Apatow’s ‘Funny People’ - Plus Oscar Bonus

February 25th, 2009 by david lay

Judd Apatow has made a living by creating hilarious and quirky comedies using unique and undiscovered talents (Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, Jason Segal, James Franco) to make likewise hilarious and quirky films that mix a unique blend of immature comedy and often heartwarming romance - of the quirkiest kind.

I don’t know much about his new film, Funny People but the new trailer was recently introduced and it looks promising. Adam Sandler joins Seth, Jonah and the Apatow gang for what looks to be not only funny, but also a little tragic.

Check out the trailer for Judd Apatow’s Funny People:

…and now your blog bonus feature, the Apatow directed Oscars spot featuring a montage of some of the best and worst comedies of 2008

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81st Oscar Winners

February 23rd, 2009 by david lay

Here are the winners from last night’s 81st Annual Academy Awards ceremonies.

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay: Milk
Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Costume Design: The Duchess
Best Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Music (Original Score): Slumdog Millionaire
Best Music (Original Song): Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire
Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
Best Foreign Language Film: Departures
Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire
Best Documentary Short: Smile Pinki
Best Short Film (Animated): La Maison en Petits Cubes
Best Short Film (Live Action): Toyland

Tally:

Slumdog Millionaire — 8
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button — 3
The Dark Knight, Milk — 2
Departures, The Duchess, Man on Wire, The Reader, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, WALL-E — 1

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Attention Rent-heads

January 30th, 2009 by david lay

You may or may not know that Rent: The Broadway Musical closed its curtains for the last time in November. In commemoration of the show’s 12-plus years on Broadway, the final show was recorded and available in theaters across America this past fall.

Many wondered if a Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway DVD would follow, and today I found out that it not only will, but that it will be released across the country on Tuesday, February 3rd. Grab your copy and hold on to the Rent legacy forever.

No day but today.

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Rourke to Fight for Realsies?

January 28th, 2009 by david lay

I loved Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, and I was a big fan of the WWE and WCW when I was a kid, and the movie brought back a lot of memories. I particularly remember some of the novelty matches when non-wrestlers would have ‘arguments’ with some of the stars and become part of the action at the next pay-per-view event. Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone, Jay Leno and Lawrence Taylor were a few that I remember specifically.

Now it looks as if Randy ‘The Ram’ may be the next to enter the pay per view world as Mickey Rourke seems to be taking his personae into the WWE. Rumors have persisted for the last few weeks that the WWE may be looking to capitalize on Rourke’s success by bringing his character into the storylines leading up to WrestleMania - certainly The Wrestler would naturally share a huge fanbase with the WWE and vice versa.

On Larry King Live last night one of the WWE Superstars, Chris Jericho, “called out” Rourke, further implying that a match may be imminent.

I am all about viral advertising and I know how rabid WWE fans can be, so I think this could be a huge partnership for the WWE as well The Wrestler, which I consider to be solidly in the top three films of the year.

Posted in Television, Sports, Events, Movies | 1 Comment

Screen Actors Guild Award Winners - 2009

January 27th, 2009 by david lay

The SAG awards were held last night in Hollywood. I like the SAGs because they offer the actors to adjudicate their peers for their work in both film and television. No awards for writing or directing - only for acting performances.

Here are the nominees and winners (in bold) from last night:

Awards for Outstanding Performances in Primetime Television

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

• LAURA DERN as Katherine Harris - “RECOUNT” (HBO)
• LAURA LINNEY as Abigail Adams - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
• SHIRLEY MacLAINE as Coco Chanel - “COCO CHANEL” (Lifetime)
• PHYLICIA RASHAD as Lena Younger - “A RAISIN IN THE SUN” (ABC)
• SUSAN SARANDON as Doris Duke - “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

• RALPH FIENNES as Bernard Lafferty - “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)
• PAUL GIAMATTI as John Adams - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
• KEVIN SPACEY as Ron Klain - “RECOUNT” (HBO)
• KIEFER SUTHERLAND as Jack Bauer - “24: REDEMPTION” (FOX)
• TOM WILKINSON as Benjamin Franklin - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

• SALLY FIELD as Nora Walker - “BROTHERS & SISTERS” (ABC)
• MARISKA HARGITAY as Det. Olivia Benson - “LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” (NBC)
• HOLLY HUNTER as Grace Hanadarko - “SAVING GRACE” (TNT)
• ELISABETH MOSS as Peggy Olson - “MAD MEN” (AMC)
• KYRA SEDGWICK as Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson - “THE CLOSER” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

