New Release: "Last Night at the Viper Room" by Gavin Edwards

Timed to the 20^th Anniversary of the Death of River Phoenix (Halloween, 1993)

 “I think he was the best. Is. Was. Is the best of the young guys. I’m not just saying that now—I said that before he died. He had something I don’t understand.” —Brad Pitt on River Phoenix

 “Twenty years after his death, River Phoenix remains as enigmatic and elusive as ever."

Last Night at the ViperRoomtells the heart-shredding story of how this haunted actor left such a big impression in such a brief time.”  —Rob Sheffield, author of Turn Around Bright Eyes, Talking to Girls About Duran Duran, and Love Is a Mix Tape

“It ends outside a nightclub called the Viper Room, on a Hollywood sidewalk. The young man convulsing on the pavement is named River Phoenix. His brother is on a nearby pay phone, pleading with a 911 operator. His sister is lying on top of his body, trying to stop him from injuring himself as his muscles twitch and his limbs flail against the concrete. River Phoenix has overdosed on a speedball of heroin and cocaine, and has only minutes to live.”

--From Gavin Edwards’ LAST NIGHT AT THE VIPER ROOM

Today, River Phoenix would be 43 years old. Following his triumphant performances in Stand by Me and My Own Private Idaho, and his Oscar-nominated work in Running on Empty, today he might also count Christian Slater’s role in Interview with the Vampire and Emile Hirsch’s turn as Cleve Jones in Milk among his successes. Instead, on October 31, 1993, River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in front of West Hollywood’s storied Viper Room at age 23, a tragic ending to a brilliant life and career.

 Now the new book from New York Times bestselling author and journalist Gavin Edwards,

LAST NIGHT AT THE VIPER ROOM: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind (It Books; October 22, 2013; Hardcover; $24.99) – also available from HarperAudio and HarperCollins e-books – examines, like never before, this brilliant but complicated life cut short. Edwards gives a minute-by-minute account of the night River Phoenix died, while exploring the arc of the young star’s career and the lasting impact he made on Hollywood.

Full of interviews from River Phoenix’s fellow actors, directors, friends and family, LAST NIGHT AT THE VIPER ROOM shows the role Phoenix played in creating the place of the actor in our modern culture and the impact his work still makes today. Edwards drew upon the interviews River Phoenix conducted in his lifetime, new and old conversations with Phoenix's friends and colleagues, and previously unpublished material from his own interviews with luminaries ranging from Johnny Depp to Heart Phoenix (River's mother). His research took him from the Viper Room in Los Angeles to Amsterdam, where director George Sluizer granted him a private screening of Dark Blood, the long-unfinished movie that Phoenix had been in the middle of filming when he died.

A teenage River Phoenix took Hollywood by storm; when he was just 18 years old, he won an Oscar nomination for Running on Empty. Praised by his peers as the most talented actor of his generation, River came of age in the spotlight—a teen idol on the fast track to Hollywood royalty, a fervent defender of the environment, and a vocal proponent of veganism. But as the spotlight shone ever brighter on him, Phoenix succumbed to addiction, escaping into drink and drugs.

Uncovering parts of Phoenix’s past for the first time, Edwards looks deeply into his family’s commitment to the Children of God religious cult. Tracing the family’s travels from Madras, OR (his birthplace) to Caracas, Venezuela (where as a child, Phoenix had to busk for change so his family could eat) and to Gainesville, FL (where he spent his late teenage years), Edwards gives an in-depth look at the burdens Phoenix carried of supporting his impoverished family from a young age.

With never-before-seen insights into Phoenix’s brief but incandescent life, Edwards explores:

-          Why, when River died, it was generally assumed that he would become the “vegan James Dean”—a star even better remembered in death than in life, but why he faded in people’s memories instead (and why Montgomery Clift might be a better comparison to River than Dean)

-          The Children of God beliefs that young River grew up amidst—the Bible approved of adultery and incest, that children should be raised as sexual beings—and how his parents’ commitment to the religious lifestyle put a strain on River and all of his siblings

-          The 1,000 mile motorcycle trip Keanu Reeves took to deliver the treatment for My Own Private Idaho to Phoenix, when no one else would – and why the project was opposed by both actors’ agents, managers, and other handlers

-          River’s dangerous  preparations for My Own Private Idaho, including learning the tricks of the hustler trade by watching boys in the “Vaseline Alley” of Portland, even entering negotiations with johns, and experimenting with hard drugs 

-          Filming the three-way sex scene in My Own Private Idaho and why, with an ill-timed joke, Phoenix almost ruined it

-          The roles that would have been Phoenix’s in films that never came to fruition – like a Gun Van Sant film about Andy Warhol (for which Phoenix had already bleached his hair to play the artist) or a science-fiction project from John Boorman (British director of Point Break, Deliverance and Excalibur) called Broken Dreams – and the roles that went to others after he died, like Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Rimbaud in Total Eclipse

-          How and when the Viper Room became trendy, who its biggest regulars were, and why Johnny Depp lost interest in running the bar so quickly

-          How River lived on in song, through lyrics written by friends Michael Stipe and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and others

Toggling between the tragic events at the Viper Room in West Hollywood on that fateful Halloween night in 1993 and the story of an extraordinary life,  LAST NIGHT AT THE VIPER ROOM is part biography, part cultural history of the 1990s—but, above all, is a celebration of River Phoenix, a Hollywood icon gone too soon.

Gavin Edwards is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone and has written for Details, Spin, and the New York Times Magazine. He is the author of six books including the New York Times bestseller VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV’s First Wave, which he cowrote with the original MTV VJs. He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and their two sons. Online: www.rulefortytwo.com

 

Purchase Last Night at The Viper Room here.

New Release: "A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition" by Charles M. Shulz

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: THE MAKING OF A TRADITION (It Books; Hardcover; on sale October 22, 2013; $19.99) is the behind-the-scenes look at how “A Charlie Brown Christmas” became a Christmas classic in this lushly illustrated hardcover reissue, originally published in 2000.  In this stunning new edition, we learn how this heartwarming story became America’s most popular Christmas TV special of all-time.

