Kym’s Picks: 01/27/2009

The Obvious: 

 

Vicky Cristina Barcelona Javier Bardem stars in the latest effort from legendary filmmaker Woody Allen as a flamboyant painter who finds himself in the middle of a unique relationship with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson), a pair of American tourists. Penélope Cruz (with an Oscar nod) also stars as Bardem’s insanely jealous ex-wife, Maria Elena, in this quirky romantic dramedy (winner of a Best Comedy Golden Globe) set in Barcelona.

 

Pride and Glory A corruption scandal fractures a family of New York City cops in this generational drama about homicide detective Ray Tierney (Edward Norton), who’s tasked with investigating a precinct run by his brother (Noah Emmerich). As if that weren’t enough, Ray’s fellow officer and best friend (Colin Farrell) may turn out to be dirty.. Directed by Gavin O’Connor, the film features a high-octane supporting cast that includes Jon Voight and Jennifer Ehle.

 

RocknRolla Starring Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler, director Guy Ritchie’s crime thriller follows a variety of crooks from London’s underworld who set out to nab millions of dollars left for the taking when a Russian mobster’s real estate scam falls apart. The first part of a planned trilogy, RocknRolla co-stars Jeremy Piven, Ludacris, Tom Wilkinson, Gemma Arterton, Jamie Campbell Bower, Mark Strong and Idris Elba..

 

Have Seen and Recommend: 

 

You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang gear up for a sports extravaganza in this classic Peanuts adventure featuring a tennis match, a motocross race — and everyone’s favorite round-headed kid clad in a custom-made pumpkin helmet. Snoopy isn’t exactly a tennis pro, but as the motorcycle-riding Masked Marvel, he gives Chuck and Peppermint Patty a run for their money. Who will win the race and snag two tickets to the upcoming Pro Bowl?

 

Cannery Row In Monterey, Calif., a town populated by hookers and hobos, marine biologist Doc (Nick Nolte) and mercurial Suzi (Debra Winger) seem out of place … but their shared experience as community misfits makes them perfect for each other. Despite their camaraderie, though, Doc harbors secrets that Suzi has yet to unravel. This dual adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novellas Cannery Row and its sequel, Sweet Thursday, also stars Audra Lindley.

 

Possibilities: 

 

The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection: Roland and Ratfink Mischievous, mustachioed Rattfink works overtime to thwart the happiness of sensitive, peace-loving Roland in this collection of episodes from the animated series. The cartoon, which embodied the cool style of 1960s and ’70s animation, boasts a staff of top-of-the-line animators, including directors Friz Freleng, Gerry Chiniquy, Robert McKimson and George Singer. The series was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 1975.

 

Edge of the City When Axel Nordmann (John Cassavetes) deserts the Army and goes to work at the New York rail yards, he hits it off with freight car loader Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier), but their interracial friendship enrages the prejudiced, mobbed-up foreman, Charles Malik (Jack Warden). When Malik resorts to violence, Nordmann must decide whether to take a stand or stay out of trouble. This dark drama from director Martin Ritt also stars Ruby Dee.

 

The Yellow Rolls-Royce One bright-yellow Rolls Royce has three different owners in this star-studded comedy-drama with an ensemble cast that includes Ingrid Bergman, Rex Harrison, Shirley MacLaine, George C. Scott, Omar Sharif, Art Carney, Jeanne Moreau and Alain Delon. Presented as a progression of three stories, the film earned a Golden Globe nod for Best Original Score, ultimately winning the award for Best Original Song (“Forget Domani”).

 

Russell Peters: Red, White, and Brown International comedy sensation Russell Peters brings his hilarious Homecoming Tour to the stage of Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater, where he shares his hysterical thoughts on ethnic stereotypes, his own body hair, the World Cup and much more. An Anglo-Indian born in Canada, Peters fearlessly critiques everything from cheap Indians and Louis Vuitton to the media and the video game Dance, Dance, Revolution.

 

Far from the Madding Crowd Blessed with undeniable beauty and an independent spirit, country lass Bathsheba Everdene (Julia Christie) has her fair share of admirers. But while a sheep farmer (Alan Bates), a landowner (Peter Finch) and a soldier (Terence Stamp) vie for her affections, only one can win her heart. Directed by John Schlesinger and based on the novel by Thomas Hardy, this sweeping romance chalked up an Oscar nod for original score.

 

Holly In this poignant drama, Holly (Thuy Nguyen), a young Vietnamese girl sold into prostitution by her family, tries to escape her dismal life by beginning a platonic relationship with a 40-year-old American named Patrick (Ron Livingston), a stolen-artifacts dealer. Twelve-year-old Holly has been smuggled into Cambodia, becoming one of countless children exploited in the sex trade; Patrick, who has his own troubles, may be her only hope.

 

Closing the Ring Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer star in Richard Attenborough’s bittersweet tale of love, loss, promises and secrets. Fifty years after the death of her true love, Ethel Ann (MacLaine) must finally grieve the painful past unearthed by a found ring. As daughter Marie (Neve Campbell) struggles to understand her cold, alcoholic mother, Ethel Ann and Jack (Plummer) revisit their shared past, and the aching promises made long ago are revealed.

 

M.A.N.T.I..S.: Season 1 This action-packed sci-fi series stars Carl Lumbly as Dr. Miles Hawkins, a brilliant scientist left paralyzed by a bullet who invents a superhuman metal exoskeleton that endows him with extraordinary powers. As he embarks on his crime-fighting missions, he confronts corrupt officials, skilled assassins, samurai warriors, killer robots, dinosaurs and alternate dimensions to make the city safe for ordinary citizens.

