The Latest in ShowBiz News

2010/04/06 at 12:00am

Bad Lieutenant: Port of New Orleans

04.6.2010 | By Jack Rico |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: R for drug use and language throughout, some violence and sexuality.
Release Date: 2009-11-20
Starring: William M. Finkelstein
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.badlieutenantportofcallneworleans.com/

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For those of you who have seen Abel Ferraraâ€™s original Bad Lieutenant from 1992, donâ€™t think that this new version, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, from director Werner Herzog is a remake, a re-imagining, or a sequel. It’s a stand-alone project worthy of your time and money. It is entertaining, engaging and oddly funny.

When we first meet Sergeant Terence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage), he’s a good cop, risking his life to save a prisoner from rising flood waters and suffering a permanent back injury as a result. When we next encounter him, six months later, he is receiving a commendation and being promoted to lieutenant, but he has secretly become addicted to vicodin and cocaine, the second of which he is stealing from the police store room. As his addiction escalates, his behavior becomes increasingly unstable, with his actions endangering his current case: a multiple homicide committed by local drug kingpin Big Fate (Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner). The walls start closing in on Terence, with a client of his prostitute girlfriend (Eva Mendes) sending goons to extort money from him, his bookie demanding that he pay his $5000 tab, and Internal Affairs going after his gun and badge.

As I remember the original Bad Lieutenant, one of the first films to ever receive an NC-17, has Harvey Keitel giving one the great performances on screen in the last 20 years. His acting was so honest and engrossing, that it made me look at NYPD cops in a whole different light. Ferrara himself added his trademark New York grit which was just as powerful as Keitel on screen. In this new version, German director Werner Herzog (Fitzcarraldo, Aguirre, The Wrath of God) known for his unforgettable documentaries, gives this worn out bad cop movie an injection of adrenaline that will satisfy fans of the original film and of his own.

Nic Cage gives his best performance on celluloid since Adaptation. He reminds us of the old Cage from Wild at Heart and Leaving Las Vegas. He is fully invested in his character and makes you wonder why he ever did Ghost Rider or Next? There were some over the top scenes, but I think it was simply a stylistic choice. Eva Mendes on her end, does a descent job in complementing Cage very well as the sexy, gritty and loving hooker heâ€™s in love with. For the most part, Evaâ€™s roles throughout her career are very similar. I would like to see her stretch her skills a bit as she did in â€˜Hitchâ€™, but these roles prohibit any chance of it.

Some portions deter from the movie being perfect, but nevertheless, itâ€™s the type of movie you walk out of the theater talking about for days.

Free tickets to ‘La Mission’ with Benjamin Bratt!

By Jack Rico

2010/04/06 at 12:00am

Movies

Free tickets to ‘La Mission’ with Benjamin Bratt!

04.6.2010 | By Jack Rico |

ShowBizCafe.com invites you to see an advanced screening of the comedy ‘La Mission’ starring Benjamin Bratt on Thursday, April 9th at an undisclosed theater in Manhattan, NY.

Synopsis: ‘La Mission’ is the story of Che Rivera (BENJAMIN BRATT), a San Francisco bus driver respected in his Mission district barrio for building beautiful low rider cars, yet feared for his tough and machismo ways. A reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, Che’s path to redemption is tested when he discovers that his pride and joy– his only child, Jesse (JEREMY RAY VALDEZ)– is gay. In a homophobic rage, Che violently beats his son, disowning him. Out of pride, Che loses his son – the “best friend he’s got” – and once again loses himself. Emotionally broken and vulnerable, Che is left isolated and alone. In a cathartic moment on the mean streets of the Mission, Che realizes that his patriarchal pride is meaningless to him, and that in order to maintain it, he has sacrificed the one thing that he cherishes most – love.

Send us your name and email to our COMMENTS section below and we will then proceed to send you the electronic ticket to attend the screening!

Good luck!

Tickets are limited and are allocated to a random sampling of respondents. Limit one (Admit-One) pass per person. Seating is first come, first served. No purchase necessary. While supplies last.

R for language, some violence and sexual content.

The theatrical release will be Thursday, April 9th, 2010. All winners will be notified by e-mail.

http://www.lamissionthemovie.com

Passes are not for sale.

‘The Expendables’ Trailer: Stallone, Arnold, Willis!

By Jack Rico

2010/04/02 at 12:00am

Movies

‘The Expendables’ Trailer: Stallone, Arnold, Willis!

04.2.2010 | By Jack Rico |

To the left of you is the official trailer to The Expendables. This is the movie that Sylvester Stallone has been working on for almost 2 years. I love the concept… unite the most prolific action stars from the 80’s in one movie. For people over 30, that’s like the dream action movie!! Well we have the final trailer and it has some cameos you’re gonna love. Check it out and get pumped!

Here’s the full synopsis just in case you’re wondering: (spoiler alert)

“The Expendables“ is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things arent quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the leader, the sage and the strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors. His is a true cynic who describes what he does as removing those hard to get at stains. The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Yin Yang (Jet Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and considered the intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.

When the mysterious Church offers Barney a job no one else would take, Barney and his team embark on what appears to be a routine mission: overthrow General Gaza (David Zayas), the murderous dictator of the small island country of Vilena and end the years of death and destruction inflicted on its people. On a reconnaissance mission to Vilena, Barney and Christmas meet their contact Sandra (Giselle Itie), a local freedom-fighter with a dark secret. They also come to learn who their true enemy is: rogue ex-CIA operative James Monroe (Eric Roberts) and his henchman Paine (Steve Austin). When things go terribly wrong, Barney and Christmas are forced to leave Sandra behind, essentially giving her a death sentence. Haunted by this failure, Barney convinces the team to return to Vilena to rescue the hostage and finish the job he started. And to perhaps save a soul: his own.

By Jack Rico

2010/04/01 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Warlords

04.1.2010 | By Jack Rico |

By Jack Rico

2010/04/01 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Last Song

04.1.2010 | By Jack Rico |

Of his six titles sent to the big screen, â€˜The Last Songâ€™ is Nicholas Sparks worst film. Most of the drawbacks hinge on Miley Cyrusâ€™ acting. She is officially on my list for a 2011 Razzie for worst actress. But perhaps the biggest problem with the film is the calculated, manipulative script that delivers phony, inorganic moments that donâ€™t seem plausible enough for any teenager or adult to believe. It has some feel good moments, but not enough to deserve praise. This is definitely not a date movie adults will enjoy, but rather a transitional primer young fans of Cyrus will be expecting from her in the near future.

â€˜The Last Songâ€™ centers on a rebellious girl (Miley Cyrus) who is sent to a Southern beach town with her brother (Bobby Coleman) for the summer to stay with her father (Greg Kinnear). Through their mutual love of music, the estranged duo learn to reconnect, but in typical Sparks fashion, some sort of calamity strikes.

Iâ€™ve seen Mileyâ€™s work on TV and Iâ€™ve seen her in concert. Her work seemed to embody the desires and ambitions of her contemporaries and it fit perfectly well within those parameters, but now her and her team of agents and managers are treading treacherous territory to put her in the same dramatic genre where the likes of Carey Mulligan and Anne Hathaway feast on. She isnâ€™t ready to act in these roles that demand so much of her limited emotional range. As a result, the scenes where she has to push and drive the emotional guts of the film fall flat. The rest of the cast do well, but Kinnear and Coleman are the highlights. Kelly Preston was probably the most irrelevant character in the film, she was never around.

Nicholas Sparks is a co-screenwriter here and once again we see the trail of sentimental tragedy he has left in his way. His recent â€˜Dear Johnâ€™ from last month, doesnâ€™t help either, if it hadnâ€™t been for actor Richard Jenkinsâ€™ gravitas and acting credibility, it could have been a low point for all involved.

Bottomline, you can find this schmaltz for free on Lifetime or Oprah, donâ€™t pay to see it here.

By Jack Rico

2010/03/31 at 12:00am

Reviews

Clash of the Titans

03.31.2010 | By Jack Rico |

The friend who I shared my screening with last night said, “Clash of the Titans was sooo bad”. I don’t necessarily agree, but have to admit it was light on the entertainment. The main problems is that it’s filled with a plethora of posed shots, cringing one liners and anticlimactic action sequences. The acting was subpar and I have seen better 3D films this year such as ‘IMAX Hubble 3D’ – those effects were unbelievable!

This rehash of the original 1981 film, which I didn’t really particularly care for, has ‘flavor of the month leading man’ Sam Worthington playing Perseus, the mortal son of the god Zeus (Liam Neeson), who embarks on a perilous journey of revenge to stop Hedes (Ralph Fiennes), the underworld and its minions from spreading their evil to Earth as well as the heavens.

The majority of the people who want to see this film is for the promise of seeing some unforgettable action scenes in 3D. If it’s the action that tickles your fancy, then don’t get your hopes up. There are 5 action sequences that the film revolves around. The best one? The scorpion combat which got my heart beating a bit. Save for that scene, the rest is not worth the price of admission. I was geared up for some major entertainment and it fell flat. What director Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, The Incredible Hulk) fails to understand is that action scenes don’t work when the audience doesn’t care. There’s zero interest in them here. Brad Pitt’s ‘Troy’ was just as bad, but it was more compelling and entertaining than this because the sequences were built up with much anticipation. In regards to the 3D imagery, this was also mediocre. The film was shot in regular film stock then converted to 3D. There is a BIG difference when this happens – images in real 3D feel like they are rubbing your face, this film barely registered a difference between 2D and 3D.

This film was supposed to be Warner Bros 2010 version of ‘300’. The look of the films are very similar, but the rating wasn’t and that makes all the difference. Clash is PG-13 and 300 is R. When you see ‘300’ it’s all about the graphic nature of the violence and the masculinity of the film. No need of talk, just head squashing. Clash doesn’t come close.

If you still want to see this film, save yourself a couple of bucks and watch it in 2D, the 3D experience is really not worth it.

By Mirna Lopez

2010/03/30 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

03.30.2010 | By Mirna Lopez |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG for some mild rude humor.
Release Date: 2009-12-23
Starring: Jon Vitti, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.munkyourself.com/

Go to our film page

If you enjoyed the adventures of Alvin and the Chipmunks in 2007, be sure to feel the same with Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. It contains the same main characteristics from the first movie. Once again, these cute and fuzzy chipmunks will entertain you with their music. Basically, The Squekquel continues the adventures of the pop sensations Alvin and the Chipmunks.

The chipmunks are attending school, and it is up to them to save their school’s music program by winning $25,000 in a battle of bands. Nevertheless, now the chipmunks have competition, The Chipettes: Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette. Adjusting to this new life style involving peer pressure, girls, and sports has become pretty difficult for Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

We do not hear Dave (Jason Lee) yelling “Alvin!” every few minutes, like in the first movie. His nephew Toby takes care of the chipmunks in The Squeakquel, and treats them slightly different as Dave.

The way everyone seems to ignore the fact that famous chipmunks are attending school, makes us wonder “why?” However, we easily make them fit into the environment, especially when another three female chipmunks arrive. Something we will have in mind throughout the entire movie is that the chipmunks are adorably cute. Being adorable is what makes the chipmunks unique and gives the special touch that both movies have.

Prepare yourself to see these sweet and clever chipmunks live as if they were humans. You will only enjoy “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” if you already think they look adorable. Otherwise, you will not receive the same effect as everyone else, who also liked the first movie.

‘Manolete’ with Penelope Cruz ‘Manolete’ gets release

By Jack Rico

2010/03/30 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Manolete’ with Penelope Cruz ‘Manolete’ gets release

03.30.2010 | By Jack Rico |

In his lifetime, Manolete, the legendary bullfighter, caused a stir living with his exuberant left-wing mistress beneath the disapproving glare of staunchly Catholic, 1940s Spain. Manolete, a film about this romance starring Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz, is raising eyebrows again – this time among the anti-bullfighting camp.

After a three-year delay, the €20m (£18m) British-Spanish production is expected to be released this week in Paris – to the outrage of animal rights activists.

“It is inadmissible to release a film in which the hero is a matador,” said the Alliance Anticorrida, a French anti-bullfighting group, in a message to its 20,000 members. “If they are properly informed, a great number of spectators will avoid this new film.”

The film, by the Dutch director Menno Meyjes, was supposed to be released as early as 2007, but has been beset with production delays, debts and a ballooning budget. Bullfighting scenes were reportedly shot without using real animals, which inflated the cost.

