Spent part of the morning at Derby Downs with Corbin Bernsen — and how often do you get to write a line like that? — then wrote my video column and my Bernsen story, while researching a couple of other things along the way. And Oprah has just said she'll make her announcement at the END of her show today. So I haven't gotten to quite a few other things, from viewing the NBC Thursday comedies (saw "The Office" so far and that's it) to writing up my promised "Precious" notes. Sometime tonight, I expect. Still, here are a couple of items of interest that crossed the desk . . .
Netflix and IFC have made a new deal to stream some independent films. The word:
In a move designed to increase the reach of independent cinema, IFC Entertainment, one of the leading distributors of independent and foreign films, and Netflix, the world’s largest online movie rental service, today announced a partnership that gives Netflix U.S. rights to 53 unique titles from IFC Entertainment. Through this agreement select titles from IFC Entertainment’s eclectic library of independent films will become available to be streamed instantly to televisions and computers via the Netflix service. . . .
The deal will include 53 contemporary classic, and recent critically acclaimed titles, including English-language independents from John Sayles’ Sundance prize winner THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET and the award-winning RETURN OF SECAUCUS SEVEN, Christopher Nolan’s first film FOLLOWING, Joe Swanberg’s NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, James Toback's WHEN WILL I BE LOVED?, and Rebecca Miller's debut ANGELA.
The library will also feature documentaries by renowned filmmaker Errol Morris, including the groundbreaking THE THIN BLUE LINE and his debut feature GATES OF HEAVEN. Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's award-winning BROTHER'S KEEPER, and Jim Stern and Adam Del Deo's political documentary SO GOES THE NATION are also featured.
In addition, some of the most celebrated foreign language titles of recent years can be instantly streamed from Netflix, including Susanne Bier's BROTHERS, Patrice Chereau's GABRIELLE, Hirokazu Kore-Eda's Cannes prize winner NOBODY KNOWS, Lukas Moodysson's TOGETHER, Christophe Honoré’s DANS PARIS, Catherine Breillat SEX IS COMEDY, Alfonso Cuaron SOLO CON TU PAREJA, Kristian Levring THE INTENDED and Hou Hsiao Hsien’s THREE TIMES.
A reader asked not long ago when "Boondock Saints II" would be available in local theaters. Here's the skinny:
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints will be opening in Akron and Cleveland this Wednesday (November 25th) at some area theaters including Regal Montrose, University Plaza 10 and Cinemark Valley View. The film has opened to great numbers in other cities and is now expanding wider on 11/25.
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is the much-anticipated sequel to the indie cult classic, The Boondock Saints. The film is the continuation of writer/director Troy Duffy’s tough, stylized cutting edge saga of the MacManus brothers (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery). The two have been in deep hiding with their father, Il Duce (Billy Connolly), in the quiet valleys of Ireland, far removed from their former vigilante lives. When word comes that a beloved priest has been killed by sinister forces from deep within the mob, the brothers return to Boston to mount a violent and bloody crusade to bring justice to those responsible. With a new partner in crime (Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek) and a sexy FBI operative (Julie Benz, TV's “Dexter”) hot on their trail…the Saints are back.
I keep looking at Oprah Winfrey's announcement that she is ending her syndicated talk show in 2011 and having two thoughts. First, that 2011 is still more than a year away, and her mind may change. Second, that even if she leaves daytime broadcast TV, I don't see her giving up a bully pulpit entirely, especially not when she is launching her own cable net in '11. Consider this statement re her future, from the head of Discovery Communications, a partner in her network:
“There is no bigger brand in media than Oprah Winfrey. She has changed the broadcast landscape and how people consume television. Along the way, she impacted our culture and touched us all. We congratulate her and our friends at Harpo for their many achievements, and their years of creating truly ground-breaking television. Discovery Communications has a tremendous partner in Oprah, and we look forward to bringing her and her creative vision, programming and unique voice to approximately 80 million homes on OWN, as well as online through the award-winning Oprah.com.”
I mentioned on FB and Twitter that I would be posting more thoughts here about "Precious," but it is unlikely I will post them before Friday, and probably not before later in the day.
ABC announces the premiere of the sixth and final season of “Lost,” with a special all-night event on Tuesday, February 2. A recap special will kick off the night from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET, followed by the much anticipated two-hour premiere from 9:00-11:00 p.m.
The series will then air in its regular time period – Tuesday nights from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET – beginning the following week, on February 9.
“Lost” stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Ken Leung as Miles, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Terry O’Quinn as Locke and Zuleikha Robinson as Ilana.
TCM is making a big to-do over its airings and the DVD release of "Remember the Night," a Fred MacMurray-Barbara Stanwyck holiday film that has apparently been overlooked. From the network:
It’s going to be a very special holiday for movie fans this year as Turner Classic Movies (TCM) presents the rarely seen gem Remember the Night during a December packed with holiday favorites. The critically acclaimed 1940 classic – starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray and scripted by the great Preston Sturges – will air several times throughout the month, most notably on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. (ET). Beginning Nov. 20, the film will also be available on DVD for the first time ever as part of a partnership between TCM and Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE).