In ”A Charlie Brown Christmas,” created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown disapproves of the over-commercialization and secularism of Christmas and serves to remind viewers of the true meaning of Christmas. This message strikes a chord with viewers each year, and the PEANUTS animated special has become a seasonal tradition, airing each December since 1965.   

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: THE MAKING OF A TRADITION also includes an introduction by the show’s executive producer, Lee Mendelson.  Along with the original animator, the late Bill Melendez, the two men share their personal memories about the Christmas special and Charles M. Schulz. Up until Schulz’s death in February 2000, the three of them worked on 50 PEANUTS network specials and four feature films.  

Since first airing in 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has been one of America’s most beloved television shows each year. For nearly 50 years, fans of all ages continue to tune in to the Emmy-winning Christmas special that has earned a permanent place in popular culture. This illustrated tribute to the beloved television classic includes: 

      More than 200 full-color, original animation art

      Vince Guaraldi’s original score and publication notes for “Christmastime is Here” and “Linus and Lucy”

      Interviews with the original child actors who were the voices of the Peanuts gang

      Trivia about the Peanuts gang

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS is a fitting salute to Charles Schulz, the artist who forever changed the face of cartooning, which also celebrates the award-winning holiday special with warmhearted memories, fascinating trivia, and colorful art that will delight fans of all ages.

ABOUT CHARLES M. SCHULZ

Charles M. Schulz, the most popular cartoonist in the world with strips in 2,600 newspapers, retired in February 2000 and passed away the day of his final farewell Sunday Peanuts strip on February 13th. He lived in Santa Rosa, CA.

 

Purchase A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition here.

Halloween Interlude: "Frankenstein" (1931)

Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!

"Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection" on Blu-ray

Like most long running horror franchises, the Friday the 13th series became tired as it went along. However, the first two entries were solid efforts and remain scary and watchable, some three decades later. Even later entries, including Jason Takes Manhattan, were fun to watch, at least for their sense of humor. Regardless of the quality of each film, I have to admit to watching all of them. Yes, even Jason X and Freddy vs. Jason. I am loyal if nothing else. Even though there is no Friday the 13th during the month of October this year, the films are perfect for viewing around Halloween.


Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection

Synopsis: The 10-disc collection includes the twelve films on nine Blu-ray discs, as well as a killer DVD bonus disc full of special features on the making of the famous franchise. The must-own set will be presented in a collectible tin case with 11 hours of previously released special features and a 40-page soft cover book. The book is excerpted from Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th, a fan-favorite volume that’s viewed as the ultimate memoir of the series, and highlights some of the 200 interviews, 600 photos, storyboards, concept art and more. Also included is a brand new, official Camp Crystal Lake embroidered Counselor Patch.

Films in the Collection include:
· Disc 1 - Friday the 13th (1980)
· Disc 2 - Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
· Disc 3 - Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D (1982)
· Disc 4 - Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) NEW TO BLU-RAY
· Disc 5 - Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985) / Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) NEW TO BLU-RAY
· Disc 6 - Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) / Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) NEW TO BLU- RAY
· Disc 7 - Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) / Jason X (2002) NEW TO BLU-RAY
· Disc 8 - Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
· Disc 9 - Friday the 13th (2009) (Theatrical Version and “Killer Cut” Extended Version)
· Disc 10 – Killer Bonus DVD Disc

Special Features: Includes UltraViolet™ so you can enjoy the film on many different compatible devices.

Weekend Box Office Estimates for October 18-20, 2013: Horror and Sci-Fi Offerings Dominate

Horror and Sci-fi films captured three of the top ten spots at the weekend box office, including Gravity, which claimed the top spot for the third straight weekend and continues its impressive run. New entry Carrie, starring Chloe Grace Moretz, landed in third place, with an estimated $17 million, which was far below the $31 million take for Gravity. Another horror effort, Insidious Chapter 2, rounded out the top ten, with about $1.5 million. Insidious has grossed over $80 million during its six week run.

Two other new films, the action oriented Escape Plan and the drama The Fifth Estate, captured fifth and eight place, respectively, but both underperformed. On a more positive note, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 cemented its hit status, earning over $10 million in its fourth weekend. The animated effort may pass the $100 million mark next weekend.


Here are the Top Ten Weekend films (numbers are in millions):

1. Gravity - $31.0 (Warner Bros.)

2. Captain Phillips - $17.3 (Sony/Columbia)

3. Carrie - $17.0 (Sony/Screen Gems)

4. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - $10.1 (Sony/Columbia)

5. Escape Plan - $9.8 (Lionsgate/Summit)

6. Prisoners- $2.1 (Warner Bros.)

7. Enough Said - $1.8 (Fox Searchlight)

8. The Fifth Estate - $1.7 (Disney/DreamWorks)

9. Runner Runner - $1.6 (Fox)

10. Insidious Chapter 2 - $1.5 (FilmDistrict)

MTV's "Teen Wolf" Renewed for a Fourth Season

 

Photo Credit: MTV

 

An early Halloween treat! The always entertaining Teen Wolf will return for a fourth season. The new episodes, 12 in all, will be accompanied by a weekly talk show, Wolf Watch, that will begin airing when the second half of the third season begins on January 6. In my opinion, any number of new episodes is a positive sign for the highly rated series. The fourth season is expected to air sometime later next year.

Retro DVD Pick: "Abbott and Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff" (1949)

Bud and Lou and Boris. Who could ask for anything more in a movie? Of course, the title is not exactly accurate and Karloff's role is rather diminished, but he shares a classic scene with Lou Costello when his character, Swami Talpur, tries to hypnotize Freddie Phelps, played by Costello. Who knew that it could be so difficult to hypnotize someone as simple minded as Freddie? Swami Talpur is driven to distraction at his failed attempts to have Freddie kill himself, but others want to get rid of Freddie as well because he has evidence that can solve a murder case, so they may have more success.

