Archive | March, 2010

Why does America keep sending the wrong ones home on American Idol and Dancing with the Stars?

31 Mar

I’m starting to get sick of my favorite reality shows.  Dancing with the Stars and American Idol have gotten off to rough starts in my opinion and this week’s results are only further proof of that.

Having America vote is a great idea, in theory, until they start keeping people around who have zero reason for being there.  Two days in a row, America sent the wrong person home and it destroys the credibility of what the shows are trying to achieve.

On Tuesday night, DWTS sent 90210 vixen Shannen Doherty packing.  The worst contestants, Buzz Aldrin and Kate Gosselin, weren’t even in the bottom two.  I can understand keeping Buzz around, as he’s seen as a national hero, but Kate was beyond awful.  In the nine previous seasons, I don’t recall anyone being as bad as she was on Monday night (and this includes Tucker Carlson and Kenny Mayne).  It is painful to watch her attempt to dance and she looks miserable every step of the way. 

Tonight on American Idol, the voters chose to send Didi Benami home.  This meant that once again, Tim Urban is left to compete.  What is it about this kid that has America keeping him in the competition?  He’s got Zac Efron looks and hair, an eternally optimistic outlook on his time on the Idol stage and doesn’t take any of the judges comments too seriously.  While those traits may be endearing, they don’t make someone worthy of a spot in the top 10.

I think it comes down to the drama.  It’s always more entertaining to watch someone crash and burn than it is to see them succeed.  Sure, it’s amusing to see Gosselin struggle and fight with her partner (just like she did with ex-hubby Jon on her old reality show), but she doesn’t even look like she’s happy to be there or having any fun at all.  Why send her home when you can watch her sulk and complain instead?

Idol is a whole different ballgame though.  None of these aspiring singers were famous before the show.  It’s supposed to be about finding someone who can make it in the music business.  Urban is not that person, not even close.  He’s not even doing something original or remarkable.  He’s basically a young guy who sings like he’s playing for people in an elevator.

Sure, maybe I’m being cynical, but I just want to see some good, healthy competition.  Whether someone is trying to win a recording contract or a mirrorball trophy, I want people who are in the hunt and not just spectators.  I’m not naive enough to think it will change anytime soon, but a girl can hope, right?

Glee and Modern Family score with Peabody Awards

31 Mar

The 2010 Peabody Awards recipients were announced today.  Glee and Modern Family are among a list of both entertainment and news programming recognized for achievement and service in electronic media (radio, TV, cable)…

Glee and Modern Family score with Peabody Awards

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DVD Release Tuesday 3/30/10

30 Mar

So all of you hard-core movie fans out there know what every Tuesday is, right?  It is new DVD release day.  I look forward to this day every week and I always have my Netflix set up ahead of time to make sure I get the newest flicks that are out there.  Here’s a short list of what is coming out today:

Movies:
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel – Jason Lee, Zachary Levi
An Education – Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard
Sherlock Holmes – Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law

 

TV:
Rhoda – Season 2
iCarly: iFight Shelby Marx

Matt Damon honored with American Cinematheque Award

28 Mar

At the ripe old age of 39, Matt Damon has been honored with a lifetime achievement award for his body of work from American Cinematheque…

Matt Damon honored with American Cinematheque Award

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Weekend Box Office Results for 3/28/10

28 Mar

Alice in Wonderland‘s box office reign has come to an end after three consecutive weekends on top.  How to Train Your Dragon secured the top spot with over $40 million.  The animated film seemed to strike a chord with viewers this weekend. 

John Cusack’s Hot Tub Time Machine had a lot of buzz going into the weekend, but only managed to scrape up a little under $14 million.  Avatar finally fell out of the Top 10 after a 15 week run that totaled $740 million.

Box Office Mojo’s Top 10 Box Office Estimates for 3/26-3/28:

1. How to Train Your Dragon – $43.3 million
2. Alice in Wonderland – $17.3 million
3. Hot Tub Time Machine – $13.6 million
4. The Bounty Hunter – $12.4 million
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid – $10 million
6. She’s Out of my League – $3.5 million
7. Green Zone – $3.3 million
8. Shutter Island – $3.1 million
9. Repo Men – $3 million
10. Our Family Wedding – $2.2 million

Heap of Hollywood 3/28: 2011 award show dates, 24 says goodbye

28 Mar

Heap of Hollywood is your chance to read about some of the latest news and casting updates around H-town!

