Posted in Movies, Recommendations, Reminder, Television on January 2, 2013| 2 Comments »
On January 6, the international sensation Downton Abbey will be back for an 8-part season three starting at 9 PM on PBS.
The Great War is over and a long-awaited engagement is on, but all is not tranquil at Downton Abbey as wrenching social changes, romantic intrigues and personal crises grip the majestic English country estate.
Here is a trailer for the much anticipated return of this British favorite.
Posted in Movies, Recommendations, Reminder, Television on January 2, 2013| 7 Comments »
The Lifetime movie An Amish Murder will debut on January 6 at 9 PM.
Neve Campbell (Scream and Party of Five) will star in the film that is based on the book “Sworn to Silence” by Linda Castillo that tells the story of a woman who grew up Amish and, after returning to her small hometown as its Chief of Police, must solve a string of horrible murders.
The cast includes Neve’s brother Christian Campbell, Noam Jenkins (Rookie Blue) and C. Thomas Howell (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The Outsiders).
Here is a trailer for An Amish Murder.
Posted in Movies, New Faces, New Shows, Television, Year End Round Up on December 30, 2012| 1 Comment »
Much like the Faces of 2012, there are always entertainers of note to be on the look-out for in the new year. With the help of some online research, here are my predictions for the faces of 2013 (in no particular order):
Meagan Good
1. Meagan Good – Meagan will star in the new NBC drama Deception, which is set to debut on January 7, and appeared in this year’s Think Like a Man box office movie. She has also appeared in episodes of Californication and such films as Biker Boyz, Deliver Us From Eva, Brick, Stomp the Yard and Jumping the Broom.
Chadwick Boseman
2. Chadwick Boseman – Chadwick will star as legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson alongside Harrison Ford in the upcoming box office film 42, but he has also appeared in the TV shows Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown. He also had guest roles in shows like Castle, The Glades, Justified and Fringe.
Yulia Snigir
3. Yulia Snigir – Yulia is a newcomer from Russia who is set to play one of the villains in the upcoming box office film A Good Day to Die Hard alongside Bruce Willis and Jai Courtney (more on him below). Prior to her acting career, Yulia was a model and was crowned a chess master at the age of 15.
John Magaro
4. John Magaro – John will star in the film Not Fade Away, which is the directorial debut of David Chase (the man behind The Sopranos). He has also appeared in the box office films The Brave One, The Box and My Soul to Take as well as a guest role in an episode of Person of Interest. He will also appear in an upcoming film with Tom Hanks called Captain Phillips.
Alice Englert
5. Alice Englert – Newcomer Alice will star as the female lead in the book to film adaptation of Beautiful Creatures (one of the wanna-be Twilight follow-ups) and has also starred in the indie film Ginger & Rosa with Elle Fanning, Christina Hendricks and Annette Benning.
Tom Riley
6. Tom Riley – Tom will star as Leonardo Da Vinci in the new Starz drama Da Vinci’s Demons that is set to debut next year. He also appeared in the TV movie Lost in Austen and episodes of Inspector Lewis and Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
Tatiana Maslany
7. Tatiana Maslany – Tatiana will star in the new BBC America drama Orphan Black, which will premiere next spring. She has also appeared in the TV series Instant Star, Flashpoint, Heartland, Alphas and Being Erica as well as the made-for-TV movies World Without End and The Nativity.
Alden Ehrenreich
8. Alden Ehrenreich – Newcomer Alden will have the male lead role alongside Alice Englert (see her information above) in the book to film adaptation of Beautiful Creatures and he also has a role in the as-yet untitled new Woody Allen film He also appeared in an episode of Supernatural and CSI and the horror flick Twixt.
Sarayu Rao
9. Sarayu Rao – Sarayu will star in the new TNT drama Monday Mornings from David E. Kelly that will debut on February 4. She has appeared in episodes of TV shows like Bones, Life, Hawthorne, Sons of Tucson, Harry’s Law, In Plain Sight and NCIS: Los Angeles as well as a small role in the box office film Lions for Lambs.
Jeremy Jordan
10. Jeremy Jordan – Jeremy will appear as one of the new guys on the NBC musical-drama Smash when it returns on February 5. His background is primarily in theatre, appearing in the Broadway plays Rock of Ages, West Side Story, Newsies and Bonnie & Clyde.
