Film star Heath Ledger died today of an alleged drug overdose. The 28-year-old who recently split with his Brokeback Mountain co-star Michelle Williams, with whom he shared a daughter, was found dead in his NYC apartment this afternoon by his maid, naked and unconscious. While sleeping pills are rumored to be the culprit and foul play has not yet been ruled out (but most likely will be), police are awaiting a formal autopsy before they make an official call.
A bizarre twist on all this: The deputy police commissioner originally cited that the apt. Ledger was found in was owned by none other than troubled former tween queen, Mary-Kate Olsen - no stranger to emotional foibles herself. The commissioner later retracted his comment when Olsen’s publicist went on record denying the twin owned the apartment.
Ledger had been cast as The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie and was already filming The Dark Knight with former Brokeback co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal’s, older sister Maggie. No word on how/if this role will be recast.
I Am Legend is the almost movie of the year. It’s an almost movie because it’s not a bad one, but when you come out of the theater you feel that it could have been so much better. If you are a Will Smith fan, or a groupie of a deadly virus killed everyone but one sole immune survivor genre, then you are all set. Smith is doing a good enough acting job and with an adorable German Shepherd as a sidekick, you can’t really go wrong. The story, based on the book I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, is not so bad either, at least the starting point (again, you gotta love the genre).
Dr. Robert Neville (played by Smith) is the last human survivor in New York City ruins, fighting the infected mutant who come out at night and will kill any living creature, while trying to find a vaccine to their disease. Ten years ago, this might have been a great movie, but today, after movies like 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, or even The Invasion, it’s only almost, borderline mediocre.
Jerry Seinfeld is in the news again. If it’s his new Bee Movie, his wife’s new cooking book, the release of Seinfeld’s season 9 on DVD, or the controversy about promoting Bee Movie at McDonald’s, Jerry is back. And it’s good because no one is funny anymore (with the exception of The Office of course…) Jerry showed us all and especially all those comedian wannabes what distinguish him from others in his speech when he got the first HBO Comedian Award last April.
So, Bee Movie premiers tonight. If you want you can catch it everywhere, on my end I think I’ll just wait for the DVD…
A Ping Pong champ, a father seeking revenge, and a thief in this week’s new movies review.
Balls Of Fury: A has been Ping Pong champ is being recruited to work undercover for the FBI, and to nail his Father’s killer. The cast includes Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, George Lopez and Maggie Q.
Death Sentence: After witnessing his own son being murdered, Nick Hume ( Kevin Bacon,) decides to take justice in to his own hands, so he can revenge his loss and protect his family. Also starring: Aisha Tyler, Stuart Lafferty, Kelly Preston, and the great John Goodman. Ladron Que Roba A Ladron (A Thief That Robs A Thief): Two thieves try to rob a TV infomercial millionaire who made his fortune by selling junk health products to poor people. Starring: Fernando Colunga, Miguel Varoni, JoJo Henrickson, and Julie Gonzalo.
This week’s peak is from what I think is going to be a cool movie: The Good Night. Enjoy the weekend.
A Boxer, an Assassin and one, very funny man in this week’s movie review.
War: Jet Li and Jason Statham star in this action/ Gangster movie about an FBI agent who tries to bring down an assassin who is responsible for a war between two rival gangs.
Resurrecting The Champ: Josh Hartnett and Samuel L. Jackson star in this drama about a straggling sports reporter who encounters a homeless man, and discover he is actually a former boxing champion.
Mr. Bean’s Holiday: I remember that as a child, in a land far far away, Mr. Bean was about the funniest thing alive. That was a long time ago but Rowan Atkinson still makes me lough. And now Mr. Bean is back. This time he goes on a holiday in the French Riviera, and as usual, filled with good intentions, makes the life of the people surrounding him into a living hell.
This week’s peak is from the ne comedy Balls Of Fury
Yesterday marked the premiere of the new Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craig flick, “The Invasion.” The film is based on the cult classic novel, The Body Snatchers, a byproduct of the McCarthy-Communist era in which an alien virus invades Earth and transforms people into non-individualist conformists. While the political focus has shifted (comparisons between Darfur, Iraq are resplendent) since the 50s, the transparency of the film’s underlining political agenda can’t be ignored. Neither can Nicole Kidman’s extensive restructuring of her face. Someone fill me in on why every celebrity needs to plump up their lips beyond the natural proportions of their face?