Abbott and Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff finds Bud and Lou, as Casey Edwards and the aforementioned Freddie Phelps, respectively, working at a remote resort hotel. Casey is the hotel detective, while Freddie is a bellhop, at least until he insults and injures a guest, Amos Strickland (Nicholas Joy). Freddie threatens Amos after he is fired and when he later goes to apologize to him, Freddie finds that Strickland has been murdered and he, of course, is the chief suspect. With Casey's help, Freddie tries to clear his name, but when additional murders are committed and the bodies find their way into Freddie's hotel room, it looks like he is the culprit. However, the resourceful Freddie is determined to clear his name and works with Casey to hide the bodies and even dresses up as a maid to aid his cause (Costello is always a hoot when cross dressing). But, he has an uphill battle to fight because Strickland had many enemies and they all conspire to frame poor Freddie.

I realized it had been about a decade since I last watched Abbott and Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff and I have seen the film many times over the years. While I recall the film as being one of the weaker entries in the Abbott and Costello film catalog, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it holds up and how the majority of the film is well constructed. My only real problem with the film is the silly special effects that are utilized when Freddie goes to meet the killer in the Lost Caverns. However, the film rebounds with an amusing final act. While not necessarily a horror film, Abbott and Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff has enough elements to make it (sort of) qualify, thanks to Karloff, a series of murders, and the foreboding soundtrack.

Halloween Interlude: "Dracula" (1931)

I am...Dracula. I bid you...welcome.

"Mischief Night" Debuts in Theaters October 30

Photo courtesy of SpectiCast

Press Release - (LOS ANGELES, CA) – SPECTICAST inks distribution deal with RUTHLESS PICTURES and GMI FILMS for an exclusive one night only theatrical event release for the new home-invasion thriller, MISCHIEF NIGHT.

SpectiCast, the fastest growing all-digital distribution company in the world -- distributing film, cultural arts events and alternative content programs to both theatrical and non-theatrical venues around the globe -- has acquired theatrical rights for Richard Schenkman’s MISCHIEF NIGHT. The recently completed home-invasion thriller will premiere on screens everywhere on October 30, 2013 (popularly known as “Mischief Night”) for a one-time theatrical event on the very same night the film takes place.

MISCHIEF NIGHT tells the story of a terrifying home invasion on the evening before Halloween. Emily Walton, a young woman suffering from psychosomatic blindness ever since the car accident that took her mother’s life, must summon every instinct at her disposal to protect herself and her loved ones from a mysterious intruder.

“When we were putting this project together, our hope was to land a good home video distributor to release the movie, and were excited when Image / RLJ Entertainment acquired the picture before we even began production,” says Richard Schenkman who co-wrote, directed, and co-produced the film. “But once we completed the film, we felt we had something very special that exceeded all our expectations, something that went beyond just a direct-to-video movie.”

Co-producer Eric D. Wilkinson agrees, “We ended up creating something that my fellow producers, Richard, Jesse [Baget] and I all felt should be a shared experience in a dark theater with an audience.  We are thrilled that SpectiCast, a leader in event cinema distribution, has become our theatrical partner.”

Mark Rupp, Co-founder and President of SpectiCast concurs, “When I saw the film, I just loved it. These guys had made a sharp, suspenseful, edgy thriller that was a throwback to some of the legendary horror films of the 1970’s like Wait Until Dark and John Carpenter’s Halloween.”  Rupp is equally excited for the timing of the theatrical release, adding, “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 35^thAnniversary of Carpenter’s classic than going to the theater on October 30^th and reliving the communal experience of seeing a scary movie on the eve of the scariest holiday of the year! Plus, as a guy who grew up perpetrating – I mean enjoying -- Mischief Night, I want to spread the word.”

The film’s talented ensemble cast is led by experienced young actress Noell Coet (Cowgirls n’ Angels, 5 Time Champion), and also includes veteran actor Daniel Hugh Kelly (Cujo, Someone To Watch Over Me, The Good Son), Charlie O’Connell (Dude, Where’s My Car, Cruel Intentions, “Sliders”), Erica Leerhsen (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Anything Else), Ally Walker (“Sons of Anarchy,” While You Were Sleeping, Universal Soldier), Stephanie Erb (The Ring, Starship Troopers), Richard Riehle (Bridesmaids, A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas) Adam C. Edwards (Flight, The Quiet Ones) and Ian Bamberg (Second Time Around, Warrior Road).

The theatrical distribution deal for MISCHIEF NIGHT was negotiated by Richard Schenkman for Ruthless Pictures and GMI Films, and Mark Rupp, Co-founder and President, for SpectiCast.

SpectiCast markets and distributes the finest 2D & 3D programs using the industry's most advanced technologies to over 1,500 theaters in 24 countries on six continents. Their fast growing slate includes a great selection of "event cinema" and alternative content, along with some of the best specialty film programs including the Manhattan Short Film Festival, the Women's Edge Film Series and the Laugh Out Loud Film Festival, just to name a few. SpectiCast is a privately owned and operated firm based in Philadelphia, PA.

Following the film’s theatrical release, Image Entertainment (a subsidiary of RLJ Entertainment [NASDAQ: RLJE]) plans to release the film on DVD, VOD and Digital in the fourth quarter of 2013.

MISCHIEF NIGHT

From Ruthless Pictures, GMI Films and Mischief Night, LLC ©2013

Directed by: Richard Schenkman

Story by Jesse Baget and Eric D. Wilkinson

Written by: Jesse Baget and Richard Schenkman

Produced by: Jesse Baget, Richard Scchenkman and Eric D. Wilkinson

"Color Me Swooooon" by Mel Elliott - A (Male Celebrity) Coloring Book for Adults

 

Do not be fooled by the cover of the recently released book Color Me Swooooon (Perigee Books) by Mel Elliott. Yes, the likenesses of Channing Tatum, Robert Pattinson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt depict a possible youth filled male celebrity slant, but there are many more mature ones to be found inside, including Richard Gere, Rob Lowe and Brad Pitt. Indeed, there are male celebrities of various ages to swoon over and, yes, color, in this unique book that features more than 60 actors, musicians, an athlete and even a member of The Royal Family!

