Mike Smith, Author at MediaMikes

John O’Hurley talks about his role of Billy Flynn in the touring production of “Chicago”

Television fans know John O’Hurley as the popular J. Peterman, Elaine’s boss, on the long running show “Seinfeld.” But it is performance on another show that helps bring him to Kansas City. As a contestant during the first season of ABC’s popular “Dancing with the Stars,” O’Hurley finished in second place, losing to Kelly Monaco, an actress whose show just HAPPENED to be on ABC. Fans of the show cried foul and demanded the two have a “dance-off,” with only the fans voting for the winner. In the rematch, O’Hurley and his partner, Charlotte Jorgensen, were declared the winners, raising over $125,000 for the charity Golfers against Cancer.

Since then, O’Hurley has split his time between the stage and screen. He played King Arthur in “Spamalot” during the show’s production in Las Vegas and has played shrewd lawyer Billy Flynn in “Chicago,” both on Broadway and on the road. Well known for his voice you can hear him in such cartoons as “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command,” “Duck Dodgers,” “Phineas and Ferb” and “Spongebob Squarepants.”

This week Mr. O’Hurley reprises his role of Billy Flynn in the touring production of “Chicago.” Before opening night he took time out to talk to me about the show and his career.

Mike Smith: Welcome to Kansas City.
John O’Hurley: I feel welcome. Thank you.

MS: If the Internet Broadway Database is to be believed you literally just walked off the stage of the Ambassador Theater in New York City, where you played Billy Flynn for the last six weeks, to travel here to take the part on the road.
JO: I closed on Broadway Sunday night. I had a great time there, especially during the holidays.
MS: Wow, when they say the road shows are “direct from Broadway” they’re not kidding.
JO: (laughs) Not at all. I think I still have the same socks on.

MS: You’ve played Billy Flynn over 1500 times on stage. Do you get comfortable in a part or do you try to bring something new to your performance when you can?
JO: Every night! Every night something different will happen. I say one prayer every night before I go on stage and that is “God, let me be surprised.” And every night something different happens. If I’ve done the role 1500 times I assure you that the role is 1500 times richer since I started playing it in 2005.

MS: You are, of course, best known for your work on “Seinfeld.” Was it your appearance on “Dancing with the Stars” that led to your work in musical theater?
JO: I’ve done King Arthur in “Spamalot” over 1000 times and, of course, Billy Flynn over 1500. I think a lot of my success came about because of that show. It gave me my name back. Prior to that I was known as J. Peterman. But after 2005 I was known as John O’Hurley.

MS: You do a lot of voice work. Do you have to prepare differently as an actor for a cartoon voice as opposed to a full live performance?
JO: Right now I’m involved in about fifteen cartoons…”Spongebob,” “Fineas and Ferb” and others…but it’s a lot of fun because I have an eight-year old son and it’s nice to be able to develop a body of work that is somewhat successful to him. As far as preparing, not really. The roles are already larger than life. It’s a medium that’s very BIG. The characters are larger. Subtlety is not a part of animation.

MS: How long to you plan to stay on tour with “Chicago?”
JO: I started the tour late last year, in October and I’ll continue through the end of it, which is the end of March.

MS: Do you have anything else coming up?
JO: Yes, I have a new television series with Bryan Cranston from “Breaking Bad” that we’re working on now. We’ll be shooting later in the spring. I have a movie to do in Greece. And I’m hosting a dancing tour this summer, which will be sporadically through my vacation time. And I’m sure there will be another tour of “Chicago” next year.

Film Review “American Sniper”

Starring: Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hrs 12 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

As he looks through the scope of his high-powered rifle, Chris Kyle (Cooper) describes the scene. A young boy and his mother are standing on the street while a group of American soldiers approaches. The woman hands the boy something and he starts walking towards the soldiers. Kyle thinks the woman handed the boy a grenade and asks for confirmation. No one else saw the handoff so now it’s up to Kyle to make a decision. Shoot an innocent boy and cause a world-wide uproar, or defend the troops he’s there to protect. He releases the safety, exhales quietly and….

Featuring an amazing performance by Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper” is Clint Eastwood’s return as an important filmmaker. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Eastwood’s take on “Jersey Boys” last summer but musicals are not his bread and butter. After years of “one for you” (a “Dirty Harry” flick) and “one for me” (“Honky Tonk Man,” “White Hunter, Black Heart”) with Warner Brothers, Eastwood created “Unforgiven,” winning his first directing Oscar along the way. He followed that film up with “Mystic River” (another Oscar nod) and “Million Dollar Baby” (another Oscar) as well as two very different films that looked at war through different eyes, “Flags of My Father” and “Letters From Iwo Jima.” A musical was probably a nice break but Eastwood is best when he’s looking at life and the moral questions it asks.

