Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 21st, 2010
I've seen a ton of lawyer shows over the years. Pretty much any variation that's been tried, I've likely seen at least an episode. I generally like lawyer shows. I thought I'd seen pretty much everything in the genre until The Good Wife came to me from CBS Home Video. I was surprised that the series had somehow escaped my notice the last television season. I couldn't really find anyone who had seen even an episode of the freshman drama. It was time to give it a try. Turns out that there are still a few new tricks out there in the field, and The Good Wife has done a pretty good job of grabbing my attention, as it should yours.
The series is not really a lawyer procedural, at least not on the surface. The first images of the pilot lead us to believe we aren't getting a legal drama at all, but a political one. Chicago's State's Attorney Peter Florrick (Noth) is walking to a podium with a large anxious crowd of press with microphones and cameras flashing. He's clutching the hand of his wife Alicia (Margulies) as he approaches the buzzing audience. The event turns into a scene we've seen quite frequently of late. A politician must apologize for a sex scandal with his bewildered wife standing beside him trying to hide all of those feelings of anger and betrayal that you know she must be feeling. Florrick is resigning his office, admitting to indiscretions but denying reports of corruption that have apparently been looming over his administration. At first you are sure, in spite of the show's title, that this is Peter Florrick's story. It's not. From this point on the focus will be almost entirely upon Alicia.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 21st, 2010
"We are pioneers and trailblazers. We fight for freedom. We transform our dreams into the truth. Our struggles will become a nation."
I was really looking forward to this release. From the moment I was made aware that it was going to be arriving here for review, I made a mental note to put it at the top of my viewing list. Fact is, I'm a history junkie, particularly American history. I taught the subject in AP and honors classes along with American Government and Law for over seven years. The History Channel is also one of my favorite places on the dial. There are many thought-provoking and informative shows to be found there to help you explore almost every aspect of history. I truly expected this to be one of those milestone releases. Unfortunately, it isn't.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 21st, 2010
"Sherlock Holmes, the immortal character of fiction. Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he's ageless, invincible and unchanging. In solving significant problems of the present day, he remains -- as ever -- the supreme master of deductive reasoning."
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 16th, 2010
Tennessee Williams was both a prolific writer and celebrated personality in his day. His plays are still making the rounds of community theaters and even more than a few higher- end performance halls around the country. Songs have been written about the guy, and he's quite honestly become a bit of a mythic legend over the years. A lot of that owes, in no small part, to his huge hit A Streetcar Named Desire. The 1947 play was a huge hit on its own. The thing even snagged a Pulitzer. There hadn't been a bigger play before it, and few have reached the popularity and classic status since. Then director Elia Kazan got his hands on the material. And while another writer worked on the screen adaptation, Kazan was smart enough to have Williams himself write the screenplay. A couple of things happened with that 1951 film. While this was actually his second screenplay, it would catapult him into the film and television side of life. His career ... and our screens … would never be the same.
A Streetcar Named Desire is still huge today. But is it the material from Williams or the amazing performances of Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Kim Hunter, and Vivian Leigh that stand out after all of those years? Isn't it Kazan's inspired direction and his unique eye for cinematography that make the film so memorable? I guess the argument could be made for any of those things. Likely, it was the fortunate combination of these elements that made that film what it remains today. There's been a kind of rediscovery of Williams of late. There's also Hollywood's penchant for "lost" material. All of these things combined to bring actress and first-time feature director Jodie Markell and one of Williams' "lost" screenplays together for the 2010 Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2010
September is Cancer Awareness Month. Most of us have been touched by the disease in our families. My Aunt Dottie is recovering from Breast Cancer. We're very proud of the courage and strength she's displayed. So, some of us have teamed up to try and help out. My wife and Upcomingdiscs webmaster, Ellen, is going to be participating in a "Run For The Cure" event here in the Tampa Bay area. Horror film director/writer/producer Robert Angelo Masciantonio (Neighbor) has generously teamed up with us to help. He is sending us an autographed DVD of his thriller Neighbor to offer as a prize. The DVD will be signed by Robert, and stars America Olivo and Christian Campbell. This contest is a little different. To win, you must first follow this link for the Race For The Cure and make a donation. I know times are tough, but even a little bit helps. Everyone who makes a donation will be entered to win the autographed copy of Neighbor. The contest ends after the race on October 2nd. Follow these instructions to participate:
Contest is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada only.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2010
"There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone."
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2010
"It is said some lives are linked across time. Connected by an ancient calling that echoes through the ages. Destiny."
