RBR: Promised Land

While there are some subjects that just scream "this needs to be made into a movie", I highly doubt that the debate on frakking is one of them. And yet, here we are with a movie about just that. Matt Damon stars as a rising star at a natural gas company who's job it is to convince people in small farming communities to sell the rights for their land to be mined for gas. When he and his partner (played by Frances McDormand) visit a small Pennsylvania town they are met by a colorful cast of townsfolk and a bit more opposition than they are used to when presenting the issue. To further complicate matters, a young environmentalist, played by John Krasinski (The Office) comes into town to further the anti-frakking cause. Directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting), the film has its heart in the right place but struggles to maintain a compelling narrative. I knew exactly what the end result would be. However, I will give the film some credit for including a twist that I did not see coming that helps the story come to its inevitable conclusion. This is a movie that is difficult to hate, but it is also one that is difficult to get excited about unless you are really interested in the debate over this controversial extraction method. I liked most of the performances here, although I felt as if the film did not do its female characters much service here. Both McDormand and Rosemarie DeWitt, as a local girl that both Damon and Krasinski vie for, come off unfavorably based on the decisions that they make in the film. There are certainly far worse films that you could consider renting instead of this one, but outside of its unique subject matter, there's not a lot here that really warrants a recommendation. Rating: ***

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 10)

Record: 30 - 32

Standing: Second in AL Central (5.5 games behind Detroit)

What an utterly disastrous week for the Indians. The team was already struggling and then they proceed to get swept by both the Yankees and the Tigers. Our losing streak is at 7 games. We have lost 11 straight games on the road, which is the longest streak the Indians have had in over twenty years. We are back under .500 for the season. And we are now 5 and half games out of first place. There just are not many bright spots for this team right now as the offense is not producing and the pitching, while not terrible, have been giving up runs in key situations. The only thing I'm holding on to right now and keeping me from believing we are destined to have another second half implosion is the fact that we are playing an unbelievably rough schedule right now. It's been weeks since we have played a sub .500 team. We've got one more tough week and then things cool off considerably. We have to find a way to weather this storm. This week the Indians finish up this brutal road trip with a 3 game series in Texas. Then they will come back home this weekend to play the Washington Nationals. If we can have even a moderately productive week, it may help us refocus and get back to our winning ways against the lesser teams that we'll eventually play. If we have another week like this past one, then there may not be any recovery from it, which would set us up for another long disappointing summer. It may look bleak at the moment, but we gotta keep this town as "Believeland". Send some positive energy toward this team - any little bit could help these days. As always, Go Tribe!

RBR: Gangster Squad

In 2012, this had been one of my most highly anticipated films of the year. On the surface it had an interesting story, a rising director, and a stellar cast. The interest in this film certainly was not by me alone as there had been a lot of buzz around the film in the months prior to its release. Then last July everything changed. After the horrible shooting at the Colorado theater, a major scene from this film involving gangsters opening fire in a theater had to be removed and replaced with an alternative scene. This pushed the film's release back to January of this year. This to me was a curious move. I understood the need for reshoots so as to be sensitive to the victims, but releasing the film in January, a time typically set aside as a dumping ground for bad movies, didn't make sense if the film was as good as it appeared. Turns out, it was apropos to give it that release date as this is a wildly disappointing film. While certainly not terrible, I sat in wonderment as to how such talented people could be involved in such mediocre work. The film is slow going to begin as it tries to establish all of its primary character. The central battle is between square-jawed good cop, John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) and boxer turned mobster, Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). Penn, who I feel often overacts too much in his roles turns in a surprisingly forgettable performance here. You never really feel the menacing hold that he supposedly has over the city of Los Angeles. O'Mara puts together a group of fellow cops who's mission it is to take out Cohen. They include a number of decent character actors including Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena, Giovanni Ribisi, and Robert Patrick. As this squad comes together to find ways of picking apart Cohen's empire, the film does pick up a bit. These scenes work for the most part, but also don't offer anything that we haven't seen in other gangster films. If the focus had remained on the squad vs. Cohen, the film may have worked better. Unfortunately, they saddle the film with unnecessary subplots like the romance between Jerry (Ryan Gosling), who plays a renegade member of the squad, and Grace (Emma Stone), who is also seeing Cohen. I love Emma Stone, but she doesn't work in this role. The one performance that does work here is Mireille Enos, who plays Brolin's wife. Early on, it seems like she's just going to be the stereotypical cop wife who's constantly worried about her husband's safety. However, we see that she actually plays a more integral role in her husband's efforts to take down Mickey. Frankly, I would have actually liked to see more of their relationship and eliminate Emma Stone's character completely. As for the film's climax, it is not only unsatisfying, but also somewhat unbelievable given what we are told about Cohen's boxing background. With such a deflating ending, the whole movie vanishes from your memory almost as soon as its over. I'd like to say that the performances alone make it worthy enough to a be rental, but I can't. The only real crime being committed here is it stealing 2 hours away from audience's lives. Rating: ** 1/2

Tern back time

I've been doing my best to catch up on my movie reviews and now it turns out I can actually do one BEFORE a movie is widely released in theaters. Earlier this week I caught a sneak preview of The Internship, the first re-teaming of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson since 2005's Wedding Crashers. It's pretty remarkable to think that it's taken this long to get these two back on screen together considering how successful that film was and the struggles both men have had at recapturing that greatness alone since then.

In this new outing, they play a couple of struggling watch salesmen who find themselves being squeezed out of their own industry. In the sales world, the human being is going the way of the dinosaur it seems. Desperate to stay relevant, Vaughn's Billy comes up with the idea of having him and Wilson's Nick apply for an internship at Google. Despite not being in the typical demographic of who gets selected, these two guys manage to earn a chance of vying for the position. Once on Google's campus, they compete with a group of young, tech-savvy nerds in a series of "mental Hunger Games" for one of the internship slots.

A lot has been and will continue to be made about the proliferation of Google in this movie. Some critics have gone so far as to say the movie is nothing more than a 2 hour commercial for the search engine. I, however, did not take much issue with this. Yes, they likely could have told the same story using a completely fake tech company, but I never felt as if I was constantly being persuaded to use their services. The inclusion of Google seems organic to the story and creates a unique atmosphere that feels different than if this were set on an average college campus or corporate office. In fact, I probably had a tougher time with the Miller Lite product placement, than I did with Google. That seemed way more forced than their use of Google.

What didn't feel forced was the performances and friendship of Vaughn and Wilson. They pick right up where they left off with the fast-talking, laid-back fun they so easily conveyed in Crashers. What's more, there seems to be an energy to their performances that hasn't been seen from either of them in a long time as well. Vaughn, especially has seemed like he's phoned it in on a lot of his recent comedies, so it was nice to see him get excited with a role once again (this may partially have to do with the fact that Vaughn also co-wrote the script). No doubt if you were a fan of their previous work together, you'll be happy to see them back together here.

Though not nearly as wild or raunchy as their previous effort (this film is rated PG-13), this film works because it delivers laughs consistently. There are 2 or 3 big scenes that not only offers an overall humorous presence, but contain several good jokes within the scenes. Without spoiling it, there's a really great scene involving the characters competing in an "athletic competition" that had me rolling with laughter. The film also doesn't rely solely on Vaughn and Wilson to provide all the humor. Supporting actors like Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show) and Josh Gad (The Book of Mormon) steal their scenes. You also have some cameos appearances from some well known people. They pop-in, generate a few laughs, and quickly leave so as not to bog down the story.

Some will argue that a film like this doesn't need its 2 hour runtime, but in this particular case I think it worked. For one, I never felt like the movie dragged. And perhaps more importantly, with the extra time I felt like director Shawn Levy (Real Steel) was able to let the story breathe a little bit more. The group of younger students that Vaughn and Wilson team up with are each given some character development that enables us to have a rooting interest in their success just as much as we want to see Vaughn and Wilson triumph. With that said, the inclusion of a love story between Wilson and a Google employee played by Rose Byrne probably didn't need to be included, even if there's nothing wrong with their scenes.

Nothing about the story in The Internship is particularly new. It takes elements of the fish-out-of-water story, along with college campus hijinx to give us another tale of the underdog's unlikely ability to win. Any feeling of cynicism toward that lack of originality is eliminated because of the lack of cynicism seen in the film. Despite being beaten down by the world at every turn, these two characters remain enthusiastic about life and infuse that into everyone they meet. And unlike a movie like Larry Crowne where the positivity was seen as naiveté toward current real life economic hardships, the optimism here is infectious and makes you believe that the American Dream is still possible for each and every one of us.

The Internship does not have the same sharpness as some of the best comedies of the past decade, but I would have to call this a pleasant surprise. The film's trailer does not properly convey how much fun this film is. Even if you know where the story is heading, the jokes aren't telegraphed and that is what's most important about a movie like this. If you're looking to laugh, I recommend you use Google to search for when The Internship is showing in your city (oh no, maybe the film got to me after all!!). Grade: B

All bets are on

Here's your first look at Ben Affleck's follow-up (as an actor) to Argo. In Runner Runner he goes to the dark side as he tangles with Justin Timberlake in the world of online gambling. I'm not sure if it's best picture worthy, but certainly looks like it could be an exciting thriller. You can check out the trailer below.