 

The Invaders: Season 2 In the second and final season of the late 1960s sci-fi hit, David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) works tirelessly to convince a skeptical public that the earth is being overtaken by the Invaders, aliens from a fading planet. Even worse, these visitors can disguise themselves as humans. In this season, Vincent’s quest leads him to a hospital, to court, to a Soviet embassy and more. Suzanne Pleshette guests stars as an alien with ugly mood swings.

 

The Maniacs Boasting a first-rate cast, this 1964 anthology from cult filmmaker Lucio Fulci features a compilation of comic sketches centered on assorted manias plaguing Italian society — including kleptomania, voyeurism and nymphomania. With a score courtesy of Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone, this bawdy Italian import stars Walter Chiari, Franco Franchi, Ciccio Ingrassia and iconic scream queen Barbara Steele.

 

Hulk Vs. Who would win in a battle between Hulk and Wolverine? How about Hulk vs.. Thor? Find out in this action-packed animated double feature, which matches up the unruly green superhero against two of the Marvel Universe’s most powerful characters. In Hulk Vs. Wolverine, Hulk goes on a rampage in the Canadian countryside, and Wolverine is sent to stop him. In Hulk Vs. Thor, Loki pits Thor against the Midgard beast known as the Incredible Hulk.

 

SpongeBob SquarePants: Spongicus When Plankton scraps the Chum Bucket and builds the Imperial Chum Coliseum in its place, it isn’t long before SpongeBob and Patrick become gladiators for the Coliseum’s big show in this goofy spoof of Spartacus from the hit animated series. Also in this collection, Squidward tries his hand at composing music; Plankton, Squidward, Patrick and SpongeBob start a rock band; and Mr. Krabs finds a deeper relationship — with his money!

 Documentaries and Music: 

 

Alien from Earth: Nova This captivating installment of PBS’ “Nova” series follows a team of anthropologists and archeologists as they investigate the significance of the discovery of ancient bones from a dwarflike race known heretofore as hobbits. Found in a cave on an Indonesian island, the remains, which are tens of thousands of years old, have sparked a heated debate about how and where the hobbits fit within modern man’s evolution.

 

Hitler’s Museum: The Secret History of Art Theft During World War II Follow the remarkable journey of Belgium’s most prized artistic treasure — van Eyck’s Ghent Altar — as it passes through the hands of many art pillagers over the course of the Second World War. But behind the circuitous story lies Adolf Hitler’s grand scheme to assemble Europe’s largest art museum in his Austrian hometown of Linz. The absorbing documentary also covers Stalin’s efforts to hoard numerous masterpieces from German art collections.

 

Music for Airports: In the Ocean In this unique documentary, Dutch filmmaker Frank Scheffer trains his lens on the groundbreaking music group Bang on a Can, capturing the band’s performance of Brian Eno’s ethereal composition “Music for Airports” at the 1999 Holland Festival. The film not only highlights the work of Eno, a distinguished ambient music composer, but also charts the cross-pollination of musical ideas between Europe and America in the 21st century.

 

The City Fueled by American composer Aaron Copland’s rousing score, this documentary produced for the 1939 New York World’s Fair — one of the largest world’s fairs of all time — presents the city as a living, breathing mass of people from all walks of life. In addition to representing one of Copland’s finest film achievements, The City is often cited for its then-innovative blend of music, narration and cinematography.

 

The Weird: 

 

Expiration Date Certain he’ll get hit by a milk truck and die on his 25th birthday — just like his father and grandfather did — Charlie Silvercloud III (Robert A. Guthrie) falls for terminal cancer patient Bessie (Sascha Knopf) and tries to spend his last few days with her. Rick Stevenson writes and directs this dark romantic comedy, which is set in Seattle and also stars David Keith, Richard Sanders and Ned Romero.

 

Permanent Vacation A camping trip results in some twisted family memories in this off-the-wall black comedy. Hoping for one last family vacation before his children leave the nest, laid-back dad Eric Bury (Frank Harper) takes his brood to a trailer park teeming with oddballs. The clan’s plans for a relaxing holiday go down the drain as they encounter sex addicts, a sadistic cop (Michael Bowen), decapitated corpses, bloodthirsty fish and a sage (David Carradine).

Kym’s Picks: 01/20/2009

The Obvious: 

Nothing obvious reached out and grabbed me this week.  Quite a few interesting possibilities, though.

Have Seen and Recommend:

Jonathan Creek: Season 3 What do you get when you combine a whip-smart investigative journalist and a slightly off-kilter illusionist? In the case of this BAFTA-winning series, a crack sleuthing team. When reporter Maddy Magellan (Caroline Quentin) and magician Jonathan Creek (Alan Davies) put their heads together, they can solve just about any mystery — including ones that involve killers who vanish into thin air, murdered hermits and mysterious artifacts.

Waking the Dead: Season 3 Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd (Trevor Eve) and his team of investigators continue their quest to solve cold-case murders using psychological profiling and forensic science in the third season of the International Emmy-winning series. This time around, things get personal for Boyd when the unit investigates a murderer who killed his close friend. The team also tackles an unusual case involving a mummified body found in a Notting Hill home.

Oh No!

