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The Latest in ShowBiz News

‘The Expendables 2’ has a new poster
Jack Rico
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2011/12/16 at 12:00am

Movies

‘The Expendables 2’ has a new poster

12.16.2011 | By |

'The Expendables 2' has a new poster

We just received the new poster of ‘The Expendables 2’, the highly anticipated action movie that assembles the greatest 80’s action stars in one film: Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris and Dolph Lundgren, amongst others.

The poster only has Stallone on it, but you can bet the others are going to want in. From our perspective, looks like a bomb went off outlining the number 2 on a concrete wall with Stallone looking on like a bad ass. This new poster looks much better than the original posters from last year.

Part 1 was #1 at the box office generating $266,159,621 worldwide. So why not come back and make some more cash! Stallone wrote this sequel, but he won’t be directing or producing. Sounds like he wants to take it easy on this one and concentrate on his “acting”.

If you have no clue of what’s going down in this second installment, The Expendables are back and this time it’s personal… Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren),Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) — with newest members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) aboard — are reunited when Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) enlists the Expendables to take on a seemingly simple job.  The task looks like an easy paycheck for Barney and his band of old-school mercenaries.   But when things go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them.  Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time – six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium; enough to change the balance of power in the world.  But that’s nothing compared to the justice they serve against the villainous adversary who savagely murdered their brother. That is done the Expendables way….

The Expendables 2

‘Extremely Loud’: 3 questions with Sandra Bullock
Karen Posada
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2011/12/15 at 12:00am

InterviewsMovies

‘Extremely Loud’: 3 questions with Sandra Bullock

12.15.2011 | By |

We had a chance to meet with Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock and newcomer Thomas Horn to talk about their new movie ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’. The film is based on the book with the same title that deals with the loss of a father during 9/11. We get to see it all through a child’s eyes and his search for closure. With Bullock’s witty personality and this prodigy actor it was a delightful interview. Read More

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Karen Posada
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2011/12/14 at 12:00am

Reviews

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

12.14.2011 | By |

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

This really is a treat for action lovers; ‘Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol’ is filled with relentless action almost all throughout the film. Seeing the film in IMAX made it even more enjoyable because a lot of the shots in the film are so thrilling that you feel like you are hanging on by a thread along with our main character Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise).  This film is one of the best action films of the year and it really lives up to the hype and fits in nicely with the phenomenon of all the ‘Mission Impossible’ flicks.

 

In this sequel Ethan gets some new team members from the IMF: Jane (Paula Patton), Brandt (Jeremy Renner) along with his old pal Benji (Simon Pegg). After a terrible misunderstanding between Russia and the U.S. the team is sent to try to stop a terrorist: Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), from detonating a missile that will start a nuclear war. The trick is that the team must complete this task on their own without help from the IMF, since because of the misunderstanding the president has shut them down and so they begin what they call “Ghost Protocol”. If the team is not able to stop Hendricks intricate plan, which involves using a satellite, then Ethan’s team will be blamed for the terrorist act and everything they’ve worked for will go down the drain along with their entire lives.

 

Cruise is the exact same Ethan we’ve seen in the past, he still performs amazing stunts and has the same strong character that seems to be untouched by anything physically and emotionally. We travel to Hungary, Russia, Dubai and India. The Dubai sequence has some of the best scenes, my favorite is Ethan having to climb the tallest building in the world with some “spider-man” like gloves. There are some interesting twists in the movie but one of its biggest flaws is the plot. The whole Russian/American tension just like in the Cold War era has been overplayed.

 

If you are a fan of the past Mission Impossible movies this one will certainly not disappoint, it connects it to the rest nicely. Director Brad Bird certainly made his own version of the series while still respecting those that already exist; the combination of both of these elements is what made this film maybe the best out of the Mission Impossible series. 