A space time continuum

One of my most enjoyable movie watching experiences was with the 2009 reboot of the Star Trek franchise. Director J.J. Abrams had the unenviable task of trying to reboot an iconic franchise for a whole new generation. While it is always daunting to try and take on a role played so famously by someone else, it was the cast that made that movie work. They not only had great chemistry with each other, but they all seemed to find a way to balance paying homage with infusing something new into their characters.

Four years later, the Enterprise crew is back for a new set of adventures in Star Trek Into Darkness. Once again, Abrams directs this likeable cast of explorers as they battle an enigmatic villain named John Harrison. Played with scowling menace by Benedict Cumberbatch, Harrison wreaks havoc on Starfleet with attacks on several of their buildings. Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his crew are tasked with taking out the threat but they learn there's more to this character than just being your average terrorist. Of course, I can't say too much more about him without spoiling key pieces to the film's story

Without going into too great of detail to the movie's plot points, I can say that I don't feel the story holds up well under scrutiny. Whenever you're dealing with big budget action picture, there are likely going to be some plotholes. Those don't bother me as much as the familiarity factor. Too much of the overall story, as well as individual set pieces feel cribbed from other films. Take for instance the scene where the Enterprise crew has midway through the film captured Harrison and placed him in a "secure" cell so that they can interrogate him. This setup has been done way too much recently in films including Skyfall, The Avengers, and The Dark Knight. Anyone with half a brain can see exactly what will happen next.

The writers not only borrow material from other franchises, but from their own as well. Several of the film's key plot points were done in previous Trek films. If you recall in the 2009 reboot one of the twists was that the timeline had been altered thanks to Spock going through a wormhole. This was how the film could justify having both Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy both play Spock. I guess the writers felt this gave them justification for revisiting storylines from the original series and films and giving them slight changes. It's too cute of a concept and just comes off as being lazy rather than clever. The fact that it took this group four years to make a film that at times feels like a remake of Wrath of Khan is rather disappointing.

The issues of disappointment, however, really only come after you have left the theater. In the moment, Star Trek Into Darkness holds up as a thoroughly entertaining film. Once again, the interplay between the cast is what works the best. The actors have great comedic timing with each other during the film's lighter moments. And yet when things get more serious, you largely buy into the emotions (or in Spock's case lack of emotion) that they try to convey.

From a technical standpoint, the movie is also a winner. I know some get irritated with Abrams' use of lens flare, but it's only noticeable if you want it to be noticeable. The rest of the visual effects are impressive and give the film an added sense of drama. You appreciate the detail that goes into each location whether it is the intricacies of the construction inside the Enterprise or the unique, strange planets that the crew travels to. Watching it, I wasn't only impressed with what I was seeing, but also excited about the prospect of Abrams being able to bring that same creative vision to the Star Wars franchise in a few years.

Like the vast area that the Enterprise travels through, Star Trek Into Darkness is an empty thrill. It's a well made film that really does not offer viewers anything new. The excitement that the 2009 reboot offered has begun to wane. All of the parts are there to allow this to remain a successful franchise, but future films need to be smarter with the stories they tell. This sequel offers few surprises and telegraphs the few that it does have with unnecessarily heavy amount of scenes of exposition. With J.J. moving over to Jedi country, hopefully some new voices can come in and do something great with the solid foundation is in place. As for this film, while very entertaining as summer popcorn fare, its story boldly goes where too many men have gone before. Grade: B

How do you Do?

It wouldn't be summer it seems without at least one teen sex comedy. Some can be downright awful, but The To-Do List starring Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza seems like it might have some wit to go along with the raunchiness. At the very least, it can boast a stellar cast of very funny people. Check out the trailer below, but warning, the clip is NSFW!

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 9)

Record: 30 - 26

Standing: Second in AL Central (0.5 games out of first place)

From a record standpoint, the Indians did better this week than the previous week, but it was still something of a letdown. The week began with the Indians splitting their series with the Reds as both teams won both of their home games. I was pleased that our starting pitching did well against their potent lineup and if we were to face them again in the World Series, I have confidence that we would not be outmatched. The Tribe then finished out their homestand by losing 2 of 3 to Tampa Bay. The first game should have been a rain out, but given the poor scheduling done by MLB, their hand was forced and the game didn't truly get started until midnight and was a battle of bullpens, so not the best display of our talent. The one that hurts is our loss on Sunday. It hurts for a few reasons. One is that is was a lopsided loss and we haven't had a ton of those so far this year. Second, it was a rare bad start by pitcher Zack McAllister. Losing that game also meant we lost the series. But perhaps worst of all is that it was a deflating loss that comes on the eve of the Tribe's most important road series of the year. Our next 9 games will be on the road against the likes of the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers. Detroit and Texas are currently in first place in their respective divisions and the Yankees were atop the AL East last week before going on a recent skid. These are three very good teams that the Indians will need to find a way of staying competitive against. If we can somehow come out with at least 5 wins on this road trip, I'll be very happy. It'll also further bolster my confidence that this team has what it takes to play in the postseason. It may be disastrous, it may be great, but either way I'll be watching them every step of the way. Go Indians!

RBR (Redbox review): Silver Linings Playbook

For a film who's central character is dealing with mental illness, I felt like I was suffering from bi-polar disorder while I watched. You go through some extreme feelings as the movie unfolds, which in my case left me uncertain of how to exactly review this film. We'll begin with the movie's premise; a young man (Bradley Cooper) who's been recently released from a mental institution after witnessing his wife having an affair, tries to put the pieces of his life back together by dealing with his family's fandom of the Philadelphia Eagles and starting up a friendship with a young woman who seems to be just as unstable as he is. And of course, the film's climax involves ballroom dancing. WHAT?!? On paper, this story should not work at all. And yet, it does, thanks largely to the strong performances by the film's cast. Those performances though, can also be a source of frustration. Take for instance, Jennifer Lawrence who plays the unstable woman Cooper befriends. From a casting perspective, she seems all wrong to play this loose, morose widow. However, her performance is so engaging you stop thinking that she shouldn't be in this movie. There are several other elements about both how this film was made and the story it told that I kept wanting to alter. And yet, at each point the film wore me down with its charm and moxie. I stopped caring about its weak depiction of mental illness or the nonsensical bet that the story's climax hinges on and just enjoyed being around these characters. I'm not convinced that this is a good movie and yet it somehow feels wrong to harshly critique it. It's success both at the box office and during the awards season is proof that I'm not the only one who felt that way. If you've resisted seeing this movie thus far, stop fighting it and give it a watch. It's one of those "four-quadrant" movies that offers something for all people - young and old, men and women. It's likely you'll enjoy the viewing experience. Just don't go crazy like I did trying to figure out why you liked it because there is seemingly no good answer. Rating: ****

Mandarin play

I am waaaaay behind on my reviews, but I'm hoping to correct that starting now with my review of the first summer blockbuster of 2013.

How do you top dealing with an invading race of evil aliens? Well if you're Tony Stark, you take on an even tougher opponent - anxiety attacks. That's right, in Iron Man 3 we see the seemingly unflappable Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) struggle with internal stress after the events that took place in last summer's The Avengers. Of course, there's still evil elsewhere in the world that he has to deal with, but we'll get to that in a moment.

Perhaps realizing that there was no way to top the out-of-this-world story of The Avengers, this film takes a closer look at the man in the metal suit. This is as much a Tony Stark film as it is an Iron Man film and that's not a bad thing. In this third outing, we dig deeper into Stark's growing realization of his responsibilities whether that's to his devoted assistant/girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), his close friend Rhodey (Don Cheadle), or the American population. That onus weighs heavily on Stark who can't sleep and avoids talking to anyone about his problems. Thankfully for the audience, Stark has too much of an ego to pull a Bruce Wayne recluse act, so instead he opts to hide his fears through sarcasm and wit. Once again, Downey shines here, delivering a number of hilarious one-liners.

Downey's performance stands out here, even moreso than normal, thanks to Shane Black, who took over directing duties from Jon Favreau. Black, who also co-wrote the film, has worked with Downey before and knows how to get the most out of him. Black, who's previous credits include Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and writing the original Lethal Weapon, really makes this film his own. Aside from knowing how to write for Downey, some of the other elements in the film including the Christmas setting and the buddy cop vibe are representative of Black's style as well. While I had no problems with Favreau's work, I really liked what Black brought to the franchise.

Some Iron Man fans, however, may take umbrage with some of the decisions he made. The biggest one of all will deal with the film's central villain, The Mandarin. While this villain does not have the same pop culture recognition as other comic book villains, he is considered by many to be Iron Man's greatest foe. In the film, he's an enigmatic character with a flare for the dramatic. Played by Sir Ben Kingsley, this is one of the most interesting villains I've ever seen in a film like this. While the role isn't as meaty as say Heath Ledger's Joker, there's a lot more going on with the character than just menace. As someone who was not a reader of the comics, the creative liberties that the film takes with the character's origins did not bother me, but I can understand why some would not embrace this interpretation.

This revised Mandarin works for me because there seems to be a concentrated effort to make a character that has been in existence for several decades relevant in today's society. The villains have been a weakness to this point in the franchise, but that changes here and elevates the movie as result. This is particularly true when it comes to the film's climax. In the first two films, particularly in the second, the final battle was underwhelming and perfunctory. This time, the audience gets more bang for their buck as good vs. evil clashes in grand fashion on an oil tanker. I would probably say that the film's final act is still its weakest, but in comparison to what we got earlier in the franchise, this is a vast improvement.

