Leslie Odom Jr, Michael B. Jordan, Nate Parker, Kevin Phillips, David Oyelowo and Elijah Kelley portray some of the heroic Tuskegee Airmen in a scene from Lucasfilm’s epic action film Red Tails, in theaters January 20, 2012.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (July 29, 2011) – A high-flying action epic inspired by the heroic exploits of the first all African-American aerial combat unit, the Lucasfilm Ltd. production of Red Tails will launch on January 20, 2012, released by Twentieth Century Fox. Produced by Rick McCallum and Charles Floyd Johnson, the gripping WWII actioner is directed by Anthony Hemingway (“Treme,” “The Wire,” “Battlestar Galactica”).

“I am humbled and honored to direct the story of the Tuskegee Airmen – heroes who have paved the way so others could have the opportunity to pursue their dreams,” said Hemingway. “To be selected by George Lucas and Rick to direct this film was more than my wildest dreams come true. It’s been a blessing to work with them, along with the amazingly talented artists at Industrial Light & Magic. I’ve grown a lot on many levels from this experience. As director, I had the fortune to work with a highly skilled crew from the Czech Republic, U.K. and the U.S., along with a remarkably talented group of actors. The resonant beauty, strength and dedication of our heroes is reflected in the powerful ensemble cast.”

Red Tails stars Oscar® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire), Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (Crash), Emmy® winner Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Nate Parker (The Secret Life of Bees, The Great Debaters), David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scotland, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Tristan Wilds (“90210”), Grammy® Award winner Cliff Smith aka Method Man (“The Wire”), Kevin Phillips (Pride), Rick Otto (“The Wire”), Lee Tergesen (Monster), Andre Royo (“Heroes”), Grammy-Award winner Ne-Yo (Stomp the Yard), Elijah Kelley (Hairspray), Marcus T. Paulk (Take the Lead), Leslie Odom Jr. (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Michael B. Jordan (“Friday Night Lights,” Chronicle) and Daniela Ruah (“NCIS”).

“I’ve wanted to do this film for a great many years,” said George Lucas, executive producer of Red Tails. “So it is especially gratifying to see it all come together. It has been a real pleasure to work with Anthony and the extraordinary cast on a project that we all passionately believe in. The Tuskegee Airmen were such superb pilots that it was essential for us to create visual effects that would live up to their heroism and put audiences in the cockpit with them. They were only in their early 20s when they performed these amazing feats,” Lucas added. “They became the best of the best—the top guns. It is an honor to bring to the screen a story inspired by their heroics.”

A trailer for the film will appear on www.Yahoo.com at 10am PDT Friday.

SYNOPSIS:
1944. As the war in Europe continues to take its toll on Allied forces, the Pentagon brass has no recourse but to consider unorthodox options – including the untried and untested African-American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training program. Just as the young Tuskegee men are on the brink of being shut down and shipped back home, they are given the ultimate chance to show their courage. Against all the odds, with something to prove and everything to lose, these intrepid young airmen take to the skies to fight for their country – and the fate of the free world.

Starring:  Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde
Directed by:  Jon Favreau
Rated:  PG 13
Running time:  1 hour 58 mins
Universal

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Let me say at the beginning that the film title is not just a clever name.  “Cowboys and Aliens” is about, well, cowboys.  And aliens.  I’m sure the pitch for it was “John Wayne plus “Dances With Wolves” meets “Alien.”  However it came to be, it’s one hell of a movie.

On a desolate trail three men stumble upon another laying on the ground.  They tell him that they are looking for absolution.  Are they looking for salvation or is that just one of those cool old western town names?  Before we can find out they observe that the man appears to have been shot and is wearing a heavy metal shackle on his wrist.  “Must have escaped from the hoosegow,” one replies.  Thinking him to be an escaped convict, the trio decide to take his clothes and money.  Well, at least they try to.

In the town of Absolution (question answered), Percy Dolarhyde (Paul Dano), the spoiled son of the town big shot, is drunkenly bothering some of the town folk.  He encounters our desert wanderer (Craig), who has no time for alcoholic hijinx.  Circumstances land both of them in the local jail.  Percy has shot a deputy while the man, who claims to not know who he is, has been identified as Jake Lonergan, who is wanted for robbing a train full of gold.  Percy’s daddy’s gold.  Only Jake doesn’t remember anything.  And what about that funny bracelet on his wrist?

As beautifully shot as an old John Ford western with the action one would expect from the director of “Iron Man,” “Cowboys and Aliens” is a perfect merger of two of the most popular genres ever.  With a list of behind the scenes producers that includes Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, “Cowboys and Aliens” is a great companion piece to this year’s earlier “Super 8,” as both films were made by directors who love the medium they’re working in and are happy to pay homage to the films that came before them.