 

Each entry includes an image of the celebrity along with various entertaining ways of learning more about him through poetry, crossword puzzles and word finds. Readers also have an opportunity to rate the guys on a scale of 1-10, so be kind and skip over the ones you may not fancy as much as the others. The author clearly has a thing for Ryan Gosling, in part because of his role in Crazy Stupid Love, but she gives equal time, but necessarily equal swooning, to actor Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer, Johnny Depp, Henry Cavill, Daniel Craig and musicians Usher, One Direction, and Justin Timberlake, who can both sing and act.

 

While reading through the book (no, I did not color....yet), I was a bit surprised to see a number of British actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender and even Nicholas Hoult, but Mel Elliott is also from England, so that makes sense. Not that the aforementioned trio do not deserve to be swooned over, but I am not sure how familiar the average reader will be with their fine work in both film and television. There are other Brits represented as well, including David Beckham, Hugh Grant and Prince Harry.

 

Color Me Swooooon is a fun and creative distraction that can also serve to increase your brain power through puzzles and games. Whether you enjoy coloring and/or daydreaming about your fantasy mate, there is certainly enough here to keep your mind occupied. Of course, it may also lead to dirty thoughts, not that there is anything wrong with that. 

New Television Series Spotlight: "Reign" Debuts Tonight on The CW

Photo Credit: The CW

Perhaps the most unlikely series ever to air on The CW, Reign, premieres tonight at 9:00pm ET. Reign centers around the rise of Mary, Queen of Scots, who arrives in France to be with her soon to be husband, Prince Francis, and must deal with a sometimes dark world that she is not accustomed to. Since a historical drama is clearly a risk for The CW, I assume the pilot must have been great in order to receive a series order. As a result, I am intrigued and will be watching.

Halloween Interlude: "The Wolf Man" (1941)

"Even a man who is pure in heart
and says his prayers by night
may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
and the autumn moon is bright"

 

Hardcover Spotlight: "1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die"

1001 guitars, from 1525 to 2013, are featured in the new book 1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die (Universe), edited by Terry Burrows. This "small" coffee table book includes photographs of every guitar, from the earliest Spanish baroque models to the more recent Gibson Robot, on high quality paper. Not every guitar gets its own page, but the book is still nearly 1,000 pages long. Editor Terry Burrows also supplies the introduction that leads into a Foreword by Dave Gregory. An index of guitars by manufacturer and by model are included before and after the 1001 guitars, respectively.

Nine chapters are devoted to the instrument and range from pre-1930s to the 2010s. Each entry includes the history of the guitar, as well as essential information about its type, body and neck and other features. There is also at least one photo of each guitar. Some entries expand beyond one page, while other pages include as many as three different guitars. Information about albums featuring the various instruments are also included with some entries for your future listening pleasure and are occasionally accompanied by a famous musician, such as Reverend Gary Davis, with a Gibson SJ-200, Flea, with a Fender Jazz, and Keith Richards, with a Travis Bean TB1000.

It is difficult to believe that the guitar has only been considered a serious instrument since the late 19th century. However, over the past century, the instrument has emerged as the world's most popular and has been essential to the creation of blues and rock n' roll, among other genres. The guitar has become synonymous with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rhoads, Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Page, Jack White and The Edge, to name only a few great guitarists (and in no particular order - I do not even want to go there!). From the curious to the committed and from the novice to the professional, 1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die contains an amazing amount of information about one of the world's youngest, but most beloved instruments.

1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die is now available.

Nielsen Ratings for the Week of October 7, 2013: Football and Baseball Lift Fox

FOX managed to land in third place among the broadcast networks for the week of October 7, courtesy of football, baseball and its Monday night line-up of Bones and Sleepy Hollow. While trailing CBS and NBC, FOX snuck past ABC, which has work to do on Sunday nights with the declining Once Upon a Time and Revenge. Both series have seen noticeable viewer erosion since last year. Even veteran America's Funniest Home Videos was down, but when competing against a football overrun that is to be expected. Of course, all three series fared better than Betrayal, which scored less than three million viewers and will likely be cancelled any minute now.

NBC's combination of Sunday Night Football and The Voice helped the Peacock network to a second place finish, along with new entry The Blacklist, which continues to impress. The reliable NCIS franchise, The Big Bang Theory and The Millers helped CBS to another first place finish, but the Eye network has much work to do to revamp Monday evenings and may want to take a closer look at Sunday, considering its aging dramas. The CW fared better now that most of its fall line-up is in place, but the once mighty The Vampire Diaries is now the fourth highest rated series on the network, which is concerning. Arrow, new entry The Tomorrow People and the long running Supernatural were the network's top rated programs for the week.