News:
*MTV‘s The Hills is finally(!!) coming an end.  This upcoming season will be the last. 
*FOX‘s critically acclaimed drama, 24, has been cancelled.  The final episode is scheduled to air on May 24, 2010. 
*Showtime has renewed Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara.
*Alyssa Milano‘s new ABC pilot, Romantically Challenged, is set to premiere April 12.
*Paranormal Activity 2 has signed Tod “Kip” Williams to direct the sequel.
*The following award shows have set dates for the 2011 shows:
          Golden Globes – Jan. 16, 2011
          PGA (Producer’s Guild of America) – Jan. 22, 2011
         SAG (Screen Actors Guild) – Jan. 30, 2011
        Academy Awards – Feb. 27, 2011

 

Casting:
*Angela Bassett is the newest cast member to joining the film, Green Lantern.
*Martin Short and David Krumholtz are set to star in the FOX comedy pilot, Tax Man.
*CBS‘ The Big Bang Theory has cast Blossom’s Mayim Bialik to play a possible love interest for Jim Parsons’ Sheldon.

 

Addition Information: THR, Deadline, Variety

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Winners

28 Mar

Last night in Los Angeles, millions of kids had their voices heard.  The people responsible for choosing the winners at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, the kids, cheered on as their favorites were crowned for movies, music, sports and TV.

The only award show to get away with sliming celebrities, celebrated its 23rd anniversary on Saturday.  Hosted by Kevin James, the kids voted on 19 different categories.  Here is a list of winners:

Favorite Cutest Couple: Kristen Stewart & Taylor Lautner
                                                         (Bella & Jacob)
Favorite TV Show: iCarly
Favorite TV Actor: Dylan Sprouse
Favorite TV Actress: Selena Gomez
Favorite Music Group: Black Eyed Peas
Favorite Female Singer: Taylor Swift
Favorite Male Singer: Jay-Z
Favorite Song: You Belong with Me – Taylor Swift
Favorite Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Favorite Movie Actor: Taylor Lautner
Favorite Movie Actress: Miley Cyrus
Favorite Cartoon: SpongeBob SquarePants
Favorite Reality Show: American Idol
Favorite Female Athlete: Misty May Treanor
Favorite Male Athlete: Ryan Sheckler
Favorite Video Game: Mario Kart
Favorite Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series
Favorite Animated Movie: Up
Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: Jim Carrey

Good Hair Review

27 Mar

Good Hair

Starring: Chris Rock

Every man, woman and child has an opinion as to whether they have good hair or not.  Maybe it’s been told to them or they just know from years of trying to work with it.  No single group of people are more invested in what their hair looks like than the African-American community.

Comedian Chris Rock decided to tackle the issue of why hair is so important and such a lucrative business in Good Hair.  He centers the hair debate around his two young daughters and what it is he is supposed to tell them when it comes to why their hair is different.

Rock uses a variety of people from actors to executives to tell his story.  His interviews include actresses Nia Long and Raven-Symoné, musical group Salt-n-Pepa, Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Maya Angelou, among others.  Every person had a different opinion on what it is to have good hair.  Some prefer to go au naturel, where others live by the weave.   Among the varieties of styles, Rock focuses on relaxers and weaves.  He also focuses heavily on the Atlanta, GA Bronner Bros. hair convention.

As Rock addresses the beginnings of the relaxer, he learns more about it than he bargained for.   Not only does it contain a chemical that burns your skin, he learns of children as young as three years old being subjected to the process of straightening the hair.  Always the funny man, Rock asked various women what was more painful: childbirth or getting a relaxer?  Relaxers aren’t just for the females either, many men have used them over the years too.

The making and selling of weaves is a very profitable business.  There are different products and different ways of wearing the weave.  Many women across America are spending upwards of $1,000 to wear the hair of another.  Rock also learned that some of the most sought after hair was that of Indian women.  He even travels to India to see how the process of the hair business works there.

Spread throughout the documentary, Rock takes part in Atlanta’s Bronner Bros. hair show.  He speaks to the four hairdressers who are competing for the top hair prize at the convention.  He is amazed to see how huge this hair business can be.

Chris Rock  probably learned more than he ever imagined about the process of black hair.  It’s amusing to listen to these men and women talk about why a certain hairstyle is so vital to their world and self-esteem.  It’s equally amusing to hear the discussion over what you do not do to a black woman’s hair.  After making the doc, Rock is fairly certain he’ll never let his daughters near a hair salon.

