Media Mikes has teamed up with their friends at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to give one random reader a chance to win a Blu-ray copy of one of one of the most beloved animated films of the last century, “Heavy Metal.”
All you have to do is let us know below what animated film you’d like to see on home video. One random entry will be chosen and notified by email. This contest runs through 10:00 pm EST on Sunday, April 24th. GOOD LUCK!
Media Mikes has teamed up with their friends at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to give one random reader a chance to win a Blu-ray copy of one of last year’s biggest box office hits, “Spider-man: No Way Home.”
All you have to do is let us know below what upcoming super hero film you are most looking forward to. Pretty easy.
One random entry will be chosen and notified by email. This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm EST on Sunday, April 24th.
GOOD LUCK!
Media Mikes has teamed up with their friends at Universal Home Video to give one random reader the chance to win a Blu-ray copy of the new film “Marry Me,” starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson.
All you have to do is let us know below the most unusual “couple” ever in film. It could be Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear in “Stuck on You” or Burt Reynolds and his Trans-Am in “Smokey and the Bandit.”
One random winner will be chosen and they will be notified by email.
This giveaway ends Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 10:00 pm EST.
GOOD LUCK!
Media Mikes has teamed up with their friends at the Kansas City Planet Comicon to give (5) readers the chance for them and a guest to attend the show this weekend (April 22-24).
All you have to do is let us know below what celebrity guest you’d like to see at a future show. Pretty simple.
(5) random entries will be chosen and those chosen will be contacted by email and advised how to receive their passes. GOOD LUCK!
I have a very special place in my heart for the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” I’ve had it since I was 13 years old when, while visiting my grandfather – who I called Bapa, which is now how my grandchildren refer to me – in Florida, I asked to go see the movie, which was playing at a nearby theatre. A quick phone call to my parents to make sure it was ok with them, and off I went. For those of you who may not have seen the film, I won’t let on how it ends. Let’s just say the ending haunted me on the way home and evolved into a long conversation with my Bapa. Years later I had the opportunity to see the show a couple of times with both Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson, who played Jesus and Judas, respectively, in the film. I was a guest backstage when I met both of them. I told Ted Neeley about my conversation with Bapa and his thoughts and kindness will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Rolling into Kansas City this week is the 50th Anniversary Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and it is a fine addition to the show’s great history. A totally sung dramatization of the last week of Christ’s life, this production is very barebones, with an almost empty stage. Also, while normally presented in two acts, there is no intermission here. It’s a quick 80 minutes or so, but if you like to stretch your legs you’re out of luck.
The cast was excellent, both vocally and physically. There is a lot of dance and movement here and nobody missed a beat. Vocal standouts include Omar Lopez-Cepero (Judas), Jenna Rubaii (Mary) and Alvin Crawford (Caiaphas), whose amazing baritone shook the house. The score is one of the best ever written and the orchestra, perched high above the stage, was outstanding. Even the guys in the sound/light area could be seen grooving to the music.
The show continues in Kansas City at the beautiful Kauffman Center through Sunday, April 3rd. If you’ve never seen the show, I urge you to take a chance. If you have, see it again. You won’t be disappointed.
In October 2019, I had the great pleasure of attending an all-star tribute concert to celebrate the Beatles White Album. With a top notch band including Todd Rungren, Micky Dolenz, Christopher Cross, , Chicago’s Jason Scheff and Joey Molland from Badfinger, the show was an amazing celebration of music. Not only did they deliver the goods on the Beatles music but each one also performed a couple of their own hits. I should also note that, in my review, I lamented how Todd Rungren was not a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I also started an on-line petition to correct this error.
Tonight the band was back together, celebrating two other of the Fab Four’s classic albums, “Rubber Sou” and “Revolver.” Dolenz didn’t make the trip this time, but he was ably replaced by Moody Blues and Wings co-founder Denny Laine. Again, the Beatles music was great to hear live, but the real treat was getting to hear some of the other hits the musicians had been a part of. Two of the non-Beatle highlights were Laine’s rendition of “Band on the Run,” with a vocal that rivaled Maccas and a blistering “25 or 6 to 4” with a guitar solo that would have made Terry Kath proud.
The music was infectious, and the crowd responded by dancing in their seats and giving a well deserved standing ovation at the concert’s end. They also stood after the afore mentioned rendition of “25 or 6 to 4” and after a sing-along to Rungren’s “Hello It’s Me.” As I left the show, I was already praying that next year brings an “Abbey Road/Let It Be” tour!