Ratings for the week of October 7, 2013 (courtesy of Nielsen Media Research)

Total Average Viewers (in millions) by Network:
CBS - 9.22
NBC - 8.44
FOX - 7.49
ABC - 6.98
The CW - 1.69

Top 30 Shows (viewers in millions):

1. NBC Sunday Night Football (NBC) - 22.07
2. NCIS (CBS) - 18.33
3. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 17.64
4. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick (NBC) - 16.02
5. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) - 14.84
6. The Voice (NBC-Monday) - 14.64
7. The OT (FOX) - 14.11
8. Dancing with the Stars (ABC) - 13.00
9. Football Night in America Part 3 (NBC) - 11.78
10. The Millers (CBS) - 11.73
11. Person of Interest (CBS) - 11.65
12. The Blacklist (NBC) - 11.18
13. Criminal Minds (CBS) - 10.98
14. FOX MLB ALCS Game 2 Pregame (FOX) (s) - 10.88
15. Modern Family (ABC) - 10.64
16. 60 Minutes (CBS) - 10.62
17. Blue Bloods (CBS) - 10.56
18. Castle (ABC) - 10.51
19. The Voice (NBC-Tuesday) - 10.20
20. The Crazy Ones (CBS) - 9.69
21. Survivor (CBS) - 9.60
22. The Mentalist (CBS) - 9.39
23. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) - 9.24
24. Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 9.14
25. Elementary (CBS) - 9.06
26. Scandal (ABC) - 9.01
27. CSI (CBS) - 8.82
28. Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - 8.79
29. The Good Wife (CBS) - 8.46
30. FOX MLB ALCS Game 2 (FOX) (s) - 8.35


(r) = Repeat
(s) = Special
(p) = Premiere

Just in Time for Halloween - "101 Ways To Kill A Zombie" by Robb Pearlman

If you need help protecting yourself from zombies this Halloween, then be sure to check out the new book 101 Ways To Kill A Zombie (Universe) by Robb Pearlman, with illustrations by Dave Urban. The pictures do most of talking in this humorous new book that features popular zombie elimination weapons including knives, axes and screwdrivers, to the more unconventional ones, including fireworks, nerd rage and a mob hit. More clever methods, such as brain freeze, password reset and the ever popular drone strike, take creativity to a new level.

Pop culture references, particularly ones featuring movies, are some of the most amusing and include The Wizard of Oz, Single White Female and Shaft. In addition, nods to Stephen King, Justin Bieber and the board game Clue make this a thoroughly entertaining read. Dave Urban's full color illustrations are detailed and often hilarious, not to mention full of zombie blood, which made me feel kind of bad for the zombies depicted here. They seem so helpless and benign, but its not like they have not died once already. If you are interested in lightening up your Halloween celebrations this year, I would encourage you to check out 101 Ways To Kill A Zombie.

Michael Apted's "56 Up" Premieres Tonight on "POV"

Photo Credit: PBS/POV

Director Michael Apted has examined the lives of a group of people every seven years for nearly five decades in an ongoing documentary series. Along the way, some have dropped out of the project, but the ones who remain are part of a truly unique experience. In the seventh installment, 56 Up, Apted uses flashbacks to highlight the differences from the participants first appearance, in the 1964 documentary Seven Up!, and the results are truly fascinating.

Life seldom turns out how we expect it to, especially when we are children looking toward the future, and that is true for most of the participants in the film, some of whom have come full circle in ways they probably never imagined. While every story is unique, I was particularly impacted by Neil and Jackie, who have endured tremendous hardships, but keep moving forward despite those challenges. The candor expressed by the participants is refreshing and sometimes surprising, as some of them express mixed feelings about continuing to appear in the films. Of course, they have a choice not to appear, but some feel loyal to the series, others seem to enjoy the spotlight and others may just be curious and want to see how their peers are doing. Considering the probing questions that Michael Apted poses to them, I can understand the reluctance of some of them to participate.

56 Up premieres tonight on POV on PBS. Check your local listings for more information.


Press Release: They’ve Been Filmed Every Seven Years Since 1964. Now the “Kids” Are  ‘56 Up,’ Premiering on POV, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013 on PBS INDIES SHOWCASE 

What Becomes of the Dreams of Children? Acclaimed Director Michael Apted Returns With Latest Installment of Groundbreaking Documentary Experiment That Began with ‘Seven Up!’ 
“It is a mystery, this business of life. I can't think of any [other] cinematic undertaking that allows us to realize that more deeply.”—Roger Ebert 

In 1964, director Michael Apted (Coal Miner’s Daughter, Gorky Park, Gorillas in the Mist) was a young researcher on the experimental documentary series World in Action for a program called Seven Up!, produced for England’s Granada Television. Taking its cue from the Jesuit maxim “Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man,” the film focused on 7-year-olds from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. By asking 14 children about their lives and their hopes and fears for the future, the filmmakers aimed to explore contemporary English attitudes, especially regarding the class system, as expressed by children. And by following the youngsters as they progressed through life, the Up series looked to test the strength of that system and the truth of the Jesuit saying. Was the adult already visible in the 7-year-old? 

After Seven Up!, Apted took the series’ directorial helm, and over the half-century since, he has returned every seven years to ask the same subjects to talk about how they see their lives. The result has been a unique, inspired and always-surprising chronicle of lives-in-the-making. In 56 Up, Apted finds the “kids” have mostly weathered the marital, parental and career tumults of middle age with remarkable aplomb, even as they begin facing the challenges of aging, illness and economic crises.

56 Up has its national broadcast premiere on Monday, Oct. 14, 2013 at 10 p.m. (check local listings), on the award-winning PBS series POV (Point of View). The film is part of the new PBS INDIES SHOWCASE, a four-week series of independent documentaries airing on Monday nights from Sept. 30-Oct. 21. POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series and the recipient of a 2013 MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. 

From cab driver Tony to schoolmates Jackie, Lynn and Susan to the heartbreaking Neil, more life- changing decisions and surprising developments are revealed as the participants turn 56. Apted employs a telescopic method when presenting his subjects, cutting back and forth between the present time of 56 Up and clips from earlier installments to create portraits in motion. For veteran viewers of the series, this is rich cinematic fabric. Apted quickly and dramatically brings up to speed anyone who hasn’t seen some or all of the previous films.  

Not all original Up subjects have agreed to participate in each of the films. Some have dropped out and then back in, for reasons they best explain themselves, and one of the delights of 56 Up is the love-hate relationship some have with the series. 

“This project has spanned my entire working life. It has been a unique and fulfilling experience, the  one I treasure most in my career,” says Apted about the Up series, which won a 2013 Peabody Award. “I never know how each new film will turn out, except that it’ll be quite different from the last. 21 Up was full of hope, 28 was about children and responsibility, 35 was concerned with mortality when some were losing parents, and 49 had a sense of disappointment with lives maybe not fully achieved. Yet 56 Up is quite different again, which goes to prove, if nothing else, that our series mirrors life—and is always full of surprises.” 