But in between Nicole Kidman’s Stepford wife enhancements and brain-dead government agents and bureaucrats posing as humans (there’s gotta be irony in that) lies Daniel Craig and hint of a director who knows what he’s doing, which is ultimately what salvages this film from its gloomy fate at the hands of thethose nefarious neophytes.
Where to begin, I guess with a recap of last week’s R&R Triple A Summit in Boulder, CO. It was great spending time with all of my fellow music loving radio folks, label reps and promotions guys and girls. Nothing like being around a bunch of people who share the same passion, drive and enthusiasm for music and spreading its gospel to eager ears around the globe.
I am such a big fan of this conference that I would attend even if I wasn’t in the business. It makes me believe in the power or music and shows me that real radio is alive and well. BIG THANKS to R&R Triple A Editor John Schoenberger, President/Publisher Erica Farber and everyone involved in putting on this wonderful event.
I must admit, I was a bit irked by some of the grumblings I heard about this year’s lineup. Yes, there were no “headline” names so to speak but the quality of the acts that performed spoke for itself and what the convention lacked in “big names” it more than made up for with credible acts putting on memorable performances. And after all, aren’t we the people who make the stars of tomorrow? Aren’t we the ones who give the up and comer a chance and let our listeners hear their music in its infancy? Aren’t we the ones who don’t forget the artists after the rest of the industry has thrown them on the scrap heap even if they are still making incredible music? If you were one of the ones bitching about the lineup, I think you oughta check yourself! Read More…
A runaway trained government agent, an amateur stuntman, and the Bible are all in this week’s new movies.
The Bourne Ultimatum: Matt Damon is back in the third movie in the Jason Bourne series. While being chased by just about every cop, FBI agent, and even the Interpol, Bourne tries to trace back to the beginning in an attempt to find out who he was before he lost his memory. He is passing Moscow, Paris and London to Tangier and New York City in search for the truth.
Hot Rod: SNL’s Andy Samberg is Rod Kimble, an unemployed live-with-mom guy who, for some reason believes he has what it takes to become a great stuntman. When Rod’s abusive stepfather gets sick,he is trying to raise $50,000 for an operation that will cure his stepfather by performing the greatest stunt ever.
The Ten: The ten Commandments in ten overlapping stories, each in a different style. Jessica Alba, Adam Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Robert Corddry and Famke Janssen, in an observation of the most basic human morals. Anyone mentioned blasphemy?This R rated comedy opens only in selected theaters.
This week’s peak is from the new movie Stardust. Enjoy the weekend.
I found this picture on Sport5 website, and I knew I had to put it here. The sign is in reference to David Beckham, and the guy who hold the amazingly resembles Walter Sobchak, John Goodman’s character in The Big Lebowski my all-time favorite. And the writing on the sign has the same attitude, as if he was saying: “This is what happens when you f#$% a stranger in the ass!”
Just a small update: Last night we went to the premiere of The Simpsons Movie. It was awesome. If you are a Simpson fan, this will be the movie of the year for you. If you watch the show occasionally, it will be the best movie you saw lately. If you like Family Guy and South Park but not so much the simpsons, you will still have a great time. If you hate the Simpsons, you are not reading this so I don’t really care… In short, The Simpsons Movie is like one long episode of the show only edgier and even funnier. Oh and yes, Bart shows everything!!! Go watch the movie.
Zachary Quinto who plays Sylar, the ultimate bad guy in one of our favorite TV shoes Heroes, is going to be Mr. Spock in Star Trek XI. The new movie is now in production and will be released in late December 2008. In the Prequel tradition, Star Trek is about the early adventures of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock , and how they met at the Starfleet Academy (A love Story???.) So far, it is unknown who will play the roll of Captain Kirk, but the rumors talk about the British singer Robin Williams. Matt Damon was also mentioned for the part.
Ladies and Gentleman, and children of all ages, let me introduce to you, what is going to be one of the busiest weekends of the year at the box office. In the next few lines you will read about a heroic family, gourmet food, and one princess that won’t make it to the ball this time.
The Simpsons Movie: Since it was announced that there is going to be a Simpsons movie, I wrote so much about it, that other then saying that the plot of the movie is about President Schwarzenegger who wants to destroy Springfield, and about how the Simpsons save their town.