The Prince Of Persia is not some new phenomenon sweeping the country. The original video game goes back quite some time to the pre-high-definition consoles of the late 1980's. Over the years the title has had some major staying power and has continued to flourish across several platforms and generations of graphics and game play. Today video games are more and more like movies themselves. Many of these games carry budgets as high as blockbuster effects-laden tent-pole films. It's big business. The technology has nearly merged between film and video game. And while Prince Of Persia is not the first game to be turned into one of these mega-movies, it just might be the closest thing to bridging that gap yet.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2010
I did not see Tyler Perry's moderately successful 2007 film, Why Did I Get Married. I never thought that would present much of a problem with his recent Why Did I Get Married, Too. I've seen plenty of Perry's films and think that I have a pretty good grasp of where he's coming from. Early this year I watched and reviewed I Can Do Bad All By Myself. It was a new direction for Perry and, while he did include his famous Madea character, the film wasn't really about her usual antics. I guess I expected this film to follow in the footsteps of that rather impressive effort. Unfortunately, I may have misjudged my ability to follow this film without having seen the first. Either that, or Perry has gone terribly wrong somewhere along the way.
This is the story of four couples who have obviously been friends for a long time. As the film opens they are about to attend a marriage retreat, at least that's what the dialog leads us to believe. What they are really doing is gathering at a time-share condo in the Bahamas for a week of hanging out together. The only resemblance to a retreat is a tradition they share on their final night together. They gather on the beach around a campfire and take turns telling the story of why they got married. I suspect they should all know these stories by now, but this year the trip certainly threw in a few surprises. The most stalwart marriage is apparently ending.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2010
Shonda Rhimes had a big hit on her hands with Grey’s Anatomy, so after five years she did what comes naturally in her situation. You spin the success off in the hope that the fans can’t get enough in just one night. At first it appeared to me she had chosen the wrong character to put out on her own. I mean, I never considered Kate Walsh as Addison to be one of the show’s more compelling characters. The show was presented as what the business calls an imbedded episode on Grey’s. What that means is that the situation is set up during one of the original show’s episodes. In this case a two parter called The Other Side Of Life. The idea is that you want to be sure that your existing show’s fans at least watch the pilot in the hope that they will consider it a part of their beloved series. I got to watch that episode when I was called upon to review the fifth season of Grey’s.
Dr. Addison Montgomery (Walsh) is looking for a change. She’s feeling a little burned out in Seattle at Grace Memorial Hospital, where she carries a ton of baggage. She heads down to L.A. to visit a friend who has his own clinic in the sunny city. The clinic practices something called co-op medicine. Specialists from various fields come together to treat their patients in a more holistic manner. Dr. Naomi Bennett (McDonald), specializing in fertility, and her ex-husband Dr. Sam Bennett (Diggs) run the place. Dr. Violet Turner (Brennemen) is the clinic’s shrink. I guess you could call her a shrinking violet. Dr. Cooper Freedman (Adelstein) is the pediatrician. Dr. Peter Wilder (Daley) is the herbal medicine specialist. He’s also got a rep for sleeping with all of the other women and even running some out of the clinic. Dr. Charlotte King (Strickland) is a troubled soul who can’t sleep and has an apparent addiction to pills. Finally there is Dell (Lowell),the office assistant and “pretty boy”.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2010
Grey’s Anatomy follows the life and tribulations of a group of doctors and interns at Seattle Grace Hospital. There’s certainly nothing original about the premise, except that the story is told by one of the more unlikely characters, Dr. Meredith Grey (Pompeo). As a lead she’s really not all that remarkable, but the show doesn’t put everything on her narrow shoulders. The series is populated by a solid supporting cast, giving it all a far more ensemble feel despite the title. James Pickens, Jr. is perhaps the most extraordinary actor in the show. He’s underused, but steals every scene he’s in. His Dr. Webber is a powerfully serious voice in an otherwise often frivolous world. Chandra Wilson as the intern teacher Dr. Baily is another standout performance, offering tremendous range. Her character, often referred to as a Nazi by her interns, is capable of outstanding empathy just when it’s required. Too many of the characters serve as eye candy, but I can’t say that any of them don’t have some good acting chops.
The 6th season at Seattle Grace is filled with the type of drama and stories you've come to expect. Jessica Capshaw becomes a regular as Arizona Robbins. T.R. Knight leaves the show, and it is a huge loss. As much as I was getting sick of the on-and-off-again relationship between his George character and Katherine Heigl's Izzie, they were both wonderful characters that I'm sure most of the fans will miss. Izzie is also gone but makes a few appearances throughout the season. The season begins with the two-hour event Good Mourning. It's the show's chance to deal with the loss of the George character. Perhaps the biggest change in the show isn't in the cast. Seattle Grace merges with long-time rival Mercy West, and it will bring a shake-up to how the hospital operates, if you'll excuse the pun. The staffs of the two hospitals will still be fierce rivals, only now they are working out of the same building. They'll be a lot of jockeying for position and to keep their jobs. There's another cross-over with Private Practice, bringing Addison back to Seattle Grace for another traumatic visit. Of course, it all ends with a two-hour finale that places yet another tragedy on the staff of the hospital. The show ends with a lot of action and destruction. We'll just have to wait for season 7 to see how it all plays out.
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