If I had a complaint about the film, it's that I would have liked for the story to build more toward future films, since we know more Avengers adventures are to come. Instead, this is very much a stand-alone film. Yes, the film makes a few references to the greater Marvel universe but nothing that really gets you excited for the future or provides you a sense of what's to come. Still, as summer blockbuster fare this does nothing but deliver. You have some fine performances, a nice balance of comedy and drama, and a few exhilarating action sequences (I particularly enjoyed the Air Force One rescue scene). What more could you ask for?

At the film's end, there's the promise that "Iron Man will return" and let's hope that means for more than just another go-round with the Avengers. While I recognize that Downey Jr. isn't getting any younger and may also get tired of putting on the big metal suit, there's no one else I could ever see playing this role. He brings Iron Man to life in more ways than one. Grade: A-

Oh baby!

Vince Vaughn will be gracing the screen in just a couple of weeks with The Internship, but if that isn't good enough for you, you can also check him out here in a teaser trailer for another comedy he'll be starring in later this year called Delivery Man.

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 8)

Record: 27-22

Standing: Second in AL Central (1.5 games behind Detroit)

Well we all knew that the good times couldn't last forever. After an impressive run, the Tribe came back down to Earth this week. After an improbable win on Monday, the Indians lost both games against Detroit and then lost 3 of 4 in Boston. While the outcome wasn't desirable, I don't think there's any reason to push the panic button just yet. There's a lot of evidence to suggest that we will not have a repeat of the past two years where we get off to a great start and then absolutely collapse in the second half of the season. Even though we did lose five times this past week, our offense still did their job for the most part. I think our struggles can partially be blamed on some absolutely lousy weather this week. There was at least three games that were played in the rain, which can never be fun. If there is an area of concern, it's one that I wouldn't have thought of prior to the beginning of the season - the bullpen. Several of our losses this week were a result of our relief pitchers' inability to hold onto a lead. Vinnie Pestano has not been as effective since returning from the disabled list and closer Chris Perez left today's game with an injury. We'll need the back end of our pitching staff to pick it up if we want to continue to compete. The biggest issue is that the Indians have an extremely rough schedule over the next 3-4 weeks. If we can hold tight during this stretch, we should be ok as the remainder of the schedule is relatively light. If we go into a tailspin during the next month, it may turn into a repeat of the last couple of seasons. That rough stretch begins this week with an interesting 4 game series against our in-state rival, the Cincinnati Reds. It's interesting for the fact that the first two games will take place in Cincy and then the last two will be in Cleveland. The Tribe will then remain in town over the weekend as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays. I'm confident they'll be able to ride out this storm and remain with Detroit in that fight for first place. Regardless of outcome, I'll be watching them every step of the way. Go Tribe!

Millers Crossing

Pot comedies typically do nothing for me, but We're the Millers not only has an appealing cast (Jason Sudekis, Jennifer Aniston, Ed Helms, Nick Offerman), but also is more of a road trip movie than it is about drugs, so this has drawn my interest. This may work well during those dog days of summer. I've posted the first trailer here below.

Bill of goods

So this past Saturday marked Bill Hader's last show on Saturday Night Live. This is truly a great loss for the SNL cast. Unlike the also departing Fred Armisen, who overstayed his welcome on the show and clearly was only interested in doing skits that amuse him and spoke to his unfunny sense of humor. Anyway, back to Hader and his leaving. During his tenure, he certainly created a number of memorable characters (Stefon! Vinnie Vidici! Herb Welch!). But perhaps more impressive was his ability to impersonate several varied characters. He was really a go-to guy that instantly elevated every sketch that he was in. Hopefully he'll be able to make that difficult transition from being a not-ready-for-prime-time-player to a big star on the mainstream stage. To honor all his great work, here's a video compilation of every single one of the impressions he did on SNL.

Watch Every Impression Bill Hader Did on SNL

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 7)

Record: 25-17

Standing: First in the AL Central

Don't look now because the Indians are the hottest thing in baseball. Since April 20th they've only lost four games. This past week was another excellent outing. They split the double header on Monday against the Yankees and then also split the 2 game set in Philadelphia. As a followup they've now taken the first three games (of four) against Seattle, which included two walk off wins and then defeating Felix Hernandez on Sunday. Hernandez is now the seventh former Cy Young winner that the Tribe has beat this year and we're not even into June yet. There's not a lot to complain or be worried about with this team. If they continue to play like this, it will make for a very fun season. Obviously the pitching needs to remain strong. During this good stretch, our starters have been getting ahead of batters, which they need to keep doing. On the hitting side, it's great to see that we're not being reliant on any one hitter. Everyone is contributing. This is especially true when it comes to two-out hitting. Our offense is making pitchers work long and hard, which means getting to the bullpen that much sooner. The bottom line here is that this team is just so much fun to watch right now. This week you can see them finish off their series with Seattle today in a day game. We then see the team we'll be fighting with all season for first place, the Detroit Tigers. They come into town for a brief two game set. After that, we head out onto the road to play Boston this weekend. Boston has been playing surprisingly well this season and they beat up on us earlier this season before we started playing well. We'll be looking for revenge when we head to Beantown. As always, I'll be here to report on all the highs and lows. Go Tribe!

Fall harvest

This past week I've been posting the announcements for the fall schedules of television's networks. From a scheduling perspective, there was not a lot of shakeup, particularly regarding shows that affect me so there's not much to discuss. Along with the schedule announcements, the networks have posted trailers promoting their brand new shows. I've watched them all and I can't say that I'm overly optimistic. Most of the shows fell into one of two common traps: 1)the show has an interesting premise that feels extremely limited; you wonder how the show can sustain 22 episodes, let alone multiple seasons or 2) the show feels like a complete retread of tired setups and tropes that just make you yearn for older shows that have done the same thing much better in the past. With that said, there are a few shows that do show some promise so I'll be posting the trailer for each of them below along with links to a few others that might be decent as well.

CBS
They probably had the weakest crop of previews, but they also have the strongest crop of existing shows, so they probably don't have to worry if none of these pan out. The one that interested me the most was Hostages about a female doctor who is set to operate of the President of the United States when her family is taken hostage. She's told that she must let the President die during the operation or else her family will die. Again, I don't see how they can stretch this out into a full series, but the cast is strong and the preview suggests that there's more to the story than they're letting on here, so perhaps this could work.



Honorable mention: A new comedy called The Crazy Ones starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar. The premise here seems solid enough. The big question is how well the show can keep Robin reined in. If it's just his grating schtick constantly, it won't keep me as a viewer. If the focus is on the storytelling with his humor peppered throughout, then you might have a winner. Here's the trailer.


ABC
There's a clear winner here and it's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Even better is that they've scheduled it for Tuesdays, where there is not a lot of quality TV competition, so hopefully it has a chance of succeeding. I posted a quick trailer earlier this week, but here's a nearly 3 minute trailer that will give you a much better idea of what to expect from the show.



Honorable mention: While not everything worked in the preview for The Goldbergs, there's enough to make me think it could have a chance if it finds the right tone and voice. There's no denying it has a strong comedic cast (the older brother sticks out as a weak link). If it can tap into that Freaks and Geeks or Wonder Years vein, then this might work. Here's the trailer.


FOX
Of the previews they released, FOX probably had the best average. More than a few of their shows seemed to have promise, but on the other hand none really stood out as a sure thing. It was tough for me to pick just one as their best bet. I went with Sleepy Hollow - a new twist on the story of Ichibod Crane. From a writer/producer perspective, the show has a good pedigree. I also liked how it blended a lot of genres. The show seems to be part cop drama, part horror, part historical mystery, and part science fiction. It's tough to say right now whether this will work or not, but I'm hopeful it will.



Honorable Mention: I probably would have given it to Us & Them, a remake of the critically acclaimed British show Gavin and Stacey, but since it's not scheduled to air until "midseason", which could whenever, I decided to give the nod to Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I can't say that I always liked Andy Samberg during his tenure on SNL, but the preview for this new cop comedy made me laugh more than any other trailer. That's due largely to a seemingly solid supporting cast. If it's not surrounded by other decent shows, this may struggle to find an audience, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Here's the trailer.


NBC
Of the new dramas, The Blacklist, had the premise that intrigued me the most. James Spader is a criminal mastermind on the FBI's Top Ten list who turns himself in with the promise of helping them capture other highly sought criminals that he's worked with. No matter the role, Spader is always compelling, so it's likely most will get sucked in to the first episode based on his presence alone. Whether the show can sustain an audience, as well as a compelling narrative remains to be seen.



Honorable mention: I gotta say, there was a huge drop-off in terms of interesting previews after The Blacklist. It's so bad, that I almost don't want to mention anything else. The comedies, especially, looked rather uninteresting, which is a shame that Parks and Recreation is left to pick up their slack. If I had to point one out that might have a chance, it's The Michael J. Fox Show. The setup doesn't really hook me, but Fox is such a likable presence, that it's hard not to root for him. Here's the trailer.

