PopCultureGuy

Independent Film Spotlight: Roman Polanski's "Carnage" (2011)

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classic

"Carnage" is a film that should have been awards bait, but for some reason has been overlooked by the major award organizations, with the exception of the Golden Globes, which recognized Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet's work with nominations in the Supporting Actress category. The supremely talented actresses are joined by the sublime John C. Reilly and the powerful Christoph Waltz in Roman Polanski's latest effort, which is based on the play "God of Carnage," by Yasmina Reza.

Set in Brooklyn, NY, "Carnage" focuses on the meeting between the parents of two young boys, who got into a scuffle in a park, which resulted in an facial injury to Penelope (Foster) and Michael's (Reilly) son. The meeting starts off rather benign, with all four parents appearing agreeable and diplomatic. However, the planned meeting goes on much longer than planned, thanks to the hospitality of Penelope, the sudden illness of Nancy (Winslet) and a series of phone calls that are fielded by Michael and Alan (Waltz). The longer the couples spend together, the more tense the situation becomes, as they bicker over which of their children was responsible for the fight and the need for someone to be accountable. At first, the couples stand united, but after a bottle of whiskey is introduced, the inhibitions fade away and the truth comes hurtling out of all of them, which eventually pits the husbands against the wives.

The fallout is similar to watching a car accident - you just cannot look away, even if you wanted to. The arguing brings out the worst in everyone, but also elicits plenty of humorous moments that occur when the characters are at their most vulnerable. For instance, Penelope begins crying after fielding insults from everyone, including her husband, and is then berated by everyone for showing her emotion. Nancy is much more controlled, but also judgemental and frequently rude. Michael's true nature comes through as he voices his disgust with various aspects of his life and he simply does not care what anyone thinks of him. He may not be likable, but at least he is real. Alan is similar to Michael in his impatience with nonsense and has some of the funniest lines throughout the movie. The humor is subtle and sometimes unexpected and helps viewers to understand the characters, who are imperfect, just like everyone else. Even though I ended up not really liking any of them, the performances are so strong and felt so true that I was completely invested in the characters.

During the short 80 minute run time, viewers can feel the walls closing in on the two couples, as they struggle to maintain some sort of civility, but ultimately just let their real personalities shine through. I am not sure if Roman Polanski had to provide much direction for his outstanding cast, who easily become their respective characters. Despite the abrupt ending, which does not really settle anything between the parents, I completely enjoyed watching "Carnage." I only wish it were longer, so I could watch the amazing cast continue their terrific work.

"How To Archer" by Sterling Archer - Now You Can Be A Cool Super Spy Too!

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

Fans of the hilarious FX television series "Archer" can now learn the secrets of super spy Sterling Archer in the recently released book "How to Archer: The Ultimate Guide to Espionage and Style and Women and Also Cocktails Ever Written" (It Books). Sterling Archer is credited as the author, but Adam Reed, the creator of "Archer" is the person responsible for the content of the book. Reed stays faithful to his master spy creation and the material reads just like an episode of "Archer." In fact, I could hear H. Jon Benjamin's voice as I was reading through this handy, often hilarious and useful guide to not only becoming a master spy, but living like one too.

Who knew how much work went into being Sterling Archer? Almost half of the book is dedicated to the spy profession, as readers learn about weaponry, poisons, surveillance, interrogation techniques and much more. However, spies have lives, like everyone (ok, most everyone) else does, and Sterling Archer spills his secrets about how to dress, dine, handle women and how to be financially able to pay for it all. In addition, there are sections devoted to making the perfect cocktail, complete with ingredients, as well as a recipe for really expensive eggs, which Archer has for breakfast every morning, courtesy of his manservant/butler/punching bag Woodhouse.

Archer frequently segues during various chapters into complaining endlessly about how many words he is committed to writing and of his tenuous relationship(s) with his editrix(es), while commenting on the many hysterical illustrations and, of course, bragging about his perfect body. In addition, his footnotes provide some of the funniest material of this effort, which is not for those readers who are easily offended. Indeed, this is not a politically correct how to guide and no one is safe from Archer's rather unique perspectives about life.

From the selfish, mean-spirited foreword, by his mother, Mallory Archer, to the self-centered and abrasive introduction by Sterling Archer, fans of the television series understand quickly that they are in familiar laugh out loud territory. Archer says things that many of us would only dream of saying, for fear of burning bridges, getting fired, or even being murdered. So, if you want to learn the secrets of the spy trade (and other trades that cannot be mentioned here), pick up a copy of the recently released "How To Archer" (if you are a guy and do not have a vagina). I suspect there will be additional volumes in the series, such as "How To Drink Copious Amounts of Alcohol Without Appearing Drunk and Going to Rehab."

Meryl Streep is Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady"

2012-01-25T09:14:00.000-05:00

Meryl Streep can elevate any film with her incredible acting talent. The two time Academy Award winner possesses the uncanny ability to inhabit any character with seemingly little effort and consistently delivers critically acclaimed performances. In her latest film, "The Iron Lady," Streep is able to believably channel former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in a biopic that flashes back to her history making turn as one of the world's most powerful politicians.

The screenplay, by Abi Morgan, begins with Thatcher in her later years when she is suffering from dementia. As memories flood over her, she recalls past events that show how driven she was to make a difference in British politics. Thatcher certainly possessed the intelligence, poise and determination to be successful and she was able to make history by becoming the first female Prime Minister. However, her success came at the cost of strained relationships with her husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent), and children, Carol and Mark. Several scenes depict the older Thatcher "interacting" with her late husband Denis, which shows that she is still dealing with her grief over his passing. However, she refuses to allow her advanced age to get the best of her and there are many moments when she appears to be sharp, involved and still very physically able.

Meryl Streep's performance made me like the older Margaret Thatcher and admire the younger version of the former Prime Minister. Like everyone, Thatcher displayed different sides to her personality, some more likable than others, and Streep excels at portraying a vast range of emotions. What I liked best about Streep's performance is that she does not try to elicit sympathy for the aging Thatcher. In other words, she is never portrayed as a victim. Yes, viewers may empathize with Thatcher's illness, but she is consistently portrayed with that same iron will that polarized so many people during her time in office.

"The Iron lady" held my attention from beginning to end, thanks to Streep's performance and the historical representations during Thatcher's time as Prime Minister in the 1980's. However, I think director Phyllida Lloyd seemed to lose focus during the latter part of the film, which did not flow as seamlessly as the first half. Of course, the strength of the film lies in the lead performance by Meryl Streep, which is terrific. Streep does not impersonate or mimic Thatcher, she becomes her by conveying an impeccable accent and unique physical mannerisms, including her gait and the way she moves her head. In other words, this is an award worthy performance.

While "The Iron Lady" is not a perfect film, I understand that it was made with little money and in a very short period of time. The overall effort speaks volumes for the effort of the filmmakers and cast to do the best they could, despite those limitations. In any event, this is a must see film for fans of the always outstanding Meryl Streep.

"Hugo" and "The Artist" Lead the Pack of Oscar Nominees

2012-01-24T14:01:00.002-05:00

Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" (pictured) captured 11 Oscar nominations, the most for any film, including Best Picture and Best Director (Scorsese), followed closely by "The Artist," which snagged 10 nominations. Frankly, I am surprised that "Hugo" received so much support since the film never really generated the buzz that other films, such as "The Help" and "The Artist," have received over the past few months. I thought the Best Picture race would be between frontrunners "The Artist" and "The Descendants," but now with "Hugo's" newfound support, it now appears to be a three-way race. Speaking of "The Descendants," the film garnered five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Alexander Payne) and George Clooney received a nod for Best Actor.

The Best Actor race turned out to be the most surprising. Unexpected nominees Demian Bichor ("A Better Life") and Gary Oldman ("Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy") managed to squeeze out potential nominees Leonardo DiCaprio ("J. Edgar"), Michael Fassbender ("Shame") and Ryan Gosling ("Drive"). In fact, "Drive" only managed one nomination, for Editing. Another acclaimed Ryan Gosling film, "The Ides of March," only managed an Adapted Screenplay nomination, for George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon.

On a personal note, I was pleased to see "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "The Tree of Life" receive three nominations each. In addition, it is great to see Melissa McCarthy snag a nomination for Supporting Actress for her role in 'Bridesmaids." My favorite animated film from last year, "Puss in Boots," is nominated for Best Animated Film and the outstanding song "Man or Muppet," from "The Muppets," is also nominated and has a 50/50 chance of winning since there is only one other nominee for Best Original Song!?

The Oscar ceremony will air live on Sunday, February 26, on ABC.

Here are the nominees:

Picture:
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Moneyball"
"The Tree of Life"
"War Horse"

Actor:
Demian Bichir, "A Better Life"
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Jean Dujarin, "The Artist"
Gary Oldman, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Actress:
Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams, "My Week with Marilyn"

Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh, "My Week with Marilyn"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte, "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Max von Sydow, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Supporting Actress:
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"

Director
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"

Adapted Screenplay:
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, "The Descendants"
John Logan, "Hugo"
George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, "The Ides of March"
Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, "Moneyball"
Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"

Original Screenplay:
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
J.C. Chandor, "Margin Call"
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Asghar Farhadi, "A Separation"

Foreign Language Film:
"Bullhead" (Belgium)
"Footnote" (Israel)
"In Darkness" (Poland)
"Monsieur Lazhar" (Canada)
"A Separation" (Iran)

Animated Feature Film
"A Cat in Paris"
"Chico & Rita"
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
"Puss in Boots"
"Rango"

Documentary Feature:
"Hell and Back Again"
"If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front"
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory"
"Pina"
"Undefeated"

Art Direction:
"The Artist"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"War Horse"

Cinematography:
"The Artist"
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"The Tree of Life"
"War Horse"

Costume Design:
"Anonymous"
"The Artist"
"Hugo"
"Jane Eyre"
"W.E"

Film Editing:
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Moneyball"

Makeup:
"Albert Nobbs"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"The Iron Lady"

Visual Effects
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"Real Steel"
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

Sound Mixing:
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Moneyball"
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
"War Horse"

Sound Editing:
"Drive"
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
"War Horse"

Original Score:
"The Adventures of Tintin," John Williams
"The Artist," Ludovic Bource
"Hugo," Howard Shore
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," Alberto Iglesias
"War Horse," John Williams

Original Song:
"Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets," Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" from "Rio," Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown and Siedah Garrett.

Animated Short Film:
"Dimanche/Sunday"
"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore"
"La Luna"
"A Morning Stroll"
"Wild Life"

Live Action Short Film:
"Pentecost"
"Raju"
"The Shore"
"Time Freak"
"Tuba Atlantic"

Documentary (short subject): "The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement"
"God is the Bigger Elvis"
"Incident in New Baghdad"
"Saving Face"
"The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom"

"50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know: Religion" by Daniele Bolelli

2012-01-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

In addition to being an author, Daniele Bolelli is also a professor of comparative religion, which serves him well in his latest book, "50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know: Religion" (Disinformation Company). Readers who are steadfast in their faith/belief system may not be happy with everything they read in the book, but the material is easily researched, should there be any questions concerning its accuracy. Bolelli examines little known (or talked about) information relating to the hypocrisy and mixed messages that are sent by various well known religions. I believe his goal is to inform, not judge, and to encourage people of faith to understand that no belief system is perfect, nor does one size fit all.

Bolelli addresses the conflicts between the information conveyed in the Old and New Testaments, which vary drastically on topics such as violence and sex. The author also takes a closer look at the way Jesus behaved and how he appeared to look at situations individually and not apply general rules that are put forth in the Bible. In addition, the author examines more contemporary and non-traditional figures, such as Sinead O'Connor, who famously tore up a photo of the Pope during a "Saturday Night Live" broadcast two decades ago. As a result, her career tanked and has never recovered. However, her intent was to expose the problems within the Church, including sexual abuse of children, which escalated into a huge scandal just a few years later.

I read with interest about former President Bill Clinton's decision to fire former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders over her remarks concerning the teaching of masturbation in sex education classes. Another 1990's controversy surrounded the Teletubbies and Jerry Falwell, who proclaimed that a member of the children's television show, Tinky Winky, was gay. Surely, there were more important matters to address, but Falwell was insistent on his beliefs, but he seemed completely preoccupied with homosexuality for some reason. Some of the material included here may make readers laugh out loud, including the Flying Spaghetti Monster, who is the actual deity of Pastafarianism, a religion created by graduate student Bobby Henderson in 2005. Bolelli also speaks on the many religious groups who have tried to predict the exact date the world would end, only to be disappointed every time.

In less than 200 pages, the pocket sized "50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know: Religion" features short chapters on just about every major religion, as well as some lesser known ones. Readers learn what really happened when Moses brought the tablets down from Mt. Sinai, how philosopher John Locke attempted to teach his contemporaries about religious tolerance, why a dead Pope was once placed on trial, and much more. Potential readers should approach the material with an open mind, even if you do not agree with what Daniele Bolelli has written. Of course, you can always fact check the information, but you may not like what you find. Overall, I found the book to be interesting, intelligent and educational and I also appreciated that some of my own opinions about religion are compatible with the author's views on a number of occasions.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: January 19-21, 2012

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

Kate Beckinsale in "Underworld: Awakening"

Here are the Top Ten Weekend films, according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. Underworld: Awakening - $25.4

2. Red Tails - $19.1

3. Contraband - $12.2

4. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - $10.5

5. Haywire - $9.0

6. Beauty and the Beast 3D - $8.6

7. Joyful Noise - $6.1

8. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - $5.5

9. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - $4.8

10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - $3.8

Critic's Corner: "Glee"

2012-01-22T14:00:00.000-05:00

The third season of "Glee" has been a solid one so far, despite declining ratings. I think one of the things that has hurt the show is the inconsistency of its scheduling. After airing three new episodes in September and early October, the series went on a four week hiatus, then came back for six shows and then went on holiday break for a month. Yikes.

Overall, the series has shown improvement over last season. Sue (Jane Lynch) is back to being a multi-dimensional character, instead of a constant nasty bully. After a brief absence, Chord Overtsreet (Sam) has returned, and new character, Rory (Damian McGinty), is a solid addition. McGinty is a talented singer and plays a likable character, but I hope that he is taking acting lessons because his inexperience is noticeable.

I am pleased to see Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith) back together and I think the Kurt/Blaine (Chris Colfer/Darren Criss) pairing is working out well. It will be interesting to see how long the couple stays together, since Blaine has a suitor, Sebastian (Grant Gustin), who appears to be intent of having him as his boyfriend. I would like to see more of Coach Beiste (Dot Marie Jones) and Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba). Their characters are undervalued, in my opinion.

The musical highlights of this season have been "Without You" (David Guetta), by Lea Michele, "Constant Craving" (K.D. Lang), by Naya Rivera and Idina Menzel, and "Fix You" (Coldplay) by Matthew Morrison. My favorite episode of the season, so far, has been "Extraordinary Merry Christmas," which was a great tribute to classic Christmas specials. I hope the producers submit that episode for Emmy consideration.

Now that the drama behind the scenes of "Glee" has subsided, I look forward to the remainder of the third season and have no doubt that there will be a fourth. The series has a way of integrating new characters seamlessly, so if some of the veterans do not return next season, I have no doubt that their spots will be filled to the satisfaction of fans. Finally, I am not disappointed that there will not be a spin-off series. Keep the graduating characters around in some capacity, if possible.

DVD Round-Up: "Attack the Block" and "Batman: Year One"

2012-01-21T20:01:00.000-05:00

"Attack the Block" (2011)

The Basics: An attempted mugging is interrupted by an object falling from the sky. Shortly thereafter, an alien invasion begins in London and the street gang who initiated the mugging have little choice but to become the "good guys" and battle the fierce alien force.

Reasons to watch: The screenplay, by Joe Cornish, is clever and often amusing and the performances from the young cast are better than you might expect.

The Bottom Line: "Attack the Block" is an enjoyable film, but if you are not familiar with the British dialect spoken in south London, then by all means use the subtitles feature or you may not understand a word that is being said. The film held my attention throughout, but the material is not for everyone.

"Batman: Year One" (2011)

The Basics: Based on the 1987 comic book limited series, of the same name, by writer Frank Miller, "Batman: Year One" details the initial meeting between Batman (Benjamin McKenzie) and police Commissioner James Gordon (Bryan Cranston) and their subsequent efforts to work together in order to restore some sort of order to beleaguered Gotham City.

Reasons to watch: It is refreshing when an iconic supporting player takes center stage and manages to be more interesting than the titular character. I mean no disrespect to the Batman character, who is one the greatest in the history of comics and animation, but his limited screen time allows Gordon to shine. The animation looks fantastic and the dark, somber mood is very appropriate.

The Bottom Line: A rather short, but very effective animated film that perfectly captures the spirit of the source material.

Television Round-Up: The Firm, Archer and Betty White

2012-01-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: NBC

Josh Lucas in "The Firm"

The new NBC series "The Firm" is based on the novel, of the same name, by John Grisham. The series is set ten years after the events depicted in the novel and finds attorney Mitch McDeere and his family trying to lead normal lives, outside of the Witness Protection program. After watching the 2-hour premiere and the second episode, I can say that the series needs work, but with anemic ratings (less than five million for the third episode), I do not think the series will be around long enough to improve. Josh Lucas is well cast, but there is a serious lack of chemistry among the principal cast members. In addition, the silly storyline focusing on Mitch's daughter takes away from building the much more interesting storyline involving the talented attorney, who is still a target of the relatives of the people he took down years earlier. If I thought the series would be on the air for a while, I might stick around, but I expect it to cancelled swiftly.

Photo credit - FX

The third season premiere of the adult animated spy comedy "Archer" aired this past Thursday on FX. The episode marked a return to form of the often hysterical series and featured a guest appearance by Burt Reynolds, who was terrific. If you have never watched "Archer," now is a good time to start. The series airs Thursday at 10:00 pm ET, on FX.

Photo credit: Getty Images/NBC

Betty White's 90th Birthday special aired this past Monday and attracted sizable ratings for NBC. The special featured appearances by many television stars of yesteryear, including Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, William Shatner, Gavin MacLeod, Vicki Lawrence, Valerie Harper and Carl Reiner, who all paid tribute to the last surviving Golden Girl. NBC is rebroadcasting the special tonight, at 8:00 pm ET, in case you missed it the first time around. The program is essential viewing for fans of classic television.

DVD Recommendation: "The Devil's Double" - Starring Dominic Cooper

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

"The Devil's Double" is based on the story of Latif Yahia, an Iraqi soldier who was handpicked by the late Uday Hussein, son of the late Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, to be his body double. The film is set during the time of the Iran/Iraq war and focuses on the complicated relationship between Uday and Latif, who was essentially forced into a job that he did not want to take. However, Uday's threats against Latif's family ultimately convinced the young man to agree to take the job.

Uday is depicted as moody, violent and, well, downright crazy. He rapes women, kills others over silly disputes and apparently is struggling with his sexuality. Latif is the complete opposite, but he learns how to control Uday, to some extent, and has power over him, which makes for an interesting psychological dynamic. Uday has the capability to murder Latif anytime he wants to, but he does not. He allows Latif to get away with many trespasses, which is curious because Uday should be able to easily find another body double, considering all of his power and connections. Comments made throughout the film, along with Uday's behavior, make it appear that he wanted to have an intimate relationship with Latif, so perhaps that is why he spared his life over and over again.

As you might expect, "The Devil's Double" is a very violent and sometimes gruesome film. Even though I took exception to the gore showcased in a couple of scenes, I understand that Latif Yahia worked as an advisor on the film, so I suspect what is depicted is accurate (please note that there is some disupte over Latif Yahia's claims that he was Uday Hussein's body double, but no proof has surfaced to discredit him). Director Lee Tamahori does not shy away from Uday's unconscionable acts, including the rape of a bride on her wedding day and gutting a friend of the Hussein family who disrespected him. The advantage of watching the film on DVD is the ability of fast forward through those scenes if you would rather not see them.

