Life of Pi (2012) - Film Review

Ang Lee's cinematic adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel Life of Pi is a gloriously magnificent work of art. Shot in 3D, the film takes full advantage of the technology to bring to life the colorful world of India and the Pacific Ocean where the film's protagonist, Pi (portrayed by newcomer Suraj Sharma) finds himself trapped after enduring a shipwreck. 

There are several moments in the film where the cinematography greatly enhances the fantasy-like environment Pi finds himself in. The use of vibrant colors throughout the movie creates a dream-like state that wows on many levels. One notable sequence is a scene at night when Pi sees a school of glowing jellyfish in the ocean, as the neon glow of the jellyfish illuminates a large humpback whale that leaps over his head. The scene uses a carefully measured amount of visual effects to allow the viewer's eye to question whether or not the sequence is based in reality or in Pi's imagination. 

Another element that deserves praise is the marvelous Richard Parker, the Bengal Tiger that Pi finds himself stuck with on the lifeboat out at sea. The CGI animal is so intricately designed it looks and feels real, and its ravishing color contrasts the various shades of blue from the sky and sea, generating a visual feast for the eye. 

Suraj Sharma, who makes his acting debut in this movie, gives a splendid performance. The hopes and fears of Pi is brilliantly captured in his acting. Sharma manages to create a character that remains grounded in reality despite the bizarre happenings around him. All in all, Ang Lee has created a masterful work of art in Life of Pi, which is visually pleasing and full of heart.  

The Carrie Diaries (CW) - Television Review

Take a trip back to the 1980's to see how America's beloved fashion icon Carrie Bradshaw first discovered her love for New York City and designer clothes.

AnnaSophia Robb stars as a young Carrie Bradshaw. As a new school year begins, Carrie is forced to take up a larger role in her family's life after the death of her mother. With her previously absent father (Matt Letscher) now trying to be a father, and Carrie's troubled younger sister Dorrit (Stefania Owen) up to no good, she has a lot on her plate. But when Carrie's father offers her an internship at a law firm in New York City, Carrie soon discovers her love for the city and the people there.

The Carrie Diaries was surprisingly one of the best pilots of the season. AnnaSophia Robb is a highlight and absolutely steals the show. The episode itself was cute, heartwarming and fun, and the 80's music fit right in with the show. The only weak point about the show is its supporting cast. With Carrie venturing off to Manhattan and growing up there, it makes her group of friends and love interests at her high school rather irrelevant. And while her two best friends, Mouse (Ellen Wong) and Maggie (Katie Findlay) were dynamic and all sorts of teenage fun, her love interest, Sebastian Kidd (Austin Butler) was boring, generic and easily disposable...especially since you already know who Carrie ends up with in the present day.

It's a light-hearted fun-filled adventure as viewers will have a blast from the past navigating the streets of Manhattan in the 1980's alongside a young Carrie Bradshaw, and AnnaSophia Robb's performance in this series is enough of a reason to tune in.

The Mindy Project (FOX) - Television Review

Minday Kaling stars in FOX's new comedy The Mindy Project, a series that follows a physician navigating her personal and professional lives.

While Mindy Kaling herself was all sorts of lovable, her show on the other hand, was not. Besides a rather hilarious opening scene and another one in a taxi cab, the pilot episode was a bit underwhelming.  The series also stars Chris Messina as Danny Castellano, the good-natured and brutally honest co-worker of Mindy, and Ed Weeks as the charismatic British boy toy Jeremy Reed.

But besides a few funny bits from the first episode, Mindy Kaling has a long way to go to cement herself as leading material in the comedy genre. She certainly does not have as much appeal as, say Zooey Deschanel in New Girl, and with a show that solely rides on her shoulders, The Mindy Project has a lot of retooling that needs to be done.

The New Normal (NBC) - Television Review

Ryan Murphy of Glee, Nip/Tuck and American Horror Story fame does it again with this new comedy on NBC, pushing boundaries and breaking new grounds in this series about a gay couple who wants to have a kid.

The New Normal is easily one of the best comedy pilots I've seen from the batch of new shows this Fall. The show is heartwarming, laugh-out-loud funny, and the ending instantly leaves you wanting more. The cast that has been assembled here is also top-notch. Andrew Rannells and Justin Bartha play Bryan Buckley and David Murray, the gay couple trying to have a baby. Georgia King portrays Goldie Clemmons, a single mother who agrees to help carry the baby for the two men. Rounding out the cast is Goldie's daughter Shania, a hilarious role portrayed by the young Bebe Wood and Ellen Barkin as Jane Forrest, Goldie's conservative and outspoken mother.

The New Normal is not to be missed, and is a step in the right direction for NBC, a network that is known for quality comedy programming.

The New Normal premieres Tuesday September 11 @ 9:30/8:30c on NBC. **Please note that this is only a review of the early version of the pilot** 

Nashville (ABC) - Television Review

ABC joins the scripted singing game with its country music drama series Nashville which hails from the writers of Thelma & Louise.

Connie Britton stars as Rayna James, a country music sensation who finds her career quickly fading away. In hopes to not have her completely lose the profit from her upcoming concert tour, Rayna's producers offer her a deal to co-headline a tour with up-and-coming music artist, Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), who is Taylor Swift if she were a bitch with teeth. Unimpressed with the sloppy songwriting and autotune-heavy vocals of the young singer, Rayna is forced to find ways to keep her career in tact while also dealing with threats from her father, powerful politician Lamar Hampton (Powers Boothe) and the possibility of losing her music partner Deacon (Charles Esten).

I will start off by saying that Nashville isn't nearly as perfect as the reviews have been making it out to be. Due to its rather large ensemble, scene transitions and the pilot episode in general felt a bit bumpy and did not flow as smoothly as I'd hoped it to. That being said, the show has a lot of potential. With strong writing and an even stronger cast, this series could really take off once it finds its foot.

Connie Britton continues to prove that she can do no wrong, and while Hayden Panettiere's character could have easily come off as a one-dimensional mean girl, she is given a storyline in the first episode to redeem her behavior and also open up future storylines along the way. The show creators have created a rich group of characters in the world of country music, and its original songs fit seamlessly into the story. The show does not nearly rely as heavily on musical numbers as Glee or Smash does, which is a good thing.

The only other part that dragged the pilot episode along was the political sub-plot with Rayna's husband Teddy (Eric Close) being lured away by her father Lamar. With the music aspect of the show already filled with a plethora of characters and an abundant amount of potential plots, the sub-plot of having Rayna's husband run for office not only slowed the episode down but also felt a bit unnecessary.

The alphabet network has another compelling new drama series on its hands, and while not nearly as good as Revenge was last season, Nashville most definitely has the potential and will certainly find an audience. And even if you are not a fan of country music, there is still much to like about the show.





 Nashville premieres Wednesday October 10 at 10/9c on ABC. **Please note that this is only a review of the early version of the pilot** 

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - Film Review

In the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises lives up to all its anticipation and finishes off the final installment in a near-perfect way.

After the 2008 movie starring Heath Ledger as the Joker, the expectations were set very high for the follow-up to the mega-blockbuster. While not completely without flaws, Nolan's final movie in his Batman series ends on a very, very high note.