Eleanor Tomlinson
11. Eleanor Tomlinson – Eleanor will star alongside Nicholas Hoult in the upcoming fairytale film Jack the Giant Slayer as the kidnapped princess and she will star in the upcoming BBC One mini-series The White Queen. She also had roles in the box office films The Illusionist and Alice in Wonderland.
Jai Courtney
12. Jai Courtney – Jai will star in two big box office films next year, including A Good Day to Die Hard, as the estranged son of Bruce Willis and I, Frankenstein with Yvonne Strahovski and Aaron Eckhart. He also had a role in the TV series Spartacus: Vengeance and appears in this month’s Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise at the box office.
Adelaide Clemons
13. Adelaide Clemons – Adelaide will star in next year’s The Great Gatsby alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire and appeared in this year’s Silent Hill: Revelation 3D. She also appeared in an episode of Lie to Me and had small roles in the box office film X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the made-for-TV movie The Pacific.
Mads Mikkelsen
14. Mads Mikkelsen – Mads will star as Hannibal Lecter in the new NBC thriller Hannibal next year, but is a well-known actor in Europe. He has starred in the box office films King Arthur, Casino Royale, Clash of the Titans and The Three Musketeers.
Jemima West
15. Jemima West – Jemima will star in the much-buzzed-about book to film adaptation The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones that will be released next year and she had a small role in the TV series The Borgias. She has also appeared in various French TV shows and mini-series.
Theo James
16. Theo James – Theo will be the lead in the new CBS police drama Golden Boy that will debut in February. His other credits include a memorable role in the first season of Downton Abbey (he was Mr. Pamuk who had the one-night stand with Lady Mary that took his life) and he starred in the U.K. series Bedlam. His movie roles include The Inbetweeners Movie, the Woody Allen flick You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and Underworld: Awakening, starring alongside Kate Beckinsale.
Are there any actors or actresses who you think are the faces to watch in 2013? Please share.
TOMORROW: Let’s Close Out 2012
Posted in Movies, New Faces, New Shows, Television, Year End Round Up on December 29, 2012| 2 Comments »
The following list highlights the actors and actresses on television and on the big screen who really caught viewers’ attention throughout this year. They appear in no particular order:
Jenna-Louise Coleman
1. Jenna-Louise Coleman – Jenna is the new companion of Doctor Who on the legendary, long-running sci-fi series, appearing earlier this year in one of the final episodes featuring Amy and Rory, the Doctor most recent companions and who appeared in the Christmas Day episode. Jenna-Louise had roles in the U.K. series Emmerdale, Waterloo Road, Dancing on the Edge and Room at the Top as well as the made-for-TV movie Titanic and the box office film Captain America: The First Avenger.
Douglas Booth
2. Douglas Booth – Douglas appeared in the box office film (that ended up going straight to video) entitled LOL that starred Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore as well as roles in the mini-series The Pillars of the Earth and Great Expectations. He will appear in next year’s film adaptation of Romeo & Juliet alongside Hailee Steinfeld and the 2014 film Noah that will star Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson and Logan Lerman.
Gina Carano
3. Gina Carano – Mixed martial arts expert Gina starred in the box office movie Haywire that came out in January of this year, starring opposite Michael Fassbender, Antonio Bandares, Michael Douglas and Ewan McGregor [among others] and she will be seen in next year’s The Fast and the Furious 6, starring many of the original franchise actors as well as next year’s In the Blood alongside Cam Gigandet and Danny Trejo. She is also one of the first actresses to be cast in the proposed female-based version of The Expendables that is being planned for 2015.
Josh Hutcherson
4. Josh Hutcherson – Josh is no stranger to box office films, but this year he appeared in the book to film adaptation of The Hunger Games as well as the three-years in the making reboot of Red Dawn. Among his other movie roles are Journey to the Center of the Earth and the film’s sequel. He will appear in the third Journey to the Center of the Earth movie set for next year as well as the second film adaptation of The Hunger Games trilogy also set for next year. Among his other film roles are Zathura, Bridge to Terabithia, Firehouse Dog and the critically-acclaimed The Kids are All Right.
