Indie DVD Round-Up: "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" and "Take This Waltz" (please!)

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)

The Basics: A wealthy sheikh wants to introduce salmon into the country of Yemen and hires a consultant, Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), to make that happen. Harriet turns to Fred Jones (Ewan McGregor), an expert in salmon fisheries, for assistance, but he rejects the idea. However, Fred soon finds himself pressured by a government official, Patricia Maxwell (Kristen Scott Thomas), to do everything in his power to honor the sheikh's request. Fred must then work with Harriet and, as a result, a romance blossoms between them.

Reasons to Watch: The performances from the aforementioned actors are terrific. Kristen Scott Thomas is particularly effective as the acid tongued official who always speaks her mind. Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor display solid chemistry as the would-be couple whose road to happiness is often riddled with potholes.

The Bottom Line: The often amusing and sometimes hysterical screenplay, by Simon Beaufoy, which is based on the novel, of the same name, by Paul Torday, is sublime. The actors run with the dialogue with their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks. The result is a fresh, intelligent and well acted film that would have benefited by a shorter run time. Regardless, this is a quality Indie film that deserves to be seen.

Take This Waltz (2011)

The Basics: Romantic drama with some comedic elements that centers around the faltering relationship between a married couple, Margot (Michelle Williams) and Lou (Seth Rogen). Margot's restlessness is evident in her apparently humdrum relationship with the reliable, if boring and predictable, Lou. However, while on a business trip, Margot meets Daniel (Luke Kirby), who happens to be her neighbor. Margot clearly has more chemistry with Daniel than Lou and the two appear to fall in love after a series of encounters. Of course, that threatens the stability of Margot's relationship with Lou, so she must decide if she wants to stay married to someone who really loves her, or risk a potentially exciting new relationship with a man she has only known for a short period of time.

Reasons to Watch: The performances from the aforementioned cast members are generally good.

The Bottom Line: An overly long and often annoying film featuring obnoxious dialogue and a meandering screenplay, from writer/director Sarah Polley.

Chris Hemsworth Looks Ready to Surf in Australia

Photo Credit: Guy Finlay

Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers) picks up new surfboards in his native Australia. After spending the morning in Avalon on Sydney's Northern Beaches this week before shooting the new Foxtel commercial, Chris Hemsworth popped into Haydenshapes Surfboards in Mona Vale for an hour or so with his Mum, wife Elsa and gorgeous daughter India and picked himself up two surfboards for his stay in Australia.

Photo Credit: Guy Finlay

"The Mad Max Trilogy" Debuts on Blu-ray June 4 - Starring Mel Gibson

THE MAD MAX TRILOGY

BLU-RAY™ COLLECTION DEBUTS JUNE 4

FROM WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Mel Gibson Stars in the Franchise that Made Him a Star

Burbank, Calif. February 25, 2013 – Mad Max, the sci-fi franchise that introduced Mel Gibson to the world, will come together for the first time as a Blu-ray collection when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) debuts the Mad Max Trilogy on June 4^th.

The three films – Mad Max (1979), Mad Max Road Warrior (1982) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) – are all set in the near-future in Australia. From the very first film, Oscar® winner George Miller (Happy Feet, 2006) proved a master at creating the gritty, bleak dystopian world and staging the incredible car stunts and crashes in the era when stuntmen, not computers, achieved the effects. All three movies starred Mel Gibson, virtually unknown until after the second film, as Max Rockatansky, a highway cop traveling through the Outback in a society descending into chaos. The films started Gibson on his road to international superstardom, led to his signature Lethal Weapon series, and later two Academy Awards® for his roles as producer and director of Braveheart (1995).

This must-own collection for action fans is available in limited premium tin packaging and makes a perfect gift for Father’s Day. The collection will sell for $49.99 SRP on Blu-ray Disc™. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, which is making its Blu-ray debut, will also be available as a single along with Mad Max Road Warrior.

About The Films

Mad Max (1979)

George Miller's first entry in the trilogy, Mad Max packs brutal action and insane stunts as it follows the inevitable downfall of relentless cop Max Rockatansky (Gibson) in a world gone mad. Living on the edge of an apocalypse, Max is ready to run far away from it all with his family. But when he experiences an unfortunate encounter with a motorcycle gang and its menacing leader, the Toecutter, his retreat from the madness of the world is now a race to save his family's life.

Mad Max Road Warrior (1982)

The sequel to Mad Max, Mad Max Road Warrior provides action-packed, “automotive” entertainment, telling the story of a selfish-turned-selfless hero and his efforts to protect a small camp of desert survivors and defend an oil refinery under siege from a ferocious marauding horde that plunders the land for gasoline.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Mel Gibson returns for his third go-round as the title hero who takes on the barbarians of the post-nuclear future - and this time becomes the savior of a tribe of lost children. Music superstar Tina Turner co-stars as Aunty Entity, a power-mad dominatrix determined to use Max to tighten her stranglehold on Bartertown, where fresh water, clean food and gasoline are worth more than gold.

Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.

Academy Awards® and Oscar® are both registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Blu-ray Disc™ and Blu-ray™ and the logos are the trademarks of Blu-ray Disc Association.

Warner Home Video Blu-ray Discs™ offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The format also provides a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.

New Series Spotlight: "Golden Boy" - Starring Theo James - Premieres Tonight

"Golden Boy" premieres tonight at 10:00pm on CBS. The new series stars Theo James as Walter Clark Jr., who experiences a meteoric rise from police officer to police commissioner over a period of seven years. The series is told in flashbacks and focuses on the methods employed by Walter to move up the ranks. After being promoted to detective, Walter is paired with Don Owen (Chi McBride), who is ready to retire in a couple of years and usually plays by the rules. However, Walter may be more inclined to behave like another detective, Tony Arroyo (Kevin Alejandro), who straddles the line between right and wrong. What path Walter ultimately takes will be examined throughout the series. 

The pilot episode starts off fast and furious and is loaded with back story. I hope that things settle down a bit in subsequent episodes, so viewers have an opportunity to learn more about the various characters and establish a connection with them. "Golden Boy" features a talented cast and has potential, but it will need to establish a rhythm, instead of trying to do too much too soon. 

"Golden Boy" will air again next Tuesday, March 5, at 10:00pm, before moving into its regular time period on Fridays at 9:00pm, beginning March 8. For additional information, go here. 

Independent Spirit Award Winners Include "Silver Linings Playbook" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

The Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best in Independent film, were announced this past weekend, the night before the Oscars. Silver Linings Playbook was the big winner, picking up four awards, while The Sessions captured two. I was very pleased to learn that The Perks of Being a Wallflower was named Best First Feature. See below for a complete list of winners from the Spirit Awards:

Best Feature Film - Silver Linings Playbook
Best Director – David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Best Lead Female Performance – Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook 
Best Lead Male Performance – John Hawkes, The Sessions 
Best Supporting Female Performance - Helen Hunt, The Sessions 
Best Supporting Male Performance – Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
Best Screenplay – David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook 
Best Documentary - The Invisible War
Best International Film - Michael Haneke, Amour 
Best First Feature – Stephen Chbosky, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower 
Best First Screenplay – Derek Connolly, Safety Not Guaranteed 
Best Cinematography – Ben Richardson, Beasts of the Southern Wild 
Robert Altman Award for Cast Ensemble – Starlet 
Piaget Producers Award – Mynette Louie, Stones in the Sun 
Someone to Watch Award – Adam Leon, Gimme the Loot 
Truer Than Fiction Award – Peter Nicks, The Waiting Room 
John Cassavetes Award for Under $500,000 – Middle of Nowhere 

Oscar Results and Opinion: Life of Pi, Seth MacFarlane and Argo

The Oscar results yielded a few big surprises and host Seth MacFarlane polarized the audience at last night's award ceremony. Of course, being an Oscar host is almost always a thankless job, but overall I think MacFarlane did an adequate, if uneven job, as master of ceremonies. The show started with an overly long opening act featuring none other than William Shatner as Captain Kirk. The results were mixed, but when MacFarlane kept it classy and old school it worked very well. However, the routine featuring boobs should have also mentioned MacFarlane for going so low brow. Over the course of the evening, MacFarlane's jokes were hit and miss and he seemed too concerned with whether the audience in attendance liked his material. Who cares if they did. MacFarlane should have shown more confidence in his vast abilities and just went for it without feeling insecure. If the Oscar bigwigs liked him, he will be asked back and have a chance to improve on his performance next time. 

This year's Oscar telecast felt like a throwback with its inclusion of so many Hollywood legends, including Dustin Hoffman, Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Christopher Plummer, Sally Field, John Travolta, Liam Neeson, Richard Gere, the return of Jack Nicholson and the amazing performance of "The Way We Were," by Barbra Streisand. There was a good balance between classic and more contemporary stars, including five members of The Avengers cast, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nicole Kidman, Paul Rudd and Melissa McCarthy. The tribute to musicals was well conceived, with an outstanding performance from the Les Miserables cast and the reunion of four stars from Chicago, the Oscar winner for Best Picture in 2003. In addition, the James Bond tribute was terrific and was highlighted by the performance of "Goldfinger" by Dame Shirley Bassey. However, I was disappointed that the reunion of the six Bond actors did not come to pass. 