Steven Spielberg: In-depth interview about ‘Tintin’
Karen Posada
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2011/12/14 at 12:00am

InterviewsMovies

Steven Spielberg: In-depth interview about ‘Tintin’

12.14.2011 | By |

ShowBizCafe.com had the amazing opportunity to listen to Steven Spielberg as he talked about his new 3D movie ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ during the press conference. This is the story of a journalist invented by Hergé, a Belgian comic writer that created endless adventures of the boy reporter from 1929-1983. This was a story in the making for 20 years, Spielberg told us how that came about and what we should expect from it.  Read More

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Jack Rico
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2011/12/13 at 12:00am

Movies

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

12.13.2011 | By |

Review: Monty Alexander: Music of Sinatra & King Cole
Alex Florez
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2011/12/13 at 12:00am

Movies

Review: Monty Alexander: Music of Sinatra & King Cole

12.13.2011 | By |

Review: Monty Alexander: Music of Sinatra & King Cole

With a stunning backdrop of the Manhattan Skyline, 67 year old pianist Monty Alexander took center stage Saturday night hoping to wind back the clock and turn Jazz at Lincoln Center into Jilly’s Saloon, a famed Rat Pack hangout of the 1960s.

Accompanied by a group of masterful musicians and vocalists, Alexander paid tribute to his heroes Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole in a cabaret-like show with American standards such as “Come Fly With Me”, “My Kind of Town” and “L-O-V-E.” 

For the role of Old Blue Eyes, Alexander enlisted 22 year-old baritone James DeFrances while tapping charismatic jazz artist Allan Harris to play the “King.” Both traded classics and made for a “swinging session,” but the real delight here was the show’s supporting cast.

Blues guitarist Russell Malone’s haunting solo rendition of “Where or When” might have easily stolen the show. It was the one interpretation of the night that seemed entirely heartfelt and evocative of the nostalgia Alexander was looking to capture with this concert series. Also impressive was percussionist Bobby Thomas Jr., who seemed to hypnotize the audience every time he was given the spotlight.

Alexander’s appreciation for the music of Sinatra and Cole is sincere, and for jazz lovers the tunes are timeless and a joy to experience live – especially by such a talented bunch. But somewhere a note is missed when trying to strike the right tone.

While DeFrances holds his own as a singer, he underwhelms as a performer – never quite looking comfortable with the rest of the group. That, is not how we all remember the Chairman of the Board. Thankfully, Harris picks up the slack with his exuberance and Alexander’s anecdotes serve as a reminder that he himself is a direct link to the Rat Pack era.

‘New Year’s Eve’ steals first place in the box office
Karen Posada
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2011/12/12 at 12:00am

Movies

‘New Year’s Eve’ steals first place in the box office

12.12.2011 | By |

'New Year's Eve' steals first place in the box office

The romantic comedy ‘New Year’s Eve’ took the first place in the box office this weekend, with a high sum in the United States of $13.7mil and $26.6 mil world-wide, although the number of movie goers in the United States is at its lowest in three years.

Jonah Hill’s comedy where he plays the role of a babysitter, ‘The Sitter’ followed with $10millions.

Lastly, ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part I’ went to the third spot after it was in first place for the last three weekends, it accumulated $7.9 million dollars in dim ticket sales.

 

 

 

 

The top 10 movies in the box office are:  

1. ‘New Year’s Eve’ -$13.7millon

2. ‘The Sitter’- $10mil

3. ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1’- $7.9 mil

4. ‘The Muppets’ – $7.1mil

5. ‘Arthur Christmas’ $6.6mil

6.’Hugo’-$6.1mil

7. ‘The Descendants’ -$4.8mil

8. ‘Happy Feet Two’ -$ 3.7mil

9.’Jack and Jill’ -$3.2mil

10. ‘Immortals’ – $2.4mil

 

‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’: Karen Posada talks w/cast
Karen Posada
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By

2011/12/12 at 12:00am

Interviews

‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’: Karen Posada talks w/cast

12.12.2011 | By |

Karen Posada kicks back with two of the greatest living actors in England – Gary Oldman and Colin Flirth – to chat about their new spy thriller ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’. (Warning: you might just end up talking Spanglish with an English accent after viewing!)

Synopsis: In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6’s echelons. Read More

New York Film Critics Online chooses ‘The Artist’ Best Pic
Jack Rico
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2011/12/11 at 12:00am

Movies

New York Film Critics Online chooses ‘The Artist’ Best Pic

12.11.2011 | By |

New York Film Critics Online chooses 'The Artist' Best Pic

The digital film organization that I am a member of, the NYFCO (New York Film Critics Online), voted today for the best of the best in film for 2011.

There were some surprises for me, in particular, the animated category. I voted for Rango as the best, but the rest of my collegues felt strongly for Spielberg’s Tintin. I agree that on a visual, Tintin is extraordinary, but as a whole movie, the film dragged to point of boredom. Rango was intellectual, funny, unique, and had very adult themes.