The strength of "The Devil's Double" lies in the performance from Dominic Cooper ("The History Boys"), which is extraordinary. Cooper portrays both Latif and Uday and is able to change personas in an instant, from the calm, controlled Latif, to the moody and imposing Uday, who had a silly laugh that contrasted with his nasty demeanor. In addition, the music, by Christian Henson, features a middle eastern vibe, along with appropriate ominous overtones. The film held my attention throughout the 100 plus minute run time and I can recommend it based on Dominic Cooper's performance alone. However, potential viewers need to aware of the extreme violence featured in a few scenes.

Gary Oldman Mesmerizes in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (2011)

2012-01-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" challenges viewers to pay close attention during its two hour plus run time. The deliberate pacing of the film is courtesy of director Tomas Alfredson, who assembled a fantastic cast in this adaptation of John le Carré 1974 novel, of the same name. The patience that Alfredson exhibits in making this film is becoming increasingly rare in the contemporary film world, where the pacing is typically fast and furious in order to keep the audience from becoming bored. While that may work for some films, I suspect it would not have worked for "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."

Set in early 1970's London, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" focuses on several British Intelligence officers who are, of course, involved in many covert activities. One of their missions goes awry when an agent, Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong), in sent to Hungary to gather information about Soviet Intelligence. Sensing that he is in danger, Prideaux decides to leave his rendezvous, only to be shot in the head. As a result of the debacle, the leader of the agency, known as Control (John Hurt), resigns his position and takes a top agent, George Smiley (Gary Oldman), with him. Later, the organization becomes embroiled in a controversy surrounding the intelligence that they are receiving about the Soviets. There is suspicion that the information is incorrect and, to make matters worse, the intelligence is being shared with American officials.

Soon thereafter, George Smiley is brought out of retirement to help the intelligence agency determine if a mole exists in their organization. Smiley proceeds to interview current and former intelligence officers while making a detailed investigation into the matter. Of course, this is dangerous work, but Smiley receives help from two agents, one whose life is in danger, Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy), and another, Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch), who is secretly assisting Smiley. They work together to determine if the mole is one of four agents, known to the now deceased Control as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier and Poorman. Through a series of suspenseful encounters, several flashbacks and many surprising developments, Smiley continues to gather information, but since he was once suspected of being the mole, is anything really as it appears to be?

Gary Oldman is sensational as George Smiley. His performance relies on his facial expressions and body language, not overly emotional material that tends to get noticed. Oldman's performance is as cerebral as the screenplay, by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan, which is based on the original novel. The superb supporting cast includes Toby Jones ("Captain America: The First Avenger"), Ciarán Hinds ("The Rite"), David Dencik and Colin Firth ("The King's Speech"). I wish Ciarán Hinds would have had a larger role, but his strong screen presence was appreciated, nonetheless. The aforementioned Tom Hardy ("Warrior") and Benedict Cumberbatch ("War Horse") are perfectly cast and both have pivotal scenes to display their considerable talents.

Viewers are tasked with keeping track of a great deal of information, and the large cast of characters makes it even more challenging. I wish I would have paid more attention to an early scene, which comes full circle towards the end of the film, because it helps to tie some of the dangling plot lines together. I may go see "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" again, or perhaps wait for the DVD release, to see what else I may have missed. With that being said, I really enjoyed this film and highly recommend it to those viewers who appreciate intelligent, well acted and deliberately paced thrillers that leave you guessing right up until the very end.

Movie Recommendation: "The Descendants" - Starring George Clooney

2012-01-18T09:52:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight

The last Alexander Payne film I had the pleasure of seeing was the 2002 drama "About Schmidt," starring Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates. I remember the film well because of the care that Payne took with the screenplay and his direction in order to fully examine the characters and celebrate their shortcomings. Payne's latest effort, the recently released drama "The Descendants," focuses on similarly imperfect characters, with outstanding results.

George Clooney stars as Matt King, an attorney and father of two girls, whose wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie), was seriously injured in a boating accident that has left her in a comatose state. Matt has not necessarily been an involved parent, but he has no choice but to mend his ways and take responsibility now that Elizabeth is incapacitated. Trying to assume control of the family is no easy task, as his youngest daughter, Scottie (Amara Miller), is causing problems for other children at school and his no-nonsense older daughter, Alex, appears to have a drinking problem. In addition, Elizabeth's father, Scott, is angry with Matt and believes that he does not treat Julie with the love and care that she deserves. Scott also has a great deal to contend with since his wife is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Matt is informed by Elizabeth's doctor that she will not awaken from her coma. He is aware that his wife has a living will, which states that she does not want to be kept alive by means of life support if her condition will not improve. A heartbroken Matt is then tasked with telling his daughters that their mother will soon die. When the news is broken to Alex, she counters with devastating information about her mother that Matt was not aware of, thus causing him even more pain. Further complicating Matt's life is the decision to sell 25,000 acres of undeveloped land in Hawaii, where his family resides. Matt is the trustee of the land and his extended family members are anxious to sell the property and receive their substantial windfalls. However, the information that Alex relays to Matt about Elizabeth makes him think twice about selling.

George Clooney does not always receive the credit that he deserves because he is a subtle actor who relies on facial expression and body language to express a vast array of emotions. Because you cannot always "see" the acting, his work has sometimes been overlooked. As Matt King, Clooney is once again reserved, for the most part, mainly because his character is trying to keep things together for the sake of his daughters and in-laws. Matt displays remarkable patience with everyone around him, despite everything that he is experiencing. This demonstrates that he is not the selfish person that others make him out to be. In many ways, Matt grows up as the film moves along and his journey will draw viewers in, thanks to Clooney's moving and controlled performance.

The supporting cast includes Shailene Woodley, as Alex, who delivers terrific work as the headstrong older daughter, and Robert Forster, as Elizabeth's distraught father, who takes his frustrations out on Matt. To Matt's credit, he does not retaliate, out of respect for his wife. In addition, remember the name Nick Krause, who portrays Alex's friend, Sid. He has the potential to become a big star someday. I also enjoyed seeing Beau Bridges and Michael Ontkean ("Twin Peaks") in small roles.

Alexander Payne co-wrote the screenplay for "The Descendants," along with Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, which is based on the book, of the same name, by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The title refers to Matt's family, who have lived on the islands for generations. A major part of the appeal of the film (at least for me) is the beautiful cinematography of the breezy, Hawaiian tropical locale, by Phedon Papamichael. Payne also infuses the soundtrack with countless Hawaiian songs, which works very well to further the story. Even though I was not sure of the lyrics to many of the songs, in this instance the music behind the lyrics is powerful enough to convey the various emotions of any given scene. Overall, "The Descendants" is a sensational film that deserves the accolades that it has received in recent months and the film will no doubt be honored many more times during this awards season.

Humor Spotlight: "Brainwashing For Beginners" by Meghan Rowland & Chris Turner-Neal

2012-01-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Subliminal messages, propaganda and classical conditioning are just a few of the techniques employed by authors Meghan Rowland & Chris Turner-Neal to, as they so eloquently put it, cheat friends and influence people, in the recently released book "Brainwashing For Beginners" (Adams Media). The passive aggressive nature of the material somehow manages to surpass the authors previous effort, "The Misanthrope's Guide to Life," as they describe various ways to get others to do exactly what you want them to do, whether they like it or not. Even before you begin reading, the cover of the book may leave you spellbound, if you stare at it long enough. The cover reminds of a scene in the opening montage of the classic television series "The Twilight Zone."

I always appreciate learning new things and "Brainwashing For Beginners" introduced me to the Ludovico Technique, which exposes someone to a certain stimulus for an inordinate amount of time, until they cannot take it anymore. In addition, I was unaware of Project MK-Ultra, a CIA program that was used to alter the mental state of an individual, allowing them to be easily manipulated. Finally, having never been involved with a cult (at least not an official one), I read with interest about how Love-Bombing is used to manipulate an individual to do whatever you want her/him to do in the early stages of a relationship.

From manipulating co-workers, friends and lovers, to how to survive cults and get along with kidnappers, "Brainwashing for Beginners" is an easy to use how-to guide for everyday living that also provides advice on how to handle yourself in unique situations. One hundred objectives are covered in over 200 pages of humorous and sometimes absurd advice, some of which is totally unexpected. For instance, I never anticipated references to the late television actresses Esther Rolle and Roxie Roker, who appeared on "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons" respectively. The author's use of humor is consistent throughout the book, but every once in a while, a completely bizarre and seemingly unrelated reference will be included that makes the reader laugh out loud.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: January 13-15, 2012

2012-01-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

Mark Wahlberg in "Contraband"

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films, according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. Contraband - $24.1

2. Beauty and the Beast 3D - $18.5

3. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - $11.5

4. Joyful Noise - $11.3

5. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - $8.4

6. The Devil Inside - $7.9

7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - $6.8

8. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - $5.8

9. War Horse - $5.6

10. The Iron Lady - $5.4

Golden Globe Awards - Recap and Results

2012-01-16T00:07:00.003-05:00

George Clooney in "The Descendants"

There were few surprises at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards, which were hosted once again by Rocky Gervais, who mentioned Jodie Foster and Justin Bieber in his opening monologue. Foster was in attendance and laughed off references to her 2011 film "The Beaver," whose title is ripe for comedians looking for something to make fun of. Singer Justin Bieber was not in attendance, but Gervais mentioned his name and a turkey baster in the same sentence. Not everyone was as cordial as Foster, though. When Gervais introduced Madonna, she clearly did not find humor in what he had to say, which was nothing untoward. Perhaps the Material Girl needs to get a sense of humor.

Among the award winners were "The Artist," which captured three Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical (Jean Dujardin) and Best Score (Ludovic Bource). George Clooney snagged the award for Best Actor in a Drama for "The Descendants," which also won Best Motion Picture Drama. In the tight Best Actress in a Drama category, Meryl Streep manages to edge past Viola Davis ("The Help").

There were two upsets in the film categories. Martin Scorsese won for Best Director for "Hugo," but the favorite to win the award was Michel Hazanavicus ("The Artist"). Of course, in a normal year, Martin Scorsese would probably not be considered an upset winner, but "Hugo" seemed to lose a lot of buzz over the past month, while 'The Artist" seemed to be gaining support all the time. In any event, I was pleased to see Scorsese take home the trophy. In addition, Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" won for Best Animated Film, beating out "Rango," which was the favorite to win.

The television awards were equally divided as well, with "Homeland" being the only repeat winner. The series was honored for Best Drama and Best Actress in a Drama (Claire Danes). "Modern Family" won for Best Comedy series, which is the show's first Golden Globe win in that category. The British period drama "Downton Abbey" won for Best Mini-Series or Television Movie, but was shut out of the acting categories. Finally, Jessica Lange's comeback role in "American Horror Story" nabbed her the award for Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie.

The highlights of the show included the husband and wife team of William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman singing an intro while presenting an award, appearances by the legendary Jane Fonda, Dustin Hoffman and Sidney Poitier, and watching Morgan Freeman receive the Cecil B. Demille award. It was also interesting to watch many talented actors and directors, such as Meryl Streep, Jessica Lange, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Christopher Plummer, who have all been in the business for decades, all receive honors.

I managed to correctly choose 15 of the 25 winners. You can view my predictions here.

Here is a complete list of winners from the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards:

Film

Drama - The Descendants

Comedy/Musical- The Artist

Actor in a Drama - George Clooney, The Descendants

Actor in a Comedy or Musical - Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Supporting Actor  in a Motion Picture - Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Actress in a Drama - Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Actress in a Musical or Comedy - Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - Octavia Spencer, The Help

Director  - Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Screenplay for a Motion Picture - Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Animated Film - The Adventures of Tintin

Foreign Language Film - A Separation

Original Score in a Motion Picture - Ludovic Bource, The Artist

Original Song in a Motion Picture - Masterpiece, W.E. by Madonna

Television

Drama - Homeland

Comedy or Musical - Modern Family

Actor in a TV Drama- Kelsey Grammer, Boss

Actress in TV Drama - Claire Danes, Homeland

Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy - Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy - Laura Dern, Enlightened

Mini-Series or TV Movie - Downton Abbey

Actor in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie - Idris Elba, Luthor

Supporting Actor in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie - Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Actress in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie - Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie - Jessica Lange, American Horror Story

Predictions/Wishlist for the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards

2012-01-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: NBC/Reuters

I will be tweeting during the Golden Globes ceremony starting at 8:00 pm ET tonight - follow me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/popcultureguyds

Ricky Gervais (pictured) returns as host for tonight's Golden Globe Awards ceremony. After the controversy surrounding the comedians remarks to members of the Hollywood elite last year, it will be interesting to see what happens this time around.

I will attempt to read the minds of The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who determine the outcome of the awards, while adding in my own personal feelings in the hopes of choosing the correct winners.

Film:

Best Drama
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

I have seen all of these wonderful films and I think this is a race between "The Descendants" and "The Help," with "The Descendants" having a slight edge.

Best Comedy/Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Carnage
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn

I have not yet seen "The Artist" or "Carnage" (because they have yet to open in my area), but I think with all of the support surrounding "The Artist," I do not see how it can lose.

Best Actor in a Drama
George Clooney, The Descendants
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar

"Shame" is the only nominated film I have yet to see, so I cannot speak of Michael Fassbender's performance, although I have heard it is terrific. The remaining nominees are also terrific, but this is George Clooney's year and he will win.

Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

Personally, I would vote for Brendan Gleeson for his amazing work in "The Guard," but I suspect Jean Dujardin will win for "The Artist."

Best Supporting Actor  in a Motion Picture
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

While this is a strong category filled with worthy nominees, Christopher Plummer is finally receiving recognition that is long overdue and I think he is a lock to win.

Best Actress in a Drama
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

This is a two woman race between the wonderful Viola Davis and the exceptional Meryl Streep. My heart is with Davis, but my gut says Streep, so I am hoping for a tie.

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage

I cannot speak for "Carnage," but I think this race is wide open, anyway. Michelle Williams delivered the strongest performance, but Charlize Theron or Kristen Wiig could easily win. I am going with Williams.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help

Octavia Spencer will likely win this award at every major awards show, for her exceptional work in "The Help."

Best Director 
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Barring an upset from Alexander Payne, I believe Michel Hazanavicius will win for "The Artist."

Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Kaui Hart Hemmings, The Descendants
Steve Zallian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin, Michael Lewis, Moneyball
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March

This is an extremely competitive category, but I think Woody Allen will win for "Midnight in Paris."

Best Animated Film
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Rango
Puss in Boots
The Adventures of Tintin

My personal favorite is "Puss in Boots," but "Rango" seems to have a great deal of support, so I think it will win. "The Adventures of Tintin" could upset, though.

Best Foreign Language Film
The Flowers of War
In the Land of Blood and Honey
The Kid With a Bike
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

I have not seen any of the nominated films, but "A Separation" seems to be the one to beat.

Best Original Score in a Motion Picture
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Abel Korzeniowski, W.E.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore, Hugo
John Williams, War Horse

It is hard to bet against the talent of John Williams, but Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross could easily win, and don't count out Ludovic Bource. Your guess is as good (or better) than mine.

Best Original Song in a Motion Picture
“Hello Hello,” Gnomeo & Juliet
“The Keeper,” Machine Gun Preacher
“Lay Your Head Down,” Albert Nobbs
“The Living Proof,” The Help
“Masterpiece,” W.E.

Not a clue.

Television:

Best TV Drama
American Horror Story
Boardwalk Empire
Boss
Game of Thrones
Homeland

I would be thrilled to see "American Horror Story" win, but "Boardwalk Empire" is the better show. Consider this a two way race, with newbie "American Horror Story" coming out on top.

Best TV Comedy or Musical
Enlightened
Episodes
Glee
Modern Family
New Girl

Unless something really strange happens, "Modern Family" should win easily.

Best Actor in a TV Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Jeremy Irons, The Borgias
Kelsey Grammer, Boss

Bryan Cranston and Steve Buscemi will fight it out, with Cranston picking up the win.

Best Actress in a TV Drama
Claire Danes, Homeland
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Juliana Marguiles, The Good Wife
Madeline Stowe, Revenge
Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness

Juliana Marguiles will win.

Best Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
David Duchovny, Californication
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

I am going with Johnny Galecki.

Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Laura Linney? I really have no idea on this one.

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie
Cinema Verite
Downton Abbey
The Hour
Mildred Pierce
Too Big To Fail

Five terrific nominees, but "Downton Abbey" is most likely to win.

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Idris Elba, Luther
William Hurt, Too Big To Fail
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Dominic West, The Hour

Personally, I would like to see the sublime Bill Nighy win, but I think Hugh Bonneville will ride the "Downton Abbey" train to victory.

Best Supporting Actor in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Paul Giamatti, Too Big To Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

This category looks wide open, too. Peter Dinklage and Guy Pearce won Emmys for their supporting roles, but Eric Stonestreet may shake things up. In any event, I am going with Dinklage.

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Romola Garai, The Hour
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

I think Kate Winslet will (and should) win.

Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie 
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce

My heart says Jessica Lange or Kelly Macdonald, but my brain says Maggie Smith. All three were sensational in their respective roles. However, I think Lange's comeback in "American Horror Story" will lead her to victory.

Family Film Recommendation: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

2012-01-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

Director and co-producer Steven Spielberg brings the work of Belgian writer Hergé to the big screen in the recently released motion capture 3D film "The Adventures of Tintin." The film, based on the comic book series of the same name, tells the story of a young journalist, Tintin, who finds himself in the middle of a strange adventure after purchasing a model sailing ship which houses a scroll that apparently leads to a treasure. While Tintin is unaware of the scroll, a sinister man, Ivan Sakharine, knows that it is in his possession and will stop at nothing to retrieve it. Sakharine even has Tintin's apartment burglarized to obtain the ship and is successful, but does not realize that the scroll had fallen out of the ship after it was broken in a fight between Tintin's precious dog, Snowy, and a cat. However, Sakharine is determined to find the scroll at any cost, which places Tintin is serious danger.

Tintin is eventually captured by Sakharine and moved to a ship called the SS Karaboudjan. While there, Tintin meets Captain Haddock, a drunken man who has been drowning himself in whiskey while supposedly locked in his cabin. After Tintin "rescues" him, Haddock and the young man escape, but their adventure is only beginning. After sailing for hours, the two men, along with Snowy, must deal with being shot at by an aircraft and then trudging through a desert until Haddock's hallucinations, which are actually sparked by real memories of the past, allow him to recall events regarding the treasure and the information located on the scrolls begins to make sense. While they are putting the pieces of the puzzle together, Sakharine continues with his nefarious plot to dispose of the men and claim the treasure as his own.

"The Adventures of Tintin" is a highly intelligent, extremely fast paced and beautifully shot production. The screenplay, by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, literally brings the story to life, as the characters leap from page to screen in realistic fashion. If I had not known beforehand that Steven Spielberg directed the film, I would have figured it out before long, as signature elements of so many of his films are on display here, including action/adventure, the wonders of the world, a coming of age story and a plethora of memorable characters.

Spielberg also assembled a terrific cast that includes Jamie Bell ("The Eagle") as Tintin, Andy Serkis ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes") as Captain Haddock, Daniel Craig ("Cowboys & Aliens") as Ivan Sakharine, and Nick Frost and Simon Pegg as the detective duo Thompson and Thompson, who bring much humor and levity to the dramatic adventure. All of the aforementioned actors bring their respective characters to life in grand fashion. I am not sure who provided the "voice" for Snowy, but the intelligent canine manages to upstage the other characters on more then one occasion, while burrowing into the hearts of viewers over the duration of the film.

