Danny McBride

The 10 Biggest Emmy Snubs of 2009

BrianTT — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:57 -0600

CHICAGO – The 61st Annual Emmy Award Nominations were an interesting melting pot of smart, brave, new choices and old-fashioned, predictable, stale selections.

It was fantastic to see a few first-time nominees from our own “Dream Emmys” piece including Jim Parsons for “The Big Bang Theory,” Jack McBrayer for “30 Rock,” Kristen Wiig for “Saturday Night Live,” Aaron Paul for “Breaking Bad,” Hope Davis for “In Treatment,” Toni Collette in “United States of Tara,” and Cherry Jones for “24”. Those are great choices that hint at an organization willing to think outside of the box when it comes to handing out awards.

Now, that doesn’t mean some people weren’t totally screwed. For every great choice this year, there was one that could politely be called a head-scratcher. In my humble, TV-critic opinion, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences failed to nominate what should have WON the top three dramatic categories - “The Shield” for Best Drama, Michael Chiklis for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series, and January Jones for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series. So, it’s not as if they missed a minor nominee here and there. They missed some biggies. And it’s time to name names.

Note: The overall snubs of “Friday Night Lights” and “Battlestar Galactica” is ridiculous but who knows where to start with those shows, a pair of beloved series that have NEVER gotten the Academy recognition that they deserved. We’re trying to stick with specific acting snubs and both “FNL” and “BSG” are snubs in multiple categories. We could do a top ten of just those two shows. To keep the list from getting too specific, consider them overall snubs, not specific ones on the list.

The Ten Biggest 2009 Emmy Snubs

Photo credit: FX

10. Denis Leary for “Rescue Me”

This is a questionable one but it indicates something deeply flawed about the Emmy system - its link to the standard, broadcast calendar year. The 2009 Emmys were for shows that aired from the first of June in 2008 to the last day of May in 2009. What happens if a show straddles (gasp) both May and June?!? How daring! The fifth season of “Rescue Me” started in April and runs until September. I’d like to think that Emmy voters will remember what Denis Leary is doing this season at NEXT year’s Emmys, when the bulk of the season is eligible, but I want to plant the seed now - what Leary is doing this season far outweighs anything he has delivered before. He has really grown comfortable in the role of Tommy Gavin and he’s doing more subtle work than he has in any of the previous seasons. I guess with only a few eligible episodes this snub isn’t that egregious but don’t let it happen again next year.

Photo credit: ABC

9. Anna Friel for “Pushing Daisies”

The Academy missed out on a chance to nominate the final season of ABC’s brilliant-but-canceled “Pushing Daisies” in multiple categories but no exclusion was more shocking than leaving the charming and delightful Anna Friel out of a category that, let’s be blunt, is hard to fill with six nominees. When you get past the deserving Christina Applegate, who displayed perfect comic timing in the very imperfect “Samantha Who?,” the obvious choice of Tina Fey, and the one-two punch of Showtime heroines in Toni Collette in “United States of Tara” and Mary-Louise Parker in “Weeds,” the pool gets awfully shallow (at least until Edie Falco walks home with this award next year for “Nurse Jackie”). That’s why relatively stale choices like Julia Louis-Dreyfus in “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and Sarah Silverman for her Comedy Central program get in. I love both actresses and think they’re very talented but they’re getting nominated more for their overall ability than the actual program. The overall quality of “Pushing Daisies” and how Friel contributes to it should have prevailed over better-known actresses on inferior shows.

Photo credit: NBC

8. Jenna Fischer and Ed Helms for “The Office”

“The Office” had an inspired, creative season that easily ranks with their best to date but it’s getting a little tiring of seeing the same-old nominees every year. Yes, Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson are talented people but can’t we spread the wealth? Both Ed Helms and Jenna Fischer had arguably better seasons. (Fischer was nominated once before in 2007, but she was even better this year.) Helms’ plotline involving the dissolution of his engagement to Angela was priceless and Fischer’s involving Pam breaking off and joining the Michael Scott Paper Company allowed the actress to display her best comic timing to date. Helms should have snuck in over Wilson (or maybe even Tracy Morgan or Jon Cryer…both are good, neither are Emmy-worthy) and Fischer deserved the spot over Vanessa Williams for the tired “Ugly Betty”. A lot of people deserved the spot over Vanessa Williams.

