Archive for July 2009

The Sinful Attraction of Tori Amos

Jul 21st, 2009 | By Allan Given
The Sinful Attraction of Tori Amos

Universal Republic Records | 2009 | List price: $17.99 | Get it for less at Amazon I first met Tori Amos in 1992 after she had just released her debut album, LITTLE EARTHQUAKES. She was playing a tiny movie theatre in Tempe, AZ, and even though it was October, the theatre was still sweltering hot
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“So You Think You Can Dance” nominated for five Emmy Awards

Jul 20th, 2009 | By Marie Peasha

This past week, the nominations for the 61st Annual Emmy Awards were announced, and “So You Think You Can Dance” walked away with four nods in the Outstanding Choreography category, with nominations from Season 4 for, “Bleeding Love” by Tabitha D’umo and Napoleon D’umo, “Mercy” by Mia Michaels, “Adam and Eve/Silence” by Tyce Diorio and
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Daniel Silva Continues his Brilliant Character Study in THE DEFECTOR

Jul 19th, 2009 | By Allan Given
Daniel Silva Continues his Brilliant Character Study in THE DEFECTOR

G.P. Putnam’s Sons | 2009 | 469 pages | List price: $26.95 | Get it for less at Amazon In the follow-up to his 2008 New York Time’s Best Seller, MOSCOW RULES, author Daniel Silva picks up exactly where the action last left off, and THE DEFECTOR is a brilliantly crafted novel that is unparalleled
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A Bold and Innovative Approach to Filmmaking with (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

Jul 18th, 2009 | By Allan Given
A Bold and Innovative Approach to Filmmaking with (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

Fox Searchlight Pictures | 2009 | Rated PG-13 | 95 minutes (500) DAYS OF SUMMER is not your average film. In fact, take anything that you may know about filmmaking convention and throw it out the window. This film is an enigma, constantly shifting and morphing into various forms and unable to be pinned down
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HARRY POTTER focuses on character and not F/X

Jul 17th, 2009 | By Allan Given

Warner Brothers | 2009 | Rated PG | 153 minutes The sixth installment of the HARRY POTTER franchise, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE opened on Wednesday to a resounding $58 million box office gross, putting it into the upper echelon of opening day totals, only behind movies such as THE DARK KNIGHT and TRANSFORMERS:
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Newman and McQueen burn up the screen in THE TOWERING INFERNO

Jul 16th, 2009 | By Allan Given
Newman and McQueen burn up the screen in THE TOWERING INFERNO

20th Century Fox | 1974 | Rated PG | 165 minutes | List price: $34.98 | Get it for less at Amazon Coming off of the enormous success of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE in 1972, a film that kick-started the disaster movie craze of the 1970s, producer Irwin Allen set out to bring his next movie
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Ready, Set, Film! The 48 Hour Film Project is now underway

Jul 15th, 2009 | By Allan Given
Ready, Set, Film!  The 48 Hour Film Project is now underway

Making a film today is not an easy prospect. Take a look at any of the summer blockbusters in the theatres right now. How long do you think it took to transform the written word of the screenplay into the spectacle you watch on the big screen as you munch on overpriced and ridiculously stale
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Spinnerette and the Raw Emotion of Neo-punk

Jul 14th, 2009 | By Allan Given
Spinnerette and the Raw Emotion of Neo-punk

Anthem Records | 2009 | List price: $13.98 | Get it for less at Amazon Spinnerette’s self-titled new release is an album that will punch you in the face while telling you that it loves you. And then it will punch you in the face again, just for good measure. Formed in 2007, Spinnerette is
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Caitlin and Phillip just miss the Top Ten on “So You Think You Can Dance”

Jul 13th, 2009 | By Marie Peasha

As another week draws to a close for “So You Think You Can Dance,” we say goodbye to Caitlin and Phillip. Each couple had to perform two different dances this week, and we were given some superbly choreographed pieces. Without a doubt, the two best dances of the week were Mia Michaels’s “Addiction,” performed with
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Amazing Characters Make THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Something Different

Jul 12th, 2009 | By Allan Given
Amazing Characters Make THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Something Different

Vintage Books | 2009 | 590 pages | List Price: $14.95 | Get it for less at Amazon I was excited to read the recent paperback edition of Stieg Larsson’s novel THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO in preparation for the upcoming release of the second book of the series, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH
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