Pre-Grammy Celebration Tia Carrere & Hawaiian Night

Last night the Grammy Museum held a celebration for its Hawaiian music nominees including Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho for their collaboration on He Nana. It was nice to see the ukele being played during one of the sets. I wish more bands utilized the instrument.

On the movie front, Carrere is attached to "a biopic about Hawaiian surfing legend Rell Sunn" called Wave Dancer. 

If you appreciate music beyond pop stars check out some of the more obsure genres and you might be pleasantly surprised. 

For a full list of the nominees visit www.grammy.com

The Grammy Awards air on Sunday, January 31st at 8pm.

[Photo Credit: Wilki W.K. Tom]

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What's Up Lovely

What's Up Lovely is part one of Gary King's upcoming Loneliness Trilogy. If the film conveys the same emotion as the trailer then King is on the right track for establishing himself as an emerging director in the indie film scene. The shot composition and music choice already convey a sense of eerie creativity which makes What's Up Lovely one of my most anticipated movies of the year.

The film is currently in post-production. You can follow his DIY journey on his blog.

Official Site: www.whatsuplovely.com

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Soundtrack Worthy: Morgan Grace

Morgan Grace's music would be a great fit for an indie film soundtrack. Her song "You're Gonna Ruin My Life" has the perfect vibe for an all-seems-lost love scene. "Saddest Song Ever" is beautifully somber and "Eyes In The Back of My Head" is short but definitely sweet.

 Here's the music video for "Valentine"

Official Site: www.morgangracemusic.com
Listen Now: www.myspace.com/morgangrace

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Four Lions

UK actor Chris Morris (he played the boss in The IT Crowd) makes his directorial debut with this 'Jihadist comedy' which is getting a lot of buzz at this year's Sundance. It’s about four British would-be suicide bombers who plot a path of destruction. Check out a hilarious clip below.

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Watch Now: Rashida Jones in NY-LON

Did you know that Rashida Jones (Parks & Recreation) and Stephen Moyer from True Blood were in a British TV show together? Thanks to Hulu.com you can watch all seven episodes of the short-lived series NY-LON.

NY-LON follows the troubled romance between a bohemian New York record store clerk, Edie, and London stock broker Michael, after their chance meeting in his city.

Those of you long-time Reel Artsy readers know that Jones is one of my favorites so it's nice to see her in a role where she gets plenty of screen time. Her character is likable and she has good chemistry with Moyer, plus the soundtrack is enjoyable too.

I've embedded the first episode:

Watch the rest at www.hulu.com/ny-lon

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Notable New Releases

Whip It

Missed it in theaters, but have heard great things about Drew Barrymore's directorial debut. Ellen Page is always solid and is has a great supporting cast that includes Daniel Stern, Marcia Gay Harden, Zoe Bell, and Kristen Wiig.

Extras include:

• Deleted Scenes
  
• Fox Movie Channel Presents Writers Draft: Shauna Cross of Whip It

Paris, Texas (Criterion Collection)

Wim Wender's 1984 drifter drama gets the Criterion treatment.


Extras include:

• Commentary
  
• Wim Wenders Interview 
  
• The Road to Paris, Texas 
  
• Claire Denis and Allison Anders Interviews
  
• Cinema cinemas
  
• Deleted Scenes and Super 8 Footage
  
• Galleries
  
• A 46-page illustrated booklet - containing Nick Roddick's essay On the Road Again; interviews with Sam Shepard, Nastassja Kinski, Harry Dean Stanton, and Dean Stockwell; excerpts from the preface to "Written in the West", a collection of photographs which Wim Wenders took in 1983 while location-scouting for Paris, Texas; and technical information about the Blu-ray.
  

[READ MORE...]

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TV Tonight - Life Unexpected

Miss the first episode of Life Unexpected? It's not too late to check out this touching and somewhat quirky story about a foster teen who finds her biological parents. I'm looking forward to how the series unravels, it could go several ways but it definitely has potential. As an avid Roswell fan, it's nice to see Shiri Appleby back in a starring role. And Brittany Robertson is a pleasant addition to The CW.

