The last season of Sons of Anarchy begins tonight on FX (10 pm et/pt), as Jax Teller’s (CharlieHunnam) initial journey to live a life outside the motorcycle club has not been fulfilled. In its stead, Jax has risen to the head of SAMCRO while dispatching most of his enemies in the process. His success, however, has come at a weighty price (spoilers which I refuse to mention in this post).
During the interviews for Pacific Rim, Hunnam talked about why Sons of Anarchy has amassed such a loyal audience.
“For me, in this day and age where it’s kind of a big brother culture and it’s almost like we’re living in a police state – we get told what to do and how to do it every second of the day, these are a bunch of guys doing whatever the hell they want, whenever they want. To hell with the consequences, and I think that’s a real fantasy for people that are so contained by their lives and the society around them.”
To hear the full audio version Charlie Hunnam’s answer, click on the Soundcloud bar below:
Amidst the busied streets of West Hollywood is the oasis known as the Sunset Marquis, and starting Friday, September 12 you can roll up to this tucked away hotel and check out The Roots of Rock and Roll – The Rise and Beginning of Rock and Roll.
Free to the public and located inside the hotel lobby, the Morrison Hotel Gallery will feature photos of such music icons as Elvis, Roy Orbison, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Supremes, Muddy Waters and Duke Ellington. The photographers featured in this show include Morrison Hotel Gallery co-owner Timothy White, Al Satterwhite, Art Shay, Catherine McGann, Charles Trainer, and Curt Gunther.
The exhibit covers the late 1950s through the early 1960s, when many of rock, blues, and jazz icons changed the hearts and minds of a generation. The Roots of Rock and Roll – The Rise and Beginning of Rock and Roll ends Sunday, September 21. For more info on the Morrison Hotel Gallery, please check out their official site.
John Coltrane – Credit: Joe Alper, 1965Roy Orbison-The Odeon Theatre, Stockton on Tees, England 1964 by Ian Wright
John Slatttery’s affection for Pete Dexter’s novel God’s Pocket turned into a creative labor of love which took, in Slattery’s estimates, ten years to bring to the screen, and there’s a bunch of reasons to give this indie flick a shot.
God’s Pocket centers on Mickey Scarpato (Philip Seymour Hoffman), an average Joe living in a blue collar Philadelphia town that’s called “God’s Pocket.” Slattery’s Mad Men co-star Christina Hendricks is Mickey’s wife, a woman with a ton of love in her heart, especially for her ne-er-do-well son Leon (Caleb Landry Jones). When Leon supposedly dies from a construction accident, Mickey hides a few details from his wife, and when a local columnist (Richard Jenkins) comes sniffing around God’s Pocket to investigate Leon’s death, everything gets a bit more complicated.
God’s Pocket (IFC Films)
John Turturro co-stars as Arthur, Mickey’s good buddy and co-conspirator in their two-bit scams and nighttime gambling ventures. Eddie Marsan from Showtime’s Ray Donovan stars as the funeral director who is furious when Mickey can’t pay for Leon’s casket.
One of the biggest predicaments of God’s Pocket comes with Mickey’s attempts to keep Leon’s corpse presentable for the funeral, which eventually leads our protagonist to hiding his stepson’s body in a meat van. Although it’s a situation filled with its share of dark humor, the narrative’s main focus lies in each person’s struggles to survive within this small, somewhat suffocating town. When everyone knows your business, and each street leads to a proverbial dead end, where’s one to go?
Special features on the God’s Pocket Blu-ray includes several deleted scenes (one sequence, which I wish Slattery kept in the flick, further solidifies Leon’s irritable personality) and director’s commentary.
For directing and acting fans, the audio commentary is a must, as Slattery gives a no-nonsense breakdown on the challenges of making God’s Pocket. With over 25 locations to shoot (most of the flick had Yonkers doubling as Philadelphia) and over 40 speaking parts, Slattery, who also co-wrote the adaptation, had his hands full.
One highlight of the commentary has Slattery discussing what actors are really looking for during a scene set-up:
“The best film actors don’t want to know what exactly is going to happen. They want to know the conditions of the scene. They know their lines. They know where they’re supposed to be. They know where they camera is. The rest of it – they want to figure out in the moment.”