Mackenzie Foy
5. Mackenzie Foy – Mackenzie landed the role of one of the most-talked about fictional characters in the young adult genre: Renesmee Carlie Cullen, the daughter of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan in the final Twilight saga movie. She appeared in episodes of Hawaii Five-0, FlashForward and R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour. She has three upcoming projects including the film Plastic Jesus with Hilarie Burton, The Conjuring with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson and Wish You Well with Josh Lucas and Ellen Burstyn.
Suraj Sharma
6. Suraj Sharma – Suraj is a complete newcomer to acting, but he landed one of the most-buzzed-about roles: that of the lead character in the book to film adaptation of the best-selling novel Life of Pi as directed by Ang Lee. You can bet that he will be much in demand now that the film is out.
Zoe Kazan
7. Zoe Kazan – Zoe wrote and starred in the indie film Ruby Sparks earlier this year that received critical acclaim and she has four projects in the works, including In Your Eyes with Nikki Reed and Jennifer Gray, Some Girl(s) with Kristen Bell and Jennifer Morrison, The F Word with Daniel Radcliffe and Amanda Crew and The Pretty One with Jake Johnson and Ron Livingston. Previously she starred in episodes of Bored to Death and Medium as well as roles in the box office films I Hate Valentine’s Day, It’s Complicated and the indie films Me & Orson Welles and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.
Stephen Amell
8. Stephen Amell – Stephen is the hot lead on The CW series Arrow that has taken the 2012-2013 TV season by storm. Among his other TV credits are roles in Queer as Folk, the short-lived Beautiful People, The Vampire Diaries, 90210, Hung, Private Practice and Heartland. He also appeared in the made-for-TV movies The Cutting Edge: Fire & Ice and Justice for Natalee Holloway.
Lara Pulver
9. Lara Pulver — Lara turned heads in her role of Irene Adler in the mini-series Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia. Prior to that Lara appeared in episodes of Robin Hood, MI-5 and True Blood. She will also be seen next year in the new TV series Da Vinci’s Demons.
Jay Ryan
10. Jay Ryan – New Zealand born Jay is the star of the new remake of Beauty And the Beast on The CW alongside Kristin Kreuk; but he got his start in TV shows like Hercules and Xena followed later by the Australian soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in episodes of Sea Patrol, Offspring and Legend of the Seeker. His first big break here in the states came from his small recurring role in the short-lived TV series Terra Nova.
Sutton Foster
11. Sutton Foster – Sutton made a big splash on TV this year in the ABC Family series Bunheads, but she is best known for her work in theatre, appearing in the Broadway play Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes (both of which she won a Tony) and Little Women and Shrek the Musical [among others]. She also appeared in episodes of Flight of the Conchords, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Royal Pains.
Tom Weston-Jones
12. Tom Weston-Jones – Tom got noticed by American viewers thanks to his role in the new BBC America period piece TV series Copper as well as his role in the mini-series World Without End. His other TV credit is the long-running spy series MI-5 (also known as Spooks in the U.K.).
Jessica Pare
13. Jessica Pare – Jessica turned heads as Megan Calvet Draper on the critically acclaimed and award-winning AMC drama Mad Men. Prior to that she had guest roles in episodes of the short-lived series Jack & Bobby and Life and she appeared in the box office films Wicker Park and Hot Tub Time Machine.
Dean Geyer
14. Dean Geyer – Dean is making heads turn as Brody Weston, the new hottie from NYADA that took Rachel’s heart on Glee. Much like the aforementioned Jay Ryan, Dean appeared in the Australian soap opera Neighbours (yes, he’s Aussie) and had a recurring role in the short-lived TV series Terra Nova. He also competed in the 2006 Australian Idol and holds a black belt in karate.
Quvenzhane Wallis
15. Quvenzhané (pronounced Qui-ven-ZHEN-ay) Wallis – Quvenzhané is the young actress catching attention for her riveting debut performance in the independent film Beasts of the Southern Wild that has been receiving rave reviews all year. This impressive youngster will next be seen in next year’s planned box office film Twelve Years a Slave that will star Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Paul Giamatti [among others].
Daniel Lissing
16. Daniel Lissing – Daniel is one of the cast members of the soon-to-be-defunct ABC drama Last Resort where he appears as Navy Seal James King. This Aussie appeared in the down under TV shows Home and Away, Out of the Blue, Packed to the Rafters and Crownies. He will soon appear in the film John Doe alongside Jamie Bamber.