“Let’s thank Lola Films for making a compassionate choice for bulls,” said the US-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

In the film, a sombre Adrien Brody plays the matador from Cordoba enamoured with Penelope Cruz’s bonne vivante Mexican actress, Lupe Sino, who pines for a final glimpse of her lover after he is gored to death by the bull Islero in 1947.

The film’s producers and distributors have tried to reassure activists that the film – peppered with phrases like “I’m just your mistress; death is your wife” – is a story about love not killing. But the ever-growing anti-bullfighting movement appears unmoved. “It is forgetting a bit too quickly the images of Adrien Brody, his face and hands stained with blood in his torero costume,” the Alliance Anticorrida said.

By Namreta Kumar

2010/03/29 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Greatest

03.29.2010 | By Namreta Kumar |

The best parts of “The Greatest” are also its worst. Unfortunately, Shana Feste has created a film about spectacular moments but she failed to connect them.

This family drama is all about life and death. It is about loss and strength. Allen (Pierce Brosnan) and Grace Brewter (Susan Sarandon) are faced with the death of their son, Bennett. At that moment walks in Rose (Carey Mulligan), pregnant with Bennett’s child.

What stays with me after the end of the film are some very distinct moments. The honesty with which Shana Feste crafts her scenes is remarkable and is the high point in the drama. Each character has their own catharsis, distinct of the rest. For a second it seems to fool you into thinking that you are with them. However, as you move to the next scene that link is broken. The overall film suffers from this disconnect.

The most powerful connection the audience does make is between Allen and Rose when Rose takes Allen to a “Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead In” party. This is one particular moment to watch out for Brosnan and Mulligan’s performance and the layers that Feste has created in this moment of joint abreaction. Another powerful moment of association to watch out for is between Brosnan and Sarandon at the beach.

The greatest moments of the film are the ones that bring more than one plot in face of another, and unfortunately the lack of those moments leaves to many holes in the film. Unlike films like Crash and Babel, that have multiple stories that connect to some end, this film has a constant connection that does not justify parallel plots.

By Alex Florez

2010/03/27 at 3:31pm

Movies

Types Casino Bonuses

03.27.2010 | By Alex Florez |

Types Casino Bonuses

Who can say no to free money? Not too many people would turn down that offer, especially if it supplemented your online gaming account. Go forth with the knowledge that the amount of a to casino and rollover requirements generally apply.

First a player needs to know what types of bonuses exit. After that, said player needs to determine the size of the deposit and how much will have to be wagered in order to meet the bonus requirements. Before reaching that step though it is necessary to understand what types of bonuses exist.

Nice to meet you

A welcome bonus is pretty much straightforward just like the name implies. Players can receive this benefit when opening an account at an online establishment . Welcome bonuses (aka sign-up bonuses) are awarded as an incentive to get new players on board so that they will try out the casino and their games. often take the form of a match bonus (100% bonus) where the casino matches the player’s deposit up to a certain amount.

Nice to see you again

Reload bonuses are given to active players who have made at least one deposit at an online casino. Loyalty (or reload) bonuses are offered to players who have received a certain VIP status. That usually comes with a high volume of wagering and is given with the hopes of keeping the player coming back to the casino. Reload bonuses are usually larger and bring with them lower wager requirements than other types of reward programs.

No Deposit Needed

The majority of casino bonuses we have discussed require that a player makes a deposit to their online casino account before becoming eligible to receive a bonus. The first type is a simple bonus usually around $10-15 dollars and allows a player to try out some pre-selected casino games. They can keep the winnings after fulfilling some basic wagering requirements.

Preferred Deposit Bonuses

A preferred deposit bonus is usually in the amount of 5-15 percent. It is given when a player uses the casino’s favorite type on money transfer when funding their casino account. Some casinos have preferences with regards to how they would like to receive money; e-wallets such as Neteller, Skrill and Click2Pay.

As an incentive to use the casinos preferred deposit method, players will receive a bonus. The bonus system which includes the percentage and requirements is usually listed at the banking center on your casino.

From a player’s perspective, the advantage of this sort of reward is straight forward: You have more money to play with in your casino account. The disadvantage is that you have to use a specific type of money transfer to get the bonus.

There is also the choice of playing without a bonus. You will not have the extra money to gamble with, but there will not be any restrictions on which games you can play.