The awards themselves held a few surprises, including the opening win for Christoph Waltz in the Supporting Actor category for Django Unchained. I was pleased to see Waltz win and in the future when he is nominated for a Quentin Tarantino film, I will surely pick him to win every time (Waltz also won the Supporting Actor Oscar for Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds). On the other hand, I was disappointed that Tommy Lee Jones and Robert De Niro did not win, but they have each won twice before. The other acting winners, Anne Hathaway, Daniel Day Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence were expected and appropriate. Argo's win for Best Picture was not surprising either, but its victory in the Adapted Screenplay category, where it upset Lincoln, was a bit of a shock. Congratulations to screenwriter Chris Terrio and condolences to Tony Kushner, who was the favorite through most of Oscar season. Overall, Lincoln won just two awards; Lead Actor and Production Design, which, of course, is better than nothing. However, I felt bad for Steven Spielberg, who looked genuinely disappointed for not winning Best Director. His efforts on Lincoln should have warranted more recognition from the Academy, but they have had a rather odd relationship over the years. With that being said, Ang Lee is certainly a worthy recipient of this year's Best Director Oscar for his stunning work on Life of Pi. I mentioned in my original review of the film that he should be the Oscar front runner, but his support was generally muted until last night. Life of Pi won more Oscars than any other film this year, with four (Director, Cinematography, Visual Effects and Score). 

I was genuinely surprised with Quentin Tarantino's win in the Original Screenplay category. I never thought his sometimes bloody and violent Django Unchained would appeal to the majority of Academy voters. However, I was pleased to see him win, even though I was hoping for Mark Boal's Zero Dark Thirty to pull off a victory. Another category that surprised many was for Animated Film. The support for Wreck-It Ralph was overwhelming, but in the end, Brave picked up the victory. Actually, I would have been pleased to see any of the nominated animated films win this year - they were a worthy bunch. Finally, Amour was victorious, as expected, in the Best Foreign Film category. However, after seeing the film shortly before the Oscar telecast yesterday, I am at a loss as to why it has been hailed as such a great achievement. Yes, the performances were outstanding, but the glacial pace of the film was distracting. 

I went 16-8 in my Oscar picks, which is slightly below where I usually perform. 

Here is a complete list of winners from The Oscars:

Picture - Argo

Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis Lincoln

Actress - Jennifer Lawrence Silver Linings Playbook

Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz Django Unchained

Supporting Actress - Anne Hathaway Les Miserables

Director - Ang Lee Life of Pi

Original Screenplay - Quentin Tarantino Django Unchained

Adapted Screenplay - Chris Terrio Argo

Cinematography - Claudio Miranda Life of Pi

Costume Design - Jacqueline Durran Anna Karenina

Film Editing - William Goldenberg Argo

Makeup and Hairstyling - Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell Les Miserables

Production Design - Rick Carter and Jim Erickson Lincoln

Visual Effects - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott Life of Pi

Original Score - Mychael Danna Life of Pi

Original Song - "Skyfall," Skyfall

Sound Editing (tie) - Paul N.J. Ottosson Zero Dark Thirty and Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers Skyfall

Sound Mixing - Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes, Les Misérables

Animated Feature Film - Brave

Foreign Language Film - Austria: Amour

Documentary Feature - Searching for Sugar Man

Documentary Short - Inocente, Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine

Animated Short - Paperman, John Kahrs

Live Action Short - Curfew, Shawn Christensen

Oscar Predictions: "Argo" and "Lincoln" Will Dominate

The Oscars, which air live tonight, at 8:30pm ET on ABC, may be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory. Will Emmanuelle Riva upset Jennifer Lawrence in the Lead Actress category? Who will win the now three way race for Supporting Actor? Will Argo win even more awards, including Original Screenplay, than originally thought? Read on for my thoughts on what will transpire during The Oscars.

Picture

Beasts of the Southern Wild
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty
Lincoln
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Amour
Django Unchained
Argo*

I cannot see how Argo can lose. The film has been gaining momentum all through awards season, thanks, in part, to Ben Affleck's snub for a Best Director nomination. I suspect Silver Linings Playbook and Lincoln have a chance, but it is a small one. Of course, the best film of the year was Zero Dark Thirty, which has been unfairly maligned in the press, and has since lost any momentum that it once had.

Actor

Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln*
Denzel Washington, Flight
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master

Without a doubt, Daniel Day-Lewis will win


Actress

Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook*
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Two months ago, it looked like Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence would battle it out, but over time Emmanuelle Riva has emerged as a strong possibility to take the Oscar. I am going with Lawrence.

Supporting Actor

Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Alan Arkin, Argo
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln*

Tommy Lee Jones was the front runner for some time, but in recent weeks, Robert De Niro and Christoph Waltz have come on strong. Waltz, who was terrific in Django Unchained, won the Golden Globe and the BAFTA and could very well win the Oscar. Meanwhile, Robert De Niro has been gaining ground on Jones and now looks to be the front runner. However, De Niro has not won any major awards for his performance, so who knows? I think Jones will win, but I would be pleased to see any of the nominees receive the Oscar. 