Also interesting was Michael Shannon for ‘Take Shelter’ in the Best Actor category. He wasn’t  a favorite, but nevertheless, I’m happy he took the award as opposed to undeserved Clooney. Shannon is one hell of an actor. He was excellent in Revolutionary Road and was the best part of The Runaways. He should’ve been nominated for Best Supporting actor at the Oscars in 2010.

So many more deserved and surprising moments such as Melissa McCarthy for ‘Bridesmaids’ over Octavia Spencer from ‘The Help’ in the Supporting Actress category. Read on and enjoy the beauty that is film criticism during award season.

BEST FILM
“The Artist”

TOP PICTURES OF 2011 (alphabetical)
“The Artist” (The Weinstein Company)
“The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
“Drive” (Film District)
“The Help” (Walt Disney Pictures)
“Hugo” (Paramount Pictures)
“Melancholia” (Magnolia Pictures)
“Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“Take Shelter” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
“War Horse” (Dreamworks Pictures)
 
DIRECTOR
Michael Hazanavicius for “The Artist”
 
ACTOR
Michael Shannon for “Take Shelter”
 
ACTRESS
Meryl Streep for “The Iron Lady”
 
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Albert Brooks for “Drive”
 
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Melissa McCarthy for “Bridesmaids”
 
CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Tree of Life” – Emmanuel Lubezki
 
SCREENPLAY
“The Descendants” – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
 
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
“A Separation”
 
DOCUMENTARY
“Cave of Forgotten Dreams”
 
ANIMATED FEATURE
“The Adventures of Tin Tin”
 
USE OF MUSIC
“The Artist” – Ludovic Bource
 
BREAKOUT PERFORMER
Jessica Chastain for “The Tree of Life, “The Help,”The Debt,” “Take Shelter”
 
DEBUT AS DIRECTOR
Joe Cornish for “Attack the Block”
 
ENSEMBLE CAST
“Bridesmaids”

New Year’s Eve
Karen Posada
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By

2011/12/07 at 12:00am

Reviews

New Year’s Eve

12.7.2011 | By |

New Year's Eve

There’s not much to expect from ‘New Year’s Eve’, unfortunately this movie with so many well known actors doesn’t have much to give; not even entertainment value.  I can’t help but compare it with Garry Marshall’s ‘Valentine’s Day’, the director used the exact same recipe here: tie in about 7 stories and try to use some humor along with drama on the biggest holiday of the year.  It’s tough to get the audience to care about a character with so many things going on and so many stories to follow, you don’t get much of a background on the characters and just when you are starting to get into one of the stories it changes to the next one. The biggest star in the movie is of course New York City, a place where the holidays; New Year’s Eve in particular is like no other.

 

The film is an analogy to new beginnings, looking back in the past and pushing the rewind button to not make the same mistakes and to accomplish the resolutions we procrastinated on. The only story that has a little substance is that of Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) a woman who has followed the same routine for years and worked endlessly without being appreciated until one day she decides to change it all and we have a little fun with her exploring NYC. We basically follow around the whole cast as they prepare for midnight, some are anxious about their midnight kiss, others are anti-holiday, others are nostalgic about the year that has passed and others are too busy working to care about the holiday. The love stories are predictable and boring, there are some minor twists but not exiting enough to improve the movie. 

 

The audience was surprised with some guest appearances, but we already had enough of a cast for me to find it necessary. The Hispanics in the movie Ava (Sofia Vergara) and Kominsky (Hector Elizondo) have small supporting roles, Vergara plays the exact same character she does in her hit show ‘Modern Family’ with awkward anecdotes and childish behavior, who knows if they’ll ever cast her as something besides a stereotype. Elizondo is always a Marshall aka the help, so no surprise there.

 

A 2 hour-long movie of running around is exhaustingly boring, the movie has a nice (not original) concept but it’s not enough. I’m not sure how I feel seeing Academy Award winners such as Halle Berry and Hilary Swank in such petty roles that seem to be for amateurs. The only thing this movie inspired in me is a curiosity to actually be crazy enough to see the ball drop live in Times Square and I enjoyed recognizing the different sights in NYC, such as Smith Street in Brooklyn towards the end of the film.      

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