56 Up is another step in a life-spanning project—for filmmaker, subjects and viewers—that has no parallel in the history of film. Like its predecessors, it probes a profound question: What becomes of the dreams of children? 

56 Up is a production of ITV Studios Limited. Like all the episodes of the Up series since 28 Up, 56 Up is a First Run Features release in the United States; it will be available on DVD this fall. 

Meet the people in 56 Up: 

Ebullient, charming, cockney-accented East Ender Tony wanted to be a jockey when we met him in Seven Up! The series followed him as he saw his dream come true and then gave it up to be a cabbie. He’s been successful enough to own a home in England, which he shares with his wife, Debbie, and their children and grandchildren. He also owns a vacation home in Spain. In 56 Up, Tony shows the lot he was planning to develop before the economy turned sour. He seems happy, yet he harbors guilt about infidelities and frustration with the immigrants who have changed his beloved East End. He talks about 32 years of marriage. “High and low, Debbie has stood by me,” he says tearfully. “At the end of it, I still love her so.” As he visits the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, formerly the site of a dog track in his East End neighborhood, he brims with pride. The Up series has brought him such recognition that when astronaut Buzz Aldrin was his passenger, a taxi driver pulled up and requested an autograph. When Tony asked Aldrin to oblige, the other cabbie said, “No . . . I want your autograph.” Says Tony, “To this day I thought to myself, ‘I’m more famous than Buzz Aldrin? He’s the second man to land on the moon!’” 

“I want to be an astronaut, or if I can’t be an astronaut, I think I’ll be a coach driver,” said 7-year-old Liverpudlian Neil. He went from happy child, to homeless young adult, to a man working doggedly at political and writing careers that can’t sustain him financially. He says he’s appearing in 56 Up in part because he “wants to set the record straight in a number of ways. For so many millions of people I’m here wearing my heart on my sleeve and they think they know absolutely everything about me.” Despite doubts about God and religion expressed in previous Up films, Neil is seen in 56 Up working as a lay minister at a local church. 

Peter and Neil were friends growing up in Liverpool. Peter stopped participating after 28 Up because the media and viewers saw him as “angry young Red in Thatcher’s England,” but he has returned for 56 Up with the frank intention of promoting his folk band the Good Intentions. “I was an easy target,” he says of his experience 28 years ago. “I was absolutely taken aback, genuinely shocked by . . . the level of malice and ill will directed at me. Until you’ve experienced it yourself, you can’t begin to appreciate how it feels.” With two children and a wife, Gabbie, who shares his passion for music and plays accordion in the band, “I feel a lot happier with myself, happier in my own skin.” He left the teaching profession shortly after 28 Up, studied law and joined the civil service. “I don’t think really life is there to be regretted,” he says. “Life is there to be lived.”  

Nick, who went from farm boy to Oxford University student, to nuclear-fusion researcher, to teacher of electrical engineering, and Suzy, who was one of the more privileged children and who became a
3 of 5 homemaker, interview each other and debate the effects of the film. Says Suzy, “The problem I have is that you don’t get a very rounded picture, you get the odd comment.” She vowed at age 49 that she would bow out of the series, yet, she laughs, “I suppose I have this ridiculous sense of loyalty to it.” Adds Nick: “They film me doing all this daft stuff and it’s seven days out of every seven years . . . it’s all this excitement . . . and then they present this tiny little snippet and it’s like, ‘Is that all there is to me?’” Yet Nick, who lives in the United States with his second wife, Cryss, also presents the most spirited defense of the series, saying, “The idea of looking at a bunch of people over time and how they evolve was a really nifty idea. It isn’t a picture really of the essence of Nick or Suzy; it’s a picture of everyman.”  

Sue, who spent her middle years as a working, single mom, is in a long-term relationship, has happy children and has advanced to the top of the administrative department of the School of Law at Queen Mary, University of London, even though she never went to college. Paul, who lived in a children’s home as a 7-year-old, emigrated to Australia in his early teens and is happily married with five grandchildren; he’s proud that his daughter, Katy, is the first member of his family to go to university.  

Symon lived in the same children’s home as Paul. The only child of a single mother who died at age 35, he is biracial. He’s survived a divorce and has a difficult relationship with his five children from the union. 56 Up finds him working in a warehouse and living happily with his second wife, Vienetta, and his 18-year-old son. Symon and Vienetta have an incredibly busy life, which includes fostering children and teens, who express their profound gratitude in 56 Up. If Symon has one regret, it’s that he didn’t push himself academically, but his wife’s drive makes up for his laid-back personality. 

The Up series has followed Jackie through marriage, divorce and childbirths. In 56 Up, she tells viewers about the family deaths she has endured—her sister, ex-husband, mother-in-law, stepmother and brother-in-law—as well as government cuts to her disability benefits for rheumatoid arthritis. Yet the birth of her first grandchild brings hope and joy, and she has even dipped a toe into Internet dating. Despite all her troubles, she sees herself as an optimist. “My glass is always half full, never half empty. That’s the way it will continue to be, I hope.”  

Lynn, Jackie’s schoolmate, was the 7-year-old who wanted to work in Woolworth’s. Instead she was a children’s librarian for more than 30 years. Happily married, she has a growing family of grandchildren but recently lost her job due to budget cuts. Then the financial crisis hit, and one of her grandchildren was born prematurely. “What I thought was stress was nothing,” she says. But her husband of 37 years “is still my soul mate. We’ve just grown together.” 