Supporting Actress

Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables*
Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Amy Adams, The Master

Without a doubt, Anne Hathaway will win

Director

David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln*
Michael Haneke, Amour
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

I would give the award to Ang Lee, who had the largest obstacles to overcome. However, Spielberg seems to have the momentum and it is difficult to bet against him. 

Original Screenplay

John Gatins, Flight
Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty*
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
Michael Haneke, Amour
Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom

This award should go to Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty, but do not count out Quentin Tarantino, even though older Oscar voters may be turned off by his sometimes ultra-violent screenplay for Django Unchained. I would be happy to see either screenwriter win, but I am sticking with Mark Boal. By the way, the screenwriter categories always give me fits, so I could be completely off on this one. 

Adapted Screenplay

Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Chris Terrio, Argo
Tony Kushner, Lincoln*
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
David Magee, Life of Pi

For most of Oscar season it looked like Tony Kushner would win for Lincoln, but Argo has been building momentum and, as a result, Chris Terrio may win. I am still going with Kushner, but these screenplay categories do give me fits. 

Cinematography

Seamus McGarvey, Anna Karenina
Robert Richardson, Django Unchained
Claudio Miranda, Life of Pi*
Janusz Kaminski, Lincoln
Roger Deakins, Skyfall

With all due respect to Roger Deakins, who has been nominated many times without a victory, I do not see how Life of Pi can lose.


Costume Design

Jacqueline Durran, Anna Karenina*
Paco Delgado, Les Misérables
Joanna Johnston, Lincoln
Eiko Ishioka, Mirror Mirror
Colleen Atwood, Snow White and the Huntsman

This is a two-way race between Anna Karenina and Les Misérables. Anna Karenina will prevail.

Film Editing

William Goldenberg, Argo*
Tim Squyres, Life of Pi
Michael Kahn, Lincoln
Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers, Silver Linings Playbook
Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg, Zero Dark Thirty

Argo will win.


Makeup and Hairstyling

Howard Berger, Peter Montagna and Martin Samuel, Hitchcock
Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey*
Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell, Les Miserables

Usually, the film featuring the most make-up wins, so I am going with The Hobbit.

Production Design

Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, Anna Karenina
Dan Hennah, Ra Vincent and Simon Bright, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Eve Stewart and Anna Lynch-Robinson, Les Miserables*
David Gropman and Anna Pinnock, Life of Pi
Rick Carter and Jim Erickson, Lincoln

Les Misérables will win.

Visual Effects

Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott, Life of Pi*
Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick, Marvel’s The Avengers
Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill, Prometheus
Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Philip Brennan, Neil Corbould and Michael Dawson, Snow White and the Huntsman

Life of Pi, without question.

Original Score

Dario Marianelli, Anna Karenina
Alexandre Desplat, Argo
Mychael Danna, Life of Pi*
John Williams, Lincoln
Thomas Newman, Skyfall

Life of Pi will win.


Original Song

"Before My Time," Chasing Ice
"Pi’s Lullaby," Life of Pi
"Suddenly," Les Miserables
"Everybody Needs A Best Friend," Ted
"Skyfall," Skyfall*

Everything Adele touches turns to gold and she will win for Skyfall.


Sound Editing

Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn, Argo
Wylie Stateman, Django Unchained
Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton, Life of Pi
Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers, Skyfall
Paul N.J. Ottosson, Zero Dark Thirty*

Zero Dark Thirty has the best chance of picking up an Oscar in this category.

Sound Mixing

John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Jose Antonio Garcia, Argo
Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes, Les Misérables*
Ron Bartlett, D.M. Hemphill and Drew Kunin, Life of Pi
Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Ronald Judkins, Lincoln
Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell and Stuart Wilson, Skyfall

Les Misérables will win.


Animated Feature Film

Frankenweenie*
Pirates! Band of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph
Paranorman
Brave

I would be pleased to see any of these films win. Wreck-It Ralph seems to be the front runner, but do not count out Brave. I am taking a leap and going with Frankenweenie for the upset.


Foreign Language Film

Austria: Amour*
Chile: No
Canada: War Witch
Denmark: A Royal Affair
Norway: Kontiki

Amour will win, without a doubt.

Documentary Feature

5 Broken Cameras
The Gatekeepers
How to Survive a Plague
The Invisible War
Searching for Sugar Man*

I have not seen any of the nominated films, but buzz seems to favor Searching for Sugar Man.

