Jerry Bruckheimer

CHICAGO – A first look at the new movie “The Lone Ranger” has been released, showing Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in the leading roles of Tonto and John Reid (The Lone Ranger). Producer Jerry Bruckheimer leaked the image on Twitter this morning showing the masked Hammer and Depp in full Tonto costume.

CHICAGO – On a good day, Nicolas Cage can be one of the most exciting and enjoyable actors in the business. Whether he’s angrily reciting the alphabet in Robert Bierman’s 1988 satire “Vampire’s Kiss,” or hallucinating about iguanas in Werner Herzog’s 2009 comic masterpiece “The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans,” Cage has proven to be the most fun to watch when granted the opportunity to cut loose.

CHICAGO – Jerry Bruckheimer has reached a point in his career where he feels capable of making a film out of anything. And not just a film, but a multimillion dollar franchise offering the mega-producer’s typically uninspired blend of sound and fury. He’s already worked wonders with an old theme park ride and an outdated action figure, so why not base his next popcorn epic on a forgotten video game from 1989?

CHICAGO – There is absolutely nothing amazing about “The Amazing Race.” There’s also nothing that’s exciting, innovative, insightful or original about this long-running reality contest, despite the fact that it’s garnered twelve Primetime Emmys.

CHICAGO – Every year, there’s a program or two for which it is strikingly easy to recognize exactly what people will love about it and what many will equally hate about it. Said programs are usually the product of creators with strong and identifiable styles and Jerry Bruckheimer is certainly one of those. Even casual fans would recognize his slick approach to the medium and your tolerance for that is going to determine your judgment on ABC’s “The Whole Truth,” a program that works for me but might not work for you.

CHICAGO – TNT’s hit-and-miss cop drama “Dark Blue” returns tomorrow night, August 4th, 2010 with a great pair of episodes featuring the addition of the always-excellent Tricia Helfer of “Battlestar Galactica,” but the improvements aren’t merely in the supporting cast, as the first two hours of season two hint at the opposite of a sophomore slump.

Previous | Image 1 of 15 | Next

Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel

CHICAGO – This 15-image slideshow contains a selection of the official press images for the highly anticipated “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” starring Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, and Monica Bellucci. The film was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Jon Turteltaub. It will be released on July 14th, 2010.

CHICAGO – TNT’s “Dark Blue” has theatrical caliber production values, tight editing, and impressive action set-pieces for a TV show. It also has cliched characters, hackneyed dialogue, and plots that stretch suspension of disbelief far past the breaking point. The strong performances and crisp pacing often make the cliches easier to bear but the first season features as many missed shots as direct hits.

CHICAGO – Historically, video game adaptations are recipes for disaster when translated into film. While “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” with Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton has a blockbuster opportunity to buck the decades-old trend, we’re just subjected to more of the same soul-deadening time drain.

Previous | Image 1 of 22 | Next

Jake Gyllenhaal

CHICAGO – This 22-image slideshow features a selection of the official press images for Walt Disney Pictures’ “Prince of Persia” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, and Alfred Molina. It will open on May 28th, 2010.