No Reservations: A chef’s life changes when her sister dies and she is left to take care of her niece. Cooking, love, and all the rest of the ingredients needed for a standard love story. Starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart who is known for his memorable roll in Thank You For Smoking.
I Know Who Killed Me: An amazing psychological thriller. No I’m just kidding… Lindsay Lohan plays a girl who wakes up in a hospital, and finds out everybody thinks she is someone else. Due to her recent stupidity, Lindsay will miss the premiere and maybe she should change the name of the movie to I Know Who Killed My Career.
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This week’s peak is from the new Bourne movie: The Bourne Ultimatum. Have a great weekend!!!
I like those weeks when more then one Big movie is opening, and it is hard to predict which of them will win at the box office. In the last couple of weeks it was impossible to watch any talk show, day or night, that did not host a cast member of either Hair Spray or I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry, trying to win our hearts, or at least our pockets.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry- Chuck and Larry (Adam Sandler and Kevin James) are two fireman who pose as a gay couple so they can get some insurance benefits. This movie reminds me a French movie I can’t remember the name of…
Hairspray- John Travolta(in drag) and Nicole Blonski sing and dance in this Musical. Tracy Turnblad dreams about appearing in “The Corny Collins Show,” a famous dance TV show.
Cashback- We actually featured a clip from this movie last week. Ben Willis, a student, uses his imagination to fight the boredom of working an eight hour night shift at the supermarket. I think this might be the refreshing movie of the weekend.
Since we are going to talk a lot about The Simpsons movie next week, today’s peak is from the new Lindsay Lohan movie, I Know Who Killed Me. Enjoy the weekend
We’re all so relieved that Rebecca Romijn has moved on to greener pastures with Jerry O’Connell. Not to kick a man while he’s down, but O’Connell seems much better suited to the former model/actress.
I can’t get Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talking” out of my mind since my husband told me about the film Midnight Cowboy, the first X-rated film to ever win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Of course, the film, released in 1969, would be PG-13 by today’s standards, but still the adult themes are genuine, poignant, and well, very raw. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voigt are at their best in this film as two friends trying to live above the poverty line in New York and barely scraping by on Voigt’s soliciting of himself. Which, speaking of prostitution, there is a performance by veteran actor John McGiver as a gay man Voigt comes into contact with that MUST be the inspiration for Seth McFarlane’s Stewie from “The Family Guy.” The facial expressions, mannerisms, voice, and face are pure, unadulterated Stewie.
One day later than usual, but here are the Movies Of The Week:
Captivity: A scary movie. A couple wakes up only to find out they are being held hostage in a cellar by a serial killer. The plot goes on and they learn about the events that led to their abduction.
Shortcut To Happiness: A writer sells his soul to the devil to become famous, but the he tries to renegotiate the terms in a supernatural trial. Alec Baldwin directed and stars this movie , together with Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Dan Akroid, Kim Cattrall and more.
My Best Friend: I’ve always liked French movies. I also like Daniel Auteuil, who plays an arrogant business man who finds out he has no real friends, and accepts his partner’s bet to prove he has a best friend. He meets a Parisian cab driver who shows him the way to make friends.
And now for the Peak Of The Week…. Oh… I think I forgot something… Oh yeah, the new Harry Potter movie is on. I tried once to watch one of them and fell asleep so i guess i’m not the person to recommend this movie.
Anyway, the peak of the week is from the movie Cashback
Aaron Sorkin, who is still possibly reeling from his fallout of a shell of a show called “Studio 60″ has something to look forward to. Besides hookers and all-night coke binges, that is. He will be teaming up with DreamWorks Pictures and Steven Spielberg to write three films for the production company. All politically charged in nature (we wouldn’t have it any other way), the first one. “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” deals with the ’60s and a trial of protesters at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Spielberg is on board to direct.
Alec Baldwin is teaming up with Anthony Hopkins, Dan Akroyd, Sex & The City alum Kim Cattrall and everyone’s favorite bobble head w/boobs Jennifer Love Hewitt to star in “Shortcut To Happiness.” In previous iterations, the film’s title was “The Devil & Daniel Webster” with Love Hewitt playing of course, the devil (she dyed her hair fecal red just for the part) and Baldwin, assuming the role of the desperate writer willing to do anything, including bedding Love Hewitt (quelle sacrifice), to have a hit. As you can imagine he gets his wish, but Dan Akroyd must suffer greatly for Baldwin’s happiness. Sound contrived enough for you??