• MICHAEL C. HALL as Dexter Morgan - “DEXTER” (Showtime)
• JON HAMM as Don Draper - “MAD MEN” (AMC)
• HUGH LAURIE as Gregory House - “HOUSE” (FOX)
• WILLIAM SHATNER as Denny Crane - “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)
• JAMES SPADER as Alan Shore - “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

• CHRISTINA APPLEGATE as Samantha Newly - “SAMANTHA WHO?” (ABC)
• AMERICA FERRERA as Betty Suarez - “UGLY BETTY” (ABC)
• TINA FEY as Liz Lemon - “30 ROCK” (NBC)
• MARY-LOUISE PARKER as Nancy Botwin - “WEEDS” (Showtime)
• TRACEY ULLMAN as Various Characters - “TRACEY ULLMAN’S STATE OF THE UNION” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

• ALEC BALDWIN as Jack Donaghy - “30 ROCK” (NBC)
• STEVE CARELL as Michael Scott - “THE OFFICE” (NBC)
• DAVID DUCHOVNY as Hank Moody - “CALIFORNICATION” (Showtime)
• JEREMY PIVEN as Ari Gold - “ENTOURAGE” (HBO)
• TONY SHALHOUB as Adrian Monk - “MONK” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

• BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
• THE CLOSER (TNT)
• DEXTER (Showtime)
• HOUSE (Fox)
• MAD MEN (AMC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

• 30 ROCK (NBC)
• DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
• ENTOURAGE (HBO)
• THE OFFICE (NBC)
• WEEDS (Showtime)

Awards for Outstanding Performances in Film

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

• AMY ADAMS as Sister James - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
• PENÉLOPE CRUZ as Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company)
• VIOLA DAVIS as Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
• TARAJI P. HENSON as Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
• KATE WINSLET as Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

• JOSH BROLIN as Dan White - “MILK” (Focus Features)
• ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. as Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER” (Paramount Pictures)
• PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN as Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
• HEATH LEDGER as Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• DEV PATEL as Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

• ANNE HATHAWAY as Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• ANGELINA JOLIE as Christine Collins - “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures)
• MELISSA LEO as Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• MERYL STREEP as Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
• KATE WINSLET as April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

• RICHARD JENKINS as Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films)
• FRANK LANGELLA as Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures)
• SEAN PENN as Harvey Milk - “MILK” (Focus Features)
• BRAD PITT as Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
• MICKEY ROURKE as Randy - “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

• THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
• DOUBT (Miramax)
• FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
• MILK (Focus Features)
• SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

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The Dark Knight: Overlooked or Overrated?

January 23rd, 2009 by david lay

With the Oscar nominees being announced yesterday, we seem to have ushered in one of the most controversial Oscar seasons in recent history. The internet has been bombarded with “Are you *bleeping kidding me’s” and “Those guys are gonna pay’s” from well-meaning Batman fans who feel that their FAVORITE movie of the year should be considered by the Academy as the BEST movie of the year.

I absolutely loved The Dark Knight, and I am extremely impressed that it is now the second highest-grossing film of all time. However I still think that it is overrated. Keep in mind that something can be overrated and still be extremely good. But based on the incredible, ridiculous amount of hype that The Dark Knight garnered, I don’t think there is any way it could have possibly lived up. I can’t help but wonder how the film would have made out if Heath Ledger had not died.

Additionally, only one of this year’s nominated films has had a wide release prior to the Oscar deadline and that one (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has only been released for a month. I think if more people had a chance to see the other nominated films they wouldn’t be as quick to chastise the Academy for leaving out their favorite. There really are some great films out there this year (I personally would have loved to see Gran Torino and The Wrestler get more love) and The Dark Knight is certainly one of them - but certainly not the only one.
By the way: Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, and Frost/Nixon all open nation-wide today.

History will be - as it always is - the judge of where The Dark Knight fits into the 2008 film hierarchy, and even more so, where it fits into the annals of film history. The good news is: the film will live on as an Oscar winner as Heath Ledger is a sure thing to win Best Supporting Actor - it won’t even be close!

Posted in Tribute, Events, Movies | 1 Comment

Golden Raspberry Nominees

January 22nd, 2009 by david lay

With the announcement of the Oscar Nominations at the crack of dawn this morning, it was only a matter of time (2 hours or so) before The Razzies were announced.

