Roadside Attractions has acquired all U.S. rights to the film BLUE LIKE JAZZ. Directed and co-written by Steve Taylor (THE SECOND CHANCE) the film will have its World Premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section at the 2012 South-by-Southwest Film Festival before opening in theatres on April 13^th. Lionsgate will handle all ancillaries including DVD, VOD and TV through their output deal.

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller spent 43 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list and has sold over 1.5 million copies to date.  The semi-autobiographical story was adapted for the screen by Miller, Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson.

In the early days of pre-production, the project was forced to be put on hold due to lack of funding, prompting a website to be created by fans, for fans, called “Save Blue Like Jazz”.  The site urged loyalists to help raise money to fund the movie through Kickstarter, an online matchmaker for filmmakers and financial backers. The campaign went on to raise a record-setting $345,000, more than doubling the original goal of $125,000, allowing the film to start production.

In Blue Like Jazz, Don (Allman), a pious nineteen-year-old sophomore at a Texas junior college, impulsively decides to escape his religious upbringing for life in the Pacific Northwest at one of the most progressive campuses in America, Reed College in Portland.  Upon arrival, Reed’s surroundings and eccentric student body proves to be far different than he could possibly imagine from the environment from which he came, forcing him to embark on a journey of self-discovery to understand who he is and what he truly believes.

The film boasts a cast of rising stars including Marshall Allman (TRUE BLOOD), Claire Holt (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS), and Tania Raymonde (LOST). Blue Like Jazz was produced by Taylor, J. Clarke Gallivan and Coke Sams for Ruckus Film.

Additional outreach and grassroots partnerships will continue to dominate the entertainment, college and faith oriented landscape in the coming weeks with a number of promotional activities:

SOUTH-BY-SOUTHWEST – Blue Like Jazz will have its World Premiere at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival on Tuesday, March 13^th at the historic Paramount Theatre.  Film star and Austin native Marshall Allman is expected to attend along with Steve Taylor and Don Miller.

PROMOTIONAL BUS TOUR – Steve Taylor and Don Miller will kick off a 30-city bus tour on February 29th during which they will host screenings, events and discussions geared towards fans of the book and early supporters of the film.  Please visit: http://www.bluelikejazzthemovie.com/ for more information.

KICKSTARTER – 4500 Kickstarter backers on record, along with other fans and Blue Like Jazz followers are being organized into ‘street teams’ for the purpose of creating awareness for the film.  Over 5,000 supporters are already confirmed to participate with offline and online promotion impressions that are set to reach an estimated 2.5 million potential moviegoers.

RELEVANT – An unprecedented promotion with leading Christian culture media outlet RELEVANT commenced February 14^th. The partnership includes promotion across all print, web, live event and social media platforms through the film’s opening.

CATALYST – Christian leadership organization CATALYST has been a supporter of the project at events in 2011 and will continue through its Spring opening. The film was featured for a select group of influencers at Catalyst East in October and will be featured at Catalyst West this April.

WORLD VISION – The international aid organization will support the film through the launch of its new “act:s” network of creative activism. The film will be a featured campaign on the February launch of this new initiative where followers will be challenged to host screening parties in opening weekend markets.

“Releasing a meaningful and smart film like BLUE LIKE JAZZ, which has a grass roots following from both the bestselling book and its successful Kickstarter origins, is a coup for Roadside Attractions,” said Co-President Eric d’Arbeloff. “We look for our films to speak to many different audiences, and BLJ’s story of college freshman’s journey speaks to both a faith audience and a young audience in general.”

“Roadside Attractions has been our first choice for a distributor ever since I told Howard and Eric about the project five years ago,” says director Steve Taylor. “They’ve got a great track record bringing eclectic movies to the widest possible audience, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with them.”

The deal was negotiated by Howard Cohen on behalf of Roadside with Taylor and V.T. Murray for Tennessee-based The Panda Fund on behalf of the filmmakers.

TBS has extended the popular late-night series CONAN through April 2014, demonstrating the network’s solid commitment to the Emmy®-nominated show and its host, Conan O’Brien.