2013 Fall Television Schedule Announcement (CBS)

CBS announced its 2013 - 2014 primetime schedule today! You can check out the full announcement below:

CBS unveiled today its new 2013-2014 schedule, featuring eight new series - five comedies and three dramas - to build on the strength of America's top-rated network. Five of the new series will premiere in the fall and three at mid-season.

CBS will finish the current season as the top-rated network in viewers for the 10th time in 11 seasons, #1 in the adults 25-54 demographic and #1 in adults 18-49 for the first time since the 1991-1992 season.

For next fall, the Network is increasing its comedy lineup with four new comedies, expanding its comedy block on Thursdays from 8:00-10:00 PM and creating an encore hour for comedy broadcasts on Saturdays.

The new comedies are THE CRAZY ONES, a single-camera comedy from executive producer David E. Kelley starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar; THE MILLERS, a multi-generational family comedy from executive producer Greg Garcia starring Will Arnett, Margo Martindale, Beau Bridges and JB Smoove; MOM, an edgy family comedy from executive producer Chuck Lorre starring Anna Faris and Allison Janney; and WE ARE MEN, an ensemble single-camera comedy starring Tony Shalhoub, Kal Penn, Chris Smith and Jerry O'Connell.

Two new dramas have been scheduled for Mondays at 10:00 PM. HOSTAGES, the serialized suspense thriller from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer starring Toni Collette and Dylan McDermott, premieres in the fall, building to a season finale in January. Soon after, INTELLIGENCE, a high-octane action drama starring Josh Holloway, Marg Helgenberger and Meghan Ory, moves into the time period for the remainder of the season.

The freshman series will be joined by 20 returning shows including NCIS, the season's most watched show; THE BIG BANG THEORY, the season's #1 comedy in viewers and demos; 60 MINUTES, the season's #1 news magazine; and ELEMENTARY, the season's #1 new drama.

The other returning series include: HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, 2 BROKE GIRLS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, PERSON OF INTEREST, SURVIVOR, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, TWO AND A HALF MEN, UNDERCOVER BOSS, HAWAII FIVE-0, BLUE BLOODS, 48 HOURS, THE AMAZING RACE, THE GOOD WIFE and THE MENTALIST.

In addition, the proven hit returning comedy MIKE & MOLLY, starring Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy and Billy Gardell; the new steamy legal drama RECKLESS; and the new romantic comedy FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES are set for mid-season.

CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
2013-2014 PRIME TIME SCHEDULE
(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM WE ARE MEN (N)
9:00-9:30 PM 2 BROKE GIRLS
9:30-10:00 PM MOM (N)
10:00-11:00 PM HOSTAGES (N) / INTELLIGENCE (Mid-Season) (N)

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES
10:00-11:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST (NT)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

THURSDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
8:30-9:00 PM THE MILLERS (N)
9:00-9:30 PM THE CRAZY ONES (N)
9:30-10:00 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (NT)
10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM UNDERCOVER BOSS
9:00-10:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0 (NT)
10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COMEDYTIME SATURDAY (N)
8:30-9:00 PM COMEDYTIME SATURDAY (N)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE
9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE
10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALIST

News promo

Attention all San Diegans? Diegoians? Diegos? Everyone! Here's the newest teaser trailer for Anchorman 2. The setup is the same as the teaser that came out around this time last year, but the Channel 4 news team has some new (stupid) stuff to say.

2013 Fall Television Schedule Announcment (ABC)

ABC unveiled its 2013 - 2014 primetime schedule today! You can check out the full announcement below:


Continuing to deliver some of the most compelling and heartfelt series on television, ABC is adding fourteen new shows to its established slate of programming. Paul Lee, President, ABC Entertainment Group, will unveil the network's new lineup to the advertising and media communities this afternoon at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

"We are taking some big swings with groundbreaking shows this season, and staying close to our roots with smart and sophisticated storytelling. ABC is known for its combination of innovation and stability, and our new schedule reflects that. We're bringing back the shows that viewers have embraced and enhancing the lineup with a slate of exciting new series," said Lee.

New series for the 2013-14 season are "Back in the Game," "Betrayal," "The Goldbergs," "Killer Women," "Lucky 7," "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Mind Games," "Mixology," "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland," "Resurrection," "Super Fun Night," "Trophy Wife" and new alternative series "The Quest."

"America's Funniest Home Videos," "The Bachelor," "Castle," "Dancing with the Stars," "Grey's Anatomy," "Last Man Standing," "The Middle," "Modern Family," "Nashville," "The Neighbors," "Once Upon a Time," "Revenge," "Scandal," "Shark Tank," "Suburgatory," "The Taste" and "20/20" will return.

"Dancing with the Stars" will now air from 8:00-10:00 p.m., on Mondays, integrating the performance show and results show into one night and making each episode action-packed event television.

ABC has also picked up Pixar special "Toy Story of Terror," starring the original voice cast from the hit film.

A balanced slate of new series and returning hits delivered strong results for ABC in the 2012-13 season. ABC claims 6 of the Top 20 broadcast dramas for the season in Adults 18-49, with "Grey's Anatomy," "Once Upon a Time," "Revenge," "Scandal," "Castle" and "Nashville." ABC is the No. 1 network on Friday nights this season in Adults 18-49, growing 13% to deliver its top rating on the night in 4 years - since the 2008/09 season.

Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later time. Please note shows picked up but not listed on the schedule will debut later in the 2013-14 season.

ABC's fall primetime schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern);

MONDAY:

8:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars"
10:00 p.m. "Castle"


TUESDAY:

8:00 p.m. "MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D."
9:00 p.m. "THE GOLDBERGS"
9:30 p.m. "TROPHY WIFE"
10:00 p.m. "LUCKY 7"


WEDNESDAY:

8:00 p.m. "The Middle"
8:30 p.m. "BACK IN THE GAME"
9:00 p.m. "Modern Family"
9:30 p.m. "SUPER FUN NIGHT"
10:00 p.m. "Nashville"


THURSDAY:

8:00 p.m. "ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND"
9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
10:00 p.m. "Scandal"


FRIDAY:

8:00 p.m. "Last Man Standing"
8:30 p.m. "The Neighbors"
9:00 p.m. "Shark Tank"
10:00 p.m. "20/20"


SATURDAY:

8:00 p.m. "Saturday Night College Football"


SUNDAY:

7:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00 p.m. "Once Upon a Time"
9:00 p.m. "Revenge"
10:00 p.m. "BETRAYAL"

Lost in space

After a year long delay, we've finally gotten our first glimpse at Alfonso Cuaron's (Children of Men) new film, Gravity, starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. Check it out for yourself below.

2013 Fall Television Schedule Announcement (FOX)

Kevin Reilly, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, today unveiled the FOX primetime slate for the 2013-2014 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at the Beacon Theatre.

This season, we will strategically launch five inventive live-action comedies, four distinctive dramas, our first-ever event series, as well as some innovative new digital initiatives, across the week and throughout the year," said Reilly. "We're making the biggest investment in original programming in our history to ensure that FOX continues to engage viewers and move the culture more than any other entertainment brand."

FOX 2013-2014 SCHEDULE (All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM Bones (fall) / ALMOST HUMAN (new; late fall)
9:00-10:00 PM SLEEPY HOLLOW (new; fall) / The Following (midseason)

TUESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM DADS
8:30-9:00 PM BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
9:00-9:30 PM  New Girl
9:30-10:00 PM The Mindy Project

WEDNESDAY

8:00-10:00 PM The X Factor (fall) / American Idol (midseason)

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM The X Factor Results (fall) / American Idol Results (midseason)
9:00-10:00 PM Glee (fall) / RAKE (new; midseason)

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM JUNIOR MASTERCHEF (wt) (new; fall)
9:00-10:00 PM SLEEPY HOLLOW encores (fall)

Late Fall:

8:00-9:00 PM Bones (late fall)
9:00-9:30 PM Raising Hope (late fall)
9:30-10:00 PM ENLISTED (new; late fall)

SATURDAY

7:00-10:30 PM FOX Sports Saturday
11:00 PM-12:30 AM ANIMATION DOMINATION HIGH-DEF

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM NFL Game (fall)
7:30-8:00 PM THE OT (fall)
8:00-8:30 PM THE Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM Bob's Burgers
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM American Dad

Scheduling to be announced for the following new series slated for midseason: "Gang Related" (New), "Surviving Jack" (new), "Us & Them" (new) and "Murder Police" (new).

The final countdown is on

It's hard to believe, but we are less than two weeks from getting new episodes of Arrested Development!! And now for the first time, here's a trailer of what you can expect from Season 4. I'm going (frozen) bananas with anticipation!

2013 Fall Television Schedule Announcement (NBC)

NBC has announced a new lineup of primetime shows for the 2013-14 season that includes popular returning series, fresh new comedies, compelling new dramas and the latest season of "The Voice."

Highlights of the year-round schedule - which will be bolstered in February on the heels of the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia - include "Believe," a new drama from J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron; the return of three-time Emmy winner James Spader in action thriller "The Blacklist"; and a comedy lineup that includes new series from "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood" executive producer Jason Katims, Will Ferrell, Bill Lawrence, Sean P. Hayes, and a return to NBC of one of the biggest TV stars of any generation, Michael J. Fox.

