Blu-ray/DVD Review: Safe Haven

Nicolas Sparks adapted movies have a lot in common – troubled heroines, handsome heroes and that overall spellbinding romantic drama.

When it comes to the latest adaptation, Safe Haven, the film is no different and with a gritty thriller opening, which sets the tone, the movie delivers.

The film follows Katie (Julianne Hough) who moves to Southport, North Carolina, where she sparks the interest of the locals, especially Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widower.

Given her traumatic past, Katie is unsure if she can trust Alex, but with the help of a new friend (Cobie Smulders), she gives him a chance.

Although Hough and Duhamel doesn’t come close to the chemistry witnessed between Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, the film does tug at the heart strings – very much like Sparks’ other works.

Blu-ray/DVD extras include deleted and extended scenes, an alternate ending, as well as Duhamel’s “Lessons in Crabbing.”

Posted: May 17th, 2013 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Cobie Smulders, Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Safe Haven

James Franco Lands Every Thing Will Be Fine Role

James Franco has signed on for Wim Wenders’ 3D film, Every Thing Will Be Fine, where he will play Tomas, a writer who accidentally causes the death of a child.

The film examines the twelve years following the accident and its impact on Tomas, and the child’s mother. Sarah Polley is reportedly attached to co-star.

Currently, Franco is shooting Rupert Goold’s drama True Story and his adaptation of As I Lay Dying is set to premiere at Cannes.

Posted: May 7th, 2013 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Everything Will Be Fine, James Franco, Rupert Goold, Sarah Polley, Wim Wenders

Keira Knightley in Talks to Replace Anne Hathaway in Laggies

Anne Hathaway was initially set to star in Lynn Shelton’s upcoming dark comedy Laggies, but due to scheduling conflicts, she had to pull out.

Keira Knightley is reportedly in talks to replace Hathaway.

If she lands the role, Knightley will play Megan, a 28-year-old woman who is unable to cope with the pressures brought on by her boyfriend’s recent marriage proposal. In turn, she escapes into the comfort of adolescence by befriending a group of high schoolers.

Chloe Grace Moretz will also appear in the film as a character who is befriended by Megan.

Posted: May 6th, 2013 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Anne Hathaway, Chloe Grace Moretz, Keira Knightley, Laggies, Lynn Shelton

Reese Witherspoon to Reunite with Walk the Line Director in Three Little Words

Walk the Line director James Mangold is reuniting with Reese Witherspoon on his next project, Three Little Words, an adaptation of Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s memoir.

Rhodes-Courter entered the child welfare system in Florida at the age of four, and years later an unpaid volunteer discovered the girl and set out to convince her biological mother to surrender her parental rights so that the teen could begin a new life.

Reportedly, Witherspoon will play the volunteer and Amanda Seyfried is in talks to play the young girl’s biological mother.

Production for the film is set to begin this September in Florida.

Posted: May 6th, 2013 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Amanda Seyfried, James Mangold, Reese Witherspoon, Three Little Words, Walk the Line

Jessica Chastain in Talks to Star in Christopher Nolan’s Intersteller

Jessica Chastain is reportedly in talks to star in Christopher Nolan’s next film, Interstellar.

Although details of the film are under wraps, we do know that it is based on Caltech physicist and relativity expert Kip S. Thorne’s scientific theory that wormholes exist and can be used for time travel.

Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway landed roles in the film last month.

If she signs on, Chastain would play the third lead.

Filming for Interstellar is set to begin this summer and the film is due out November 7, 2014 in IMAX.

Posted: May 6th, 2013 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Anne Hathaway, Christopher Nolan, Intersteller, Jessica Chastain, Matthew McConaughey

Blu-ray Review: The Notebook: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Gift Set

We always have a soft spot for romances and The Notebook comes top-of-mind.

For those of you unfamiliar with the film (or simply living under a rock), The Notebook tells the story of Noah (Ryan Gosling), a wrong-side-of-the-tracks country boy who meets spirited rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) during the summer of 1940.