Kara Hayward
17. Kara Hayward – Kara made her acting debut in the much-buzzed-about indie film Moonrise Kingdom, starring alongside the likes of Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton. Her next project will be the teen drama film The Sisterhood of Night that will co-star Georgie Henley (from The Chronicles of Narnia franchise).
Skylar Astin
18. Skylar Astin – Skylar starred in this year’s musical-comedy Pitch Perfect alongside Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson and was one of the voices in the top-rated animated film Wreck-It Ralph. He appeared in the box office film Taking Woodstock as well as episodes of Girls and House. He has two projects coming up: 21 and Over with Miles Teller and Justin Chon and Cavemen with Camilla Belle and Chad Michael Murray.
Who are some of the new faces from this year who caught your attention either on television or in film? Please share.
TOMORROW: New Faces of 2013
Posted in Movies, News on December 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Based on information provided by the Dark Horizons website and internet research, here are just some of the movies you can expect to see in the movie theatres in January.
A Dark Truth
Opens: January 4
Andy Garcia plays an ex-CIA operative -turned political talk show host. He is hired by a corporate whistle blower to expose her company’s cover-up of a massacre in a South American village. The cast includes Kevin Durand, Eva Longoria, Kim Coates, Forest Whitaker and Steven Bauer.
All Superheroes Must Die
Opens: January 4
The film follows four masked avengers – Charge (Jason Trost), Cutthroat (Lucas Till), The Wall (Lee Valmassy) and Shadow (Sophie Merkley) – who find themselves stripped of their powers by their arch-nemesis (James Remar), whom they defeated years earlier…or so they thought. When the sinister mastermind puts the heroes through a series of brutal challenges that are virtually impossible to overcome, they must battle the clock – and even each other – in a race to stop a deadly countdown that could mean total destruction. Will the superheroes prevail, or will they be forced to meet their demise as mere human beings?
Gangster Squad
Opens: January 11
Ryan Gosling and Josh Brolin star in this period piece drama about a pair of Los Angeles cops assigned to take down notorious 1940’s mob kingpin Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). The cast includes Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Frank Grillo and Michael Pena.
Quartet
Opens: January 11
Cissy (Pauline Collins), Wilf (Billy Connolly), and Reg (Tom Courtenay) are all retired members of an operatic quartet, living in Beecham House, a retirement home for gifted musicians, who put on a concert on Giuseppe Verdi’s birthday every year. However, the arrival of the fourth member of the quartet, and Reg’s ex-wife, Jean (Maggie Smith), results in old rivalries and theatrical temperaments and it becomes unclear if the show will or will not go on. The cast includes Michael Gambon.
Stand Up Guys
Opens: January 11
Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin star as retired gangsters who reunite for one epic last night. Val (Al Pacino) is released from prison after serving twenty-eight years for refusing to give up one of his close criminal associates. His best friend Doc (Christopher Walken) is there to pick him up, and the two soon re-team with another old pal, Hirsch (Alan Arkin). Their bond is as strong as ever, and the three reflect on freedom lost and gained, loyalties ebbed and flowed, and days of glory gone by. And despite their age, their capacity for mayhem is still very much alive and well – bullets fly as they make a hilariously valiant effort to compensate for the decades of crime, drugs and sex they’ve missed. But one of the friends is keeping a dangerous secret- he’s been put in an impossible quandary by a former mob boss, and his time to find an acceptable alternative is running out. As the sun rises on the guys’ legendary reunion, their position becomes more and more desperate and they finally confront their past once and for all.
Struck By Lightning
Opens: January 11
High school senior Carson Phillips (Chris Colfer) was destined for bigger things than his close-minded small town could ever offer. He was on a path to greatness, but destiny had a different plan when he was suddenly killed by a bolt of lightning in his school parking lot. Demonstrating that life is what happens while you’re busy planning your future, Carson recounts the last few weeks of his life via witty, insightful flashbacks, including a blackmail scheme targeting the popular kids in school that he concocts with his best friend (Rebel Wilson), and a home life that includes a mother (Allison Janney) who’s more interested in the bottle than her son’s future and an estranged father (Dermot Mulroney) who suddenly appears with a pregnant fiancée (Christina Hendricks).
