Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 27th, 2015
His uncle played Christian music, and he sang bass in a chorus for some years. His father gave him a guitar and started him on lessons at age five. With all of that background, it seems no surprise that Trace Adkins became a hit on the country music scene. It was obvious to everyone but him. Instead he looked to sports and a chance to be a lineman for Louisiana Tech until he blew out his knee. When the doc told him he had no chance at a football career, did he turn to that music? Nope. It was off working on an oil rig that he took to, bad knee and all. Fortunately for his fans, a chance call from a producer and a demand from his new wife that they move away from where the first wife lived all conspired to land the future legend in Nashville where it all came together.
That was roughly 20 years ago, and now Eagle Rock has provided us with a rather intimate concert setting. The show took place at the Paramount Theater in New York. It's a small venue, but that only adds to the intimacy of the concert. There's not a lot of flash here. Adkins doesn't do a lot of the energetic things many artists do on stage. The focus is almost entirely on the music, and this is the kind of place where the combination of music-first and small venue combine for a treat for the fans.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on January 26th, 2015
A while back Normandy reviewed The Junior Spy Agency, written and directed by Tom Whitus. It took a while and word got back to Tom and he was gracious enough to offer up some of his valuable time. It's a neat little family movie. I had a great time talking to the brains of the outfit. Bang it here to listen in on my fun chat with Tom Whitus.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 22nd, 2015
"If we're good today, we'll be better tomorrow."
The final season of Boardwalk Empire breaks the mold of what the show has been for the first four years. The action jumps ahead several years to 1931. It's a necessary plot point if we're going to be ending the popular series in the fifth season. I understand the jump and why it works. I guess my only real question is: why are we jumping ahead to end what is one of the best shows on television? The answers likely lie within the powers that be at either HBO or the show's production staff. There's little point arguing the point. This is your last chance to get some Nucky... Nucky Thompson, that is.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on January 22nd, 2015
We have some great friends over at Time Life and Star Vista. They're you're friends, too. This time it's season 2 of The Wonder Years. Take a trip back in time to what it was like to be a kid in the 1960's. Plus there's Joe Cocker's version of A Little Help From My Friends. It's all here for a lucky Upcomingdiscs winner.
Contest is now closed Winner is Lisa Smit
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 20th, 2015
"It's complicated."
Fox has decided to jump off The Bridge. In a move I find more than a little surprising, the show ends here with this second season. From the sets extras I get a strong idea that no one involved with the production saw it coming either. This was one of the better shows on television, and with Sons Of Anarchy also finished, Fox is losing some extraordinary quality to their lineup. At least Sons Of Anarchy got to run its course and tell its story. Sadly, the same can't be said for The Bridge. I was looking forward to more from a show that was getting better as it moved into its own invention. You will have to comfort yourself on the loss by owning the remaining episodes.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on January 19th, 2015
We have some great friends over at Time Life and Star Vista. They're you're friends, too. They keep trying to make sure you get to spend enough time with Mama. Of course, we're talking about Mama Harper and the gang at Mama's Family. They've given us copies of both season 4 and 6 to give away. All you have to do is tell us which one you want. Each season will go to a lucky winner who wanted that season.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on January 17th, 2015
"The thing that haunts me are all the guys that I couldn't save."
I have to admit I was a little skeptical that Clint Eastwood followed up his directing stint on Jersey Boys as quickly as he did to shoot American Sniper. The former was far from one of his better efforts, and he looked increasingly out of his element by the time it was said and done. He jumped into his preparation for American Sniper almost immediately, and the results could have been...underwhelming. Instead Eastwood hit his target with the kind of profound impact I don't think I've seen from him since Unforgiven. Unforgiven won a Best Picture award, and deservedly so. American Sniper has been nominated, although Eastwood himself has been snubbed in the director category. It's a long shot to win, of course, but this is one that most certainly deserves your attention.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 14th, 2015
"There will be casualties"
Alan Ball got my attention in 2001 with HBO's black comedy Six Feet Under. It was one of the most original shows I had ever seen, and to this day I find it hard to characterize the series when asked to do so. It was there that he also introduced me to Michael C. Hall, who continues to amaze me in the role of Dexter over at Showtime. When Six Feet Under left the airwaves, Ball didn't waste very much time in bringing his quirky style back, this time to the horror genre. True Blood would put a rather strange twist on the lovesick vampire craze, and while that show has not kept up the same kind of clever writing and wickedly brilliant stories, Ball has lent his name and talents to another cable show. This time it's on Cinemax, and the series is Banshee. And while Ball is a producer and not the day-to-day runner of the series, it is nonetheless another pretty strange show that defies any particular genre or characterization.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 13th, 2015
"Since the beginning of civilization, dolls have been beloved by children, cherished by collectors and used in religious rites as conduits for good and evil."
The Conjuring was one of the best horror movies to come along in years. Why? Because it was a good scare with a story that didn't totally insult our intelligence or leave us scratching our heads too many times. The movie also dealt with its own red herring of sorts in a possessed doll kept under wraps by that film's hero couple. We're treated to a tease of her story before we move on to other matters. It was used more or less to establish the expertise of Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine (Farmiga) Warren, who would play a central part in the film. After a rather chilling tease and more than enough establishing shots of the doll in a case with all sorts of ominous warnings, we moved on to the story that film was setting out to tell. No question James Wan delivered yet another frightening film that did not really involve the Annabelle doll at all, as it turned out. For the next 90 minutes we forgot about Annabelle, but after a while we went home, and the creepy image of the doll wouldn't shake from our slumber. There was really only one thing for a studio to do, either to exorcise the distraction from our minds or mine a little coin in the doing. The result is the highly anticipated Annabelle.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on January 12th, 2015
Anyone who has seen the Starz pirate drama Black Sails knows who Hannah New is. She plays the feisty Eleanor Guthrie. Eleanor runs the Island where all of the pirates sell their booty. It's a powerful position for a woman of 1715. Hannah New is up to the challenge and I had a chance to chat with her recently about her role on Black Sails. She's just as much fun as her character. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Hannah New. There are a few clicks in the audio which were an unfortunate result of our telephone connection. It's worth the patience.
