The Latest in ShowBiz News

‘The Addams Family’ is headed to Broadway

2009/07/22 at 12:00am

‘The Addams Family’ is headed to Broadway

07.22.2009 | By Jack Rico |

The new musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will open Thursday, April 8, 2010 at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). Previews begin Thursday, March 4, 2010 following a pre-Broadway engagement at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre in Chicago that begins Friday, November 13, 2009.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is produced by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt and Five Cent Productions, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical.

Starring two-time Tony Award winners Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia, THE ADDAMS FAMILY features two-time Tony Award nominee Terrence Mann as Mal Beineke, two-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello as Alice Beineke, two-time Tony Award nominee Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester, Jackie Hoffman as Grandmama, Zachary James as Lurch, Adam Riegler as Pugsley, Wesley Taylor as Lucas Beineke and Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (librettists of the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Jersey Boys), music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award-winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), direction and design by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter, The Metropolitan Opera’s Satyagraha) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Next to Normal, Jersey Boys).

In this original story, the famously macabre Addams Family is put to the test when outsiders come to dinner, hurling Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Fester, Grandmama and Lurch headlong into a night that will change the family forever.

In a prolific career spanning six decades, Charles Addams created several thousand cartoons, sketches and drawings, many of which were published in The New Yorker. But it was his creation of characters that came to be known as The Addams Family that brought Addams his greatest acclaim. With a unique style that combined the twisted, macabre and just plain weird with charm, wit and enchantment, Addams’ drawings have entertained millions worldwide and served as the inspiration for multiple television series and motion pictures.

For more information on THE ADDAMS FAMILY, visit www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com.

By Alex Florez

2009/07/21 at 12:00am

Reviews

Watchmen (Movie Review)

07.21.2009 | By Alex Florez |

Film goers, be warned. Watchmen is no ordinary superhero movie, but itâ€™s also not an extraordinary one. Read More

By Jack Rico

2009/07/20 at 12:00am

Reviews

G-Force

07.20.2009 | By Jack Rico |

Rated: PG for some mild action and rude humor.
Release Date: 2009-07-24
Starring: Cormac Wibberley, Marianne Wibberley
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/gforce/

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I have to hand it Jerry Bruckheimer, is there anything this man can’t do? I never thought he could pull off a family animation film and he has without a flaw. ‘G-Force,’ Disney’s new animated 3-D movie experience is a wonderful and fun film that kids as well as parents can enjoy. My wife who is in her 40’s loved it and laughed intensely throughout the film, particularly, at Tracey Morgan’s guinea pig character ‘Blaster’.

The story is about a team of specially trained secret agent guinea pigs that take on a mission for the US government. They’re dispatched to stop a diabolical billionaire, who plans to taking over the world with household appliances. A bit ridiculous, right? Yes, but it’s made for infantiles.

The voices here are top notch, except for Penélope Cruz who seemed uncomfortable voicing animation. I always have thought that is a talent very different from being in front of a camera and not everyone will equate their on-screen performances with their off-screen performances. Tracey Morgan was the highlight, but it was Nicolas Cage who surprised everyone by changing his voice for the mole character ‘Speckles’. The voice was unrecognizable. On a interesting note, at a press conference, Cage spoke about how his kids didn’t know he voiced the character, and the same goes for all his work, because he wants to shield them from his celebrity. Essentially, he implied that his children have no idea he’s a big time Hollywood superstar and will do everything from them ever knowing. Interesting, huh?

The 3-D experience was the best I’ve ever seen, and I’m not just saying that. Kids are so lucky that this film was made for them and not adults. The director Hoyt Yeatman, a visual effects guru, personally told me that he finished rendering the film just last week. Are you kidding me?! Not to get too technical, but the reason for such an onerous task is the attention to detail. According to Yeatman, the rendering took years with several hundred people working on it. If this isn’t a labour of love than I don’t know what is, but it shows and we’re all lucky for it.

Overall, I thought the film was funny, visually pleasing, and the pacing was never dull or incongruent. ‘G-Force’ is made for kids, but parents are going to be pleased applauding right into first place at the box office. Funny enough, I asked Jerry Bruckheimer if there was a sequel in the works and he said, “If we fill the seats with happy customers, we’ll do another one”. That’s not going to be a problem.