Tsk Tsk Alec. We understand Sir Anthony’s uncanny knack for making poor film choices and since JLH, Kim Cattrall, and Dan Akroyd currently don’t have careers to speak of outside of TBS and PAC, we’re trying to figure out how a man at the top of his professional game could sign on to do such a lame project.
Lately, we hear more and more about Jerry Seinfeld. In April it was HBO’s The Comedian Award, Then last month we heard he is promoting his new animated movie Bee Movie, a project he has been working on for four years now and it’s his first big project since Seinfeld ended. due in theaters on November 2ND. And now OK Magazine has chosen his $32 million East Hampton, NY home, as the hottest celebrities summer house. it’s good to hear from Jerry again, after watching the show for so many years, it’s like hearing from an old friend.
Not to be a show off… but… last week’s predictions came true, when the Pixar\Disney Ratatouille opened strong making over $47,000,000 last weekend and leaving Die Hard behind with only $33,000,000 weekend gross. Since Transformers was already released a couple of days ago for the 4th of July, it took some of this weekend’s buzz. But still there are a couple of movies to keep the fire going.
License To Wed: OK, so the critics are killing this movie big time, and I know it’s probably one of those movies that you wait for the DVD, but, every Robin Williams movie is a movie worth watching (excluding RV). A couple decides to get married but before they do, they have to get the approval of Reverend Frank (Williams). Also starring John Krasinski AKA Jim from The Office.
Joshua: A scary movie. The life of a New York family changes when the older kid, Joshua turns bad after a new baby brother is brought in.
Introducing The Dwights: When a guy brings his new girlfriend home, a war starts between her and his mother, played by Brenda Blethyn, who is also known for her amazing role in Saving Grace (TV show Weeds is based on this movie.)
Today’s peak, is from next week’s scary movie Captivity. Enjoy the weekend!!!
I Am Legend is the almost movie of the year. It’s an almost movie because it’s not a bad one, but when you come out of the theater you feel that it could have been so much better. If you are a Will Smith fan, or a groupie of a deadly virus killed everyone but one sole immune survivor genre, then you are all set. Smith is doing a good enough acting job and with an adorable German Shepherd as a sidekick, you can’t really go wrong. The story, based on the book I Am Legend by 
Jerry Seinfeld is in the news again. If it’s his new Bee Movie, his wife’s new cooking book, the release of Seinfeld’s season 9 on DVD, or the 
Yesterday marked the premiere of the new Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craig flick, “
by DJ Scott Register
We’re all so relieved that Rebecca Romijn has 
I can’t get Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talking” out of my mind since my husband told me about the film Midnight Cowboy, the first X-rated film to ever win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Of course, the film, released in 1969, would be PG-13 by today’s standards, but still the adult themes are genuine, poignant, and well, very raw. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voigt are at their best in this film as two friends trying to live above the poverty line in New York and barely scraping by on Voigt’s soliciting of himself. Which, speaking of prostitution, there is a performance by veteran actor John McGiver as a gay man Voigt comes into contact with that MUST be the inspiration for Seth McFarlane’s Stewie from “The Family Guy.” The facial expressions, mannerisms, voice, and face are pure, unadulterated Stewie.
Aaron Sorkin, who is still possibly reeling from his fallout of a shell of a show called “Studio 60″ has something to look forward to. Besides hookers and all-night coke binges, that is. He will be 
Alec Baldwin is teaming up with Anthony Hopkins, Dan Akroyd, Sex & The City alum Kim Cattrall and everyone’s favorite bobble head w/boobs Jennifer Love Hewitt to star in “Shortcut To Happiness.” In previous iterations, the film’s title was “The Devil & Daniel Webster” with Love Hewitt playing of course, the devil (she dyed her hair fecal red just for the part) and Baldwin, assuming the role of the desperate writer willing to do anything, including bedding Love Hewitt (quelle sacrifice), to have a hit. As you can imagine he gets his wish, but Dan Akroyd must suffer greatly for Baldwin’s happiness. Sound contrived enough for you??
License To Wed
Joshua
Introducing The Dwights