Archive: October 2009 (51-60 of 472)

Oct 28 2009 08:02 PM ET

John Lennon biopic 'Nowhere Boy': Buzzy, but not Beatles-y

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Categories: British Things, Movie Trailers, The Beatles, This Could Be Interesting...

Can you make a John Lennon biopic without any Beatles songs? Apparently. Sam Taylor Wood’s Nowhere Boy, which focuses on John’s childhood, does just that, and early buzz is that it’s great.

Star Aaron Johnson doesn’t look much like Lennon, but even weirder? The guy playing Paul is the little kid (now all grown up) from Love, Actually. I am so, so very old.

I’ve been an Anne-Marie “Mrs. James McAvoy” Duff fan since her days on Shameless, so even though this trailer doesn’t quite set my soul on fire, I’m holding out hope for the film.

What about you, PopWatchers?

Oct 28 2009 08:00 PM ET

Jonathan Jackson talks about his 'GH' return and his onscreen family

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Categories: Television

We talked to Jonathan Jackson the day after his big return to General Hospital in the role he originated 16 years ago. Read what he has to say about playing the now-adult Lucky, keeping the chemistry going, and his hopes for reconnecting with Genie Francis. READ FULL STORY »

Oct 28 2009 06:24 PM ET

Spike TV's 2009 Scream Awards: star-studded and surreal

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Categories: 100% Pure Cheese, Channel Surfing, Horror, Movies, Skarsgard Your Loins, Star Trek, Taylor Lautner Bicep Watch, Television, The Big Bang Theory, Transformers, True Blood, Twilight, Vampires, Zombies

I don’t know if you caught last night’s 2009 Scream Awards on Spike TV last night. But if you didn’t, then you missed out on one of the strangest parades of Hollywood back-patting ever staged. For those unfamiliar with this new heir to the Oscars and the Golden Globes, the Scream Awards are ostensibly all about celebrating the best in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror on both the big and the small screen. And just to show that the event is even cooler than the MTV Movie Awards, the categories honor such superlatives as Best Horror Movie, Best Villain, and my personal favorite, Most Memorable Mutilation Scene.

Perhaps fittingly, the show kicked off with two little blonde, pigtailed girls standing onstage in little sundresses. A little cute, a little eerie. But eerie won out when one of them pulled out a shiny steel knife and slashed her own throat and arterial spray jetted out of the other one’s neck. Yes, it was going to be that kind of show. The camera cut away to the audience who were all in their teens and twenties dressed in zombie make-up and Pinhead costumes and general goth fetish attire. No seat-fillers or gifting suites needed for this crowd. READ FULL STORY »

Oct 28 2009 04:30 PM ET

'America's Next Top Model': Are we smized about 'blackface'?

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Categories: America's Next Top Model

top-model_lThis lackluster season of Top Model may have finally found a way to get interesting: Race play. According to The CW, on tonight’s episode, “Tyra surprises [the contestants] by transforming them into bi-racial models.” Insert the world’s biggest cringe right here. (That’s Nicole in the photo.)

The CW had nothing further to add when asked about the episode, and a rep for Banks did not respond to requests for comment.

It’s impossible to “transform” someone’s race without setting off some serious blackface alarms, and Top Model has historically been pretty tone-deaf about how problematic and often offensive images like this can be. In cycle 4, the models underwent similar cosmetic racial transformations with nary a mention of how loaded that kind of picture can be.

Do I think Tyra’s setting out to dehumanize anyone, or to ridicule or demean people based on their race or ethnicity? I really, really don’t. But it’s weak and irresponsible to act as if dressing up a white girl so she looks black doesn’t have major cultural baggage.

The real question is, though, will this make you watch tonight’s Top Model, PopWatchers?

Photo credit: Ryan Goble/The CW

Oct 28 2009 04:00 PM ET

Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney: Who'd make the best Frank Sinatra?

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Categories: Casting, Frank Sinatra, Movie Casting, Saturday Night Live, Snap Judgment, This Could Be Interesting...

Back in May, we heard about the Frank Sinatra biopic that Martin Scorsese will be directing with Universal producing. Now mega-stars Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney are rumored (courtesy of UK newspaper The Guardian) to be in contention for the role of Old Blue Eyes. It’s probably important to note here that Clooney’s rep, Stan Rosenfeld, told EW, “I wouldn’t believe anything I read in British papers” — which isn’t exactly a denial — while a Universal rep said the studio had no comment. (Reps for DiCaprio and Depp were not immediately available for comment.)

Fact or fiction, I do kind of love the idea of these actors having a glitzy Hollywood tussle over what will surely be an Oscar-buzz role (and movie). My vote? Johnny Depp. If his take as Captain Jack Sparrow and bank robber John Dillinger proved anything to us, it’s that this man is a chameleon who’d slip into the role of the legendary singer seamlessly.

I know Leo and Scorsese have a rapport, after working on The Aviator, The Departed, and now Shutter Island, but I just don’t see him as Sinatra. His character transformations always seemed a little phony to me and I worry his performance would pull me out of the movie.