Forget all the "Juno meets Gilmore Girls" hype and simply enjoy this show for what it is. 

Life Unexpected airs Mondays at 9pm.

[Photo Credit © 2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.]

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Cyrus

The Duplass Brothers, best known for their lo-fi indies The Puffy Chair and Baghead, have broken into the mainstream with their first studio movie with big names. The film is a comedy about a recently divorced depressed guy who meets the woman of his dreams, who he learns lives with her 21 year old son. The film stars John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, Jonah Hill, and Catherine Keener. It just premiered at Sundance 2010.

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I'm Here

Spike Jonze’s new half-hour short film titled I’m Here premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Funded by Absolut Vodka, I’m Here is a robot love story celebrating a life enriched by creativity. The movie is set in contemporary L.A., where life moves at a seemingly regular pace with the exception of a certain amount of robot residents who love among the population. A male robot librarian lives a solitary and methodical life — devoid of creativity, joy and passion - until he meets an adventurous and free spirited female robot. The film stars British actor Andrew Garfield and Sienna Guillory.

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TV Tonight - The Vampire Diaries Returns

If you're in the mood for a little vampire fun make sure to watch the return of the Salvatore brothers on the CW tonight. And if you haven't done so already read my interview with Katerina Graham, who plays the bewitching Bonnie Bennett on the show.

[Photo Credit © 2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.]

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Dandelion

Dandelion showcases beautiful shots of sky and land. If you're familiar with Tim Orr's cinematography then you'll relish in how he evokes a bittersweet mood for this story about teenage love. The soundtrack is the next best ingredient, it fits the wide open scenery quite nicely. The film features a small cast but every character counts. And if you're a fan of Mad Men then you'll see a familar face in Vincent Kartheiser who plays the lead.

Available on Netflix instant play. 

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Notable New Releases

Che (Criterion Collection)
Soderbergh's 4-hour two-part foreign-language epic finally gets a release and it's a great one thanks to Criterion.

Extras include:

• New audio commentaries featuring Jon Lee Anderson, author of Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life
• Deleted Scenes
• Making Che, a new documentary featuring Soderbergh, producer Laura Bickford, actor-producer Benicio del Toro, and writers Peter Buchman and Ben van der Veen
• Interviews with participants in and historians of the Cuban Revolution and Che’s Bolivian campaign
• End of a Revolution, a documentary made in Bolivia right after Che’s execution in 1967
• Che and the Digital Cinema Revolution, an original video piece looking at the RED camera and its effect on modern film production
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Amy Taubin

The Invention of Lying
Ricky Gervais not only stars but co-wrote/directed this quirky comedy which has an amazing cast. Can't wait to check it out.

Extras include:

• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel
• Prequel: The Dawn of Lying
• Meet Karl Pilkington
• A Truly Honest Making-of Featurette
• Ricky and Matt's Video Podcasts

[READ MORE...]

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A Dash of Stacey

When you think of Stacey Dash, you likely remember her role as Dionne in the teenage comedy, Clueless. But a second thing to clue into is her youthfulness. ‘How does this gorgeous gal still genuinely look like she’s in her 20s, when she’s approaching 43?’

Well, that’s exactly the question I asked her when I spoke to her on the phone last week. She says that her secret to keeping her radiance is to truly focus on being happy. Along with the known preventative measures like eating healthy, exercising, not smoking, drinking lots of water, and using sunscreen, Dash says that happiness is the core for remaining youthful and vibrant. “Being centered is also key for me,” she says.

“I pray to remain centered. I’m a Catholic Christian, and when I pray I feel like I’m close to God,” she says. Her faith helps her to maintain balance. When she doesn’t pray she says that she feels frazzled.

Stacey Dash was born in the Bronx, New York, on January 20, 1966 and grew up in New York. It was her father, a Bajan from Barbados, who gave her the Catholic upbringing that she seeks solace in today. Her mother is Blackfoot Native American and Aztec, and gave her a more earthy form of spirituality, one that believed in the influences of good and evil spirits.

 While growing up, she learned from both of these worlds and attended Native American pow wows with her mother and her immediate family. Her family is currently researching their family tree, so she hopes to gain more knowledge about her Indigenous roots.