Max Payne Mark Wahlberg stars as the title character of this gritty crime thriller, centered on an undercover New York City DEA agent who teams up with a female assassin (Mila Kunis) to avenge the murder of his family. With supporting performances by Beau Bridges, Ludacris, Chris O’Donnell and Donal Logue, this big-screen video game adaptation is directed by filmmaker John Moore.

Saw V When Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) learns that his secret connection to Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) will be exposed, the forensics detective embarks on a hunt to eradicate everything that links him to the serial killer in the fifth installment of the grisly horror series. Jigsaw’s legacy of torturous traps lives on and director David Hackl remains at the helm in this gruesome continuation of the franchise. Julie Benz and Scott Patterson co-star.

Possibilities:

City of Ember Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Martin Landau star in this adventure set in Ember, a city illuminated only by artificial light. When the city’s generator begins to fail, two teens race to solve an ancient mystery and save Ember’s citizens from darkness. Based on author Jeanne Duprau’s enchanting children’s tale, City of Ember stars Harry Treadaway and Saoirse Ronan as the two heroic teens. Toby Jones and Mary Kay Place co-star.

Igor Igor (voiced by John Cusack) is a brilliant young scientist sidelined by a physical deformity. Despite his position as a lowly assistant to mad Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese), Igor dreams of winning the Evil Science Fair and the heart of Gretchen, a village beauty. Aided by a zombie rabbit (Steve Buscemi) and a brain in a jar (Sean Hayes), Igor might just hit the big time. Molly Shannon and Jennifer Coolidge also lend their vocal talent.

Magnificent Obsession When careless philanderer Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson) wrecks his boat and indirectly causes the death of a beloved local doctor, he tries to make amends to the man’s widow, Helen (Jane Wyman, in an Oscar-nominated role). After Helen is accidentally blinded, a smitten Merrick sets out to make a genuine change in his life, restore Helen’s sight and win her heart. Douglas Sirk directs this tearjerker that co-stars Barbara Rush and Agnes Moorehead.

Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger Superstar comedian Chris Rock delivers his trademark combination of off-color humor and insightful, but hysterical, commentary on race, sex and politics in this HBO solo show recorded in London, South Africa and New York. Rock pulls no punches in this hard-hitting stand-up performance that skewers celebrity culture, social inequality and the always complex relationship between women and the men who pursue them.

The Deal William H. Macy stars in this irreverent comedy as a desperate movie producer who lands himself in hot water when the star of his big-budget biopic on British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli is kidnapped from the set. Based on Peter Lefcourt’s novel of the same name, this outrageous look at the zany world of filmmaking also stars LL Cool J, Meg Ryan and Jason Ritter.

El Norte When the army ransacks their Guatemalan village, impoverished teenage siblings Enrique (David Villalpando) and Rosa (Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez) travel north through Mexico, hoping for a better life in America as undocumented immigrants in this Oscar-nominated drama. Kind souls aid their trek northward, but criminals and a persistent fear of deportation also dog their every move. Gregory Nava directs.

The Children of Huang Shi In this sweeping historical drama, British correspondent George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) attempts to save 60 war orphans during Japan’s occupation of China in the 1930s. With help from a guerilla fighter (Yun-Fat Chow) and a nurse (Radha Mitchell), Hogg leads the children across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain — struggling to overcome one obstacle after another — while falling in love and learning what courage truly means.

Kiba On the run from the authorities, 15-year-old Zed and his ailing friend, Noa, escape their dystopian world by diving into a space portal and find themselves transported to a mysterious realm inhabited by spell casters, monsters and spirits. When he discovers a connection to Amil Gaoul, one of the world’s key spirits, Zed sets out on a perilous journey to uncover his true powers in this popular anime series.

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi Who would’ve thought shopping could be so brutal? When young Sasshi and Ayumi uncover the secret to their local mall, they accidentally transport themselves to an alternate universe. Trapped in the doppelganger Abenobashi shopping mall, the youngsters desperately try to find their way home. This spot-on parody skewers anime and other film genres and contains mature content unsuitable for children.

Children of the Stones Astrophysicist Adam Brake (Gareth Thomas) and his teen son Matthew (Peter Demin) investigate the roots of a mysterious stone circle in the quiet British village of Milbury, where they encounter the sinister Rafael Hendrick (Iain Cuthbertson) and entranced villagers known as “the happy ones.” Collected here are all seven episodes of the eerie 1970s British series, as well as bonus interviews with Thomas and producer-director Peter Graham Scott.

MI-5: Vol. 6 Keeping the world safe from terrorist attacks is no easy task — just ask the MI-5 agents charged with that job on this BAFTA-winning spy drama. Adam (Rupert Penry-Jones) and Ros (Hermione Norris) recover from the bombing of the Thames Barrier — only to find London in even graver danger as negotiations with Iran are threatened, a killer virus is unleashed on the city and mercenaries take Zaf (Raza Jaffrey) hostage.

Documentaries and Music:

MGM: When the Lion Roars Patrick Stewart hosts this Emmy-winning examination of the creation, rise and decline of legendary Hollywood studio MGM, which, at the height of its success, claimed to have “more stars than there are in the heavens.” Stuffed with film clips, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage and lore, the film features appearances by Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Spencer Tracy, Gene Kelly and many others.

The Weird:

King Frat J.J. “Grossout” Gumbroski (John DiSanti) and the beer-swilling wise guys of Pi Kappa Delta go for the gassy gold when they enter a campus-wide farting contest in hopes of besting their WASP-y rivals at Yellowstream University. Mooning, drinking, partying, tasteless pranks and flatulence jokes loom large in this raunchy riposte to Animal House, which was released one year earlier. Dan Chandler co-stars as Chief Latrine.

