Ryan Gosling (aka the guy who should have been People's Sexiest Man Alive) in the movie, "Drive." Photo: Beyond Hollywood
If Drive doesn’t rake in nominations come awards season, then they’re all just deaf and blind.
It deserves Best Picture and Best Director nods.
Based on the James Sallis’ novel of the same name, the thriller (“Pretty in Pink with head smashing”) centers on Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine), a mechanic, movie stuntman, and getaway driver all in one. Things get complicated when a heist goes wrong.
You know that saying, “Too much of anything is bad”? Well, that can’t be the case with George Clooney. The actor is surrounded by Oscar buzz for The Descendants. Alexander Payne (Sideways) directs Clooney as a recently widowed father of one Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager). Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now
Also, be sure to check out the documentary on a movie mogul,Unauthorized: Harvey Weinstein. Expected U.S. release date: unknown
Jason Statham (The Transporter) tries to keep a young girl Safe in yet another action movie. Expected U.S. release date: April 27, 2012
After the jump: Films by big-name directors, Guy Ritchie, Joss Whedon, Steven Soderbergh, Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski, Peter Jackson, Cameron Crowe, Jason Reitman, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, and David Fincher
The latest episode is a game changer for these actors' characters (L to R): Kim Raver, Sandra Oh, and Kevin McKidd. Photo: Pop Tower
Shonda Rhimes, what did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO?
The medical drama has its fair share of mediocre episodes—the kind that made some Grey’s Anatomy fans stop watching years ago. However, I stuck with the show and I’m glad I did. Case in point: The awesome season 6.
Season 8 is no different in this matter, especially the first few episodes, which were ho-hum. Then, it got better again … and then the ninth episode happened.
Depending on who you talk to, this is either a terrific or horrible episode. Rhimes, the show runner, is either a genius or a bitch. Call it sitting on the fence, but I think all of the aforementioned applies.
The cast of a new comedy, Raising Hope: Martha Plimpton, Shannon Woodward, Lucas Neff, and Garret Dillahunt. Photo: Couch Time with Jill
The half-hour comedy is just as funny as Modern Family, if not more, then definitely wackier. It’s easily one of my new favorite series! To give you a better idea of the show’s sense of humor, it’s brought to us by Greg Garcia, creator of My Name is Earl (which was super wacky, in case you didn’t know).
Raising Hope is about Jimmy Chance (newcomer Lucas Neff), a young single dad who grapples with the day-to-day problems of taking care of his daughter. He has some help from his lower class family: his great great grandmother (Cloris Leachman) and his parents who also had him at a young age (Garret Dillahunt from The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Martha Plimpton from The Goonies).
Simon Baker, star of "The Mentalist." Photo: Fanpop
Happiness is Simon Baker’s smile.
When The Mentalist star flashes his pearly whites as Patrick Jane, he lights up the screen. The series is a procedural cop show with an overarching story, in which Jane tries to catch Red John, the serial killer who murdered Jane’s wife and daughter.
Jane’s part of the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), so they take cases all over the state. As a bonus, because of that, I’m familiarizing myself with a lot of places I haven’t heard of before.
It differs from other mystery shows because of its central character. Jane is a quirky guy who can adeptly read people and decipher crime scenes. Some people even go so far as to call him a psychic. He can tell what job you have just by looking at you (deciphering) and he also drinks a lot of tea (quirk).
Many funny moments arise from Jane’s antics; hypnosis is no exception. Here’s an example of the show’s sense of humor:
Here are some songs I’ve recently discovered and almost all of them are on repeat on my speakers. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
Turn It Up – Taryn Manning
Check out the latest catchy dance tune from the singer/actress with a raspy voice. If you haven’t heard her stuff as one-half of Boomkat (her brother is the other half), I also recommend tuning in to their unique sound. The Wreckoning (below) is a good place to start.
After the jump: Music from TV shows, such as Cougar Town, The Big C, Hart of Dixie, Revenge, etc.
Michael Fassbender is getting Oscar buzz for his role in "Shame."
That’s right. The breakout hottie from X-men: First Class reportedly lays it all bare in his role as a sex addict—and he’s not the only one. Apparently, Carey Mulligan also joins her co-star in the full-frontal nudity fun as his younger sister.
Since the director insists on keeping the NC-17 rating, audiences will see it all in its untainted form. Fox Searchlight just picked up the rights to Shame, so don’t worry, the indie won’t vanish into oblivion either. People will actually get to watch it starting Dec. 14—in time for awards consideration.
To tide you over, check out Fassbender in the adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and if you haven’t seen An Educationwith Mulligan yet, you should.
1. Apartment 23
Stars: Krysten Ritter, James Van Der Beek
Synopsis: Comedy about a girl whose new roommate is a bitch at first, but turns out not to be
Why Watch: The pilot got good reviews.
2. New Girl
Stars: Zooey Deschanel
Synopsis: Comedy about a wacky girl who moves in with three guy roommates
Why Watch: FOX released the pilot early. I’ve seen it and while there’s a bit of transition issues and they’re recasting one of the guys, it is funny. Plus, for me, the charming Deschanel is the real draw.
3. Hart of Dixie
Stars: Rachel Bilson, Scott Porter, Jaime King
Synopsis: Bilson is a doctor who has little choice but to practice in a small town, where she meets romantic interest, Porter, who’s engaged to King.
Why Watch: The show has drawn comparisons to other CW shows like Everwood. It reunites Bilson and The OC creator, Josh Schwartz. While I wasn’t an OC fan, the results are darling, as you’ll see below.
'The Killing' stars Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos.
With the slew of mystery shows on television, you’d think you couldn’t add anymore to your DVR. Well, you should. If any channel can bring a fresh take on the genre, it’s AMC, home of Mad Men and Breaking Bad.
Another thing that gives The Killing credibility is its creator, Veena Sud, who’s an alum of another good show, Cold Case. Sud has revamped a hit Dutch TV series, and in its first season, the US version seeks to solve one mystery: Who killed Rosie Larsen?