The new comedy additions are "Welcome to the Family," "Sean Saves the World," and "The Michael J. Fox Show" as well as midseason comedies "The Family Guide," and "About A Boy."

The new dramas are "The Blacklist," "Ironside," and "Dracula," plus mid-season dramas "Believe," "Crisis" and "Crossbones."

NBC has also ordered dramas "Chicago PD" and "The Night Shift" and comedy "Undateable" as unscheduled midseason series.

New alternative series premiering during the 2013-14 season include "The Million Second Quiz" and "American Dream Builders." Returning to the schedule are "The Biggest Loser" and "The Sing-Off." "Food Fighters" has been ordered as an unscheduled midseason show.

Scripted series returning include "Grimm," "Parenthood," "Law & Order: SVU," "Revolution," "Chicago Fire," "Parks and Recreation" and "Community."

Pick-up decisions on "Celebrity Apprentice" and "Hannibal" are still to be made in the next few weeks.

"The Voice" will kick off its fifth season in September on Mondays (8-10 pm. ET). The current cycle of "The Voice" has been primetime's #1 show of the week on the Big Four networks, excluding sports, for four of six weeks thus far in adults 18-49.

The announcements were made by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.

"The overriding strategy this year was to develop enough strong comedies and dramas to take advantage of the promotional heft of the Winter Olympics and devise two schedules for the upcoming season: one for fall and a slightly different one for midseason. I'm pleased to say that our development groups - headed by Jennifer Salke (scripted) and Paul Telegdy (alternative/reality) - really delivered," Greenblatt said. "This is the most robust and highest-testing slate of new shows we have had in years."

Greenblatt continued, "And aside from our Olympics planning, we also wanted to create better flow and compatibility on each night, and deploy our strongest lead-in ('The Voice') to maximum effect.

"Sunday in the fall remains the night to beat with 'Sunday Night Football.' After football and the Olympics are over, we will launch two classy, attention-getting dramas in February: 'Believe' from J.J. Abrams, and 'Crisis' starring Dermot Mulroney and Gillian Anderson. We think it's time for big dramas again on Sunday nights. And leading into these dramas at 8 p.m. will be an exciting home renovation competition hosted by Nate Berkus called 'American Dream Builders.'

"Monday and Tuesday will again dominate with 'The Voice.' Our highly anticipated new James Spader drama 'The Blacklist' deserves to go into the 10 p.m. slot on Monday, and we're moving 'Chicago Fire,' a show we really believe in, to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays to benefit from 'The Voice' lead-in that will be at 9 p.m. in the fall. "

After the Olympics, however, 'The Voice' moves back to 8 p.m. on Tuesday so that we can launch two of our strongest new family comedies in the 9 p.m. hour: 'About a Boy' and 'The Family Guide.' Landing more comedy on the schedule is important and using 'The Voice' as a lead-in after the Olympics is the strongest way to do that.

"I believe we'll have a more compatible Wednesday line-up with three dramas: 'Revolution,' 'Law & Order: SVU' and 'Ironside,' starring Blair Underwood, which is another new show we've very high on.

"Thursday will have a family theme, starting with a two-hour comedy block from 8-10 p.m. anchored by strong stars: Amy Poehler in 'Parks and Recreation,' Mike O'Malley in 'Welcome to the Family,' Sean Hayes in 'Sean Saves the World' and the new 'Michael J. Fox Show.' Then at 10 p.m. 'Parenthood' moves in to top off the night with what I know is the best family drama on television.

"On Fridays, anchored by 'Grimm' at 9 p.m., we will have a more fun genre night with the limited-series 'Dracula,' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers at 10 p.m. In the spring, 'Crossbones' - with John Malkovich as the infamous pirate Blackbeard - replaces 'Dracula,'" said Greenblatt.

Jordan Wertlieb, President of Hearst Television and Chair of the NBC Affiliate Board, commented, "This schedule is another example of NBC's continued commitment to restoring prime time to its traditional leadership position. I am sure the investment in partnering with some of the most recognizable names in television will be obvious and exciting to the affiliates."

NBC Fall 2013-14 schedule (New shows in ALL CAPS)

MONDAY
8-10 p.m. - "The Voice"
10-11 p.m. - "THE BLACKLIST"

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. - "The Biggest Loser" (New Day and Time)
9-10 p.m. - "The Voice" (New time)
10-11 p.m. - "Chicago Fire" (New Day and Time)

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Revolution" (New Day and Time)
9-10 p.m. - "Law & Order: SVU"
10-11 p.m. - "IRONSIDE"

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. - "Parks and Recreation" (New time)
8:30-9 p.m. - "WELCOME TO THE FAMILY"
9-9:30 p.m. - "SEAN SAVES THE WORLD"
9:30-10 p.m. - "THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW"
10-11 p.m. - "Parenthood" (New Day and Time)

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. - "Grimm"
10-11 p.m. - "DRACULA"

SATURDAY
Encore programming

SUNDAY
7:00-8:15 p.m. - "Football Night in America"
8:15-11:30 p.m. - "NBC Sunday Night Football"

NBC MIDSEASON 2013-14 SCHEDULE (New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)

MONDAY
8-10 p.m. - "The Voice"
10-11 p.m. - "THE BLACKLIST"

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. - "The Voice"
9-9:30 p.m. - "THE FAMILY GUIDE"
9:30-10 p.m. - "ABOUT A BOY"
10-11 p.m. - "Chicago Fire"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Revolution"
9-10 p.m. - "Law & Order: SVU"
10-11 p.m. - "IRONSIDE"

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. - "Parks and Recreation"
8:30-9 p.m. - "WELCOME TO THE FAMILY"
9-9:30 p.m. - "SEAN SAVES THE WORLD"
9:30-10 p.m. - "THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW"
10-11 p.m. - "Parenthood"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. - "Grimm"
10-11 p.m. - "CROSSBONES"

SATURDAY
8-10 p.m. - Encore and specials programming
10-11 p.m. - "Saturday Night Live" (Encore)

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. - "AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS"
9-10 p.m. - "BELIEVE"
10-11 p.m. - "CRISIS"

For information on NBC new shows, click here.

Agents of change?

You'll be getting a lot of TV news from me this week as the networks announce their upcoming fall lineups. One show that we already know will be on the fall lineup is the spinoff to the Avengers franchise, focusing more specifically on the group known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Set to air on ABC, you can already get your first, albeit extremely brief, look at what you can expect from Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 6)

Record: 20 - 15

Standing: Tied for first in the AL Central

Wow, another amazing week for the Indians. Two weeks ago they were in languishing in last place and have now won 12 of their last 14 games and have now gotten into a first place tie with Detroit. The past week began with an impressive four game sweep of the A's. The series wasn't without some controversy, however. A blown call by the umpires in Wednesday's game earned national attention and potentially cost Oakland the victory in that game. Then the Indians got a big test this past weekend as they faced the Tigers in Detroit. After dropping the first game, the Tribe came back and won a couple of close games on Saturday and today. Winning close is an extremely good sign that this team can be competitive for the whole season and potentially have success if they make the playoffs. One of the things that has been so remarkable during this good stretch by the Indians is their ability to get big hits with two outs. You gotta love a team that never says die and believes they are in every game regardless of what the score is. The Indians will look to maintain their momentum as they deal with another busy week. It all begins with a traditional doubleheader tomorrow against the Yankees to make up a pair of games that were washed out a few weeks ago. The Indians will then make a brief two game visit to Philadelphia to play the Phillies. We handled the Phillies when they played in Cleveland a couple weeks ago, so they'll no doubt have revenge on their mind. Then the week will wrap up with a trip back home to play against the Seattle Mariners. Whenever we can beat up on a team managed by Eric Wedge, I take extra glee in that. Things are starting to get really exciting in Cleveland, so let's show this team that we're behind them. Despite their impressive play, the stadium hasn't been very full. Let's hope that begins to change. Go Tribe!!

O Captain, My Captain

Here's the first trailer for Captain Phillips. Based on the real life events about Somali pirates overtaking a U.S. ship. The film stars Tom Hanks and is directed by Paul Greengrass. Based on what I've seen here, they can already take all my money...I'm in.

Restarting the clock?

From EW.com

No one wanted to say goodbye to Jack Bauer, so why not have him return?

Fox is in talks to bring back Kiefer Sutherland the long-running action drama 24 for a limited run. Since the network is revving up a division that will eventually churn out event miniseries like a remake of Shogun, a revisit to the successful 24 franchise could be just the ticket.

Insiders caution, however, that talks are early. If the dream becomes a reality, the series’ longtime executive producer Howard Gordon — who reportedly pitched the return in the first place and has since moved on to Showtime’s grown-up domestic terrorism hit Homeland — would return with the show.

Though the series ended in 2010, Fox’s sister studio 20th Century Fox didn’t want to see the franchise go away. There were talks to make the series into a movie but it never took off. Sutherland has recently starred in Fox’s Touch, which is not expected to return for a third season.

Can I be Franco with you?

Between Two Ferns is back! Episode 16 features Zach Galifianakis sitting down with James Franco and a surprise musical guest.

Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: James Franco from Zach Galifianakis

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 5)

Record: 14 - 14

Standing: 3rd in AL Central (Four games out of first place)

Last week went about as well as you could hope for with a baseball team. The Indians rattled off six wins in a row before losing a close game to the Twins on Sunday. Those wins came in all forms; they won big, they won close, and they were clicking on all facets of the game. Their performance last week showed what this team is capable of. And the scary thing is that they did so without being at full strength as Michael Bourn remains out with his finger injury and Nick Swisher sat a few games with a sore shoulder. When the Indians are at 100%, this could be a competitive team with the best in the AL. However, one week is not a large enough sample size to convince me they can do this on a consistent battle. The good news, or bad news depending on how you look at it is that they'll get a chance to really prove themselves this week as they face a couple of very good teams. First, they'll play a four game set at home against the Oakland A's, who surprised everyone last year and have continued to play good baseball to start this season. Then they'll head out onto the road to play the Detroit Tigers, who currently lead the AL Central and have been just as hot as the Indians recently. Playing good baseball against those two teams will go a long way to convincing everyone that these guys are for real. Of course, pitching remains key. Last week our starters had solid starts and we'll need for that to continue or else we could be in store for a very painful week. The uncertainty makes for some very exciting baseball and I can't wait to watch it all. Go Tribe!

Playing it safe

For those who know what a big baseball fan I am should not be surprised to hear that the first movie I've managed to see at the theater features the story of one of the most important figures of America's pastime. 42 tells us the trials and tribulations that Jackie Robinson faced as he became the first African American player to play in the Major Leagues. Relative newcomer Chadwick Boseman stars as Robinson and does an impressive job of portraying this complex, engaging figure. Through his performance we learn why Robinson not only had the skills to play professional baseball, but the resolve to be able to endure the extreme levels of prejudice he faced by breaking that color barrier.

The film primarily centers around the years of Robinson's initial entry into baseball. This proves to be a double-edged sword. While it makes the storytelling more focused, it also limits the story. I would have appreciated to learn more about Robinson's youth. Both to see the difficulties he faced growing up and also to see how he gained his athletic skills. After a quick montage covering the events that led to the end of World War II, we are thrust right into Robinson playing for the Negro leagues. The film also ends before Robinson won a World Series, which seems like the typical Hollywood way to finish the story.

The depiction of those events may have helped because what is presented turns out to be a relatively thin, simplistic story. Given that we know he successfully crossed that color barrier, the adversity and hatefulness he deals with because of his race become a bit repetitive. The fragmented way that these trials are depicted prevent the film from having any dramatic heft. It seemed clear that the film wanted to be as honest in its portrayal of Robinson as it could. As far as I could tell, they get all of their baseball history correct. Writer and director Brian Helgeland should be commended for providing us with a historically accurate film, it's just a shame that the story he told couldn't have been more compelling or deep.

Where the film lacks in a compelling narrative, it certainly makes up for in acting. For the first time in a long while, Harrison Ford gives a performance that does not feel phoned in. Playing Dodgers owner Branch Rickey, Ford nails each of his scenes causing an added level of electricity to the film whenever he was on screen. I also really appreciated the performance by Nicole Beharie, who plays Jackie's wife, Rachel. She has terrific chemistry with Boseman and also shows us why Rachel Robinson was such an important presence in Jackie's life. You also get fine work from a number of supporting actors including Alan Tudyk, playing a nasty racist who also manages the Phillies. Tudyk is known mostly for good guy roles, but he lets it all hang out here in displaying the type of bigotry that Jackie too often had to deal with when playing baseball.

For as much as I would have liked a deeper story, it's tough to really dislike this film. Robinson's story is so uplifting that you can't help but be inspired by seeing what he overcame. And if you're a baseball fan, watching a film like this can also reaffirm your love for the game. You can see that Branch Rickey brought Robinson in not as a stunt or to be a pioneer, but simply because he believed in having the best players having the chance to play this game. This is a movie to see not as a critic, but just as fan of baseball or inspiring stories.

There will probably be very few films this year that will make me feel as good leaving the theater as 42 did. I can look past a lot of its flaws and appreciate finally seeing one of the game's greatest figures have his story told on the big screen. I don't see how anyone couldn't have a good time watching this movie. I believe the fact that the audience that I saw this with gave the film a round of applause after it was over, despite the fact that the movie is now three weeks old shows you the power it has to move viewers. Do yourself a favor, grab some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and enjoy this heartwarming tale of the old ball game. Grade: B

Thinking outside the Xbox

Check out what those crazy guys at Microsoft have come up with now for the latest in video game innovations. Introducing IllumiRoom...

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 4)

Record: 9-13

Standing: Last in the AL Central (4 games out of 1st place)

We're almost a month into the season and it's still tough to get a real beat on how good this team is. This week was particularly tough to gauge their quality given how few games they played. The Tribe only played 2 out of their 3 games against Chicago due to rain and they managed to split that series. Then after a scheduled off day on Thursday, they were rained out in Kansas City on Friday. To make up that game, a double header was played yesterday. Thus far, the Royal have taken 2 out of the 3 games we've played against them, but this is a four game series that ends tonight, so if the Tribe wins that one, they'll have split with KC as well. A win would give us a 5-4 record on this road trip and if they can play .500 on the road, I'll always be fine with that. Right now, the troubling factors are the team's overall record and their sporadic hitting. Those issues are interconnected as better hitting should lead to more wins. I'm far from pushing the panic button on the season just yet, primarily because there have been so few games with our regular lineup. The injury to Michael Bourn has caused changes in the lineup that have forced guys to bat in spots that they don't normally hit. I think if we can get a healthy roster, we'll be in much better shape. Bourn should be back this week, so let's hope that's the start of something positive. Looking ahead to this week, after finishing up with the Royals tonight, we come home for our first interleague series of the season, playing a two game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Tribe will have another off day this Thursday and then play the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. Both of those are winnable series if we play well. Let's hope that the end of April marks the end of bad weather and the start of some great baseball. Go Tribe!

Bringing the thunder

Just as the excitement for the upcoming Iron Man 3 hits its peak, we get reminded that there are other Marvel franchises gearing up for new stories as well. Here's your first look at Thor: The Dark World set to come out this November.

RBR: This is 40

Like many, I've been a huge fan of Judd Apatow's work over the years. He was on an incredible role until Funny People, which was one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. It was my hope then, that he could get back into his groove with his latest, This is 40; a film that allows him to go back to his roots somewhat by taking a couple of side characters from his film, Knocked Up and putting them center stage here. The two characters are Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's Pete and Debbie - a married California couple struggling with the problems associated with middle age. And if this film is to be believed, there are a LOT of problems as you reach mid-life including financial woes, sexual frustration, tensions with parents, tensions with kids, and an overall sense of fulfillment in life. As someone who has not yet hit 40, I can't speak on this with any expertise, but I couldn't help feeling as I watched this film, that the problems that these characters go through are not representative of most people at that age. It's not that people in their 40s don't deal with these issues, it's the specifics behind the depiction of these problems that seem out of touch. The Apatow films that work for me have always seemed to have its humor grounded in reality, whereas I didn't know who this film was meant to speak to. Part of the problem is the film's narrative structure. For the first half (of this unnecessarily 2+ hour film), there doesn't seem to be any organization whatsoever. It's just a compilation of small scenes that either touch on a problem or go for a laugh. By the time the film makes an attempt at getting to a central story there's just not enough to hang on to for it to work. There are admittedly some funny scenes in the film. When you're working with a funny cast, that also included Albert Brooks, Jason Segal, John Lithgow, Robert Smigel, and surprisingly Megan Fox, it's only natural that some laughs will develop. However, nobody outside of the two central stars are given enough to do. Those characters definitely needed more screen time. Not just because they are deserving of it, but also because Rudd and Mann's characters are so mean and depressing for the majority of the time that they are together that we needed more of buffer between their scenes involving them hanging out with other, more enjoyable people. While This is 40 does not sink to the level of Funny People, it has to be considered a disappointment. For as talented as he is, I think it's become apparent that Apatow is not as successful tackling more mature subject matters like he's attempted to do in his last two films. It seems like he wants to move away from the arrested development/man-child storylines, but he should also realize he should stick with what works. Rating: ** 1/2

Patton's speech

Hopefully you saw last week's episode of Parks and Recreation, which featured guest star Patton Oswalt playing a concerned Pawnee citizen who decides to filibuster the city council in an effort to stop certain charter laws from being changed. The focus of his filibuster was his proposed script for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII movie. If you missed it, you should certainly check out the episode, since it was fantastic. In the meantime, you can watch below the equally amazing uncut version of the entire filibuster that was done in one take. It's a thing of pure nerd awesomeness.

Tribe Watch '13 (Week 3)

Record: 7-10

Standing: 4th in AL Central (3 games out of first)

The Indians got off to rough start last week as they were swept at home by the Boston Red Sox. Credit bad starting pitching, anemic offense and an emotionally motivated opponent as the key reasons why the Indians couldn't do much against Boston. The weekend helped turn things around, however, as the bats came alive on Saturday. The Indians put a 19 spot on the scoreboard against the Astros. Our newest acquisitions, Mark Reynolds, Nick Swisher, and 42 year old Jason Giambi, were all major players in that outpouring of offense. Thankfully Saturday's performance didn't result in an immediate power outage on Sunday as the Indians were able to hit four more home runs in order to win by one and take two out of three from Houston. Hopefully the Tribe can carry that momentum with them as they now continue this road trip by heading into Chicago to take on those nasty White Sox. We played Chicago very well in Cleveland and I'd love to see more of the same to start this week. Cleveland will then finish off their road trip by heading to Kansas City for a weekend series. No matter the month, games against divisional opponents are critical, so it will be vital for the Tribe to have a good week. As the Indians hope to gain ground within the AL Central standings, I'll be cheering them on all the way and I hope you will too. Go Tribe!