National Lampoon’s Stoned Age Caveman Ishbo (Adam Rifkin) definitely doesn’t fit the mold. Tired of hunting, gathering and primitive tools, he yearns for something more. Unfortunately, his quest doesn’t appeal to the girl of his dreams, Fardart (Ali Larter), who only has eyes for Ishbo’s hunky brother (Hayes MacArthur). David Carradine and Talia Shire co-star as Ishbo’s supportive parents in this Stone Age comedy, which Rifkin also wrote and directed.

Kym’s Picks: 01/13/2009

The Obvious:

 

Bangkok Dangerous Nicolas Cage stars in this action thriller as a lonely, cold-blooded assassin known only as Joe. While on assignment in Bangkok, Joe unexpectedly falls in love with a beautiful local woman (Charlie Yeung), and finds himself questioning his violent ways. When the true nature of his assignment is revealed, Joe refuses to carry out the operation, and unintentionally sparks an all-out war with his former client.

 

Pineapple Express After witnessing an underworld murder involving a corrupt cop (Rosie Perez) and a drug kingpin (Gary Cole), straitlaced pothead Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) must go on the run with his dealer (James Franco, in a Golden Globe-nominated role) to escape the wrath of the vengeance-minded criminals. Acclaimed indie auteur David Gordon Green directs the stoner road comedy, penned by Rogen and his Superbad co-writer, Evan Goldberg.

 

The Wackness In the midst of a midlife crisis, psychiatrist Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley) forms a relationship with teenage drug dealer Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), who trades his product for therapy sessions. Luke falls for the doctor’s daughter, and the doctor falls for Luke’s teen friend (Mary-Kate Olsen). Drugs, depression, relationships and New York City are the focus of this comedic film from sophomore director Jonathan Levine.

 

Have Seen and Recommend:

 

Battlestar Galactica: Season 4 New characters and old secrets are revealed in the fourth season of this critically acclaimed Sci Fi Channel breakout hit, an update of the classic 1970s television series by the same name. A mentally imbalanced officer from the now-destroyed Battlestar Pegasus joins the crew of the Battlestar Galactica, and more details about Adm. Adama’s (Edward James Olmos) past are brought to life via flashback. The two-hour special Razor is also included.

 

Mannix: Season 2 With help from his secretary, Peggy (Gail Fisher), and police contacts Lt. Malcolm (Ward Wood) and Lt. Tobias (Robert Reed), private detective Joe Mannix (Mike Connors) tackles tough cases involving kidnappers, conspiracies, corruption and killings. The second season of this crime drama features Mannix looking for a manuscript that could unlock a murder case, investigating a war hero’s past, and fighting off a revenge-seeking veteran.

 

Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season 1 Inspired by the popular blog and bestselling memoir of a British sex worker who calls herself Belle de Jour, this provocative Showtime series follows the exploits of Hannah (Billie Piper), a well-educated, high-class call girl. Fulfilling the fantasies of the London elite by night, and working as a legal secretary by day, Hannah strives to keep her two lives separate — a feat much easier said than done.

 

The Tudors: Season 2 Hollywood icon Peter O’Toole joins the cast for a second season of the hit Showtime series. After King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) secretly has his marriage to Katherine (Maria Doyle Kennedy) declared invalid and weds Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer), Pope Paul III (O’Toole) moves to excommunicate the king. Meanwhile, some of Henry’s old friends and allies fall out of favor. The critically acclaimed drama co-stars Jeremy Northam.

 

Tripping the Rift: Season 3 Lovable lowlife Captain Chode and his crew embark on even more outrageous adventures in the third season of this raunchy animated series. Fans won’t want to miss the clever Terminator parody that finds Chode stalked by a robot clown from the future. Meanwhile, Six is kidnapped — and inherits a huge fortune, Gus visits a strip club, Bob gets dismantled at a chop shop and someone is selling parts of the Jupiter 42 on eBay.

 

Oh No!

 

Surfer, Dude Laid-back Steve Addington (Matthew McConaughey) lives his dream life as he tours the globe, catching the best waves in every hemisphere. But when he returns to Malibu, things change: The good waves have disappeared, and to his great dismay, they don’t return all summer! Soon, Steve begins to question his existence, searching for meaning in his life with no waves to ride. Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson co-star in this comic romp.

 

Disaster Movie Trapped in a city as temblors, tornados and asteroids ravage the land, three friends (Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian and Vanessa Minnillo) get swept up in a series of wacky adventures as they look for a way to stop the onslaught of natural disasters. Poking fun at pop-culture sensations such as “Sex and the City,” There Will Be Blood, Dr. Phil and singer Amy Winehouse, this entertaining spoof also stars Matt Lanter.

 

Possibilities:

 

Towelhead Based on Alicia Erian’s novel, this coming-of-age tale follows the topsy-turvy life of Jasira (Summer Bishil, with a Best Female Lead nod for the Independent Spirit Awards), a 13-year-old Arab-American girl wrestling with the challenges of adolescence, bigotry and life with an overbearing father. Directed and adapted for the big screen by Alan Ball (American Beauty), this darkly comic film set during the first Gulf War also stars Toni Collette, Aaron Eckhart and Maria Bello.