As for Clooney, I see him as Hollywood’s perennial nice/funny guy, which to me means quirky comedies like Burn After Reading and the upcoming Men Who Stare at Goats. That said, he’s shown a knack for drama (Syriana, Michael Clayton) and would no doubt look good wearing one of the Chairman’s dark suits with gleaming gold cufflinks.

But if we can go beyond the Depp-DiCaprio-Clooney trifecta, I think the best person for the job would’ve been the late Phil Hartman. His version of Sinatra was one for the books (clip and poll, after the jump). READ FULL STORY »

Oct 28 2009 03:59 PM ET

'Monsters vs. Aliens' Halloween special: Will you watch?

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Categories: Animation, Halloween, Movies, Television

Linus van Pelt does not have to go to bed disappointed on Halloween night anymore. The Great Pumpkins have arrived! (Sort of, if by “Great,” you mean gremlin-like jack o’ lanterns with insatiable cravings for candy.)

Tonight at 8 p.m. on NBC, DreamWorks’ Monsters vs. Aliens heroes battle hungry mutant pumpkins in the monsters’ very first holiday TV special. Yes, aliens play a sinister role, and yes, Susan, B.O.B., Dr. Cockroach and Link have to do the monster-mash to save Modesto, Calif. It’s not in 3-D this time, but it’s still more treat than trick.

Will you be watching? Which monster will you most warmly welcome back? (I have a gelatinous soft-spot for Seth Rogen’s B.O.B.)

Oct 28 2009 03:43 PM ET

'Goode Family' on Comedy Central: Is it better to let recently put-to-sleep shows snooze?

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Categories: Animation, Television, The 'Eh' List

Comedy Central will begin airing all 13 episodes of ABC’s canceled animated series from Mike Judge, The Goode Family, in January, we learned today. The network is also in talks to pick up Fox’s animated high school series from Mitch Hurwitz, Sit Down, Shut Up, which flopped this spring. Insiders deny that Comedy Central plans to revive these series like it did by agreeing to air new episodes of Futurama, but both shows could benefit from airtime on a cable net that more of their target audience is probably already watching — even if the only benefit is increased awareness. Is this really a win for viewers, though? I gave The Goode Family (embedded below) a chance this summer, and I don’t think I’d seek it out again on any channel. With so many new comedy projects never seeing the light of a cathode ray (lame!), is it better to let failed freshman series rest in peace, or do they deserve a second shot?

Oct 28 2009 03:31 PM ET

World Series! So who are you rooting for? Yanks? Phils? 'Glee'?

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Categories: Glee, Sports, Television

rodriguez-glee_lWeather permitting, the World Series begins tonight in New York, pitting the revered Yankees against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. It’s a great baseball matchup (even if you’re a miserable Mets fan who’s genetically programmed to despise both teams), featuring MVP winners like Alex Rodriguez (pictured) and Ryan Howard and the unintentional comedy of Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel, who is a jarring reminder that baseball should end the tradition of coaches wearing uniforms.

But maybe you could care less who wins the Series. Maybe the next week or so is just a rude interruption of your TV time. Sure, MLB and Fox have arranged for the cast of Glee to sing the national anthem before Game 3 in Philadelphia. But I don’t think that’s going to placate fans of the Fox show, who must be rooting for a quick four-game sweep so that their characters can return promptly next Wednesday.

Glee is not the only victim. Fans of Bones, Fringe, and the Sunday night cartoon lineup are out of luck as well. If you’re not a fan of the sport (You commie!), which shows will you be sampling on other stations while I’m second-guessing late-inning pitching changes and taking bets on CC Sabathia’s actual weight?

Photo Credit: Rodriguez: Rob Carr/AP Images; Glee: Carin Baer/Fox

Oct 28 2009 02:54 PM ET

Emma's 'Glee' wedding dress: We found it!

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Categories: Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion, Fall TV, Glee

As the big day approaches, Emma (Jayma Mays) was on the hunt for the perfect wedding gown and on last week’s Glee, and she found a stunning silk number while at the bridal boutique with Will (Matthew Morrison).

Emma wore J. Crew’s silk gazar nanami gown (jcrew.com; $2,995), and can you say perfect? The high neck in the front, the V-neck in the back, the gloves, the headband – absolutely amazing!

What did you guys think of the gown? Did any of you prefer the poofy, shoulder-padded look she sported for her dance lesson with Will instead?

Photo Credit: Fox

Oct 28 2009 02:52 PM ET

Happy National Chocolate Day from Sprinkles (not the cat)

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Categories: Food and Drink, Happy Holidays

Sometimes, when I’m feeling blue-ish brown, I watch YouTube clips of Food Network’s Unwrapped. I love the one embedded after the jump because the guy interviewed, Gary Guittard, says his company calls sprinkles “decoratifs” and then immediately a chyron underneath him says “Chocolate Sprinkle Maker.” In yo’ face, Gary Guittard, said Angela’s cat. Anyway, the invocation of pasta-making and the way the chocolate sprinkles sift through a pair of prop hands like gravel always picks me up and also turns me on a little. Full disclosure: I chose the Unwrapped segment because I couldn’t decide between the Willy Wonka opening credits and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opening credits. Next year, I’ll get over my guilt issues and just make a call. Which TV or film food-porn comes to mind when you hear it’s National Chocolate Day (poll after the jump)? READ FULL STORY »

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