Craig has a perfect face for a western.  If this were the late 1960s he would be Lee Van Cleef (the “bad” part of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”).  In fact, with this performance and his recurring role as James Bond, Craig may be the baddest man on the planet.  To paraphrase a popular joke, Daniel Craig is so bad that Chuck Norris has his poster on his wall.  As Colonel Dolarhyde, Harrison Ford is equally well cast.  When we first meet him he’s a combination of Bernard’s father in “Billy Jack,” Ben Gazarra in “Road House” and Gene Hackman in “The Quick and the Dead.”  Yet as the film progresses, and Percy and others are snatched up by the title aliens, he begins to realize that life isn’t just gold and power.  Wilde seems to have come from another film, as if the filmmakers realized that they needed a woman on screen in case those in the intended audience brought a date.  Some great actors fill the supporting roles, including Keith Carradine as the town sheriff, Clancy Brown as the local preacher, Sam Rockwell as the owner of the saloon and Adam Beach as a member of Dolarhyde’s crew.  And to give the film a connection to the westerns of the past, Brendan Wayne, grandson of the Duke himself, also appears.

The special effects are well done and the title aliens are pretty darn creepy.  Credit director Favreau with keeping the alien technology as “primitive” as possible.  One of my biggest problems with the second “Star Wars” trilogy was that the ships and weapons were more technologically advanced then the ones in the first trilogy, even though it was earlier in the time line.  As the summer begins to draw to an end, this is certainly one of the films to see before it does.

Check out our review from guest author Desiree Yates, here.

Starring:  Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling
Directed by:  Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Rated:  PG 13
Running time:  1 hour 58 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Fans of the television program “The Office” (the US version) were pretty sad this season when Steve Carell left the show.  After seven successful seasons Carell decided to do what countless actors have done before:  make that successful transition from tv star to MOVIE STAR!  In the past Carell has done some solid work in comedies like “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Anchorman,” as well as showing some serious chops in “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Dan In Real Life.”  Many actors before Carell have taken that big step.  From Clint Eastwood, Ryan O’Neal and Tom Selleck (good choice) to Shelly Long and David Caruso (not so good), many have taken that great leap only to land hard.  Not Carell.  As a man who must learn how to deal with all that life throws at him after his wife asks for a divorce, Carell gives, in my opinion, the best performance of his career.

Cal (Carell) and Emily (Moore) have been married for two plus decades.  One night at dinner, unable to decide what they want, Cal suggests they count down from three and then say it out loud.  Cal is floored when Emily orders “a divorce.”  He moves out of the house, leaving behind two very sweet children, Molly (Joey King) and Robbie (Jonah Bobo, truly the emotional heart of the film).  While drinking away his sorrows in the local singles bar Cal is befriended by Jacob (Gosling), who can see in Cal a defeated man who needs to discover life again.  While helping Cal Jacob is mystified by a beautiful woman (Stone) who resists his advances.  By the time the film is over, everyone will have, hopefully, found what they were looking for.

Brilliantly written by Dan Fogleman, “Crazy, Stupid, Love” is the perfect romantic comedy and the best one to come along since “Love Actually.”  The characters are fully developed and as you watch them you can easily identify them as someone you know.  It also helps that the film is perfectly cast.  As I mentioned above, the sky is the limit for Steve Carell on the big screen.  He proves himself a true romantic leading man here, as well as a fine actor.  Same with Gosling.  So great in heavier roles like “Half Nelson,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and “Blue Valentine,” which criminally didn’t,  here he gets to have a few laughs, some at his expense.  Like Matt Damon before him, Gosling is beginning to become one of my favorite actors to watch on screen.  Moore and Stone are also strong characters, a rarity in this genre’.  The supporting cast, including Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, Analeigh Tipton and a hilarious Josh Grobin, help the film maintain it’s fast pace.  But it is young Mr. Bobo that surprises with a performance that belies his 14 years.  His Robbie, more than anyone else in the film, has a handle on what love is and how it should be. And everything is held together by the strong direction of Ficarra and Requa, who crafted last year’s “I Love You Phillip Morris” with a deft hand.  No sophomore slump here!

In a summer of romantic comedies both good and bad, it’s nice to see that Hollywood saved the best for last.

Mason Gamble started his film career in 1993 with the film “Dennis The Menace”. Mason’s latest film “Golf in the Kingdom” really shows his acting ability in the role of Michael Murphy. The film is adapted from the book of the same name. He co-stars in the film with the fantastic David O’Hara, who also gives a great performance. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Mason about the film and his career.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role of Michael Murphy in “Golf in the Kingdom”?
Mason Gamble: It is about a young guy at a specific point in his life and he has these expectations for where he is heading and exactly the path he needs to be on to get there. He then has a 24 hour period that completely 180’s he ideas on that. It takes him everywhere he thinks he needs to be going and makes him realize that he is focused on the wrong things. I think a lot of young people are often at that transition in their lives. I know I was at my transition in my life not to long ago. It was a role that seemed pretty appropriate with the timing of it.

Mike G: At what point did you read the book “Golf in the Kingdom”?
Mason G: First time I read the book was after I heard of the project. It was one of my agent’s favorite books growing up as a kid. He was excited when the project came along and that made me look into it a little bit closer. The ideas in the book and the way they can be taken to the game of golf really worked on me. I think it changed not only the way I approach my golf game but life in general.