More about the TCM/DVD version after the jump, along with TCM's list of its holiday programming. But before we get to that, here's some of what the authoritative The Movie Guide said about "Remember the Night":
You'd have to be a grump not to like this funny, sentimental blend of pathos, drama and zaniness. … Sturges had a way of designing a picture so that it could get right to the brink of syrup, then pull back with an hysterical comedy sequence. … It could have been maudlin and dreary in many other hands but [director Mitchell] Leisen and Sturges have made this a wonderful Yuletide movie that's good watching any time of year.
So I was watching the latest episode of "Friday Night Lights" on my little laptop, via the press feed from DirecTV, with less than perfect video and a big DirecTV logo on the screen much of the time. And I was so drawn into it and touched by it that I said I small thank-you to DirecTV for helping to keep the show going.
But even more I was thinking, how effing stupid is NBC that it has not put this show on during the fall, in the regular season, and promoted the living daylights out of it, and made it a crown jewel in its schedule. The mass broadcast audience ought to see this, people deserve to see this, and it's a great great show, and so much better than something like "Mercy" or "Trauma" or five hours of Jay freakin' Leno every week. And the fact that the network has not done that should tell you all you need to know about how idiotic the management at NBC is.
After the jump, notes on last night's "Glee" and "Modern Family," Monday's "How I Met Your Mother" and on last week's "Parks and Recreation" and "30 Rock."
"Precious," the acclaimed movie, will add several theaters in Northeast Ohio on Friday, including Cedar Lee, Valley View, Regal Richmond and Regal Severance.
My latest vidcast is here. Notes on 50th anniversary of "Porgy & Bess" movie, Kaley Cuoco, Nick Offerman, the book "Dear Old Love," DVD of "My One and Only," Aqua Teen Hunger Force holiday CD, and a look at a famous "Breaking Bad" promotional …. apron.
"Melrose Place" got a ratings bump from the return of La Locklear, but I wouldn't say it was a big one; still only about 1.5 million viewers . From The CW: "With Heather Locklear’s return, MELROSE PLACE delivered its best women 18-34 (1.6/4), women 18-49 (1.1/3) and total viewers (1.54mil) in 6 weeks (since Oct. 6), according to preliminary live plus same day Nielsen ratings for Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. MELROSE PLACE improved over last week by 33% in women 18-34, 38% in adults 18-34 (1.1/3), 22% in women 18-49 and 20% in total viewers."
ABC Family says "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Make It or Break It" will be back on Jan. 4, and "Greek" on Jan. 25.
"The Limits of Control," the latest film by Northeast Ohio's Jim Jarmusch, arrives on DVD today. After the jump, my review of the film when it appeared in theaters.
It will begin airing it on various channels in 2011. The Michael Jackson movie, which I very much enjoyed, is still in theaters. The DVD and Blu-ray are being presold but without a fixed release date; reports have it hitting stores in early 2010, and the MTV release confirms that while noting the nets will help peddle it.
Here's the MTV announcement:
MTV Networks (a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), has acquired the exclusive United States television rights to air one of the most anticipated films of the year — Michael Jackson’s This Is It.
The critically acclaimed and commercially successful film becomes available to MTV Networks in 2011, and continuing through the entire six-year network window. The deal includes all domestic channels under the MTV Networks umbrella, including MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia and rounds out the music networks’ commitment to celebrating the life and legacy of Michael Jackson. The arrangement also extends to Viacom’s BET Networks, including its newest channel, Centric. Channels and premiere dates will be announced at a later time.
“The film is a true testament to Michael’s musical genius, passion and commitment to his craft,” said Van Toffler, President of the MTV Networks Music Group. “Michael Jackson has always been inextricably tied to our viewers as they witnessed his evolution from a talented performer to a global icon who redefined music. Now, with this film, we can help give his fans a chance to see his final performance.”
THIS IS IT, premiered nationwide on October 28, earning the #1 box office spot for the weekend and offering Jackson fans and music lovers everywhere a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out, historic comeback concerts that would have kicked off this past summer at London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind the scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing numerous songs for the show. Audiences are given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he was never before seen. In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson’s This Is It is the last documentation of Michael Jackson at work, capturing the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work.
Warner Home Video is offering a consumers a chance to upgrade their CDs to Blu-ray. Here's the announcement:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group today launched “DVD2Blu.com,” a site that allows consumers to upgrade the movies they already own on DVD to Blu-Ray Disc, the absolute best way to watch movies at home. Consumers can select from over 50 of Warner Home Video’s most sought-after titles to upgrade including “Body of Lies,” “A Christmas Story” and “Michael Clayton.”
“DVD2Blu is a great way for consumers to start or expand their Blu-ray Disc collection,” said Dorinda Marticorena, senior vice president, Worldwide Marketing and High Definition, Warner Home Video. “We’re launching the program with a wide range of titles that will appeal to a broad audience. In the coming months, we’re looking to expand the program and make additional titles available.”