I can proudly say that this year, I have only seen one of nominated films. Check ‘em out:

Worst Supporting Actress

• Carmen Electra (Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans)
• Paris Hilton (Repo! The Genetic Opera)
• Kim Kardashian (Disaster Movie)
• Jenny McCarthy (Witless Protection)
• Leelee Sobieski (88 Minutes, In The Name of the King)

Worst Supporting Actor

• Uwe Boll (Postal)
• Pierce Brosnan (Mamma Mia!)
• Ben Kingsley (The Love Guru, War, Inc, The Wackness)
• Burt Reynolds (Deal, In The Name of the King)
• Verne Troyer (The Love Guru, Postal)

Worst Actress

• Jessica Alba (The Eye, The Love Guru)
• The Cast of The Women (Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith
  and Meg Ryan)
• Cameron Diaz (What Happens in Vegas)
• Paris Hilton (The Hottie and The Nottie)
• Kate Hudson (Fools Gold, My Best Friend’s Girl)

Worst Actor

• Larry the Cable Guy (Witless Protection)
• Eddie Murphy (Meet Dave)
• Mike Myers (The Love Guru)
• Al Pacino (88 Minutes, Righteous Kill)
• Mark Wahlberg (The Happening, Max Payne)

Worst Director

• Uwe Boll (1968: Tunnel Rats, In The Name Of The King, Postal)
• Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer (Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans)
• Tom Putnam (The Hottie and the Nottie)
• Marco Schnabel (The Love Guru)
• M. Night Shyamalan (The Happening)

Worst Screenplay

• Disaster Movie and Meet The Spartans
• The Happening
• The Hottie And The Nottie
• In The Name Of The King:A Dungeon Siege Tale
• The Love Guru

Worst Picture

• Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
• The Happening
• The Hottie and The Nottie
• In The Name of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
• The Love Guru

Posted in Events, Movies | 1 Comment

2009 Oscar Nominees

January 22nd, 2009 by david lay

The Oscar Nominees were announced this morning at their always way-to-early press conferences. Pretty strong lists this year in my opinion.
Here are the major category nominees:

Best Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams - Doubt
• Penelope Cruz - Vickie Christina Barcelona
• Viola Davis - Doubt
• Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Marissa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Supporting Actor

• Josh Brolin- Milk
• Robert Downey, Jr.- Tropic Thunder
• Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
• Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
• Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best Actor

• Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
• Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
• Sean Penn - Milk
• Brat Pitt- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Mickey Rourke- The Wrestler

Best Actress

• Anne Hathaway- Rachel Getting Married
• Angelina Jolie - Changeling
• Melissa Leo - Frozen River
• Meryl Streep - Doubt
• Kate Winslet - The Reader

Original Screenplay

• Frozen River
• Happy Go Lucky
  
• In Bruges
  
• Milk
• Wall -E
  

Direction

• David Fincher- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
• Gus Van Sant - Milk
• Stephen Daldry - The Reader
• Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Picture

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Frost/Nixon
• Milk
• The Reader
• Slumdog Millionaire

What’ya think? The Oscars Ceremony will be held one month from today on February 22nd.

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Lost Season Five Premier Clips

January 16th, 2009 by david lay

As an insatiable Lostie, I more-or-less salivate when I think about how close we are to a season premier (just under five days, but who’s counting). Check out these six clips from the forthcoming premier of Lost season five.

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2009 Golden Globe Awards Winners

January 12th, 2009 by david lay

Awards season officially kicked off last night with the Somethingth Annual Golden Globe Awards. I like the Globes because they award performances in television as well as film - But the Oscars are still the
best.

Here are the Nominees and Winners (bolded) from last night. I am particularly excited about Mickey Rourke for his amazing performance in The Wrestler. Also, Heath Ledger’s win for The Dark Knight is huge and could be a prelude to a posthumous Oscar. The big winner of the night was Slumdog Millionaire - the Hollywood/Bollywood collaborative effort about a young man who has the opportunity to win 1 Million rupees on an Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”.