Since premiering in November 2010, CONAN has been a hit with TBS’s core audience of young adults. The show recently charted its third consecutive month of audience growth. The success of CONAN also extends well beyond the show’s TBS telecasts to include widespread DVR, online and mobile viewing; interaction through Twitter, Facebook and TeamCoco.com. In the past year, CONAN has conducted special events throughout the country, including a week of shows from the Beacon Theater in New York and fan art exhibits in New York City and San Diego. In June 2012, CONAN will travel again, this time for a week of shows in Chicago.

“We are proud to be in business with Conan O’Brien for the long run,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “Night after night, Conan and his team have put together terrific shows that draw a young and fiercely loyal audience. As if that weren’t enough, they have also built a dynamic online presence that keeps fans engaged like no other show in late night.”

Conan O’Brien added, “I am excited to continue my run with TBS because they have been fantastic partners. This means I’ll be taping episodes of CONAN well into the Ron Paul presidency.”

CONAN has enjoyed three consecutive months of audience growth. In January 2012, the show was up 27% in total viewers compared to October 2011, while adults 18-34 were up 18% and adults 18-49 up 21%. Already in February, CONAN is showing an additional 12% growth among adults 18-34, 11% among adults 18-49 and 8% among total viewers. In 2012, CONAN has averaged 1.1 million viewers, with 407,000 adults 18-34 and 702,000 adults 18-49.

Conan O’Brien is a true powerhouse when it comes to online activity and engagement. He has amassed 5,020,000 followers on Twitter, more than any other late-night host. Video clips from CONAN presented through TeamCoco.com, viral players and YouTube attracted more than 83 million video views in 2011. And the Team Coco Facebook page has drawn more than 1.8 million fans, nearly doubling the page’s January 2011 figures.

In its first year on TBS, CONAN earned three Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Variety Music or Comedy Series and another for the show’s outstanding team of comedy writers. In addition, Conan O’Brien won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Talk Show Host. Meanwhile, the Team Coco website has garnered a wide array of industry recognition, including a 2011 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media and a 2011 Webby Award for Best Fan Site.

Produced by Conaco LLC, the Emmy-nominated CONAN airs Monday-Thursday at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) on TBS. Jeff Ross serves as executive producer of CONAN. The show originates from Stage 15 at Warner Bros. Studios.

"The Way" is a masterpiece.

Films that need a wide screen, 3-D and surround sound to impress audience often lose something when seen on a smaller screen. Releasing on DVD and Blu-ray, The Way, starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez has all it needs to  leave audiences breathless.

Tom [Sheen] is an irascible American doctor who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son [Estevez], killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking The Camino de Santiago, also known as “The Way of St. James,” a 900 mile journey that pilgrims have walked since the Middle Ages. Driven by his profound sadness and desire to understand his son better, Tom decides to leave his cushy life behind and embarks on the historical pilgrimage. While walking The Camino, Tom meets other pilgrims from around the world, each with their own reason for taking this pilgrimage: a Dutchman [Yorick van Wageningen] who wants to lose weight; a Canadian [Deborah Kara Unger] wants to give up smoking; and an Irish writer [James Nesbitt] who is suffering from a bout of writer’s block. From the hardship experienced along “The Way” this unlikely quartet forms an solid bond and Tom begins to learn what it means to be a citizen of the world, discovering the difference between “The life we live and the life we choose.”

This film is amazing on multiple levels. Filmed on location in Spain and France along the actual Camino de Santiago, The Way is visual stunning, with scenes that look as if they were lifted from a painting by one of the Old Masters. The final scenes in the cathedral and on the ocean, after the quartet has finished their pilgrimage, are simply gorgeous. The acting is brilliant, especially Sheen’s Oscar-worthy portrayal of Tom’s driven determination to conquer this pilgrimage eventually giving way to a quiet peace and acceptance of the world and her people.

However, it is the script, written by Estevez – who also directed The Way – that pulls this film together as a masterpiece. For each obvious message, there are numerous undertones; from the opening scene – where a nearly blind woman refuses to accept the fact that she cannot see – to the encounter with the gypsies and the lesson that people are not their stereotypes – to the ocean scene, where each one realizes the true reasons for their pilgrimage as well as for their life.

The DVD bonus features include:

• Commentary by Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez and producer David Alexanian
• Camino Americana:  Taking The Way On The Road
• Pilgrimage:  Behind The Camera
• Father & Son:  Uncovering The Characters
• Along the Way:  The Journey of a Father and Son – a dual memoir by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

The Way is for viewers who do not want a film to jump into action from the opening credits. Watching this film is like going on a pilgrimage; you have to be willing to take your time.