Photo credit: ABC

7. Elizabeth Mitchell for “Lost”

It took a few years, but I think it is now widely recognized that “Lost” is a truly ensemble-driven show and, consequently, perhaps it doesn’t deserve that many acting nominations. I said “that many”. It still deserves a few and, thankfully, the Academy did pick out one - the great, show-stealing Michael Emerson for Best Supporting Actor. And I can’t even say for sure that Elizabeth Mitchell had that amazing a season. It’s more of the fact that this excellent actress has never been nominated. At least Locke, Said and Ben got their shot at glory. (Terry O’Quinn won in 2007, Naveen Andrews was nominated in 2005). But no woman has ever been nominated for “Lost”. And I doubt that the final season of the show is going to be very character-specific, once again leaving voters at a loss as who to single out of the ensemble. This was possibly their last chance. Elizabeth Mitchell should have been the first.

Photo credit: NBC

6. Regina King for “Southland”

Regina King is the main reason that “Southland” is on NBC’s fall schedule. She is easily the best thing about this intriguing-but-flawed show and it would have really displayed a willingness to look outside of the usual candidates if her name had been called on nomination morning. As Detective Lydia Adams, King displays a perfect combination of human vulnerability and the veins of steel required to be an L.A. cop. King has stolen scenes in major films for years and now she’s doing it on NBC. I think her exclusion is due to a slightly understandable lack of exposure to the show. After all, only seven episodes have aired and I bet most Emmy voters don’t even know that the on-the-bubble show was renewed. However, if “Southland” makes it through another season, I would bet money that King gets nominated next year. Sally Field, Mariska Hargitay, and Holly Hunter might want to prepare for some disappointment.

Photo credit: HBO

5. Anna Paquin for “True Blood”

Speaking of “Best Actress in a Dramatic Series” mistakes (and this won’t even be the last time). The general exclusion of “True Blood” this year was tragically disappointing. Based on years of snubs for the amazing “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and now the exclusion of “True Blood” from Best Drama and Best Actress, it’s crystal clear that the Academy has something against vampire fiction. (The team behind The CW’s upcoming “Vampire Diaries” probably don’t need to clear mantle space for Emmys.) Paquin is perfect on “True Blood,” bringing a harder-than-it-looks blend of southern innocence, primal sexuality, excellent comic timing, and true emotional core to the role of Sookie Stackhouse. She’s so good on “True Blood” that most people don’t even notice how good she is. It is a FAR less flashy role than Holly Hunter on “Saving Grace” or Sally Field on “Brothers and Sisters” and no one can ever explain to me how (outside of her status as Hollywood royalty) Mariska Hargitay keeps getting nominated. The show’s good popcorn entertainment, but really?

Photo credit: HBO

4. Danny McBride for “Eastbound and Down”

How amazing and subversive of the generally-safe Emmy Awards would it have been to see a clip of Kenny Powers on the broadcast? The racist, sexist, drug-using, and basically insane Kenny Powers might have sent some of the older Academy members running for the exit doors. And, to be honest, that’s probably why the excellent Mr. McBride didn’t get nominated. It’s a shame because “Eastbound and Down” has a growing, thriving fan base, one that gets bigger with every viewing of the season one DVD. What McBride does on “Eastbound and Down” is comic brilliance, the best thing that the star of “Pineapple Express” and “Tropic Thunder” had done to date. With guest appearances on the show from Will Ferrell and Craig Robinson and a growing fan base, a major nod for “Eastbound and Down” might have brought in a whole new audience for the Emmy Awards. I’m sure that Jemaine Clement for “Flight of the Conchords” will do some of that, but McBride is just a bit better.

Photo credit: The CW

3. Ray Wise for “Reaper”

Like “Pushing Daisies” (and my next choice), this was a case of the Academy having only one more chance to correct an omission from last year and they blew it again. Yes, you could fit the number of people who watched “Reaper” into a Dodge Caravan but that shouldn’t matter when it comes to awards. It’s the responsibility of voters to catch up on every eligible performance. And I don’t believe they did. Because if you see Ray Wise as the Devil on “Reaper,” you would vote for Ray Wise. I think there may have been some category confusion with “Reaper”. Is it a comedy? A drama? The fact is that most modern shows that have straddled the line between the standard definition of the categories - “Buffy” is a great example - have struggled to get major nominations. “Reaper” was eligible in comedy and Ray Wise was better than at least half of the supporting actor nominees.