To the list:

Best Motion Picture - Drama

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas – I’ve Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio – Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Rebecca Hall – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep – Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson – Last Chance Harvey

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Javier Bardem – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell – In Bruges
James Franco – Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson – In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman – Last Chance Harvey

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams – Doubt
Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes – The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

Best Animated Feature Film

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden, Denmark)
Gomorrah (Italy)
I’ve Loved You So Long (France)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Best Director - Motion Picture

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes – Revolutionary Road

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Written by Eric Roth
Doubt - Written by John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon - Written by Peter Morgan
The Reader - Written by David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire - Written by Simon Beaufoy

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Composed by Alexandre Desplat
Changeling - Composed by Clint Eastwood
Defiance - Composed by James Newton Howard
Slumdog Millionaire - Composed by A. R. Rahman
Frost/Nixon - Composed by Hans Zimmer

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

“Down To Earth” – Wall-E - Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
“Gran Torino” – Gran Torino - Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens
”I Thought I Lost You” – Bolt - Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele
“Once In A Lifetime” – Cadillac Records - Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarmon, Ian Dench, James Dring and Jody Street
“The Wrestler” – The Wrestler - Bruce Springsteen

Best Television Series - Drama

Dexter (SHOWTIME)
House (FOX)
In Treatment (HBO)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order
January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)
Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment (HBO)
Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)
Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)
Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors (SHOWTIME)

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

30 Rock (NBC)
Californication (SHOWTIME)
Entourage (HBO)
The Office (NBC)
Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (ABC)
America Ferrera – Ugly Betty (ABC)
Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)
Debra Messing – The Starter Wife (USA)
Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)
Kevin Connolly – Entourage (HBO)
David Duchovny – Californication (SHOWTIME)
Tony Shalhoub – Monk (USA)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

A Raisin In The Sun (ABC)
Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Cranford (PBS)
John Adams (HBO)
Recount (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Judi Dench – Cranford (PBS)
Laura Linney – John Adams (HBO)
Shirley MacLaine – Coco Chanel
Susan Sarandon – Bernard And Doris (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Ralph Fiennes – Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Paul Giamatti – John Adams (HBO)
Kevin Spacey – Recount (HBO)
Kiefer Sutherland – 24 (FOX)
Tom Wilkinson – Recount (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Eileen Atkins – Cranford (PBS)
Laura Dern – Recount (HBO)
Melissa George – In Treatment (HBO)
Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Dianne Wiest – In Treatment (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Denis Leary – Recount (HBO)
Jeremy Piven – Entourage (HBO)
Blair Underwood – In Treatment (HBO)
Tom Wilkinson – John Adams (HBO)

Posted in Yada Yada, Events, Movies | 2 Comments

Thrillionaires - Utah’s Improv Theater

May 13th, 2008 by david lay

For two years running, The Thrillioniaires have been making up Broadway-style musicals and improvising other film and theater styles for Utah audiences. Using only suggestions from the crowd, The Thrillionaires are the perfect union of theater and improv and are happy to have found a home at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo.

Previously, they have been privileged to perform with musician/actor Kirby Heyborne and British theater veteran Orlando Seale. They have shared the stage with noted and award-winning performers such as Jenny Frogley, William Joseph, Jericho Road, Alex Boye, Mindy Gledhill and George Dyer. Even LaVell Edwards, Stephen R. Covey, and Mayor Lewis Billings have been in attendance to enjoy The Thrillionaires‘ special brand of entertainment.

If you haven’t seen The Thrillionaires perform, you are missing one of the most unique experiences live theater has to offer. It might make you laugh, it might be heart-wrenching, or it might be both. But, whatever happens, it will definitely be an unforgettable experience! Don’t hesitate to reserve your tickets today.

Additionally, most Tuesday nights at 8:00 at Covey Arts Center offer Cheap Thrills: The Thrillionaires‘ experimental (but experienced) improv group. This is your chance to see our up-and-coming cast showcase their talent. Missing are the costumes, sets and other trappings of our full-scale Thrillionaires shows but there is an abundance of heart, talent and laughs. It’s a night of live, improvised contemporary theater at a special price.

For more information, visit CoveyCenter.org.

Posted in Utah Concerts, Yada Yada, Events | 2 Comments

Danny Gans - Entertainer of the Year

May 4th, 2008 by david lay

If you have been to Las Vegas in the past five or six years, and are observant at all, you are probably familiar with Danny Gans. Danny Gans took over for Sigfried and Roy at The Mirage after Roy Horn was attacked by the white tiger in October of 2003.

Gans is billed at The Mirage as “The Man of Many Voices” due to his Vegas show in which he mixes his knack for comedy and music to create a hilarious act as a musical impressionist. However, Gans did not begin his career as a singer or an aspiring entertainer.

Gans was a high school and college baseball star, being drafted by the Royals after high school and by the White Sox after college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he became an All-American. He played for a while for the Durham Bulls and was even on screen as a third baseman during a brief scene in Kevin Costner’s 1988 film, Bull Durham.