Mike G: In general, are you a fan of the game of golf?
Mason G: I had gone a golf movie called “A Gentleman’s Game”, when I was 14. They taught me how to play for that a little bit, but I never really got into it. I didn’t have a lot of people I knew that played. After reading the book, then I started to play with a friend of mine. Some of the ideas in the book really changed the way I approached the game and it hit me hard. Since the audition process for the film, I have been a pretty avid golfer.

Mike G: How was it working with David O’Hara?
Mason G: Oh man, David is amazing. Not only did he disembody the role of Shivas Irons, but the focus and the power that he is able to control on the screen…he really draws you in when he is in the same frame as you. The stillness that he can perform a scene with is really overwhelming. He is a heck of an actor and very professional. It was a really small crew and we were three hours from anything where we shot. So having David up there for support and to lean on was great. We got really close and had a fantastic time together.

Mike G: Tell us about the production, where was it filmed?
Mason G: It was shot at an incredible place called Bandon Dune, which is just up the Oregon coast. It is a world class golf resort. I think at the time they only had 3 1/2 courses and building their 4th. The courses are in the top 25 courses in the national. We got to use all four of these courses to build our set for this movie. It just looks incredible and it is one of the most beautiful places to be working for two and half months.

Mike G: Tell us about working with director, Susan Streitfeld?
Mason G: It was fantastic. She has this amazing artistic vision. She has the ability to see things through the camera and on the screen that most people can’t see. When you work with her you really need to have a lot of trust in her. She had this vision for what was going to come out at the finish of this film. I think when you see it on screen it just looks great. The visuals…the scenery…the framing…it all just turned out so beautifully. I think so much of that credit needs to go to Susan. I think she had an eye for that the whole time.

Mike G: What do you have planned upcoming?
Mason G: Right now, I got about two quarters left of school. I am trying to graduate. I am majoring in Marine Biology. My love will always be acting, to me it is a job unlike any other job. The studying of Marine Biology and the continuing of education is something I have always been very passionate about. Developing your mind and your ability to think critically is really important. As an actor your mind is one of your most important tools. The more prospective you can bring to the table, I think the more range and variety you are going to be able to bring to your roles.

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FROM THE DIRECTOR AND FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER OF BORN TO FIGHT AND THE ONG BAK FRANCHISE

Only The Strong Will Survive In The Action-Packed Thriller Kicking Its Way To Blu-ray Disc And DVD August 30 From Magnolia Home Entertainment

“The action is extreme, extremely dangerous and extremely fun.”
– Twitch Film

When a group of old friends come together they end up doing more then talking about the past in BKO: Bangkok Knockout, arriving on Blu-ray Disc and DVD August 30 from Magnolia Home Entertainment. From Director and Fight Choreographer, Panna Rittikrai (Ong Bak Franchise, Born To Fight), Thai action cinema legend, action superstar and mentor to many of today’s top martial arts legends including Tony Ja (Ong Bak), Dan Chupong (Dynamite Warrior) and Jija Yanin (Chocolate), BKO: Bangkok Knockout takes fight sequences to a whole new level.

A group of ex-marital arts students attend a reunion party to reminisce about their old ‘fight club,’ but this reunion is not all fun and games when some of the members are kidnapped by a group of deadly assassins, leaving the remaining members to save their friends in the ultimate battle for survival. Packed with death-defying action and highlighting a range of martial arts disciplines from Muay Thai to Capoeira, Kung Fu to Tai Chi, the BKO: Bangkok Knockout Blu-ray Disc and DVD features explosive bonus materials including a behind-the-scenes featurette and an international trailer, and will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 and $26.98, respectively.

Synopsis
A group of ex-marital arts students attend a reunion party to reminisce about their old ‘fight club’ but things go array when a bomb is set off and everyone is left unconscious. When everyone wakes up only to realize that some of their friends have been kidnapped by a group of assassins who are coming after them next. Now the only way to survive is to fight their way out.

Directed By: Arlene Marechal
Starring: Heather Langenkamp, Wes Craven, Robert Englund
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 71 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I have been a fan of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series since I was kid and it holds a special place for me, like I am sure many. This film focuses on Heather Langenkamp’s career of playing Nancy Thompson, the girl who fought Freddy Krueger in three “Elm Street” films. The main focus of the film though is Heather pondering “Why Freddymania and not Nancymania?” We follow her through various horror conventions as she meets fans and hears their stories. I have been to countless horror conventions myself and I have met Heather a few times at these shows personally. So, I definitely enjoyed the idea of the film but overall it felt like it would have been generally shorten in half and added on as a DVD extra to “A Nightmare on Elm Street” disc.

Overall I appreciate the need for this documentary since Freddy does always get all the attention but the idea get very repetitive after 45 mins.  Heather is very funny in the film and in her journey to get Nancy the attention she deserves.  The film focuses on the fans of the series and if you are a fan of the series then you will appreciate this project a lot more. I think the idea could have been expanded a little outside of just conventions but it is what it is.