By Mack Chico

2009/07/14 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

The Haunting in Connecticut

07.14.2009 | By Mack Chico |

Rating: 1.5

Rated: PG-13 for some intense sequences of terror and disturbing images.
Release Date: 2009-03-27
Starring: Adam Simon, Tim Metcalfe
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.hauntinginconnecticut.com/

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The Haunting in Connecticut is a tedious and pedestrian film that gives ghost stories a bad name. Director Peter Cornwell‘s film is so bereft of substance that when it comes to generating atmosphere and scares, an inordinate abundance of â€œfrightfulâ€ moments are needed to keep viewers attentive. Assessing the film’s capacity for entertainment,Â ‘The Haunting in Connecticut’ is a tough task to like.

The film relies on the “based on a true story” crutch, which is a good indication that the movie is in trouble. This story focuses on a family forced to relocate near a clinic where their teenage son was being treated for cancer. The family begins experiencing violent, supernatural events that the parents first blame on stress from the illness, but they later discover that their new home is a former mortuary with a dark past.

Perhaps most vexing is the scriptâ€™s directives of having the protagonists go back to their separate beds and try to sleep amongst all the specters and spooky occurrences that are happening in their new quarters. Have any of the filmmakers ever heard of rational when it comes to writing these horror movies? Besides that, the â€˜mysteryâ€™ is void of mystery, flashback sequences are laughable and the special effects for the ectoplasm are sad. Follow that with some over-the-top acting and unintentionally hilarious dialogue and you have yourself a monumental failure.

It’s hard to imagine horror fans will like this. It’s poorly made and badly written. Nevertheless, it does offer some suspenseful moments, but never enough to justify the price of admission. The PG-13 rating assures that nothing overtly gruesome or shocking is shown. Everything is sanitized so younger viewers can gaze upon it without going blind.

By Jack Rico

2009/07/13 at 12:00am

Reviews

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

07.13.2009 | By Jack Rico |

Rated: PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality.
Release Date: 2009-07-15
Starring: Steve Kloves
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.es/

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‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ is the sixth film in the J.K Rowling literary series that refers to a ‘prince’ who is revealed in the movie’s final scenes. In a very beautifully shot film by cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel and director David Yates, this sixth entry is long and not very entertaining, rather dull and slow paced. Its duration of more than 2 hours and 30 minutes felt eternal, never ending. Once my body begins to fidget in my seat, its an evident sign I am not interested in the story.

Yes, about the story… Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is once again thrusted into the world of the dark lord Voldemort who has chosen Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to be his killer on Earth. It’s up to Dumbledore to take Harry under his wing and prepare him for what will be his ultimate battle. Betrayal, death and romance is what is established in this film.

Let it be known that the story adapted to the screen is perhaps the movie’s only flaw. The acting is charming and the characters are likable, especially Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), who is at his best here. In what was once its best attribute, the special effects or CGI are beginning to wane. At times, Potter and his friends looked like cutouts from a cereal box. Let’s see what the 2 last installments will look like next year.

This sixth part is just a tease to the final chapter in what we all hope will be the best of the Harry Potter film series. I think it’s a bit too deep for kids, but adults still treat this series as family fare. Action is definitely anticipated in order to revive it from the blandness witnessed from this otherwise gratifying saga.

Victoria Beckham in ‘Sex and the City’ Sequel?

By Jack Rico

2009/07/13 at 12:00am

Movies

Victoria Beckham in ‘Sex and the City’ Sequel?

07.13.2009 | By Jack Rico |

Victoria Beckham is a pro when it comes to posing in front of the cameras.

But doing anything other than placing her hand on her ever-shrinking hip and pouting her lips may be problem.

This may be the reason why the pin-thin fashion plate is reportedly taking acting lessons in hopes of landing a cameo role in the “Sex and the City” sequel, the Daily Mail reports.

Due to her busy rehearsal schedule for the ‘Spice Girls’ reunion tour in 2007, Posh turned down a walk-on role in the first fashion-obsessed film.

However, producers are reportedly eager to cast the 35-year-old fashionista alongside the film’s four main females in the next movie.

“She really wanted to be in the last movie but wasn’t able to take part because of her commitments with the Spice Girls,” a source said. “This time she’s keen to take part.”

Posh first dabbled with acting in the 1997 flick “Spice World” and again on the small screen in a 2007 episode of “Ugly Betty.”