It has been eight years since The Joker terrorized the citizens of Gotham in The Dark Knight, and the city is now in a state of peace. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has since retired and left his alter-ego behind, and James Gordon has since put an end to the once crime-filled city. After a long, dragged-out first 50 minutes of set-up, the film's villain, Bane (Tom Hardy) begins to terrorize the city, leading Wayne to bring back Batman to put an end to the evil that is slowly creeping its way back into Gotham. What follows is 2 hours of apocalyptic-sized storytelling leading to a grand finale too good to spoil. With twists and turns thrown unexpectedly throughout the film, audiences are kept at the edge of their seat as they watch both the people in Gotham, and the city's heroic symbol Batman fighting for their lives.

New additions to the cast include Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, Tom Hardy as Bane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake, and Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate. Hardy is not nearly as delightful of a villain as Ledger was, and while he proves to be a real threat to Batman, the mask covering his mouth made his audio not only annoying to listen to, but also comical at parts. The real standout in the ensemble however, is Anne Hathaway. Hathaway continues to prove that she can do no wrong and I'd be surprised if she doesn't win an Oscar sometime in her career. As the role of Catwoman, Hathaway brings a level of complexity and flare to the character. In one of the earlier scenes in the film, Hathaway impeccably switches from being an innocent maid to the infamous burglar, further showcasing her acting chops.

While some superhero movies simply aim for flashy moments to grab viewers' attention, others manage to capture the audience's heart with its storytelling. In the case of The Dark Knight Rises, Nolan has written a screenplay filled with political undertones that not only gives its fans "superhero" moments of explosions and action sequences, but also a narrative that is endearing. The final act to this Batman trilogy is not to be missed.

Emily Owens M.D. (The CW) - Television Review

Mamie Gummer stars as Emily Owens, a doctor who so desperately wishes to leave her high school past behind to move on to bigger and better things in life....if only it were that easy however.

The new CW medical dramedy explores life in a hospital, and on Emily's first day, she soon realizes that a hospital is actually not very different than high school. In one of the opening scenes, she is told by another fellow intern, Tyra Granger (Kelly McCreary) about the social cliques in a hospital—the mean girls go into plastics, the stoners anesthetics, etc. And low and behold, Emily is also confronted by her high school nemesis, Queen Bee Cassandra Kopelson (Aja Naomi King) who just so happens to be a new intern at the hospital as well.

Mamie Gummer is a wonderful actress, but her attempt to pull off the ditzy cuteness that Rachel Bilson produced in the network's other medical show, Hart of Dixie falls short. Annoying voiceovers plague the episode, with Emily's inner-voice constantly speaking to her and telling her what to do. The pilot was also clogged with three different medical cases, making it not only hard to follow, but also also lacking an emotional pull.

Some fantastic actors, including CW veterans Michael Rady and Justin Hartley also star, but both are underused, with Hartley playing your typical pretty boy, and Rady left with little to nothing to do.

Emily Owens M.D. tries too hard to be the soapy goodness of Grey's Anatomy and the adorable feel-good TV that is Hart of Dixie, and when every character mentions that "the hospital is just like high school" a few too many times, things start to not only feel repetitive, but also unbearable to watch.

Emily Owens M.D. premieres Tuesday October 16th at 9/8c on The CW. **Please note that this is only a preview of the early version of the pilot** 

Beauty & The Beast (The CW) - Television Review

Smallville's Kristin Kreuk is back on the small screen in this modern take on the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast.


Quite possibly the only CW series that is not heavily serialized, Beauty and the Beast is a loose adaptation of the 1980's television series of the same name that aired on CBS. Kristin Kreuk stars as Catharine Chandler, a no-nonsense homicide detective in New York City, and Jay Ryan stars as the not-so-ugly beast Vincent Keller.

The Pilot Episode opens in a bar in a small town. A young Catharine (Kreuk) is closing up the bar, but as she leaves is unable to start the engine of her car. She calls her mother for help, and as her mom is trying to help her start the car, two men pull up and kill Catharine's mom. Catharine flees into the woods, and just as the two men are about to kill her as well, she is rescued by a beast. Ten years later, Catharine is working as a detective in New York City. She's had a string of bad relationships and she breaks up with her latest boyfriend just as she heads in to a homicide case. The case ultimately leads her to Vincent Keller, which reopens the door to Catharine trying to uncover who killed her mother that night. What follows in the remainder of the episode is a paranormal romance amidst a case-of-the-week that is being solved.

The familiarity of seeing Clark Kent's love interest and the sweet girl-next-door back on TV is what makes the Pilot Episode remotely enjoyable. Like Rachel Bilson's return to television last year in Hart of Dixie, fans of Kreuk will be glad to have her back on a weekly basis. However, unlike Dixie, Kreuk is the only redeeming quality about this show. Clogged with poor writing and cliche dialogue, there is nothing here that hasn't been seen before in previous shows. Further, Australian actor Jay Ryan is no male lead material. His acting is subpar at best, with a scene near the end of the episode exposing his acting flaws as he transforms into the "beast" when angered.

What this series also needs to figure out is what they want the "beast" to look like. When Vincent is the beast in the episode, he is either shaded by dark lighting or impaired vision from another character's point-of-view. And when the appearance of the creature is revealed, it is a little underwhelming. Opting to use CG to create the beast rather than to go the route of Buffy and Angel and use make-up, Vincent's beastly appearance is more laughable than frightening.

Other than the ongoing mystery sub-plot regarding the death of Catherine's mom, there isn't much to Beauty and the Beast that makes it worth returning for a second viewing. What the series tried to do was two things: Tell a paranormal romance a la Vampire Diaries, and create a crime procedural like CSI. But poor writing made for both elements to be rather lackluster. My suggestion to the creative team of the show is this—Pick one or the other and perfect it rather than trying to do both.


Beauty and the Beast premieres Thursday, October 11 at 9/8c on The CW. **Please note that this is only a preview of the early version of the pilot** 

The Goodwin Games (FOX) - Television Review

FOX's midseason comedy The Goodwin Games revolves around three siblings—Henry (Scott Foley), Chloe (Becki Newton) and Jimmy (played by Jake Lacy in the Pilot but will now be played by T.J. Miller). After their father passes away, he has left them a $23 million inheritance. Through several VCR tapes left behind for his three children, they are to follow their father's instructions to compete for the money.

The Pilot Episode was more enjoyable than I expected it to be. Becki Newton and Scott Foley both had great comedic timing, and the chemistry between the two was delightful to watch as well. The one weak spot was the youngest brother, Jimmy. An ex-con guitarist who is released from prison in the first episode, Jimmy was the weakest character in the cast. He was neither funny nor was his story with his daughter compelling.

While predictable at certain parts, this was one of the better comedy entries this season. FOX also managed to slip in a American Idol alum's song, Phillip Phillips' debut single "Home" at the end as well. All in all, The Goodwin Games is a fun and funny look at the lives of three adult siblings that falls somewhere in between a family comedy and the older skewing sitcoms like New Girl and Happy Endings.

Coming to FOX in 2013. **Please note that this is only a preview of the early version of the pilot** 

Political Animals (USA) - Television Review

USA Network takes a dive into the world of dirty sexy American politics in the hotly anticipated limited series event, Political Animals.

Starring Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Sigourney Weaver, the series follows Elaine Barrish(Weaver) whose marriage to the philandering former U.S. President Bud Hammond (Ciarán Hinds) comes to an end after 32 years. Two years later, Elaine is working for current President Paul Garcetti (Adrian Pasdar) as the Secretary of State after losing against him in the previous election. With her ex-husband still an impending force in her life, Elaine's family, which also includes poster child Douglas (James Wolk) and reckless screw-up TJ (Sebastian Stan) is further complicated by the ravenous D.C. journalist Susan Berg (Carla Gugino) who is hell-bent on destroying Elaine's reputation and career. 