Broken City
Opens: January 18
Mark Wahlberg plays a New York cop hired by the mayor (Russell Crowe) to find out who has been sleeping with the mayor’s wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Things get a lot more complicated when the cop is double-crossed and then framed by the mayor for an execution style killing carried out to hide the mayor’s dirty secrets. The cast includes Jeffrey Wright and Kyle Chandler.
The Last Stand
Opens: January 18
Sheriff Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a man who has resigned himself to a life of fighting what little crime takes place in the sleepy border town of Sommerton Junction after leaving his LAPD post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with failure and defeat after his partner was crippled. After a spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy, the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the hemisphere is hurtling toward the border at 200 mph in a specially outfitted car with a hostage and a fierce army of gang members. He is headed, it turns out, straight for Summerton Junction, where the whole of U.S. law enforcement will have their last opportunity to make a stand and intercept him before he slips across the border forever. At first reluctant to become involved, and then counted out because of the perceived ineptitude of his small town force, Owens ultimately accepts responsibility for the face off. The cast includes Rodrigo Santoro, Jaimie Alexander, Forest Whitaker, Genesis Rodriguez, Peter Stormare, Johnny Knoxville and Zach Gilford.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Opens: January 25
Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star as the legendary siblings now grown up and gun-wielding witch hunters. Famka Janssen and Peter Stormare co-star.
Parker
Opens: January 25
A professional thief (Jason Statham) teams up with a beautiful novice crook (Jennifer Lopez) to pull off a massive heist in Palm Beach. The cast includes Nick Nolte, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chiklis and Clifton Collins, Jr.
Movies coming out in February will be posted at the end of January.
Enjoy!
Posted in Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The following industry personalities (listed in alphabetical order) passed away in 2012 and heartfelt condolences are extended to their families, friends and fans:
Ian Abercrombie (Legendary British Actor)
Neil Armstrong (Astronaut)
Fontella Bass (Legendary Singer)
Maeve Binchy (Irish Author)
Lucille Bliss (Voice of Smurfette)
Ernest Borgnine (Legendary Actor)
Ray Bradbury (Legendary Author)
Peter Breck (Actor)
Helen Gurley Brown (Cosmopolitan Editor)
Dave Brubeck (Legendary Jazz Pianist and Composer)
Dick Clark (TV Host)
Gary Collins (Actor and TV Host)
Don Cornelius (TV Show, Soul Train)
Richard Dawson (Actor)
Phyllis Diller (Legendary Comedian)
Michael Clarke Duncan (Actor)
Charles Durning (Legendary Character Actor)
Nora Ephron (Director and Writer)
Chad Everett (Actor)
James Farentino (Actor)
Ben Gazzara (Actor)
Robin Gibb (Singer)
Andy Griffith (Legendary Actor)
Larry Hagman (Legendary Actor)
Marvin Hamlisch (Oscar-winning Composer)
Robert Hegyes (Actor, Welcome Back Kotter)
Sherman Hemsley (Actor, The Jeffersons)
Celeste Holm (Legendary Actress)
Whitney Houston (Singer-Actress)
Etta James (Legendary Singer)
Davy Jones (Singer-Actor)
Kathryn Joosten (Character Actress)
Alex Karras (Football Great-Actor)
Jack Klugman (Legendary Actor)
George Lindsay (Actor, The Andy Griffith Show)
Russell Means (Oglala Sioux Activist)
Nolan Miller (Fashion Designer)
Jerry Nelson (Voice of Sesame Street Characters)
Michael O’Hare (Actor)
Lupe Ontiveros (Latino Actress)
Ron Palillo (Actor, Welcome Back Kotter)
Joe Paterno (Disgraced Football Coach)
Deborah Raffin (Actress)
Sally Ride (Former Astronaut)
Jenni Rivera (Latin Singer and TV Star)
Ann Rutherford (Legendary Actress)
Vidal Sassoon (World-Renowned Hair Stylist)
Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf (Military Leader)
Tony Scott (Film Director)
Earl Scruggs (Blue Grass Artist)
Maurice Sendak (Children’s Book Author and Illustrator)
Ravi Shankar (Legendary Sitar Player and Father of Singer Norah Jones)
Robert Sherman (Songwriter)
Donna Summer (Singer)
Gore Vidal (Author)
Mike Wallace (Legendary Newscaster)
Doc Watson (Folk Musician)
Andy Williams (Legendary Singer)
William Windom (Legendary Actor)
Richard Zanuck (Legendary Producer)
NOTE: This list, in no way, covers all the industry talent who passed away this year. Again, condolences are extended to one and all.