Released by ARC Entertainment, PDA/FilmBuff in association with Eleventy One, The Way runs 121 minutes and is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements, drug use and smoking.

BuddyHollywood.com is celebrating the DVD release of the inspiring, The Way by giving copies of the DVD away.

A random drawing will be held on Saturday, February 25. To enter just click here. Be sure to include your mailing address for faster delivery if you are selected. There is no cost or obligation to enter and we will not use your information for any purpose other than this giveaway. It is just our way of saying thanks for stopping by. If you can’t connect directly to your email from the link above, simply send us an email at giveaway@buddyhollywood.com and make sure to put The Way in the subject line and include your mailing address.

Vampire Hunter

You know you want to see it!

Last night I let out a deep sigh. My wife asked me what was wrong.

“I miss football,” I whined.

Undefeated
The Weinstein Company

Fortunately, I had just received a review screener for the new Oscar-nominated documentary, Undefeated, which is about…you guessed it…football! Well, not exactly football; but football is the foil around which the story unfolds, so I’ll take it. The film follows the efforts of volunteer high school football coach, Bill Courtney, and his scrappy team of underdog athletes at North Memphis’s Manassas High School, as they attempt to win the very first playoff game in the school’s 110-year history.

Let me say right up front that Undefeated shares a very similar storyline with The Blind Side – a point that has been made by every review I’ve read and every reviewer I’ve talked to. A white coach works with black kids and the results are nothing short of dramatic. There is even the instance of a poor black athlete moving in with a well-to-do white family where he gets tutored so he can get his grades up. Any of this sound familiar? It might even feel contrived…if both The Blind Side and Undefeated were not true stories.

But there is more to this story than a single underprivileged football player and compassionate mentor. It is a story about quest; it’s Don Quixote tilting at windmills and striving with his last ounce of courage to reach that unreachable star. It is about hope. And trust. In a world where neither is considered a particularly valuable commodity. And ultimately it is about character…but it is not about a coach using football to develop character. Instead, as Coach Courtney explains, “If you think football builds character, it does not. It reveals character.”

The truth is, I didn’t watch this film to learn about character. I wanted to watch football, and there is plenty of football action in this documentary. There is also plenty of conflict between players both on and off the field. There is talented young player with anger issues. There is an intelligent, dedicated, but ultimately undersized player who has more heart than talent. There is also a Michael Oher-like player who just might make the pros, if he can get his grades up. And then there is that playoff game. And yes, there is plenty of opportunities for the players’ and coaches’ character to be revealed.

There is some harsh language in the film which earns it a deserved PG-13 rating, and at just under a two-hour run time it is a bit long for a documentary. But if you are a sucker for a great underdog story, or if you just miss watching high school football on Friday night, Undefeated will fit the bill nicely.

I enjoyed the Spy vs. Spy cartoons in Mad Magazine when I was a kid. It was interesting to see how creative they could be in blowing each other up. I am not sure there was really a purpose or point to the whole thing but it was at least mildly entertaining. Sort of like the new film, THIS MEANS WAR.

This Means War
20th Century Fox

Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine) are top CIA operatives. They are partners and as close as brothers. Tuck is a soft spoken Brit trying to find a solid, lasting relationship. FDR is more the one night stand type of guy. When they both end up dating the same girl, Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), it becomes Spy vs. Spy and may the best man and up with the girl. Meanwhile Lauren has no idea that the two men even know each other or that they are going to drastic lengths to outdo one another.

This film has the right cast but the story line is trivial, predictable, and often just plain silly. It doesn’t even try and elevate itself from among the bottom feeders of the romantic comedy genre. Witherspoon is always adorable but watching her bounce back and forth between these two guys and then use sex as a tie breaker is beneath her. It is also hard watching Hardy and Pine as they deliver line after line of goofy dialogue. These are decent actors who are certainly capable of filling the tough CIA guy shoes. They pull off the spy games believably; even when the moments are unbelievable.  The problem lies when they have to open their mouths. But that blame falls on the writing.