Based on the exploits Kyle himself highlighted in his book of the same name, “American Sniper” is a film that will have you on the edge of your seat constantly. Eastwood puts the viewer INTO the war. It’s you looking through the scope, fingering the trigger and praying you’re not wrong.

Carrying an extra 40 pounds of muscle, Cooper transforms himself in to Kyle. Gone is the smart-alecky Phil from “The Hangover.” Instead we gaze upon one of America’s finest. Cooper loses himself in the performance giving a believability that is often lost in films like this. He is matched emotion for emotion by Miller, who portrays his frightened wife, Taya. Her fear, home alone, is just as real as the fear Kyle faces in the field. But that fear doesn’t stop him from doing his job, emerging from his tours of duty as the most deadly sniper in U.S. military history. Kyle is so feared by the enemy that “Wanted” posters featuring just images of just his tattoos begin springing up. His story is uplifting as well as it is tragic, and should be remembered for a long time to come.

Film Review “The Wedding Ringer”

Starring: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad and Ken Howard
Directed by: James Garelick
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 41 mins
SONY Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Imagine you’ve managed to ask a beautiful woman to marry you and now you need to fill out your side of the wedding party. You call around but none of your friends, or people you thought were friends, want to commit. Who you gonna call?

A surprisingly touching and funny film, “The Wedding Ringer” is the story of Doug (Gad), who is set to marry the lovely Gretchen (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting). When he can’t find anyone to stand up with him the wedding planner (Ignacio Serricchio) points him in the direction of Jimmy Callahan (Hart) who, for a fee, will provide anything you need, from a best man (the package is called the gold bow tie) to a “Gold Tux,” which includes Best Man, multiple groomsmen and a bachelor party. Doug needs a Gold Tux. Jimmy agrees to supply it and recruits several of his friends with various skills (Jimmy feels that every “ringer” should have a distracting trick, be it the ability to talk backwards or having washboard abs to show off when necessary). But he stresses to Doug not to get too attached. Once the wedding is over he and the others are gone.

I must say I went into this movie expecting to hate it. I have not been a big supporter of Kevin Hart and expected another 90 mins of his screaming Chris Tucker impression. However, in “The Wedding Ringer,” he is quite funny and handles the role very well. This is due, in part, to the equally fun performance turned in by Josh Gad. Gad gives Doug a quiet sweetness to his character, one that slowly dissolves as he gains more courage from his new buddies. The script, co-written by director Garelick and Jay Lavender (the duo also collaborated on the 2006 Vince Vaughn/Jennifer Anniston comedy “The Break-Up”) is very witty and the supporting cast, which includes a former football player – the pride of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania – and veteran actor (and “White Shadow” star) Ken Howard. After a month or so of prestigious films looking for some Oscar love this film is a welcome Cineplex treat.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, ringer, wedding

“Birdman”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Lead 87th Academy Award Nominations

“Birdman,” the film that triumphantly put Michael Keaton back on the map and “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Wes Anderson’s fanciful comedy, led all films this morning when the nominations for the 87^th Annual Academy Awards were announced, with each film garnering (9) nominations, including Best Picture. Other films with multiple nominations include “The Imitation Game” (8), “American Sniper” and “Boyhood” (6) each, and “Interstellar,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Whiplash” with (5). All of these films, with the exception of “Interstellar,” earned Best Picture nods. The last film in the Best Picture race is “Selma,” which surprised many by only earning (2) nods. Due to the revised voting system, only (8) films qualified for Best Picture nominations – a maximum of (10) are allowed.

In the race for Best Director, the nominees are Alejandro G. Inarritu (“Birdman”), Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”), Bennet Miller (“Foxcatcher”), Wes Anderson (“The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “Morten Tyldum (“The Imitation Game”).

Bradley Cooper earned his third consecutive Oscar nomination, this one for Best Actor, for his role as real life soldier Chris Kyle in “American Sniper.” Other nominees for Best Actor include Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher”), Bennedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”), Michael Keaton (“Birdman”) and Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”). Best Actress nominees are Marion Cotillard (“Two Days, One Night”), Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything”), Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”), Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”) and Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”)

In the Supporting Actor category, the nominees are Robert Duvall (“The Judge”) Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”), Edward Norton (“Birdman”), Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”) and J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”). Supporting Actress nods went to Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”), Laura Dern (“Wild”), Keira Knightley (“The Imitation Game”), Emma Stone (“Birdman”) and Meryl Streep (“Into the Woods”). This is Meryl Streep’s NINETEENTH acting nomination, an incredible achievement.