Dead and loving it

R.I.P.D. is based on a graphic novel and from the look of this first trailer, this could either be a wild, fun ride or an unmitigated disaster ala Jonah Hex.

Rescuing Heroes?

Could Heroes actually be getting a relaunch just three years after its cancellation? If reports are true, it sounds like this show, like so many comic book superheroes, may be coming back from the dead. Here's the report from TVLine:

Save the cheerleader, launch a new programming initiative?

MSN, which is making a big push into original programming via Xbox, is in talks to revive NBC’s superhero drama Heroes, TVLine has learned exclusively.

Details remain sketchy, but sources confirm that MSN is interested in relaunching the once red-hot NBC Universal franchise with new stories and heroes, while mixing in cameos from the original series’ cast (schedules and interest permitting). The talks are said to be in the preliminary stages.

In February, MSN hired former NBC development executive Jada Miranda to oversee production of its fledgling Xbox entertainment studio under ex-CBS president Nancy Tellem (who came on board last fall).

Heroes‘ four-season run on NBC ended in February 2010.

Super trooper

For certain films, I find myself on the fence as to whether or not I actually want to see it and it usually takes a really good trailer to convince me. Well the latest Superman movie, Man of Steel was one of those movies and the latest trailer has won me over. I'm now ready to see Superman take flight again. If you haven't seen it yet, here's the trailer for you to see.

Tribe Watch (Week 2)

Record: 5-6

Standing: 3rd in AL Central (1.5 games out of 1st place)

Similar to week 1, the second week of the season saw a mixed bag of results for the Tribe. Things looked pretty bleak early on in the week as the Yankees dominated us for the first two games of the series. Mother Nature thankfully cut that attack short by raining out the remaining two games of that series. We can now look forward to a doubleheader in May against New York to make up those games. The back end of the week was more promising as we took two out of three from our rivals the White Sox. Justin Masterson showed true ace material in his complete game shutout win on Friday and the bats came to life in Saturday's game. Though they lost on Sunday, the team has to feel positive by an improved performance by Brett Myers. Starting pitching is going to be so critical for this team. If they falter, things fall apart. When the pitching is strong, we have a very good chance of winning each of those games. As we head into this third week, the Indians will begin with an emotional series against the Boston Red Sox. Not only will it be the first time that Terry Francona manages against his old team, but the tragic events of yesterday will still be weighing heavily on everyone's mind. After the Boston series, the Indians will head out onto the road for a lengthy trip that begins with a weekend series against the Houston Astros who more closely resemble a AAA team than they do a major league team. Hopefully we can dominate them to help improve our standing in the division. One final note is with regard to injuries. Every team is suffering from them and the Indians are no different. The catcher position seems to be particularly plagued with both Carlos Santana and Lou Marson ailing. The Tribe actually had to make a minor league trade earlier this week just to gain some additional emergency backups. Center fielder Michael Bourn will also miss some time thanks to a finger laceration he received in Sunday's game. Thankfully most of the team's injuries are minor, so we can just hope for a speedy recovery so that our team can get back to playing at full strength. No matter who's out on the field, though, I'll always be ready to support my team. Go Tribe!

Vroom Vroom

Gentlemen start your engines and rev up for your first look at Ron Howard's new racing drama, Rush based on the real life rivalry between two Formula 1 racers.

RBR: Hitchcock

During Oscar season, there was surprisingly very little discussion about this film, which features previous Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren and is based on one of the most famous Hollywood directors of all time. It turns out that the reason for the lack of buzz is quite simple. Despite its pedigree, this is a rather pedestrian effort. Hitchcock plays more like a made-for-TV movie that just got lucky in scoring an incredible cast. The film focuses on the noted director's effort to make Psycho. On the way to making his most successful film, he faced several roadblocks including a lack of studio support, protest from the ratings board, and a wife, who's become frustrated with a lack of recognition for her collaborative efforts in his success. A lot of these problems seem rather interesting and yet the film opts to merely gloss over a lot of them for more melodramatic moments dealing with a possible affair between Hitchcock's wife (Mirren) and a charming writer (Danny Huston). I'm far from an expert on Hitchcock and his film and yet I felt like this film didn't really reveal anything that I didn't already know or suspect about his work. The two leads turns in excellent performance, as expected but they are working with substandard material here. Fans of the late director will no doubt be disappointed in this less than revelatory film and younger fans will likely struggle to stay engaged in this story. It's a shame that a film based on a master of suspense is filled with very few surprises. Rating: ** 1/2

Privileged planet

Fans of the sci-fi film District 9 have been anxious to see what director Neill Blomkamp has in store for a follow up. Well wait no more as here's the first look at his new film, Elysium due out this August.

Tribe Watch (Week 1)

Record: 3-3

Standing: Tied for second in AL Central

I'm running short on time so this will have to be brief, but I wanted to get this out before today's home opener. As you can expect with a .500 record in their first week, there was a mixed bag of results for the Tribe as they kicked off the 2013 season. I think, however, that looking at the result of the past week, that there is more positive than negative to take away from their performance. First of all, the Tribe went .500 on the road against two teams that many predict will be at the top of the AL East, so there's no shame in that. The wins that the Tribe had were also pretty impressive in that they beat BOTH reigning Cy Young winners within the span of 6 days. The offense was certainly on display in those wins as well with the team showing both power and clutch hitting. We did get shutout two straight games, but it is was understandable because they had a long flight to Tampa and the Rays have very good pitching. As for our pitching, I was pleased by the performances of our #1 and #2 starters. For us to have any chance at competiting this season, both Masterson and Jimenez need to pitch well. The back end of our rotation and our long relievers have some question marks that give me some concern, but nothing too grave just yet. We'll need a larger sample size before we can truly make any determinations. Hopefully the Tribe can feel positive about their efforts and take that good feeling into their performance this week as the Tribe plays at Progressive Field for this first time this year. First up is the dreaded New York Yankees, who are really struggling thus far thanks to injuries and old age. On paper, we should play well against them, but when it comes to the Yankees, they are never as bad as they seem. Then it's a weekend series against the even more loathesome Chicago White Sox. Of course, divisional games are crucial no matter when in the year they occur, so let's get off to a good start by beating up on our rival. There's a lot to be excited about in Cleveland right now, so let's all get behind this team and watch what could be a very magical year. Go Tribe!

2 tickets to the Guns show

Here's a trailer for the new action comedy 2 Guns starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. This looks like it could be a lot of fun, particularly during the dog days of summer.

Roger Ebert (1942 - 2013)

Film critic Roger Ebert dies at 70

I was unable to post this news yesterday, but this is too important for me to ignore it altogether. Roger Ebert, along with his late TV film critic partner Gene Siskel, had a profound impact on my love of movies, criticism, debate, and entertainment in general. Over the past several years on this blog, I've made an attempt at sharing my love and analysis of the films I've seen. With Roger's passing, I'm struck by a couple of thoughts. One is that being able to effectively evaluate a movie on its strengths and weaknesses is not as easy as it looks. That's why Roger was so special. He made it look so easy that he spawned a whole society of wannabe critics. Sites like Rotten Tomatoes would not exist without Roger making the art of movie criticism so appealing. But the other thought is that while I could never hold a flame to the writing ability of Roger, that's ok. Roger always said that one of the tips to being a critic is to review that movie through your voice. He can be proud of the fact that he pioneered a culture that could articulate what they did or did not like about their movie-going experience.

As much as Roger will be remembered for his writing, I will admit that I have a fonder appreciation for his TV show with Gene Siskel and then later on, Richard Roeper. Particularly with Gene, he had a remarkable chemistry that made you instantly interested in listening to whatever film they were reviewing. I recently saw a video (thanks courtesy of the great archival site siskelandebert.org) where they reviewed the film My Dinner With Andre. In his review, Roger said, "Although you see two people on the screen, in your mind you're also seeing these strange and wonderful scenes and experiences." I thought the same thing while watching those two review movies. They brought the movies to life as they reviewed them. Listening to them was never boring or a chore. We shared in their joy when they got to talk about a movie they loved. We also listened with glee as they would hilariously pan movies that were truly awful. All the while, they never robbed us of wanting to go see the movie itelf. Hearing their critiques always made me more invested in wanting to see the movie myself to see if I would agree or disagree with their assessment.

It will be tough not having a go-to voice anymore for a critique of a movie. Even if I didn't always share the same sentiment as Roger on a film, I wanted to hear what he had to say. With his passing, I hope that the love of movies and of movie criticism will continue on for many generations to come. I'll do my best to continue to share my thoughts on whatever I see and I'm thankful for the archives of Roger's work that will continue to inspire me to share my love with anyone else who wants to listen. Rest in peace Roger. Enjoy your balcony seat in the sky.