Arthur Capezio (John Turturro) and Mickey Scarpato (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in God’s Pocket – (IFC Films, CR: Lance Acord)
Also in the director’s commentary, Slattery talks about casting Christina Hendricks for the role (he realized she’d be perfect for God’s Pocket while directing her during a Mad Men episode):
Christina is one of those actors that there is so much going on emotionally. She has a face too that is so wide open that you can project all kinds of your own thoughts onto. Which is what an audience does, I think.
God’s Pocket – Christina Hendricks as Jeanie Scarpato (IFC Films, CR: Lance Acord)
Slattery, who’s directed several episodes of Mad Men, turns in a solid feature directing debut with God’s Pocket, which was a Grand Jury Prize nominee at the Sundance Film Festival. It tells a specific story (Slattery sets the narrative in 1978) of a guy who realizes that the walls are slowly closing in on him, even when he’s trying to do the right thing.
Without giving too much away, Slattery makes proper use of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” during the story’s third act. Even if Mickey’s having a hard run at finding his sense of direction, Slattery’s storytelling is right on the money.
God’s Pocket, from IFC Films and MPI Media Group, hits Blu-ray and DVD on September 9.
Bandai Namco Games America has released new multiplayer versus battle screenshots to detail the Tenkai Knight fighting technique called Robofusion that’s featured in the Nintendo 3DS title Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle.
With Robofusion, players will engage in a high level of shapeshifting which occurs when Tenkai energy is perfectly in sync to create a robot that is more powerful than any individual robot unit. The Tenkai Knights can enter Robofusion mode with an ally to combine powers and utilize combo attacks to defeat their enemies.
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A screenshot has also been released of the previously announced Limited Edition bundle that features a red metallic Bravenwolf figure that will be sold exclusively at Target stores in the U.S. Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle comes out on the Nintendo 3DS October 7, 2014 and retails at $29.99.
In celebration of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing a digitally restored and 4K mastered Blu-ray on December 2nd. The edition will feature collectible Digibook packaging which contains rare photos and an essay from film historian Jeremy Arnold.
Released in 1939, the Frank Capra directed feature centers on a naive guy (James Stewart) who is called to become a member of the U.S. Senate. Initially hired for his perceived naivete, Mr. Smith wages a one man war with the jaded politicians of Capitol Hill, thus leading to a sea change in political and social consciousness.
Bonus features on this edition include: commentary from Frank Capra Jr., the original theatrical trailer, a rare international trailer which features deleted footage from the movie, and the Ron Howard narrated documentary Frank Capra’s American Dream. Several other featurettes, including “Frank Capra Jr. Remembers…Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” are also featured in this edition.
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Nominated for 11 Oscars, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of James Stewart’s most beloved films (It’s a Wonderful Life was also directed by Frank Capra).
In the Soundcloud bar below, Jim Caviezel (during his When The Game Stand Tall interviews) reflects a memorable moment he had with James Stewart.
It was another predictable weekend at the box office, as Guardians of the Galaxy was the #1 film, followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The biggest surprise is the staying power of smaller profile flicks If I Stay and Let’s Be Cops, two movies that have performed above expectations.
Here’s this weekend’s top 10:
Guardians of the Galaxy – $10.16 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to over $294.5 million.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – $6.5 million
If I Stay – $5.75 million this weekend and it’s a sleeper hit with a total domestic haul of $39.66 million (its production budget was $11 million).
Let’s Be Cops – $5.4 million and it’s a solid hit for Fox with a worldwide gross of $75.9 million.
The November Man – Pierce Brosnan’s return to James Bond territory yields mixed results. $4.2 million this weekend.
As Above/So Below – $3.72 million
When The Game Stands Tall – $3.7 million
The Giver – Jeff Bridges’ lifelong passion project takes in $3.59 million.
The Hundred-Foot Journey – $3.2 million
Lucy – $1.9 million this weekend and one of this year’s biggest hits with a worldwide haul of $313.4 million.
Musician, actor, and American Idol judge Harry Connick Jr. returns as Dr. Clay Haskett in Dolphin Tale 2, a project which continues the journey of Winter, the determined dolphin that’s blessed with a prosthetic tail.