Nods for Best Animated Film went to “Big Hero 6,” “The Boxtrolls,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” “Song of the Sea” and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.”

The winners will be announced on February 22, 2015. Mark you ballots now!

DVD Review “Jimi: All Is By My Side”

Actors: Andre Benjamin, Imogen Poots
Director: John Ridley
Rated: R
Studio: XLrator Media
DVD Release Date: January 13, 2015
Run Time: 118 mins

Film: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: .5 out of 5 stars

It had to be tough to make a film about the late, great Jimi Hendrix without the support of his family. Most importantly, this means there will be no “Jimi Hendrix” music in the film. No “Foxy Lady,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Purple Haze.” But I could except that fact, as long as the story entertained. Sadly, “Jimi: All Is By My Side” doesn’t.

The film takes place in a one year period between 1966 and 1967. Hendrix (a well cast Benjamin, who is really the ONLY reason to see this film) is playing in New York City at a small club in front of a crowd of dozens. He’s playing rhythm guitar in a terrible band. In fact, the guitar he’s playing isn’t even his. He borrows it each night. One evening he is seen by Linda Keith (Poots), who at the time is best known as being the girlfriend of Rolling Stone Keith Richards. She see’s the talent behind the shy face and convinces Hendrix to express himself through HIS music. She also gives him one of Richard’s guitars, which I assume she had strung for a left handed guitarist. The relationship is clearly business but others get the wrong idea. Linda introduces Jimi to Chas Chandler (Andrew Buckley), currently the bass player for the Animals and a young man looking to get into management. He convinces Jimi that London is the place to be and offers to bankroll his visit. And here is where the film stops. Dead.

Writer/director Ridley won an Oscar last year for his script of “12 Years a Slave.” Here’s hoping he researched that project better. Twice in the film a television personality claims that the up and coming bands on the British scene are Queen and the Who. Unfortunately, Queen did not form until 1970 so this chick may have been Nostradamus’ daughter. On his first night in England, Jimi meets Kathy Etchingham (Hayley Atwell) and the two become a couple. The rest of the film consists of the following scenes, repeated often: Jimi plays horribly, Linda tells him he’s blowing it, Kathy encourages him. Again and again and again. There are also a lot of shots of Jimi trying to tune his guitar (like Robert Johnson before him, Hendrix would often tune his guitars down to get a certain sound) Every now and then the story throws in a quick cameo (look, it’s Eric Clapton…hey, it’s Paul McCartney). Also, Ridley seems to have just looked at a scrapbook of Hendrix photos and then written scenes around them, so that each scene ends up looking like the original photo. Later scenes, including one of Hendrix viciously beating Kathy with a phone, leaving her scarred and bleeding, never happened. Much is made about Jimi having to play an upcoming concert great so that he can legitimize his recent invite to play at the upcoming Monterey Pop Festival. When that concert happens, with a couple of the Beatles in the audience, Jimi wows the crowd with a cover of “Sgt. Pepper” and the rest is history.

If there is a positive to this film it is the performances, particularly by Benjamin, Poots and Atwell. I was 10 years old when Hendrix died on October 15, 1970, but I’ve heard enough of his music and seen enough clips of him on television to know that Benjamin has nailed the persona and the man behind the music. It’s a performance that, in a better film, should have earned him some award consideration. And the fact that there is NO Hendrix penned music in the film but surely they could have had Benjamin do a version of “Hey Joe” (written in 1962 by Billy Roberts) or “All Along the Watchtower” (written by Bob Dylan and out in 1967) to remind viewers of what a musician Hendrix was, rather than just have him fumbling on a guitar and throwing in the occasional lick. Thankfully, late last year. the Hendrix estate announced they are looking to approve a film that treats Jimi right. And don’t just take my word for it. Upon seeing “Jimi: All Is By My Side,” Kathy Etchingham, who was Hendrix’ inspiration for “Foxy Lady,” “The Wind Cries Mary” and others, called it “absolute nonsense.” And to quote David Huddleston in “Blazing Saddles” — “Who can argue with that?”

The only EXTRA is a short piece on how the music for the film was created.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dvd, jimi, review, side

Book Review “Joy Street” by Dorothy Tristan

“Joy Street”
Author: Dorothy Tristan
Paperback: 372 pages
Memoir

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

If People magazine would have run their “50 Most Beautiful People” issues in the 1970s, Dorothy Tristan would have surely been on it. An artist, singer, model, author and actress, Tristan’s outer beauty hid a strange and inspirational upbringing. That tale is told in her memoir, “Joy Street.”