Out of respect, please take a moment of silence before proceeding to the next section.
TOMORROW: Ratings
Posted in Awards, Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 26, 2012| 2 Comments »
Just like every other year, a lot of awards are given out this year with some very interesting and some very expected winners. And, while the following isn’t the full list of award winners for the past year (as that would be far TOO long) these are the highlights:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS (January):
Favorite TV Drama Actress: Nina Dobrev
Favorite TV Comedy Actor: Neil Patrick Harris
Favorite Movie Star Under 25: Chloe Grace Moretz
Favorite Book Adaptation: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Favorite Cable TV Drama: Pretty Little Liars
Favorite TV Drama Actor: Nathan Fillion
Favorite TV Crime Drama: Castle
Favorite New TV Drama: Person of Interest
Favorite Movie Actor: Johnny Depp
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show: Supernatural
Favorite Action Movie Star: Hugh Jackman
Favorite Comedic Movie Actress: Emma Stone
Favorite Country Artist: Taylor Swift
CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS (January):
Best Picture: The Artist
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Young Actor/Actress: Thomas Horn, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Best Acting Ensemble: The cast of The Help
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Best Song: “Life’s a Happy Song” from The Muppets
Best Costume Design: The Artist
Best Makeup: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Best Score: The Artist
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (January):
Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: The Artist
Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Jean DuJardin, The Artist
Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
TV Series, Drama: Homeland
TV Series, Comedy: Modern Family
TV Movie or Miniseries: Downton Abbey
Actress in a TV Series, Drama: Claire Danes, Homeland
Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Idris Elba, Luther
Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD (January):
Male Actor, Supporting: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Stunt Ensemble, Motion Picture: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Male Actor, Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Female Actor, Drama Series: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Ensemble, Drama: Boardwalk Empire
Stunt Ensemble, Television Series: Game of Thrones
GRAMMY AWARDS (February):
Album of the Year: 21, Adele
Record of the Year: Rolling in the Deep, Adele
Country Album: Own the Night, Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year: Rolling in the Deep, Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth
Rock Performance: Walk, Foo Fighters
R&B Performance: Is This Love, Corinne Bailey Rae
Country Solo Performance: Mean, Taylor Swift
Country Song: Mean, Taylor Swift
Rock Song: Walk, Foo Fighters
Rock Album: Wasting Light, Foo Fighters
Song Written for Visual Media: “I See the Light” (From Tangled)
BAFTA AWARDS (British Awards) (February):
Best Film: The Artist
Leading Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Leading Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Adapted Screenplay: Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, Bridget O’ Connor & Peter Straughan
Outstanding British Film: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Production Design: Hugo
Special Visual Effects: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2
Makeup & Hair: The Iron Lady
ACADEMY AWARDS (February)
Best Picture: The Artist
Actor in a Leading Role: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Actress in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Actress in a Supporting Role: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Actor in a Supporting Role: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen
Animated Feature Film: Rango
Film Editing: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
RAZZIE AWARDS (February):
Worst Picture: Jack and Jill
Worst Actor: Adam Sandler, Jack and Jill and Just Go With It
Worst Actress: Adam Sander (as “Jill”), Jack and Jill
Worst Screen Ensemble: The entire cast of Jack and Jill
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (April):
Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift
Male Vocalist: Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group: Lady Antebellum
Album of the Year: Four The Record – Miranda Lambert
Single Record of the Year: Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson
Song of the Year: Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band
NEW NOW NEXT AWARDS (April):
Next Mega Star: Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games
Cause Your Hot: Naya Rivera, Glee
TV You Betta Watch: GCB
Best New Indulgence: Revenge
Superfan Site Award: http://www.vampire-diaries.net
Next Must-See Movie: The Avengers
BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS (May):
Artist: Adele
Female Artist: Adele
Billboard 200 Artist: Adele
Hot 100 Artist: Adele
Digital Songs Artist: Adele
Radio Songs Artist: Adele
Digital Media Artist: Adele
Pop Artist: Adele
Country Artist: Lady Antebellum
Rock Artist: Coldplay
Alternative Artist: Coldplay
MTV MUSIC AWARDS (June):
