In How To Train Your Dragon 2, Gerard Butler returns as the voice of Stoick, the Viking leader wants his son Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) to eventually take over the leadership reigns on the island of Berk. The picture has been showered with excellent reviews, proving that the occasional sequel can just be as good as the original.
With Father’s Day upon us, Butler was asked if he’s looking forward to Father’s Day. The ebullient and playfully sarcastic actor was a bit surprised by the question, since fatherhood is still off in the distance.
Check out the media bar below to hear Butler and Craig Ferguson talk about Father’s Day, and the actor also elaborates on the close knit relationship between Stoick and Hiccup.
Now playing nationwide, How To Train Your Dragon 2 also features the voices of Kit Harington, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, and America Ferrera.
The Signal is a sci-fi adventure infused psychological thriller elements, and if Roman Polanski (The Tenant, Chinatown) directed a paranoid driven episode of The Twilight Zone, The Signal’s complex narrative would fit into his aesthetic wheelhouse. Science fiction, at its apex, delivers a journey into the mind and soul. During its most inspired moments, The Signal takes us there.
College kids Nic (Brenton Thwaites), Jonah (Beau Knapp), and Haley (Bates Motel star Olivia Cooke) are the best of friends. With Haley leaving the trio for a year, they understand their drive through the Southwest may be their last Americana trip for a spell. Nic, an avid runner before an injury left his physically disabled, needs his girlfriend more than ever, and Haley’s growing distance isn’t a good sign.
Jonah doesn’t want their travels to end, so he insists they hunt down a computer whiz who has hacked into MIT’s system but, in the process, has exposed a “signal” for the friends to investigate. Their mission ends in near tragedy, as Nic awakens into an unspecified location and at the mercy of the manipulative Dr. Wallace Damon (Laurence Fishburne).
The Signal (Focus Features)
To divulge further plot details may ruin your full enjoyment of The Signal. With a reported $2 million budget, Eubank has crafted a visually inspired and arresting look into Nic’s transformation from a wounded youth to a determined fighter. Carving his teeth as a cinematographer, Eubank knows how to craft beautiful compositions (he cites Ridley and Tony Scott as among his favorite filmmakers), but if The Signal only emitted pretty pictures, the meal wouldn’t satisfy more discerning moviegoers.
Instead, Eubank gives us prime cut steak with our potatoes, sometimes giving us more than we could possibly handle. Want a cat and mouse thriller? Damon and Nic are continually at loggerheads, and when one has the seeming advantage over the other, a new twist enters the mix. If bittersweet coming of age tales are your cup of tea, Nic’s frequent remembrance of things past, when life with Haley was sublime and his running days were ahead of him, are interspersed with Nic’s present day battle with Damon.
Thwaites, Cooke, and Knapp all deliver pinpoint performances as friends who need each other more than they could possibly know, and thanks to a remote signal in the desert, that chain may never be broken. Their shared affections are palpable, and each of them possess a distinct charisma that’s fit for the big screen. If producers ever developed a Rebel Without A Cause remake, filling the James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo, their search should begin (and end) with The Signal’s leads.
Since we’re smack dab in the middle of top notch summer fare, The Signal’s cinematic power may not be fully realized until it hits Blu-ray or your respective streaming devices, and that would be a total shame. Even with its miniscule budget, the film is a feast for the eyes that is blessed with a slam bang ending. Just when you think you’ve got this mystery figured out, everything is turned on its head.
The Signal – Brenton Thwaites & Olivia Cooke (Focus Features)
Eubank, a lifelong devotee of The Twilight Zone, understands that, as writer Don Delillo states in his book Libra, “there is a world inside the world.” For Nic to finally grow up and face his fears of abandonment and overcome his physical impairments, he needs to man up. No matter how fast he runs, the signal only gets stronger. Still, a smattering of hope lingers in the distance. All Nic and his friends can do is fight to live another day, whether it’s in this world or the next.
The Signal – With Brenton Thwaites, Olivia Cooke, Beau Knapp, Laurence Fishburne. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running Time: 97 Minutes. Focus Features
Change is inevitable, and the fourth season of Suits has the seemingly indestructible duo of Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and Harvey (Gabriel) on different sides of the proverbial coin. While Harvey’s still the same high powered lawyer we’ve come to know and love, it’s Rachel (Meghan Markle) who serves as his associate. As for Mike, he’s using his photographic memory these days as an investment banker, and on the season premiere of Suits (June 11, 9/8c), he and Harvey try their best to adjust to their new relationship.
Harvey Specter is one of television’s most memorable characters, and although his motivations aren’t always clear, his razor sharp thinking and charm usually leads to a Specter victory.
During our interview with Macht earlier this year, he talked about playing the subtle facets of Harvey Specter’s persona. Check out the video below, as Macht explains how a director’s “silent suspender” helps reign in his performance as Mr. Specter:
So who’s your favorite character on Suits? Are you team Mike or team Harvey? Personally, I’m kinda pulling for whatever scheme Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) is cooking up. But maybe that’s why my friends are few and far between! Comment below and share your thoughts about Suits – would love to check out a few opinions about the show!