Despite social barriers, divergent future paths and disapproving parents, the pair remain connected even after they part –  never finding the same passion or connection with anyone else.

Running concurrently to Noah and Allie’s love story, the film also threads to present day where were see an Alzheimer’s patient (Gena Rowlands) and a stranger (James Garner) who reads the story of Noah and Allie to her from a hand-written notebook.

The Notebook: Ultimate Collector’s Gift Set is ideal for fans and comes in time for Mother’s Day.

The gift set features a Blu-ray/DVD version of the film, a leaflet with a code to access and download the film’s Ultraviolet Digital Copy; an envelope which includes six 6-1/2″-by-5″ glossy color postcards of Noah and Allie; a hardcover blank journal and a heart-shaped silver locket with chain.

Posted: May 1st, 2013 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, The Notebook

Win a Copy of Safe Haven: NYGossipGirl Giveaway

Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel’s latest film Safe Haven tackles unconditional love and fear of the unknown, but it also underscores the importance of self-defense skills for women.

Posted: April 26th, 2013 under Contests - 9 Comments. Tags: Cobie Smulders, Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Safe Haven

DHD Review: Broken City

Broken City is a dark-side-of-New York suspense mystery that at times resembles Chinatown, when a New York cop turned private eye gets taken for a ride and finds himself embroiled in big time municipal corruption.

The film follows Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg), who was a proud cop for the NYPD back in the day. However, after gunning down a suspected murderer and rapist, he was forced to resign from the force and take a job as a private investigator.

Fast forward seven years later, he’s contacted by Mayor Nicholas Hostetler (Russell Crowe) to do a little job. According to the mayor, his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is cheating, and he wants to know who she is seeing by the time the polls open for his re-election bid in less than a week.

Moreover, with an election and a big real estate deal to play for, Mayor Hostetler also wants to smear liberal opponent Jack Valliant (Barry Pepper).

The film highlights Wahlberg doing what he knows best – fighting off the bad guys. And, overhead city shots and car chases helps streamline the action packed film.

Posted: April 19th, 2013 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Barry Pepper, Broken City, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe

Win a Copy of Lincoln: NYGossipGirl Giveaway

One of the year’s most critically acclaimed and best reviewed motion picture dramas of the year, DreamWorks Pictures and Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln is available now on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital and On-Demand platforms!

Daniel Day-Lewis leads an all-star cast including Academy Award winners Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field.

Lincoln also starring David Strathaim, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and James Spader.

The film is inspired by the true-life events confronting Abraham Lincoln and his monumental moral and political challenge to amend the United States Constitution to permanently abolish slavery.

The in-depth bonus features on the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack takes viewers behind-the-scenes of director Spielberg’s life-long fascination with Lincoln and the 12 years it took to bring the story of one of history’s and mankind’s greatest triumphs to the screen.

TO WIN A COPY, tell us how Lincoln inspires you!

Posted: April 12th, 2013 under Contests - 2 Comments. Tags: Daniel Day Lewis, David Strathaim, James Spader, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lincoln, Sally Field, Steven Spielberg, Tommy Lee Jones

Teddy Geiger Album Release Show: April 19!

At just 16 Teddy Geiger watched his debut album, Underage Thinking, enter the Billboard charts at No. 8 – bolstered by the smash single “For You I Will.”

The critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, is now announcing that album’s follow-up, Last Fears, and March and April tour dates.

Last Fears, to be released nationally on May 14, is the finest collection of balmy pop rock from this young talent, so far. Tracks like the elegantly euphoric “Happier,” the majestic “Shake It Off,” and the breezily introspective “Home” showcase his graceful maturation.

The video for “Shake It Off” mixes emotional and iconic visual imagery with life-affirming scenes of friendship and good-humored partying.

And, you can see Geiger in action on April 19 in New York at Rockwood Music Hall, stage 2.

Get your tickets here!

Posted: April 4th, 2013 under Music - No Comments. Tags: Last Fears, Rockwood Music Hall, Teddy Geiger