Movie of the Year: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
Best Female Performance: Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games
Best Male Performance: Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games
Best Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton and the entire cast of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
CMT MUSIC AWARDS (June):
Video of the Year: Good Girl, Carrie Underwood
Male Video of the Year: I Don’t Want This Night to End, Luke Bryan
Female Video of the Year: Over You, Miranda Lambert
Group Video of the Year: We Owned the Night, Lady Antebellum
Collaborative Video of the Year: Remind Me, Brad Paisley with Carrie Underwood
CMT Performance of the Year: Tattoos on This Town, Jason Aldean
TONY AWARDS (June):
Best Musical: Once
Best Play: Clybourne Park
Best Performance by an Actress, Musical: Audra McDonald, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Best Revival of a Musical: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Best Revival of a Play: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Original Score: Newsies (Music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Jack Feldman)
Best Performance by an Actor, Play: Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher)
Isabelle Stevenson Award: Bernadette Peters
TEEN CHOICE AWARDS (July):
Choice Movie Actress: Action Zoe Saldana, Colombiana
Choice Movie Sci-Fi/Fantasy: The Hunger Games
Choice Movie Actress Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games
Choice Movie Drama: The Lucky One
Choice Movie Actress Drama: Emma Stone, The Help
Choice TV Show Drama: Pretty Little Liars
Choice TV Actor Drama: Ian Harding, Pretty Little Liars
Choice TV Actress Drama: Lucy Hale, Pretty Little Liars
Choice TV Show Fantasy/Sci-Fi: The Vampire Diaries
Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Ian Somerhalder, The Vampire Diaries
Choice TV Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries
Choice TV Actress Action: Linda Hunt, NCIS: Los Angeles
Choice Summer TV Show: Teen Wolf
Choice Summer TV Star Female: Troian Bellisario, Pretty Little Liars
Choice Summer TV Star Male: Tyler Posey, Teen Wolf
Choice TV Villain: Janel Parrish, Pretty Little Liars
Choice TV Female Scene Stealer: Candice Accola, The Vampire Dairies
Choice TV Male Scene Stealer: Michael Trevino, The Vampire Diaries
SATURN AWARDS (July)
Best Science Fiction Film: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Best Fantasy Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2
Best Horror/Thriller Film: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Best Action/Adventure Film: Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol
Best Supporting Actor: Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes)
Best Supporting Actress: Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau)
Best Music: Michael Giacchino (Super 8)
Best Costume: Alexandra Byrne (Thor)
Best Animated Film: Puss in Boots
Best Network Television Series: Fringe (Fox)
Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series: Breaking Bad (AMC)
Best Youth-Oriented Television Series: Teen Wolf (MTV)
Best Actress on Television: Anna Torv (Fringe)
Best Supporting Actress on Television: Michelle Forbes (The Killing)
Best Guest Star on Television: Tom Skerritt (Leverage)
TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS (July):
Individual Achievement in Drama: Claire Danes, Homeland
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming: Switched at Birth
Outstanding New Program: Homeland
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials: Downton Abbey
Outstanding Achievement in Drama: Breaking Bad
Program of the Year: Game of Thrones
EMMY AWARDS (September)
Drama Series: Homeland
Actress, Drama Series: Claire Danes, Homeland
Actor, Drama Series: Damian Lewis, Homeland
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Miniseries or Movie: Game Change
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Julianne Moore, Game Change
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Berenger, Hatfields & McCoys,
Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Danny Strong, Game Change
CMA AWARDS (November):
Entertainer of the Year: Blake Shelton
Album of the Year: Chief, Eric Church
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
Song of the Year: Over You, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert
Musical Event of the Year: Feel Like a Rock Star, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
New Artist of the Year: Hunter Hayes
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (November):
Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group: Maroon 5
Favorite Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Favorite Country Male Artist: Luke Bryan
Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group: Lady Antebellum
Favorite Country Album: Blown Away, Carrie Underwood
Favorite Alternative Rock Music Artist: Linkin Park
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist: Adele
New Artist of the Year: Carly Rae Jepsen
Congratulations to all of these winners (and the countless others who won awards) over the course of 2012. Are any of your favorites included above? Was there an actress, actor or entertainer who you thought should have received some type of award for their work in television, movies or music who isn’t listed above? Please share your thoughts.