[READ MORE...] 

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A Little Romance

A Little Romance is somewhat of a pint-sized version of Before Sunrise / Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (even though it precedes both). It stars a young Diane Lane as a girl in France who experiences her "first love" with a French boy. They connect because of their love of books and through a set of strange events set off for a wild journey to Venice.

This movie is super cute and it won an Oscar in 1980 for best original score (and was nominated for best adapted screenplay).

Now available for instant watch on Netflix.

[photo via The Distracted Globe]

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Criterion Collection Announces April Titles

Vivre sa vie
The Criterion Collection announced they will release the visually stunning New Wave Jean-Luc Godard masterwork Vivre sa vie DVD/Blu-ray on April 20th. It will feature a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition.

Extras include:

• Audio commentary featuring film scholar Adrian Martin
• Video interview with film scholar Jean Narboni, conducted by historian Noël Simsolo
• Television interview from 1962 with actress Anna Karina
• Excerpts from a 1961 French television exposé on prostitution
• Illustrated essay on La prostitution, the book that served as inspiration for the film
• Stills gallery
• Director Jean-Luc Godard’s original theatrical trailer
• New and improved English subtitle translation
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Atkinson, interviews with Godard, a reprint by critic Jean Collet on the film’s soundtrack, and Godard’s original scenario

Summer Hours
The Criterion Collection announced they will release Olivier Assayas' Summer Hours DVD/Blu-ray on April 20th. It will feature a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Olivier Assayas and cinematographer Eric Gautier, with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition.

Extras include:

• New video interview with Assayas
• A short documentary featuring interviews with Assayas and actors Charles Berling and Juliette Binoche, and showing the cast and crew on set
• Inventory, an hour-long documentary by Olivier Gonard, shot partly in Paris’s Musée d’Orsay, that examines the film’s approach to art
• Theatrical trailer
• New and improved English subtitle translation
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Kent Jones

[READ MORE...]

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Scandinavian Film Fest (Los Angeles)

The Scandinavian Film Festival is a great place to catch up on Oscar-nominated foreign films. It takes part over two weeks showcasing films from various Nordic countries. The following are my favorites from the first session:

Original (Denmark)
It's a quirky film about a guy, his mentally ill mother, his wacky best friend and an offbeat singer. That's how strangely entertaining the story is. Original comes across refreshing sweet in an Amélie kind of way.

Upperdog (Norway)

I'm not familiar with Norwegian cinema but this was a great introduction. Upperdog tells the story of a brother and sister who were adopted by different families and how they end up meeting in an unlikely way. It skillfully weaves in charming romantic stories along with the heavier family issues for a completely delightful film experience.

Terribly Happy (Denmark)

Terribly Happy is the Danish submission for "Best Foreign Film" at Academy Awards this year and once you see it you'll understand why. Set in smalltown Denmark the community is eerie and secretive. Without giving too much away this film will definitely surprise you and its enigmatic catch phrase linger in your mind.

Official Site: www.scandinanvianfilmfestivalla.com

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The Four-Faced Liar

Jacob Chase's debut film is a story of love and lies for four twenty-somethings looking to find themselves in New York City. A pair of best friends and a seemingly perfect couple meet at a local Irish pub tucked in the winding streets of the West Village. Through their chance meeting, the four bond and over time all of their relationships with one another morph into love, betrayal, and heartbreak for all. It is based on the play by Marja Lewis Ryan, who also wrote the screenplay and co-stars. It has been selected as part of the line-up for Slamdance 2010, where it will screen on Jan 22 and Jan 25.

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Awkwardly Cute Awards

Highlighting the best "awkwardly cute" moments in TV, film and webisodes.

Since it's awards season, I decided to come up with my own batch of awards Reel Artsy style. Nothing major, no big dinners or red carpets just me appreciating some of my favorite movies, actors, writers and directors that provided some blogworthy scenes and stories in 2009.

There's no structed order, I have a few set catergories but if you think of something I should add let me know!

Josh created the nifty graphic pictured above, I think it does justice to the whole awkwardly cute vibe.