Incidentally, this time around Todd Rungren IS a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Just saying!
SET LIST
Drive My Car, I Want to Tell You, Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, If I Needed Someone, Go Now, Band on the Run, I’m Only Sleeping, No Matter What, Baby Blue, Good Day Sunshine, In My Life, AYou Won’t See Me, Sailing, Ride Like the Wind, And Your Bird Can Sing, Here, There and Everywhere, Girl, Michelle, I Just Saw a Face, Norwegian Wood, Hard to Say I’m Sorry, 25 or 6 to 4, For No One, Nowhere Man, I Saw the Light, Hello It’s Me, Dr. Robert, Got to Get You Into My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows, The Word, Yellow Submarine.
Will Smith received his first Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of boxer Muhammad Ali in the film “Ali.” At last nights presentation of the 94th Annual Academy Awards, Smith seemed to channel the boxer when he slapped presenter Chris Rock, who had make a joke about the bald head of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. This incident added a pall to an already uneven show, taking some of the pomp away from the annual celebration of the best films and performances of 2021.
“CODA” took home three awards, including the big one, Best Picture. It also received Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur, the second deaf actor to win an Oscar, following Marlee Matlin’s win as Best Actress in 1987 for “Children of a Lesser God.”
After largely ignoring such female film directors as Lina Wertmuller, Penny Marshall, Barbra Streisand and others for 81 years, the Academy awarded the Best Director prize to Jane Campion for “The Power of the Dog.” Campion becomes the thirds woman to win the Best Director award in the past 13 years. A female director has taken home the Oscar in this category for two years in a row.
An apologetic Will Smith took home the Best Actor award for his role as Richard Williams in “King Richard,” while Jessica Chastain was named Best Actress for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Baker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” These wins make a total of 79 acting awards that have been given for portrayals of real-life characters.
Ariana DeBose was named Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of “West Side Story.” She joins Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro (Vito Corleone) and Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix (the Joker) for winning an Oscar in a role in which another actor also won an Oscar, joining Rita Moreno, who won for portraying Anita in the original “West Side Story.”
“Dune” took home the most awards, winning a total of (6) Oscars, including Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects.
Below is a complete list of winners:
BEST PICTURE
“CODA”
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
“Drive My Car” *WINNER
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)
“The Queen of Basketball”
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Summer of Soul”
ORIGINAL SONG
“No Time to Die”
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Encanto”
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“CODA”
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Belfast”
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Will Smith, “King Richard”
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
DIRECTOR
Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
PRODUCTION DESIGN
“Dune”
CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Dune”
COSTUME DESIGN
“Cruella”
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
“Dune”
ANIMATED SHORT FILE
“The Windshield Wiper”
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
“The Long Goodbye”
ORIGINAL SCORE
“Dune”
VISUAL EFFECTS
“Dune”
FILM EDITING
“Dune”
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Fun. That’s the first thing I thought of as the credits rolled on “The Lost City.” This movie was Fun!
Following the death of her husband, romance/adventure author Loretta (Bullock) is struggling to finish her next book. She has the action. She has the romance. But she just can’t find an ending. However, when Loretta finds HERSELF in peril, the story almost writes itself.
I have to admit that when I sat down I was expecting a watered-down retelling of “Romancing the Stone.” Nope. “The Lost City” is a film with great characters, rich locations and, darn it, here’s that word again…fun. I had no idea that Sandra Bullock was such an amazing physical comedienne. Whether traipsing through the jungle in a spangled jumpsuit or caught in the middle of a high-speed chase while tied to a chair, she effortlessly uses the situation to the audience’s benefit. She is joined by Tatum, who longs to be thought of as more than Ash, the cover model of Loretta’s novels. Radcliffe is also well cast as the villain of the piece, who is searching for a long-lost treasure. You may even spot a very familiar face who is enlisted to help track down the missing Loretta.
The is witty and adds a few surprises to the normal tropes found in a film like this. The pace is fast, but never hurried and the locations are lush and exotic. The musical score, by Pinar Toprak, helps set the mood and keep the story moving.
To sum it all up, “The Lost City” is a fun way to usher in the spring movie season.
Hey everyone, guess what? Batman is back! Only now he’s THE Batman. He’s a lot meaner this time around, but you’ll be happy to know that he’s still the brooding loner we’ve come to love.