The pilot episode quickly develops a cast of intriguing characters and provocatively complex storylines set in the backdrop of D.C. politics. Sigourney Weaver is brilliant in the leading role, with her verbal sparring against Gugino's journalist character immensely entertaining to watch on screen. Sebastian Stan is also a major highlight as the openly gay train-wreck younger son of the family. The series is certainly more scandalous and gritty than the lighter more comedic fare USA Network generally offers, but this is a welcome change to their slate of programming, and proof that the network is ready to develop more sophisticated programs to compete with other cable networks like HBO and Showtime. 


A stellar cast, a tangled web of characters, compelling storylines and a cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more, this six-episode Summer series is not to be missed.

Don't miss the series premiere of Political Animals Sunday July 15 at 10/9c on USA Network.

666 Park Avenue (ABC) - Television Review

Evil has a wickedly delicious new home Sundays this Fall on ABC.

Starring Dave Annable ("Brothers and Sisters") and Rachael Taylor ("Charlie's Angels") as a couple who moves into  a apartment complex on Park Avenue and becomes the co-managers of the building, 666 Park Avenue is haunting, alluring, and addictive. The series also stars Terry O'Quinn as Gavin Doran, the building's owner, Vanessa Williams as Olivia, his wife, and Robert Buckley and Mercedes Masohn as a couple who also reside in the place.

The episode opens at a classical music concert in New York City, as O'Quinn's character is sitting with his wife watching a first chair violinist play in the orchestra. As the violinist continues to play, his hands begin to bleed as he presses his fingers against the violin strings. After the concert, the violinist rushes back to his apartment as he rushes to escape. He receives a phone call from Gavin (O'Quinn), in which viewers are let in on the deal that they made—a talentless violinist who asks to become first chair. After trying to escape the building, the violinist is somehow sucked into the wall, disappearing forever...and that is only one of the many victims claimed in the first episode.

The cinematography in the Pilot Episode was spectacular, with eerie lighting and camera movement to create a glossy but dark tone for the show. The episode was also very well-written, with several jaw-dropping moments and a cliffhanger at the end that will certainly leave viewers wanting more. While not much is given away about why the incidents that occur in the Pilot are happening, viewers do get an insight into the lives of the residents who live there, who all seem to have made a deal with the devil for a better, more comfortable life.

666 Park Avenue is dark, scary and seductive and is easily one of the best new shows of the fall season.


Tune in Sundays at 10/9c this Fall on ABC. **Please note that this is only a preview of the early version of the pilot** 

Savages (2012) - Film Review

Oliver Stone brings the gritty, violent and sexual novel by Don Winslow to the big screen with a star studded cast.

In a film that feels more Oliver Stone than any of his latest entries, Savages is an intense thrill-ride that is a pleasing alternative summer flick to the superheroes and family-friendly movies during this season. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek, John Travolta and Benicio Del Toro, the movie centers around three beautiful young people, Ben (Aaron Johnson), Chon (Taylor Kitsch), and O (Blake Lively). Ben and Chon are pot growers who are contacted by a Mexican drug cartel hoping to do business with them, but when they decline their offer, they've angered, Elena (Salma Hayek), the ring leader who then appoints her henchman Lado (Benicio Del Toro) to kidnap the boys' shared girlfriend, O (short for "Ophelia") leading the boys to go to great lengths to save her.


Though the pacing of the film was rather uneven, with some parts a bit slow and other parts leaving you at the edge of your seat, Stone, who also wrote the script, managed to give each of the characters a well-fleshed out story arc. From O's relationship with Elena, to Elena's with her daughter, to Ben and Chon's, etc. 

Salma Hayek absolutely slays as the drug cartel leader Elena, owning every scene she is in and proving to be a major force to be reckoned with. Every line she delivers is done so with such power that it actually makes you believe that so many men can fear a women with such a small physique. Narrating the movie and playing the role of the spoiled drug-addicted California girl, Blake Lively further proves that she is capable of taking on meatier roles than that of her shallow fashion forward socialite character on Gossip Girl. She may be flaunting her curves and golden locks, but the actress also brings a certain depth to her character giving O a backstory that explains why she is the way she is. Aaron Johnson continues to glow as a rising talent in Hollywood, playing the sensitive Buddhist Ben, whose chemistry with Taylor Kitsch's Chon makes for a highly believable friendship. Taylor Kitsch, after two major flops this year, continues to show that he is indeed a versatile actor as well. Another highlight in the cast was Benicio Del Toro, who gives a frightening but spectacular performance as Elena's henchman Lado. 

If you were looking for something other than superheroes, vulgar teddy bears, animation and male strippers, than Savages is the movie for you.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) - Film Review

Andrew Garfield swings and soars as the web-slinging Marvel superhero in this Spider-Man reboot.

Directed by Marc Webb, this re-imagination of the iconic superhero is earnest, fun and full of great performances. The film takes a slightly darker turn than the Tobey Maguire-led franchise, but also manages to insert wit and humor in it along the way. With plenty of stunning 3-D action sequences and a heart-felt love story, this Spider-Man certainly lives up to its title of being "amazing."


Andrew Garfield stars as the nerdy Peter Parker, who after being bitten by a spider develops spidey-senses of his own. He designs his own costume and web-shooters in this version, and also develops feelings for beautiful girl-next-door Gwen Stacy, played by the ever wonderful Emma Stone. The chemistry between the two leads were absolutely perfect, as the two managed to capture every bit of the experience of one's first love, making it both authentic and heart-felt. Further, Stone's Gwen Stacy proves to be a much stronger and less annoying female lead than that of Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane. Gwen Stacy is no damsel in distress, but rather a young woman with a strong moral conscience that compliments her love interest's. 


The one fault in this film however, is its villain. Rhys Ifans portrays Dr. Curt Connors, the lab partner of Parker's father who is in pursuit of a DNA-based cross-species genetic serum. While the Lizard facing off against Spider-Man made for some intense fight sequences, the CGI creature made the action scenes feel more like a video game than a live-action movie. In a film that focused so much on presenting realistic human emotions and characteristics, a more realistic villain would have been a better choice to suit the film's narrative. 


There is no doubt that Garfield was born to play the role of Peter Parker, and he flawlessly captures the very essence of what the young boy and his superhero alter-ego should be. The Amazing Spider-Man is a fun summer superhero flick that is not to be missed, if not for its two leads then for the familiarity of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, who has just proven himself to be worthy of a new franchise. 

Brave (2012) - Film Review

If you had the chance to change your fate...would you? Pixar certainly hopes so, especially after the disappointment that was Cars 2 last summer.

Back in all its animated glory, Pixar Animation Studios returns with a new adventure set in Scotland with a fiery red hair heroin, a first for the studio. Brave, featuring the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Craig Ferguson and Kevin McKidd tells the story of a young princess, Merida (Kelly Macdonald) who possesses a skill in archery and desires to live a tradition-free life where she can go out and explore the world on her own. But preventing her from doing so is her rule-driven mother, Queen Elinor (voiced by Emma Thompson) who does everything she can to prepare her daughter to become a lady as she comes of age to get married. Balancing out the mother-daughter duo is King Fergus (Billy Connolly), whose carefree and playful spirit foils that of the strict and proper demeanor of his wife's. When Merida gets into an argument with her mother, she rides off into the woods where she encounters a witch, in which she is given the ability to change her own fate.

