will the circle of trust be broken for good?

Quick thoughts: I adored the original film, but was less than enamored with the sequel. I'm hoping that since they did not rush to do this third one that the extra time has helped them refocus and produce a better film. There's a lot of comedic talent in this cast, but let's hope that they each get enough time to shine and it's not a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup. Regardless of it's quality though, this is poised to be a big hit for the Christmas season.

'Will' you remember me?

Looks like SNL is losing one of its funnymen. From comingsoon.net:

The New York Times reports that Will Forte, who played such characters as MacGruber, Tim Calhoun and Jon Bovi, will not be returning for the 36th season of "Saturday Night Live" on NBC this fall:

"The departure was confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of the show's planning but who were not allowed to speak on the record because 'Saturday Night Live' has not officially announced details of its coming season. Representatives for Mr. Forte and for NBC's late-night entertainment division did not immediately comment, but one of the sources said the parting was amicable and at the choosing of Mr. Forte, who plans to pursue other projects."

Forte joined "SNL" in its 2002-2003 season. He also appeared in the film version of MacGruber earlier this year and has done guest appearances on "30 Rock," "The Cleveland Show" and ""American Dad!"

Warning: Blue shells approaching!

It's apparently Kart-y time in Oregon.

Fall Movie Preview (#16-13)

16. Tron: Legacy (Dec. 17) - Trailer

Plot: "TRON: Legacy" is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.

Quick thoughts: I'll admit up front that I have never seen the original Tron, but this film has piqued my interest. If nothing else, it looks to be visually stunning. Jeff Bridges is such a terrific actor and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in this dual role. While I don't think it'll achieve the same financial success as Avatar, I feel this movie has such a unique look that it's bound to generate interest in seeing it based solely on that just like James Cameron's film did last year.


15.True Grit (Dec. 25)

Plot: Charles Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father's killer in hostile Indian territory. While the original film was a showcase for John Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's point of view. The original starred Kim Darby as the teen, Wayne and Glen Campbell as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper as fellow outlaws.

Quick thoughts: It's back to back Bridges' films. This one also has the potential to be great. I've come to really appreciate the Coens' films and after No Country For Old Men, I'm very curious to see what they do with a more traditional Western. It's interesting to see that the film will focus on the girl's point of view in this version given the acting chops of the three male leads - Bridges, Damon, and Brolin. With that trio, I don't see how this film can disappoint.


14.The Town (Sept. 17) - Trailer

Plot: Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean. With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But that all changed on the gang's latest job, when they briefly took a hostage--bank manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall). Though they let her go unharmed, Claire is nervously aware that the robbers know her name...and where she lives. But she lets her guard down when she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug...not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her. The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.

Quick thoughts: I posted the trailer for this a few weeks ago, so many of you may already be familiar with this film. Ben Affleck proved he had the chops to be a competent director with Gone Baby Gone, so it should be interesting to see how he does in his encore. The Boston setting doesn't do much for me, but everything else about it seems like a solid thriller. Backed by a strong cast, this seems like this should be good. The only thing that concerns me is the mid-September release date. That is kind of no man's land; if the film had more popcorn value or Oscar potential it seems like it would have been released either earlier or later.


13.Jackass 3D (Oct. 15) - Trailer

Plot: Umm, no real plot here. It's basically the Jackass guys doing their usual stuff, only this time in 3D!

Quick thoughts: I don't imagine they'll be breaking any ground (at least not metaphorically) in this film. It also remains to be seen whether people will be willing to pay out the extra cash to watch them do the same stunts they've done on free TV now in 3D. Still there's no denying the laughter that comes from seeing someone get hit in the nuts. Since there's always a market for that, I'm sure this will do real well at the box office.

Thursday night smackdown

One of the biggest battles heading into the new fall season will occur, not surprisingly, on Thursday nights. NBC's sophomore sitcom, Community, which had an uneven first season, will be pitted against CBS' popular comedy, The Big Bang Theory, which is moving from its cozy Monday night timeslot to Survivor's old timeslot at 8pm. For those with DVR, this may not be a big deal, but for everyone else, here's some teases from both shows' upcoming seasons to help you make up your mind.

This just released promo photo from The Big Bang Theory seems to suggest Sheldon invites Penny to join him on a date with last season's guest star, Mayim Bialik. If true, that has hilarious written all over it.



