CliqueClack

The Her Blu-Ray is a must if you haven’t seen the movie yet

At the end of last year I decided that the Spike Jonze movie Her was my favorite movie of 2013. Since then, I’ve caught up on a few movies from last year, including the quite good (Saving Mister Banks, Short Term 12), the surprisingly funny (We’re the Millers), and the overrated (Captain Philips). But despite watching some decent movies, I still stick by my decision. Now that the Blu-ray is being released, I think it’s an excellent opportunity to revisit this movie. The movie by Spike Jonze unsurprisingly holds up to repeat viewings, with different themes and motifs emerging just like you can notice new little things from background rewatching it. And it’s not like people have gotten any less attached to their mobile devices since December, or less confused about human interactions.

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NBC announces its 2014-2015 schedule

If you follow CliqueClack on Facebook or Google+, you’ve been kept up to date on all of the networks’ axings, renewals and pickups for the coming season. It was a bloodbath for fans of some beloved shows, like ABC’s The Neighbors (which the network never properly promoted, but seems to have a huge fan base if you follow the show and the actors on Twitter) and NBC’s Community which will never live up to the hashtag #sixseasonsandamovie … unless some other network (or streaming service, ahem, Hulu Plus) steps in to save it.

On Sunday, May 11, NBC was the first of the networks to announce its fall lineup ahead of its official upfront presentation on May 12. Did your favorite shows make the cut? NBC has officially canned Community (but Sony is expected to shop it around), Revolution, Dracula (which was intended to be a limited series unless ratings dictated a second season), Believe, Crisis, Growing Up Fisher, Ironside (I believe the first cancellation of the season), Welcome to the Family, The Michael J. Fox Show (which gives him the opportunity to return to The Good Wife), Sean Saves the World, The Million Second Quiz, and Camp.

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Win passes to see Words and Pictures in Los Angeles

This offer is now closed. Follow CliqueClack on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for contest alerts, breaking news and reviews and commentary.

CliqueClack has partnered with Roadside Attractions to offer readers in the Los Angeles area an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new romantic comedy Words and Pictures starring Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche, Amy Brenneman and Bruce Davison.

An art instructor (Binoche) sidelined by rheumatoid arthritis and an English teacher (Owen) who can no longer write form a rivalry that ends up with a competition at their school in which students decide whether words or pictures are more important.

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Win passes to see the historical drama Belle in Baltimore

This offer is now closed. Stay connected to CliqueClack on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for contest alerts, news and reviews.

CliqueClack has partnered with Fox Searchlight and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer readers in the Baltimore and DC areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new historical drama Belle starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Sam Reid, Sarah Gadon, Miranda Richardson, Penelope Wilton, Tom Felton, James Norton, Matthew Goode and Emily Watson.

Belle is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Wilkinson) and his wife (Watson), Belle’s lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar’s son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield’s role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.

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Tom Hardy is the compelling focus of the intense, experimental Locke

Making the right decision is easy; all you need to do is the right thing. Figuring that out, though, that’s the tricky part. You can decide based on reason, instinct, emotion, or chance, but nothing is the perfect solution. When moral questions arise and the situation becomes complex, it’s even harder to determine the “right” way to go. People like to pretend we’re rational beings, but that often fights against our instincts and history. Of course, philosophers have debated for millennia on morality and rationality, so it’s not like there’s a simple solution. But things get even trickier when you have to balance your responsibilities against the consequences of your mistakes.

Locke is an interesting, experimental movie from writer-director Steven Knight, taking place almost entirely inside a car, and we only ever see one character. This character is Ivan Locke, played by Tom Hardy, who is driving from Birmingham to London for reasons that are slowly revealed through a series of phone conversations. As the movie progresses, we experience the night of a man in difficult circumstances. Locke is a hardworking and capable worker and family man who gets into his car at the start of the movie and stays there until the credits roll.

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Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return marks a return to fantastic animated moviemaking

I can still fondly recall the first time I sat down to watch The Wizard of Oz. I was always a restless dreamer as a child and something about that film really captured my imagination. It was more than just a movie to me and countless others worldwide since its initial release. It was like being transported into another world, one full of more color, vivacity and adventure than this world had to offer. I’ve watched most of the animated and non-animated Oz movies made over the years, and I must say, I think the newest one from Summertime Entertainment/Prana Animation Studios, Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return, can compete with the best of them. It holds tight to the established nostalgia of Oz, while attempting to give it a more contemporary feel.