Dolphin Tale 2 was shot in Clearwater, Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida, with a huge chunk of the production taking place at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). “It is a great part of the world,” said Connick Jr. “Being in Clearwater again – I realized how much time I’ve spent here. Other than performing here and doing the film, it seems like a lot of my life has been spent here.”
Connick Jr., who describes Dolphin 2 as the best filming experience he’s ever had, loved reuniting with Dolphin Tale director Charles Martin Smith for the sequel and the chance to collaborate once again with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd. And, of course, there’s the life lessons he’s learned from hanging out with Winter.
“There’s something inspirational about watching a creature that has no mind in the way that we know it. These are the cards that were dealt to her. And what else are you going to do? Life is really like that. As we all know, there are certain things that are just wonderful about life and certain things that are not wonderful. What are you going to do about it? You have to accept things with grace with dignity and move through them. That’s something you’re reminded of – especially Winter. I call it with DWI – deal with it.”
Hope and Winter in Dolphin Tale 2 (Warner Bros. Pictures, CR: Wilson Webb)
To hear the full audio version of Connick Jr.’s answer, click on the Souncloud media bar below:
Bandai Namco Games America Inc. and Slightly Mad Studios have announced that Project Carscomes out November 18 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The Wii U version comes out next year.
Gamers who pre-order Project Cars from participating relatainers will receive instant access to the Modified Car Pack, which features the following vehicles:
Ruf CTR3 SMS-R – A race spec version of the Ruf CTR3 super sports car created by Slightly Mad Studios. The new version contains 750 horsepower and tops out at 330 km/h.
Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster – An open top racer which contains an “extravagant beauty to match its multi-million dollar price tag.”
Ariel Atom 3 Mugen – Gets from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and has a Honda Type R engine. Aesthetics wise, it stands out with its red chassis and white bodywork.
Project Cars Preorder (Bandai Namco Games America, Slightly Mad Studios)Project Cars Xbox One Cover – (Bandai Namco Games America, Slightly Mad Studios)
Cristin Milioti (How I Met Your Mother) and Ben Feldman (Mad Men) play apparently mismatched couples in the upcoming NBC comedy A to Z. The series premiers October 2 (9:30 pm et/pt), but the pilot can currently be viewed on the show’s official page.
Milioti’s chemistry with Josh Radnor led many How I Met Your Mother fans to wonder why Ted and the mom didn’t live happily ever after. For Feldman, his inevitably heartbreaking and memorable run as Michael Ginsberg was anchored by his creative rapport with co-star Elisabeth Moss.
During the A to Zinterviews, I asked Milioti and Feldman if chemistry among actors is simply innate or if it can be worked on through the rehearsal process. Check out the video below for their answer.
A TO Z — Pilot — Pictured: — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, upon first blush, seems like a straightforward story about the highs and lows of a couple’s (Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy) relationship. First time filmmaker Ned Benson has other more ambitious things on his mind, as his movie is actually separated into three different features.
Most movie fans will see the 122 minute theatrical cut The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them starting September 12. If you’re absolutely entranced by Them, you can also check out the flicks Him and Her when they are both released in select theaters October 10. Both Him and Her (and for that matter Them) have different tones and points of view (Her’s concept originated when Chastain wanted a bit more depth to her character, so Benson wrote a new script which devoted more time to Eleanor’s life).
The project also features wonderful supporting work from Ciarán Hinds as Conor’s celebrity restaurateur father, as well as Isabelle Huppert and William Hurt as Eleanor’s parents. Although each actor have their moments in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, their respective roles should deepen in Him and Her.
Chastain, who’s received Oscar nods for her work in Zero Dark Thirty and The Help, may land her third nomination for The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (especially since Weinstein Films know how to mount a high profile awards campaign).
For Jessica Chastain, a huge element of filmmaking is creating a strong bond with the director (she and Eleanor Rigby director Ned Benson have known each other for years, before her star making turns in Tree of Life and The Help).
Click on the Soundcloud bar below as Chastain explains why fighting for movie roles is a gratifying part of her process (she mentions her previous films The Debt and The Help in the clip).