Given that her only experience thus far has been playing herself, Posh may need to brush up on her acting skills before sharing the big screen with the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall.

‘Bruno’ astonishingly is #1 at the box office

By Pau Brunet

2009/07/12 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Bruno’ astonishingly is #1 at the box office

07.12.2009 | By Pau Brunet |

“Bruno,” British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen‘s latest subversive outing, narrowly claimed the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office in North America, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.

The “mockumentary,” in which Baron Cohen plays a gay Austrian fashion model seeking fame in the United States, sold $30.4 million worth of tickets during the three days beginning July 10, distributor Universal Pictures said.

But the film lost 39 percent of its audience from Friday to Saturday, a hefty drop given that movies usually see an uptick in that period.

Rival studios pounced on the slide, forecasting “Bruno” would have a short run in theaters. But Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said such a dip “was not unusual in summer.”

“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” held steady at No. 2 with $28.5 million, taking the 12-day haul for 20th Century Fox’s prehistoric cartoon to $120.6 million. The film was the top draw internationally over the weekend, with $98 million from 102 markets. Its total foreign haul stands at $327 million.

Last weekend’s North American champion, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” slipped to No. 3 with $24.2 million. After 19 days, Paramount Pictures’ robot sequel has earned $339.2 million in North America, easily the biggest movie of the year. Its international haul rose to $364.5 million.

The one other new entry was Fox’s teen romantic comedy “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” starring Hayden Panettiere in the title role. It came in at No. 7 with $5 million, in line with the studio’s modest expectations.

The opening for “Bruno” was also in line with the forecasts of Universal Pictures, a General Electric Co (GE.N) unit, which paid independent producer Media Rights Capital $42.5 million for distribution rights in North America and eight foreign territories. Media Rights declined to disclose the budget.

Baron Cohen’s previous release, the similarly outrageous “Borat,” opened with $26.5 million in November 2006. But that was from about 800 theaters, while “Bruno” played in 2,756 theaters. “Borat” ended up with $128.5 million in North America and an additional $133 million internationally.

Universal said “Bruno” earned $20 million from the eight international markets, led by No. 1 bows in Britain ($8.1 million) and Australia ($6.1 million).

“Bruno” faced a similar storm of controversy as “Borat.”

In the new film, Baron Cohen’s character sashays across the American landscape, piling on the homosexual activity for unsuspecting co-stars and a squeamish audience. Critics mostly liked the movie, while gay-rights groups were mixed in their reactions.

Both films were directed by Larry Charles, a former writer/producer on “Seinfeld.”

Exit data provided by Universal indicated that men made up 56 percent of the “Bruno” audience in North America, in line with the turnout for “Borat.”

But this time, 54 percent of moviegoers were aged 25 and older, while 53 percent of the “Borat” crowd was aged under 25. Both films were rated “R” in the United States, requiring moviegoers under 17 to be accompanied by an adult.

Universal’s Rocco said the film would be “very profitable” for the studio, which picked up the rights before “Borat” was released.

By Jack Rico

2009/07/09 at 12:00am

Reviews

Bruno (Movie Review)

07.9.2009 | By Jack Rico |

Bruno, starring comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, is a very funny film, though its primary source of humor comes from shock value. The more shocking it is, the funnier it seems… but is it? I’d like to think so, but many would argue it’s insensitive, politically incorrect, tasteless, and uncouth. I must admit, though, because of its crass approach to comedy, most of the scenes are cringingly and revoltingly funny.

The plot follows gay Austrian fashion reporter Brüno, who is fired from his show after disrupting a catwalk at Milan Fashion Week. Accompanied by his assistant Lutz, he travels to the United States to become a superstar.

At the premiere screening I attended in Los Angeles, the day Michael Jackson died, the mood was somber. Ten minutes into the film, people were laughing, but 30 minutes later, you could see audience members covering their mouths, eyes wide open, looking at one another in disbelief. “Was that just on the screen?” were just some of the comments overheard.

My advice to anyone curious about this film: if you have an aversion to sexual images, jokes, or homosexuality, don’t watch it. If you’re a religious fanatic easily offended by religious jokes, stay away. But for everyone else, enjoy what is easily one of the funniest and most offensive films in history! Oh, and by the way, wear a condom before you see it—you’ll thank me afterward.

