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The Latest in ShowBiz News

Dear John
Jack Rico
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By

2010/02/07 at 12:00am

Reviews

Dear John

02.7.2010 | By |

Dear John

The great classic romance movies of history such as Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, even Titanic, have served as a measuring bar for today’s love stories. Lasse Hallstrom’s ‘Dear John’, based on Nicholas Sparks book, should not by any means be compared to the aforementioned, but it also shouldn’t be discarded as syrupy blather. Rather, it is a likable, warm story that manages to rouse a tear and perhaps incite a small swelling in the throat. I would not label it a typical run of the mill ‘tearjerker’, but it has a few moments that garners your emotional attention.

The film revolves around the love letters a soldier (Channing Tatum) and a young woman (Amanda Seyfried) share for a few years. John meets Savannah at the beach near his home and they eventually begin dating, but as soon as 9/11 happens he has to pick between her and the duties of war. How it turns out is for you to see.

‘Dear John’ isn’t going to devastate you or scar you emotionally. It is not Nicholas Sparks best, but it manages to awaken some sentiments of sadness, anger and loss that can be attributed to some descent acting and empathic screenwriting. The best part of the movie is Richard Jenkin’s performance as John’s father. His scene near the end provides perhaps the most compelling and dramatic scene of the movie. If you haven’t seen the wonderful, but small film The Visitor, try and squeeze it into you Netflix queue to see and appreciate Jenkin’s Oscar nominated performance. Just marvelous.

This valentines week’s film options should be an easy romantic choosing – Dear John over Valentine’s Day. The former is a failure in so many levels. Whether it is your other half or just a friend, Dear John is your best watch for eliciting some of those valentines sentiments your looking to draw out.

‘Mun2’ to begin Friday night movie series
Jack Rico
0

By

2010/02/05 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Mun2’ to begin Friday night movie series

02.5.2010 | By |

'Mun2' to begin Friday night movie series

Mun2 is setting the stage for a new Friday night movie showcase.

The NBC Universal-owned cable network aimed at bicultural U.S. Latinos will bow “Have You Cine” on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) with drama Harsh Times, starring Christian Bale and Eva Longoria. Mun2 will flank the linear offering with online interviews with actors and movie makers via holamun2.com/cine.

In addition to the weekly Friday night movie showcase, the network will continue offering the exclusive, “Have You Cine Chronicles,” a weekly short-form vignette covering the biggest movies out in theaters. The capsules will premiere as part of the network’s entertainment show, The mun2 Shuffle and will run throughout the programming day within mun2’s music blocks.

“Mun2 has been committed to movies for the past few years, bringing our audience exclusive interviews with artists ranging from Hugh Jackman to Gael Garcia Bernal,” said Flavio Morales, senior vice president programming and production for mun2. “The Have You Cine‘ franchise has evolved, as do the needs of our audience, and we’re excited to not only offer them this fresh, new movie line-up, but also bring our viewers closer to their favorite stars via holamun2.com.”

The rest of the Have You Cine Friday-night lineup this month: Feb. 12, Talento de Barrio, starring Daddy Yankee;

Feb. 19, Chasing Papi, starring Sofia Vergara and Roselyn Sanchez;  and Feb. 26, Fast Lane, starring Melina Lizette and Kenyetta Lethridge.

Valentine’s Day
Jack Rico
0

By

2010/02/04 at 12:00am

Reviews

Valentine’s Day

02.4.2010 | By |

Valentine's Day
Zombieland
Alex Florez
0

By

2010/02/02 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Zombieland

02.2.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: R for horror violence/gore and language.
Release Date: 2009-10-02
Starring: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.zombieland.com/

 Go to our film page

 

With a jaunty title like Zombieland, you know you’re in for a senseless horror comedy. Now that’s just fine, but the surprise here is that it’s more of a buddy road movie with a teen romance sandwiched in between. Come to think of it, this film attempts to do the nearly impossible – get loyal zombie fans and mainstream folk to share the same theater.

 

For those seeking an alternative to Michael Moore’s latest leftist documentary this weekend, Zombieland is as bipartisan as it gets.  It has a little something in it for everyone.

Here’s the premise: two men have somehow found a way to survive a world overrun by walking corpses. Not surprisingly, Jesse Eisenberg (The Jheri-curled version of Michael Cera) plays the cowardly, anti-social one with a smart mouth. The other guy, the AK-toting, zombie-slaying bad ass is gladly played by Woody Harrelson. 

 

Along the way, these two join forces with a pair of sharp-witted, self-serving sisters (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) that can certainly hold their own. These four are then forced to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

As a horror film, Zombieland won’t scare you. It’s much too glossy and stylized for that.  As a comedy, it packs enough one-liners to keep you from yawning. And as a teen romance, the movie sniffs around the cheese. Lucky for viewers however, the chemistry between the actors is radiant.  The fun they had while making this film is evident and their energy is contagious. Notwithstanding, first time director Ruben Fleischer knows how cliched these movies can be and makes sure to surprise you along the way to make it as memorable as possible.