First, let me say the movie begins with some of the best animated opening credits I’ve ever seen. They cleverly use everyday items that represent or capture the essence of each character, with everything swirling around in a twister. I know opening credits are often overlooked and might be an odd thing to focus upon, but I really felt like they set the overall tone and set things in motion in the right direction. They immediately captured my attention and encapsulated the fun, nostalgic spirit of the film. Even the songwriters are given nods with old sheets of music with their song titles and lyrics printed on them blowing in the wind. Brilliant.

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Neighbors might be the funniest flick you see all year

Most people know that Seth Rogen got his start on Judd Apatow’s seminal television show Freaks and Geeks. Everyone thinks that they know that Zac Efron got his start in Disney’s High School Musical, but discerning geeks know that his real breakout role was as young Simon Tam in an episode of Firefly. How does that relate to Neighbors? Very little, other than allowing me an out to claim that I like Efron — including Charlie St. Cloud.

Neighbors’ stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron make an interesting pair. Rogen has proven time and time again that he is a fearless comedian (though what is it with the male Freaks and Geeks alums who aren’t afraid to show a lot of skin). Efron’s taken on a variety of roles over the years, but this is his first Apatow-esque role (the under-appreciated That Awkward Moment was close, but not nearly as raunchy). The leads worked well together, and will probably clean up at the next MTV Movie Awards (they are the early favorite for best fight). Continue reading 'Neighbors might be the funniest flick you see all year' »

Win free passes to see Rossini’s La Cenerentola on the big screen in Los Angeles

CliqueClack has partnered with Fathom Events to give readers in the Los Angeles area an opportunity to see the live performance of The Met’s La Cenerentola on the big screen. A peerless pair of Rossini virtuosos joins forces in La Cenerentola—a vocal tour de force for mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, singing her first Met performances of the Cinderella title role, and the high-flying tenor Juan Diego Flórez, as her Prince Charming. Alessandro Corbelli and Luca Pisaroni complete the cast, with Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi leading the effervescent score.

We have a very limited number of passes available for the live performance, which will take place on Saturday, May 10 at 9:55 AM, and the encore performance which will be screened on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30 PM. Both screenings will be held at Orange 30 with IMAX in Orange, CA.

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Win free passes to Million Dollar Arm in Baltimore or DC

CliqueClack has partnered with Walt Disney Pictures to offer readers in the Baltimore and DC areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new film Million Dollar Arm starring Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Bill Paxton, Suraj Sharma, Lake Bell, Madhur Mittal, Pitobash and Alan Arkin.

Based on a true story, sports agent JB Bernstein (Hamm) finds that business has changed and things aren’t going well for his career. In a last ditch effort to save his livelihood he concocts a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “The Million Dollar Arm.” With the help of cantankerous but eagle-eyed retired baseball scout Ray Poitevint (Arkin), he discovers Dinesh (Madhur Mittal from Slumdog Millionaire) and Rinku (Suraj Sharma from Life of Pi), two 18 year old boys who have no idea about playing baseball, yet have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to America to train. While the Americans are definitely out of their element in India — the boys, who have never left their rural villages — are equally challenged when they come to the States. As the boys learn the finer points of baseball — JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda (Bell) — learns valuable life lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family.

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Testament will move you to the core

For those who haven’t seen the 30+ years young Testament — and especially so if you enjoy a superb character drama — I envy you. You’re in for a treat.

But a word of warning: This is the furthest thing from a “feel good” drama you can get. This film is intense in its character, intense in its subject matter and it will keep you glued to the screen in anticipation of what comes next.

Filmed in 1983 during the midst of a rash of films about nuclear thoughts, Testament is head and shoulders above the rest in content. This is a cerebral film, a passionate film about a family set in a fictional town of Hamelin, California outside San Francisco. Grounded in dramatic science fiction first and foremost, the film unfolds over the course of days and weeks in the aftermath of the United States suffering from nuclear attack by some never-revealed source.

And the aftermath is a devastating one which eats away at the viewer’s sympathies agonizingly, little by little. Continue reading 'Testament will move you to the core' »