Originally slated for an R rating it was later edited down to a PG-13. The edits are very sloppy and many times feel like a TV version where you can tell they said something that doesn’t quite come out the same. No effort was given to clean it up properly and it makes the film seem low budget. Chelsea Handler plays Lauren’s good friend Trish. Her scenes seem the most cut up. Handler is well known for her crude, insidious language and behavior. Here it comes off as unlikable and unfunny.

Few fans of the genre will feel good at the end after paying box office money to see it. It is a better renter and best to wait until it hits the Blu-ray shelf (which will undoubtedly be soon). If you just have to have something new for a GNO then take a shot. Pine and Hardy are good eye candy and if you can look past the plot and Lauren’s decision making then you might be ok. Certainly not a recommended date movie for older couples. It is too silly for that.

Though edited down to a PG-13, be on guard for some sexual content and language. There are quite a few sexual references and crude innuendoes (mainly by Handler) as well as the overall theme of allowing sex to be a decision tie breaker. There is nothing overtly foul but it just has a continuous stream that flows lazily through the entire picture. I give THIS MEANS WAR 2.5 out of 5 sleeping darts. I was disappointed because I am a huge fan of Chris and Reese. Not sure how they were talked into this one but whatever favor they owed; it is certainly paid off now.

Review copyright 2012 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.

Since I became a Christian, I have never had a problem understanding that God was my heavenly Father. Yet, several years ago, it came as a shock when I realized that I considered myself more like a red-headed stepchild rather than a beloved child of God. Since then, I have kept my eyes opened for books, music, even movies that would remind me that I was worth much more to God. I can definitely say that Babbie Mason’s book, Embraced by God; Celebrating Who and Whose You Are fits this criteria.

Embraced by God; Celebrating Who and Whose You Are
Babbie Mason
Abingdon Press

Premise: Embraced by God is a 21-day encounter that shares the unconditional love of God. Each of the 21 chapters are centered on one of seven themes including, “God’s Passion for You is Unconditional,” God’s Picture of You is Beautiful,” “God’s Plan for You is Exceptional” and God’s Power in You is Accessible.” Each chapter includes scripture, stories, prayer, and an exhortation to put what you’ve learned into practice by serving others. By the end of the book, the author hopes readers will increase their capacity to love God and to receive His love. This book is a journey of discovering what it means to be unconditionally loved, approved, accepted, forgiven, blessed, cherished, treasured, and favored by God. 

The impetus of the book came from a comment the author heard in a sermon, where the pastor encouraged each person present to proclaim themselves as, “God’s favorite.” That might be a shock for some – and others might consider this a prideful thought – yet Ms Mason supports this statement by pointing to John 17:22-23, Romans 8:17, and Zephaniah 3:17. It was comforting and encouraging for me to be reminded that God rejoices over me with singing, that I am a joint heir with Christ and that Jesus had given me the glory that He had with the Father; and all this from the book’s Introduction.

Babbie Mason’s writing style is friendly and conversational and can be easily understood by believers of all levels. Although it is geared as a daily devotional, readers this doesn’t mean readers can go through Embraced by God in a few minutes each morning. The chapters in the book are long. Ms Mason also recommends that it be read at the same time each day. Readers whose schedule does not allow for this should not be discouraged from reading the book. Breaking it into a 30 or 40 day encounter will not diminish the impact of the message.

About the Author: Babbie Mason grew up as a preacher’s daughter. She is a Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated gospel singer, songwriter, author and creator of the ministry Embrace: A Worship Event for Women. She is a professor of songwriting at Atlanta Christian College and Lee University, and a television talk-show host.

I discovered Agatha Christie on my mother’s bookshelf when I was a young teen. I fell in Ms Christie’s brilliant writing, the three dimensional characters, and the plots filled with twists and red herrings. Of all of Christie’s detectives, my favorite was Hercule Poirot, the diminutive Belgian with his quirky and fastidious manner, relying on his ‘little grey cells’ to solve crime after crime.  From Acorn Media, now Christie fans can bring the incomparable sleuth into their homes in the newly-remastered and restored to their UK broadcast order Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 1 and Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 2.