RBR: The Master

I actually watched this several weeks ago, but have had difficulty finding the time to write this review. And I don't mean that I haven't had any free time, it's that this movie had a more profound impact on me than most that it made it more difficult to put my thoughts into words. This is the latest film by noted director Paul Thomas Anderson, who also helmed films like Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood. Once again he displays visual mastery with the way he depicts the action that unfolds on the screen. He also has another sprawling, yet captivating narrative that establishes interesting characters that equally puzzle and fascinate audiences. Anderson seems to frequently tell stories that rely on the theme of mentor/protege and in this film, that relationship is brought to the forefront. The Master earned a lot of buzz prior to its release when it was believed that this film was intended to be a scathing commentary on Scientology. While some parallels can be drawn, I found myself not really caring whether or not this was based on any actual group and was instead just invested in these particular people. Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a group referred to as The Cause, who takes Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), a Naval veteran struggling with issues of anger and alcoholism, under his wing. As we listen to Dodd and watch the way Freddie follows him, it becomes apparent that this movie is more than just determining whether or not Dodd is a charletan. This is about control and the tenuous nature of staying in control. When do we let others control us and when, if ever, do we take control of our own lives? The answers aren't always clear and Anderson doesn't make it any easier for us to try and find out those answers with the way he presents this story. Certain scenes take on an almost dreamlike state to make you further distance you from a grounded reality. This is not the easiest film to follow, but those who are up for a challenge will be greatly rewarded. The film looks great, is filled with terrific performances (included an understated performance by Amy Adams playing Dodd's wife), and gives you plenty to think about long after you've finished watching it. I can't say this is a movie that I eagerly want to watch repeatedly, but if I get a chance to see it again, I feel I will no doubt uncover even more about what's going on than I did in my first viewing. It's a shame that this did not get even greater recognition during the awards season, because it's certainly worthy of it. Fans of Paul Thomas Anderson need to do themselves a favor and check out this spellbinding film. Rating: **** 1/2

Chain of Fools

The cast of This is the End decided to get in the holiday spirit and offer up a new "trailer" to promote their movie. Check it out below.

This is an ad for MoCoCo

From EW.com:

Top-rated late-night host Jay Leno may be in danger of losing his job. But his modestly rated former Tonight Show rival Conan O’Brien just got a renewal on TBS.

The cable network has renewed Conan through 2015, adding another year onto the show’s current deal (which originally expired in April of 2014).

Conan averages 906,000 viewers per episode. TBS points out the show averages a younger median age (38) than any late-night talk show. “When we invited Conan O’Brien to come to TBS, we knew he would bring with him a passionately loyal following of young adults,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TBS. “Conan and his colleagues at Team Coco have gone far beyond that by making Conan the top late-night brand in the digital arena. We are proud to extend our relationship with Conan as he continues to forge the future of late night. I just wish we didn’t decide to tell him on April Fools’ Day.”

Claws for concern

Iron Man isn't the only Marvel superhero gracing the screen this summer. Wolverine is back as well and this time he's fighting ninjas. Check out the first full trailer for The Wolverine

Red Skull out, Redford in??

From EW.com

The new Captain America film is probably the most unusual of the upcoming wave of Marvel sequels, since — thanks to the first film’s climactic time-jump forward — most of the original supporting cast probably won’t be returning. (Although since the movie is subtitled The Winter Soldier, there’s probably at least one supporting cast member returning, NO SPOILERS.) But the film could be adding a genuine film legend to its cast. EW has confirmed the news, initially reported by the Hollywood Reporter, that Robert Redford — Oscar winner, Sundance founder, Sundance Kid — is in negotiations to join the cast of the Star-Spangled Sequel.

It’s unclear at this point who Redford would be playing, though THR indicates that he’d be playing Nick Fury’s boss. (Combined with the Variety report that the film would prominently feature Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow and Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill, Cap 2 is shaping up to be a stealth S.H.I.E.L.D. movie.) Presumably he’s not playing the President, unless there’s an election in the Marvelverse after Iron Man 3 (with President William Sadler.)

RBR: Wreck-It Ralph

Having now seen both this and Brave, I'm convinced now more than ever that last year there was some kind of Freaky Friday situation going on over at the Disney animation studios. With a beautiful young girl at the forefront and a cheesy 'be careful what you wish for' lesson, Brave felt very much like your standard Disney princess fare. Meanwhile, Wreck-It Ralph is the type of story that features colorful characters and imaginative settings that have set Pixar apart from its competition for over 15 years. This is the story of Ralph, a bad guy character ala Donkey Kong in a classic 80s style arcade game. Tired of his repetitive depressing lifestyle, Ralph seeks a change by finding a way to turn himself into a good guy. To do so, he leaves his game and ventures through a number of other video games including a Halo-esque first person shooter and the pink-tinged, candy-coated racing game, Sugar Rush. What helps elevate Ralph above other more standard animated films is that this is not just Ralph's story with all other characters merely serving as window dressing and/or comedy props. The film features several subplots where we delve into characters' backstory. I also like that the villainous King Candy's motives are not apparently clear. It makes the eventual reveal that much more satisfying. You also have some quality voice work here. John C. Reilly is perfect as doltish Ralph who can come off as equal parts menacing and sweet. Sarah Silverman lays on the sugary sweetness as Venelope, a wannabe racer in Sugar Rush. And Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch also fit perfectly in the roles they are given. It's quite clear that the people behind this movie are big video game fans. There are several homages and in-jokes to the gaming world. They also amassed an impressive collection of real video game characters like Sonic, Bowser, and Q-Bert, who show up in various cameo roles. This is a film that succeeds largely to its wide appeal. It offers plenty for kids to enjoy, but it also maintains an intelligence level that doesn't insult adult audiences. Thus far, this is the best animated film of 2012 and is definitely worth a rental if you missed it when it was in theaters. Rating: **** 1/2

Life imitating art?

I won't post the whole article here, but you can click on the link below for a fun article where a Yahoo reporter talked with several of the players on the Cleveland Indians to ask them to compare themselves to the various characters in the classic movie, Major League. Despite a number of new faces on the Tribe this year, it sounds like this group has already bonded well and ready to have as much success as their film counterparts did. One can only hope!

The 2013 Cleveland Indians imagine themselves as the Indians from 'Major League'

Gru back

Villains rule the day once again as Gru and his minions are back once again in Despicable Me 2. Here's the first full trailer for the animated film set to come out this summer.

'Bond 24' update

From Reuters:

Movie studio MGM said on Tuesday it expects to release the next James Bond movie within three years, and hopes to announce soon a new director after Sam Mendes decided to move on.

In a conference call with investors, MGM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Barber said the studio was developing the screenplay for the next, 24th movie in the 50-year-old franchise about the British secret agent.

"We are very excited about the franchise, we look forward to announcing a director soon," Barber said.

"We are currently developing the screenplay and working with our partners. We look forward to developing the script soon and signing a director. We are hoping within the next 3 years it will be released," Barber added.

He gave no details on casting but Daniel Craig has already signed on for two more films in the lead role as the suave 007 agent.

The 2012 Bond film "Skyfall," starring Craig, made $1.1 billion at the global box office and impressed critics. But Britain's Mendes said earlier this month that he wanted to focus on his theater projects for the foreseeable future.

Barber said Mendes "did an amazing job on 'Skyfall'. We are very thankful for the work that he did."

Privately-held MGM jointly produced "Skyfall" with Sony Corp's movie studio arm.

MGM said on Monday that "Skyfall" and "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" had helped bring a three-fold increase in its 2012 net income.

Trek-ing crew

I was remiss in not posting this last week when it hit the web, so if you haven't seen it yet, here's the latest trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness

RBR: Arbitrage

For as much as I love movies, I can't say (yet at least) that I'm an expert when it comes to old movies. So when I hear comments suggesting that a film like Arbitrage is "Hitchcockian", I can't really have an appreciation for that. The good thing is that you don't need that background to recognize that this is an excellent thriller on its own. This is the story of Robert Miller (played by Richard Gere), a hedge fund magnate who's trying to secure a deal to sell his company as he moves into retirement. While initial impressions suggest Miller has everything going for him, there are a lot of secrets lurking beneath the surface that Miller is trying to keep hidden. There is no secret that Miller is a guilty man and yet the film remains compelling to the point where you find yourself conflicted as to whether or not you want him to be caught for his transgressions. A lot of the credit goes to Gere who gives one of his best performances ever. He handles the complexities of the characters with ease as he transitions from aggressor to avoider based on the conflict he's facing. There's also a nice supporting performance by Tim Roth playing a New York detective investigating a car accident that he believes was caused by Miller. I was really invested in this film up until the very end. Director Nicholas Jarecki, who up until the final scene had shown some real talent as a director in his first feature film effort, drops the ball with a disappointingly anti-climatic finish. The ambiguity of the final scene cannot even be justified as ambigiuous for the sake of mystery. The film ends in such a way that you feel as if there was some sort of technical problem that caused the last five minutes of the film to be accidentally lopped off the reel. Despite the letdown of its conclusion, Arbitrage is still a film worth seeking out, especially given that it did not garner much attention from the public during its limited release in theaters. I think you'll agree that checking it out will be a sound investment of your time. Rating: **** 1/2

Hang in there baby

It appears that the Wolfpack are set to go out with a bang and take the place where it all began with them. Here's your first look at The Hangover Part III.