I would recommend this film; it’s funny, informative and a little on the wacky side at times.  I never would have picked Rock as someone who’d be the driving force of a documentary, but it totally worked.

 

Wonderful World Review

26 Mar

Wonderful World

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan

The first thing I always think of when I hear of Matthew Broderick is Ferris.  He played such an iconic role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that I feel ruined for any future film he does.  I don’t feel he’s ever really lived up to the potential that the 1980′s film created for him.

In his most recent film, Wonderful World, Broderick plays Ben, a down on his luck single dad who is miserable.  He’s depressed that he’s working at a crappy job and his own daughter doesn’t want to spend time with him.  He shares a small apartment with Ibu (Michael Kenneth Williams), a friend who is very much the opposite of him.  He sees the lighter things in life and is optimistic that life is always good.

After Ibu falls ill and ends up in the hospital, his sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) comes to down to be by his side.  She stays with Ben in the small, cramped apartment and she helps show Ben a different side of life.  Being the cynic that he is, Ben destroys his new relationship just as it’s beginning with Khadi and she leaves town.

Alone again and more lost than ever, a tragedy occurs and Ben decides to right his wrongs.  He goes to visit Khadi and he is awakened to something that Ibu told him long ago.  Upon his return, he attempts to fix his relationship with his daughter and begin anew.

I really liked Broderick in this role.  I felt he looked much better than some of his more recent projects.  He has had some modest hits over the years with Election and Broadway’s The Producers, but I’d love to see him try more mainstream work.  Broderick had such personality as Ferris and that’s what I miss from so many of his current performances. 

I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Broderick and Lathan.  I actually thought the pairing was quite strange.  It made sense storywise, but I just didn’t believe the connection between the two.  Jesse Tyler Ferguson, of Modern Family fame, was a nice surprise to see in this small film.  I didn’t love his character, but it’s always nice to see actors you find appealing in other roles.

This indie is a pleasant film experience.  The story lags a bit at times, but the message of positivity and second chances is quite appealing.  I’d recommend it if you are a fan of indie, character driven films.

Brothers Review

26 Mar

Brothers

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman

Every family who has a loved one in the military dreads the day they get a knock on their door saying their family member won’t be coming home.  This film takes a look at the family dynamic before and after such an event occurs.

Brothers is the story of Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire), a marine, who is deployed to Afghanistan.  He leaves behind a perfect life with his wife, Grace (Natalie Portman), and their two daughters.  While serving his country, his helicopter gets shot down and along with one of his men, he’s captured by enemy forces.

Back home, Sam’s family gets the news that Sam has died.  Grace is consoled by Sam’s parents (Sam Shepard, Mare Winningham) and his brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal).  Tommy, a troubled young man, decides to make himself a constant presence in the lives of his sister-in-law and nieces.  He wants to be a good brother and go the extra mile to help Grace in her time of need.  Loneliness and desperation get the best of the two for a brief moment, but they are determined to not let it interfere with their new found friendship.

Just when it appears that the family is moving on after the news of Sam’s death, Grace gets a phone call that changes everything.  Sam is found alive and he returns home, but he is not the same man he was when he left.  The trauma from his time in Afghanistan is significant enough that it could destroy everything he built back home.  He reunites with his family as a paranoid, restless man.

Maguire is brilliant as the tortured soldier who can’t seem to get a grasp on reality.  The emotion of the character flows so freely through Maguire, the actor.  He also lost weight to portray this role and it adds to the belief of a true prisoner of war.  Upon his return home, he just has this eeriness to him and everything he does.  The look in Maguire’s eyes as he plays this man is so heartbreaking and disturbing.

Gyllenhaal always shines in films like this, but I really hoped to get more from him and his character.  He plays the black sheep of the family and his emotions are believable, but I was left wanting more.  He has great chemistry with Portman and I’d love to see them do another film together.  Portman never disappoints and this was another one of her great performances.

The girls who played the daughters (Bailee Madison, Taylor Geare) were really great as well.  Madison had such a presence onscreen and played the hurt daughter with such finesse.  Every time I watched her, her lips were quivering and I was sucked in to everything she was saying and feeling.

I was looking forward to this film and I enjoyed it, but I expected to be blown away by more than Maguire’s performance and I wasn’t.  I found myself wishing for even more scenes with Gyllenhaal and Portman, but overall it was a solid drama.  I would absolutely recommend this film to others.

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