Photo credit: FX

2. Michael Chiklis and Walton Goggins for “The Shield”

How are critics and Academy voters SO far apart? “The Shield” was the most nominated show by the Television Critics Association for their final, brilliant season. It was nominated for Best Drama, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. Don’t you think ONE of those nominees might have been mirrored by the Emmy Awards? ONE?!? The final season of “The Shield” was the Best Drama of 2008 and Chiklis and Goggins were the main reason why. Watching Vic Mackey and Shane Vendrell reach the apex of the dance they’ve been doing with destiny since the series premiere was riveting television and the final scenes of both characters merited nomination on their own. The fate of both characters was beautifully, perfectly written by one of the best writing staffs of the ’00s and Chiklis and Goggins knocked it out of the park. They both should have won. Neither were nominated. Shameful.

Photo credit: Lionsgate

1. January Jones for “Mad Men”

I honestly didn’t think there would be a more shameful omission than Chiklis and Goggins (who I kind of expected to get screwed considering how much the Academy has ignored “The Shield” over the years), but that’s because I couldn’t fathom the Academy missing the Best Actress performance of 2008. Sure, they missed January Jones last year, but this season of “Mad Men” was all about the female characters in the world of Sterling/Cooper, none more prominently than Jones’ Betty Draper. Jones did something amazing this year, subtly portraying the unraveling of a woman who has worked hard to keep up a perfect front. Jones’ work on “Mad Men” is so just-below-the-surface that I think Emmy voters must have missed it. I love Kyra Sedgwick and Holly Hunter too, but even those actresses would admit that their characters are a bit more scenery-chewing. Jones didn’t have a “big moment” to sell in an Emmy clip and probably lost out because of it. Don’t let it happen again next year.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

DVD Review: HBO’s Hilarious ‘Eastbound and Down’ Gets Great Release

BrianTT — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Danny McBride (“Pineapple Express,” “Land of the Lost”) gave one of the best TV performances of the last several years as the over-the-top anti-hero of HBO’s hysterical “Eastbound & Down,” a sitcom about a raging a-hole sports star brought back to Earth and forced to work as a gym teacher in the small town he grew up in, now available on DVD.

DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0

Kenny Powers is a giant, raging, alcoholic catfish in a small pond. He used to have it all - endorsements, trophies, a million-dollar contract. As his steroid-enhanced skills declined, the fact that Kenny Powers was also a total a-hole came to the surface and he was run out of professional sports (MLB fans familiar with the true story of John Rocker will see some of that in this fictional take).

Eastbound and Down: The Complete First Season was released on DVD on June 30th, 2009.
Photo credit: HBO Home Video

After leaving baseball, Kenny returns home to live with his brother (John Hawkes) and sister-in-law (Jennifer Irwin) and teach at the North Carolina middle school that he once attended. He tries to work his way back into the life of his teen-years girlfriend (the underrated Katy Mixon), who also teaches at the school and happens to be engaged to the dorky principal (Andrew Daly).

Eastbound and Down: The Complete First Season was released on DVD on June 30th, 2009.
Photo credit: HBO Home Video

Powers also operates under the delusion that not only is he still famous but that he will one day pitch in the majors again. So, he tries to use his fame at events like one at a local car dealer (a fantastic Will Ferrell, appearing in two episodes) and takes steroids again in his pursuit to re-find his fastball. Drugs, cheap sex, unbelievable profanity, and general obnoxiousness are a way of life for a man who listens to his own audio book (“You’re F**kin’ Out, I’m F**kin’ In”) for inspiration.

Over six hysterical episodes, “Eastbound & Down” feels like nothing else on television. It’s more like a six-part, three-hour comedy feature film, a feeling enhanced by the superstar cast and great team behind the camera, including producers Ferrell and Adam McKay and directors Jody Hill (“Observe and Report”) and the great David Gordon Green (“Pineapple Express,” “Snow Angels”). One of the best American filmmakers of his generation directed a half-hour comedy earlier this year. Even if you’re not a TV fan, you should see it.