By Mack Chico

2009/07/08 at 12:00am

Reviews

I Love You, Beth Cooper

07.8.2009 | By Mack Chico |

Rated: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language, some teen drinking and drug references, and brief violence.
Release Date: 2009-07-10
Starring: Larry Doyle
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.iloveyoubethcoopermovie.com/

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I Love You, Beth Cooper is a film that blends the satirical and the serious, although the former lacks the edge to give it bite and the latter is only occasionally applied with conviction. The result feels at odds with itself and never fully satisfies. There’s a sense that a much better movie is trying to get out but it never attains escape velocity.

It’s graduation day for the seniors of Buffalo Grove High, and valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust) is about to deliver an unusual address. In it, he professes unrequited love for the school’s head cheerleader, Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere). This delights Denis’ best friend, Rich (Jack T. Carpenter), who is the instigator of Denis’ confession. Beth is conflicted – despite being embarrassed, she finds the whole thing “so sweet.” Her thuggish, drugged-out boyfriend, Kevin (Shawn Roberts), decides that ending Denis’ life might be the best way to resolve an unpleasant situation. Events conspire to group Denis, Beth, Rich, and Beth’s two best friends, Cammy (Lauren London) and Treece (Lauren Storm), together for the night. Their misadventures include avoiding Kevin when he launches an attack on Denis’ house, breaking into the school for some fun in the showers, turning up at the most popular party of the evening, and spending time in a cabin in the woods. Out for blood, Kevin is always in hot pursuit, and both Beth and Denis discover things about their feelings for one another they weren’t expecting.

The intended raunchy content has been watered down for PG-13 consumption. There is nudity, but it’s of the peek-a-boo variety. Director Chris Columbus, a graduate of the John Hughes school of filmmaking (perhaps best known for handling the first two Harry Potter movies), avoids anything deeply scathing or controversial. Although I Love You, Beth Cooper doesn’t quite fit neatly into the teenage romantic comedy mold, it comes close, with titles like Risky Business and The Girl Next Door being appropriate antecedents. (The Tom Cruise movie is even mentioned explicitly.)Â

Hayden Panettiere is best-known for her role in the TV series Heroes, although her acting career stretches back much farther. She shows impressive range here, essentially having to play three versions of Beth Cooper: the image that attracts the eyes and stirs the hormones of all the boys in school (including Denis); the scary, reckless one who pushes boundaries and buttons; and the “real” girl behind all the curtains. Panettiere integrates the three into one, which is a more adept task than one might imagine. The performance is better than the movie deserves.

There’s a sense that I Love You, Beth Cooper has been smoothed out and dumbed down to reach the broadest audience. (Not having read the novel by Larry Doyle, who also penned the screenplay, I can’t say for sure.) As good as some of the bonding material is, that’s how unfortunate many of the so-called comedic and generic story elements are. I Love You, Beth Cooper is schizophrenic – two very different movies uneasily occupying the same space and time. One of them has promise; the other is annoying and off-putting. The filmmakers lacked the courage and conviction to tell an honest, character-based story and resorted to something that has been massaged into a more comfortable, easily consumable cinematic morsel. Too bad the inevitable result of ingesting this is heartburn.

By Jack Rico

2009/07/08 at 12:00am

Movies

Shalim Ortiz filming in Mexico

07.8.2009 | By Jack Rico |

Heroe’s star Shalim Ortiz is currently filiming a movie in Spanish called “Asesinato, amor y reincarnacion” directed by Mexican director Eduardo Rossoff. According to our source, Shalim and crew are one week down, and six to go on the set in Mazatlan, Mexico. The cast and crew will be there until July 18th when they will eventually be moving to the Dominican Republic to finish the film.

On a curious note, “Asesinato, amor y reincarnacion” is the second most expensive Mexican movie in the past 5 years with a budget of $38,000,000 pesos or $2,863,000 dollars. That sounds like a lot for a country who just suffered an economic set back due to the swine flu incident. “Arrancame la Vida” still holds the record as the most expensive film in that country.

Shalim will be keeping busy for the rest of the year as he is set to begin filming 4 new projects: Gardel 2008, The Roel, Tango Late and Riptide.

To see Shalim in action in the set of “Asesinato, amor y reincarnacion” see the exclusive pics below we obtained from the set.