Documentary Short

"Inocente," Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine
"Kings Point," Sari Gilman and Jedd Wider
"Mondays at Racine," Cynthia Wade and Robin Honan
"Open Heart," Kief Davidson and Cori Shepherd Stern*
"Redemption," Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill

Not having seen any of these nominees either, buzz seems to favor Open Heart.

Animated Short

"Adam and Dog," Minkyu Lee
"Fresh Guacamole," PES
"Head over Heels," Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly
"Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare,'" David Silverman
"Paperman," John Kahrs*

I am going with Paperman.

Live Action Short

Asad, Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura
Buzkashi Boys, Sam French and Ariel Nasr
Curfew, Shawn Christense*
Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw), Tom Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele
Henry, Yan England

Curfew should and will win. 

New in Theaters: "Snitch" Starring Dwayne Johnson

I was initially annoyed with the character that Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson portrays in the new action movie Snitch. After all, viewers familiar with Johnson understand how intimidating he can be with his considerable physical presence. While Johnson, who is now in middle age, still looks to be in terrific shape, his character, John Matthews, does not possess the tough, in control demeanor that viewers might expect. Perhaps it is because John's son, Jason (Rafi Gavron), has been arrested for drug possession and faces a minimum mandatory ten year prison sentence, or maybe director Ric Roman Waugh wanted to try to expand Johnson's acting range. An early scene featuring John's attempt to locate a drug dealer goes terribly wrong, as four youths lay the smackdown on him and make John think twice about entering their dangerous world. Say it isn't so!

Yes, Johnson portrays John as vulnerable and even scared at times. That does not make viewers like him any less and some might even relate to his plight as a concerned parent who will literally do anything to help his troubled child. In John's case, he offers to help the local district attorney, Joanne Keeghan (Susan Sarandon), bring down a drug cartel in exchange for Jason's freedom. Since the film is based on true events, I accepted this plot twist to be reasonable. John is assigned to work with Agent Cooper (no, not the one from Twin Peaks), who is portrayed by Barry Pepper, to infiltrate the operation of a local drug dealer, Malik (Micheal Kenneth Williams) who has ties to a drug cartel figure, "El Topo" Pintera (Benjamin Bratt).

John, who owns a construction company, has access to freight trucks that can transport the drugs and he must make an initial run to gain Malik's confidence. John asks an employee, Daniel (Jay Bernthal), who served time for drug related offenses, to work with him and, after being offered a substantial amount of money, Daniel reluctantly agrees. Meanwhile, Jason, who is being held in jail, is receiving regular beatings from the other inmates, which makes John even more anxious to bring down Malik and Pintera.

Snitch is an entertaining and generally well acted film. However, it takes forever for the inevitable final act to get started. While I appreciate the attempt to build suspense and the attention to detail, just get to the point already. There is no reason for Snitch to be nearly two hours long. I was also less than enthusiastic about the sometimes cringe worthy dialogue uttered by Malik's henchmen, who are more ridiculous than intimidating or realistic. Despite its shortcomings, Snitch has something interesting to say about current drug laws that may give viewers pause. That sets it apart from other contemporary action films and adds an unexpected layer to the overall product, which is better than you might expect.

Concert Review: Jim Brickman Shines at the Carolina Theater (2/20/13)

Photo Credit: Carolina Theater

The multi-talented Jim Brickman performed a two hour concert this past Wednesday evening at the Carolina Theater in Durham, North Carolina. The famed pianist was joined by Canadian singer/songwriter Luke McMaster, who provided vocals for several well known hits, as well as a few originals. In fact, McMaster opened the second part of the show by performing a couple of solo numbers, including the outstanding "Tuscan Skies." Jim Brickman spent time talking to the audience during both sets and even paid a compliment to the respect that he has come to enjoy from southern crowds. Brickman also referred to the concert as an evening of romantic music and promised to play many of his hits, which is what many attendees were present for - and he kept his promise. 

The first set featured two newer selections, as well as my personal favorite, "Rocket to the Moon," from his 1994 debut album No Words. In fact, No Words is my favorite Jim Brickman release, even more so that his subsequent efforts that featured the ever popular "Valentine" and "Love of My Life," which were both performed as well, much to the delight of the audience. Brickman changed things up during the first set with a medley of well known lullabies and followed that up with a medley of some of his favorite songs during the second set, including "Rainbow Connection," which he partially sang in the voice of Kermit the Frog.

The highlights of the evening included performances of "The Gift" and "Peace," which are featured on two holiday efforts from Brickman, but are accessible at any time of the year with their positive messages about what is most important about life. In addition, "Good Morning Beautiful," which was co-written by Brickman and McMaster, received, perhaps, the most raucous reaction from the crowd, while the aforementioned "Rocket to the Moon" and "Tuscan Skies" were my personal favorites. Jim Brickman's easy going, positive demeanor, along with his use of humor and home spun tales helped to accentuate the concert, which was fast moving and quite enjoyable. Even a technical glitch did not halt the momentum, as Luke McMaster improvised his way through "Tuscan Skies" without the use of a microphone by standing at the edge of the stage and projecting his great voice. My first time seeing Jim Brickman live in concert was certainly a memorable one and I hope to have additional opportunities in the future. 

Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla" (2008) is Worth Revisiting

I originally reviewed RocknRolla in early 2009 as a DVD recommendation. 

Writer/Director Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla focuses on London's criminal underworld where a real estate scam promises to generate millions of pounds for many unseemly individuals. RocknRolla is the first film in a proposed trilogy and the second installment has been written, but as of now, the project is on hold. Frankly, I think Guy Ritchie needs to make the second and third films a priority, since the first one was so terrific. 

The cast is led by Tom Wilkinson, who is one of the finest and most underrated actors in the movie industry. Wilkinson portrays Lenny Cole, a gangster who makes a deal with a Russian mobster, Uri (Karel Roden), to secure all necessary building permits for a new arena complex to be built in London. When Uri fails to come up with the money to initially secure the deal, problems between the two men develop and since they already mistrust each other, the deal may never be sealed. Uri is being double-crossed by his accountant, Stella (Thandie Newton), who is hired by a group of men known as the Wild Bunch to ensure that each time the money is en route to Lenny, it is intercepted. The ensuing chain of events leads to many dramatic and dark comedic moments throughout the film. 

The Wild Bunch are One Two (Gerard Butler), Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy) and Mumbles (Idris Elba). The three characters are fun, clever and entertaining and Butler is hysterical as the manly One Two, who has to deal with the fact that Handsome Bob is in love with him. Their scenes together are one of the highlights of this film, especially the one where they are dancing together.

Meanwhile, Lenny has more problems to deal with when he realizes that a prized painting, belonging to Uri, has been stolen from his home and he is desperate to get it back. Wilkinson is amazing as the sleazy, swaggering and sometimes viscous Lenny and he steals every scene in which he appears. Lenny must also deal with his drug addled stepson, Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell), who is violent, unpredictable and keenly intelligent. Kebbell is perfectly cast and delivers a sometimes manic and often hilarious performance as a fearless smart-ass/loose canon.

Rounding out the supporting cast is Mark Strong, who portrays Archy, Lenny's loyal assistant. The numerous characters and the various story lines are expertly tied together in this well written and swiftly directed film featuring an incredibly talented ensemble cast who all create memorable characters that you will want to see again and again. As soon as possible. 

"Simpsons Comics Supernova" by Matt Groening

Simpsons Comics Supernova (Harper Design) is a recently released trade paperback comprised of five stories featuring characters from the long running television series The Simpsons. I am not a regular viewer of the series, but I found myself smiling and even laughing out loud on occasion while reading this book. The stories vary in quality, but I suspect that fans of The Simpsons will appreciate the effort put forth here. 

The five stories are collected from Simpsons Comics 81, 101, 102, 103 and The Simpsons Summer Shindig #2.

Description: Not even the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns can hold a candle to Simpsons Comics Supernova, the new comic collection from Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, and the comic strip Life in Hell. Illustrated in full color, Simpsons Comics Supernova features many of the regular characters from the longest-running sitcom in television history. Explore the intimate relationship of a man and his sofa, when Homer refuses to be parted from his beloved love seat for a whole year. Then something is Huey, Dewey, Louie, and screwy when Mr. Burns takes the Simpsons on a South Seas adventure in search of lost treasure. Watch Marge eclipse the hard-nosed newscaster Kent Brockman with her eternally optimistic worldview. And when Duffman trades in his six-packs and party mobile for a whole new life, only one man can belly up to the bar and fill the void…Homer Simpson

"Stuck on Star Trek" - A Retro Treat for Trekkies

Image copyright Joe Corroney, Stuck on Star Trek, Universe, 2013

Love the original Star Trek? Remember Colorforms? Enjoy reliving your childhood? If you answered yes to all three questions then you will definitely want to get your hands on the upcoming Stuck on Star Trek from Universe Publishing. The spiral bound book features ten different settings from the original series, from the Bridge to Sickbay to a scene from Vulcan, as well as more than 70 "Kling-on" stickers depicting the original characters, along with a "Red Shirt" (if someone has to die), villains, phasers and an endless supply of those horny little Tribbles. Users can create new memories or relive old ones by using the vinyl "Kling-on" stickers in various scenes from the original and beloved Star Trek series. The book also comes with a fold-out stand for display purposes. 