The DVD from HBO treats Kenny Powers like the star he is in his own mind. The episodes look better-than-average for standard DVD in 16x9 widescreen and the sound is more than adequate in English 5.1 Dolby Surround. HBO has long led the way in TV and produced some amazing DVD season sets, but they really should be offering every show, especially one as acclaimed as “Eastbound & Down,” on Blu-Ray. It’s disappointing that this is only available on standard, even if it’s a great standard release.

The special features are extensive and interesting, including several audio commentaries, some very funny outtakes and deleted scenes, “Making Eastbound & Down,” “Kenny Powers: Greatest Hits,” “Schaeffer Motors Commercials,” and “Steve’s Dark Secret”.

It’s unlikely, but if there’s any Emmy justice, “Eastbound & Down” will get a couple of nominations later this month (check out our feature about that) and season two has already been announced. Check out the great first season DVD and jump on the bandwagon before Kenny Powers really becomes a household name again.

‘Eastbound & Down: The Complete First Season’ was released by HBO Home Video and stars Danny McBride, Katy Mixon, John Hawkes, Andrew Daly, Ben Best, Jennifer Irwin, and Steve Little. It was created by Ben T. Best & Jody L. Hill & Danny R. McBride. The show was released on June 30th, 2009. It is rated TV-MA.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Land of the Lost’ With Will Ferrell Should Never Be Found

BrianTT — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:29:40 -0600

Rating: 1.0/5.0

CHICAGO – “Land of the Lost,” starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, and Anna Friel, is horribly conceived, almost entirely laugh-free, and with absolutely no personality of its own. It’s one of the most inert, dull, and dead-on-arrival major summer films in a very long time with no target audience likely to be satisfied by it.

What exactly is the target audience of “Land of the Lost”? I’ll admit that I assumed it would be a PG-rated family comedy going in. Little kids love dinosaur poop jokes, right? Much to be great surprise, “Land of the Lost” is not for kids. Sure, it sounds like it was written by a 12-year-old, but parents may blush at jokes about characters getting “wet” or sitting on a vibrating crystal. Even pre-teens will roll their eyes when Chaka gropes Holly for the fifteenth time.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Land of the Lost” in our reviews section.

So, if the target audience isn’t families than it must be fans of the original TV show, a formula that has gotten Hollywood nowhere creatively. “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “The Flintstones,” “Bewitched,” and now “Land of the Lost” - why do they keep mining this well when it produces so little? The only positive thing I can say about “Land of the Lost” is that it’s so bad perhaps it will put an end to the classic-TV-to-film machine.

Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) is a quantum paleontologist who we meet on “The Today Show” during a rather embarassing interview with Matt Lauer about time travel. A few years later, Rick is teaching science to kids whose most interesting questions are “do dinosaurs have boobies?”

‘Land of the Lost’ stars Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, and Jorma Taccone. It was written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas and directed by Brad Silberling. It opens on June 5th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Land of the Lost” review.

(L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) arrive at a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
Photo credit: Universal/Ralph Nelson

Slideshow: 34-Image Gallery For ‘Land of the Lost’ With Will Ferrell

BrianTT — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:57:02 -0600

CHICAGO – This 34-image slideshow contains the official press images for “Land of the Lost starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone, and Anna Friel. The film, written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas and directed by Brad Silberling, opens on June 5th, 2009.

Synopsis:

“Space-time vortexes suck.

Will Ferrell stars as has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, sucked into one and spat back through time. Way back. Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic creatures from beyond our world—a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.

Sucked alongside him for the adventure are crack-smart research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and a redneck survivalist (Danny McBride) named Will. Chased by T. rex and stalked by painfully slow reptiles known as Sleestak, Marshall, Will and Holly must rely on their only ally—a primate called Chaka (Jorma Taccone)—to navigate out of the hybrid dimension. Escape from this routine expedition gone awry and they’re heroes. Get stuck, and they’ll be permanent refugees in the Land of the Lost.