The special features are ok but not great.  We basically have two extended interviews and a music video.  The first interview is with Wes Craven. It runs over 30 minutes which is usually good thing but content wise it runs a little thin.  I prefer the feature cut of the interview.  Next we have an extended interview with Robert Englund.  I actually enjoyed this extended interview very much.  Robert is such a personality and is fun to hear him tell his story.  Lastly we have a music video for the “I Am Nancy” theme song which was performed by Jamie Coon and Tom Von Doom.  Basically it is just clips from the convention over the song, nothing special.  Hardcore fans of the series, might want to check this out…otherwise watch “Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy”.  It is an action packed 240-minute DVD retrospective, that will give fans everything they’ve ever dreamed for.

Eamon Pirruccello is going to be lending his voice to the 2011 reboot of “Thundercats”, which airs on Cartoon Network on July 29, 2011. Eamon is voicing the character of WilyKat in the new series. Movie Mikes had a chance to briefly ask Eamon about his experience working on the new “Thundercats” series in his very first interview.

Mike Gencarelli: Are you excited to be playing WilyKat in the reboot of “Thundercats”?
Eamon Pirruccello: Heck Yeah!  The shows have been really fun to record and the people I’ve met have been really fun!

MG: How did you prepare for the role? Did you watch any of the original “Thundercats” series to get inspiration?
EP: I prepared for it by getting focused before recording a line.  I actually haven’t seen the original show.  I probably will now that I have seen how awesome the new one is.

MG: How many episodes have you recorded so far?
EP: I don’t know actually, because I have not kept count.  I heard that the seasons are 26 episodes though.

MG: When you are recording the voice what visuals do you have? Storyboards? Full episodes?
EP: Normally none but sometimes we record ADR after the rest of the episode, at which point we are all recording to picture.

MG: How did you become involved with the short “Kung Fu Panda Secrets of the Furious Five”?
EP: It started like any other job: With an audition.  When I got the job, I was really excited that I would be a part of something like Kung-Fu Panda (Which now has two great movies and a short.)

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BUCKLE UP FOR AN ADRENALINE-PUMPING HEIST FROM THE EXPLOSIVE FRANCHISE BUILT ON SPEED
STARRING VIN DIESEL, PAUL WALKER, DWAYNE JOHNSON
AND A REUNION OF RETURNING ALL-STARS IN “FAST FIVE”

Including Never-Before-Seen Extended Edition and
Universal’s All-New Second Screen Feature Available Exclusively on Blu-ray™
On Blu-ray™ and DVD Combo Packs, DVD and Digital Download

From Universal Studios Home Entertainment
October 4, 2011

“The Best of the Series!” – Richard Corliss, TIME

Universal City, California (July 26 2011)—Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding physical action are set against the mesmerizing beauty of Rio de Janeiro’s exotic thoroughfares in Fast Five, the most successful installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of returning all-stars from every chapter of the phenomenally successful franchise built on speed plus action superstar Dwayne Johnson (Faster) in the all-new action caper available October 4, 2011 on Blu-ray™ and DVD Combo Packs, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand.

Available for a limited time only, the Blu-ray™ and DVD Combo Packs bring the full-throttle excitement of the ultimate Fast Five experience to the screen with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available on Blu-ray™, as well as an extended edition of the film with even more explosive action, exclusive bonus features, a DVD to enjoy in the car or on the go, and a Digital Copy of the film that can be downloaded and viewed on an array of electronic and portable devices anytime, anywhere including laptops, tablets, and smartphones as well as Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray™ set top boxes. Debuting on the Fast Five Blu-ray™ is Universal’s Second Screen, an all-new app for tablets and computers that provides an innovative and interactive viewing experience. To preview Universal’s all-new Second Screen for Fast Five visit http://preview.tinyurl.com/UniSecondScreenF5preview.

Packed with mind-blowing stunts, high-octane thrills and unprecedented automotive wizardry, Fast Five reunites cast members from all four previous chapters of the blockbuster franchise, reprising their roles as the most daring gang of outlaw drivers to ever get behind the wheel, while a relentless FBI agent (Dwayne Johnson) does whatever it takes to them bring down. Director Justin Lin (Fast & Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) takes the wheel of this all-star reunion as Diesel and Walker reprise their iconic roles as Dom Toretto, the king of the street racers, and former cop Brian O’Conner, now Dom’s partner-in-crime, while Johnson rides shotgun for the first time ever as Federal agent Luke Hobbs. Fast Five also brings back several popular franchise stars including Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Sung Kang, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Elsa Pataky, Gal Gadot and Matt Schulze in a story fueled by gear-grinding action, hairpin plot twists and vehicular mayhem set to a driving hip-hop and Latin soundtrack.