 

Roast of Bob Saget: Uncensored Extended This ain’t for the “Full House” crowd. Join a host of comedians and Hollywood personalities as they take playful aim at actor-comedian Bob Saget, best known for his role as the squeaky-clean dad on the long-running ABC sitcom. Among those taking jabs at the man of the hour are Norm MacDonald, Jeff Garlin, Jon Lovitz, Greg Giraldo, Brian Posehn, Cloris Leachman, Sarah Silverman, Jeffrey Ross and Uncle Jesse himself, John Stamos.

 

Kyle XY: Season 2 After Kyle (Matt Dallas) learns some of the secrets of his origins from the man who created him, unexpected circumstances return him to the Trager family. But as he tries to fit in as a normal teenager, he’s conflicted about the knowledge he must keep hidden. Meanwhile, Tom Foss (Nicholas Lea) works with Kyle to help him reach his full potential, and enigmatic corporation Madacorp sends the girl in the pod (Jaimie Alexander) to recover Kyle.

 

Age of Consent Desperate for inspiration, artist Bradley Morahan (James Mason) leaves New York City and moves to a small island off the coast of his native Australia, where he discovers a muse in a beautiful 17-year-old named Cora Ryan (Helen Mirren). But Bradley’s newfound bliss is interrupted by the dishonest dealings of an old friend and the protests of Cora’s grandmother. Director Michael Powell’s 1969 romantic drama marks Mirren’s first major screen role.

 

Ghost Writer When he discovers that his boarder — a promising young novelist (David Boreanaz) who owes months of back rent — has been taking advantage of his hospitality, frustrated musician John Vandermark (Alan Cumming) ties up and beats him. But when the treatment goes further than he expects, Vandermark hatches a new scheme to achieve the critical fame that always eluded him. Anne Heche and Carrie Fisher co-star in this black comedy. Cumming directs.

 

The Plot to Kill Hitler Brad Davis stars as Wehrmacht Col. Count Claus von Staufenberg in this fact-based historical drama about a 1944 attempt by German High Command officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler by planting a bomb in his battlefield headquarters. Ian Richardson, Rupert Graves and Madolyn Smith Osborne also star in this Lawrence Schiller-directed tale of the ill-fated attempt to bring an end to World War II and a halt to Hitler’s madness.

 

Babylon A.D. Hard-boiled mercenary Toorop (Vin Diesel) accepts a risky mission to escort a virus-carrying woman (Mélanie Thierry) and her guardian nun (Michelle Yeoh) from Russia to China. But Toorop gets far more than he bargained for when a mysterious religious cult stops at nothing to kidnap the woman. Based on Maurice Dantec’s novel Babylon Babies, this postapocalyptic tale of genetic mayhem also stars Gérard Depardieu and Charlotte Rampling.

 

Righteous Kill Academy Award winners Robert De Niro and Al Pacino star in this taut thriller as a pair of New York City detectives tasked with investigating a rash of vigilante killings linked to a case years ago, suggesting they may have put an innocent man behind bars. John Leguizamo, Carla Gugino, Brian Dennehy, Donnie Wahlberg and rapper-turned-actor 50 Cent also star in this crime drama penned by Russel Gerwitz (Inside Man) and directed by Jon Avnet.

 

Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday Peter Davison plays the time-traveling doctor in this serial that finds the good doctor and a trio of companions aboard a spaceship headed for Earth in the company of an ethnically diverse android crew and the frog-like alien Urbankans. With the Urbankan leader set on poisoning the planet’s inhabitants so that he can repopulate it with his androids, it’s up to the Doctor to find a way to avert disaster.

 

Doctor Who: The War Machines In this adventure from the British science fiction series, Doctor Who (William Hartnell) and his time machine materialize in 1966 London. Sensing evil in the air, the Doctor poses as a scientist to ferret out the source and stumbles on the thinking computer WOTAN. Though poised to be linked with computers around the world to create an advanced computer network, WOTAN has its own plans: namely, to create a robot army to take over the world.

 

Cyrano De Bergerac Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner star in this 2007 Broadway revival of Edmond Rostand’s classic romance. Poetic Cyrano de Bergerac (Kline) pines for the beautiful Roxane (Garner). But for Cyrano, his oversize nose is the chasm that keeps them apart. Feeling that his beloved could never care for one so ugly, Cyrano speaks his devotion through the striking Christian (Daniel Sunjata) … until the handsome soldier can no longer speak for Cyrano.

 

Blind Mountain The promise of a good-paying job lures a young Chinese woman into a horrifying predicament in this drama. College student Bai Xuemei (Lu Huang) awakens in a remote village to find she’s been sold into a marriage that is slavery in disguise. Her resistance to the repulsive “husband” and his family only results in beatings and rape. With hope running out and allies few, Bai undertakes one final dramatic stand against her oppressors.

 

Duckman: Seasons 3 & 4 Boorish private dick Duckman (voiced by Jason Alexander) returns for more comic misadventures with his partner, Cornfed (Gregg Berger), in this collection of episodes from the cult animated series that serves up sharp satire and a healthy dose of cynicism. Among the highlights from Seasons 3 and 4, Duckman lands himself in the nuthouse, starts a revolution in a third-world country, adopts rap star Coolio and buys a mail-order bride.

 

Frisky Dingo: Season 2 In the second season of this animated superhero spoof, bored villain Killface abandons his plans to destroy the world and decides instead to lead it. Claiming to have cured global warming, he enlists rapper Taqu’il to spread the news as he enters the race for the nation’s top office. Determined to thwart Killface and expose his lies, superhero and action figure maker Xander Crews throws his hat into the ring as well.