The narrative of Brave reminded me of such previous Disney movies as Brother Bear and Mulan, but while the first two acts seemed to share similar plot points as those two movies, thankfully Pixar was able to do something slightly different in the final act of the movie. Though I won't give away the ending, I must say that while it was satisfying, it was not groundbreaking but rather conventional. With Pixar's track record to deliver fresh and engaging movies with strong characters, I would say that Brave certainly boasts the "engaging" and "strong characters," but not the "fresh."

What can be appreciated is the impeccable animation, from the intricately drawn curls in Merida's hair to the sweeping Scotland landscape, this movie is truly beautiful. But what is absent is the complexity that the audience have come to know and love (and expect) from Pixar movies.

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) - Film Review

Once upon a time in a land called Hollywood, two Snow White movies were released in the same year...but who came out the fairest of them all? The answer, is that it was not the one with the Huntsman.

Kristen Stewart stars as the princess with 'skin as white as snow' in Snow White and the Huntsman, but the real star of the film comes in the form of the deliciously evil queen played impeccably by Charlize Theron.

From the producers of last year's visually stunning Alice in Wonderland, the early promotional spots for Snow White looked fierce and intense. However, the epic battle sequences that were on full display in the trailers was unfortunately not what was packed in the 127 minutes seen on the big screen. Instead, what was seen was a darker take on a familiar tale with unbearably slow pacing. The first half hour of the movie was spent setting up the plot, and a drawn out segment halfway through the movie with the seven dwarves was unnecessary and slow.

Other than Charlize Theron, the cast of the film was rather muddled as well. Kristen Stewart is up to her same, dull Bella Swan acting tricks, showing little to no emotion as she struggled her way through playing the role of a strong heroine. Chris Hemsworth, who plays the Huntsman, delivers a performance that simply feels like a rehash of Thor only with darker hair and a dirtier face. His odd accent amidst a cast of British accents also did not help. British rising star Sam Claflin portrays Prince William, who while talented, was left with barely anything to do. The Seven Dwarves were also nothing special, and it felt like they were only thrown into the mix to stay true to the source material.

What would have been an action-packed and grittier take on the Snow White story failing to meet expectations. As a result, the final product was just a glossy piece of eye candy, with little to no substance to give the film a sustainable presence.

In a summer packed with big blockbuster action flicks, Snow White and the Huntsman was unfortunately not one of them, and as I predicted back in March after watching Mirror Mirror, the Lily Collins starring fairytale flick was much more enjoyable than this adaptation.

Glee - Season 3 Finale - Goodbye

Last night, FOX aired the much buzzed about emotional season finale of the pop culture phenomenon Glee. The finale episode, titled "Goodbye" saw the kids of New Directions bid farewell to the graduating seniors as one chapter of their lives came to an end, and a new one was about to begin. After the finale episode aired, the blogosphere was flooded with negative feedback in regards to the result of how some of the characters' storylines concluded at the end of the hour. While I felt that the episode was rather over-hyped, I actually found the creative decisions of Ryan Murphy to be plausible.

Glee first began as a little show about a group of distinctively unique high school students with a love and passion for music. When the series debuted in 2009, it was very much a show about underdogs. After a rather slow start, the series took off around episode 13 of the first season. Upon entering its second season in 2010, Glee was by then an integral part of the entertainment industry, a factor that the creators of the show took note of and exploited. It did what past shows on television like Cop Rock couldn't do, which was incorporate musical theatre in a television series. In season two, the show that once boasted unique characters and good storytelling was replaced with a giant pop culture glorifying stereo system that was nothing but loud and sometimes even annoying. With Justin Bieber and Britney Spears tribute episodes, and big name guest stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, it was no secret that the show lacked direction in its sophomore year. Season 3 was very much about returning to the basics, with Murphy even promising at the start of the season that there would be no tribute episodes or big guest stars this season. Gone were the Katy Perry and Lady Gaga song covers and in place of them were Broadway showtunes from Tony Award winning musicals such as "West Side Story" and "Anything Goes." In a way, the show tried to return to a more simpler time before it became a hit, but even that did not work. Halfway through the season, in an episode titled "Big Brother," Glee finally seemed to have gotten its groove back. With guest stars returning to enhance and not disrupt the story, and Top 40 songs returning to its repertoire, things were finally starting to improve. It seemed that the writers finally found a way to incorporate pop culture into the show without making it overshadow the characters and narrative of the series.

I must admit that I stopped watching the show after the Season 2 finale, but found myself being drawn back to it again when the Matt Bomer episode "Big Brother" aired. I've always found a strange connection to the series because of my background with music and theatre, and Rachel Berry has always been the one character that I connected with strongly. Rachel may be annoying and a little too full of herself at times, but her talent and ambition to fulfill her dream makes up for her flaws. As much as viewers want to deny it, Rachel is the shining star of Glee, and for me she has been the one part that kept me coming back each week for more. I found myself smiling when she placed that gold star next to her name on the audition sign-up sheet; cheering her on when she belted "Don't Rain On My Parade" at sectionals, and even felt my heart breaking a little for her when she choked at her NYADA audition. She is a girl with a big dream to make it in a competitive industry, and her drive and ambition is hopefully what will help her succeed.

In the finale episode last night, both Finn Hudson (Corey Monteith) and Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) learned that they were not accepted to the colleges that they applied to in New York City. The only person who got into college was Rachel Berry. Rachel was willing to defer her acceptance for a year to help Finn and Kurt get in so that the three of them can go together, but alas Finn decided that the right thing to do was to let her go because he knew that the only thing holding Rachel back from her dreams was him. It was an emotionally invigorating conclusion to the season, and a perfect way to open up the next chapter in these character's lives. Life is not perfect and you can't have it all, and Ryan Murphy did a brilliant job at showing that in the episode.

While Glee may not be the most well-written show on television, there is one thing that I will always enjoy about it (besides the music of course), and that is the message it gives to all the dreamers out there to never give up. While some watch the show for the relational drama between the characters, others do for the musical numbers. But as for me, I watch the show for the inspiration that I receive every time I see Rachel Berry standing in the middle of New York City with her eyes glowing as she realizes that perseverance and hard work will indeed move you towards achieving your dreams.

2012-2013 TV Season - 10 Shows I Look Forward To

Well, the television upfronts have finally concluded with NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC and The CW showcasing their new lineups last week in New York City. With some shockers (Whitney renewed!) and many schedule changes (Revenge moves to Sundays! Supernatural moves to Wednesdays! Smash saved for midseason!) I have now compiled together a list of 10 new TV shows that I am looking forward to. I like that broadcast networks are playing more with the cable format of releasing shows year-round, though this means that I will be doing a lot more waiting for anticipated shows to premiere. 

1. Arrow (Wednesdays at 8pm on The CW)
Home to the long-running Smallville TV series, The CW is back with another action-packed superhero origin story with DC Comics character Green Arrow. Stephen Amell has proven himself to be a talented rising star after stints on The Vampire Diaries, Private Practice and Hung. And with the always lovable Katie Cassidy in the leading lady role in this series, you can count me in for this on Wednesday nights.