BLU-RAY(TM) EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES:
• DOM VS. HOBBS: Watch how the action-packed showdown was shot
• ON SET WITH DIRECTOR JUSTIN LIN: Go behind the scenes of Fast Five with director Justin Lin
• INSIDE THE VAULT CHASE: Learn how they filmed the movie’s most dangerous sequence
• TYRESE TV: Go behind the scenes of Fast Five with Tyrese Gibson
• NEW! pocket BLU™ VERSIONS FOR TABLETS AND COMPUTERS, FEATURING UNIVERSAL’S SECOND SCREEN
• The popular free pocket BLU™ app for smartphones is now even better with newly updated versions for iPad®, Android™ tablets, PC, and Macintosh computers, with features made especially to take advantage of the devices’ larger screens and high resolution displays. And with UNIVERSAL’S SECOND SCREEN, enjoy an innovative and interactive viewing experience, that lets you control, interact and explore Fast Five with groundbreaking new features right on your tablet or computer, in synchronization with the movie on your television screen! While the movie plays, you’ll experience features such as:
• Take Control 2.0: Step inside the movie with Director Justin Lin, as he takes control of your Blu-ray player and gives you an all-access, in-depth look at how the movie was made.
• Virtual Car Garage: Get an up-close inspection of the hot cars, moving models of the cars in a 360 degree view, check out tech specs and more with a touch of your finger
• Scene Explorer: Ever wish you could see how your favorite special effects sequences were created? Select various progressions of the same scene from storyboards to daily cuts right from your couch and see how they pulled off the incredible action of the film.
• Picture in Picture: The cast and crew share stories about the movie right from your tablet or computer, in synchronization to the scene being played.
• The Music of Fast Five: Tap your fingers to find out what song is playing, create your own playlist, and even purchase the songs right from your device!
• pocket BLU™: The groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPad®, iPhone®, iPod® touch, Android™ smartphones and tablets, PC and Mac® to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before. pocket BLU™ offers advanced features such as:
• DIGITAL COPY: Now, Users have a whole new way to redeem their Digital Copy of the movie right from within the pocket BLU app! With a simple three step process, the movie begins downloading instantly to their portable device to take with them anywhere!
• ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROL: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease
• VIDEO TIMELINE: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film
• MOBILE-TO-GO: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere
• BROWSE TITLES: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device
• KEYBOARD: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard
• BD-LIVE™ – Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to access the latest trailers, exclusive content, and more!
• uHEAR™: Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed

BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK AND DVD COMBO PACK EXCLUSIVE:
• DIGITAL COPY: In addition to redeeming a Digital Copy of the movie through the pocket BLU™ app, Viewers can also download a digital version of the full-length movie from participating digital retailers to enjoy on a choice of popular electronic and portable devices.

BLU-RAY™ AND DVD BONUS FEATURES:
• DELETED SCENES
• GAG REEL
• DOM’S JOURNEY: Track Vin Diesel’s legendary character from the beginning
• BRIAN O’CONNER: FROM FED TO CON: Follow Paul Walker’s character as he goes from lawman to outlaw
• ENTER FEDERAL AGENT HOBBS: Meet Dom & Brian’s toughest nemesis yet
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR JUSTIN LIN

SYNOPSIS
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker head up an all-star reunion of the explosive Fast franchise set in sultry Rio de Janeiro. Former cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker, Fast & Furious, Takers) and his girlfriend Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster, Fast & Furious, “Dallas”) bust Mia’s brother Dom (Vin Diesel, Fast & Furious, The Chronicles of Riddick) out of prison, blasting across South America to elude the authorities. Finding themselves backed into a corner in Brazil, they assemble an elite team of top racers to help pull off the one last job that could mean freedom for them all. But hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson, Faster, The Other Guys) is hot on their trail, and so is a corrupt and powerful businessman who wants them dead. When Hobbs and his strike force launch an all-out assault to capture the Torettos and their team, he can’t separate the good guys from the bad. Instead, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey…before someone else runs them down first.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Sung Kang, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Elsa Pataky, Gal Gadot, Matt Schulze
Directed By: Justin Lin
Screenplay By: Chris Morgan, based on characters created by Gary Scott Thompson
Executive Producers: Amanda Lewis, Samantha Vincent
Producers: Vin Diesel, Michael Fottrell, Neal H. Moritz
Director of Photography: Stephen F. Windon
Production Designer: Peter Wenham
Edited By: Kelly Matsumoto, Fred Raskin, Christian Wagner
Casting By: Deborah Zane
Costume Designer: Sanja Milkovic Hays
Original Music By: Brian Tyler

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

BLU-RAY™
Street Date: October 4, 2011
Copyright: 2011 Universal Studios
Selection Number: Blu-ray Combo Pack: 61119120
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes
Layers: BD-50
Picture Format: Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, sexual content and language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound: English DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 / DD DVS 2.0, French-Canadian and Spanish DTS Surround 5.1

DVD
Street Date: October 4, 2011
Copyright: 2011 Universal Studios
Selection Number: DVD: 61115623; DVD Combo Pack: 61119536
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, sexual content and language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound: English DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 / DD DVS 2.0, Spanish and French-Canadian DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1

www.fastfivemovie.com

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal , one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

“OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL” BEGINS PRODUCTION IN MICHIGAN

James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams

Topline Sam Raimi’s New Fantasy Adventure

Pontiac, MI., July 25, 2011—Walt Disney Pictures’ fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, went in front of the cameras at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan, on Monday, July 25, 2011, boasting a stellar cast that includes Academy Award® nominee James Franco (“127 Hours”) as the young wizard, Golden Globe® nominee Mila Kunis (“Black Swan”) as the witch Theodora, Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”) as Kunis’ sister Evanora and two-time Oscar®-nominated actress Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Blue Valentine”) as Glinda, the Good Witch.