Meanwhile, Community is countering with guest star Betty White, who's about as hot of a commodity as any actor in Hollywood today. Here's a video of her promoting her upcoming guest stint.

Fall Movie Preview (#20-17)

School is starting again, which means the summer movie season has come to a close and we begin to get some more serious fare at the box office. Throughout this week, I'll preview the 20 films I'm most interested in for the next few months and the ones you should keep your eyes on as well.

20.The Fighter (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Fighter" is a drama about boxer Irish Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, Mickey's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.

Quick thoughts: David O. Russell has been now to be very divisive both with actors and with viewers when it comes to his films. This one just makes my list thanks to the impressive cast. I'm anxious to see how Bale rebounds after disappointments with Terminator: Salvation and Public Enemies last year. Boxing films usually tend to be pretty good too and offer emotional stories. If successful, this could see success at next year's Oscars.


19.127 Hours (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.

Quick thoughts: I think director Danny Boyle has a real winner on his hands for his follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire. Franco has proven he can pull off drama just as well as comedy in recent years. The little I know about this story is unbelievable and I think it will translate well on the big screen. If people can tolerate a story that is basically a one-man show, then I think they'll be in for a treat.


18.Fair Game (Nov. 5) -- Trailer
Plot: As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy.Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family.

Quick thoughts: Most are probably familiar with the name Valerie Plame, but may not know all the details behind her story of being outed as a spy by in 2003. Even I only knew the basic details. Now that I've read a little bit more about her and her family, I'm very interested to see how it is portrayed in this film. I'm not crazy about Sean Penn, but both he and Naomi Watts seem to be perfectly cast in this film based on how their real life counterparts look. This is a fascinating story, but if it gets too bogged down in political preachiness, it may be a turn off to many viewers.

17.The Tourist (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Tourist" revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.

Quick thoughts: Usually when films get pushed back it's a sign that a movie studio has lost faith in the film. In this case, the film has been pushed up, which I'm hoping is a good sign. Obviously it looks like a winner based solely on the two megastars as the leads. I'm also intrigued by the thriller aspect of the film. With this, The Fighter, and the third Narnia film all opening on the same date, it appears there will be a big time box office battle come early December.

NMR: The Ghost Writer

There are some who haven't seen this movie because they haven't heard about it. Others haven't seen it because they're boycotting it because it was directed by Roman Polanski. I'm here to tell you, that everyone should check out this film. It is a great little political thriller with some terrific acting. Ewan McGregor plays a ghost writer hired to write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (played by Pierce Brosnan). As McGregor's character learns more about the life of this man, he realizes that there is more than meets the eye. He also figures out that he may be in over his head here in trying to uncover it all. Aside from the leads, you get some splendid performances from people like Olivia Williams and Tom Wikinson. About the only drawback to the film is that the English accents can be difficult to discern at times. However, if you are looking for a smart, adult thriller with a little black humor thown in, this is definitely for you. Rating: ****

Get your Freak on

An interesting new documentary based on the popular nonfiction book, Freakonomics is set to come out in October. Looks very interesting. You can watch the trailer here and then look for further info on it in my Fall Movie Preview posts sometime this week.

NMR: Date Night

Technically, I saw this on Amazon's on demand service since Netflix's crappy deal prevents them from having this film available to rent until next month, but I digress. This film found a way of bringing together a dream team of Steve Carell and Tina Fey - both of whom are well suited for this movie since they are not only funny, but down to Earth enough to be believable as a surburbanite couple struggling to keep their marriage fresh. Their presence is what makes this film worth seeing. I particularly enjoyed any of the scenes that found them away from the manic activity and having some hilarious and/or touching moments. There are a few scenes where the leads pretend what's going on with other couples' dinner conversations that are very funny. I could watch a whole movie of them doing those type of riffs. The surrounding story is a bit goofy and far-fetched at times, but you go along with it not just for the leads, but for many of the supporting players as well like James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Mark Wahlberg, who all appear to be having a blast making the movie. This is no classic, but it's an excellent film for rental that is likely to have a lot of replay value. Rating: ***1/2

Champagne dreams

Yet another Inception trailer spoof, but this one is in an entirely different vein, yet still amazing. Check it out!