2. Beauty and the Beast (Thursdays at 9pm, The CW)
Kristin Kreuk of Smallville fame returns to television in the classic Disney fairytale with a procedural twist. When the series was in its early development stages, I thought that its premise was laughable. However, after reading the script which is very well written, I am not excited for this show to premiere. Lana Lang, crime solving and a modern day fairytale? Sign me up.

3. 666 Park Avenue (Sundays at 10pm, ABC)
My Sunday nights will be spent entirely with ABC Network starting this fall thanks to Revenge being moved to Sundays at 9pm and 666 Park Avenue airing after it. Starring Vanessa Williams, Terry O'Quinn, Robert Buckley and Dave Annable, this top-notch cast and American Horror Story-like premise has me intrigued.

4. The New Normal (Tuesdays at 9:30pm, NBC)
You know I love Broadway, and The Book of Mormon's leading man Andrew Rannells starring in a Ryan Murphy comedy is all I need to know to jump on this boat.

5. The Following (Mondays at 9pm, FOX)
Kevin Williamson created a television series starring Kevin Bacon hunting down a serial killer. Got all of that? Good. I've come to love all the twisted, dark and riveting storytelling Kevin Williamson is oh so good at, and with a show about a serial killer one can only expect more jaw-dropping twists and turns we normally see on The Vampire Diaries. This was one of the most buzzed about pilots this season, and having Kevin Bacon in the leading role certainly helps.

6. Do No Harm (Post-Football Sundays at 10pm, NBC)
Steven Pasquale stars as a Dr. Jenkyll/Mr. Hyde type doctor in this new NBC medical drama. I like the whole dark alter-ego premise and it is a refreshing new idea mixed with the overdone medical procedural format. Therefore, I am willing to give this series a try. Here's to hoping that it won't be a failure like NBC's Awake was this year.

7. Revolution (Mondays at 10pm, NBC)
Yes, I am rather bitter about NBC withholding the second season of musical drama SMASH until midseason, but at least I'll have this J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke international thriller to hold me over until 2013. Set in a dystopian world, the series is about our planet with all sources of energy stripped away from it. This show is either going to be really good or a Terra Nova-like disaster, and hopefully it will be the former and not the latter.

8. Nashville (Wednesdays at 10pm, ABC)
Connie Britton can no wrong and she proves it once again in this music-themed ABC drama series. Hayden Pannettiere also stars as a Taylor Swift-like character. I'm not country music's biggest fan but I am all for soapy drama and original music on TV. Add Eric Close and Jonathan Jackson to the supporting cast and you definitely have me on board ABC.

9. The Carrie Diaries (Midseason on Mondays at 9pm, The CW)
Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage team up again after creating hit teen dramas The O.C. and Gossip Girl, this time taking viewers back to the 80's with a familiar face, Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. A prequel of some sorts, the series is based on the novel by Candace Bushnell and will follow a young Carrie as she discovers her love of New York City for the first time. It looks like a fun and fresh new teen drama that can fill my post-Gossip Girl void after that series comes to an end in December.

10. Last Resort (Thursdays at 8pm, ABC)
The premise looks intense and intriguing, but like Revolution this show can go awfully wrong in the episodes following the pilot, so here's to hoping ABC will do it right by keeping it a 13-episode a season type show rather than dragging it out and making it 22.

The Avengers (2012) - Film Review

The wait is finally over—Summer is finally here as the big superhero blockbuster, The Avengers, assembles and smashes onto the big screen in America.

It has been building up for years now, with multiple Hulk adaptations, two Iron Man movies, and  Thor and Captain America debuting last year. But with the intense buzz building up to what is one of the biggest movies of the year, did The Avengers live up to all its hype? The answer, quite simply, is yes. Directed and written by Joss Whedon, the movie is loud, big, and for lack of better words...EPIC.

Each character is gets their own time to shine throughout the movie's 143 minute duration, and in no way does one outshine the other. The film is very much so an assembling of multiple superheroes teaming up to save the world. Also, where previous films with the characters failed before, Whedon managed to fix up nicely. After two lackluster attempts at bringing The Incredible Hulk to life, once with actor Eric Bana and the other with Edward Norton, it seems that this time Marvel has finally got it right, with Mark Ruffalo as the green giant himself. The Hulk is everything you'd expect him to be, part Jenkyll and Hyde, and part big destructive weapon which the team needed to destroy its enemies. Robert Downey Jr. remains witty, charming, funny and suave as the tech-savvy superhero Iron Man, and even Chris Evans and Hemsworth (as Captain America and Thor respectively) manage to bring something special during their characters' screen-time after lackluster debuts last summer. The expansion of the roles of Hawkeye, played impeccably by Jeremy Renner who is no doubt Hollywood's brightest new action star, and the Black Widow, portrayed by the sexy Scarlett Johansson also worked incredibly well. The two characters were more fleshed out, and also brought forth a more human-level of action to the superhero mix. Hell, even the villain was brilliant. British actor Tom Hiddleston glows as the menacing Loki, the half-brother of Thor, bringing ultimate destruction and chaos to New York City and proving himself to be a worthy competitor to The Avengers.

For those of you who thought that the trailers and TV spots leading up to the film's debut had given away most of the big moments in the film, you can take a deep breathe. There is so much more action-packed sequences that the promotional material did not reveal. The CGI was stunning, and the fight sequences explosive. Clearly The Avengers have set the bar high for the coming superhero films this summer, although both Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises look promising as well.

All you Marvel fanatics and comic book geeks have nothing to fear—The Avengers is everything you'd hoped it would be and much more. But most importantly, it was big, bold, fun, and something that's not to be missed.

Common Law (USA) - Television Review

From the network that brought you such quirky and funny pairings as Neal Caffrey and Peter Burke ("White Collar") and Mike Ross and Harvey Spector ("Suits") comes summer's newest pair—Travis Marks (Michael Ealy) and Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole).

Common Law follows Travis Marks and Wes Mitchell, two detectives who have a major problem...each other. Because they constantly butt heads, they have been sent to couples therapy. While the premise itself sounds both funny and intriguing, the premiere episode of the new series ends up falling into the department of a generic crime-solving procedural. There is no denying that Ealy and Kole have amazing chemistry with each other, and their onscreen characters also compliment each other very well with their different personalities. However, their bickering and disagreements ends up merely being filler dialogue to drag out the 90-minute episode's case which involves a murder victim.

While the show itself has a promising premise, the time the two main characters actually spend in couples therapy is minimal. In fact, the episode opens and closes with them in a session, but the rest of it is spent on solving the crime.


Common Law has the potential to be yet another runaway USA Network hit, but without the witty storytelling of last summer's hit Suits, and the impeccable mix of bantering and case solving of White Collar, the show ends up just being 'another new cop show on TV.'

Common Law premieres Friday May 11 @ 10/9c on USA Network.

The Client List (Lifetime) - Television Review

It's a whole lot of sexy...or at least that's what they want you to believe.

Jennifer Love Hewitt returns to The Client List playing a similar role with a different name. After the success of the 2010 television film, Lifetime revives the movie's concept and turns it into a television series with Jennifer Love Hewitt on board as executive producer as well.

The series follows Riley Parks, whose family is dealing with some financial difficulties leading her to take matters into her own hands by taking a job at a day spa. A mother with a strong moral conscience, Riley initially declines to taking on the spa's "special" clients, who pay a hell of a lot more in tips at each appointment. When Riley's husband disappears however, she is left with a financial debt and mortgage to pay, leading her to reconsider her initial decision.