Born in New York City, Dorothy Behrdnt was the youngest of four children. As her story begins, her oldest sister is away at nursing school, her brother is a juvenile delinquent and her other sister, 14 year old Winnie is, to be polite, quite promiscuous. Add to that her father’s admiration of Adolph Hitler and life was pretty interesting. However, things change when she is chosen by a community charity, the Fresh Air Fund, to go spend a summer with a family in Connecticut, a place where girl scout uniforms, caring adults and girls with names like Foofie are in abundance. The summer goes by all too fast and soon Dorothy is back home. But she has endeared herself to her summer family and soon she is visiting at holidays as well.

Returning to New York City and her family is always a challenge. When her sister the nurse announces she is seeing a doctor the first thing the father can imagine (correctly) is that he is Jewish. Professing Hitler’s hate-speech he bans her from his home. When she is old enough to leave the nest Dorothy runs off to a future she can not imagine. It is this time in her life, when her natural beauty begins to open doors for her, that her artistic wings begin to grow. Whether modeling for the exclusive Ford Agency, gracing the cover of LIFE magazine or starring opposite Jane Fonda on screen, her stories are richly described, her words painting a picture of the events being described. The highs and lows are both revealed and she omits nothing. Her words are sad, funny, dramatic and expressive. And often at the same time. Her recall of events is amazing and fans will be amazed at all she has accomplished.

Now living in Indiana with film director John Hancock, her husband of almost 40 years, Tristan is still amazing her fans, having recently written and starred in the feature film “Swan Song.” If you’re looking for an uplifting and memorable story I can’t recommend “Joy Street” enough.

Al Sapienza talks about roles in “Taken 3” and “Godzilla”

You may not know Al Sapienza by name but you surely know his face. Probably best known as Mikey Palmice on “The Sopranos,” Sapienza has appeared in over 200 films and television programs. On the big screen he’s been seen in films like “Pretty Woman,” “Free Willy 2” and “Lethal Weapon 4” while on television he’s co-starred on such programs as “Law and Order,” “NYPD Blue” and “Blue Bloods.” He has also appeared in both the 1998 and 2014 versions of “Godzilla” This week Mr. Sapienza can be seen alongside Liam Neeson in “Taken 3.” To help promote this appearance Mr. Sapienza took time out to talk to me about what he does and why he does it.

Al Sapienza: Where are you calling from?
Mike Smith: Kansas City.
AS: Kansas City? I love Kansas City. I played the Uptown Theater there. I had some great times in Kansas City.

MS: You wouldn’t want to be here today…it’s three below zero! So what attracted you to do “Taken 3?”
AS: I’m one of those actors who loves to work. I love to work. And I don’t look at work as “work.” I honestly don’t. When I’m working I’m not working. I’m working when I’m not working! It’s fun being creative…being around creative people. Even though I’ve been an actor for 30 years I’m also a fan. I love it. I love movies…I love TV…I love the theater. Before I went on the audition I watched the original “Taken.” To be honest I hadn’t seen it but since I had the audition for “Taken 3” I watched it and I really liked it. Then I watched “Taken 2.” I’m a tremendous fan of Liam Neeson. I think he’s incredible in everything he does. He throws himself into every part he does. And now I finally have the chance to work with him. And it turns out that he’s just a real regular and good guy. Plus it’s a big movie…it’s a big franchise with a big following.

MS: You’ve appeared in other sequels. Is it difficult going into a project like that…one that might have an already established cast and crew?
AS: It’s funny. It’s all the same. If you’re acting correctly…if your just totally in the moment…if you’ve created this fake reality in your imagination and in your mind and just be real yourself…on the acting standpoint it doesn’t matter if it’s a sequel or a one shot deal. You shoot to do a great job all the time. And to me, that’s what is cool about acting!

MS: You’ve done a lot of both film and television. Do you have a preference?
AS: Good question. The only difference to me is that it’s a longer process on a film. You have more time to be creative…they have more time to shoot. Sometimes for a movie that’s an hour and a half you shoot for seven weeks where on a television show that’s an hour long you shoot for eight days. TV really gets your adrenaline going…it really makes you feel good about yourself. When you get to the set and six in the morning you better know your lines…and everybody else’s lines. TV is really more demanding, because you have to be ready to just knock it out where on a film you have more time. What I’m really excited about is cable television. I think that the movies are moving towards being corporate franchises…Batman, Spider-man, Transformers. They keep trying to do this multi-million dollar franchises with all of the marketing and promotions. I think cable television is going to continue to be cutting edge.

MS: Speaking of multi-million dollar movies, you have the rare distinction of having appeared in both 1998’s “Godzilla” as well as this past year’s version. Do you have a favorite?
AS: That’s a tough one. The director of this past “Godzilla” (Gareth Edwards) had done a great film called “Monsters.” He did it on an incredibly small budget, doing all of the special effects himself on his laptop. I really enjoyed working with him, he was such a special guy. I also enjoyed the earlier one, working with Roland Emerich and Dean Devlin. But I think I enjoy Gareth’s film better because I think he tried to be more like the old, classic films…more about science and science fiction.