First category: 

Jesse Eisenberg & Kristen Stewart  
Adventureland  - This movie is loaded with awkwardly cute moments and the best are when Eisenberg's character, James, is embarrassing himself in front of Em.

Michael Cera & Charlyne Yi
Paper Heart - Any movie starring Michael Cera gets an automatic entry into the Awkwardly Cute awards. He's like our unofficial cover boy.

Amanda Seyfried & Johnny Simmons
Jennifer's Body - There's the sex scene and the scene where Needy tells Chip that "she's evil...and not just high school evil."  Cute. Awkwardly cute. 

Joesph Gordon-Levitt & Zooey Deschanel
500 Days of Summer - The kiss in the copy room, the make-believe in Ikea and the yelling in the park best describe Tom and Summer's relationship. Undeniably sweet!

More to come...

• Awkwardly Cute TV Moments
• Awkwardly Cute Scene of the Year
• And other randomness!

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box[ur]shorts Film Fest

The box[ur]shorts film festival spreads the word about intriguing short films. I attended the fest over the weekend and here are some of my favorites:

How to Cope with Rejection
His girlfriend breaks up with him so he calls a ninja to fix things.

Spider
It's pretty much a universal law that girls don't like spiders, unless they're really brave. Spider came in 2nd place overall. Watch and you'll see why...

Big Buck Bunny
Life in the wild can be hilariously funny with these animates characters. 

Other notable films include Sija Luo's Kidnap. It was the most adorable short of the fest (couldn't find a trailer online though) and Sebastian's Voodoo by LA filmmaker Joaquin Baldwin which I wrote about last year.

For more info on the box[ur]shorts film fest visit their official site at www.boxurshorts.com

[photo by Wilki W.K. Tom]

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Notable New Releases

The Brothers Bloom
This underrated gem is con man classic that needs to find an audience on DVD. Rian Johnson's follow up to Brick is so funny and sweet it will absolutely win you over. Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo have great chemistry as the titular siblings and Rachel Weisz is absolutely adorable as the sheltered, naive Penelope. The catchy score by Nathan Johnson is also a highlight.

Extras include:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• In Bloom: Behind The Scenes
• 'From Sketch to Celluloid' featurette
• Image Gallery

Moon
It's smart sci-fi that's also heartbreaking drama. Sam Rockwell gives an amazing Oscar-worthy performance and the score by Clint Mansell is emotionally devastating. The subtle visual effects are superb and never get in the way of the storytelling. The less you know about the plot the better.

Extras include:

• Producer and Director Commentary
• Crew Commentary
• The Making of Moon
• Creating the Visual Effects
• Science Center Q&A with Director Duncan Jones
• Filmmaker's Q&A At the Sundance Film Festival
• 'Whistle' a short film by Duncan Jones

The Hurt Locker
Missed it in theaters, but have heard great things and can't wait to see director Kathryn Bigelow's comeback.

Extras include:

• Commentary
• The Hurt Locker: Behind the Scenes
• Image Gallery

[READ MORE...]

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She's Out of My League

Apatow regular Jay Baruchel stars as Kirk, an awkward loser, who can't believe his luck when Molly (Alice Eve), falls for him. It was written by Sean Anders and John Morris, the guys behind Sex Drive and the upcoming Hot Tub Time Machine.

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Chuck Returns Tonight

It's finally back! The two-hour premiere, entitled Chuck Versus The Pink Slip/Chuck Versus The Three Words, airs tonight at 9/8c on NBC. Season three opens with Chuck possessing new Intersect abilities. He trains to be an ace spy. Later, Chuck takes on a mission when Sarah's gal pal and her fiance (guest star Vinnie Jones) arrive, with Chuck also trying to repair his relationship troubles with Sarah. Meanwhile, a fib puts Morgan in a corner.

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The Vicious Kind

Adam Scott is nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his role in The Vicious Kind. That's one reason why this film should be on your radar. It's a story about two brothers and a girl who complicates their fragile relationship. I haven't seen it yet but I heard the soundtrack is pretty good. 

 

DVD release date: February 23rd.

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Japanese Story

Toni Collette is a great actress and if you haven't seen her in Japanese Story it's worth a watch. The film is about two people who get stuck in the Australian outback and the relationship they form amid their struggle to survive.