From the revealing music video to the billboard ads of Jennifer Love Hewitt in lingerie, Lifetime was really trying to sell this show as 'sexy.' But the only thing sexy about the show's premiere episode is its lead actress. There's a whole lot of leg and back rubbing, a few implied handjobs and even a shirtless Colin Egglesfield in one scene, but all that adds up to merely be awkward or uncomfortable in the end. In fact, the "client of the week" who Riley tends to ends up only wanting to talk to her about his personal relationship issues rather than engaging in the risque experience the spa has to offer.

The episode spends a lot of time setting up the premise of the show, but viewers won't really get a sense of what to expect each week. Will there be a "client of the week" format? Or will Riley's moral dilemma be drawn out to span an entire season when it could in reality be accomplished in the span of a 2-hour TV movie?

I'm not quite sure The Client List entirely works as a series, and while the show does boast a talented cast, the actors are merely left with tacky dialogue and mediocre (and predictable) storylines to work with. And for those coming to expect something sexy and edgy, you might want to stick to your HBO or STARZ programming instead.

The Client List premieres Sunday, April 8 at 10/9c on Lifetime.

Mirror Mirror (2012) - Film Review

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? If Hollywood has anything to say about it, it would be new "it" girl Lily Collins.

Collins, daughter of musician Phil Collins stars in the live action adaptation of the popular Grimm fairytale, the first of two Snow White films to grace the big screen this year. Directed by Tarsem Singh, Mirror Mirror is a visual feast. From the colorful and elaborate gowns to the sweeping majestic palace, the film overachieves in providing plenty of eye-candy to look at. It certainly helps to have an attractive cast as well, with Lily Collins as Princess Snow White, Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen and Armie Hammer playing Prince Charming.

Mirror Mirror is essentially told from the perspective of the Evil Queen, played with poise and hilarity by Miss Roberts herself. The comedic tone of the film carries over to the seven dwarves, whose each unique personalities are not identical to the dwarves from the iconic Walt Disney animated film.

Where the film works is its visuals and comedic jokes, but halfway through the film the story seems a bit too ridiculous and drawn out at times. A black magic-induced battle scene takes place at the house of the dwarves as they face off against giant wooden puppets, which are incredibly executed with CGI but lacks a plausible reason to be in the film's narrative. And while some jokes are laugh-out-loud funny, it is not to say that there aren't jokes that misses the mark as well.

Both Armie Hammer and Julia Roberts deliver splendid performances, but all eyes were on up-and-comer Lily Collins, the latest "it" girl in Hollywood. Did Collins prove herself as a credible actress? Certainly. But does she leave a memorable mark on the iconic role? Not quite. Collins certainly is talented and pretty, but she doesn't quite standout in this film. In fact, between Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, the Seven Dwarves and Armie Hammer as the Prince, Collins somehow just gets lost in the mix.

Mirror Mirror was campy fun and pure family entertainment. And for those looking to relive their childhood fantasies by seeing the legend of Snow White come to life, then this may be the escapist fun for you.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - Animated Short Film.

The Fantastic Fly Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

This winner of the Academy Awards' Best Animated Short Film is well deserving of it. And two quotes from it stuck out to me:

“The many varied points of views I have encountered do not confuse, but enrich.”

“If life is enjoyable does it have to make sense?”

This remarkable animated short film is a reminder to us all that we should not only enjoy our lives, but also to take advantage of the vast amount of information out there waiting for us to explore.

15 Films I Look Forward to in 2012

1. The Hunger Games
Directed by Gary Ross
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth

Based on the highly addictive action-packed novel series, Jennifer Lawrence ("X-Men: First Class") brings the fierce main character of Katniss Everdeen to life in this feature film adaptation.



2. Snow White and the Huntsman
Directed by Rupert Sanders
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth

Only one word comes to mind when describing this twisted take on the classic Snow White fairy tale: badass.. Kristen Stewart plays the princess who is being hunted down by a huntsman(Chris Hemsworth, "Thor") who was appointed to do so by the Evil Queen, played so perfectly by Charlie Theron.



3. The Avengers
Directed by Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlet Johansson, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo

It's every comic book nerd's dream, assembling Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America together for this team of superheroes. Whether or not this film will actually deliver in plot has yet to be determined. But one thing that's for certain is that this plenty of epic superhero showdowns that will have you geeking out in the movie theatres.



4. The Amazing Spider-Man
Directed by Marc Webb
Starring: Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone

It was not long ago when Sam Raimi wrapped up neatly his Spider-Man Trilogy. Now, 500 Days of Summer's Marc Webb takes on the iconic web-sling hero, this time with The Social Network's Andrew Garfield, who seems to have waited for this role for a lifetime.



5. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Dominic Cooper

Based on the novel whose author has also spawned books such as "Pride and Prejudice with Zombies", this film gives a new take to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, adding blood-sucking vampires into the mix. Broadway actor Benjamin Walker ("Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson") stars as the president, driven by his mother's death at the hands of vampires, kills vampires on his path to become the U.S. President.



6. Brave
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Starring: Kelly MacDonald

After a lackluster sequel of Cars 2 last summer, Pixar Animations returns with its first ever female lead character, a Princess who defies the rules of her kingdom to make her own path for her life.



7. The Dark Knight Rises
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway

The final chapter in Chris Nolan's Batman trilogy is being hyped up as one of the biggest films of the year. Word has it that some of the midnight showings are sold out already. Here's to hoping that this carbon copy cast of Inception will deliver just like the previous installment did.



8. Django Unchained
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio

Tarantino directs this western about a slave-turned-bounty hunter, who with the help of his mentor, sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Little much else is known about this film but the plot already has me intrigued.



9. The Gangster Squad
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone

If the stellar cast didn't have me hooked already, then I don't know what else will. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone reunite to join Sean Penn in this crime drama set in Los Angeles in the 1940's about the LAPD trying to fight back gang leader Micky Cohen(Penn) who tries to bring his East Coast Mafia to the West Coast.



10. Skyfall
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem

The 23rd Bond film brings Daniel Craig back as the suave and sexy agent, this time facing off against a villain portrayed by Javier Bardem. This film is set to be more emotionally and character driven, but hopefully there will still be plenty of the usual Bond girls and combat action....which is how every Bond film should be.



11. Anna Karenina
Directed by Joe Wright
Starring: Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Johnson

After lackluster stints with Hanna and The Soloist, Joe Wright returns to direct the kind of period dramas that he is critically applauded for. In this adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel, Keira Knightley stars as the title character, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who soon finds herself only being caught up in an even more complicated relationship.



12. The Great Gatsby
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Toby Maguire and Carey Mulligan

The classic novel about social class, romance and the American Dream during the 1920's gets a 3-D makeover as DiCaprio will take on the lead role of Jay Gatsby himself. After the recently remarkable and critically praised use of 3-D in Scorsese's film Hugo, let's hope that the 3-D used in this film will enhance and not disrupt this beautiful tale.



13. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Directed by Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman and Ian McKellen

And just when you thought you'd never see that darn ring again after Frodo got rid of it in The Return of the King, it makes a return in Peter Jackson's two-part adaptation of The Lord of the Rings prequel. The first official trailer proved that this film will boast a lighter tone than the Rings trilogy, but nonetheless I'll take any sort of return to Middle Earth that we can get. And you can also count me in as ecstatic for the return of Ian McKellen as Gandalf.