MS: Normally I’d ask what your next project would be, but if the Internet Movie Data Base is to be believed you have no less than 22 projects between now and next year. So I guess I’ll ask what you do in your spare time?
AS: (laughs) Spare time? I’m an actor, I don’t need spare time. I like to play football on Saturday mornings. There is a long running game played in New York that has been going on since 1964. They play every week, be it snow or rain. As for what is next, I’m very excited about a mini-series running now called “Ascension,” which will be shown on the SyFy Channel. It’s a very, very interesting show with a very, very interesting concept. That’s what I’m really excited about at the moment.

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: 3, al, godzilla, roles, sapienza, talks, ...

Help Choose The Best of 2014 and Win Some Sweet Swag! [ENDED]

As 2015 begins there is one more piece of 2014 business to take care of. It’s time to pick the winners of the 3rd Annual Media Mikes Awards!

Last year one lucky reader won an instant Blu-ray collection but this year, thanks to our media partners, we will be awarding TEN random readers a great prize just for nominating their favorite films and performances from last year. Prizes range from a set of DVDs to T-shirts, OUIJA boards, buttons and passes to see AMERICAN SNIPER and INHERENT VICE (these passes are accepted anywhere in the United States). Plus, if you will take the time to “like” our Podcast Facebook Page you could win an awesome prize package from THE GAMBLER, including a hat, carry bag and poker set.

Here’s all you have to do: nominate your favorite film or performer in the following categories: BEST PICTURE, DIRECTOR, ACTOR, ACTRESS, SUPPORTING ACTOR, SUPPORTING ACTRESS and BEST ANIMATED FEATURE. You can either do it below or send your nominees to (email address). Ten random entries will be chosen to win a movie prize. To be eligible for THE GAMBLER prize package, just “like” our Podcast page (and please give us a listen). All “likes” made to the page from Sunday, January 4, 2015 through Wednesday, January 21, 2015 will be eligible to win THE GAMBLER prize package. All entries (either on the Media Mikes site or via email ) must be in by midnight, January 21, 2015. All entries will be tabulated and the winners announced on the “Behind the Mikes” Podcast on Saturday, January 24, 2015. They will also be posted on the site that week.

Special thanks to our friends at Allied THA! Good luck!

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: 2014, choose, swag, sweet, win

The “Behind The Mikes” Gang Pick Their Best and Worst of 2014

After much deliberation, MovieMike (Mike S), Loaf (Jeremy) and Brett (B.C) sat down this week and came up with their top 5 (and worse 5) films of 2014. For those of you that listen weekly, we say thank you. For those who haven’t and would like to know how we made our choices, click here http://behindthemikes.podomatic.com/entry/2015-01-04T21_34_18-08_00

Mike Smith’s 5 Best Films of 2014

1. “Unbroken”
2. “American Sniper”
3. “Grand Budapest Hotel”
4. “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me”
5. “The Imitation Game”

The fact that four of these films are based on real people (with “I’ll Be Me” a documentary) doesn’t escape me. “Unbroken” was the most inspirational film of the year in my opinion.

And the WORSE!!

1. “Winter’s Tale”
2. “About Last Night”
3. “If I Stay”
4. “Into the Storm”
5. “The Crown and the Dragon”

What a horrible month February was. I had the great displeasure of seeing “Winter’s Tale” and “About Last Night” on consecutive weeks.

Jeremy Werner’s 5 Best Films of 2014

1. “Nightcrawler”
2. “Birdman”
3. “The Lego Movie”
4. “Love is Strange”
5. “Under the Skin”

And his bottom 5:

1. “The Nut Job”
2. “Endless Love” (another February stinker)
3. “That Awkward Moment”
4. “Dracula Untold”
5. “Divergent”

B.C. Allen’s top 5 of 2014

1. “Inherent Vice”
2. “The Rover”
3. “Jodorowsky’s ‘Dune'”
4. “The Raid 2”
5. “The Look of Silence”
And the 5 he will NEVER watch again:

1. “Calvary”
2. “Fury”
3. “Obvious Child”
4. “Maleficent”
5. “Transformers 4: Age of Extinction”

Here’s what some of our critics are looking forward to in 2015:

Mike G: “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens,”, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Jurassic World.”

Mike S: “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens,” “Minions,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,”, Untitled Steven Spielberg Cold War Thriller and “Ted 2.”