Available on Netflix.

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Top 10 Movies of 2009 (Josh's List)

Wanted to wait until the year was over. These are in no particular order.

Where The Wild Things Are
After years of anticipation, Spike Jonze's vision absolutely lived to my expectations. It is a beautiful film about childhood. Jim Henson's costumes, Karen O's music, Max Record's lead performance, the surprisingly dark script, and Jonze's loose direction all come together to form a pitch-perfect portrait of the isolation and imagination of a kid. It is a film that I will continue to revisit for years to come.

Coraline
Henry Selick's stop-motion film is certainly a visual treat, but its Selick's treatment of Neil Gaiman's book that really makes it work so wonderfully. It is a sublime grass-is-greener tale filled with awe, terror, and sadness. The characters are all memorable and inhabit a world of such rich texture that you will be overcome with places to look. The voice work is also top-notch, led by the versatile Dakota Fanning.

The Brothers Bloom
This underrated gem is con man classic that needs to find an audience on DVD. Rian Johnson's follow up to Brick is so funny and sweet it will absolutely win you over. Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo have great chemistry as the titular siblings and Rachel Weisz is absolutely adorable as the sheltered, naive Penelope. The catchy score by Nathan Johnson is also a highlight.

[READ MORE...]

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Expired

The film's opening sequence grabs you right away, quickly setting a gloomy tone for this awkward tale.

Samantha Morton gives an impressive performance as a lonely parking enforcement officer in Expired. Her sweetness of character as Claire give the story moments of lightness, balancing out the sadness with scenes that make you smile. You'll want to watch more of her movies! 

 

Expired is currently available on Netflix instant watch.

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Notable New Releases

Chuck: The Complete Second Season
I thought the first season of Chuck was good but I really enjoyed the second season. The main characters have really developed and the Buy More employees get a lot more screen time. The show does have its problems, the humor is hit or miss and it doesn't get geek culture as well as other shows (like The Big Bang Theory or The IT Crowd), but the drama is always solid and it's a fun show. Plus you can always count on 'Browncoat' favorite Adam Baldwin and a pack of geek-friendly guest stars (including Tony Hale, Chevy Chase, and Scott Bakula!) to entertain.

Extras include:

• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel
• Truth, Spies, and Regular Guys: Exploring the Mythology of Chuck
• Dude in Distress: Explore This Season's Best Action Sequences
• Chuck Versus the Webisodes
• Chuck: A Real-Life Captain Awesome's Tips for Being Awesome
• John Casey Presents: So You Want to be a Deadly Spy?

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
The trailers looked terrible, but it got great reviews (85% fresh) and I really wanna check it out. One of my favorite books as a kid, the film version is an original story that cleverly parodies disaster movies. It was made by the guys behind Clone High and How I Met Your Mother and has a stellar voice cast led by SNL member Bill Hader. There is no 3-D option here, so no flying food but a lot of good stuff for both adults and kids.

Extras include:

• Commentary
• Interactive 'Splat Mode!' (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Extended Scenes
• Early Development Scenes
• A Recipe For Success: The Making of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
• Key Ingredients: The Voices of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
• Progression Reels with Introductions by Visual FX Supervisor Rob Bredow
• Make It Rain Food PSA
• Flint's Food Fight Game (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• 'Raining Sunshine' Music Video by Miranda Cosgrove
• Behind the Scenes of the Music Video

[READ MORE...]

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Our Family Wedding

Here's the trailer for the America Ferrera movie that I mentioned last year. It's a romantic comedy about a black family and a Latino family coming together for a wedding celebration. Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia play two fathers who can't stand each other. Lance Gross is the groom. Looks interesting enough...

In theaters March 12th.

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Wonderful World

Writer/director Josh Goldin's debut film stars Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Philip Baker Hall. It is currently available on demand and will be in limited release on Jan 8th.

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TCM Remembers Filmmakers Who Died in 2009

Videos like these remind you just how fragile life is. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) takes a look back on the actors, writers, directors, producers, screenwriters and composers who passed away in 2009.

[H/T ShadowAndAct.com]

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