14. Savages
Directed by Oliver Stone
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson and Blake Lively

Based on the novel about two successful marijuana growers, Ben(Johnson) and Chon(Kitsch), who attract the attention of the Mexican drug cartel. After the drug cartel kidnaps their shared girlfriend(Lively), the two friends must devise a plan to rescue her. You know why I am excited for this film. Gossip Girl's Blake Lively is in it. Need I say more?

15. Les Miserables
Directed by Tom Hooper
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, and Aaron Tveit

Possibly one of the best musicals of all time, Tom Hooper takes on Victor Hugo's classic tale about redemption set in 19th century France. It's the first version of Les Mis told with the songs from the Broadway hit in tact, and I cannot think of anyone better than Hugh Jackman to play the lead role of Jean Valjean. Besides Jackman however, the rest of the cast has me screaming in excitement as well. British rising star Eddie Redmayne and Broadway heartthrob Aaron Tveit also star, along with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen who are perfectly casted as the money-hungry Thénardiers. Oscar potential? I sure think so.

Smash (NBC) - Pilot Review

NBC's new musical drama series Smash proves that there really is no biz like show biz.

The network's advertising campaign for the series reads with the tagline: Stars aren't born, they're made. And in this case, these "stars" are made by the top-notch, award-winning creative team behind the series, with Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg as executive producer and original music composed by Tony Award nominated pair Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. But then again, the show itself isn't lacking in star-power either. Academy Award winner Angelica Huston, Emmy nominated actress Debra Messing, Jack Davenport and American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee are only some of the notable actors in the series. With a team like this, it is no doubt that this series is, well, going to be a smash.

The show follows two composers, Julia Houstin(Messing) and Tom Levitt(Christian Borle) who come with the idea of developing a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. When the pair enlist ambitious Broadway ensemble actress Ivy Lynn(Megan Hilty) to record a demo track for their new vision, the track goes viral and attracts the attention of a producer(Angelica Huston), and a rude but widely talented director(Jack Davenport). But what the director Derek Wills wants is an icon, not "a trooper" as he says. Not entirely convinced that Ivy is the right girl for the part, auditions are then held to find the female lead for the show...which is where Katharine McPhee steps into the picture. McPhee portrays an aspiring actress who is working as a waitress. Her freshness and innocence is what ultimately intrigues Wills, thus giving the production team not one, but two actresses to choose from for the coveted role of Marilyn Monroe.

For those weary of whether or not this series is simply a Glee rehash, fear not—because it isn't. Smash is very much realistic, with the musical numbers implemented in each episode making sense and not simply just having the actors break out into song-and-dance just 'cause they want to. Another differentiation from the FOX phenom is that Smash features original music from Hairspray and more recently Catch Me If You Can composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who dish out two catchy showtunes in the pilot episode.

Smash is a series that chronicles the backstage drama and the road to creating a Broadway show, and while it may seem like a series that only theatre gurus would enjoy, it isn't. As actress Megan Hilty brilliantly states, "I liked ER, but that doesn't mean that I wanted to become a doctor." You may not have any pre-existing theatre knowledge, but that does not mean that Smash won't be your cup of tea. The series is filled with your dose of television breakups, hookups and family dilemmas, with as much and if not more delicious storylines than your favorite primetime soaps.

The pilot of Smash is currently available for free for streaming on the NBC website, as well as for download on iTunes and Amazon for those of you who cannot wait. But for those of you who can, the series debuts February 6th, after the second season premiere of The Voice.

"Smash" airs Mondays at 10/9c on NBC.

The Artist (2012) - Film Review

If there was ever a film that completely sweeps up every award at the Oscars, and entirely deserves it, it would be The Artist.

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the French silent film is in every way, nostalgic and authentic in its artistic creation. Starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo in the lead roles, the film takes place during the 1920's and early 1930's of the Hollywood film industry, documenting the transition from silent films into the era of the talkies.

George Valentin(Jean Dujardin) is a silent film star who is attending the premiere of his latest film, "A Russian Affair" in Hollywood 1927. Following the film's screening, he steps out of the theatre for photos for the press. When a young female fan, Peppy Miller(Bérénice Bejo) accidentally stumbles out into Valentin's spotlight during his photoshoot, she lands herself on the front cover of Variety and instantly becomes the talk of the town. As Peppy continues to garner more attention first with the photo and later with an audition for a film that George Valentin is the star of, their friendship is put to the test when the silent film era comes to a close. As the stock-market crash in 1929 hits, Valentin finds his career coming to an end, while Miller herself becomes the leading lady to the public.

Words cannot even begin to describe how marvelous The Artist is. Jean Dujardin gives a commanding performance in the role of George Valentin, and Bérénice Bejo is equally adorable as she is talented in the role of Peppy Miller. Their onscreen chemistry is impenetrable, and has audiences so emotionally engaged in both of their character's journey throughout the film. Their talent is further proven to be indestructible when the two perform a spectacular tap dance number in the film.

The cinematography and screenplay also helps create the tone of the film, and when being watched in a theatre it makes you forget that you are living in the 21st century. The film transports you back to the days when big budget special effects and 3-D was not necessary in making a movie good or crowd pleasing. The artistic beauty of the film in and of itself is a tribute to the cinematic arts, and a worthy one. Further, the musical score composed by Ludovic Bource entirely corresponds with the narrative of the film and drives the emotional aspect of the film forward.

The Artist is a magnificent work of art that proves that you don't need all of the modern technology used today in many films to create a spectacle. But what it also goes to show is that the art of filmmaking is timeless, and something that was raved about many years ago can still be a hit in the present.

Touch (FOX) - Television Review

24's Kiefer Sutherland returns to television in Tim Kring's new thought-provoking and intriguing FOX drama series Touch.

The series from Heroes creator follows Martin Bohm(Sutherland), a single father whose wife died in the 9/11 attacks and is left alone to raise his 11-year-old son, Jake Bohm(David Mazouz), who is believed to be autistic. The pilot episode opens to Jake sitting on top of an electricity tower as her informs the audience that everyone in this world is in some way, shape or form connected. Obsessed with numbers and somehow unable or unwilling to speak, Jake is sent to an institution after a social worker, Clea Hopkins(Gugu Mbatha-Raw) comes to evaluate and conclude that it is best for Jake to be put in the institute. What unfolds is a string of global events—a man looking for his missing phone; a young woman with aspiring to become a singer; and a young boy faced with an economical family dilemma—that somehow find their way to connect together all through the numbers that Jake writes out.

From the innovative title sequence to the very last minutes of the pilot, extraordinary cinematography is incorporated to tell this story of social connectivity. The pilot is not only well-written, engaging and impeccably executed, but also manages to tug at your emotions, especially with the relationship between the father and son pair.

The series itself seems like a unusual concept for a television series, as one could assume that there is no life that could live beyond the pilot for narrative like this. However, upon finishing the premiere episode I can confidently say that not only will the pilot leave you pondering what will happen next, but it also makes you eager to get the next installment immediately. FOX has a new hit on their hands, one that is not only interesting but also magnetically interesting.

"Touch" premieres Monday, March 19 at 9/8c on FOX.

Oscars 2012 - Who I Want To Win

In light of the 2012 Academy Awards nominations being announced today, I've decided to make a list, not of who I think will win but simply who I want to win. My picks are highlighted in BOLD.