Lauren Damon: “Crimson Peak,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Jurassic World,” “In the Heart of the Sea” and “The Walk”

Jeremy Werner: “Chappie,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Inside Out”

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: 2014, gang, mikes, pick, worst

Film Review “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me”

Starring: Glen Campbell
Directed by: James Keach
Rated: PG
Running time: 1 hr 56 mins
PCH Films

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Who’s that?” Each time an image flickers on the screen the man watching the film asks the same question. With each questions comes the same answer… “that’s you.” Eventually, 75-year old Glen Campbell nods quietly and seems to understand. “OK,” he says. “I’ll be me.”

One of the greatest entertainers of the last century, Glen Campbell shocked fans in 2011 when he announced that he was battling Alzheimer’s disease. Not one to shy from a fight, Campbell not only decided to record one last album, “Ghost on the Canvas” but chose to embark on a three-week “goodbye” tour…one which lasted 151 shows! “I’ll Be Me” takes you along on that tour and shares with you the ups and downs of this most personal of illnesses.

When I was a kid, Glen Campbell was IT! An accomplished musician (he played on many records in the early 1960s, including hits by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and the Monkees. In late 1964 he filled in for Brian Wilson when the Beach Boys went on tour and his masterful guitar playing can be heard on the bands’ greatest album, “Pet Sounds.” In 1967 he hit the top when he released the single “Gentle on My Mind,” following that up with songs like “Wichita Lineman,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and starring alongside John Wayne in “True Grit.” The 1970s brought him his own television series, “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” and hits like “Southern Nights” and the song he is forever linked to, “Rhinestone Cowboy.” This is how I remembered Glen Campbell. Seeing him here, in excellent shape physically but slowed mentally is jarring. I’ll admit that I felt tears well up in my eyes watching him take in those old family home movies and not recognize himself.

The film is not all sadness. Shots of Campbell going through his normal day, talking like Donald Duck and singing familiar songs (ironically, one of the songs he remembers well is “I Remember You”). Sometimes he’s confused and sometimes he seems to understand what is happening to him. “I can still jump,” he says at one point, “I just can’t stay up as long.” With his loving wife Kim by his side, and three of his children in his band, Campbell’s tour is mostly successful. There are a few bumps in the road, like when the teleprompter (which shows Campbell the lyrics) stops working or when, like a young child who doesn’t understand, he complains about things that normally wouldn’t bother you or I, but there is also a sense of hope in the film. Musically, Campbell is still at the top of his game. He goes off on difficult guitar solos during the shows, and the skill needed to achieve this is there.

The film also contains testimonies from many of the people who have been part of or inspired by Campbell’s career. From songwriter Jimmy Webb to Vince Gill, from Sheryl Crow to Bill Clinton, from Blake Shelton to Paul McCartney, the list is overwhelming. There are also comments from fellow musicians like Kathy Mattea and Chad Smith (from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers) who have dealt with Alzheimer’s in their families. Director Keach places his cameras so that you feel like you are part of the film. You’re not eavesdropping on family conversations, you’re part of them. He’s been behind the camera for many years (when he’s not in front of it) and has proven that he has an amazing eye for telling story. And where Glen Campbell that story is not over. As he tells his family as the tour winds down, “I’m not done yet!”

Win Passes to the Kansas City Advance Premiere of “Inherent Vice” [ENDED]

Media Mikes has teamed up with Warner Brothers to give (25) readers and their guest a chance to attend the advance screening of the new film by Paul Thomas Anderson, “Inherent Vice,” when it premieres in Kansas City on January 7, 2015. The screening will be held at the Kansas City Alamo Draft House in downtown Kansas City, Missouri and will start at 7:00 p.m.

All you need to do is head over to: http://www.gofobo.com//main/sweepstakes/NFRkz44927 and register. On Monday, January 5, 2015, (25) random entrants will be selected and those chosen will receive a pass for (2) to attend the screening. Winners will be notified by email.

Starring Golden Globe nominee Joaquin Phoenix, Owen Wilson and Josh Brolin, “Inherent Vice” opens nationally on January 9, 2015. Good luck!

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: advance, city, inherent, kansas, passes, premiere, ...

Win Passes to the Kansas City Premiere of “Selma” [ENDED]

Media Mikes has teamed up with Paramount Pictures to give (20) readers and their guest a chance to see the upcoming film “Selma” when it premieres in Kansas City on January 6, 2015. The screening will be held at the Cinemark Merriam Theatre in Merriam, Kansas and will start at 7:00 p.m.

All you need to do is head over to
http://www.gofobo.com//main/sweepstakes/selmamedia and register. On Sunday, January 4, 2015, (20) random entrants will be selected and those chosen will receive a pass for (2) to attend the screening. Winners will be notified by email.

Nominated for (4) Golden Globe awards, including Best Picture (Drama), “Selma” opens nationally on January 9, 2015. Good luck!

Official Site: SelmaMovie.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SelmaMovie
Twitter: @SelmaMovie #MarchOn
Rating: PG-13

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: city, kansas, passes, premiere, selma, win, ...

Film Review “The Imitation Game”

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode
Directed by: Morton Tyldum
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 54 mins
The Weinstein Company

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

1951. A note is passed to a man behind a desk. “Alan Turing has been robbed,” it reads. Moments later, a couple of London’s finest enter the premises to find Mr. Turing (Cumberbatch) cleaning up. He is very curt with them, assures them nothing has been stolen and asks them to leave. Curious, one of the detectives (Rory Kinnear) begins to investigate Turing. The secret he uncovers is nothing compared to the one Turing has kept for a decade!

The second of two World War II films to open today, “The Imitation Game” is one of those great thrillers where, even though you know the outcome, you’re still on the edge of your seat. A brilliant mathematician, Turing is recruited by England’s MI6 – in a funny exchange, it is pointed out that England only has FIVE levels of Military Intelligence. The reply – “Exactly.” He and a group of code breakers are charged with cracking the ENIGMA machine, the device with which the Nazis send out their orders. A series of letters that creates a code, with the meaning of those letters changing every day, the ENIGMA machine is the deadliest weapon the Nazis have. With a possibility of 159,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s 159 million-million-million) settings, the Allies have been working around the clock trying to solve the code. Unfortunately, once midnight comes, they have to start over. The machine has been re-set and the previous day’s work is now worthless. Turing begins to devise a machine that he feels will not only know each day’s setting but progress further. The first digital computer.

As Turing, Benedict Cumberbatch gives a performance sure to be remembered come Oscar nomination time. Cumberbatch manages to make the seemingly unlikable man endearing. If I were to make a modern day reference, I would compare him to Sheldon, the character Jim Parsons plays on “The Big Bang Theory.” Humor and sarcasm are often lost on him but, as the smartest guy in the room (and one who knows he is) it really doesn’t matter. Turing is also gay, a choice that could land you in prison in the 1940s. Smarmy and secretly gay does not make a fun guy to hang out with. Through flashbacks (and flash-forwards) we learn the life lessons that have made Turing the way he is. Cumberbatch is assisted by his supporting cast, most notably Knightley as a female code breaker, Goode and Alan Leach as members of Turing’s team, Charles Dance as the man in charge of Turing’s project and Mark Strong as the head of MI6.

The direction is tight, keeping the story moving smoothly while constantly building on the suspense. Will Turing’s machine work? And if so, when? Half the fun in waiting is spending time with this incredible film. Sometimes the best things are worth waiting for.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, game, imitation, review

Film Review “Into the Woods”

Starring: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Rated: PG
Running time: 2 hrs 4 mins
The Walt Disney Company

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

In late 1987 and early 1988 it was a great time for Broadway musicals. Fans had three long running and beloved shows to pick from. “Les Miserable” won the Tony Award for Best Musical and was made into a great film. “The Phantom of the Opera” also won the Tony Award for Best Musical and was made into a so-so film (call it the curse of Joel Schumacher). One of the shows “Phantom” beat that year was the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine take on fairy tales, “Into the Woods.” It too has been made into a film and, while it’s not “Les Miz,” it isn’t “Phantom” either!

As the film opens we are introduced to several familiar characters from all of our childhoods: Cinderella (Anna Kendrick); Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford); Jack (Daniel Huttlestone), the kid with the beanstalk; the Baker and his wife (James Corden and Blunt) and, of course, the evil witch (a well-cast Streep). Their stories all become intertwined when they all meet up and discover that each has something the others want. It’s just a matter of what they’re willing to do to get them.

On the plus side, I can safely say that it is virtually impossible to have a bad musical when the guy writing the tunes is Stephen Sondheim. If I listed all of his great shows I’d be here until NEXT Christmas so let me give you the first five off the top of my head – “West Side Story,” “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum,” “Gypsy,” “Sweeny Todd” and “Assassins.” Though some of the songs from the show have been excised (as have some characters, many of whom have been combined into one) the score is still as hummable as it was almost three decades ago. The cast is also pitch perfect – a little Anna Kendrick joke there…did you see what I did there…with everyone having a wonderful time. Besides those named above, work by Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski and Depp, as the Big, Bad Wolf is exemplary. The biggest surprise here is, ironically, the same actor who surprised me earlier this year in “Horrible Bosses 2”…Chris Pine. As Prince Charming, Pine is all dramatics and gravitas, singing strongly of his love for the mysterious Cinderella while making sure his shirt is open far enough to see his hairy chest! And what a great voice. Sorry William Shatner, but the answer to which Captain Kirk is the better singer sure isn’t you! Corden and Blunt also shine as a young couple in love who achingly want a child. Speaking of children, young Huttlestone brings a fun and youthful spirit to Jack. I was probably too hard on Huttlestone when I reviewed him as Gavroche in “Les Miz.” I think it’s just because I hate the character. When I saw the show live I actually had to stop myself from applauding when Gavroche was shot. My bad.