TOMORROW: Condolences
Posted in Movies, Year End Round Up on December 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
For many years now, it was always my goal to see as many movies as possible throughout each calendar year; usually averaging out to about 40 or more movies a year. But as the years have gone by, the cost of seeing a movie has steadily increased, putting up with inconsiderate movie goers who simply cannot turn off their phones or stop talking, it’s almost not worth going to the movies anymore.
That being said – for the first time in years – I have only gone to the movies about a dozen times this year; and sadly, most of the movies I saw were less than pleasurable. But at least there were a few good films this year, including The Lucky One, The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man.
But while I was more than disappointed with the selection at the box office, movie goers did not agree with me especially when you look at the top 25 films according to tickets sales (through approximately December 15) which are as follows:
1. Marvel’s The Avengers – 623 million
2. The Dark Knight Rises – 448 million
3. The Hunger Games – 408 million
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 – 280 million
5. Skyfall – 276 million
6. The Amazing Spider-Man – 262 million
7. Brave – 237 million
8. Ted – 219 million
9. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted – 216 million
10. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – 214 million
11. Men In Black 3 – 179 million
12. Wreck-It-Ralph – 170 million
13. Ice Age: Continental Drift – 161 million
14. Snow White and the Huntsman – 155 million
15. Hotel Transylvania – 144 million
16. 21 Jump Street – 138.4 million
17. Taken 2 – 138.3 million
18. Prometheus – 126.5 million
19. Safe House – 126.2 million
20. The Vow – 125 million
21. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – 123 million
22. Magic Mike – 114 million
23. The Bourne Legacy – 113 million
24. Lincoln – 112.5 million
25. Argo – 106 million
NOTE: There are a few late-December releases that will not be fully referenced in the above list as the box office results for the last two weekends of the year could not be collected before this report needed to be posted.
It should also be noted that the big sleeper hit of the year is a little movie that would normally have been overlooked. Which movie is that, you ask: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The movie starred a multitude of legendary British actors and actresses, earning $134 million worldwide and capturing the hearts of moviegoers all across the world. There are also plans for a sequel and that should make the countless fans of this great little flick very happy.
This was also the year for animated films to perform very well with Brave, Paranorman, Hotel Transylvania, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Rise of the Guardians, Frankenweenie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted and Wreck-It Ralph all doing really well at the box office and attracting a very divergent audience.
Meanwhile, I compiled a list of the movies that were either a disappointment at the box office or simply had horrible-looking trailers (in alphabetical order):
A Cabin in the Woods
A Thousand Words
American Reunion
Casa de mi Padre
Dark Shadows
For A Good Time, Call…
Hit & Run
Killing Them Softly
LOL
Madea’s Witness Protection
Parental Guidance
Project X
Savages
Sinister
Ted
That’s My Boy
The Campaign
The Collection
The Dictator
The Five-Year Engagement
The Guilt Trip
The Three Stooges
The Watch
This is 40
Wanderlust
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
But, if you don’t believe my list, how about the top 10 worst films according to the folks over at Time Magazine:
1. Cloud Atlas
2. John Carter
3. Hyde Park on Hudson
4. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
5. This Means War
6. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
7. Alex Cross
8. What to Expect When You’re Expecting
9. The Odd Life of Timothy Green
10. One for the Money
What movies did you most enjoy seeing this year? Which movies were disappointments to you? Please share your thoughts and comments.
TOMORROW: Music
Posted in Movies, News, Reminder on December 12, 2012| 2 Comments »
On December 16, Christmas Twister is a new movie that will debut on ION at 7 PM.
After a massive, out-of-season swarm of Texas tornadoes levels weather scientist Ethan Walker’s home on Christmas Eve, he must find courage in the face of devastation to help restore his marriage and rescue their missing children.
The cast includes Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Victoria Pratt (Mutant X) and Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives).
Posted in Movies, News, Reminder on December 12, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The Lifetime movie Merry-In-Laws will debut at 9 PM on December 16.
Cheers alums Shelley Long and George Wendt star as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, who are about to meet their future daughter-in-law, a single, uber-intelligent mother and her equally Mensa-type son. Imagine saying “yes” to your boyfriend’s marriage proposal and then finding out that your future in-laws are Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.
The cast also includes Lucas Bryant (Haven).
Rueben's Ramblings 