Best Picture

“War Horse”
“The Artist”
“Midnight in Paris”
“Moneyball”
“The Descendants”
“The Tree of Life”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Best Actress

Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis, “The Help”
Rooney Mara, “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn”

Best Actor

Demian Bichir, “A Better Life”
George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Gary Oldman, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”
Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo, “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain, “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer, “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer, “The Help”

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, “My Week With Marilyn”
Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”
Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Nick Nolte, “Warrior”
Max von Sydow, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Alexander Payne, “The Descendants”
Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”
Terrence Malick, “Tree of Life”
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”

Best Original Screenplay

“The Artist”
“Bridesmaids”
“Margin Call”
“Midnight in Paris”
“A Separation”

Best Adapted Screenplay

“The Descendants”
“Hugo”
“The Ides of March”
“Moneyball”
“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”

Best Animated Feature

“A Cat in Paris”
“Chico & Rita”
“Kung Fu Panda 2”
“Puss in Boots”
“Rango”

Best Art Direction

“The Artist”
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“War Horse”

Best Cinematography

“The Artist”
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”

Best Costumes

“Anonymous”
“The Artist”
“Hugo”
“Jane Eyre”
“W.E.”

Film Editing

“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Moneyball”

Make-Up

“Albert Nobbs”
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
“The Iron Lady"

Original Score

“The Adventures of TinTin”
“The Artist”
“Hugo”
“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy:
“War Horse”

Original Song

“Man or Muppet”
“Real in Rio”

Sound Editing

“Drive”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
“War Horse”

Visual effects

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
“Hugo”
“Real Steel”
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”

The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards - My Predictions

The Golden Globes is tomorrow night, so I thought that I would just share my predictions for who I think would (and should) win in the categories below. If it were up to me however, "War Horse" would have received more nominations than it did but hopefully that is what the Oscars will make up for when it announces its nominations in the coming weeks.

MOVIE CATEGORIES

Best Motion Picture -- Drama

"The Descendants"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"The Ides of March"
"Moneyball"
"War Horse"

Best Motion Picture -- Comedy

"50/50"
"The Artist"
"Bridesmaids"
"My Week With Marilyn"
"Midnight in Paris"

Best Actress -- Drama

Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Tilda Swinton, "We Need to Talk About Kevin"

Best Actor -- Drama

George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"
Michael Fassbender, "Shame"
Ryan Gosling, "The Ides of March"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Best Actress -- Comedy

Jodie Foster, "Carnage"
Charlize Theron, "Young Adult"
Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"
Kate Winslet, "Carnage"

Best Actor -- Comedy

Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Brendan Gleeson, "The Guard"
Ryan Gosling, "Crazy Stupid Love"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "50/50"
Owen Wilson, "Midnight in Paris"

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, "My Week With Marilyn"
Albert Brooks, "Drive"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Viggo Mortensen, "A Dangerous Method"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best Director

Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
George Clooney, "The Ides of March"
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"

Best Screenplay

"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"The Ides of March"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Moneyball"

Best Animated Film

"The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn"
"Arthur Christmas"
"Cars 2"
"Puss In Boots"
"Rango"

Best Foreign Language Film

"A Separation" (Iran)
"The Flowers Of War" (China)
"The Kid With The Bike" (Belgium)
"In The Land Of Blood and Honey" (USA)
"The Skin I Live In" (Spain)

Best Original Score

Ludovic Bource, "The Artist"
Abel Korzeniowski, "W.E."
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"
Howard Shore, "Hugo"
John Williams, "War Horse"

Best Original Song

"Hello Hello" by Elton John, "Gnomeo & Juliet"
"Lay Your Head Down" by Sinead O'Connor, "Albert Nobbs"
"The Living Proof," by Mary J. Blige, "The Help"
"The Keeper," by Gerard Butler, "Machine Gun Preacher"
"Masterpiece," by Madonna, "W.E."


TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Best Television Series - Drama

American Horror Story (FX)
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Boss (STARZ)
Game Of Thrones (HBO)
Homeland (SHOWTIME)


Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Claire Danes, "Homeland" (SHOWTIME)
Mireille Enos, "The Killing" (AMC)
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife" (CBS)
Madeleine Stowe, "Revenge" (ABC)
Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness" (USA)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO)
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" (AMC)
Kelsey Grammer, "Boss" (STARZ)
Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias" (SHOWTIME)
Damian Lewis, "Homeland" (SHOWTIME)

Best Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Enlightened (HBO)
Episodes (SHOWTIME)
Glee (FOX)
Modern Family (ABC)
New Girl (FOX)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Laura Dern, "Enlightened" (HBO)
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl" (FOX)
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Laura Linney, "The Big C" (Showtime)
Amy Poehler, "Parks And Recreation" (NBC)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" (NBC)
David Duchovny, "Californication" (SHOWTIME)
Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Thomas Jane, "Hung" (HBO)
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes" (SHOWTIME)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

Cinema Verite (HBO)
Downton Abbey (Masterpiece) (PBS)
The Hour (BBC AMERICA)
Mildred Pierce (HBO)
Too Big To Fail (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Romola Garai, "The Hour" (BBC AMERICA)
Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite" (HBO)
Elizabeth McGovern, "Downton Abbey" (Masterpiece) (PBS)
Emily Watson, "Appropriate Adult" (ITV)
Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce" (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey" (Masterpiece) (PBS)
Idris Elba, "Luther"
William Hurt, "Too Big To Fail" (HBO)
Bill Nighy, "Page Eight" (Masterpiece)
Dominic West, "The Hour" (BBC AMERICA)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story" (FX)
Kelly MacDonald, "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO)
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey" (Masterpiece) (PBS)
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family" (ABC)
Evan Rachel Wood, "Mildred Pierce" (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Peter Dinklage, "Game Of Thrones" (HBO)
Paul Giamatti "Too Big To Fail" (HBO)
Guy Pearce, "Mildred Pierce" (HBO)
Tim Robbins, "Cinema Verite" (HBO)
Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family (ABC)

My Top 5 Movies of 2011

2011 was yet another year filled with many great and entertaining movies, and while there were just as many hits as there were misses, I've narrowed it down to 5 films that I personally thought was my favorite movies of 2011.


5. Friends with Benefits
This romantic comedy starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake pokes fun at the rom-com cliches while also making audience laugh out loud through the hilarious plot that is almost entirely similar, though executed better than No Strings Attached. With a screenplay written by Will Gluck, the same person behind the perfectly hilarious Easy A, and impeccable chemistry between the film's two leads, it was no doubt that this movie is not only highly entertaining, but also worth watching over and over again.


4. The Help
Adapted from the New York times bestselling novel, this movie adaptation stars Emma Stone in a racist-filled community of Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer give powerfully moving performances worthy of an Oscar in their respective roles.


3. X-Men: First Class
In what was the best superhero movie of the year, X-Men: First Class delivers on both storytelling and action. With a stellar cast led by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, this installment breathed new life into the staling X-Men series. Here's to hoping there will be more sequel featuring McAvoy and Fassbender.


2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
The end of another era came in the form of the Harry Potter series coming to an epic end. The final part of the book series movie adaptation not only charted a new milestone in the careers of the film's three leads, but also beautifully wrapped up what is one of the greatest stories ever told.


1. War Horse
Steven Spielberg brings to live the Tony Award-winning play about a boy and his horse during World War I. The film is beautifully shot, wonderfully orchestrated, and is bound to make you cry like a teenage girl thanks to the emotionally invigorating tale and intense bond between a man and his animal.