The negative is that, in order to make the film “family friendly,” some of the darker elements of the show have been removed. Some of the characters that died in the show now survive and those that do die do it off screen. Body parts are cut off and eyes plucked out. Speaking of body parts, the wolf is missing a major piece of his anatomy. To put it bluntly, in the show the wolf wanted to do more to Red Riding Hood then just steal her basket! And while those unfamiliar with the show won’t notice those changes, fans of the show will not be happy. What’s next? The movie version of “SPAMALOT” that doesn’t tout the necessity of having Jews to succeed?

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, woods

Film Review “Unbroken”

Starring: Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson and Takamasa Ishihara
Directed by: Angelina Jolie
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 17 mins
Universal

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I first heard the story of Lou Zamperini about 20 years ago while watching one of Tim McCarver’s HBO Sport Specials. I learned that Zamperini had run in the 1936 Olympics (which were held in Berlin) and, even though he didn’t win his event (the 5000 meter race) his time on the final lap so impressed Adolph Hitler that the leader had a personal meeting with him. I also learned that, during World War II, Zamperini’s plane crashed in the Pacific and he became a prisoner of war. The story ended by informing me that, thought dead, a memorial track event was held in California and that Zamperini actually showed up at the second one. An interesting story, to be sure. But the life of Lou Zamperini, how it was lived and how it was molded, took place between races and that is the story of UNBROKEN.

The film opens with Lieutenant Lou Zamperini (O’Connell in a star-making role), a bombardier, and his fellow airmen in a dogfight with Japanese pilots. Making it through, but with the plane badly damaged, the crew is given another assignment and put in a plane that is the talk of the base, mostly because it is in such disrepair. True to its myth, the plane malfunctions and the plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Eight of the eleven crewmen are killed but Zamperini and the others spend 47 days on a raft, living off of rainwater and the fish they manage to catch. They are eventually spotted and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Japan. They’re meager dinner is a handful of rice, thrown into their cells. Lou notices the names of nine sailors that had occupied his cell before him. When he inquires as to their whereabouts he is told they were beheaded. Welcome to Japan.

Masterfully directed with a script by a who’s who of Oscar nominated screenwriters, “Unbroken” is easily the most inspirational film of the year as well as one of the year’s best! Jolie proves herself to be a smart director, letting the cast and the script tell the story and capturing the magic on camera. Not to diminish her contributions here. Any time you have a film set during war time it is very easy to go for the heartstrings and gloss over things that would make lesser men cowed by what took place. But here Jolie refuses to hide, or deny, any of the treatment administered by Zamperini’s tormentors. We are introduced to Zamperini’s life via flashbacks and it is these scenes in which we learn why he is so tough. Taunted as a “dago” in school, Zamperini is urged to join the school track team, where his speed and ability to run long distances (helped, no doubt, by his mischievousness as a young hell-raiser) earn him the nickname “The Torrance Tornado.” His brother’s words – “A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory” – ring in his ears and inspire him.

In the P.O.W. camp he is singled out by the camp commander (Ishihara – better known as acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Miyavi) who, realizing what it takes to make it to the Olympics, figures if he can break Lou he will be successful in breaking the other prisoners. Known as “the Bird” – we learn that to call him anything else will get you killed – he is both impressed with Lou’s achievements but also disgusted with him, and the others, as enemies of Japan. His performance is frightening. O’Connell not only undergoes mental changes on screen, but physical as well. As his torment begins you can’t help but cringe at his emaciated frame. But it is the strength hidden behind his eyes that makes O’Connell’s performance truly stand out.

The story is straightforward and the script, by Joel and Ethan Coen (“Fargo,” “No Country for Old Men”), William Nicholson (“Gladiator”) and Richard LaGravenese (“The Fisher King”), adapted from the bestselling book of the same name by Laura Hillenbrand, steadily follows Zamperini throughout his ordeal. The film is beautifully photographed by Roger Deakins, a long-time associate of the Coen brothers and the score, by Alexandre Desplat, sets the tone of the film beautifully.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, unbroken

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Author: Mike Smith

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