The DVD2Blu program debuts at a time when consumers are rapidly adopting Blu-ray Disc. According to figures compiled by the Digital Entertainment Group through the first three quarters of 2009, Blu-ray Disc set-top player sales grew 112 percent over the same period last year. This holiday season, consumers can expect to see Blu-ray player prices starting around $100, making it much easier for home audiences to see films the way they were meant to be seen on their HDTV.
Through DVD2Blu, consumers can now experience their favorite movies again for the very first time in stunning 1080p picture quality and crisp, superior sound that only comes from a Blu-ray Disc. Titles such as “Training Day,” “Deliverance” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” can be upgraded for as little as $7.95 plus shipping. Consumers who place orders over $25 will receive free shipping.
The process to upgrade is simple. Consumers select the titles they want to upgrade on DVD2Blu.com, mail in their standard DVDs with pre-paid postage and a short time later receive copies of the same film on Blu-ray Disc. For a complete list of titles visit DVD2Blu.com.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group is proud to be a leader in environmental stewardship and is committed to recycling the DVDs that consumers send in as part of the DVD2Blu program. The intellectual property is fully destroyed and all of the physical components are reused or recycled. For more information on Warner Bros. environmental initiatives, please visit http://wbenvironmental.warnerbros.com/.
The host of the classic game show "Remote Control" has died. Obit here. I was a pretty devoted fan of "Remote Control," the pop-culture quiz airing on MTV. (How devoted? Enough not only to be aware of Kari Wurher, but to argue that the show declined when she left.) The show had a smart-alecky quality that appealed, and Ober managed both to fit that attitude but to be likable at the same time, so the show did not feel mean. I vaguely remember meeting Ober once after the end of "Remote Control," and he was a good guy — and happy that people still fondly recalled his work on the show. Very sorry about his passing. He was only 52.
Local folks should have noticed that WJW is carrying the Browns-Ravens game tonight (which makes me shudder just to think about). Fox's new episodes of "House" and "Lie to Me" have been moved to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. (I am double-checking on the exact start time, since "House" usually runs an extra minute on Mondays. UPDATE: A station rep tells me "House" will be at 7. But my DVR guide has 6:59. You may want to adjust your recorders for the earlier time to be safe.)
"Equalizer" and "Hot Fuzz" star Edward Woodward has died. Obit here. List of his credits is here. Like many Americans, I first noticed him in "Breaker Morant" (which was also a breakthrough for Bryan Brown). I watched him on "The Equalizer" from time to time but it wasn't a great series. Smiled, though, when he showed up in "Hot Fuzz," as if running into an old friend.
After the jump, notes on recent telecasts of "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "The Office," "Community," the January Jones-hosted "Saturday Night Live," "Bones," "House," "Lie to Me," "The Amazing Race, "Survivor" and whatever else I can remember watching the last few days.
But first, in addition to TV watching and schoolwork, I spent a good bit of time at sports events, including two U of Akron men's soccer games and a U of Akron football game. The soccer team is now 20-0 and ranked number one in national polls. But its playing area is an embarrassment, especially with the new football stadium looming nearby. We regularly encounter newcomers to Akron soccer, including at Sunday's MAC final, and they are very surprised by the small venue, with bleachers on just one side of the field, a light pole blocking pretty much every seat's sightlines to the field, and a flagpole that most people can't even see during the National Anthem.
I am fond of UA, where I am a grad student and my wife works. Much is said about its vision for the future. I would like to think that vision would include better digs for the soccer team, which includes students who achieve academically and are a perennial national power.
A meditation on reinvention of previous pop culture, like "The Prisoner" and "Star Trek," is here.
The weekly DVD/BD column is here. Includes "The Exiles," "Farscape: The Complete Series" (which is not completely complete), "Margaret Cho: Beautiful," "Andy Barker, P.I."
Because "Star Trek" will be out on BD/DVD on Tuesday, and I have not yet gotten a copy to review, after the jump I have re-posted my review of the movie from its big-screen premiere.
My regular Saturday column seems to be taking the slow boat to online, so I have pasted in the text, with "Sue Thomas" DVD news and an authorial conflict over a new LeBron James book, after the jump.
After the jump, a sneak peek of my review of the new version of "The Prisoner," beginning Sunday night on AMC.
I will add links to a companion piece on the reinvention of old pop-culture concepts; Saturday's print Heldenfiles (with items involving Sue Thomas and LeBron James), and my usual Sunday DVD column, once they are online.
Busy weekend so far. Friday night was another sports double-header, UAkron men's soccer (a MAC tournament win in the second overtime) followed by an ugly loss by the UAkron football team (leading by 10 early, then losing by 39). We were there until the end of the soccer, gone from football after the first half (when Akron was trailing by 18). And today is a Saturday shift at work.
The latest vidcast about "Dancing With the Stars" is here.