The cast also includes Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Zach Braff (“Scrubs,” “Garden State”), who will play Franco’s circus assistant as well as lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz; and 12-year-old actress Joey King (“Ramona and Beezus”), who will voice another CGI character in the story, China Girl, who also joins the future Wizard on his excursion through Oz.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

The film will be produced by industry veteran Joe Roth, along with executive producers Grant Curtis (the “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Drag Me to Hell”), Philip Steuer (“The Chronicles of Narnia” series) and Palak Patel. The screenplay was written by Mitchell Kapner, (“The Whole Nine Yards”) and David Lindsay-Abaire (“Rabbit Hole,” “Robots”).

Raimi has assembled his own band of technical wizards and movie magicians on the project, which includes cinematographer Peter Deming (“Mulholland Dr.,” “Drag Me to Hell”), two-time Academy Award®–winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Avatar”), Oscar®-winning film editor Bob Murawski (“The Hurt Locker,” the “Spider-Man” trilogy), veteran Oscar®-nominated costume designer Gary Jones (“Spider-Man 2,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), visual effects Oscar® winner Scott Stokdyk (“Spider-Man 2,” “Spider-Man”) and Academy Award®–winning special makeup artist Howard Berger (“The Chronicles of Narnia” series), who will create the looks of several of the unique denizens of Oz, including creatures such as the Whimsies, the Tinkers and the Winkies, as well as the ghastly look of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Production on “Oz The Great and Powerful” will take place entirely on site at the new Raleigh Michigan Studios, the 200,000 square foot sound stage facility in Pontiac, Michigan, once the location of General Motors’ Centerpoint business campus and truck manufacturing plant.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 8, 2013.

Colin Cunningham is currently co-starring in TNT hit show “Falling Skies”, which is currently airing on Sunday nights on TNT. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Colin about working on the show and the upcoming episodes this season.

Mike Gencarelli: Congratulations on the show being picked up for second season, any reaction to that?
Colin Cunningham: Yes, I’m incredibly grateful. Yes, here’s my reaction to being picked up. I’m still trying to get over the fact that I even shot the first season…that I even got the audition…let alone got the part…let alone actually got on set and shot a scene that didn’t end up on the editing room floor. I’m still trying to just sink all that in, you know? I mean, I’m working on a Spielberg project with TNT and DreamWorks, and I’m still trying to get over that. So when all that sinks in, I’ll start thinking about the fact that we’ve been picked up and do it again [laughs].

Q: Tell us about working with  Noah Wyle, there is great animosity between you two.
A: I’ll tell you, Noah’s amazing. When we shot all that dialogue with Noah Wyle’s character, the entire motivation was to get me talking and to keep me talking so he can pull a gun and essentially kill me, you know? Noah’s an amazing actor. He really is. I was very grateful for the help that he gave me and he’s just a consummate professional. He’s such a great actor. We worked on those scenes, I’d ask him for some ideas – or – what do you think of this? And what do you think of that? He was always very, very generous.He’s incredible to work with, and he really raises the bar on the show. He just inspires everybody else to be just even better.

Q: What’s the hardest part of filming for you?
A: Hardest part of this particular show is – because it’s television, you’re lucky to get one take. I mean, that’s it. You get one crack at it, because you’ve got to move. Especially with this show, there’s so much money involved that you may have 200 extras in the background, and they’ve all got weapons and wardrobe and make-up. And there’s cars moving and things are being coordinated and motorcycles. This is all in the background, and all you and I have is a couple of lines going back and forth. Well, that may take 12 hours to set up, and if you screw up your lines, they’ve got to redo 200 people and re-mark everybody, bring the trucks back around. So there can be tremendous pressure.

Q: Well, why do you think people tune in to watch “Falling Skies” then?
A: Well, hopefully because it doesn’t suck, you know? [laughs] Hopefully because it’s good. I think there’s two reasons. Number one, it is epic. It’s huge. It’s a big, giant show. I mean, it’s not two people sitting on a couch sitcom kind of thing or it doesn’t take place at the cop shop, at the police headquarters, and it’s a gigantic stage. The other reason is the small part of it, and that is the characters, just the people themselves. I don’t think people are tuning in to see the aliens. They tune in to experience the stories and to get to know the characters, and then the aliens and all that other stuff is a perk. Well, that’s why I’d tune in, anyway. I think it’s a wonderful show.

Q: So I’m wondering if you had any bad guy role models that you kind of tried to slip in a little of them into John Pope?
A: Well, yes a person comes to mind, actually, it wasn’t so much bad guy, but I thought this guy has – it’s a word you don’t often hear all that much anymore – at the least character to me – was charisma. There’s something charismatic about him. It’s not a word that’s often attributed to too many actors out there, except for one that I know of is Peter Falk, God rest his soul. I’m a big Cassavetes fan and Peter had charisma. There was just something about the swagger, the – just his vibe, you know, because it’s not an easily definable aspect. So that was important to me, because bad guy, schmad guy, you know? Any smart actor naturally isn’t going to play him as a bad guy. The writers have already done that, so for me, it was about trying to find something different about him. What is he? He’s kind of part Shakespeare’s, and on the other side, Rector Howe. But overall it was about trying to find something that was different and so much of that was already in the writing. He’s so intelligent. He’s so smart. He’s articulate. He’s an opportunist. He’s incredibly selfish. I think in another lifetime, I can almost see John Pope and Tom Mason being best friends in school, in elementary school, and then, because of different choices in life, they ended up taking different paths.