 

Documentaries and Music:

 

Rona Barrett’s Hollywood: Nothing But the Truth Through intimate one-on-one interviews, celebrity journalist Rona Barrett learns the secrets and dreams of Hollywood legends such as Cher, Raquel Welch, Robin Williams, John Travolta, John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Richard Dreyfuss and many more. With more than 30 years of experience, Barrett knows how to connect with celebrities and talk to them about the issues they would normally share only with friends.

 

Dogtown: New Beginnings Deep in the canyon country of Utah lies Dogtown, the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States and the subject of this National Geographic series that shines a light on the facility’s canine inhabitants and their dedicated caregivers. Included among the five episodes is one that focuses on the rehabilitation of four of the pups rescued from the home of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was convicted of dogfighting.

 

Independent Lens: The Atom Smashers Welcome to Fermilab, home of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator and the possible site of a breakthrough in our understanding of the universe. Physicists at Fermilab smash atoms in the 4-mile-long accelerator at nearly the speed of light. Their hope is to find a yet-unseen particle posited by Scottish scientist Peter Higgs more than four decades ago, which might be the missing piece in the puzzle of the universe’s origins and makeup.

 

Inheritance Monika Hertwig grapples with her father Amon Goeth’s appalling legacy as a Nazi responsible for killing thousands of Jews. In a moving act of reconciliation, Monika meets with Helen Jonas-Rosezweig, her father’s Jewish maid and slave during the war. Deeply disturbed by actor Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of her father as an inhuman monster in the film Schindler’s List, Monika tries to overcome her guilt by coming to terms with the past.

 

Robert F. Kennedy: Legacy This collection of archival footage features the most compelling speeches, press conferences and appearances made by Robert F. Kennedy, easily one of the most beloved political figures in the history of the United States. Highlights include RFK’s eulogy to Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a tribute to John F. Kennedy at the 1964 Democratic National Convention and his stirring address at Columbia University later that year.

 

 

 

The Weird:

 

Bloodsuckers from Outer Space When a sinister alien intelligence invades a small Texas town, it turns the locals into flesh-eating zombies. Now two survivors (Glen Coburn and Laura Ellis) must elude both the undead and a trigger-happy military to solve the mystery and prevent the epidemic from spreading. In addition to playing a starring role, Coburn wrote and directed this entertaining low-budget horror flick that also features Pat Paulsen.

 

Gluttonous Based on a popular Japanese manga, this pair of sidesplitting live action comedies follows the screwball exploits of a host of unconventional participants in the ferociously intense world of competitive eating. While most people try to temper their food intake, these competitors pride themselves on swallowing as much food as they can in the shortest possible time — and keeping it down long enough to win!

Kym’s Picks: 12/30/08 and 01/06/09 combined

The Obvious:

 

Bangkok Dangerous Nicolas Cage stars in this action thriller as a lonely, cold-blooded assassin known only as Joe. While on assignment in Bangkok, Joe unexpectedly falls in love with a beautiful local woman (Charlie Yeung), and finds himself questioning his violent ways. When the true nature of his assignment is revealed, Joe refuses to carry out the operation, and unintentionally sparks an all-out war with his former client.

 

Pineapple Express After witnessing an underworld murder involving a corrupt cop (Rosie Perez) and a drug kingpin (Gary Cole), straitlaced pothead Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) must go on the run with his dealer (James Franco, in a Golden Globe-nominated role) to escape the wrath of the vengeance-minded criminals. Acclaimed indie auteur David Gordon Green directs the stoner road comedy, penned by Rogen and his Superbad co-writer, Evan Goldberg.

 

The Wackness In the midst of a midlife crisis, psychiatrist Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley) forms a relationship with teenage drug dealer Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), who trades his product for therapy sessions. Luke falls for the doctor’s daughter, and the doctor falls for Luke’s teen friend (Mary-Kate Olsen). Drugs, depression, relationships and New York City are the focus of this comedic film from sophomore director Jonathan Levine.

 

Have Seen and Recommend:

 

Battlestar Galactica: Season 4 New characters and old secrets are revealed in the fourth season of this critically acclaimed Sci Fi Channel breakout hit, an update of the classic 1970s television series by the same name. A mentally imbalanced officer from the now-destroyed Battlestar Pegasus joins the crew of the Battlestar Galactica, and more details about Adm. Adama’s (Edward James Olmos) past are brought to life via flashback. The two-hour special Razor is also included.

 

Mannix: Season 2 With help from his secretary, Peggy (Gail Fisher), and police contacts Lt. Malcolm (Ward Wood) and Lt. Tobias (Robert Reed), private detective Joe Mannix (Mike Connors) tackles tough cases involving kidnappers, conspiracies, corruption and killings. The second season of this crime drama features Mannix looking for a manuscript that could unlock a murder case, investigating a war hero’s past, and fighting off a revenge-seeking veteran.

 

Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season 1 Inspired by the popular blog and bestselling memoir of a British sex worker who calls herself Belle de Jour, this provocative Showtime series follows the exploits of Hannah (Billie Piper), a well-educated, high-class call girl. Fulfilling the fantasies of the London elite by night, and working as a legal secretary by day, Hannah strives to keep her two lives separate — a feat much easier said than done.

 

The Tudors: Season 2 Hollywood icon Peter O’Toole joins the cast for a second season of the hit Showtime series. After King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) secretly has his marriage to Katherine (Maria Doyle Kennedy) declared invalid and weds Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer), Pope Paul III (O’Toole) moves to excommunicate the king. Meanwhile, some of Henry’s old friends and allies fall out of favor. The critically acclaimed drama co-stars Jeremy Northam.