Steven Spielberg hit the trifecta in 2011 with the outstanding films "Super 8," "War Horse" and "The Adventures of Tintin," and he continues to work his magic in various genres, several decades after his debut. "The Adventures of Tintin" is, in my opinion, the best of three films and has cross-generational appeal that make it a perfect family viewing option. The ending of the film sets up the next installment very nicely, which is definitely something to look forward to.

New in Theaters and On Demand: "Angels Crest" - Starring Thomas Dekker

2012-01-13T22:00:00.000-05:00

Director Gaby Dellal assembled a talented cast for the Independent film "Angels Crest," but gave most of them little to do, except utter a few lines. The majority of the large cast of characters are not fleshed out in any meaningful way, which will leave viewers wondering who some of them are and why they are even in the film to begin with. Based on the novel by Leslie Schwartz and adapted by screenwriter Catherine Trieschmann, "Angels Crest" is set in a small town in the Rocky Mountains during the winter. Needless to say, the weather is not hospitable, but you would not know that by the lack of clothing most of the characters wear while outdoors.

Thomas Dekker (pictured above) stars as Ethan, the single father of Nate, a precious toddler. After a snowfall, Ethan takes Nate for a drive, but the youngster falls asleep. After Ethan spots a few deer, he decides to track them, while leaving the sleeping child in his truck. Returning a short time later, Ethan finds that Nate is gone and he frantically searches for him. Soon thereafter, the authorities arrive and a search begins. Nate is found the next day, by Ethan, who discovers that the youngster has frozen to death. This is not a spoiler, but the actual set-up for the film, as the local residents find themselves torn over what has happened. Ethan has a positive reputation and clearly loved Nate very much, but how could he leave him in a truck all by himself? As a result, Ethan is charged with negligent homicide and the balance of the film details the fallout from Nate's death and the uncertainty of Ethan's future.

The screenplay leaves the circumstances surrounding Nate's death open for discussion. Was he abducted and then left to die? Was he purposefully let out of the truck? Could Nate have somehow unbuckled his seat belt/car seat and then went to look for his father? The doubt works well to hold viewer attention. However, there is also doubt about why the local district attorney, Jack (Jeremy Piven), is filing the charges against Ethan. Hints are left that Jack may have gone through a similar ordeal and/or perhaps he has some other connection to Ethan, but the film ends without any resolution. In addition, confusion abounds with the ridiculous number of characters who have little to do with Ethan or Nate, but are showcased anyway. The talented supporting cast includes Kate Walsh ("Private Practice"), Joseph Morgan ("The Vampire Diaries"), Lynn Collins ("Uncertainty") and Elizabeth McGovern ("Downton Abbey").

"Angels Crest" features outstanding cinematography, a solid performance by Thomas Dekker and an interesting story that concludes in a most unexpected way. However, the overabundance of supporting characters takes away from the central story surrounding Ethan's grief and the possibility that he might face jail time for negligence. As a result, the film lacks focus and feels overly long at just over 90 minutes. That left me feeling colder than the wintry landscape.

Critics' Choice Film Award Winners include "The Artist" and "The Help"

2012-01-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

The (nearly) silent film "The Artist" was honored with four awards, including Best Picture and Best Director (Michel Hazanavicius), at the Critics' Choice Awards ceremony which was held last night. The Critics' Choice awards are not usually considered a harbinger for the Oscars, but I think many of the winners will repeat when the Academy Awards are handed out next month. Another big winner was "The Help," which took home three awards; Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Lead Actress (Viola Davis) and Best Ensemble. George Clooney was honored with the Best Actor trophy for his work in "The Descendants" and Christopher Plummer received the award for Best Supporting Actor for his tremendous work in "Beginners." The night's biggest surprise came when Thomas Horn won the award for Best Younger Actor/Actress for his work in "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." Horn's competition included Saoirse Ronan ("Hanna") and Elle Fanning ("Super 8").

Here is a complete list of the winners from the 17th annual Broadcast Film Critics Association awards:

Best Picture: "The Artist"
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius - "The Artist"
Best Actor: George Clooney - "The Descendants"
Best Actress: Viola Davis - "The Help"
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer - "Beginners"
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer - "The Help"
Best Young Actor/Actress: Thomas Horn - "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"
Best Acting Ensemble: The cast of "The Help"
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen - "Midnight in Paris"
Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian and Stan Chervin - "Moneyball"
Best Animated Feature: "Rango"
Best Action Movie: "Drive"
Best Comedy: "Bridesmaids"
Best Foreign-Language Film: "A Separation"
Best Documentary Feature: "George Harrison: Living in the Material World"
Best Visual Effects: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
Best Cinematography: "War Horse" and "The Tree of Life" (tie)
Best Art Direction - "Hugo"
Best Costume Design: "The Artist"
Best Editing: "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Best Make-Up: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
Best Sound: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
Best Score: "The Artist"
Best Song: "Life's a Happy Song" from "The Muppets"

The Joel Siegel Humanitarian Award was presented to Sean Penn
The Critics' Choice Music + Film Award went to Martin Scorsese

DVD Recommendation: "Warrior" (2011) - Starring Tom Hardy

2012-01-12T18:47:00.000-05:00

Tom Hardy has become a chameleon in the movie industry. Over the past decade, he has portrayed the villain is "Star Trek: Nemesis," a gay criminal is "RocknRolla," an identity forger in "Inception" and a mixed martial arts fighter in the 2011 film "Warrior." Hardy packed on nearly 30 pounds of muscle to portray Tommy Conlon, a former fighter with a checkered past and plenty of family drama to contend with. When Tommy returns home to ask his father, Paddy (Nick Nolte), to help train him to fight again, he has no idea that the past and the present are on a collision course that will change his life forever.

Hardy stars opposite Joel Edgerton, who portrays Tommy's brother, Brendan, a former mixed martial arts fighter, who is now a successful high school teacher. However, financial problems that result from a weak economy force Brendan to consider returning to his old and better paying profession, much to the dismay of his wife, Tess (Jennifer Morrison). Tess and Brendan share two small children and she fears that he may get hurt, or worse, considering his age. Meanwhile, Paddy continues to assist Tommy with his training, but the past rears its ugly head on multiple occasions, forcing both men to confront memories that they would rather not relive. Paddy, a recovering alcoholic, was very once abusive to Tommy and Brendan's late mother and has been trying to put his life back together again, but needs forgiveness from both of his sons. However, Tommy and Brendan are not yet ready to move on and also have problems between them that still need to be sorted out. Brendan eventually decides to start fighting again, to prevent the foreclosure of his family's home, and is entered in a mixed martial arts tournament which Tommy is also competing in. Soon, the two estranged brothers find themselves on a violent collision course that may finally enable them to settle their differences.

The first half of "Warrior" focuses on the family drama that impacts Paddy, Brendan and Tommy, and features superb performances from Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton. In fact, Tom Hardy's intensity is almost scary, as he inhabits the role of a young man with many demons that need to be exercised, but at the same time is completely focused on winning the mixed martial arts tournament. His scenes with Nick Nolte are packed with realistic, painful emotion that is uncomfortable to watch. Both actors wear their hearts on their sleeves and deliver phenomenal work, as they grapple with years of mistakes, heartache and loss. In contrast, Brendan appears to be more well adjusted, perhaps because of his loving wife and children, as well as his rapport with his students, who all appear to like and respect him. However, Brendan has unfinished business too, and refuses to have any direct contact with Paddy, even though he has promised to mend his ways.

The second half of "Warrior" is devoted to the mixed martial arts tournament that should look familiar to fans of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). As a result, there is a great deal of intense violence which appears to have been realistically choreographed. Viewers will likely find themselves rooting for Tommy and Brendan, as they face difficult odds on their way to the final round where their relationship comes full circle.

The aforementioned stellar cast is ably supported by Kevin Dunn, as Brendan's boss, the likable school principal who admires him, and professional wrestling fans may recognize Kurt Angle, who portrays Koba, an intimidating and physically scary fighter who does battle with Brendan. Director Gavin O'Connor, who also produced the film and co-wrote the screenplay, should be credited with eliciting the outstanding performances from his dedicated and talented cast, as well as the realistic fight scenes, which have a searing intensity. "Warrior" was partially filmed in Pittsburgh (my home town and Kurt Angle's too), and seeing a few familiar sights made me enjoy the film even more. For some reason, "Warrior" did not receive a lot of attention when it was originally released last fall, but it is one of the best films of 2011 and is highly recommended.

Channing Tatum Covers the February Issue of DETAILS

2012-01-11T16:00:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: Norman Jean Roy for DETAILS

Actor Channing Tatum covers the latest issue of DETAILS. The Alabama-bred actor’s new films show he’s down for almost anything; comedy ("21 Jump Street"), action ("Haywire") and romance ("The Vow"). He’s also into downing shots of bourbon before popping off a few rounds at a firing range, helping out a stranded stranger, and teaching his dog the life and fly routine from "Dirty Dancing." DETAILS interviewed the Hollywood actor, who is actually having the time of his life, for the cover story of the magazine’s February issue, which features photos by Norman Jean Roy. The issue hits newsstands nationwide on January 17. Some select quotes from DETAILS’ interview with Channing Tatum are below, and you can read the full interview here.

Photo credit: Norman Jean Roy for DETAILS

Interview highlights:

On shooting guns with his dad as a child...
“When I was a kid, we lived on the bayou in Mississippi. My dad would throw a beer can into the water and have me shoot at it. Once, when I was really little, we had this huge double-barrel shot-gun, and when I tried it, it literally blew me off the dock.”

On his past projects and learning process...
“You gotta do the "Dear Johns." You gotta do "The Vow." I’m conscious about why I did those parts, those movies. I wanted to learn from Rachel (McAdams) on "The Vow." I wanted to learn from Lasse Hallström on "Dear John"—he did "The Cider House Rules" and "What’s Eating Gilbert Grape." I didn’t go to acting school, so my knowledge of story, filmmaking, and character comes from just being on set and doing it. I know I’m not the best actor, but I hope my characters are getting better.”

On his film aspirations...
“I really don’t want to be in anymore movies that I don’t produce. Unless it’s with one of the 10 directors that I really want to work with, I don’t have any interest in not being on the ground floor of creating it. But what I really want to do is direct.”

On his late nights, often until 4 A.M., brainstorming at the office...
“Jenna’s not always happy when I come home that late, but I’ve just got to get it out.”

"Man on a Ledge" Starring Sam Worthington - An Early Review

2012-01-10T16:00:00.000-05:00

That first step is a doozy!

"Man on a Ledge" is a film that Alfred Hitchcock would probably have enjoyed making. After all, the movie features many Hitchcockian elements, such as an innocent man accused of a crime, dubious characters who operate in the gray area of life, an attractive and calm blonde woman, and plenty of suspense that results from the main character's life being repeatedly placed at risk. Even with all of those elements present, you must also have an audience that is emotionally invested in the main character and "Man on a Ledge" succeeds in drawing them in.

The film details the attempt of an ex-cop/ex-con, Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington), to prove his innocence by resorting to drastic measures. Nick decides to threaten to jump from a twenty story building unless he is able to speak with Detective Lydia Anderson (Elizabeth Banks), who he believes can help clear his name. Even after Anderson arrives, Nick stalls his decision to jump while he is communicating with his brother, Joey (Jaime Bell), who is working alongside his fiance, Angie (Génesis Rodríguez), to try to locate the diamond that Nick was framed for stealing. Meanwhile, rogue members of the police force are working with David Englander (Ed Harris), a duplicitous business man who initially accused Nick of the diamond theft. With time running out, Nick must make life changing decisions, which are made somewhat easier with the unexpected help that he receives in his ongoing effort to prove his innocence.

Sam Worthington delivers strong work here and he is completely believable in a physically impressive role, much like his turn in "Clash of the Titans." Worthington's character, Nick, is explored in detail and viewers will likely root for him to clear his name. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the supporting players. The cast is loaded with talent, but most of them have little or nothing to do. Elizabeth Banks ("Our Idiot Brother") appears to be just going through the motions as a thick skinned detective, Ed Harris ("The Way Back") is saddled with a stereotypical bad-guy role and Jamie Bell ("The Eagle") is relegated to mostly providing comic relief in his scenes with Génesis Rodríguez. However, that levity is appreciated in a film as suspenseful as this one. Other actors, such as Ed Burns, Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") and Anthony Mackie ("The Hurt Locker"), serve little or no purpose in their roles as a police detective, a news reporter and Nick's former partner, respectively. Why cast all of these actors and then give them nothing substantial to work with?

The strength of "Man on a Ledge" lies in the life threatening scenes on the ledge of the building, where Nick spends the majority of the film, and the performance by Sam Worthington. Those scenes worked so well at building suspense that I think director Asger Leth would have been wise to keep the focus of the film on the ledge throughout the 100 minute plus run time. In addition, the screenplay, by Pablo Fenjves, adds a few clever twists that sparked a good deal of audience support at the screening I attended and, besides the overabundance of characters, the main story is executed very well. The suspenseful build-up during the first two thirds of the film leads to a pulse pounding conclusion, as Nick is forced to run for his life while outside of the building, where he is being tailed by a police force bent on silencing him. Overall, "Man on a Ledge" is a solid thriller that will hold your attention, while making you repeatedly squirm in your seat.

"Man on a Ledge" opens January 27

DVD Round-Up: "Incendies" and "Page Eight"

2012-01-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

"Incendies"

The Basics: "Incendies" (2010) is an award-winning film from Canadian director Denis Villeneuve that was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film last year. The film focuses on siblings Jeanne (Mélissa Désormeaux) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette), who are dealing with the aftermath of their mother's death. Shortly before her death, the mother, Nawal (Lubna Azabel), learns a shocking truth that causes her to have a stroke which ends her life. Jeanne and Simon are then tasked with fulfilling their mother's last wishes, which causes them to learn about her turbulent life. Little do they know that the truth will change their lives forever.

Reasons To Watch: The outstanding performance by Luban Azabel and the unexpected, powerful secret that she learns shortly before her death.

The Bottom Line: "Incendies" has a very deliberate pace and feels a little too long, but viewers who follow the story closely and see it through to the end will be rewarded for their patience.

"Page Eight"

The Basics: Bill Nighy stars as Johnny Worricker, a British military intelligence officer, who finds himself in the unenviable position of completing a mission which could shed negative light on Prime Minister Alec Beasley (Ralph Fiennes). Worricker struggles with his decision throughout the film, as he manges to avoid the wrath of his superiors while striking up a relationship with Nancy Pierpan (Rachel Weisz), a political activist whose life may be directly impacted by the information that Worricker possesses.

Reasons to watch: The amazing cast, led by the terrific Bill Nighy, the sublime Rachel Weisz and the commanding and fearsome Ray Fiennes, all deliver superb performances in this BBC production.

The Bottom Line: "Page Eight" (2011) is a film for adults with long attentions spans. The cerebral script, appropriately subdued performances and production values are all phenomenal. Did I mention that I have a man-crush on the always outstanding Bill Nighy?

Weekend Box Office Estimates: January 6-8, 2012

2012-01-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films, according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. The Devil Inside (pictured above) - $34.5

2. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - $20.5

3. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - $14.1

4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - $11.3

5. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - $9.5

6. War Horse - $8.6

7. We Bought A Zoo - $8.5

8. The Adventures of Tintin - $6.6

9. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - $5.8

10. New Year's Eve - $3.3

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" - Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law

2012-01-08T14:00:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks I have read many mediocre to bad reviews of the recently released "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective. The first film in the franchise, 2009's "Sherlock Holmes," was not necessarily warmly received either, but I have to wonder if the critics reviewing the films are actually upset with what has become of the titular character, who is portrayed in a very different light, by Robert Downey Jr. Clearly, this updated version of the character is nothing like Basil Rathbone's straight laced performances in the Sherlock Holmes feature films of the 1930's and 1940's. Downey's portrayal is much more contemporary and physical, appearing almost superhuman in the fight scenes, but his take of the legendary sleuth should not be dismissed because he, along with director Guy Ritchie, are not following the expected representation that long time fans are accustomed to seeing.

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" is touted as a sequel to the original film, but it really is a stand alone production that features Holmes' greatest adversary, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), who manges to cause the detective a great deal of emotional and physical pain throughout the film. Moriarty's ultimate plan is to set a series of events into motion that could potentially start a world war, while he secures the ability to provide munitions and other services to countries impacted by the conflict. An early meeting with Moriarty does not go as well as Holmes plans and, as a result, the recently returned and soon to be married Dr. Watson (Jude Law) and his wife are in serious jeopardy. Holmes also learns the fate of his lady love, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), and soon finds himself saving the life of another woman, a gypsy fortune teller known as Madame Simza (Noomi Rapace). Soon thereafter, Holmes learns that Simza has information that could prove valuable in his battle with Moriarty. Apparently, Simza's brother, Rene, is working for Moriarty and Holmes enlists her help to locate him and persuade him to betray the Professor. Thankfully, Simza is not the typical damsel in distress character and she soon proves to be a priceless ally to Holmes and Watson. In addition, Holmes' brother, Mycroft (Stephen Fry), and Watson's new bride, Mary (Kelly Reilly) are enlisted to help thwart Moriarty's nefarious plan.

Like the original film, I felt that the screenplay was convoluted and tended to lose focus. There is a lot going on here and I enjoy to be challenged while watching a movie, but the intricate plot is needlessly confusing at times. On the other hand, I thought that the principal and supporting characters were utilized very well, especially Madame Simza, who I hope to see back for future installment, as Noomi Rapace's performance is one of the highlights of the film. I also enjoyed the levity during the scenes with Mycroft and the banter between Holmes and Watson. Of course, viewers of the first film know that to fully enjoy the material, you must suspend your disbelief. This is particularly true of the final scenes in this second installment.

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" is not without its problems, but the film is better than many other reviewers/critics may lead you to believe. One of the most entertaining elements of the film is the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, which is even stronger this time around. Overall, this is a highly entertaining, well acted and intelligent film that is well worth your time.

DVD Recommendation: Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" - Starring Brad Pitt

2012-01-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Writer/director Terrence Malick's latest film, "The Tree of Life," offers interesting observations about the human condition. I was fascinated with a couple of scenes where Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien (Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain) attempted to impart wisdom to their young children about such topics as the meaning of happiness and how to survive in the world. While I admit that I am not sure if I understood everything that Terrence Malick was trying to accomplish with "The Tree of Life," I found the film to be intelligent, interesting and well acted.

Brad Pitts stars as the father of three young children, who he loves very much, but his strict, authoritarian demeanor and abusive nature cause them much harm. For instance, his oldest child, Jack (Hunter McCracken), is on the receiving end of much of the abuse and, over time, the effects are noticeable. While Mr. O'Brien is away one summer, Jack begins to act out by vandalising property and abusing animals. In one scene, Jack angrily imitates his father by yelling about allowing the screen door to slam, which he was admonished for on many occasions. Clearly, the emotional impact of the abuse stays with Jack, who is shown as an adult (portrayed by Sean Penn) in various scenes. Jack appears to still be reeling from his complicated relationship with his father, as well as a significant loss that his family suffered years earlier.

Mrs. O'Brien (Jessica Chastain) tries to protect her children as best she can, but even she fears her husband, whose mood can change in an instant. Like many mothers, she is the glue that holds the family together and they would literally be lost without her. Chastain expertly conveys unconditional love and I believed that her character cherished those children, but she could only protect them from so much.

Malick tells this story in an unconventional way and includes scenes with dinosaurs and heavenly objects to further his narrative from the beginning of life to the end of the world as we know it. I thought that the scene involving dinosaurs, where one of them has the opportunity to kill the other but hesitated, is a direct reflection of the relationship between Mr. O'Brien and Jack and the dominance that the father had over his son.

The deliberate pace of the film and the non-linear storytelling did not bother me because I was completely invested in the O'Brien family and wanted to go on this journey with them. On the other hand, I am not sure how many viewers will be as patient with the material as I was. In addition, with the dialogue kept to a minimum throughout the film, Malick relies on cinematography and music to hold viewer attention, which I believe works well. I now understand why "The Tree of Life" has been so polarizing for moviegoers and some critics alike. In any event, I would encourage potential viewers to give the film a chance. You will either love it or hate it. There appears to be no middle ground.