Q: I’m also curious about John Pope’s relationship with Margaret. Clearly, they’ve had a rough patch, and she did kill John Pope’s brother. Are we going to see any sort of more tension, maybe even worse, in the episodes to come?
A: I really hope so. I was waiting for it and hoping for it, but there finally was a scene – because basically throughout the entire season, those two never really talk. I thought, wow, are they ever going to do something with this? And finally, I think it may be the last episode where we do have a scene. So I know that the writers don’t forget. I would love to explore that relationship. Sarah Carter is amazing in the role. I mean, was John Pope a part of the nastiness before because it was never entirely clear? It is interesting, because so much is not said. I would say absolutely not. I think if Pope had been there when that bit of nastiness was going on, it would have stopped. It would have ended. I think that that was something he does and he wouldn’t be a part of. That said, I do believe that he knew about it or found out about it and chose to do nothing, because you’re in a war situation, and still there’s still strength in numbers, and it’s unfortunate that you’ve got to fill your numbers with basically people who are garbage for the sake of being able to fight these aliens. War creates strange bedfellows, you know?

Q: Tell us about your other shows that you currently have on your plate?
A: I’ve got a couple of them. Right now, I’m also a lead on a TV show on HBO Canada called “Living in Your Car”. I’m also recurring on CBS’s “Flashpoint.” I play Hugh Dillon’s brother. Then also, I did another TNT pilot this year called “Perception” with Eric McCormack, so it’s been a really busy year for me. It’s been wonderful. In fact, if anything, when I was shooting “Falling Skies,” I was shooting my other show on the weekends, and I was working seven days a week. It was really intense.

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July 25, 2011

The Actor’s Golden Box at the Acting Studio at Edgemar Center for the Arts Taught by Renowned Acting Coach Michelle Danner

Each month, The Acting Studio at Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica  presents The Actor’s Golden Box, a two-day intensive program of training taught by renowned acting coach Michelle Danner.

Actors learn how to create vivid, fleshed-out and interesting characters through an intense and emotional workshop with technique exercises and lectures. Not just for actors, the course is also of benefit to writers and others in allied professions.

The class is supported by film clips and there are discussions and analyses of performances by Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Dean and others.

Exercises include learning how to build provocative and complex back stories by opening up your instrument emotionally and finding triggers and psychological gestures in your work.

Danner, Artistic Director of the Edgemar Center for the Arts, has coached some of Hollywood’s most elite actors including James Franco, Salma Hayek, Gerard Butler, Chris Rock, Penelope Cruz, Isla Fisher and more. She has directed and acted in over 30 plays and musicals in Los Angeles and New York, and has directed two films, “How to Go Out on a Date in Queens” (starring Jason Alexander and Rob Estes) and the recently-completed “Hello Herman” (starring Norman Reedus and Martha Hagerida).

The Actor’s Golden Box is conducted once each month on a Saturday and Sunday at Edgemar Center for the Arts. Please call (310) 392-0815 for exact dates, times and registration information.

The Acting Studio at Edgemar Center for the Arts is located in a two-theatre and art gallery complex in Santa Monica. The address is 2437 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90405.

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Background

Michelle Danner and Larry Moss founded Edgemar Center for the Arts, a two-theatre and art gallery complex in 2000. The Larry Moss Studio has been housed at Edgemar since the cutting of the ribbon in 2002 and has flourished and grown into what is now The Acting Studio at Edgemar.

Classes offered in The Acting Studio at Edgemar Center for the Arts:

* The Actor’s Golden Box: with renowned acting coach Michelle

Danner
* Audition for Film & Television: On-Camera
* Scene Study Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced
* Improv Workout
* Casting Director Workshop
* Voice Intensives Level 1 & Level 2

*Brad Garrett, the Emmy Award winning star of “Everybody Loves Raymond”
will teach a six week sitcom/comedy intensive starting July 26th.

Free info sessions are held every Thursday 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

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On July 22nd, there was a star studded gala four day special event in Manassas, VA (the site of the War’s start) to commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War with a theatrical premiere of the new Gods and Generals Extended Director’s Cut.

The event included talent such as Gods and Generals stars Bruce Boxleitner (Lt. General James Longstreet), C. Thomas Howell (Sergeant Thomas Chamberlain), Frankie Faison (Jim Lewis), Brian Mallon (Maj. General Winfield Scott Hancock), Alex Hyde-White (Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside) and Donzaleigh Abernathy (Martha) Patrick Gorman (General John Bell Hood) and John Castle (Old Penn), James I. Roberston, Jr. Director Ron Maxwell introduced the film, new footage, and video segments focused on embracing the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage area and sharing it with future generations. He also lead a panel with the film’s stars and historical advisers.