A knee injury had ended Gans’ career as a baseball player, but like any true superstar, he picked himself up, dusted himself off, and started all over again. Gans began a 15 year tour throughout the U.S. working as an impressionist and motivational speaker . Soon he was one of the hottest and most sought-after performers in the corporate world, playing for thousands of people for McDonald’s and IBM and various other Fortune 500 company events. He began to catch the eye of fellow entertainers such as Bill Cosby and Natalie Cole, and soon he was a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

Danny Gans has been in Las Vegas now for 12 years and has headlined at The Mirage for nearly six of those. He has won numerous awards during his career and has certainly earned the status of “Entertainer of the Year”. Next time you are in Vegas, look for his billboards, and try to check out his show at The Mirage.

Additional Links:

Danny Gans at The Mirage.
Danny Gans Official Site.
Book Danny Gans as a Motivational Speaker.

Posted in Baseball, Tribute, Utah Concerts, Yada Yada, Sports, Movies, Events, Music | 2 Comments

Lohan Snags Record Eight Golden Raspberries

February 26th, 2008 by david lay

Dual Worst “Actress” Winner Unable to Leave Drug Rehab Center to Accept Award

In the midst of this weekend’s Oscar hoopla, another film awards ceremony took place - one that is equally important, equally significant, and equally prestigious (lie, lie, and another lie). The 28th annual Golden Raspberry Awards were handed out on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles and the big winner was “Actress”, “Rock Sensation”, and perennial drug rehab center attendee, Lindsey Lohan and her pseudo-horror gore-porn stinker I Know Who Killed Me.

Lohan’s “movie” was nominated and won in a record eight categories, edging out previous box-office poison Showgirls, and John Travolta’s scientology-based flop, Battlefield Earth.

I Know Who Killed Me garnered awards for Worst Picture, Worst Remake or  Rip-Off (Rip off of Hostel, Saw, and The Patty Duke Show), Worst Director (Chris Siverston), Worst Screenplay (Jeffrey Hammond), Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie (New Category, created in honor of the “film”).

Lindsey Lohan also picked up three of the spray-painted statuettes for her “acting” performance(s) in I Know Who Killed Me. Worst On-Screen Couple was given to Lohan and Lohan for her portrayal of two sisters who are separated at birth and then tortured while wearing skimpy clothes.

Additionally, and for the first time in Razzies history, there was a tie for Worst Actress. Lindsey Lohan tied with Lindsey Lohan for her portrayal of two sisters who are separated at birth and then tortured while wearing skimpy clothes.

Unlike Halle Berry did a few years ago, Lindsey Lohan did not show up to accept her awards in person. Her whereabouts were unknown at the time of the ceremony, but in all likelihood, she was unable to check out of her drug rehab center in order to accept the award in person.

Other awards handed out at the 28th Annual Razzies were:

• Worst Actor - Eddie Murphy as Norbit in Norbit
• Worst Supporting Actress - Eddie Murphy as Rasputia in Norbit
• Worst Supporting Actor - Eddie Murphy as Mr. Wong in Norbit
• Worst Prequel or Sequel - Daddy Day Camp (Sequel to Daddy Day Care)

Eight Razzies will be hard to beat, but as long as Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton are still allowed to make “movies,” nothing is impossible.

Is it too early for me to suggest that The Hottie and the Nottie might already be the front-runner for the 2009 awards?

Posted in Yada Yada, Events, Movies | No Comments

80th Annual Oscar Winners

February 24th, 2008 by david lay

Last night’s Oscars were all about No Country for Old Men, which picked up wins for Javier Bardem as Best Supporting Actor, and The Coen Brothers for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Directing, and Best Picture!

Best Actress went to Marion Cottillard in La Vie en Rose, while Daniel Day-Lewis picked up the Best Actor award for his incredible performance in There Will Be Blood. Additionally, Tilda Swinton took home the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Michael Clayton.

Other less prestigious awards that I was also very happy with were Diablo Cody for Best Original Screenplay for Juno, and Falling Slowly as Best Original Song from Once - a great song from a great and lovely film.

Here is the complete list of Oscar Winners from the 80th Annual Academy Awards.