It’s Halloween night in Gotham City, a few days before the city elects it’s next Mayor. A raspy voice tells us that it’s only been two years since he began donning the cowl and dealing with the scum of the city. He is referred to in the media as “the Vigilante,” but we know him as Batman. Or, rather, THE Batman. Whatever you call him, his presence is embraced by Detective James Gordon (Wright), who angers his superiors by giving the Caped Crusader access to crime scenes. After all, he IS the World’s Greatest Detective!
A local politician has been brutally murdered and a calling card has been left on the body in the form of a riddle addressed to the Batman. This sets up the next chapter in the revolving Batman saga.
Dark, both in theme and presentation, “The Batman” is the latest attempt to bring the character into the 21st Century. Director Reeves thankfully spares us his vision of the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents, apparently assuming that everyone knows that Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered in front of their young son, thereby creating the impetus that makes him a crime fighter. Of course, with a running time of almost three hours, perhaps Reeves shot the scene but cut it for time. Thank you.
In this Gotham City the sun rarely shines, it constantly rains and the best way to see ANYTHING is with a flashlight. If I lived there I would be the very wealthy proprietor of a chain of FLASHLIGHT WORLD stores. The darkness spills over into the tone of the film. This Batman reminds me of the character from the 1940s comic books, someone not afraid to brutally punch a criminal in the face until his arm gets tired, or kick one off a roof for being naughty. “I’m Vengeance,” the Batman remarks early in the film. He isn’t kidding.
The film is full of familiar characters with slightly different spins, including Selina Kyle (Kravitz), Alfred (Andy Serkis) and Oswald Copperpot, played by a brilliant and unrecognizable Collin Farrell. It also has some much needed humor, something that was sorely missed in the recent Zack Snyder/Ben Affleck incarnation. The humor helps offset some of the more darker moments. The action scenes are intense and well choreographed, but the film eventually falls victim to its own running tine. Sometimes too much is…well…TOO MUCH.
The cast is fine, with Pattinson adding his own touch to a role now undertaken by six different actors in the past 30 years, seven if you go back to Adam West and the original television show of the 1960s. If you only think of Pattinson as Edward from the “Twilight” series you are selling a very talented actor short. The supporting cast is equally engaging and the new character arcs are a nice change. However, I think the film could have dropped 45 minutes and created a much tighter story, which is why I’m not as high on the film as I’d like to be.
Media Mikes is giving away to one random reader a DVD/Blu-ray/Digital Combo Pack of the film “House of Gucci,” starring Al Pacino and Lady Gaga.
To win it, all you have to do is let us know in the comments below what your favorite “House” movie is. Is it “House of Dark Shadows?” “Animal House?” How about the 1980’s horror-comedy :House,:” starring William Kaat and George /wendt?
This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm on Monday, February 28, 2022. At that time, one random comment will be selected. The person selected will be contacted by email for their shipping information.
“House of Gucci” is now available on home video.
GOOD LUCK!
“Power of the Dog” lead the pack when the nominations for the 94th Annual Academy Awards were announced this morning.
Among the films nods: Best Picture, Director and Adapted Screenplay – both for Jane Campion, and acting nominations for Benedict Cumberbatch (Actor) and supporting performances for Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Other films earning multi-nominations include “Dune” with 10 and “Belfast” and “West Side Story”, which each received 7 nominations, including Best Picture. Other Best Picture nominees: “CODA,:” “Don’t Look Up,’ “Drive My Car,” “Licorice Pizza” and “Nightmare Alley.”
Though it received 10 nominations, “Dune” failed to earn a nomination for director Denis Villeneuve. First time nominee Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) joins previous directing nominees Kenneth Branagh (Belfast), Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza) Jane Campion (Power of the Dog), and Steven Spielberg (West Side Story) in that category. Of the nominees, only Spielberg has won the award – twice – for “Schindler’s List” and “saving Private Ryan.”
Unlike last year, many of this year’s nominees were from more mainstream, studio pictures, including “West Side Story” that, while it didn’t do the box office predicted, was a return to the glory days of the big Hollywood musical.
Here is a complete list of this year’s nominees:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Lead Actor
Best Lead Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Animated Feature Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score
Best Sound
Best Original Song
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short Subject
Best Film Editing
Best International Feature Film
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Best Production Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Live Action Short Film
The 94th Academy Awards will be presented on March 27th.
HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS?
OK, since we have younger readers, the word HATS is code for something else. A place on the body that many men, this one included, consider very special. Thankfully the group that make up the JACKASS gang have different feelings, and their pain is our laughter.
It’s been almost 20 years since Johnny Knoxville and his band of idiots amused viewers with such harmless pranks as sneaking up on someone and shaving part of their heads, or blowing an air horn at a fancy golf course during people’s backswings. My how the times have changed.
“Jackass Forever” is exactly what you think it is. A group of friends hanging out and doing all kinds of things to each others, and some times their own, private parts. And as unusual as that may sound, it’s truly mesmerizing. It’s like when people slow down to look at a car accident but in this case you’re stopping to to watch someone wearing only a protective cup take a direct hit from a soft ball, an NHL player’s slap shot or even a pogo stick.
With some of the Jackass gang getting up there in age, a majority of the pranks are done by a new generation of pranksters, including one who answers to the name “Poopies.” There is also a father/son team who seem to put their fears aside (anyone want a giant spider crawling on their heads?) in order to spend some quality time together.
Is it fine art? No. But it’s hilarious. This is probably the hardest my wife and I have laughed since “BORAT.” As the credits rolled my wife said to me, “everybody needs to laugh like this…especially now.” My thoughts exactly.
Let me say here at the beginning that I have been a Val Kilmer fan since“Top Secret.” Couple that performance with his role of Chris Knight in“Real Genius” and he was, by far, one of my favorite actors of the 1980s.Over the years he has been a part of some wonderful films, and has created
Such iconic performances as Jim Morrison in “The Doors” – hey Academy, I’m still waiting for you to explain why Val wasn’t nominated for his work – and, of course, “Doc” Holiday in “Tombstone.” But there is a lot more to Val Kilmer than you or I think we know and the documentary “VAL” gives us a true look at the artist and his processes.
The film begins with a quick montage of Mr. Kilmer’s work, then a voiceover begins the story. I was taken aback when I heard that Mr. Kilmer had dealt with throat cancer which had ruined his speaking voice. We then learn that, though the words were penned by Val, the narration is coming from his son, Jack, who sounds amazingly like his father. Val does talk some during the film, but his voice is so raspy that subtitles are often required to fully understand his comments.
Will the real Lizard King please stand up? (Jim Morrison is on the left)Mr. Kilmer informs the viewer that he was one of the first people he knew to own a video camera. As a youngster, he and his brothers used to make their own takes on popular films, among them “Jaws.” (how could I not love this guy?) Outgoing and popular, he becomes the youngest person ever accepted into the acting program at Julliard and heads to New York. There he strives to learn everything an actor needs to know for a successful career. We see early footage of he and his classmates working on shows. We also learn that an actor’s job is humbling. Signed for the lead in his first New York theater production, young Val is soon asked to play a lesser role because Kevin Bacon is available. Things get even worse when, a week later, he’s asked to take an even lesser role to accommodate Sean Penn.
As his career takes off we are taken behind the scenes of several of his Films, including “Top Gun,” “The Doors” and, most interestingly, “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” The last film is legendary for all of the mishaps that beset it during production. From replacing the director to script changes, there is plenty of blame to go around. Most of the stories I’ve heard centered around Mr. Kilmer’s alleged indifference to the project and his temperament. Maybe. But from the footage shared it look’s like Mr. Kilmer’s dream of working with Marlon Brando became a nightmare for all involved. In one funny clip, Mr. Kilmer and co-star David Thewliss are talking about Brando when the actor comes on the set in full costume. Only after studying the man do the two actors realize that isn’t really Brando Further investigation reveals, it is a guy named Norm, who is filling in for Brando.
One thing I enjoyed learning is that, when submitting audition tapes for roles he’d like to play, instead of just reading lines Mr. Kilmer would make short films, His takes on prospective roles in “Full Metal Jackeet” and “Goodfellas” are quite inventive. He shares a lot of thoughts on how he got the role of Jim Morrison in “The Doors” as well as how he took over for Michael Keaton in “Batman Forever.” His words ring true when he says that every boy wants to be Batman. Amen, brother.
Something else I found fascinating is that Mr. Kilmer toured in a one-man show where he portrayed Mark Twain. There are a few clips included and he’s marvelous. Move over, Hal Holbrook.
Of course, with a career like Mr. Kilmer’s, some films get glossed over. I would love to know his thoughts on “Real Genius,” “Willow,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, “ Wonderland” and others. But, to paraphrase Spencer Tracy, “what there is is cherse.”