 

Tripping the Rift: Season 3 Lovable lowlife Captain Chode and his crew embark on even more outrageous adventures in the third season of this raunchy animated series. Fans won’t want to miss the clever Terminator parody that finds Chode stalked by a robot clown from the future. Meanwhile, Six is kidnapped — and inherits a huge fortune, Gus visits a strip club, Bob gets dismantled at a chop shop and someone is selling parts of the Jupiter 42 on eBay.

 

Oh No!

 

Surfer, Dude Laid-back Steve Addington (Matthew McConaughey) lives his dream life as he tours the globe, catching the best waves in every hemisphere. But when he returns to Malibu, things change: The good waves have disappeared, and to his great dismay, they don’t return all summer! Soon, Steve begins to question his existence, searching for meaning in his life with no waves to ride. Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson co-star in this comic romp.

 

Disaster Movie Trapped in a city as temblors, tornados and asteroids ravage the land, three friends (Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian and Vanessa Minnillo) get swept up in a series of wacky adventures as they look for a way to stop the onslaught of natural disasters. Poking fun at pop-culture sensations such as “Sex and the City,” There Will Be Blood, Dr. Phil and singer Amy Winehouse, this entertaining spoof also stars Matt Lanter.

 

Possibilities:

 

Towelhead Based on Alicia Erian’s novel, this coming-of-age tale follows the topsy-turvy life of Jasira (Summer Bishil, with a Best Female Lead nod for the Independent Spirit Awards), a 13-year-old Arab-American girl wrestling with the challenges of adolescence, bigotry and life with an overbearing father. Directed and adapted for the big screen by Alan Ball (American Beauty), this darkly comic film set during the first Gulf War also stars Toni Collette, Aaron Eckhart and Maria Bello.

 

Roast of Bob Saget: Uncensored Extended This ain’t for the “Full House” crowd. Join a host of comedians and Hollywood personalities as they take playful aim at actor-comedian Bob Saget, best known for his role as the squeaky-clean dad on the long-running ABC sitcom. Among those taking jabs at the man of the hour are Norm MacDonald, Jeff Garlin, Jon Lovitz, Greg Giraldo, Brian Posehn, Cloris Leachman, Sarah Silverman, Jeffrey Ross and Uncle Jesse himself, John Stamos.

 

Kyle XY: Season 2 After Kyle (Matt Dallas) learns some of the secrets of his origins from the man who created him, unexpected circumstances return him to the Trager family. But as he tries to fit in as a normal teenager, he’s conflicted about the knowledge he must keep hidden. Meanwhile, Tom Foss (Nicholas Lea) works with Kyle to help him reach his full potential, and enigmatic corporation Madacorp sends the girl in the pod (Jaimie Alexander) to recover Kyle.

 

Age of Consent Desperate for inspiration, artist Bradley Morahan (James Mason) leaves New York City and moves to a small island off the coast of his native Australia, where he discovers a muse in a beautiful 17-year-old named Cora Ryan (Helen Mirren). But Bradley’s newfound bliss is interrupted by the dishonest dealings of an old friend and the protests of Cora’s grandmother. Director Michael Powell’s 1969 romantic drama marks Mirren’s first major screen role.

 

Ghost Writer When he discovers that his boarder — a promising young novelist (David Boreanaz) who owes months of back rent — has been taking advantage of his hospitality, frustrated musician John Vandermark (Alan Cumming) ties up and beats him. But when the treatment goes further than he expects, Vandermark hatches a new scheme to achieve the critical fame that always eluded him. Anne Heche and Carrie Fisher co-star in this black comedy. Cumming directs.

 

The Plot to Kill Hitler Brad Davis stars as Wehrmacht Col. Count Claus von Staufenberg in this fact-based historical drama about a 1944 attempt by German High Command officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler by planting a bomb in his battlefield headquarters. Ian Richardson, Rupert Graves and Madolyn Smith Osborne also star in this Lawrence Schiller-directed tale of the ill-fated attempt to bring an end to World War II and a halt to Hitler’s madness.

 

Babylon A.D. Hard-boiled mercenary Toorop (Vin Diesel) accepts a risky mission to escort a virus-carrying woman (Mélanie Thierry) and her guardian nun (Michelle Yeoh) from Russia to China. But Toorop gets far more than he bargained for when a mysterious religious cult stops at nothing to kidnap the woman. Based on Maurice Dantec’s novel Babylon Babies, this postapocalyptic tale of genetic mayhem also stars Gérard Depardieu and Charlotte Rampling.

 

Righteous Kill Academy Award winners Robert De Niro and Al Pacino star in this taut thriller as a pair of New York City detectives tasked with investigating a rash of vigilante killings linked to a case years ago, suggesting they may have put an innocent man behind bars. John Leguizamo, Carla Gugino, Brian Dennehy, Donnie Wahlberg and rapper-turned-actor 50 Cent also star in this crime drama penned by Russel Gerwitz (Inside Man) and directed by Jon Avnet.

 

Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday Peter Davison plays the time-traveling doctor in this serial that finds the good doctor and a trio of companions aboard a spaceship headed for Earth in the company of an ethnically diverse android crew and the frog-like alien Urbankans. With the Urbankan leader set on poisoning the planet’s inhabitants so that he can repopulate it with his androids, it’s up to the Doctor to find a way to avert disaster.

