Saw 4 movies over a 48-hour period last week.... short synopsis...
Jarhead: Good but nothing particularly earth shattering or new. I'm not sold on Jake Gyllenhaal in such a complex role. Peter Sarsgaard, as always, was very good.
Grade: B
Prime: Like chicken soup, being Jewish will help. Uma Thurman is gorgeous and Meryl Streep hands out the guilt with the best of any Jewish mother.
Grade: B-
Brokeback Mountain: Heath Ledger is a hands-down Oscar nominee in this story of gay cowboys. Director Ang Lee paints a beautiful portait of love in the strangest of situations.
Grade: B+
Match Point: Woody's back. Wish all his movies of the past 5 years could be this good.
Grade: A-
Monday, October 31, 2005
Ball's back in court
If you're a Six Feet Under fan, take note...
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31, 2005 - HBO has concluded an exclusive two-year television deal with "Six Feet Under" creator Alan Ball to develop and produce original programming for the network, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Ball's first project under the agreement will be an hour-long series based on the popular "Southern Vampire" books of Charlaine Harris.
"HBO and Alan Ball are battle-tested, a perfect creative fit," noted Strauss. "His new show promises to be every bit as original and provocative as 'Six Feet Under,' which was a landmark series for the network."
"I'm thrilled to be working with HBO again," said Ball. "I picked up 'Dead Until Dark,' the first book of the 'Southern Vampire' series, on impulse and could not put it down. The same was true of the remaining books. Charlaine Harris has created a rich world filled with unique characters, a world that's as terrifying as it is hilarious, as well as sexy, generous and profound. I'm humbled she put her trust in me and I look forward to bringing her vision to television."
Ball will executive produce the project, as well as write and direct the pilot, with other talent to be announced as it is confirmed. The series will take place in the rural South, at a time when vampires have made their existence known to the world following the Japanese development of synthetic blood.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31, 2005 - HBO has concluded an exclusive two-year television deal with "Six Feet Under" creator Alan Ball to develop and produce original programming for the network, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Ball's first project under the agreement will be an hour-long series based on the popular "Southern Vampire" books of Charlaine Harris.
"HBO and Alan Ball are battle-tested, a perfect creative fit," noted Strauss. "His new show promises to be every bit as original and provocative as 'Six Feet Under,' which was a landmark series for the network."
"I'm thrilled to be working with HBO again," said Ball. "I picked up 'Dead Until Dark,' the first book of the 'Southern Vampire' series, on impulse and could not put it down. The same was true of the remaining books. Charlaine Harris has created a rich world filled with unique characters, a world that's as terrifying as it is hilarious, as well as sexy, generous and profound. I'm humbled she put her trust in me and I look forward to bringing her vision to television."
Ball will executive produce the project, as well as write and direct the pilot, with other talent to be announced as it is confirmed. The series will take place in the rural South, at a time when vampires have made their existence known to the world following the Japanese development of synthetic blood.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
New blood
Nice to see the Astros and the White Sox in the World Series. (Granted, I would've much prefered the Yankees or Angels but it wasn't meant to be).
Don't have a particular rooting interest but I'll probably pull for the 'Stros, with former Yanks Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens on the staff.
Don't have a particular rooting interest but I'll probably pull for the 'Stros, with former Yanks Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens on the staff.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
New Commander in Chief
The TV show, not the president. Creator Rod Lurie was fired by ABC/Touchstone and was replaced by small-screen legend Steven Bochco, who'll hire his own staff to write and direct "Commander."
Word has it that Lurie was late in delivering episodes on time, which cost Touchstone (the TV division of Disney) a lot of extra money. Touchstone didn't want to get in an Aaron Sorkin/"West Wing" scenario, when Sorkin was way over deadline in delivering scripts, costing Warner Bros. big bucks.
Word has it that Lurie was late in delivering episodes on time, which cost Touchstone (the TV division of Disney) a lot of extra money. Touchstone didn't want to get in an Aaron Sorkin/"West Wing" scenario, when Sorkin was way over deadline in delivering scripts, costing Warner Bros. big bucks.
Baseball playoffs
My heart was divided in the Yankees-Angels series but now that the Halos have won, I'll be able to devote my encouragement solely for the Angels.
I don't really have a strong opinion on who'll win the National League series, except that I'll be rooting for the Astros. Me thinks Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa comes off as too smug and seems to believe he's smarter than everyone else. And I'd like to see former Yanks Roger Clemens and Andy Petite back in the Series.
I don't really have a strong opinion on who'll win the National League series, except that I'll be rooting for the Astros. Me thinks Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa comes off as too smug and seems to believe he's smarter than everyone else. And I'd like to see former Yanks Roger Clemens and Andy Petite back in the Series.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Tough choice
Now that my two favorite baseball teams -- Yankees and Angels -- are battling in the first round of the playoffs, I'll root in full force for whoever comes out of that.
If Game 1 is any indication, the Bombers are looking good.
If Game 1 is any indication, the Bombers are looking good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)