Written and directed by Paul Haggis (Crash, The Next Three Days), Third Person centers on the lives seemingly disparate people struggling and loving their way through Paris, New York, and Rome. Mila Kunis is Julia, a former soap opera actress who, due to her own irresponsible actions, has lost visitation rights to her son. Desperate beyond belief, Julia takes a job as a maid to hold a steady job and prove to her ex-husband (Kunis’ Oz The Great and Powerful co-star James Franco) that she’s carving out a steadier path.
Ambitious in narrative scope, Third Person isn’t an easily digested drama of love and inevitable tragedy. Inspired by some of the more ambiguous, character driven work of the 1970s, Third Person contains a complex storyline that should leave audience members talking (and perhaps arguing) soon after the credits roll.
Paul Haggis, Adrien Brody – Third Person (Sony Pictures Classics)
During this week’s Third Person press conference, Mila Kunis talked about her straightforward approach to acting. “This is purely my take on it,” said the actress, who will also be seen next year in the sci-fi epic Jupiter Ascending with Channing Tatum. “I will live it for those 20 minutes when I’m on set to live it, but it’s called acting for a reason. This is just me…I feel like if I did a good job (and) I’m emotionally drained by the end of the day, I don’t want to keep living it. I want a glass of wine and I want to go to bed.”
Click on the media bar below to hear Mila Kunis talk about her acting method, especially in relation to her work in Third Person:
Co-starring Adrien Brody, Maria Bello, and Liam Neeson, Third Person opens in New York and Los Angeles June 20.
Obvious Child’s storyline centers on Donna Stern (Jenny Slate), a New Yorker who, although she has command of the stage as a stand up comic, fails to find balance or structure in her own life. Her neurosis is understandable, as she’s been dumped by an idiot boyfriend (PaulBriganti) and has a one night stand that leads to her pregnancy.
Directed and written by Gillian Robespierre, Obvious Child has been summarized as a comedy about abortion, and such a pat description undercuts the film’s wonderful mixture of emotional depth and humor. Slate delivers a knockout performance as an artist on the verge of an emotional breakdown, and Jake Lacy (TV’s The Office and the short-lived Better With You) also holds his own as Donna’s patient (and equally funny) love interest Joey.
The film started out as a 2009 short, with Slate serving as the lead. With the assistance over the years with IFP, Rooftop Films, the Tribeca Film Institute, and the San Francisco Society, Robespierre and Slate were able to witness the full blossom of Obvious Child, and 83-minute flick is now playing in Los Angeles and New York (with a wider rollout on June 13 & the following weekend).
Click on the media bar below to hear Slate discuss main difference between her and Donna Stern:
I also asked Slate about the joys of collaborating with husband Dean Fleischer-Camp on the drop dead funny (and cute) short Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (my favorite line: “Guess what I do for adventure? I hang glide on a Dorito”). The short’s success inspired their 2011 children’s book Marcel The Shell: Things About Me. Click on the audio below to hear Slate offer up her thoughts on the internet and Marcel The Shell.
The NBA finals are in full swing with the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs, and EA Sports has just released the first screenshot for NBA Live 15. The photos of Paul George (Indiana Pacers), Tony Parker (Spurs), Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), and Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) are stunningly accurate representations of the players, and this might be the year when the “Live” franchise finally gets its mojo back. Rondo’s dour and pensive look, from where I sit, is absolutely on the money.
I was also impressed with last week’s open letter from NBA Live 15 executive producer Sean O’Brien, who admitted certain flaws of the NBA Live 14 experience: “5-on-5 gameplay didn’t have the depth and polish of an EA SPORTS game and our visuals just weren’t up to expectations for a next-gen title. We’ve been laser-focused on making sure that this isn’t the case with NBA Live 15.”
Check out the impressive video below, which deals with how the NBA players were captured through the use of 12 DSLR cameras:
NBA Live 15 comes out October 7 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
“Gambit” was officially shot in 2012 by director Michael Hoffman (The Last Station, One Fine Day), so it’s a bit of a wonder that it took so long to make its way to Blu-ray. The bad news is Gambit (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 89 minutes, PG-13) has no special features to speak of. But if you’re a Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz fan who’s in the mood for a diverting enough comedic confection, Gambit doesn’t disappoint.
Harry Deane (Firth) is an art curator who’s sick of working for abusive media tycoon (and avid nudist) Lord Lionel Shabandar (Alan Rickman). Although he’s dressed in tailored suits and tries to be as gentlemanly as possible, Harry is a socially awkward fellow whose sense of reality is slightly skewed. With the aid of a longtime colleague (Tom Courtenay) and a straight talking rodeo queen (Cameron Diaz), Harry coordinates an art forgery scheme to bamboozle Lionel. The film is a remake of the 1966 original which featured Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine as the leads.
The picture’s main allure is the screenplay, which was penned by filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen.Their trademark humor, which occasionally centers on the incongruity (and occasional danger) of mismatched relationships, is evident in Gambit, and all of the leads effectively play their roles to the hilt. Diaz, who’s usually front and center in most of her work, lets Rickman and Firth have most of the fun in this comedy of manners romp.
Gambit’s tone resembles the whimsy of the Coens’ previous films The Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty, and if you’re looking for any thematic layers or profundity, you’ve come to the wrong place. At its heart, Gambit is cotton candy comedy – sweet to the taste with a ton of empty calories.
A commentary from Michael Hoffman would have been welcome, but as a lightweight comedy that’s blessed with a brisk running time, Gambit is an engaging enough viewing experience.
During the Los Angeles press conference for How To Train Your Dragon 2, Gerard Butler told reporters that How To Train Your Dragon is one of his favorite films. Thus the actor had high expectations for the sequel, as he returned as the voice of Stoick, the Viking leader father of dragon whisperer Hiccup (Jay Baruchel).
The sequel, to Butler, is even stronger than the original. I think second one is even better,” said the actor. “It pushes the limits and the stakes in so many ways. Animation has come along so much and they’ve made absolutely beautiful use of that to make this a visually exhilarating ride you go on. Yet (the filmmakers) never shied away from bringing up darker issues and really keeping it exciting and emotional. On all those fronts, I’m blown away…I’m very proud to be a part of it.”
Before the press conference ended, Butler talked his upcoming picture Gods of Egypt, a flick that’s directed by talented filmmaker Alex Proyas (I, Robot and Dark City). The actor describes it as a cross between Avatar and The Lord of the Rings. Click on the media bar below to hear Butler talk about Gods of Egypt and Geostorm.
How To Train Your Dragon 2, which also features Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington as the voice of inept dragon trader Eret, opens June 13.
Dwayne Wade may be shooting for his fourth NBA ring during this year’s finals with the San Antonio Spurs, but the Miami Heat shooting guard’s mind is also on his impending marriage to actress Gabrielle Union. During Saturday’s Think Like A Man Too press conference, Union talked about Wade’s balancing act (she affectionately describes him as a “groomzilla”).
“Even though he’s playing in the finals, he still has time to be (groomzilla),” says Union, who also headlines the BET series Being Mary Jane. “As much as people like to think he’s worried about Tony Parker or the air conditioning in San Antonio, he’s worried about centerpieces and the kind of wine we’re having. He’s more of the one who’s that’s really driving the bus.”
Although Think Like A Man Too centers on the gang partying up in Sin City, Kristen’s (Gabrielle Union) primary directive is to start a family with Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara). Unfortunately, her over planning puts a damper on their romantic interludes. “I think the biggest thing overall that we all talk about with relationships in general and friendships is (to) never lose the fun in any relationship,” adds Union.
To hear Union talk about Dwayne Wade’s groomzilla tendencies, click on the media bar below (Regina Hall is also heard in the clip) . Think Like A Man Too, co-starring Kevin Hart and Meagan Good, opens June 20.
Filmmaker/journalist Sebastian Junger and late photojournalist Tim Hetherington were praised for their 2010 feature Restropo, a documentary which centered on American soldiers’ experiences in the Afghanistan’s Korengal valley from 2007-08. Junger’s fidelity to his subject continues after Hetherington’s passing, and although Korengal can be seen as a companion piece to Restrepo, this new doc isn’t just a bunch of extra footage that’s slapped together as an afterthought.
Inspired by Junger’s book War, Korengal gives us a deeper look into the mindset of the men who braved and persevered through that unforgiving terrain. Revisiting as well as giving a different viewpoint on his extensive material was eased by Junger’s continued collaboration with Restrepo editor Michael Levine.
In the following Korengal clip (which contains language some viewers may find offensive), soldier Brendan O’Byrne shares his conflicting views on war:
Sterling Joines on the 240B machine gun during a firefight in Korengal – Photo: Outpost Films
“I feel like we all need to contribute to this nation, in one way or another,” said Junger, who launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund the costs for Korengal. “The soldiers had one way and my contribution was as a journalist. If that contribution helped soldiers and civilians, then I feel like I did my job. Do your duty is a cliche, but we all have a duty in this country of some sort. I have this open ended question to people – ‘What do you think you owe your country?’ It’s a very hard question to answer actually.”
In the audio clip below, Junger breaks down the Kickstarter campaign for Korengal (the film was released May 30 in New York and opens June 13 in Los Angeles).
The sequel, to Butler, is even stronger than the original. I think second one is even better,” said the actor. “It pushes the limits and the stakes in so many ways. Animation has come along so much and they’ve made absolutely beautiful use of that to make this a visually exhilarating ride you go on. Yet (the filmmakers) never shied away from bringing up darker issues and really keeping it exciting and emotional. On all those fronts, I’m blown away…I’m very proud to be a part of it.”
Although Think Like A Man Too centers on the gang partying up in Sin City, Kristen’s (Gabrielle Union) primary directive is to start a family with Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara). Unfortunately, her over planning puts a damper on their romantic interludes. “I think the biggest thing overall that we all talk about with relationships in general and friendships is (to) never lose the fun in any relationship,” adds Union. 