Image copyright Joe Corroney, Stuck on Star Trek, Universe, 2013

Stuck on Star Trek is illustrated by Joe Corroney, who also serves as illustrator for the Star Trek comic books that are currently published by IDW Comics (and they are quite good, too). The illustrations are outstanding and perfectly capture the look of the original series. In addition, the "Kling-on" stickers offer a few unexpected surprises and four stickers can be used as disguises for the various characters and were featured in the original series. For instance, the coat and tossle cap that Mr. Spock wore in "The City on the Edge of Forever" can be inserted over his blue Starfleet uniform. I should mention that I had some trouble removing a few stickers from the pages and will likely keep them attached to various scenes, instead of trying to reattach them to their original pages. However, that is just one small issue with an otherwise outstanding product. Finally, I have been a Star Trek fan since the 1970s when I used to watch reruns of the original series every weekday afternoon and, as a long time fan, I highly recommend Stuck on Star Trek. 

Stuck on Star Trek will be available February 26 from Universe Publishing.

The 2013 Oscar Nominated Short Films (Live Action)

The 2013 Oscar nominees for live action short film include Curfew (pictured above), Asad, Buzkashi Boys, Death of a Shadow and Henry. The live action short films are packaged with the animated short films and are being shown in various markets across the country. If you have an opportunity to see these films, I would encourage you to do so.

Curfew is a rather bleak, but very involving film about a young man, Ritchie (Shawn Christensen, who also serves as writer and director), who decides to end his life because he feels that it does not have any purpose. However, two separate telephone calls from his sister make him reconsider his actions. The short film features solid performances and delivers a sincere and hopeful message and, in my opinion, is the best of the five nominees. 

The troubled African country of Somalia is the setting for Asad, which centers around a young boy (Harun Mohammed) who befriends an older fisherman and wants to follow in his footsteps and earn an honest living, unlike other young men who decide to become pirates. After the older man suffers an injury, the young Asad  is given the opportunity to be a fisherman, if only for a day. His short stint yields unexpected and bountiful results. Asad, written and directed by Bryan Buckley, is a timely, sobering and hopeful short film that features a cast comprised of Somali refugees. 

Buzkashi Boys, from director Sam French, is set in a mountainous region of Afghanistan and focuses on the friendship between two young boys, Rafi (Fawad Mohammadi) and Ahmad (Jawanmard Paiz), who dream of one day playing Buzkashi, which is the national sport of Afghanistan. Rafi lives a stable life as the son of a blacksmith and his father wants him to follow in the family business, while Ahmad is orphan beggar who lives in the streets. Rafi's father does not approve of their friendship, but that does not stop the the young boys from spending time together. Ahmad is more daring than Rafi and taunts him about never taking any chances. Eventually, Ahmad comes to possess a horse, which he intends to learn to ride so that he can play Buzkashi. However, the boys soon learn that growing up too fast and without proper parental guidance can lead to disaster. Buzkashi Boys is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of trying to rise above your circumstances.

Death of a Shadow is a sometimes confusing, yet interesting, effort centering around a man who collects the shadows of the recently deceased. One shadow, Nathan (Matthias Schoenaerts), is offered the chance at a second life if he can capture 10,000 shadows for the Collector (Peter Van Den Eede). He agrees out of love for a woman, Sarah (Laura Verlinden), but after learning that she has since moved on after his "death," his afterlife becomes more complicated and dangerous. Death of a Shadow is a Belgian short that is written and directed by Tom Van Avermaet. It is the most cerebral of the short film nominees, but it is not always the most cohesive. 

The final nominated film, Henry, centers around the life of an older concert pianist (Gérard Poirier), whose life spirals out of control one morning when he fears that his wife is missing and that he is being kidnapped by strangers. Henry is then restrained at a local clinic, where he sees visions of his past life, including his time as a soldier. Voices try to guide him back to reality, as Henry comes to a troubling revelation. Henry is a well acted and sometimes surprising short film that speaks of the problems that sometimes accompany advanced age, from writer/director Yan England. 

The 2013 Oscar Nominated Short Films (Animated)

The 2013 Oscar nominees for animated short film include Paperman (pictured above), Adam and Dog, Fresh Guacamole, Head Over Heels and The Longest Daycare featuring Maggie Simpson. The animated films are packaged with the live action short films and are being shown in various markets across the country. If you have an opportunity to see these films, I would encourage you to do so. Links to watch three of the five animated films are provided below. 

Adam and Dog, from director Minkyu Lee. depicts the story of Adam and Eve from a Dog's point of view (and remember, Dog spelled backwards is God). Dog is shown marking his territory and interacting with other animals. In other words, he is just being a dog, until he encounters Adam on a few occasions and they begin to form a bond. However, the appearance of Eve causing significant changes in Adam and his relationship with Dog, who shies away from the humans, but cannot help but keep coming back, hoping for a stronger connection. The hand drawn animation and the lack of dialogue seem appropriate for a story set at the beginning of a particular time. In the case of Adam and Dog, less is more, as it should be. You can watch Adam and Dog here.