Check out the following below from the “Gettysburg/Gods and Generals Limited Collector’s Edition Event Footage”

Universal Pictures released a first look at “Snow White and the Huntsman” Characters from Comic-Con 2011!  The films stars Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin and will be released on June 1, 2012

Official Website: www.snowwhiteandthehuntsman.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/snowwhiteandthehuntsman
Follow on Twitter: @SnowWhite and @UniversalPics

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Oscar^® winner Charlize Theron) who is out to destroy her.  But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth, Thor) who was dispatched to kill her.  Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White’s beauty and power.

The breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale is from Joe Roth, the producer of Alice in Wonderland, producer Sam Mercer (The Sixth Sense) and acclaimed commercial director and state-of-the-art visualist Rupert Sanders.

J. Teddy Garces is best known for his portrayal of Bruiser in the web series “The Guild” and Julian in “Ted Sampon: Househusband”. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with J. Teddy about his roles and what he has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you meet Felicia Day and end up working on “The Guild” as Bruiser?
JTG: “The Guild” was a great experience from beginning to end. I received a call from my agent about an audition for a series that was pretty popular on the web. I read the audition material and researched the show. I loved it. When I went in to read for the role of Bruiser, Felicia was there with Sean (the director) and Kim (the Producer). Jenni Powell was also there, she was the one I read with. They all generated such great energy during the audition that it became very easy to feel comfortable. I remember there was a lot of laughter from everyone in the room and the next day I received a call that I had gotten the part.

MG: What can we expect from season five of the show?
JTG: To be honest I don’t really know what season five holds in store. The show changes from season to season and with Felicia, although you know its going to be great, you still don’t know what to expect.

MG: Tell us about your latest film “Surrogate”?
JTG: “Surrogate” is the remarkable story about the life of poet and journalist Mark O’Brien. Ben Lewin wrote and directed the piece. It was such a refreshing script to read and even more rewarding to work on. Mark O’Brien lived in an Iron Lung due to polio.

MG: How was it working with such a great cast including, John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and Moon Bloodgood?
JTG: I had a brief but very nice role in the film. I spent my time with Moon Bloodgood and John Hawkes. My interaction in the film was with them. They were very welcoming during filming from the moment I arrived until I left. Its always a positive when you have the opportunity to experience someone else’s work process. John and Moon worked very well together, and as a result, I felt completely at ease in communicating with them during the work and between takes.

MG: Tell us about working on the online series, “Dragon Age” due this Summer?
JTG: “Dragon Age’ was a phenomenal time from beginning to end for me. It provided a new experiences for me as an actor. I play a Qunari Warrior and was in a make up chair for 5 hours getting the prosthetics  glued on to me. Wow! It was exciting and exhausting, but when I arrived on set to shoot, I knew from everyone’s reaction that something great was happening.

MG: You are also producing your own New Media series called “Sound Advice”, tell us about it?
JTG: Yes, “Sound Advice”! “He doesn’t mean to be rude … He just is”. That’s the tagline! It’s my five episode rude creation about a dysfunctional therapist who is completely ruthless in his methods. Its an intelligent show that forces you to leave your hangups at the door. The promo clips are already online now but the episodes don’t premiere till July 2011. I wrote, produced and starred in it because as an actor, I’m a strong believer in doing the things that can springboard your advancement. Sean Becker directed it. There is a website: www.soundadviceontheweb.com and I am also hosting it on www.Blip.Tv/soundadvice.

Directed by: Philip Rosenthal
Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Rating: PG
Running Time: 86 min

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Are you a fan of the show “Everyone Loves Raymond”? If you are then you should Phil Rosenthal, the writer and executive producer for the show. This documentary follows the creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” as he documents his journey to Moscow to try and make a Russian version of the popular sitcom. You can only imagine that hilarity ensues on this journey. It is fun to watch Phil run around Russia because he is very funny in front of the camera. At points throughout the film, Phil finds himself looking at the camera during meetings and you can’t help but to laugh. He faces are just priceless. Phil Rosenthal should be in front of the camera more often.

I hate to admit this but I was never an avid watcher of “Everyone Loves Raymond”, nothing against it just never watched it. After watching this show, I think I will be picking up a few seasons to check out. Besides that the film being really funny, it also shows the serious issues with trying to “export” a hit show to a foreign country. There is a lot of things that go wrong and array in this process and it is interesting seeing how it comes together. You do not need to have watched “Everybody Loves Raymond” to enjoy this film. I got to tell you though I am definitely a fan of Phil Rosenthal now after watching this film.

What I liked most about the extras on this disc is that it actually includes episodes “Everybody Loves Kostya”, the Russian version. That is cool but what is even better is that it also includes the same episodes of “Everybody Loves Raymond” to compare. I think that is a great feature and is worth this Blu-ray to be purchased alone. Of course the disc also includes a commentary with Phil Rosenthal. The deleted scenes are decent and worth a watch but the film was cut well so they aren’t missed. Lastly there is a featurette called “Old Jews Telling Jokes”, including “Restaurant” by Max Rosenthal. Overall great extras on this disc.