Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on April 18th, 2016
Our friends at Magnolia Home Entertainment are not done with you yet. They've given us 2 copies of Tangerine on Blu-ray to help sweeten the day for 2 lucky Upcomingdiscs readers. Sean Baker directs this wild and crazy journey through the L.A. subculture world. The film was an official 2015 Sundance selection and includes some nice special features.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 18th, 2016
In the late 1960's three musicians came together with an idea. It was a somewhat unconventional idea. Roy Wood and Bev Bevan were part of the band The Move when they met up with Jeff Lynne from The Idle Race. The three hit it off almost instantly. So much so that before long Lynne would also become a member of The Move so that he could work with Wood and Bevan. But that wasn't going to be the ultimate goal. The unconventional idea that the three had involved combining rock and roll with classical music. Of course, other bands had done orchestral arrangements, most notably the Beatles.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on April 16th, 2016
"This is the law of the jungle..."
Disney appears to have a law that all of its classic cartoon features must now be made into live-action films. As I've mentioned in my review of the original classic The Jungle Book, the animated feature was the end of an important era at Walt Disney Studios. It was released about a year after Walt's death and was the last film he supervised from beginning to end. In the wake of Walt's death the studio experienced a sharp turnover and complete retooling of the animation department. With only the nine old men to carry the traditions of Walt into the future, The Jungle Book would forever mark a distinct milestone in the history of animated feature films.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on April 15th, 2016
Our friends at Magnolia Home Entertainment have even more goodies in store for you. After making you a wreck they want to scare the heck out of you with Last Shift on Blu-ray. They've given us 2 copies of the supernatural fright-fest to give away. This one has plenty of gore and chills so it's not for the weak of heart. Don't say we didn't warn you. Enter to win a copy... if you're not too afraid, that is.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on April 14th, 2016
Our terrific friends over at Magnolia Home Entertainment want to wreck your day. But it's a good thing. If you know anything about music history you know who The Wrecking Crew was. If you don't, here's your chance to find out. These were the studio musicians that shaped the sound of the most popular artists of the 1960's and 1970's. Magnolia has given us 4 copies of their Blu-ray The Wrecking Crew. You can check out John's review Here. Then enter to win one for yourself.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on April 13th, 2016
First it was Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathau. Later it would be Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. An early 1980's black version featured Ron Glass and Demond Wilson. In 1998 the original pairing of Lemmon and Mathau reprised the roles. Now it's Thomas Lennon and Matthew Perry. Of course, I'm talking about Felix Unger and Oscar Madison from Neil Simon's brilliant The Odd Couple. CBS has brought back the popular concept now heading into it's second season. Before you join the new episodes CBS wants to to catch up on season 1. They've given us 5 copies of the complete first season to give away to a handful of Upcomingdiscs readers.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 13th, 2016
"We have known them only as shadows, gazing at us from a ghostly world of black and white. But now the American Civil War can at last be seen as those who lived and died experienced it...in vivid color."
It was the bloodiest conflict in American history. Maybe because Americans fought on both sides of the brutal conflict. It might have been because it was a deeply personal war, often between brothers. The cause was one that cut deeply in both the hearts and minds of the men fighting.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on April 8th, 2016
Are you happy? What makes someone happy? That's the subject of the documentary Pursuing Happiness. Director Adam Shell spent 2 years out on the road looking for the happiest people in the nation. Who they are and what makes them happy might surprise you. I had the opportunity to spend some time talking to Adam. What did he find out? How did it change his own life? Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Adam Shell.
You might also like to visit the film's website. Find out how you can see a copy of Pursuing Happiness.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 7th, 2016
"There's always room for improvement."
Banshee is one of those improbable plots that finds a way to pull us into the action all the while ignoring how unlikely any of this might really be. Of course, we do that all the time. It's certainly unlikely we're going to face a zombie apocalypse or run into a super-powered hero. That's a different kind of unlikely. This kind of real-world fantastic is usually a bit harder to accept. Credit folks like Allan Ball for keeping us engaged with some of the most entertaining sleight of hand on television.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 5th, 2016
Earlier for our Maude Review I talked about the All In The Family "coaching tree” and the number of spinoff that show produced. Maude was the first, but the most successful by far has to be The Jeffersons. The family moved into the house next door to Archie Bunker early in the first season of All In The Family. While Norman Leer always intended Sherman Hemsley to play Archie's black nemesis, the actor wasn't available for the role. Thinking ahead, the show introduced another actor as Uncle Henry to spar with Archie for a while. The son Lionel would also change actors over the years. There is no doubt that when Hemsley finally appeared as George Jefferson, the chemistry between him and Carroll O'Connor was instant magic.