Fresh Guacamole, from writer/director PES, is a very brief, albeit creative, stop motion animated short that utilizes images of baseballs, dice, billiard balls and even those little green Monopoly houses. A hand is shown preparing what viewers expect to be guacamole, but as the slicing and dicing commences, various colorful and creative images appear onscreen. The result is an enjoyable and unexpected treat and a feast for the eyes of viewers, even though food is not an essential element here. You can watch Fresh Guacamole here. 

Another stop motion animated short, Head Over Heels, from director Timothy Reckart, focuses on a love story of a different sort. An older married couple, Walter and Madge, who have grown apart, but still live together (sound familiar?) literally live in different worlds in the same house. Walter lives on the floor and Madge lives on the ceiling, so they rarely interact. However, when Walter tries to reach out to Meg, his world is then turned upside down, which is perhaps a metaphor for how far apart they have grown. However, Madge is willing to meet Walter halfway, if they can figure out how to reunite. Like Paperman, Head Over Heels tells of the power and magic of love. 

The Longest Daycare, from director David Silverman, stars Maggie Simpson from The Simpsons, who is left in the "nothing special" section of a daycare, where adults are hard to find and other children appear menacing. Maggie is upset over the actions of another baby, Gerald, who possesses a unibrow and a mean streak, which results in the deaths of butterflies, which are smashed on the wall. Maggie's desire to protect the butterflies is met with limited success, but she is an intelligent and capable young lady who should not be underestimated. Fans of The Simpsons televisions series will appreciate the inside jokes, but this enjoyable short is accessible to anyone.  

Paperman, from director John Kahrs,, was originally shown before Disney's Wreck-It Ralph screenings this past fall, so I have had two opportunities to see this wonderful film about the pursuit of love, or at least the possibility of the pursuit for love. The story centers around a young man, George, and a young woman, Meg, who encounter each other when the papers they are carrying are caught up in the wind. George sees it as a sign and, after arriving at work, he spots Meg in a building across the street and tries to get her attention by constructing a vast array of paper airplanes. He becomes frustrated and leaves work when she fails to notice him. Later, the paper airplanes that he constructed somehow gather together, while a special paper airplane, with Meg's lipstick mark, "pursues" her. The magic of love is literally in the air, but can it finally bring George and Meg together? You can watch Paperman here. 

Giveaway! Win A Copy of "The Power Trip" by Jackie Collins

Updated 2/26/13 - Congratulations to Beth L. from Ellwood City, PA.

PopCultureGuy, in conjunction with St. Martin's Press and Get Red PR, would like to give one lucky reader an opportunity to win the recently released book The Power Trip by Jackie Collins. You can read my thoughts on the book here.

Description: A luxurious yacht in the Sea of Cortez, a birthday cruise for one of the world’s most beautiful women and an invitation no one can refuse. The Power Trip—take it if you dare.

From Hollywood icon and mega-seller Jackie Collins comes a thrilling new novel, The Power Trip, set on a state of the art luxury yacht off the coast of Cabo San Lucas. A tropical getaway with a cast of global power-hungry elites turns sour when they find out maybe they don't control as much of the world as they thought …

In The Power Trip you will meet Aleksandr Kasianenko, a billionaire Russian oligarch, as he sets sail on The Bianca. You’ll meet his sexy supermodel girlfriend, whom The Bianca is named after, and five dynamic, powerful, and famous couples invited on the yacht’s maiden voyage: Hammond Patterson, a driven Senator, and his lovely but unhappy wife, Sierra; Cliff Baxter, a charming, never-married movie star, and his ex-waitress girlfriend, Lori; Taye Sherwin, a famous black UK footballer and his interior designer wife, Ashley; Luca Perez, a male Latin singing sensation with his older decadent English boyfriend, Jeromy; and Flynn, a maverick journalist with his Asian renegade female friend, Xuan.

You will also meet Russian mobster, Sergei Zukov, a man with a grudge against Aleksandr. And Sergei’s Mexican beauty queen girlfriend, Ina, whose brother, Cruz, is a master pirate with orders to hold The Bianca and its illustrious guests for ransom.

The Power Trip explorers the decadent playgrounds of the super-rich . . . and leaves you hungry for more.

To enter the giveaway, send an e-mail to don.sauer@gmail.com, place "The Power Trip" in the subject line and include the name of your favorite Jackie Collins novel. The contest begins February 16, 2013 and runs through February 25, 2013. One winner will then be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter and will need to provide a shipping address at that time.

Open to residents of the United States and Canada only.

Good luck and thank you for reading PopCultureGuy!

Visit St. Martin's Press here.