It is almost unbelievable that there might be someone who does not know Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie’s most famous sleuth was a fastidious little man with impeccable manners. He took great care with his appearance, wearing three piece suits even on vacation and donning a special device to protect his beloved moustache while he slept. His quirky behavior, along with his accent – which some would mistaken as French, much to his chagrin – left many thinking less of his skills as a detective. They would soon learn otherwise, generally when he called everyone into a room to retrace the murder and reveal the murderer.Over the years, there have been several actors who have attempted to portray Poirot on screen; none have reached the brilliance of BAFTA nominee David Suchet. He was the epitome of Christie’s Poirot, from the top of his pomaded head down to his dress shoes and nailed Poirot’s mannerisms and facial expressions.

But Agatha Christie’s genius did not end with the creation of Poirot. His secretary, Miss Lemon was every bit as meticulous as her employer; Pauline Moran did a marvelous job portraying her. What Dr. Waston was to Sherlock Holmes, Captain Hastings was to Poirot and Hugh Fraser was charming as Poirot’s friend in crime-solving. And don’t forget Philip Jackson’s delightful portrayal as Chief Inspector Japp.

Based upon the novels of Agatha Christie, each episode in Agatha Christie’s Poirot is beautiful to look at, with lavish sets and costumes capturing every splendid detail of the Art Deco era in 1930s Europe.

Episodes in Series 1 include: The Adventure of the Clapham Cook; Murder in the Mews; The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly; Four and Twenty Blackbirds; The Third Floor Flat; Triangle at Rhodes; Problem at Sea; The Incredible Theft; The King of Clubs; The Dream.

Episodes in Series 2 include: Peril at End House; The Veiled Lady; The Lost Mine; The Cornish Mystery; The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim; Double Sin; The Adventure of the Cheap Flat; The Kidnapped Prime Minister; The Adventure of the Western Star

Special features on the DVD sets include biographies of Agatha Christie and David Suchet, interactive trivia, cast filmographies and Agatha Christie materials.

If you love a good mystery, that relies on great characters and story rather than blood and hard language, then you’ll love Agatha Christie’s Poirot.

The series conclusion is lacking

“Connoisseurs of the Robin Hood legend call this action-packed mid-1980’s British television series the standard by which all other adaptations are measured. Rich with authentic historical detail and cunning plot twists, Robin of Sherwood adds a bit of sorcery and mysticism to the swordplay and social justice that have made the heroic outlaw so endearing and enduring.”

I was excited when I read those comments in the press release that accompanied the Robin of Sherwood Blu-ray. I had not seen the original series, but am a great fan of historic books, movies and television series. I love looking at the sets and costumes and can be quite critical if there are obvious intentional anachronisms. I was also pleased to see that it starred Jason Connery (Shanghai Noon, son of Sean Connery), Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones 4, The Departed) and Nickolas Grace (Brideshead Revisited) and included the award-winning score of Gaelic music by the traditional Irish band Clannad. Despite all of that, the show left me wanting more.

The premise: In these concluding tales to the series that ran for four seasons on British television, the young nobleman Robert of Huntingdon (Connery) assumes the mantle of the fallen Robin of Loxley. Guided by the forest spirit Herne, he reassembles Robin’s band, including Will Scarlet (Winstone), and resumes the campaign against the greedy Sheriff of Nottingham (Grace).

The pros: Robin of Sherwood is filled with authentic detail in costume and sets. The castles look like the fortresses they were meant to be and not something from a Disney fairy tale. The costumes fit the time period and there were none of the nails-on-a-chalkboard modern sentiments or wordage slipped into the dialogue.

The cons: The script was lacking. Had I watched the first Robin Hood series, I might have understood some of the references in the storyline. The battle scenes had so few men, obviously staged fighting and so little blood I began wondering if this series was meant to be a comedy.

What I did enjoy were the over nine hours of special features, which included:

Blu-ray (Discs 1-3)

• Nine episode commentaries
• Photo gallery containing over 400 images (23 min.)
• Music-only tracks for three episodes

BONUS DVD (Disc 4)

• Documentary about the making of Series 3 (76 min.)
• Clannad: Scoring Robin of Sherwood interview (12 min.)
• Producer Esta Charkham’s Photographic Retrospective (4 min.)
• Robin Hood 1-2-3 Screen Swordplay (8 min.)
• Outtakes (13 min.)
• Promotional short (5 min.)
• PDF material
• And more
• SDH Subtitles (main program)

Fans of the first series will probably enjoy Robin of Sherwood. However, for those who have not seen it, they may want to rent it first before plopping down the money to purchase the 4 disc Blu-ray set.