Mr. Kilmer is slated to be in the upcoming “Top Gun: Maverick,” which was originally slated to be released in 2020. Can’t wait to see the Iceman again. He can be my wingman anytime!
It’s sad when you don’t see your hard work come to fruition…to not see the impact it had on the world around you. One example is Steve Gordon, the writer and director of the film “Arthur.” He passed away shortly after the film came out and, though he had a chance to see how his work was embraced, he never lived to see “Arthur” become a true classic film. Then there’s Jonathan Larson.
Larson created one of the most beloved musicals of all time, RENT, which won pretty much every award possible. Sadly, Larson never got to see how his work was embraced, passing away the night before RENT had its first public performance. But there was more to Larson’s life, and “tick, tick…BOOM!” gives us a musical look at the man behind the music.
Jonathan Larson (an AMAZING Andrew Garfield), is about to workshop the new musical he’s written. He’s gotten good feedback from everyone whose heard it, from his friends to the great Stephen Sondheim (Bradley Whitford), But Larson feels he needs one more song to, in the words of the late, great Mr. Sondheim, “Put it all together.”
What do you do after you’ve written two Tony-award winning musicals, including the brilliant “Hamilton?” If you’re Lin-Manuel Miranda you make your feature film directing debut with a musical about one of your peers. Miranda is a true genius and I can’t think of another modern director who could bring all of their knowledge of musical theater and translate it to the silver screen. I say modern because this film would have been right up Bob Fosse’s alley. The musical numbers are brilliantly staged while the more quiet moments are framed to convey the most powerful of emotions.
Miranda is aided by a top-notch cast, including the aforementioned Mr. Garfield who, besides being one of the best young actors working today, displays a strong singing voice. The cast is peppered with a who’s who of theater talents, including Joel Grey, Judith Light, Judy Kuhn and Roger Bart. I think I even caught Lin-Manuel Miranda as a singing kitchen worker.
As the film progresses, we follow Larson though his daily routine, and as he deals with his daily struggles and those of his friends, we begin to see the first sparks of what will one day become RENT.
“West Side Story” has garnered most of the attention this year as THE movie musical to see. And that attention is well deserved. However, as the Jets and the Sharks learn, there is always room for one more. BOOM!
Let me say right here at the outset of this review that I am not going to give any spoilers away. Thank you for your attention.
When we last saw our friendly, neighborhood web-slinger in “Spider-man: Far From Home,” he, and the rest of the world, were shocked when Mysterio announced to the world that young Peter Parker was Spider-man. Those of us in the audience knew it but now EVERYONE knows it.
So now, along with the pressures of starting his senior year of high school, worrying about what college will accept him – he has his heart set on M.I.T. – he has to deal with hundreds of people taking photos of him or hovering in a helicopter above his apartment building. As things progress Peter discovers that his two best friends, M.J. (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Babalon) are having their lives disrupted simply because they are close to Peter. Hoping to make things better for his friends, Peter pays a visit to Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch) and asks him for a spell to make everyone forget he’s Spidey. Well, not everyone. The spell goes horribly wrong and the adventure begins.
What you’ve read so far can easily be gleaned from the film’s coming attraction, so I haven’t given away any secrets. And I won’t. But DAMN, what a great film!
Though I enjoyed the earlier depictions of Spider-man by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, they always seemed a little too mature for the Peter Parker I grew up reading in Marvel Comics. Tom Holland hit the nail on the head. He gives both Peter and Spidey a certain innocent bravado, showing their best faces even when the doubt inside is eating away at them.
As the film progresses, Peter/Spider-man not only have to deal with the police, the press and the public, but also with some villains quite familiar to fans but unknown to him. Welcome to the Multiverse.
As in the case of most films in the MCU, the cast is outstanding. As I’ve already mentioned, I love Holland in the roles of Peter/Spider-man and he is equally matched by Zendaya and Babalon. I will admit here that Ned is one of my favorite characters in the series, his love and loyalty for Peter know no boundaries. The rest of the cast is strong as well, from Cumberbatch to Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May to a variety of familiar faces from the Spider-verse.
The script is the perfect combination of humor and action, with a few emotional moments thrown in to remind us why we care for these characters. The film is well paced by director Watts, and the 2 ½ hours of action seem to fly by.
The MCU has had more gems than rocks over the years, with pretty much each hero (“Iron Man, Thor) hitting an occasional bump in the road. Not Spider-man. To me his series of films is head and shoulders the best of the stand-alone films.