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men

Lead Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood

Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men

Lead Actress
Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose

Supporting Actress
Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton

Animated Feature
Ratatouille

Art Direction
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Cinematography
There Will Be Blood

Costume Design
Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Directing
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for No Country for Old Men

Documentary Feature
Taxi to the Darkside

Documentary Short Subject
Freeheld

Film Editing
The Bourne Ultimatum

Foreign Language
The Counterfeiters

Makeup
La Vie en Rose

Original score
Atonement

Original song
Falling Slowly from Once

Animated Short
Peter & the Wolf

Live Action Short
Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)

Sound Editing
The Bourne Ultimatum

Sound Mixing
The Bourne Ultimatum

Visual Effects
The Golden Compass

Adapted Screenplay
No Country for Old Men

Original Screenplay
Juno

Honorary Award
Robert Boyle - Production Designer

PS - I found this on YouTube - The Oscars in 60 Seconds… If you missed it, give it a look.

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Oscar Predictions, etc.

February 22nd, 2008 by david lay

The Oscars will be awarded Sunday night in what many people are saying is the most maligned Oscar lineup that we’ve seen in several years. I completely disagree. I think there a several movies that we can get behind this year, and the fact that there are not really any clear front-runners in most categories is proof positive.

Juno is the highest grossing indie film of all time, giving hope to the little guys, while the Coen Brothers have come through in 2007 with their best film so far in No Country For Old Men. Atonement has already won at the Golden Globes, while Michael Clayton is on the top of every critic’s list. There Will Be Blood has left audiences in a stupor due to an incredible acting job by Daniel Day-Lewis and a rather shocking ending.

For the first time in recent years, I was able to see all of the Oscar nominated films before the ceremonies, thanks in part to earlier release dates and few “limited releases”. This being the case, I have been able to form opinions more easily about who should and will win when The Academy’s decisions are announced.

So, here are my predictions and hopefuls for this weekend’s 80th Annual Academy Awards:

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Cate Blanchet - I’m Not There
• Ruby Dee - American Gangster
• Saoirse Ronan - Atonement
• Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
• Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

Here’s the thing… The Academy loves really old people and really young people, and I think that could work in favor of Ruby Dee (83) and Saoirse Ronan (13), but I think that Cate Blanchet will win, because she played Bob Dylan… If I had a vote, it would be for Saoirse Ronan, who I loved in Atonement.

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
• Javier Bardim - No Country for Old Men
• Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson’s War
• Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
• Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

Javier Bardim is the talk of the town lately and I think he is about a 90% shoe-in. The only obstacle he faces is that he won at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, and for some reason, Oscar voters like to vote differently for no good reason. If I had a vote, it would go to Javier Bardim…

Actress in a Leading Role

• Cate Blanchet - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
• Julie Christie - Away from Her
• Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose
• Laura Linney - The Savages
• Ellen Page - Juno

Can Cate Blanchet win two awards in the same night? No. This is the hardest category for me to predict, but I think that Laura Linney has a good chance for her work in The Savages but none of these actresses would surprise me with a win… My Vote? Ellen Page x 1,000. I love, love, loved her in Juno!

Actor in a Leading Role

• George Clooney - Michael Clayton
• Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
• Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah
• Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

If ever the Oscars had a no-doubter, it would be Daniel Day-Lewis in what I honestly believe is the most supreme acting job I have ever seen. He should win, and will win for There Will Be Blood and anything else would be an absolute crock. The Academy loves George Clooney, and Johnny Depp sang, so anything could happen, but I don’t think so. Also, Tommy Lee Jones stands a chance because he was in an anti-war, anti-military movie and that could certainly help him.

Directing

• Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
• Jason Reitman - Juno
• Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
• Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
• Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

The Coen Brothers will win for No Country for Old Men, and they should. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all if Jason Reitman won for Juno (If you haven’t guessed, I LOVED that film), but I will be rather upset if Tony Gilroy wins for Michael Clayton.

Best Picture

• Atonement
• Juno
• Michael Clayton
• No Country For Old Men
• There Will Be Blood

Once again my favorite is… JUNO, JUNO, JUNO!! Does it have a chance? Yes, actually, but I think that No Country For Old Men will win, and that’s OK. Atonement was really good, but I don’t think its appeal will be as great in the Oscars as it was in the Golden Globes. There Will Be Blood was good as well, but honestly it wasn’t the film itself as much as it was the incredible acting and the score. As you can see, Michael Clayton could pretty much sweep through the Oscars with nominees in every major category except Supporting Actress. It wouldn’t surprise me if it did, but I firmly believe that it is not that deserving. It was good, but certainly not great, and it puzzles me that it has received so many nominations.

Well only a couple of more days and we’ll find out. Happy Oscar Weekend to you all.

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