Michelle Williams Channels Marilyn Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn" (2011)

2012-01-06T14:00:00.000-05:00

The fascination with Marilyn Monroe continues, nearly 50 years after her untimely death, in the recently released film "My Week With Marilyn." The film is based on two books written by the late writer/filmmaker Colin Clark and details the author's brief relationship with Monroe while she was filming "The Prince and the Showgirl" in 1956. Clark worked as an assistant to Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh), who directed and starred in the film, opposite Monroe.

Terrence Rattigan penned the adapted screenplay which paints Marilyn Monroe as an emotionally complex person with natural acting talents that were the envy of her co-stars. However, Monroe's lack of punctuality infuriated Olivier, who would sometimes have to wait hours for her to arrive on set. In addition, if Marilyn was having a difficult day or did not believe that her character would act a certain way, it was sometimes excruciating to film a complete scene. Despite these challenges, Monroe remained very popular with the film crew, especially the men, who all pined for her, despite the fact that she was spending her honeymoon with her third husband, Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott). While Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) initially tried to just be Marilyn's friend, he could not help but fall for her like most everyone else did.

The screenplay allows viewers to see the many sides of the troubled, vulnerable and talented Marilyn Monroe, and Michelle Williams is able to successfully tap into a vast array of emotions in her outstanding performance. A few scenes offer keen insight into what kind of a person Monroe was, as she spoke about the importance of telling little girls how beautiful they are and when she laments the loss of both of her parents. That vulnerability, along with her beauty and talent, made her irresistible to many men.

I found it interesting that many characters in the film treated Marilyn Monroe as if she were delicate, or even childlike. Aside from Olivier, the cast and crew were very careful in how they spoke to and treated Monroe, especially co-star Dame Sybil Thorndike (Dame Judi Dench), who was beyond professional and courteous to her, despite the problems that Monroe caused on set. Even Oliver's wife, Vivien Leigh (Julia Ormond), who felt threatened by Monroe and was convinced that her husband would have an affair with her, said nothing off-color to Monroe, but she insisted that Colin keep her up to date with what happened, both on and off set.

Another strength of the film lies in the performances of the talented cast, including Kenneth Branagh, who directed the 2011 hit superhero movie "Thor" and proves his versatility once again by switching gears to portray the legendary Laurence Olivier, with stellar results. Branagh is a commanding presence during his scenes, much like Olivier must have been on set. The supporting cast, including the aforementioned Dame Judi Dench and Julia Ormond, are perfectly cast and deliver exquisite work. Of course, Michelle Williams' performance as Marilyn Monroe is an essential component of the film's success, and she is superb in every scene. I believed that Williams was Monroe, both in mind and body, and the vulnerability that is expressed through the use of her body language and facial expressions is stunning.

I enjoyed learning about Marilyn Monroe through the eyes of someone who actually worked with her and befriended her, even if only for a brief period of time. The insight is fascinating and enables viewers to catch a glimpse of the enigmatic Monroe, who is one of only a handful of entertainers who have remained firmly in the public consciousness decades after their death. Indeed, there was far more to the actress/performer that her beauty and sex appeal and that is made perfectly clear in this well made and entertaining effort from director Simon Curtis.

Kirsten Dunst Shines in Lars von Trier's "Melancholia" (2011)

2012-01-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

Almost a decade ago, I saw Danish writer/director Lars von Trier's "Dogville," starring Nicole Kidman. The film was like nothing I had ever seen before, primarily because there were no actual sets. All of the action takes place on a sound stage with chalk lines separating one "building/set" from the other. It took me a little while to get comfortable with "Dogville," but I ultimately enjoyed the film. Lars von Trier's latest effort, "Melancholia," features a more traditional (and beautiful) set design, along with an outstanding cast and an interesting story.

"Melancholia" is divided into two parts; "Justine" and "Claire," which are named after two sisters portrayed by Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainesbourg, respectively. The first part of the film focuses on Justine's wedding day, complete with a lavish reception and plenty of family drama. Justine's husband, Michael (Alexander Skarsgård), clearly loves his new bride, but she seems much too free spirited to be married. During the wedding reception, Justine decides to spend time away from her husband and guests, while she does her own thing. Her behavior results in many darkly comic moments, but in reality, Justine is hurting many of the people who feel close to her. However, she appears to be experiencing some form of emotional distress and is concerned about the arrival of a giant planet, which may or may not collide with Earth. Of course, if such a collision should occur, all life would likely be extinguished.

The second part of "Melancholia" delves deeper into the emotional abyss, as the uncertainty of the future weighs heavily on Claire, who appears to be panic stricken in more than one scene. In contrast, Justine is calm, cool and collected and appears resigned to the fact that the world is going to end and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I felt the second half of the film was not as strong as the first and seemed repetitious. Apparently, von Trier came up with the idea for the film while he was seeking treatment for depression, which made me understand more of what he was trying to accomplish in regards to Claire's erratic behavior, which is offset by Justine's controlled behavior.

During the first half of the film, I marveled at the talented actors that von Trier was able to assemble. Many of them have appeared in several of my favorite films and television series, including John Hurt ("Skeleton Key"), Udo Kier ("My Own Private Idaho"), Brady Corbet ("Mysterious Skin"), Kiefer Sutherland ("Stand By Me"), Stellan Skarsgård ("Good Will Hunting") and Alexander Skarsgård ("True Blood"). As good as those actors are, Kirsten Dunst delivers phenomenal work as the complicated Justine, who runs the gamut of emotions throughout the first half of the film when she makes major decisions with little thought to the repercussions or consideration of her loved ones.

"Melancholia" is an emotional roller-coaster ride that attempts to reflect what individuals dealing with mental illness sometimes experience. Lars von Trier perfectly captures those foreboding and uncertain feelings while mixing the worlds of fantasy and reality that Justine and Claire inhabit. The future of their world is filled with uncertainty which is made even worse by anxiety, panic attacks and even lethargy. As the characters lose hope, so does the audience. Despite the impending doom, it is difficult to look away when von Trier crafts an unforgettable, thoughtful and creative ending.

"Melancholia" is now playing in limited release and will be available on DVD in March.

The Legend of Butch Cassidy Lives On in "Blackthorn"

2012-01-04T22:00:00.000-05:00

Director Mateo Gil and writer Miguel Barros attempt to give Butch Cassidy one last ride, after the famed outlaw was allegedly killed in a battle with the Bolivian Army in the early 20th century. The movie "Blackthorn" speculates that Cassidy survived that battle and was alive and well and living in South America, where he was known as James Blackthorn. Time appears to have softened Blackthorn/Cassidy, as he lives a quiet life and plans to return to the United States to live out his remaining years. However, on his journey home, Blackthorn inadvertently helps a would be con man, Eduardo Apodaca (Eduardo Noriega), steal a large sum of money and soon finds himself involved in another grand adventure, with the law following closely behind.

"Blackthorn" is a quality addition to the western genre, which appears to have fallen out of favor with most movie studios. The performance by Sam Shepard, as Butch Cassidy/James Blackthorn, is tremendous. Shepard has that gruff, impatient and worn look that is closely associated with many western screen characters and he provides a solid anchor for this fine film. Shepard is ably supported by Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Rea and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, but he remains the centerpiece for the duration of the film. In addition, the cinematography, costume design and music all add greatly to this low-key film. Viewers may recognize the classic songs "Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold This Body Down)" and "Sam Hall," which is actually sung by Shepard in one scene. (I was familiar with both songs from recordings by the late Johnny Cash).

"Blackthorn" is now available on DVD.

Critic's Corner: "Supernatural"

2012-01-04T14:00:00.000-05:00

The seventh season of "Supernatural" has been a vast improvement over season six, but the series remains inconsistent. I felt that the first three episodes of the new season were just OK, while the fourth and fifth episodes, "Defending Your Life" and "Shut Up Dr. Phil," were next to unwatchable. However, the last five episodes, leading up to the series' winter break, found the show returning to form. The best of those episodes was "The Mentalists," which found the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean, traveling to Lily Dale, a real community in New York state that is home to a large number of individuals who claim to possess psychic powers. Having read "Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town that Talks to the Dead," by Christine Wicker, and screening a documentary film about Lily Dale on HBO, I appreciated the effort put forth in the humorous episode.

Another outstanding episode, "Death's Door," detailed the events that Bobby (Jim Beaver) experienced while he was in a coma. "Supernatural" is very adept at switching back and forth from comedy to drama and this was one of the more dramatic shows I have seen to date. I really do not want Bobby to become or a ghost, or worse, die, but if he does survive, then it is time to stop the near death experiences of the character. After revealing more of the popular character's back story, why kill him off now? I understand the need to change things up so that they do not become stagnate, but I believe killing him off will be a big mistake. Bobby's fate will be revealed when the series returns from winter break later this week..

After six plus years, I am still planning to stick with "Supernatural," as long as stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki remain with the series. I hope the show regains its consistency and I would like to see less blood and gore going forward. During the first ten episodes of this season, I have noticed a big increase in the amount of blood and gore, which is simply not necessary. A little of that stuff goes a long way.

"Supernatural" airs Fridays at 9:00pm ET on The CW.

Cameron Crowe's "We Bought A Zoo" - Starring Matt Damon

2012-01-03T14:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit - Twentieth Century Fox

Matt Damon has proven time and again that he can believably portray any character and make just about any movie watchable. Writer/director Cameron Crowe has proven time and again that he is capable of making interesting, character driven films that cover a wide variety of subject matter, such as "Almost Famous" and "Jerry Maguire." However, Crowe has struggled to find the right project for some time, with the exception of the recently released documentary "Pearl Jam Twenty." The merging of their considerable talents for the recently released drama "We Bought A Zoo" yields decent results.

The film is based on a memoir by Benjamin Mee who, after the death of his wife, struggles to keep his family together. Damon portrays Mee as a straight laced, good natured guy who genuinely loves his children, Dylan and Rosie. While the precious Rosie appears to be no trouble at all, Dylan is having a difficult time at school and is routinely getting into trouble, which leads to his expulsion. Of course, the fact that Dylan is a teenager makes matters more difficult, as he struggles with the loss of his mother and the distance he feels from his father. After Dylan is expelled, Benjamin decides to purchase a large tract of land, which includes a house and a zoo. Benjamin plans to make his new endeavor work, but does not realize the financial implications of the repairs and upkeep of the property, as well as the zoo staff. After an initial inspection, Benjamin realizes that he must pour even more money into the property and soon discovers that he is almost broke. However, having a brother, Duncan (Thomas Haden Church), who happens to be an accountant and then discovering an unexpected gift that his wife left him gives Benjamin the help he needs to continue his plan to open the zoo, but it still may not be enough.

Matt Damon is well cast and delivers another strong performance, but the other adult cast members are either portraying familiar characters, or characters written as stereotypes who do everything that the audience expects them to do. I suppose in a family film, such as this one, that might work out just fine, but I expected so much more from Cameron Crowe's direction and script, which is co-written by Aline Brosh McKenna. However, I will say that the younger actors, including Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Rosie), Colin Ford (Dylan) and Elle Fanning (Lily) are all perfectly cast and, along with Damon, make the movie watchable. I was also pleased to see Patrick Fugit, who starred in Crowe's aforementioned "Almost Famous" in 2000, but he has little to do, as Robin, a staff member of the zoo.

I suspect that younger viewers of this film, who will no doubt enjoy the many beautiful animals on display, will not complain very much. However, their more mature counterparts may balk at the forced emotion of some scenes and the formulaic developments that are present throughout the two hour plus run time (which is about 30 minutes too long). On the other hand, Crowe's signature musical choices may appeal to the adult audience members, who may recognize Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More," "Cinnamon Girl" by Neil Young and "Hunger Strike" by Temple of the Dog. Despite its problems, "We Bought A Zoo" gets a passing grade for several fine performances, an eclectic soundtrack and an overall reasonable effort.

DVD Recommendation: "Hanna" - Starring Saoirse Ronan

2012-01-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Jason Bourne and Evelyn Salt have a child! That can be the only explanation for Hanna Heller (Saoirse Ronan), a teenage super-soldier, who just might be able to best her would-be parents in a brawl. Hanna is the complete package; strong, resourceful, tough, intelligent and supremely capable. Of course, she has been trained to be the best, but Hanna also possesses something that most everyone else does not - enhanced DNA.

Saoirse Ronan continues to impress with each and every film role. From the young trouble maker in "Atonement" to the innocent girl murdered by a child predator in "The Lovely Bones" and now in "Hanna," a superbly acted and paced action thriller. "Hanna" focuses on the training of the title character in a remote area of Finland, where she learns how to track and kill animals for food. Hanna's confidence and matter of fact nature are chilling for such a young girl, who has been trained by her father, Erik Heller (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA agent. In addition to her survival skills, she is fluent in several languages and has memorized a phony back story, should she find herself in need of an identity.

When Erik is convinced that Hanna is ready to go out into the world, he allows her to transmit a signal that will be intercepted by authorities, who will then come and retrieve her. Before they arrive, Erik embarks on a mission of his own, leaving Hanna to fend for herself, which she does admirably. Once contained by her captors, Hanna requests to see Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), who she has been trained to kill. Marissa, sensing potential trouble, sends in a double, who is quickly dispatched, along with an entire security team, by Hanna.

Hanna escapes and is pursued throughout the film by Marissa, her team, and various hired thugs, who all attempt to capture her once again, but that proves nearly impossible. Along the way, Hanna meets a young girl, Sophie, and they strike up a fast friendship, which is a new experience for Hanna. In addition, Hanna is mesmerized by modern technology, having spent her entire life in a cabin with minimal technology and virtually no creature comforts. While Hanna is used to being successful and in control of her every endeavor, her exposure to the outside world threatens to unnerve her. Making matters more complicated is the information Hanna uncovers about her paternity, which threatens her psychological well being. Marissa and Erik know the truth about Hanna, who is on a dangerous collision course with her past.

Eric Bana ("Munich"), Cate Blanchette ("The Aviator") and Saoirse Ronan all deliver expectational work here. Ronan is completely believable as a young super-soldier, who could possibly rule the world someday. Director Joe Wright should be given credit for eliciting such fine work from each of the principal actors and for the solid pacing of this exciting film. In addition, the intelligent screenplay, by David Farr and Seth Lochhead, takes time to explore Hanna's emotional side, which borders on the vulnerable when she is with Sophie (Jessica Barden) and when she is exposed to the truth surrounding her origins. "Hanna" is one the most exciting, interesting and well acted films of the past year and is now available on DVD.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: December 30, 2011 - January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," starring Tom Cruise, continues to reign at the box office.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend films, according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - $31.3

2. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - $22.1

3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - $18.3

4. War Horse - $16.9

5. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - $16.3

6. We Bought A Zoo - $14.3

7. The Adventures of Tintin - $12.0

8. New Year's Eve - $6.7

9. The Darkest Hour - $4.3

10. The Descendants - $3.7

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

I would like to wish all of my readers a very Happy New Year! Best Wishes for 2012!

Recap - PopCultureGuy's 2011 Entertainers of the Year

2011-12-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

1. HBO

2. The Cast of "The Help"

3. The Cast of "American Horror Story"

4. Jessica Chastain

5. Ryan Gosling

"Wrath of the Titans" Movie Trailer

2011-12-31T13:00:00.000-05:00

"Clash of the Titans" was one of my favorite films of 2010 and I am really looking forward to the sequel, "Wrath of the Titans," which is expected to be released in March of 2012. Returning for the second installment is Sam Worthington, as Perseus, Liam Neeson, as Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes, as Hades. Joining them will be the amazing Bill Nighy ("Page Eight"), as Hephaestus, a fallen God who assists Perseus on his mission to rescue Zeus, who is imprisoned in the underworld. Sounds like another winner. Check out the trailer below.

Classic Holiday Film: "The Bells of St. Mary's" (1945) - Starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman

2011-12-30T15:00:00.000-05:00

To be fair, the Christmas holiday is only showcased in a couple of scenes in the classic film "The Bells of St. Mary's," including a memorable pageant scene featuring a production of the first Christmas by several earnest school children. However, the overall spirit of the film is consistent with the holiday season and is filled with genuine good will. Bing Crosby stars as Father Chuck O'Malley, who is filling in for the former Father who has since been institutionalized. Father O'Malley appears to have a much more laid back and less authoritarian style than his predecessor and almost immediately declares a holiday, which endears him to the children, while causing conflict with the instructors, including Sister Mary Benedict (Ingrid Bergman). Despite their differences regarding the children, Father O'Malley and Sister Mary Benedict both want what is best for them, they just have different ideas of how to achieve their goals.

Bing Crosby expertly conveys Father O'Malley's patience, calm nature and his gift for psychology. This is abundantly clear when he challenges Sister Mary's convictions about the need for children to learn how to defend themselves, thus earning the respect of the would be bullies in the schoolyard. As a result, Sister Mary reads a book on boxing and then teaches one of the children how to defend himself in a unforgettable, hilarious and award worthy scene. Father O'Malley also uses his psychology to try to convince a wealthy businessman, Horace P. Bogardus (Henry Travers), to grant his new office building to St. Mary's, which is located right next door. Since the school is aging and in disrepair, a move would greatly benefit the children. Initially, Bogardus is reluctant, but he begins to reconsider his position, despite the aggravation that he experiences because of the children. As the film progresses, Sister Mary contracts an illness that could become quite serious and potentially jeopardizes her position at St. Mary's. As a result, Father O'Malley is tasked with making a heartbreaking decision.

Bing Crosby delivers a terrific performance and has the opportunity to utilize his outstanding vocal prowess in several scenes. While I have only seen a handful of his films, this has to be one of his best performances. I really enjoyed the way he used psychology to deal with everyone around him. His approach to others reminded me of how Sheriff Andy Taylor was portrayed in the popular 1960's television series "The Andy Griffith Show." Both Father O'Malley and Andy could get anyone to do what they wanted by using their intelligence and gentle powers of persuasion. Ingrid Bergman also delivers outstanding work and it takes no time at all for viewers to care for the loving, gentle and nearly flawless Sister Mary Benedict, which makes the final part of the film very difficult to watch.

I recently had the opportunity to watch "The Bells of St. Mary's" for the first time and I plan to add it to my yearly holiday viewing schedule. I enjoyed the film so much that it may even become one of my all-time favorites, holiday or otherwise. "The Bells of St. Mary's" has my highest recommendation and I would encourage readers who are unfamiliar with the film to make it a point to see it during the holidays.

George Clooney: The Last Great Movie Star (Revised and Updated Edition) by Kimberly Potts

2011-12-29T15:48:00.000-05:00

George Clooney possesses a look and manner associated with classic Hollywood actors such as Gregory Peck and Cary Grant. Unfortunately, Clooney is one of just a few working actors who are a throwback to that bygone era. Leonardo DiCaprio also comes to mind. I do not think that anyone can actually try to duplicate the style of the movie stars of yesteryear. You either have "it" or you don't. While I am not sure if I agree with the title of Kimberly Potts' recently re-released biography about George Clooney, the renowned actor has certainly earned his place among the Hollywood elite while continually striving to appear in consistently worthwhile projects.

George Clooney: The Last Great Movie Star (Applause Books) details the actor's struggle to make a name for himself in Hollywood with early roles in the television series "The Facts of Life" and "Roseanne" in the 1980's, to his emergence as a major television star, courtesy of the medical drama "ER" in the mid and late 1990's. Over the past decade, Clooney's star continued to rise, as he made a name for himself in critically acclaimed movies, such as "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Syriana" and "Up in the Air." The author examines Clooney's personal life too and provides an in-depth look at the now confirmed bachelor, whose one attempt at marriage did not work out as he hoped it would. Potts provides information about Clooney's various relationships, as well as his friendship with "The Boys," his group of friends who he claims to speak with at least once a day, every day. If he does manage to make time for all of them, that is an admirable trait that is becoming more and more rare in today's world, where most everyone seems too busy to make such an effort.

While I was aware of George Clooney's political opinions, I enjoyed learning how those opinions developed and who influenced the award winning actor's kindness towards others, both on set and off. I feel I should admit to not being a big fan of George Clooney until recent years. I cannot say that I ever watched an episode of "ER" and was not a fan of his movies until the 1999 Persian Gulf War drama "Three Kings," which was directed by David O. Russell. While I recall that problems arose during filming, I had no idea how heated things became, which makes for some interesting reading.

George Clooney: The Last Great Movie Star (Revised and Updated) will likely appeal to fans of the talented actor, director and humanitarian. I especially enjoyed the chapters devoted to Clooney's film career and charitable activities, which make him appear to be a very likable and genuine person. Over the last several years I have made it a point to see every new film that George Clooney is involved with, including "Michael Clayton," "Up in the Air," "The Men Who Stare at Goats," "The Fantastic Mr. Fox, "The American" and "The Ides of March." Overall, I thought all of the aforementioned films were well worth seeing and I look forward to watching his latest film, "The Descendants," which is now playing and has garnered a great deal of awards buzz. Finally, the book features several pages of photographs of Clooney, in both personal and professional settings, and they are a great addition to the overall product.

The Past and the Present Chillingly Collide in "The Caller" (2011)

2011-12-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

Director Matthew Parkhill tries to present a different kind of horror film with "The Caller" and he succeeds, at least in part. Perhaps it is because something as benign as an old telephone is able to provide several nerve wracking moments or maybe it is the idea of dealing with unfinished business after many years, by communicating with people from the past. "The Caller" centers around Mary Kee (Rachelle Lefevre), a young woman who recently moved into a new apartment. Mary is carrying around the weight of a failed marriage and an abusive husband and is attempting to start over. She is pleased to find an antique telephone while getting settled in her new digs, but before long, Mary begins receiving telephone calls from an older woman named Rose, who is looking for a man who no longer lives in the apartment. Mary tries to assure Rose that she is the only resident, but Rose begs to differ.

After receiving several phone calls from Rose, who soon becomes verbally abusive, Mary tells her not to call again. However, Rose continues the harassment unabated and also seems to be confused as to what year she is living in. Mary becomes increasingly agitated with the phone calls, but cannot seem to get Rose to stop calling. Soon thereafter, Mary realizes that Rose knows who she is and that they knew each other years earlier. Mary's shock turns to horror, as Rose allows her to speak to a younger girl, who turns out to be herself, calling from the past. Making things even more difficult is Mary's ex-husband, who continues to stalk her, and she soon comes to realize that the neighbor she befriended, George (Luis Guzmán) may be a ghost. In addition, she tries to seek solace is a relationship with a college instructor, John ("True Blood's" Stephen Moyer), who understands that Mary needs help, but is not sure how to assist her.

The first half of "The Caller" left me feeling like the film was going to be a disappointment, but the much improved second half prevented that from happening. I was fascinated with Mary's struggle with trying to separate reality from fantasy. After all, how are the conversations with Rose and Mary's younger self possible? Is she imagining everything, or is this some unfinished business that has come back to haunt her? When the screenplay, by Sergio Casci, focuses solely on Mary, the film is watchable. However, her relationships with her ex-husband and current boyfriend are not at all interesting and they take away from the primary story. I really did not see the purpose of either character. I also wish Lorna Raver ("Drag Me To Hell"), who portrays Rose, would have been given more physical screen time. She is heard during the many phone conversations, but is not actually seen until the end of the film. Even though "The Caller" has its problems, I suspect fans of the horror genre will enjoy this film, providing they stick with it until the end. The psychological questions the film raises are particularly interesting and may stick with viewers after the credits have rolled.

"The Caller" is now available on DVD.

New in Theaters: "The Darkest Hour" (2011) - Starring Emile Hirsch

2011-12-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

Photo credit - Summit Entertainment

Emile Hirsch is one of my favorite actors, having delivered a terrific performance in the 2007 film "Into the Wild," as well as solid work in the 2008 biographical drama "Milk." I also enjoyed his 2008 action film "Speed Racer," but I know I am one of the few who would own up to liking it. I have waited over two years to see the talented young actor onscreen again and I am sorry to say that his new film, "The Darkest Hour," is terrible.

Hirsch stars as Sean, a young man who is visiting Russia with his friend and business associate, Ben. Shortly after they arrive a power outage occurs, courtesy of alien beings who have come to usurp the world's power supply. With powers that resemble weapons used to decapitate people in the 1995 sci-fi film "Johnny Mnemonic," the aliens attach themselves to humans, as well as everything else, and disintegrate them into ash.

There are many problems with "The Darkest Hour," including a quick plot set-up that leaves virtually no time for character development. If the principal players are going to fight for their lives for 90 minutes, I need to know something about them and/or develop some sort of connection with them. Unfortunately, that does not occur and with the various characters uttering ridiculous lines and stating obvious facts in nearly every scene, it is not possible to really care about any of them.

The talented young cast includes Olivia Thirlby ("Juno"), Max Minghella ("The Social Network") and the aforementioned Emile Hirsch. Sadly, they are all wasted in this ludicrous, obnoxious and completely unlikable film that is filled with stereotypical characters and a nonsensical plot. The screening I attended was in 3D, but I do not understand why the filmmakers bothered with the extra dimension because the special effects are used sparingly and are lacking in effort and originality. The tag line for "The Darkest Hour" is "survive the holidays." That can be accomplished by completely avoiding this film.

DVD Spotlight: "The Looney Tunes Show" Season One, Volume 2

2011-12-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

The classic and beloved "Looney Tunes" characters are back in a new series geared towards younger children who may not be familiar with the original "Looney Tunes" and "Merry Melodies" cartoon shorts. All of the iconic characters are back for this latest revival, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety, Sylvester, Granny, the Tasmanian Devil and the rest of the gang. Of course, Mel Blanc's impeccable presence is missed, but the new voice talents, including Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen and Jim Cummings, provide similar voices that make the characters sound familiar to those older viewers who fondly remember the original "Looney Tunes." In addition, the legendary June Foray once again provides the voice of Granny.

Several new characters, including Pete Puma, have been introduced in "The Looney Tunes Show," while older characters have been given a makeover, such as Witch Lezah (formerly Witch Hazel) and her son, Gossamer, who is no longer a lumbering monster, but a school-aged kid who has trouble fitting in due to his large size. The four episodes included in the second volume of season one focus on Bugs and Daffy, as they interact with various characters, including the Tasmanian Devil, who Bugs thinks is a dog, and Gossamer, who Daffy takes under his wing when the youngster is bullied at school. Each show is about three times as long as the classic Looney Tunes shorts, with a couple of minutes of each episode devoted to a Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote short and/or a clever and original musical number, which has become my favorite part of each show.

Overall, 'The Looney Tunes Show" is a solid effort and a great way to expose younger audiences to the beloved "Looney Tunes" characters, who have been a part of popular culture for decades. Older viewers who are fans of the original animated shorts may not take to the new series as easily as their younger counterparts, but there are so many familiar and creative elements of the new series that make it well worth watching. I also suspect that any fan of the original music will enjoy the creative effort put forth in the new series during the numerous musical numbers.

"The Looney Tunes Show" Season One, Volume 2, was released on December 6, 2011. Own it on DVD today.

Visit the Official Site.

Watch a clip here.

Charlize Theron Proves That You Can't Go Home Again in "Young Adult"

2011-12-26T20:00:00.000-05:00

The character portrayed by Charlize Theron in the recently released film "Young Adult" is so realistic that she reminded me of multiple girls I knew in high school. Unfortunately, the character, Mavis Gray, is completely unlikable due to her selfish behavior, judgemental attitude and her belief that she is better than everyone else."Young Adult" details what happens when a former (and current) mean girl returns to her hometown to relive her glory days and reclaim what she thinks belongs to her. The film may give pause to those viewers who have left their small town beginnings to find success in the big city and then think it is a good idea to move back home.

Mavis was able to find great success as a writer of a teen literary series that has apparently run its course. Viewers familiar with the "Twilight" book and movie series and the televisions series "Gossip Girl," "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Secret Circle," which are also based on books, understand that everything has an endpoint. While Mavis found success in her professional life, she struggles with interpersonal relationships. She is recently divorced, seemingly has no friends and appears to avoid having much contact with her parents. When she receives an invitation to attend a party for the infant daughter of her former fiance, Buddy (Patrick Wilson), Mavis reads more into the invitation than is actually meant and despite having no evidence to the contrary, she is determined to win him back.

During her trip back home, Mavis is warned by a former high school classmate, Matt (Patton Oswalt), that Buddy is happily married and she does not stand a chance of getting him back. Matt did not run in the same social circles as Mavis in high school, but they strike up an unusual friendship during her stay. Mavis has no idea that Matt is being a good friend by trying to tell her the truth. She is so self-absorbed that she literally cannot see what is happening in front of her. In addition, Mavis' parents try to reason with her, but she simply does not want to hear or believe what they are saying. Soon thereafter, Mavis makes a play for Buddy during his daughter's party and the emotional aftermath will likely leave viewers squirming in their seats.

Director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody, who last partnered on the 2007 film "Juno," have produced another solid effort in "Young Adult." Cody somehow manages to create a character who is very unlikable and uncomfortably familiar, but convinces viewers to go on this journey with her anyway. Mavis is the girl from high school who we loved to hate, but yet we can somehow empathize with the emptiness that she now feels and desperately wants to fill. Even though Mavis is an intelligent and very capable woman, she fails to see or accept her own shortcomings, which include alcoholism. Without that self awareness, she is destined to continue her downward spiral.

Charlize Theron delivers her finest performance since her award winning turn in the 2003 film "Monster" and she is ably supported by the aforementioned Patton Oswalt and Patrick Wilson, who are both perfectly cast. Potential viewers should understand that "Young Adult" is an oftentimes depressing take on a soon to be middle-aged woman who thinks revisiting the past is the answer to solving her current problems. However, it is a very well executed film that serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trying recapture a past which only really exists in fading memories.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: December 23-25, 2011

2011-12-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - $26.5

2. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - $17.8

3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - $13.3

4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - $13.0

5. The Adventures of Tintin - $9.1

6. We Bought A Zoo - $7.8

7. New Year's Eve - $3.0

8. Arthur Christmas - $2.7

9. Hugo - $2.0

10. The Muppets - $2.0

Merry Christmas/Season's Greetings/Happy Holidays 2011

2011-12-25T12:14:00.000-05:00

I would like to wish everyone a very happy, safe and peaceful holiday!

All the Best,

Don

Family Film Recommendation - "Puss in Boots" (2011) - Featuring Antonio Banderas

2011-12-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

I have never watched a "Shrek" film, but was drawn to the previews for "Puss in Boots," which is a prequel to the "Shrek" franchise where the titular character appeared. While I am not a cat lover, courtesy of a severe allergy, the filmmakers clearly love their feline friends. The plot centers around Puss's efforts to find magic beans that will lead to a castle in the sky containing a goose that can lay golden eggs. Puss learns that outlaws Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris) have the beans and sets out to secure them, only to be distracted by Kitty Softpaws. Soon thereafter, Humpty Dumpty, Puss's childhood friend, emerges and offers to help him obtain the beans. However, Humpty is not to be trusted and crosses Puss on various occasions and it turns out that he is not working alone. The adventure continues with a chase through the mountains, a journey to the castle in the sky and the arrival of the Terror, who is looking for her child, the Golden Goose (who is actually a gosling). If this sounds familiar, it should, as various stories have been combined to form the plot.

Like the "Toy Story" films, I found myself smiling from beginning to end while watching "Puss in Boots." The computer animation is spectacular and the various characters, including Humpty Alexander Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and the Golden Goose are memorable, as well as adorable. Yes, Humpty is kind of a jerk, but the way he is drawn made me laugh repeatedly, especially when he is angry. I also found the name Kitty Softpaws very amusing. In addition, the ingenuity of the an early scene in the Cat Cantina, where Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) squares off against a masked Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) in a dance competition and sword fight, is one of the best of the entire film. The music supplied by the cats pulling on bells was particularly clever, as was the way in which Puss eventually defeats Kitty.

"Puss in Boots" may be hard to find since it has been in release for a while and the holiday movies are crowding out many older films in first run theaters. If you can find "Puss in Boots" at your local theater, I would encourage you to see it with your family, especially if you have young children, who are sure to enjoy this film. There are many family oriented films currently playing, but I think "Puss in Boots" is the most enjoyable. For me, it was one of the most unexpected and pleasant surprises I have had at the movies all year and I look forward to seeing additional films in the franchise.

"Brideshead Revisited" 30th Anniversary Collection - Starring Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons

2011-12-23T13:01:00.001-05:00

The 30th anniversary of "Brideshead Revisited" is being celebrated with a recently released Blu-ray edition of the award-winning and critically acclaimed British serial. Based on the 1945 novel, of the same name, by Evelyn Waugh, "Brideshead Revisited" focuses on the friendship between Charles Ryder (Jeremy Irons) and Sebastian Fltye (Anthony Andrews) during the early 20th century. Charles meets Sebastian while studying at Oxford and is immediately drawn to the young man, who happens to be a member of the wealthy Marchmain family. Sebastian's carefree lifestyle is one aspect of his appeal, as he enjoys partying and hanging out with an eclectic group of people. The more straight-laced Charles is fascinated with the world that Sebastian introduces him to and is soon thrust into that world, with all of its trappings.

However, Sebastian's ongoing battle with alcoholism causes problems between him and his family, who look to Charles for help, placing him in an uncomfortable position. After Sebastian decides to travel to various locales, Charles remains friends with the Marchmain family and becomes close to Sebastian's sister, Julia (Diana Quick). They appear destined to be together, but end up unhappily married to other people instead. Charles clearly enjoys being a part of the Marchmain family, since his mother is deceased and his father, Edward (John Gielgud), appears indifferent to his son's existence. As a result, Charles becomes acquainted with and befriends almost every member of the Marchmain family, which, unfortunately, causes him some distress.

The eleven episodes of "Brideshead Revisited" are narrated by Charles over a period of a quarter century and he is, essentially, the main character. However, members of the Marchmain family are always around in one form or another and serve as an extended family to Charles, who remembers his time with them fondly. However, Charles also has many regrets, which are revealed in the final chapter, when he returns to Brideshead, as a soldier, during the second World War. Regardless, his journey is a fascinating one, as his opinions on family, religion and love evolve with his vast life experiences.

"Brideshead Revisited" is a deliberately paced epic with a keen eye for detail. I am not sure how the series would play to contemporary audiences, who seem to enjoy their entrainment fast and furious. In fact, there was a "Brideshead Revisited" feature film released in 2008, with a running time of slightly more than two hours, compared with the eleven plus hours of the original production. I remember watching the film and enjoying it, but it only touches on some of the more important points of the story. The direction, by Charles Sturridge and Michael Lindsay-Hogg, is meticulous, and the screenplay, by Derek Granger, allows for painstaking and believable character development. In addition, the cinematography is lush and beautiful, thanks, in part, to the on location filming at Bridgewater House and Tatton Hall in England.

The talented cast is anchored by Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons, as Sebastian and Charles, respectively. Their relationship is the centerpiece of the first several episodes, when they appear to be inseparable. The exact nature of their relationship is not revealed, but I think it is safe to assume that they were lovers, at least initially. Various episodes hint at their involvement, but it is really up to viewers to decide what they really meant to one another. The supporting cast includes the legendary Sir Laurence Oliver, as Lord Marchmain, Claire Bloom, as Lady Marchmain and Sir John Gielgud, as Edward Ryder. Needless to say, their performances were outstanding. In addition, the performance by Nickolas Grace ("Robin of Sherwood"), as the effeminate Anthony Blanche, Sebastian's friend, was unexpectedly effective. Grace took a very unlikable character and made him interesting and watchable, with limited screen time. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Charles Keating, as Rex Mottram, Julia's husband. I remember Keating from his portrayal of the nefarious Carl Hutchins on the much missed daytime drama "Another World" during the 1980's and 1990's.

The eleven episodes are included, in their entirety, in the Blu-ray edition, along with a plethora of special features, including two documentaries about the making of the series, episode commentaries, photo galleries, outtakes, and a 20-page viewer's guide.

For additional information, go here.

Movie Recommendation - "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" (2011)

2011-12-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to see the original Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" when it was in limited release last year. I have also done a partial reading of the book, of the same name, by the late author Stieg Larrson. Having been previously exposed to the material, I wondered if the American version was going to go the safe route, as so many other productions have done, and either cut out or soften the most harrowing aspects of the highly original story. Thankfully, in the hands of a talented, detail oriented director like David Fincher ("The Social Network") and screenwriter Steven Zaillian, the new version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" lives up to its potential.

To his credit, Fincher did not dilute the rape scenes or tone down the language, the violence or Lisbeth's bisexuality, so the film definitely earns its "R" rating. He also pieced together a very talented cast, including Daniel Craig ("Cowboys & Aliens"), Christopher Plummer ("Beginners"), Stellan Skarsgård ("Thor"), Joely Richardson ("Nip/Tuck"), Robin Wright ("The Conspirator") and Rooney Mara ("The Social Network"), as the one and only Lisbeth Salander. Mara's performance appeared to improve as the film went along and I believed that she was able to capture the spirit of the now iconic character. Mara was also brave to appear in multiple nude scenes and displayed an impressive physical prowess, including riding a motorcycle, throughout the film. However, I think Noomi Rapace ("Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows") set the bar so high in her portrayal of Lisbeth in the original version that no one will be able to top her performance.

The aforementioned Lisbeth Salander, or "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," is a highly intelligent and capable social misfit who works as a researcher/computer hacker and is tasked with finding out all she can about journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who has recently been sued for libel and found guilty. Lisbeth determines that Blomkvist is innocent and that he was somehow duped in his negative reporting about wealthy businessman Hans-Erik Wennestrom. The background check on Mikael is being conducted by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), a very wealthy industrialist, who wants Mikael to work on uncovering the fate of his long missing niece, Harriet. Henrik took care of the girl after her father passed away and she become like a daughter to him. However, Harriet disappeared 40 years ago and is presumed dead, but her body was never found and Henrik wants to know what really happened to her before he dies.

Mikael accepts the case and is drawn into an intricate web of mystery, as well as being thrust into old family business. The Vanger family is quite large and is filled with very different personality types and some of them are less than cooperative and not at all friendly. Of course, Mikael has no idea how challenging his search will become and he is eventually joined in the investigation by Lisbeth, who he discovers had been hacking his computer for months. When confronted by Mikael, Lisbeth reveals her intentions in a very straightforward manner and, as a result, Mikael asks her for help in trying to solve the mystery surrounding Harriet's disappearance. Soon thereafter, a romance blossoms between the unlikely duo, who prove to be an effective team and soon find themselves in the cross hairs of someone who fears that they may be getting too close to finding out the truth about what happened to Harriet.

Even with a run time of more than two and half hours, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" is deftly directed by Fincher, with essentially no wasted time or unnecessary scenes. There are a few outstanding extended scenes, featuring little or no dialogue, that speak to the talent of the actors and director. The music used in those scenes, by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, is superb and heightens the suspense and overall foreboding mood of the film. In addition, the editing and cinematography are outstanding and the supporting cast serve as an upgrade from the original film, especially Stellan Skarsgård, as Martin.

The one aspect of the film that I take issue with is the relationship between Lisbeth and Mikael. While I believed that they cared for one another and are somehow compatible, despite their many differences, Lisbeth appears to be too clingy, which is out of character for the independent young woman. Even if Lisbeth did fall in love with Mikael, she would not allow herself to be so open and vulnerable, since she is an expert at keeping everyone at arms length and protecting herself at all times. It simply does not ring true. In any event, Lisbeth Salander has been quickly established as one of the all-time great movie (and literary) characters and she is just getting started in this highly intelligent and expertly made adaptation of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

"The Dark Knight Rises" Movie Trailer

2011-12-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

One of the most anticipated movies of 2012, "The Dark Knight Rises," will hit theaters next summer. Director Christopher Nolan's version of Batman/The Dark Knight has translated into two extremely good films and I suspect his third (and final) film may be the best yet. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman will reprise their roles as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Alfred, Lucius and Commissioner Gordon, respectively. The new supporting players include Tom Hardy, as Bane, and Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. There has been some speculation that Batman will die in the film, which would certainly be a surprising way to end things. Readers of the Batman comic books know that Bane has seriously injured The Dark Knight on more than one occasion, so maybe Nolan will take that a step further. In any event, check out the trailer below.

"Jack the Giant Killer" Trailer - Starring Nicholas Hoult

2011-12-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

Director Bryan Singer brings "Jack the Giant Killer" to theaters next summer. Based on the fairy tale, of the same name, the film stars Nicholas Hoult ("X-Men: First Class") as Jack, a young man who must battle giants in order to save the world. Hoult has been on my radar for several years now, having delivered exceptional work in the original British television series "Skins," and in the 2009 film "A Single Man." The cast also includes Bill Nighy ("Underworld"), Ewan McGregor ("Beginners") and Stanley Tucci ("Margin Call").

You can watch the new trailer for "Jack the Giant Killer" below.

DVD Spotlight: "Horrible Bosses" - Starring Jason Bateman

2011-12-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

The boss from hell. Many of us (perhaps all of us) have had to deal with a supervisor who delivered results, but had virtually no people skills. Maybe he/she was petty, vindictive and/or could not separate business from personal. Perhaps she/he felt the need to compete with direct reports, or was carrying on an affair during work hours. Some may be vertically challenged, while others are so insecure that they have to overcompensate by being a tyrant. But I digress, this is not about the so-called bosses I have worked for, but rather the recently released DVD of the black comedy film "Horrible Bosses."

Jason Bateman ("The Change-Up"), Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis ("Hall Pass") portray friends Nick, Dale and Kurt, respectively. They share a common bond in having to deal with insufferable bosses. Nick must contend with Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), an abusive, condescending jerk, who has no respect for his workers. In addition, Dale is being sexually harassed by his boss, Dr. Harris (Jennifer Aniston), who demands that he have sex with her, or she will tell his fiance that they are having an affair. Finally, Kurt used to have a great boss, until he died suddenly and then his drug addicted son, Bobby (Colin Farrell), was promoted and soon takes incompetence and nastiness to new levels.

The guys are so fed up with the way they are being treated that they decide to do something to permanently solve their problems - hire a hit man in the form of Mother****er Jones (Jamie Foxx). Jones prefers to be called a "murder consultant" and convinces the trio to do the killing themselves, but still insists on being paid a fee. The guys receive unexpected help from a series of mishaps, including a misplaced cellphone, jealous rage and a helpful car navigation system. Frankly, they need all the help they can get, thanks to their haphazard plans and the foolishness of Dale, who cannot seem to do anything right and does not know when to keep his mouth shut.

The majority of the performances featured here are solid and the screenplay, by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, delivers plenty of laughs and familiar, perhaps even relatable, situations. Kevin Spacey ("Margin Call") is particularly good as the nasty, but intelligent boss who refuses to let anyone get the better of him. Colin Farrell ("Fright Night") should also be singled out for throwing vanity out the window in his performance as the very unattractive Bobby Pellitt. Make-up and prosthetics are used to great effect to make the typically easy on the eyes Farrell look as nasty as possible. I also enjoyed seeing Donald Sutherland ("The Eagle") and Julie Bowen ("Modern Family") in supporting roles.

"Horrible Bosses" allows viewers to live vicariously through the put upon characters who decide to get even with their unprofessional supervisors. The material will likely be appreciated by anyone who has had to deal with similar individuals in the workplace. Of course, not all bosses are terrible, but it does seem to be difficult to find a good one. Maybe that can be the subject of another movie.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: December 16-18, 2011

2011-12-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

Robert Downey Jr. in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films, according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - $40.0

2. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - $23.5

3. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - $13.0 (Limited release in IMAX theaters)

4. New Year's Eve - $7.4

5. The Sitter - $4.4

6. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - $4.3

7. Young Adult - $3.7

8. Hugo - $3.6

9. Arthur Christmas - $3.6

10. The Muppets - $3.5

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" is Impossibly Good

2011-12-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

Tom Cruise returns as IMF (Impossible Missions Force) agent Ethan Hunt in the fourth installment of the popular "Mission Impossible" movie series. I vaguely recall the third film and I do not know if I have ever watched the first two installments, but I can say that "Ghost Protocol" is terrifically entertaining and will surely not be forgotten anytime soon. I was so impressed with Cruise's performance that I was reminded of the greatness he displayed in the films "A Few Good Men" and "The Firm," among many others. It is difficult to believe that Tom Cruise has been making movies for three decades, especially with the physically impressive performance he delivers in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol." At first I thought that special effects enhanced what Cruise was attempting to do while filming the scenes at the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, the tallest building in the world. However, a quick search of the Internet will show that Cruise did not use a stunt double while scaling the exterior of the building. That combination of fearlessness and dedication are just two reasons why he has remained a movie star for thirty years. By the way, Tom Cruise turns 50 next summer.

There are many reasons why "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" works so well. First of all, a talented cast with good chemistry is assembled around Cruise, including Jeremy Renner ("The Town"), Simon Pegg ("Star Trek"), Paula Patton ("Precious"), Michael Nyqvist (the original "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"), as well as a brief, but effective, performance by the peerless Tom Wilkinson ("The Conspirator"). In addition, director Brad Bird does not allow the action to slow down for a moment, as the covert team travels to various locales, such as Moscow, Dubai and Mumbai. Furthermore, the screenplay, by André Nemec and Josh Appelbaum, features an amazing amount of action, which is complemented by humor in many scenes, and also allows for character development of the newcomers, which is essential if viewers are going to care about them. Finally, the film was partially shot with IMAX cameras and watching it on an IMAX screen is breathtaking, especially the scenes shot at Burj Khalifa.

The action begins in the opening moments of the film, as the agents attempt to break Ethan out of a Russian prison. Soon thereafter, Ethan and his team are framed for a bombing at the Kremlin, which prompts the President to initiate "Ghost Protocol," which means that the IMF is no longer sanctioned by the government and must continue its mission off the radar and without further assistance. The man responsible for the bombing, Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), plans to start a nuclear war in an effort to rid the world of the weakest humans, while allowing only the strong to survive. Ethan and his team are tasked with stopping him from launching the missiles which could destroy the world.

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" was my first experience watching a film on an IMAX screen, which is the perfect venue for this type of film, especially with the non-stop action sequences. In addition, the already exceptional cinematography, by Robert Elswit, is made to look even more amazing on the giant screen. During the film, I could not help but think that "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" would have made a great summer popcorn movie, but I suspect moviegoers looking for a break from their holiday festivities will make this latest installment in the series into a huge hit. Since these films are made about once every five years, I wonder if Cruise will be able to duplicate his physically impressive performance in the next installment, when he is approaching his mid-50's. I suspect he will, while proving once again why he is and has remained a superstar for so many years.

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" is now playing in IMAX theaters and will open everywhere on December 21.

Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" - An Early Review

2011-12-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Dreamworks

Director Steven Spielberg has a unique ability to connect audiences with unlikely characters, such as an alien in "E.T." or with the dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park." In the upcoming film "War Horse," based on the novel, of the same name, by Michael Morpurgo, Spielberg succeeds in making a horse the centerpiece of the film while endearing the beautiful animal to viewers in a profound and unforgettable way. Spielberg relies on familiar themes, such as an appreciation of history and the horrors of war, as he presents a grand adventure that is one of his finest achievements to date.

During the outbreak of World War I in England, the Narracott family struggles to keep their farm operational. With the help of a single horse, the family is able to tend their crops, but face a setback when severe rains batter their land. With the crops in ruins, the father, Ted (Peter Mullan), decides to sell the horse to the Calvary, much to the dismay of his son, Albert (Jeremy Irvine). However, even though Albert and the horse are separated, the copious amount of time they spent together forged a unique and unbreakable bond. As a result, Albert is determined to get the horse back after the war is over and even has the reassurance of a military captain that the horse will be well cared for.

While serving with the British army, War Horse escapes after a fierce battle with German troops. Soon thereafter, he attracts the attention of two young men who try to hide the horse, and then later by a young girl, Emilie, who is being cared for by her grandfather because her parents have died. Once again, the horse manages to become a beloved and important part of their family, only to be found and taken away by the German army. Instead of being used primarily for riding, War Horse is used to pull heavy military machinery and vehicles, which is a tough physical burden. Despite the difficult circumstances, a veterinarian/trainer looks out for the animal's best interests and War Horse also forms an important bond with a fellow equine friend. While these events are unfolding, Albert is also serving in the war, but has no idea that War Horse is closer than he could ever imagine.

"War Horse" is a sweeping epic that features lush, beautiful cinematography and an outstanding musical score, by John Williams. The screenplay, by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall, creates an unforgettable bond between a young man and his horse that stands the test of time and even a world war. With the exception of a couple of scenes with throwaway characters who briefly become involved with War Horse, the two and a half hour run time passes by quickly. In addition, the performances are generally outstanding and newcomer Jeremy Irvine is very effective as the likable, loyal Albert, whose patience and love for War Horse might make even the most hardened viewer teary-eyed. The supporting cast features equally strong work from Niels Arestrup, as Emilie's grandfather, and the aforementioned Peter Mullan, as Albert's father, Ted.

While I was very much emotionally invested in the characters of Albert and War Horse, I did not find myself crying during the film. That is not because the material lacks true emotion. On the contrary, the relationship between Albert and War Horse is fully realized and heartwarming, but the screenplay gave me hope that everything would work itself out. However, there were several audience members sobbing/wailing audibly during the last 30 minutes of the film, so if you plan to see "War Horse," be prepared for an emotional roller-coaster ride. I should also point out that even though "War Horse" is family friendly, it is probably not appropriate for younger audience members because of the war themes and a few harrowing scenes. Otherwise, "War Horse" is a terrific film and one of the best of 2011.

"War Horse" opens December 25, Christmas Day

PopCultureGuy's 2011 Entertainers of the Year: Number 1 - HBO

2011-12-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: HBO

Original made for television movies, mini-series, documentaries and weekly series - HBO literally has it all. The pay cable giant had a stellar year in 2011 with the must-see series "Boardwalk Empire" and the still viable and solidly entertaining "True Blood," as well as the almost perfect mini-series "Mildred Pierce," starring Emmy winner Kate Winslet. In addition, several made for cable movies; "The Sunset Limited," "Cinema Verite" and "Too Big Too Fail" and the documentaries "How to Die in Oregon" and "McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice" were all outstanding. No other cable network delivers consistently superior programming like HBO and with future projects, including a regular series based on Stephen King's "Dark Tower" and an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods," it appears that may continue for the foreseeable future.

Two Dozen Stars Wonder What They Are Doing "New Year's Eve"

2011-12-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

Zac Efron and Michelle Pfeiffer

Director Garry Marshall gave us "Valentine's Day" last year and now "New Year's Eve" this year. If this so-called holiday franchise continues to be popular, there could be an endless number of films, which would be fine with me, as long as each one of them is entertaining and enjoyable. That is all I expect from these romantic comedy-dramas that throw countless stars into a film and mix them up like a blender.

There is no denying the talent that is present in "New Year's Eve." The cast features three Oscar winners; Halle Barry, Hilary Swank and Robert De Niro, who all are involved in the same storyline, which is a smart move. Of course, their story is not necessarily well written, but at least they are believable in their respective roles. I also think the pairing of Michelle Pfeiffer and Zac Efron was clever and interesting. Pfeiffer portrays Ingrid, an awkward and unhappy woman who needs to make significant changes in her life and she receives help from Paul, a much younger man who delivers items to her office. Efron gets credit for his upbeat, earnest performance and Pfeiffer is always a pleasure to watch onscreen, even with dark hair. In addition, I appreciated the vocal performances from Jon Bon Jovi and Lea Michele ("Glee").

The rest of the storylines are less than stellar, which is a shame because talented actors such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Josh Duhamel, Sofia Vergara and Héctor Elizondo are essentially wasted. I actually felt bad for Elizondo, who had to portray a Russian character, complete with a ridiculous accent. Surely there was something more substantial and less embarrassing for him to do. As you might expect, the majority of the storylines center around love, longing, misunderstandings and/or reconciliations, but most of them are not well executed. However, the positive thing to note about the the rotating stories is that if you became bored or irritated, you only have to wait a few moments for the pain to end.

Viewers who enjoyed the aforementioned "Valentine's Day" may appreciate the effort put forth here, but by comparison "Valentine's Day" is a much better film. That probably will not matter to those holiday viewers looking for escapist fare and "New Year's Eve" does not ask much from its viewers, except patience. So sit back, relax, clear your mind and watch all the pretty people try to find love and get lucky on "New Year's Eve."

Golden Globe Nominees Include "The Artist" and "Boardwalk Empire"

2011-12-15T12:38:00.003-05:00

"The Artist" scored six Golden Globe nominations, the most for any film, including Best Comedy/Musical, Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical (Jean Dujardin) and Best Director (Michel Hazanavicius). The film, currently in limited release, features virtually no sound and is shot in black and white, but has somehow managed to catch on with contemporary audiences. "The Descendants" and "The Help" captured five nominations each, including nods for Best Drama and assorted acting awards. George Clooney should be very happy with his three nominations for Best Actor Drama ("The Descendants") and Best Director and Best Screenplay for "The Ides of March." I am very pleased to see Brendan Gleeson receive a nomination for Actor in a Comedy or Musical for "The Guard," a film that I really enjoyed. Ditto for Christopher Plummer, who received a nod for Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Musical for "Beginners."

On the television front, two of my favorite series, "American Horror Story" and "Boardwalk Empire" are both vying for Best TV Drama. "Boardwalk Empire" also received nominations for Best Actor in a TV Drama (Steve Buscemi) and Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie (Kelly Macdonald). "American Horror Story" also snagged an acting nod for Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie (Jessica Lange).

The 69th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony will be held on January 15, 2012.
Here is a complete list of nominees:

Film:

Best Drama
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Comedy/Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Carnage
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn

Best Actor in a Drama
George Clooney, The Descendants
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar

Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

Best Supporting Actor  in a Motion Picture
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Best Actress in a Drama
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help

Best Director 
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Kaui Hart Hemmings, The Descendants
Steve Zallian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin, Michael Lewis, Moneyball
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March

Best Animated Film
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Rango
Puss in Boots
The Adventures of Tintin

Best Foreign Language Film
The Flowers of War
In the Land of Blood and Honey
The Kid With a Bike
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

Best Original Score in a Motion Picture
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Abel Korzeniowski, W.E.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore, Hugo
John Williams, War Horse

Best Original Song in a Motion Picture
“Hello Hello,” Gnomeo & Juliet
“The Keeper,” Machine Gun Preacher
“Lay Your Head Down,” Albert Nobbs
“The Living Proof,” The Help
“Masterpiece,” W.E.

Television:

Best TV Drama
American Horror Story
Boardwalk Empire
Boss
Game of Thrones
Homeland

Best TV Comedy or Musical
Enlightened
Episodes
Glee
Modern Family
New Girl

Best Actor in a TV Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Jeremy Irons, The Borgias
Kelsey Grammer, Boss

Best Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
David Duchovny, Californication
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture
Cinema Verite
Downton Abbey
The Hour
Mildred Pierce
Too Big To Fail

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Idris Elba, Luther
William Hurt, Too Big To Fail
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Dominic West, The Hour

Best Supporting Actor in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Paul Giamatti, Too Big To Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Romola Garai, The Hour
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie 
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce

Screen Actors Guild Nominees Include "The Help" and "Modern Family"

2011-12-14T16:00:00.001-05:00

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer from "The Help"

"The Help" earned four Screen Actors Guild nominations, the most for any film, including individual nods for Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain, as well as a nod for Best Ensemble. "The Artist" followed closely behind with three nominations, while many films, such as "J. Edgar" and "Moneyball," scored two each. Personally, I am most pleased with Christopher Plummer's nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in "Beginners" and he has a good chance of winning in that wide open category.

On the television side, "Modern Family" snagged five nominations, the most for any series, while "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Office" received two nomination each. I am beyond thrilled with Jessica Lange's nomination for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for "American Horror Story." In fact, that category is loaded with my favorite actresses, including Kathy Bates ("Harry's Law"), Glenn Close ("Damages"), Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer"), so it should be the most exciting to watch.

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be broadcast January 29, 2012 at 8:00pm ET on TBS and TNT.

Here is a complete list of nominees:

Film

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
“The Artist”
“Bridesmaids”
“The Descendants”
“Midnight in Paris”
"The Help

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Demian Bichir, “A Better Life”
George Clooney, "The Descendants”
Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis, “The Help”
Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton,“We Need To Talk About Kevin”
Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh, “My Week With Marilyn”
Armie Hammer, "J. Edgar"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte, “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer, “Beginnners”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer, “The Help”

Television

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
"Breaking Bad"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Dexter"
"Game of Thrones"
"The Good Wife"

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
"30 Rock"
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"The Office"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick J. Adams, "Suits"
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laurence Fishburne, "Thurgood"
Paul Giamatti, "Too Big to Fail"
Greg Kinnear, "The Kennedys"
Guy Pearce, "Mildred Pierce"
James Woods, "Too Big to Fail"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Emily Watson, "Appropriate Adult"
Betty White, "Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine"
Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"

PopCultureGuy's 2011 Entertainers of the Year: Number 2 - The Cast of "The Help"

2011-12-13T20:00:00.000-05:00

Viola Davis, who portrayed Aibileen in "The Help," is an amazing actress. Davis first came to my attention in the 2008 film "Doubt" and with minimal screen time delivered an Oscar worthy performance as a loving, concerned mother who was fiercely protective of her child. Thankfully, Davis had much more screen time in "The Help" and she should receive another Oscar nomination for her tremendous efforts.

Emma Stone is a rising young star, having delivered strong work in "Zombieland" and "Easy A." In "The Help," Stone proved that she could hold her own with a mostly veteran cast of imposing female co-stars. Her performance, as "Skeeter" Phelan, was the emotional center of this film, as she decided to take a stand and set things right, regardless of the any problems that would result from her decision.

Bryce Dallas Howard is an under-the-radar actress who played the completely unlikable Hilly, who was made to eat crow (or was it sh**?). Howard plays unlikable characters well, as she did in this year's "50/50", where she portrayed a woman who cheated on her boyfriend while he was battling cancer. However, Howard is equally adept at portraying more vulnerable and likable characters, as she did in the 2010 Clint Eastwood film "Hereafter."

Jessica Chastain - See Entertainers of the Year - Number 4

Octavia Spencer is so talented that all she has to do is use her facial expressions to elicit strong reactions from viewers. Her character, Minny, did not suffer fools gladly and she had the "audacity" to say what was on her mind, regardless of the consequences. Minny's strength was truly something to behold and Spencer's performance was truly unforgettable.

The cast also included the legendary Cicely Tyson, the always amazing Sissy Spacek, Allison Janney and Mary Steenburgen. While the women ruled this film, it was good to see Nelsan Ellis ("True Blood") and the great character actor Leslie Jordan ("Boston Legal") in small roles. "The Help" featured the finest ensemble cast of 2011.

Critics' Choice Nominees: "Hugo" and "The Artist" Score Big

2011-12-13T12:51:00.001-05:00

Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" and Michel Hazanavicius's "The Artist" lead the pack with 11 Critics' Choice nominations each, including Best Picture and Best Director. Of course, many of the nominated films are either in limited release or will be released over the next few weeks, but it seems likely that many of the nominees will receive additional recognition from various award organizations in the coming weeks. One of the biggest surprises is the support for Ryan Gosling's little seen film "Drive" which scored eight nominations, including one for Best Picture and Best Actor, for Gosling. "The Help" also captured eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (Tate Taylor) and four acting nods; Viola Davis (Best Actress), Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain (Best Supporting Actress) and Best Ensemble.

Personally, I was pleased to see nominations for Brad Pitt ("Moneyball") and Leonardo DiCaprio ("J. Edgar"), who are both up for Best Actor. In addition, the underrated comedy-drama "50/50" received a Best Original Screenplay nod for Will Reiser and "The Muppets" is up for Best Comedy. The Critics’ Choice Movie Awards ceremony will take place January 12 , 2012 at the Hollywood Palladium. Check out the complete list of nominees below.

Best Picture

The Artist

The Descendants

Drive

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

The Help

Hugo

Midnight in Paris

Moneyball

The Tree of Life

War Horse

Best Actor

George Clooney -- "The Descendants"

Leonardo DiCaprio -- "J. Edgar"

Jean Dujardin -- "The Artist"

Michael Fassbender -- "Shame"

Ryan Gosling -- "Drive"

Brad Pitt -- "Moneyball"

Best Actress

Viola Davis -- "The Help"

Elizabeth Olsen -- "Martha Marcy May Marlene"

Meryl Streep -- "The Iron Lady"

Tilda Swinton -- "We Need to Talk About Kevin"

Charlize Theron -- "Young Adult"

Michelle Williams -- "My Week With Marilyn"

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh -- "My Week With Marilyn"

Albert Brooks -- "Drive"

Nick Nolte -- "Warrior"

Patton Oswalt -- "Young Adult"

Christopher Plummer -- "Beginners"

Andy Serkis -- "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

Best Supporting Actress

Bérénice Bejo -- "The Artist"

Jessica Chastain -- "The Help"

Melissa McCarthy -- "Bridesmaids"

Carey Mulligan -- "Shame"

Octavia Spencer -- "The Help"

Shailene Woodley -- "The Descendants"

Best Young Actor/ Actress

Asa Butterfield -- "Hugo"

Elle Fanning -- "Super 8"

Thomas Horn -- "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Ezra Miller -- "We Need to Talk About Kevin"

Saoirse Ronan -- "Hanna"

Shailene Woodley -- "The Descendants"

Best Acting Ensemble

The Artist

Bridesmaids

The Descendants

The Help

The Ides of March

Best Director

Stephen Daldry -- "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Michel Hazanavicius -- "The Artist"

Alexander Payne -- "The Descendants"

Nicolas Winding Refn -- "Drive"

Martin Scorsese -- "Hugo"

Steven Spielberg -- "War Horse"

Best Original Screenplay

"The Artist" -- Michel Hazanavicius

"50/50" -- Will Reiser

"Midnight in Paris" -- Woody Allen

"Win Win" -- Screenplay by Tom McCarthy, Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni

"Young Adult" -- Diablo Cody

Best Adapted Screenplay

"The Descendants" -- Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" -- Eric Roth

"The Help" -- Tate Taylor

"Hugo" -- John Logan

"Moneyball" -- Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin

Best Animated Feature

The Adventures of Tintin

Arthur Christmas

Kung Fu Panda 2

Puss in Boots

Rango

Best Action Movie

Drive

Fast Five

Hanna

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Super 8

Best Comedy

Bridesmaids

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Horrible Bosses

Midnight in Paris

The Muppets

Best Foreign Language FiIm

Darkness

Le Havre

A Separation

The Skin I Live In

Where Do We Go Now?

Best Documentary Feature

Buck

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

George Harrison: Living in the Material World

Page One: Inside the New York Times

Project Nim

Undefeated

Best Cinematography

"The Artist" -- Guillaume Schiffman

"Drive" -- Newton Thomas Sigel

"Hugo" -- Robert Richardson

"The Tree of Life" -- Emmanuel Lubezki

"War Horse" -- Janusz Kaminski

Best Art Direction

"The Artist" -- Production Designer: Laurence Bennett, Art Director: Gregory S. Hooper

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" -- Production Designer: Stuart Craig, Set Decorator: Stephenie McMillan

"Hugo" -- Production Designer: Dante Ferretti, Set Decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo

"The Tree of Life" -- Production Designer: Jack Fisk, Art Director: David Crank

"War Horse" -- Production Designer: Rick Carter, Set Decorator: Lee Sandales

Best Editing

"The Artist" -- Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion

"Drive" -- Matthew Newman

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" -- Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall

"Hugo" -- Thelma Schoonmaker

"War Horse" -- Michael Kahn

Best Costume Design

"The Artist" -- Mark Bridges

"The Help" -- Sharen Davis

"Hugo" -- Sandy Powell

"Jane Eyre" -- Michael O'Connor

"My Week With Marilyn" -- Jill Taylor

Best Makeup

Albert Nobbs

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

The Iron Lady

J. Edgar

My Week With Marilyn

Best Visual Effects

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Hugo

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Super 8

The Tree of Life

Best Sound

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Hugo

Super 8

The Tree of Life

War Horse

Best Song

"Hello Hello" -- performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga/written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin -- Gnomeo & Juliet

"Life's a Happy Song" -- performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie -- The Muppets

"The Living Proof" -- performed by Mary J. Blige/written by Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman and Harvey Mason, Jr. -- The Help

"Man or Muppet" -- performed by Jason Segel and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie -- The Muppets

"Pictures in My Head" -- performed by Kermit and the Muppets/written by Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman -- The Muppets

Best Score

"The Artist" -- Ludovic Bource

"Drive" -- Cliff Martinez

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" -- Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

"Hugo" -- Howard Shore

"War Horse" -- John Williams

Opinion: The Second Season Finale of "Boardwalk Empire"

2011-12-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

I did not expect to witness the death of a major character on "Boardwalk Empire," but that's what happened on the second season finale, which aired last night on HBO. In retrospect, it seems obvious where the story was heading, but because I am a big fan of actor Michael Pitt (pictured), who portrays Jimmy Darmody, I just did not want to think that the writers would sacrifice him. Pitt was one of the reasons I started watching "Boardwalk Empire" when it premiered last year and I am not at all happy that he has now been written out, but I fully intend on continuing with the series when it returns for a third season next fall.

As shocked as I was at Jimmy's demise, I was even more surprised at the outpouring of emotion from fans of Michael Pitt (on Facebook, Twitter, etc), who clearly has a much larger fan base than I ever imagined. I am part of that fan base and have followed Pitt's career for many years, but had no idea so many other fans share the same sentiments that I do about the talented actor. I sincerely hope that Pitt's work is recognized at the 2012 Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Emmy telecasts. His recent work on the series has been completely heart wrenching and believable.

The finale set-up a few interesting scenarios for season three, as Margaret double-crossed Nucky on the land she was supposed to sign back over to him, former FBI Agent Van Alden is now living in Al Capone territory and who will inherit the Commodore's fortune now that Jimmy is gone? I hope it goes to his former maid, Luanne, like he intended. That would really stir things up in Atlantic City. Sounds like the makings of another outstanding season.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: December 9-11, 2011

2011-12-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Warner Brothers

Pictured: Josh Duhamel in "New Year's Eve"

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. New Year's Eve - $13.7

2. The Sitter - $10.0

3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - $7.9

4. The Muppets - $7.1

5. Arthur Christmas - $6.6

6. Hugo - $6.1

7. The Descendants - $4.4

8. Happy Feet 2 - $3.8

9. Jack and Jill - $3.2

10. Immortals - $2.4

Creative Podcasts, Music and Humor buoy "Plain Ketchup"

2011-12-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

The multimedia website Plain Ketchup offers a little something for everyone, including music, humor, recipes and even giveaways! Creators Lindsey Hinkel and Jaime Nelson offer a collaborative experience that encourage viewers/readers to get involved by submitting artwork and assist with their animated podcasts, which are creative and entertaining. The podcasts (known as MagCasts) feature a cool, colorful, retro look, but the material is certainly contemporary. Plain Ketchup also offers audio podcasts, Vlogs (video logs), and features a strong musical presence, with regular interviews and performances from various musicians.

Readers can follow Plain Ketchup on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and/or by subscribing to the monthly newsletter, which currently offers subscribers a chance to win merchandise. So, if you are looking for something completely different, entertaining, musical and contemporary, then take a look at what Plain Ketchup has to offer.

The Second Season Finale of "Boardwalk Empire" Airs Tonight on HBO

2011-12-11T14:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: HBO

Last week's penultimate episode of the sophomore season of "Boardwalk Empire" was one of the best episodes of any television series I have ever seen. The episode, entitled "Under God's Power She Flourishes," diverged from the series' typically deliberate pace and packed 60 minutes of unforgettable, shocking drama. The stellar cast were even better than usual, if that is even possible, and included an award worthy turn by Michael Pitt, who portrays Jimmy Darmody. Jimmy's demons were finally revealed in the form of a sexual relationship with his mother, Gillian (Gretchen Mol) (calling Dr. Freud!), which had been hinted about previously. Pitt perfectly portayed Jimmy's conflict and torment in an emotional tour de force performance. In addition, Margaret's (Kelly Macdonald) crisis of conscience may lead to her undoing at the hands of Nucky (Steve Buscemi), who still loves her, but cannot abide anyone who is disloyal, especially since he is trying to deal with criminal charges and an upcoming trial. Furthermore, FBI agent Van Alden (Michael Shannon) is now on the run, after he realizes that the truth about the man he unintentionally murdered last season has been revealed to his superiors, thanks to Nucky, who needs all the help he can get to fight the charges against him. Finally, it looks like the Commodore (Dabney Coleman) has met his fate, thanks to an enraged Jimmy. I hate to see Coleman leave the series, but his unexpected death was shocking.

"Under God's Power She Flourishes" played like a mini-movie, with outstanding writing, direction, performances and production values. I wonder if tonight's finale will be able to top last week's episode? I do not know if that is even possible, but I will definitely be watching. "Boardwalk Empire" has been consistently great during its first two years on HBO and I cannot wait for the third season to begin next fall.

"Boardwalk Empire" airs tonight at 9:00pm ET and again at 11:00pm ET.

PopCultureGuy's 2011 Entertainers of the Year: Number 3 - The Cast of "American Horror Story"

2011-12-10T20:00:00.001-05:00

Great ensemble casts are difficult to assemble, but every once in a while a group of actors are gathered together who are nothing short of outstanding, with no weak link to be found. Few television series have been able to achieve this, but the ones that quickly come to my mind are "Golden Girls," "Friday Night Lights," "Boardwalk Empire" and recent entry "American Horror Story." Fittingly, one of the stars of "Friday Night Lights," Connie Britton, leads the cast, alongside the brave Dylan McDermott ("The Practice"). Together, they portray the unhappily married Ben and Vivien Harmon, whose lives continue on a downward spiral after they purchase a haunted house that is home to anyone who ever died there - and the population is impressive. In addition to McDermott's strong, emotional work as the conflicted Ben, the actor takes chances, such as a nude scene. Did I mention that McDermott is 50?

The genius aspect of "American Horror Story" is that as long as the characters are killed in the house, they can remain with the series, which is one of the best of 2011. At this point, I would hate to see any of them depart, but I believe Denis O'Hare, who portrays Larry, is gone for at least a while (he is off to prison). However, there is no shortage of talent here, thanks to the award worthy work of Jessica Lange and Even Peters. While I expected a superb veteran actor like Lange to be great (and she is outstanding in every scene), I did not expect the amazing emotional range displayed by Evan Peters, who portrays Tate, the deceased son of Constance (Lange). While Tate is written as a cold blooded murderer with endless violent tendencies, Peters is somehow able to portray him with a degree of sympathy. How is that even possible for an actor who is only in his mid-20's?

Rounding out the cast is newcomer Taissa Farmiga, as Violet, the daughter of Ben and Vivien, and Frances Conroy ("Six Feet Under") as the Harmon's maid, Moria, who appears to Ben as a young vixen, portrayed by Alexandra Breckenridge. Even the recurring actors, including Zachary Quinto ("Star Trek"), Christine Estabrook ("Desperate Housewives") and Michael Graziadei ("The Young and the Restless") are terrific. The first season of "American Horror Story" will conclude in two weeks and I am not sure I can wait until next fall for the series to return. I may go through Rubber Man withdrawal!

PopCultureGuy's 2011 Entertainers of the Year: Number 4 - Jessica Chastain

2011-12-09T20:00:00.000-05:00

Jessica Chastain may not be a household name yet, but if you are a regular moviegoer, then you probably saw her in at least one of the four films in which she appeared in 2011. While I cannot speak to her work in "The Tree of Life," since I have yet to see it, I can say that she delivered great work in "The Help," "The Debt" and "Take Shelter." Chastain was simply heartbreaking as Celia Foote in "The Help." Even though Celia endured a series of miscarriages, she remained a kind, genuine and loving person. Chastain went blond for the film, which may make it more difficult to spot her at first, but her performance was undeniably memorable.

Jessica Chastain also appeared in the thriller "The Debt," portraying a younger version of Helen Mirren's character, Rachel Singer, a Mossad agent who tries to capture a Nazi war criminal. In "Take Shelter," Chastain portrayed the supportive and devoted Samantha, who dealt with her husband's apocalyptic visions. Samantha was the voice of reason for her husband and she stuck with him, perhaps longer than most other spouses would have. With just a few film roles, Jessica Chastain has already proven herself to be a tremendous actress with the talent to play a broad range of roles. I cannot wait to see what she does next.

PopCultureGuy's 2011 Entertainers of the Year: Number 5 - Ryan Gosling

2011-12-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

Ryan Gosling followed-up his critically acclaimed work in the 2010 drama "Blue Valentine" with a trio of solid and radically different films in 2011; the comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love," the political thriller "The Ides of March" and the violent action film "Drive." Gosling showed his ever growing range in each of those films by delivering strong, believable work. I think he delivered his best work of the year in "Drive," but the Indie film has garnered little attention because of its limited release. With awards season quickly coming into view, it will be interesting to see if Ryan Gosling receives any recognition from the various award organizations. In any event, there is no doubt that Gosling is on a hot streak and he has three additional films in the works that will be released over the next two years, including "Gangster Squad," co-starring Emma Stone and Sean Penn. Because of his recent film work, Ryan Gosling has become one of my favorite actors and I will make it a point to see any film in which he appears going forward.

Classic Christmas Movie: "Holiday Inn" (1942) - Starring Bing Crosby

2011-12-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

Bing Crosby is a friendly ghost of Christmas past, although I suspect many younger people may not know who he is, outside of a few Christmas songs played repeatedly on the radio during the holiday season. "Holiday Inn" is, perhaps, most famous because it featured the first performance of the legendary song "White Christmas," written by Irving Berlin and performed by Bing and Marjorie Reynolds. Bing would have huge success with another Christmas song, "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy," which was a duet that he performed alongside David Bowie in the late 1970's, shortly before his death, and the song remains a holiday staple, some three plus decades later. Crosby also helmed several memorable Christmas specials for television, so he is, indeed, a huge part of many people's Christmas memories.

"Holiday Inn" stars Bing Crosby as Jim Hardy, a musician/entertainer who suffers a personal setback after his business partner and would be lover, Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale), decides to continue performing with their business associate, Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire), instead of retiring with Jim and settling down. The heartbroken Jim soon moves to a farm in Connecticut that he hoped to share with Lila. After enduring harsh weather conditions and much hard work, Jim considers turning his farm into a nightclub called "Holiday Inn," which will only be open on public holidays. With the help of aspiring performer Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), Jim's new venture becomes a big success.

Soon thereafter, Ted reappears and announces that Lila has left him for another man. Jim then asks Ted to perform in his act and he soon becomes very interested in working with Linda. However, this leads Ted to develop romantic feelings for Linda, much to Jim's chagrin. Before long, Lila reappears and finds herself in trouble, so Jim and Ted attempt to help her, while also keeping up with their holiday shows. As the calendar moves from month to month throughout the year, the foursome attempt to deal with their various romantic entanglements.

"Holiday Inn" is not all about the Christmas holiday, but there are enough scenes featuring the sights and sounds of the season for it to be considered a classic Christmas movie. In any event, the debut of the song "White Christmas" makes this a must see holiday themed effort that features many terrific song and dance numbers and fine performances from the entire cast. Consider introducing "Holiday Inn" to your children and/or grandchildren this holiday season for a more complete Christmas experience with the timeless Bing Crosby.

Guns N' Roses, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beastie Boys Among 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

2011-12-07T19:05:00.001-05:00

While I am very disappointed that Heart failed to make the cut for the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, I am equally pleased that Guns N' Roses will be inducted during the annual ceremony to be held in April, 2012. This was the first year of eligibility for Guns N' Roses, as well as fellow inductees, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and both groups are certainly worthy of the honor. It will be interesting to see if Guns N' Roses will reunite for the show, since there have been major personal problems between the original members for years. The list of inductees also includes the Beastie Boys, Laura Nyro, Donovan and England's Small Faces (The Faces). In addition to Heart, Donna Summer, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Cure, War, the Spinners, Rufus with Chaka Kahn and Eric B. & Rakim failed to make the cut for 2012.

For additional information, including a complete list of inductees, go here.

DVD Giveaway - "The Real Face of Jesus?"

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Updated 12/22/11 - The giveaway has ended. Winner will be announced when confirmed.

PopCultureGuy, in conjunction with A&E Home Entertainment, would like to give one lucky reader the chance to win "The Real Face of Jesus?" DVD, as seen on the History Channel.

Product Description:
The Real Face of Jesus? follows a team of graphic experts as they use cutting-edge 3D software to bring a holy relic known as the Shroud of Turin to life. Many believe Jesus Christ was buried in this ancient linen cloth, which bears traces of blood and the faint, ghostly image of a man. With the help of modern technology, will the secrets of one of the world's most scrutinized and controversial artifacts be revealed?

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is send an e-mail to don.sauer@gmail.com and place "The Real Face of Jesus?" in the subject line. The contest begins December 7, 2011 and runs through December 20, 2011. One winner will be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter and will need to provide a shipping address at that time.

Open to U.S. residents only - 18 years of age or older.

Good luck and thank you for reading PopCultureGuy!

"The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1" - A Collaborative Artistic Effort Edited by Joseph Gordon-Levitt

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Regular readers of this blog know that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of my favorite actors. He has delivered great performances in several of my favorite films, including "Brick," "Mysterious Skin" and "50/50." Acting is just one of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's many talents. He is also a musician, writer and creator of the hitRECORD website, which encourages collaborations between artists from various mediums, all around the world. Many short stories (actually tiny stories) submitted to hitRECORD have been compiled for the new book, "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1" (It Books). Joseph Gordon-Levitt serves as editor and contributor for the 88 page book that lives up to its name and can actually fit in your pants pocket.

"The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1" is a collection of amusing, touching, creative and sometimes bizarre stories, which typically consist of just a few lines, similar to a Haiku. I like to think of it as a bedtime story book for adults that features relatable themes, such as love, loss, romance, hope and simple life joys, like reading. My favorite entry, which was submitted by Metaphorest, is the touching story of the Mumblebee. In just a few written lines, the story elicited an emotional response from me and I suspect others readers will have similar experiences as they breeze through this quality collection. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1" is the intellectual content, which one might not think possible because of the brevity of the material. Overall, this is an enjoyable, intelligent and unexpected treat that deserves to find an audience.

"The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1" drops today, December 6, 2011.

Classic Holiday Special: "Frosty the Snowman"

2011-12-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Thumpety Thump Thump, Look at Frosty go!

Great music, narration and singing by the legendary Jimmy Durante, memorable voice work from June Foray, Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon and Paul Frees, and a timeless story of friendship, loss and rebirth - the original "Frosty the Snowman" has it all. First broadcast in 1969, "Frosty the Snowman" has been an annual television tradition for more than 40 years. Produced by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, the same team that delivered the stop motion animation classic "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" is a television great that has stood the test of time and remains popular with generations of children, both young and old.

"Frosty the Snowman" taps into the innocence that we all experience, but seem to lose much too quickly. This is clear with Frosty's first words - "Happy Birthday!" - that he utters after being brought to life by a magic hat. Frosty shares that innocence with his buddy Karen, who helps him travel to the North Pole, so he will not melt. The fast friends share a heartwarming adventure, while dear Karen wonders if she will be home in time for dinner. With the help of their animal friends and Santa Claus himself, viewers are assured that Frosty will survive, despite the protests of Professor Hinkle, who insists upon the return of his magical hat.

"Frosty the Snowman" is a holiday treasure that literally captures the magic of the season, when miracles are possible. Sometimes the miracles are obvious, while other times we have to look for them, but they are there, even in today's ever cynical world. All you have to do is believe, which is a lesson not lost on Frosty and his friends.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: December 2-4, 2011

2011-12-04T21:00:00.000-05:00

"The Descendants," starring George Clooney, is performing very well in limited release.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films, according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - $16.9

2. The Muppets - $11.2

3. Hugo - $7.6

4. Arthur Christmas - $7.4

5. Happy Feet 2 - $6.0

6. Jack and Jill - $5.5

7. The Descendants - $5.2

8. Immortals - $4.4

9. Tower Heist - $4.1

10. Puss in Boots - $3.1

New "Dallas" Trailer for TNT's Upcoming Reboot

2011-12-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

"Dallas" debuts next summer on TNT, but curious viewers can check out what could potentially be a terrific reboot of the legendary series. Josh Henderson and Jesse Metcalfe will portray John Ross and Christopher, the sons of J.R. and Bobby, even though J.R. actually fathered both of them. The series will feature appearances by many original cast members, including Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray, which, I think, bodes well for the new series. Check out the trailer below.

DVD Spotlight: "Beginners" Offers Plenty of Charm

2011-12-03T21:00:00.000-05:00

Actor Christopher Plummer, like Clint Eastwood, is delivering some of the best work of his career during his later years. Two years ago, Plummer scored his first Academy Award nomination for his work in "The Last Station" and should be in the running to receive another nod for his superb work in "Beginners." Plummer portrays Hal, a man in his mid-70's, who announces that he is gay after his wife of many years passes away. Hal's proclamation stuns his grown son, Oliver (Ewan McGregor), who tries to understand how his father could have stayed married for so long while denying his true feelings. Writer/director Mike Mills based Hal's character on his own father, who went through a similar experience.

"Beginners" opens with Oliver mourning his father and attempting to settle his affairs. The film is then told in flashbacks, as Hal's story is fully revealed and Oliver moves on with his life, which includes a relationship with Anna (Mélanie Laurent), a woman he recently met. Oliver also inherits Hal's dog, Arthur, a precious Jack Russell terrier, who successfully attempts to communicate with him during their time together. I enjoyed watching Oliver, who has been largely unsuccessful with romantic relationships, try to start over with Anna, especially with all of the emotional baggage that he is carrying around.

The scenes I enjoyed most featured Hal emerging from the closet and adapting to the contemporary dating scene. From personal ads to frequenting dance clubs, Hal is ready to fully become the man he successfully hid for decades and lands a relationship with a younger man, Andy (Goran Višnjić), for his efforts. Plummer is able to convey many genuine emotions during Hal's journey out the closet and his performance is completely convincing. Hal does not appear to have many regrets about his life choices, but in a key scene he relates why he remained married for so long and his vulnerability is heartbreaking. I also enjoyed the scene where he learns about "House" music, which is played at the gay club he frequents, and he seems genuinely excited, almost childlike, about it.

There are times when I felt "Beginners" tried a little too hard to pull at the heartstrings of its viewers and I did not necessarily believe in the relationship between Oliver and Anna. However, most everything else feels authentic, from Plummer's scenes as the newly out Hal to the touching interplay between Oliver and Arthur. I also enjoyed seeing actress Mary Page Keller, who is shown in flashbacks, as Hal's wife/Oliver's mother, Georgia. I remember Keller from her work on the daytime drama "Another World," during the 1980's, where she portrayed Sally Frame Ewing, and it is great to see that she is still going strong and appearing in quality productions like "Beginners."

New Trailer for "John Carter" (2012) - Starring Taylor Kitsch

2011-12-03T12:51:00.001-05:00

Disney is hoping for a huge hit when "John Carter" opens on March 9, 2012. The film's budget is reported to be in the neighborhood of $250 million, so expectations are high for this first entry in a presumed series based on the sci-fi novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Taylor Kitsch, the breakout star from the "Friday Night Lights" television series, portrays the title character. You can check out the new trailer below.

Book Giveaway! Win A Copy of "Three Stooges FAQ" by Dave Hogan

2011-12-02T15:50:00.001-05:00

Updated 12/13/11 - The giveaway has ended. Congrats to Paul F. from Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, Bill R. from Des Plaines, IL and Ron O. from Stockton, CA!

PopCultureGuy, in conjunction with Hal Leonard Books and Applause Books, would like to give three lucky readers an opportunity to win the recently released book "Three Stooges FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Eye-Poking, Face-Slapping, Head-Thumping Geniuses" by Dave Hogan. You can read my thoughts on the book here.

To enter the giveaway, send an e-mail to don.sauer@gmail.com, along with your name and a reason why you love the Three Stooges. With the holidays fast approaching, this would make a great gift for any fan of the Three Stooges. The contest begins December 2, 2011 and runs through December 11, 2011. Three winners will then be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter and will need to provide a shipping address at that time.

Good luck and thank you for reading PopCultureGuy!

Visit Hal Leonard Books here.

"The Tea Party Guide to Being a Real American" by Roland Boyle

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Regardless of your political affiliation, there is no discounting the impacts that the Tea Party have had on the political scene over the past few years. Of course, not much remains static in politics, so who knows where the Tea Party will stand this time next year. In the meantime, socialists, liberals and other like minded people can find some solace in author Roland Boyle's recently released book "The Tea Party Guide to Being a Real American" (Sourcebooks). Boyle mixes fact with parody while "championing" the Tea Party and its most celebrated members, including Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck. The unrelenting spotlight is also shown on other well-known conservatives, such as Dick Cheney and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Roland Boyle plants his tongue firmly in his cheek as he discusses the evolution of the Tea Party, which includes a section on protest etiquette, a state by state guide to where "real" Americans live and he even tries to explain why Jesus actually wrote the Constitution. In addition, the chapter devoted to the Sexual Politics of Teabaggers turns into a scathing, often hilarious and spot-on analysis of the ludicrous hypocrisy that surrounds certain Tea Party beliefs when it comes to what goes on behind closed chamber doors, in the back seats of expensive cars and in hotel rooms paid for by political contributions.

Guns are another hot topic discussed in "The Tea Party Guide to Being a Real American." The author includes a cheat sheet on gun types, a list of the most gun friendly states and a list of would-be Tea Party members and fervent gun lovers who failed to get elected, including Christine O'Donnell and Joe Miller. Another chapter sure to cause controversy is entitled "This Land Was Made For You and BP," which examines the "Drill, Baby, Drill" mentality that has had such a negative effect on our environment. Of course, most of us will not be around to see the consequences of the oil and gas drilling free for all. Perhaps that can used as a rationalization for some people to continue those practices unabated.

If you have any liberal/socialist/sexy democratic folks on your holiday gift list, consider giving them the gift of parody/sarcasm with "The Tea Party Guide to Being a Real American." Roland Boyle attempts to deconstruct the Tea Party and their supporters with a passive aggressive tone that will likely leave you laughing all the way to the next major election. In addition, if you have any Tea Party members on your gift list that you really do not like, then this would be the perfect gag gift. If the recipients have any questions or concerns about the content of the book, just tell them that it is just as authentic as the character of Denny Crane (as brilliantly portrayed by William Shatner) on the now-defunct television series "Boston Legal." That should settle them down.

CD Spotlight: "Journey - Greatest Hits Vol. 2"

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Radio stations that specialize in album oriented rock are now, sadly, few and far between. The ones that remain are more commonly known as classic rock stations that feature bands who displayed an "arena sized" sincerity during their heyday of the 1970's and 1980's. Bands such as Boston, Kansas, Foreigner, Heart and Journey would have multiple new recordings playing on those once great stations at any given time.

My earliest exposure to album oriented rock was Journey's "Frontiers" album, from 1983. The video for the hit song "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" seemed to play every hour on MTV and the song quickly became (and remains) one of my all-time favorites. I eventually enjoyed listening to the entire album, but the first five songs were the best, in my opinion, and included the aforementioned "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)," "Send Her My Love," "Faithfully," as well as "Chain Reaction" and "After the Fall," which are both featured on the recently released "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" (Sony Legacy) from Journey.

Journey's new hits compilation features 17 tracks from various albums, including the legendary "Escape," the rocking "Frontiers" and the polarizing, more pop fueled effort "Raised on Radio," among others. Fans may be wondering why great songs such as "Stone in Love," "Still They Ride" and "The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)" were not included on the band's first Greatest Hits release. Unfortunately, many of the songs featured on "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" are rarely heard on the radio anymore, even on classic rock stations that seem to play the same songs from the same artists every day, with little deviation.

More than half of the tracks included here should be easily recognizable to any Journey fan, while other forgotten gems, like "Patiently," remind listeners of the power of Steve Perry's remarkable vocal range and the purity of his voice. Of course, I am a little biased, since Journey was my first "favorite band," thanks mainly to the "Frontiers" album and their earlier "Escape" effort. However, this compilation features more hits than filler, which is not always the case, and serves as a worthy successor to "Greatest Hits Vol. 1." Now that's all we need is a reunion tour, with Steve Perry on vocals. Please?

The 2011 Independent Spirit Award Nominees

2011-11-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

The silent film "The Artist" and the psychological thriller "Take Shelter" top the nominees for the 2011 Spirit Awards, which honor the best in Independent film. "The Artist" scored nominations for Feature Film, Male Lead (Jean Dujardin), Director (Michel Hazanavicius), Screenplay (Michel Hazanavicius) and Cinematography (Guillaume Schiffman). "Take Shelter" received nods for Feature Film, Male Lead (Michael Shannon), Supporting Female (Jessica Chastain) and Director (Jeff Nichols). One of my favorite films of this past year, "50/50," received three nominations, including Feature Film, but star and Indie darling Joseph Gordon-Levitt was shut out of the Male Lead category.

Ryan Gosling's little-seen film, "Drive," scored four Spirit nominations, including Feature Film, Director (Nicholas Winding Refn) and two acting nods; Ryan Gosling (Male Lead) and Albert Brooks (Supporting Male). Elizabeth Olsen received a nomination for Female Lead for her great work in "Martha Marcy May Marlene." Olsen's co-star John Hawkes is nominated for Supporting Male and the film is also up for Best First Feature. "The Descendants" scored four nominations, but star George Clooney failed to snag one for Male Lead.

Another film to garner multiple nominations, "Beginners," is up for Feature Film, Director (Mike Mills) and Supporting Male (Christopher Plummer). Look for my review of "Beginners" later this week. Other notable nominees include Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" (two nominations), "Cedar Rapids" (two nominations), "Margin Call" (two nominations) and "Win, Win" (one nomination).

For a complete list of nominees, go here.

The 27th Spirit Awards will be presented on Saturday, February 25, 2012.

DVD Giveaway - "Secrets of Christianity" 2-Disc Set

2011-11-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Updated 12/19/11 - The giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Donna R. from Pensacola, FL

PopCultureGuy, in conjunction with A&E Home Entertainment, would like to give one lucky reader the chance to win the 2-disc documentary DVD set "Secrets of Christianity," as seen on the History Channel.

Product Description:

This special collection attempts to unravel the mysteries of Christianity that have existed for thousands of years. Archaeological and historical sleuthing will reveal the details behind the following puzzles: The sea journey Jesus took and why it's been covered up. How Mount Vesuvius might have been more responsible for the spread of Christianity than Apostles Peter and Paul. What happened to the nails discovered in the tomb of the man who sent Jesus to the cross? Who was Simon of Perea and was he the messiah before Jesus? Did Christianity thrive within the very army that was supposed to suppress it? Did Christianity conquer Rome or did pagan Rome conquer Christianity? The answers and more lie within.

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is send an e-mail to don.sauer@gmail.com and place "Secrets of Christianity" in the subject line. The contest begins November 30, 2011 and runs through December 14, 2011. One winner will be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter and will need to provide a shipping address at that time.

Open to U.S. residents only - 18 years of age or older.

Good luck and thank you for reading PopCultureGuy!

PopCultureGuy's Top Ten Television Shows of 2011

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

1. The Vampire Diaries (The CW) - For the second year in the row, The Vampire Diaries takes the top spot on my list. No other regular series offers constant action, adventure, excitement and surprises. The extremely talented young cast is led by Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley, who are the heart and soul of the series, as well as the hottest trio on television. The supporting cast is equally impressive and includes Candace Accola, Michael Trevino and Joseph Morgan. This year's Halloween episode, "Ghost World," brought back many former (and deceased) cast members, including Taylor Kinney, who needs to come back full time. The Vampire Diaries is a consistently outstanding series.

2. Boardwalk Empire (HBO) - The prohibition-set, gangster heavy series is one of HBO's biggest hits, as it should be. The cast, led by Steve Buscemi and Kelly Macdonald, deliver Emmy-worthy work in nearly every episode. The writing, production values, music and performances all combine to make Boardwalk Empire one of the best shows on television. My only complaints are with the pacing, which is sometimes a little too slow, and with a couple of actors who insist on whispering every time they speak. Even with the volume turned up to its highest setting, I still cannot hear them! Did I mention that the amazing cast also includes Dabney Coleman, Michael Shannon, Michael Pitt and Jack Huston? Simply outstanding television, with a couple of minor exceptions.

3. The Closer (TNT) - Do not mess with Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson! Kyra Sedgwick delivers phenomenal work in very episode of The Closer and she allows Brenda to run the emotional gamut from a tough as nails investigator to a sincere pet lover who cries when her cat dies. The final season of The Closer, which concludes next summer, has been outstanding thus far and you would never know that the series is in its seventh season because it is still so fresh and watchable. Sedgwick's work should earn her another Emmy award next year. Her recent performances have been some of the best I have seen to date and I will likely go into withdrawal when the series finally comes to an end.

4. American Horror Story (FX) - Horror, mystery, sex, murder, rubber man and killer babies! What more could you ask for? How about sizzling performances from Jessica Lange and Evan Peters, who may both snag Emmy nominations next year. American Horror Story would never survive on broadcast television, which has never portrayed sex in such a honest light. Kudos to the cast for taking the performances to places I would have never expected and for embracing the material and making it believable each and every week. Stars Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott anchor a terrific cast who all perfectly inhabit their (mostly) bizarre and twisted characters. Not that's scary! Scary good!

5. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - For a (nerdy) show in its fifth season, The Big Bang Theory is still consistently funny and often hysterical. Jim Parsons (Sheldon) seems to get better each week and the growing supporting cast has made the show better, which in not always the case. Even the guest stars (Laurie Metcalf, Christine Baranski, etc) are terrific. Two requests - more Mayim Bialik and more scenes in the comic book store.

6. Archer (FX) - This animated gem, featuring a team of secret agents, was my favorite comedy series until it returned for several episodes in September. The recent multi-episode story arc was inconsistent and not nearly as funny as the episodes that aired earlier this year. In any event, Archer is one of the funniest shows on television. The writing dares to make light of subjects no other series would even think about touching, such as terminal illness and addiction. That adult aspect makes Archer unique and, at times, laugh out loud funny. The characters are allowed to say things that viewers can only think about saying, or they would get into too much trouble. The third season debuts in January and I cannot wait!

7. Teen Wolf (MTV) - No, this is not a mistake. Teen Wolf is terrific entertainment. Like millions of other men, Scott (Tyler Posey), turns into a wolf when the moon is full, but he is trying to learn to control his transformations with the help of his best friend Stiles (Dylan O'Brien) and fellow hirsute buddy, Derek (Tyler Hoechlin). The writing is consistently solid and features exciting and unexpected developments in almost every episode. The attractive young cast (OK, hot!) are all talented and believable in their respective roles. I am still surprised at how much I enjoy Teen Wolf and look forward to season two, which begins this spring.

8. True Blood (HBO) - The fourth supernatural series in my top ten lost some steam during its fourth season, but remains one the best shows on television. I think the amount of action during this past season came at the expense of the emotional elements that originally made True Blood so great. I understand that it is necessary to keep viewers interested, but I would like to see more relationship based stories in the future. I think shaking up the cast might be good for the show, too. Even though someone may die, that does not mean they cannot come back in one form or another. I hope to see more Alcide (Joe Manganiello) and Sookie (Anna Paquin) in season five and I am looking forward to the return of Denis O'Hare, as Russell.

9. The Office (NBC) - I was never a regular viewer of The Office until James Spader arrived on the scene, as new Dunder Mifflin CEO Robert California. I am now a fan of the series and appreciate the unique and hilarious work from the talented ensemble cast, especially Ed Helms and John Krasinski. I would like to see more development of Spader's character and learn what he really thinks of his team at The Office.

10. Once Upon A Time (ABC) - Fairy tale characters have generated ratings gold for ABC, as new entry Once Upon A Time has become the highest rated new drama series of the 2011-2012 season. The talented cast and exceptional production values are the hallmarks of this wonderful new series. Stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parilla and Jennifer Morrison are all perfectly cast and newcomer Jared S. Gillmore believably conveys the earnestness of Henry, a ten year old boy, who just happens to know more than everyone else around him. After only five episodes, I know that Once Upon A Time is a keeper.

Humor Spotlight: "Let There Be Facebook: Status Updates from God, Gaga and Everyone In Between"

2011-11-28T18:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what historical figures, such as Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere, could have done with a Facebook page? How about God, Adam or Noah? Thanks to the new book, "Let There Be Facebook" (Touchstone), by Travis Harmon and Jonathan Shockley, we no longer have to speculate. Readers may be surprised to learn that God demonstrates a great sense of humor, an alien race may have helped construct the Great Pyramids and Cleopatra's relationship status seemingly changes by the hour.

"Let There Be Facebook" is, of course, a parody. No person or subject is off limits to the humorous take on would-be Facebook pages of the famous and infamous. In other words, this book is not for the easily offended. For instance, Wilbur and Orville Wright have a bawdy and explicit conversation, Henry VIII tries to outdo Cleopatra, and Ben Franklin is surprisingly honest about what he likes. In addition, readers learn about Jack the Ripper's favorite song ("Cuts Like A Knife"), Babe Ruth has a conversation with a concerned fan and the Titanic's status is "Unsinkable."

"Let There Be Facebook" features many laugh out loud moments that may cause some readers to do more than one double take at the relentless and unapologetic humor. The page devoted to the News Feed is particularly nervy. In any event, "Let There Be Facebook" is a quick, easy and often hilarious read that should appeal to fans of Facebook, history, popular culture and of course, humor.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: November 25-27, 2011

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

"The Muppets" captured second place at the weekend box office, earning almost $30 million.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films according to early estimates (numbers are in millions):

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - $42.0

2. The Muppets - $29.5

3. Happy Feet 2 - $13.4

4. Arthur Christmas - $12.7

5. Hugo - $11.4

6. Jack and Jill - $10.3

7. Immortals - $8.8

8. Puss in Boots - $7.5

9. Tower Heist - $7.3

10. The Descendents - $7.2