Andrew and John, along with Charles (who stopped appearing after 28 Up), were attending a pre- preparatory school in Kensington in Seven Up!, and they exhibited almost comically upper-crust attitudes. “I read the Financial Times,” the 7-year old Andrew declared, while little John chimed in, “We think I’m going to Cambridge and Trinity Hall.” Andrew married, had two sons and became a partner at a firm of solicitors. John studied at Oxford and became a barrister. He married Claire, and the two have spearheaded environmental projects in England and charitable work in Bulgaria, which he finds more satisfying than “winning some fantastic case on some ludicrous, arcane point of law.” In 56 Up, John explains that he missed a couple of films because he felt the depiction of him as privileged was a misrepresentation. “What viewers were never told was that my father died when I was 9, leaving my mother in very uncomfortable financial circumstances  . . . and that I got a scholarship to Oxford.”  

Bruce, as a boy attending private school, wanted to be a missionary in Africa. Instead, he graduated from Oxford, and at 35 took a sabbatical to teach in Bangladesh. Over the years, he longed for a spouse. In 42 Up, Bruce revealed he had met a fellow teacher, Penny, while working in London’s East End, and had tied the knot. In 56 Up, they are still married and have two sons who attend a Quaker school. 

Weekend Box Office Estimates for October 11-13, 2013: "Gravity" Holds Strong

You know autumn has arrived when the majority of the top ten films are geared towards mature audiences. In fact, with the exception of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, which continues to impress, the other nine films are for grown ups, who are clearly enamored with Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity, which has grossed nearly $125 million in just ten days. The Sandra Bullock/George Clooney sci-fi adventure dropped only 20% in its second weekend and easily captured the number one spot.

Second place belongs to Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. The film, which is based on true events, earned an estimated $26.0 million and proves that Tom Hanks is still able to attract attention when he appears in a quality film worthy of his talents. The aforementioned Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 landed in third place, with over $14 million, followed by new entry Machete Kills, with just under $4.0 million and Runner Runner, with about $3.7 million.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend films (numbers are in millions):

1. Gravity - $44.3 (Warner Bros.)

2. Captain Phillips - $26.0 (Sony/Columbia)

3. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - $14.2 (Sony/Columbia)

4. Machete Kills - $3.8 (Open Road)

5. Runner Runner - $3.7 (Fox)

6. Prisoners- $3.67 (Warner Bros.)

7. Insidious Chapter 2 - $2.7 (FilmDistrict)

8. Rush  - $2.4 (Universal)

9. Don Jon - $2.3 (Relativity Media)

10. Baggage Claim - $2.1 (Fox Searchlight)

DVD Spotlight: "The Hangover Part III" - Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis

The reviews for The Hangover Part III were not kind. Perhaps the beloved first installment had soured critics on the subsequent sequels. Of course, the second Hangover film was pretty awful. Despite the negative reviews, I gave The Hangover Part III a try and I actually enjoyed it. Yes, I realize I am in the minority. The third installment veers way off course from the previous two and has nothing to do with a hangover, save for a few familiar faces who the Wolfpack encounter on their latest adventure, which finds them once again involved with the never dull Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong).

The initial story centers around Alan (Zach Galifianakis), who refuses to take his medication after his father, Sid (Jeffrey Tambor), dies of a heart attack. Sid's demise occurs after an argument with Alan over an unfortunate accident involving a giraffe, but, as usual, Alan refuses to take any responsibility. An intervention is staged to convince Alan to go into rehab and he agrees, provided that Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Doug (Justin Bartha) accompany him. They agree, but before they can make it to the facility, they are attacked and apprehended by men working for mob leader Marshall (John Goodman), who believes they can help him find Chow, who has stolen millions in gold bars from him.

Meanwhile, Chow has escaped from prison and is in hiding, so it is up the Alan, Stu and Phil to find him or Doug, who has been taken hostage, will be killed. The Wolfpack travel to Mexico in search of Chow, who proves time and again that he cannot be trusted. However, with Doug's life hanging in the balance, the guys have no choice but to work with him to try to appease Marshall. Along the way, they meet familiar faces, including Black Doug (Mike Epps) and Jade (Heather Graham), before once again traveling to Las Vegas for the finale.

While The Hangover Part III is billed as a comedy, most of the humor falls flat, despite the efforts from the talented cast. However, the film works as a dark drama and managed to hold my attention for the majority of its 100 minute run time. The performances are generally good and are elevated by the supporting turns by Melissa McCarthy and John Goodman. However, Ed Helms is given next to nothing substantial to do and is also saddled with a few groan inducing moments that are supposed to be funny, but are not. Ken Jeong has a more substantial role than Helms, which serves to throw off the dynamic between Stu, Phil and Alan. However, this is a very different film from the previous two installments, so do not expect writer/director Todd Phillips to follow the formula. Even though the Hangover franchise is supposedly finished, the end of the film hints at a possible fourth installment. Frankly, I would not mind seeing another Hangover if it features the same dark subject matter. However, I hope any potential future installments do not include a nude scene by Ken Jeong. Once was enough. Twice is torture.

Movie Recommendation: "Captain Phillips" Starring Tom Hanks

Welcome back Tom Hanks. Truly great roles have eluded the two time Academy Award winner in recent years, but Hanks still has the ability to deliver award worthy work when he has quality material to work with. He has found such material in Captain Phillips, which is based on the true story of Richard Phillips' struggle with Somali pirates in 2009, when they boarded his ship, the MV Maersk Alabama, threatening his life and that of his crew.
 
Before the action begins, Phillips is shown in a casual conversation with his wife, Andrea (Catherine Keener), discussing one of their children, who had recently gone through a tough time. That small scene helps to define the character of Phillips, who truly cares about those who he feels responsible for protecting/keeping safe. However, Phillips is all business when it comes to his ship and his gruff, by the book demeanor does not go over well with his crew. But when their lives are placed in jeopardy by the gun toting pirates, they could ask for no one more emotionally capable and shrewd than their Captain.