 

Doctor Who: The War Machines In this adventure from the British science fiction series, Doctor Who (William Hartnell) and his time machine materialize in 1966 London. Sensing evil in the air, the Doctor poses as a scientist to ferret out the source and stumbles on the thinking computer WOTAN. Though poised to be linked with computers around the world to create an advanced computer network, WOTAN has its own plans: namely, to create a robot army to take over the world.

 

Cyrano De Bergerac Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner star in this 2007 Broadway revival of Edmond Rostand’s classic romance. Poetic Cyrano de Bergerac (Kline) pines for the beautiful Roxane (Garner). But for Cyrano, his oversize nose is the chasm that keeps them apart. Feeling that his beloved could never care for one so ugly, Cyrano speaks his devotion through the striking Christian (Daniel Sunjata) … until the handsome soldier can no longer speak for Cyrano.

 

Blind Mountain The promise of a good-paying job lures a young Chinese woman into a horrifying predicament in this drama. College student Bai Xuemei (Lu Huang) awakens in a remote village to find she’s been sold into a marriage that is slavery in disguise. Her resistance to the repulsive “husband” and his family only results in beatings and rape. With hope running out and allies few, Bai undertakes one final dramatic stand against her oppressors.

 

Duckman: Seasons 3 & 4 Boorish private dick Duckman (voiced by Jason Alexander) returns for more comic misadventures with his partner, Cornfed (Gregg Berger), in this collection of episodes from the cult animated series that serves up sharp satire and a healthy dose of cynicism. Among the highlights from Seasons 3 and 4, Duckman lands himself in the nuthouse, starts a revolution in a third-world country, adopts rap star Coolio and buys a mail-order bride.

 

Frisky Dingo: Season 2 In the second season of this animated superhero spoof, bored villain Killface abandons his plans to destroy the world and decides instead to lead it. Claiming to have cured global warming, he enlists rapper Taqu’il to spread the news as he enters the race for the nation’s top office. Determined to thwart Killface and expose his lies, superhero and action figure maker Xander Crews throws his hat into the ring as well.

 

Documentaries and Music:

 

Rona Barrett’s Hollywood: Nothing But the Truth Through intimate one-on-one interviews, celebrity journalist Rona Barrett learns the secrets and dreams of Hollywood legends such as Cher, Raquel Welch, Robin Williams, John Travolta, John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Richard Dreyfuss and many more. With more than 30 years of experience, Barrett knows how to connect with celebrities and talk to them about the issues they would normally share only with friends.

 

Dogtown: New Beginnings Deep in the canyon country of Utah lies Dogtown, the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States and the subject of this National Geographic series that shines a light on the facility’s canine inhabitants and their dedicated caregivers. Included among the five episodes is one that focuses on the rehabilitation of four of the pups rescued from the home of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was convicted of dogfighting.

 

Independent Lens: The Atom Smashers Welcome to Fermilab, home of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator and the possible site of a breakthrough in our understanding of the universe. Physicists at Fermilab smash atoms in the 4-mile-long accelerator at nearly the speed of light. Their hope is to find a yet-unseen particle posited by Scottish scientist Peter Higgs more than four decades ago, which might be the missing piece in the puzzle of the universe’s origins and makeup.

 

Inheritance Monika Hertwig grapples with her father Amon Goeth’s appalling legacy as a Nazi responsible for killing thousands of Jews. In a moving act of reconciliation, Monika meets with Helen Jonas-Rosezweig, her father’s Jewish maid and slave during the war. Deeply disturbed by actor Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of her father as an inhuman monster in the film Schindler’s List, Monika tries to overcome her guilt by coming to terms with the past.

 

Robert F. Kennedy: Legacy This collection of archival footage features the most compelling speeches, press conferences and appearances made by Robert F. Kennedy, easily one of the most beloved political figures in the history of the United States. Highlights include RFK’s eulogy to Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a tribute to John F. Kennedy at the 1964 Democratic National Convention and his stirring address at Columbia University later that year. 

 

The Weird:

 

Bloodsuckers from Outer Space When a sinister alien intelligence invades a small Texas town, it turns the locals into flesh-eating zombies. Now two survivors (Glen Coburn and Laura Ellis) must elude both the undead and a trigger-happy military to solve the mystery and prevent the epidemic from spreading. In addition to playing a starring role, Coburn wrote and directed this entertaining low-budget horror flick that also features Pat Paulsen.

 

Gluttonous Based on a popular Japanese manga, this pair of sidesplitting live action comedies follows the screwball exploits of a host of unconventional participants in the ferociously intense world of competitive eating. While most people try to temper their food intake, these competitors pride themselves on swallowing as much food as they can in the shortest possible time — and keeping it down long enough to win!

  

 

 

If You’re Bored…

…then spend some time scrolling through Den of Geek’s Top 50 Movie Special Effects — complete with video. The author, Martin Anderson, is quite emphatic that his list is NOT meant to represent “iconic” movie shots, “such as the opening shot in Star Wars or the final shot in Back To The Future, etc.” The criteria he used are:

For the purposes of this list, a shot has to be either a) exceptionally convincing, b) ground-breaking or c) an exemplary execution of an oft-used technique. Only one shot is allowed per film.

The Star Wars “into the trench” Death Star sequence is on the list, as well as shots from films as diverse as Blade Runner, Howard the Duck, and David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers. Take a look — you’ll definitely be entertained, even (or especially) if you don’t agree with his assessments.

Here’s a longer framing of one of Anderson’s choices, by the great Ray Harryhausen: