Author Archive
May
10
Eva Mendes Has Little Love For Her Character In ‘Girl In Progress’
Posted by: | Comments
Opening in theaters tomorrow, GIRL IN PROGRESS is a mother/daughter coming-of-age story that actually has mother and daughter BOTH coming of age. Directed by PATRICIA RIGGEN from a screenplay by HIRAM MARTINEZ, the film features EVA MENDES as a stressed out mom juggling work, bills, an affair with a married man and a rebellious teen daughter. Also in the cast are PATRICIA ARQUETTE, CIERRA RAMIREZ, RAINI RODRIGUEZ and LANDON LIBOIRON.As the promiscuous mother whose parenting skills are put to the test, MENDES turn in a terrific performance but told us during our recent interview it wasn’t a character she was particularly fond of. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)
GIRL IN PROGRESS opens in theaters tomorrow
May
10
Filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait Hates Reality TV (Except For The Shows He Watches)
Posted by: | Comments
Opening tomorrow in select theaters and currently available via VOD, GOD BLESS AMERICA is a delightfully subversive satire that centers on a depressed, middle-aged, divorced dad whose had enough of the revoltingly thoughtless human behavior that’s become the norm and sets off on a cross-country killing spree to right as many “wrongs” as possible. Along the way, he reluctantly takes on a teen side-kick and, together, they tackle such targets as reality tv, Twi-hards, NASCAR fans and impolite moviegoers. Written and directed by BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT, the cast features JOEL MURRAY and TARA LYNNE BARR as well as MACKENZIE BROOKE SMITH, MELINDA PAGE HAMILTON, RICH McDONALD and DAVID MENDENHALL.As violent as it is dedicated to its message, GOD BLESS AMERICA will, no doubt, find a huge audience comprised of kindred spirits who will relate to the complaints of the protagonists (if not their solutions to the problems). And, while reality tv appears to be one of GOLDTHWAIT’S major peeves, he admitted during our recent interview that he occasionally backslides. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)
GOD BLESS AMERICA opens in theaters tomorrow and is currently available via VOD
May
10
TV’S Original Barnabas Collins Made One Last Visit To ‘Dark Shadows’
Posted by: | Comments
When director TIM BURTON and star JOHNNY DEPP began collaborating on adapting for the big screen the iconic ’60s daytime soap opera DARK SHADOWS, one of the first things they agreed on was to pay homage to the series by inviting JONATHAN FRID on board for a cameo appearance. FRID, the Canadian actor who originated the role of vampire Barnabas Collins, passed away earlier this month and isn’t able to enjoy the newfound interest in his character but, during the recent press conference to promote the film, DEPP talked about working with him and meeting him for the first time. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters tomorrow
May
10
Expect An Out Of This World Season Finale For ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Posted by: | Comments
Airing tonight on CBS, the fifth season finale of the hit sitcom THE BIG BANG THEORY includes a last-minute wedding and a trip to outer space. And, for good measure, an out-of-the-blue marriage proposal. Created by CHUCK LORRE, the series owes much of its popularity to the ensemble cast of JOHNNY GALECKI, JIM PARSONS, KALEY CUOCO, SIMON HELBERG and KUNAL NAYYAR.As Howard Wolowitz, the nerdy mechanical engineer whose early behavior on the show was borderline skeevy, HELBERG has seen the character progress to being a lovable guy whose wedding is almost derailed by a mission to space. During a Television Critics Association press conference, HELBERG talked about how Wolowitz has evolved. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)
The season five finale of THE BIG BANG THEORY airs tonight on CBS
May
10
MICKEY COHEN’S “LIFE AND CRIMES” CHRONICLED BY AUTHOR TERE TEREBA
Posted by: | Comments
I usually drive around Hancock Park and Koreatown in a caffeinated daze, with 1950s Chet Baker tunes swimming in my head as I envision a Los Angeles littered with fedoras, hopped up jazz, and the smell of blood money. This week’s debut of Gangster Squad trailer only heightens my fever dream, thanks to Sean Penn’s scenery chewing display as crime lord Mickey Cohen.
My L.A. noir fix has been briefly sated with the release of Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster, writer Tere Tereba’s absorbing and gritty account of Cohen’s rise from a tough as nails pugilist from East L.A. to a seemingly untouchable gangster (he survived 11 attempts on his life).
“(Cohen) was in the headlines all the time,” says Tereba, who talks about Cohen’s relationship with the media. “And the stories he gave were the ones he wanted out there. And they were the stories that covered up the conspiracies, because he was in business with law enforcement. He was in business with politicians, and the stories they wanted out there needed to be collaborations, so I try to pierce through the conspiracies. Before anything written about him was just the puff pieces as he wanted them printed. History remains that way until this book.”
In the following audio clip, Tereba explains why Cohen, who died of stomach cancer complications in 1976, was a “cottage industry” for Los Angeles (Tereba’s dog is heard in the background for a split second):
Find Us On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com
Follow Us On Twitter: http://twitter.com/hollyoutbreak
posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )
May
09
Indie Filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait Remembers Brush With Marvel Comics
Posted by: | Comments
Sitting down yesterday with filmmaker BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT to talk about his terrific new movie GOD BLESS AMERICA, the subject of last weekend’s box office and THE AVENGERS came up. Apparently, at one point Marvel Comics had approached the former stand-up comic to direct a film based on one of their characters but by the time GOLDTHWAIT got to their catalog, the pickings were on the slim side. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)GOD BLESS AMERICA is available now via VOD and opens in limited theatrical release this week
May
09
‘Dark Shadows’ Star Johnny Depp Wants Vampires To Stop Looking Like Underwear Models
Posted by: | Comments
As children, both TIM BURTON and JOHNNY DEPP were devoted fans of DARK SHADOWS, the hugely popular daytime soap opera that shook up the genre with its mix of gothic mystery and melodrama. So, when the subject of making a vampire movie came up during their collaboration on SWEENEY TODD, it seemed an obvious choice to revisit this quirky cult favorite. Written by SETH GRAHME-SMITH, the film attracted an all-star cast that includes MICHELLE PFEIFFER, CHLOE GRACE MORETZ, EVA GREEN, JONNY LEE MILLER, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and JACKIE EARLE HALEY.During last weekend’s press conference for the film, DEPP talked about the look of the film and, specifically, the look of his Barnabas Collins character. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)
DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters Friday
May
09
‘Around The World In 80 Plates’ Takes Competitive Cooking Global
Posted by: | Comments
Premiering tonight on Bravo, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLATES is the network’s most ambitious project to date and follows 12 chefs as they compete over 40 days and in 10 countries, learning to deal with local customs and kitchens while being tested for skill and determination. Hosted by world famous culinary experts CURTIS STONE and CAT CORA, the show combines all the most exciting elements of THE AMAZING RACE, TOP CHEF and TOP CHEF MASTERS. We sat down recently with the show’s hosts and they talked about how the series is as exciting for them as it is the contestants.AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLATES debuts tonight on BRAVO
May
09
Eva Mendes Gives Back With Women’s Rights Doc ‘Half The Sky’
Posted by: | Comments
Soon to be seen on the big screen as a stressed out mom juggling work, bills, an affair with a married man and a rebellious teen daughter in GIRL IN PROGRESS, actress EVA MENDES next gets serious by joining the cast of the documentary HALF THE SKY. Based on the book HALF THE SKY: TURNING OPPRESSION INTO OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN WORLDWIDE by husband/wife team NICHOLAS KRISTOL and SHERYL WuDUNN, the doc features a cast of notable women traveling the world calling attention to various women’s issues. Joining MENDES in the cast are OLIVIA WILDE, DIANE LANE, MEG RYAN, GABRIELLE UNION and AMERICA FERRERA.We sat down with MENDES last week to catch up on what she’s been doing and she talked about how important this project was to her. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)
HALF THE SKY is scheduled for release in December
GIRL IN PROGRESS opens in theaters Friday
May
08
Stars Of ‘The Dictator’ Sing The Praises Of Sacha Baron Cohen
Posted by: | Comments
In the upcoming comedy THE DICTATOR, actor/writer SACHA BARON COHEN plays General Admiral Aladeen, a political despot who proudly aligns himself with the likes of KIM JONG IL and MUAMMAR GADDAFI. It was an all-consuming job for COHEN, who threw himself enthusiastically into the job, often working twenty hour days to perfect every aspect of the character he created. During a press conference held at Manhattan’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel a couple of days ago, SIR BEN KINGSLEY and JASON MANTZOUKAS (two stars of the film) talked about the indefatigability of COHEN during the production of THE DICTATOR. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)THE DICTATOR opens in theaters 5/16