The House of the Devil
Jack Rico
0

By

2010/02/02 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The House of the Devil

02.2.2010 | By |

Rating: 4.0

Rated: R for some bloody violence.
Release Date: 2009-10-30
Starring: Ti West
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: No disponible.

 Go to our film page

From Paris with Love
Jack Rico
0

By

2010/02/02 at 12:00am

Reviews

From Paris with Love

02.2.2010 | By |

From Paris with Love

When it comes to action movies ‘From Paris With Love’ delivers. It’s not the best action film since Wanted, but it did do a good job of extracting a few ‘ooooohs’ and ‘aaaaahs’ from me. I must confess that according to the trailer, the film looked worse to me than what it was. Perhaps this is why I think better of the film, because I was expecting pure detritus. What you need to know is that John Travolta – though he might look a tad silly, one gets over it quickly – is once again intense, amusing and entertaining. Johnathan Rhys Meyers looks like an amateur actor and disappoints tremendously all the while french director Pierre Morel (Taken) is the new John Woo! When people talk about action directors such as Guy Ritchie, Woo and Luc Besson, Morel has to now be a part of the conversation.

The storyline has some interesting twists and turns, enough to dial you in. While in Paris, a young employee (Johnathan Rhys Meyers) in the office of the US Ambassador hooks up with an American spy (John Travolta) looking to stop a terrorist attack in the City of Lights.

This is the type of film you go to when you had a stressful week at work or at home and feel like seeing someone splatter some person’s brain on the wall with a semiautomatic silencer. Definitely a stress reliever.

Jack Rico’s 2010 Oscar Nomination Predictions
Jack Rico
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By

2010/02/01 at 12:00am

Movies

Jack Rico’s 2010 Oscar Nomination Predictions

02.1.2010 | By |

Jack Rico's 2010 Oscar Nomination Predictions

With less than 24 hours away from the 2010 Oscar nomination announcements, most of us movie critics are thinking who the Oscar committee will pick as the Top 10 films this year. Will the comedy ‘The Hangover‘ make a surprise appearance this year? How about ‘Up‘ which I think is one of the best films of the year overall.

Here at ShowBizCafe.com, I got together with our staff and decided to predict the nominees in the top 10 categories. In the Foreign Film department, 9 finalists made it and two of them are Latin American, there is an Argentinean film and Peruvian film in the mix. I picked both because they’re that good, but looks like Haneke’s ‘The White Ribbon’ will take major honors.

Closer to the Oscar Awards in March, I’ll give you my take on the winners.

Without any more delays, check out my 2010 Oscar Nominees Predictions:

Best Picture
Precious
The Hurt Locker
Up in the Air
Inglorious Basterds
Avatar
Up
District 9
500 Days of Summer
A Single Man
An Education

Best Director
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Maggie Gyllenhall, Crazy Heart
Helen Mirren, The Last Station

Best Actor
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Morgan Freeman, Invictus

Best Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, Precious
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Julianne Moore, A Single Man
Diane Kruger, Inglorious Basterds

Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Matt Damon, Invictus
Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker

Original Screenplay
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
Pete Docter & Bob Peterson, Up
Scott Neustatder & Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Adapted Screenplay
Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell, District 9
Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious
Nick Hornby, An Education
Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

Animated Feature
Up
Coraline
9
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Mary and Max

Foreign Language Film
The White Ribbon – Germany
A Prophet – France
El Secreto de Sus Ojos – Argentina
Winter in Wartime – The Netherlands
The Milk of Sorrow – Peru

When in Rome
Jack Rico
0

By

2010/01/30 at 12:00am

Reviews

When in Rome

01.30.2010 | By |

When in Rome

‘When in Rome’ is everything that is bad with movies nowadays. A romantic comedy with a recycled and absurd premise, vacuous humor, and a script as predictable as the weather in LA. These are the types of movies that you should never pay to see for many reasons including a lack of soul, depth or real substance to any of these characters. Everything ssems to be a fantasy passed off as reality and the producers must think we are the fools that will buy it.

Here’s the storyline. Beth (Bell) is a young, ambitious New Yorker who is completely unlucky in love. However, when she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love during a whirlwind trip to Rome, she finds herself aggressively pursued by a band of suitors with one of them becoming her one true love.

The protagonists seem to be better than what the script constrained them to. Kristen Bell showed promise in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Josh Duhamel (who looks like Joey Lawrence’s long lost twin brother) could be either an action leading man in his future or continue to do rom-com’s. The acting wasn’t the big problem, the screenwriters, David Diamond, David Weissman and the director Mark Steven Johnson are fully responsible for this ignominious failure.

The standard for today’s romantic comedy was set with Rob Reiner’s ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and some would argue Woody Allen’s ‘Annie Hall’. But ‘When in Rome’ looks like a disaster from the onset and should not be worth your time or money at the movies. Perhaps a DVD pick? Not even. It is one of the worst movies of the year.

Edge of Darkness
Karen Posada
0

By

2010/01/29 at 12:00am

Reviews

Edge of Darkness

01.29.2010 | By |

Edge of Darkness

‘Edge of Darkness‘ was directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) who also directed the English mini-series from the 80’s with the same title on which the movie is based on. Not being familiar with the mini-series I thought the previews had given too much away and I could guess the outcome of it. I was wrong. There are many surprising moments and twists that have you guessing and wanting to know more. The story unfolds nicely and though at times it is hard to understand Gibson’s mumbles as well Winstone’s english accent, I enjoyed the thrilling ride.

This is the story of a Boston police investigator in the quest to find out who brutally shot his daughter and the reason why. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is a widowed parent who has a estranged relationship with his only daughter Emma (Bojana Novakovic), he seems to love her deeply but know very little about her life. Once she’ shot he’s got nothing to loose and decides to put justice in his own hands. On his road to finding his daughter’s killer he opens up a can of worms and finds himself in the middle of a big corporation/governmental plot. In this quest he ends up getting to know his daughter more than he did when she was alive and finds that her principals were just what he taught her. A professional killer (Ray Winstone) sent to kill Craven proves to be his only ‘friend’ through his dilemma, a character that complements him well. Craven states the premise of the movie perfectly ” you had better decide whether you are hanging on the cross or banging in the nails”, this is exactly what the film makes us think of as we are introduced to new settings and characters.

The one thing that bothered me about the film were the moments where Craven hallucinates hearing and seeing his daughter as a child and an adult, there was no need to play the crazy card; his irreparable pain was enough and his misplaced anger worked to show it. Craven acting as a superhero for the later part of the film would have bother me except that knowing he’s a father that finds himself on ‘the edge of darkness’ and his only purpose is to revenge his daughter’s death lets me accept his ‘superpowers’.

Gibson’s words from our interview resonated as the movie continued, I got the connection he made to Jacobean tragedies and this film and you will too. It is a film that does make you think about how much power the government and how little we may be able to do about it. For those that know the series they might not find it as appealing as they already expect the shocking moments but it may appeal to them to see it under a new light. At some points the thought provoking plot does get in the way of the action but the moments of surprise make it worth it.

‘Edge of Darkness’ movie review
Karen Posada
0

By

2010/01/28 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Edge of Darkness’ movie review

01.28.2010 | By |

'Edge of Darkness' movie review

‘Edge of Darkness‘ was directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) who also directed the English mini-series from the 80’s with the same title on which the movie is based on. Not being familiar with the mini-series I thought the previews had given too much away and I could guess the outcome of it. I was wrong. There are many surprising moments and twists that have you guessing and wanting to know more. The story unfolds nicely and though at times it is hard to understand Gibson’s mumbles as well Winstone’s english accent, I enjoyed the thrilling ride.

This is the story of a Boston police investigator in the quest to find out who brutally shot his daughter and the reason why. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is a widowed parent who has a estranged relationship with his only daughter Emma (Bojana Novakovic), he seems to love her deeply but know very little about her life. Once she’ shot he’s got nothing to loose and decides to put justice in his own hands. On his road to finding his daughter’s killer he opens up a can of worms and finds himself in the middle of a big corporation/governmental plot. In this quest he ends up getting to know his daughter more than he did when she was alive and finds that her principals were just what he taught her. A professional killer (Ray Winstone) sent to kill Craven proves to be his only ‘friend’ through his dilemma, a character that complements him well. Craven states the premise of the movie perfectly ” you had better decide whether you are hanging on the cross or banging in the nails”, this is exactly what the film makes us think of as we are introduced to new settings and characters.

The one thing that bothered me about the film were the moments where Craven hallucinates hearing and seeing his daughter as a child and an adult, there was no need to play the crazy card; his irreparable pain was enough and his misplaced anger worked to show it. Craven acting as a superhero for the later part of the film would have bother me except that knowing he’s a father that finds himself on ‘the edge of darkness’ and his only purpose is to revenge his daughter’s death lets me accept his ‘superpowers’.

Gibson’s words from our interview resonated as the movie continued, I got the connection he made to Jacobean tragedies and this film and you will too. It is a film that does make you think about how much power the government and how little we may be able to do about it. For those that know the series they might not find it as appealing as they already expect the shocking moments but it may appeal to them to see it under a new light. At some points the thought provoking plot does get in the way of the action but the moments of surprise make it worth it.

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