The look of terror on Phillips' face when the pirates take over the ship masks his overall awareness of the situation and his ability to think how best to outsmart them. As Captain, Phillips takes charge, as well as responsibility and places his own life in danger to hopefully save his crew. While the pirates pose a significant threat, their leader, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), is a businessman who understands that if they can peacefully work out an agreement, the U.S. government might pay a hefty ransom. Of course that does not stop his three accomplices from waving their guns around in the faces of various crewman, thus ratcheting up the tension with the potential loss of life at any moment.

The tension is palpable before the pirates are even seen because Phillips seems to sense something is not quite right. When his suspicions turn out to be true, he does everything is his power to thwart the pirates and is initially successful. However, when the potential payoff might be huge, the pirates simply refuse to be denied. Hanks, along with director Paul Greengrass, tag team to amp up the suspense for over two hours and with firepower in the hands of the pirates for the majority of that time. When the second act begins, Phillips finds himself in even more danger, partly because of his concern for others that may come back to haunt him. He seems to understand how the ordeal will end, but is less sure if he will survive.

Paul Greengrass has mastered the action thriller with his previous work on United 93 and The Bourne Supremacy and Captain Phillips is an equally strong effort that boasts an outstanding performance from Tom Hanks, who is terrific throughout, but then morphs into brilliance during his final scene. Greengrass also elicits fine work from the four pirates, all newcomers, including the aforementioned Barkhad Abdi as well as Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed and Mahat M. Ali. Captain Phillips is a well acted and taut thriller that brings to life an unforgettable true story that showcases the depths one person is able to go to in order to survive while never losing his sense of humanity.

New Series Spotlight: "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" Premieres Tonight on ABC

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland hopes to capitalize on the popularity of its parent series, Once Upon a Time, but has an uphill battle in a tough Thursday night time slot opposite The Big Bang Theory. The new series follows the adventures of Alice (Sophie Lowe), who is not in Wonderland anymore, and is being treated by doctors for her alleged mental illness. However, the denizens of Wonderland come looking for fair Alice, who still pines away for her long lost love, Cyrus (Peter Gadiot). Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, which debuts tonight at 8:00pm ET on ABC, fits well into the female centric Thursday night for the alphabet network and should benefit from the interesting casting of John Lithgow as the voice of The White Rabbit and Iggy Pop as the voice of Caterpillar. However, since the parent series is bleeding viewers, I wonder if there is enough interest to sustain a spin-off? Time will tell.

"Lights Camera Booze" Features Drinking Games For Your Favorite Movies

American Pie, Pulp Fiction, Back to the Future and Ghostbusters are just four of the films featured in the new book Lights Camera Booze: Drinking Games for Your Favorite Movies (Ulysses Press) by Kourtney Jason and Lauren Metz, with illustrations by Amanda Lanzone. Over thirty films in all are included, both beloved hits, such as Dirty Dancing, to the lesser known The Sandlot. All types of films are represented, including comedies such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy, dramas such as Fight Club and even horror films, such as Scream.

A short description of each film is included, along with a recipe for a specific drink that ties perfectly into the film. In addition, instructions for what will prompt participants to take a drink are featured, along with trivia, games and topics for discussion. Of course, with the number of opportunities to drink throughout each film, I wonder if anyone will still be sober enough to play games and have meaningful discussions afterwards. However, the authors do include tips for light drinkers, so that may help keep someone sober.

The films featured are from the past four decades, from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Animal House to The Hangover and Magic Mike, so there is something relatable to most readers/participants. I would imagine that The Hangover would be the perfect film to accompany this book and that entry  includes interesting trivia about famous actors who turned down offers to star in the film, as well as surprising information about Ed Helms and his teeth. So, the next time you are planning a movie night with friends, consider livening things up with Lights Camera Booze: Drinking Games for Your Favorite Movies.

"American Horror Story: Coven" Premieres Tonight on FX

Ryan Murphy's Emmy winning American Horror Story returns with a new self-contained season starting tonight at 10:00pm ET on FX with a cast to literally die for. The returning Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, Taissa Farmiga and Denis O'Hare are joined by newbies Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Patti LuPone, Danny Huston, Leslie Jordan, Gabourey Sidibe and Mare Winningham! I do not know how Ryan Murphy attracts so much terrific talent, but I hope he keeps it up every season. With just Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates alone, the series should be amazing, but add all of those other names (and more!) and you have one of, if not the best, ensemble casts ever assembled for a television series.

Coven will center around, of course, a group of witches and, like the previous two series, will time travel. Unfortunately, the witches are endangered and even face extinction. In order to protect the younger generation, a school has opened in New Orleans (where else?), and the leader of the coven, Fiona (Lange), helps train the youngsters, while also working to protect their secrets. Lange is already a force of nature, but with magical powers at her disposal she might just be unstoppable. She can cast a spell on me anytime.

The CW Serves Up the Second Season of "Arrow" and the Premiere of "The Tomorrow People" Tonight

Photo Credits: The CW

The first season of Arrow was intense and I suspect the sophomore season will be even more intense. This is an action/adventure series after all and there should be a lot of, well, action. However, the breakneck pacing and lack of character development that hampered the first season needs to be rectified during season two. While I understand the demographic The CW is trying to attract (and I am no longer a part of), I hope the network understands that their audience is diverse and fan boys come in all ages. There is no arguing with success though. Arrow is the highest rated series on The CW and what works for year one may be repeated in year two. However, that does not mean the show should not try to improve and become more well rounded. I am a long time fan of Green Arrow and want the series to be its best. The potential exists for that to become a reality.

Arrow airs at 8:00 pm ET on The CW

Mankind is evolving and once ordinary people are now developing paranormal abilities.
Those abilities include telekinesis, teleportation and telepathy, which makes those individuals dangerous and a potential threat to the stability of the nation. As a result, a group of them, known as The Tomorrow People, lead covert lives away from the human population and from those who wish to eliminate them. The series stars Robbie Amell, cousin of Arrow star Stephen Amell.

The Tomorrow People airs at 9:00 pm ET on The CW