Based on the classic television series created by Sid & Marty Krofft, Land of the Lost is directed by Brad Silberling and produced by Jimmy Miller and Sid & Marty Krofft. ”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. Photos credited to Ralph Nelson & Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

LandOfTheLost_01: (L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) arrive at a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_02: Director Brad Silberling on the set of Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_03: (L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) find themselves in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_04: The Sleestak emerge from hiding in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_05: Research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) find themselves in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_06: (L to R) Will Ferrell as has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, Anna Friel as research assistant Holly, Danny McBride as redneck survivalist Will and director Brad Silberling on the set of Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_07: (L to R) Redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride), has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) and research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) are surrounded by painfully slow Sleestak in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_08: Director Brad Silberling on the set of Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_09: (L to R) Will Ferrell as has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, Anna Friel as research assistant Holly, Danny McBride as redneck survivalist Will and director Brad Silberling on the set of Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_10: Redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) takes in the amazing sights of a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_11: (L to R) Land of the Lost producers Sid & Marty Krofft on the set.
LandOfTheLost_12: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) is ready for action in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_13: (L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) have arrived at a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_14: Research scientist Holly (Anna Friel) looks astonished at a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_15: Primate Chaka (Jorma Taccone) comes out of hiding in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_16: (L to R) Redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) and has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_17: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) finds himself in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_18: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) arrives at a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_19: Research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) is surprised at what she sees in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_20: (L to R) A T. rex named Grumpy tries to swallow has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and primate Chaka (Jorma Taccone) in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_21: (L to R) A T. rex nemesis named Grumpy approaches has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride), primate Chaka (Jorma Taccone) and research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_22: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) is covered in alien spiders in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_23: (L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel), redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) and primate Chaka (Jorma Taccone) arrive at a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_24: (L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) introduce themselves to primate Chaka (Jorma Taccone) in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_25: (L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) and primate Chaka (Jorma Taccone) cant believe what they see in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_26: The Sleestak descend upon their prey in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_27: (L to R) Research assistant Holly (Anna Friel), primate Chaka (Jorma Taccone) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) stare in disgust as a giant mosquito bites has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_28: (L to R) Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), research assistant Holly (Anna Friel), redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) and primate Chaka discuss their predicament in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_29: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) plays the banjo at a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_30: Research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) prepare to plunge into a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_31: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) finds himself in close proximity to a T. rex nemesis named Grumpy in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_32: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) looks curious about his new surroundings in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_33: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride) are approached by two Sleestak in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
LandOfTheLost_34: Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) faces off against a T. rex nemesis named Grumpy in a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review: Danny McBride Delivers Comedy Heat With HBO’s ‘Eastbound & Down’

BrianTT — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:40:29 -0700

Television Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Danny McBride had an amazing 2008, stealing scenes in “Tropic Thunder” and finding comic gold with director David Gordon Green in the great “Pineapple Express”. McBride, Green, director Jody Hill, and producer Will Ferrell have teamed up for the six-episode HBO comedy series “Eastbound & Down,” one of the most laugh-out-loud, promising comedy premieres in a long time.

It’s impossible to judge an entire show based on a first episode and it helps to have directors like Jody Hill and David Gordon Green (who also directed the excellent “Snow Angels” last year) behind the camera to start, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Chapter 1” of “Eastbound & Down” from first scene to last. It’s easily the best thing that McBride has done in a lead role (he and Hill also worked together on “The Foot Fist Way”) and a show that would make people who may have canceled HBO to save some cash think twice about it.

Danny McBride and John Hawkes in HBO’s “Eastbound & Down”.
Photo credit: Fred Norris/HBO

Danny McBride plays Kenny Powers, a character who feels loosely based on Atlanta’s John Rocker. Once a superstar relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, Powers let his mouth and his bad behavior destroy his career. With no filter on his rampant racism, sexism, or homophobia, Powers was a black eye on baseball who fell deep into drug use and steroids before his career ended with a whimper.

Danny McBride in HBO’s “Eastbound & Down”
Photo credit: Fred Norris/HBO

“Several sh*tty years later,” Powers is back home in North Carolina, teaching physical education at the middle school he once attended, living with his brother Wayne’s (John Hawkes) family, pining after his old girlfriend (Katy Mixon) and continuing his unbelievably obnoxious ways. He does cocaine in the back room of the local watering hole, haggles with hookers in his sister-in-law’s living room, and swears like Tony Montana.

With a raging mullet and ridiculous facial hair, McBride gives a performance in “Eastbound & Down” that is likely to be massively underrated. He’s both a caricature of an obnoxious redneck and someone who feels completely believable at the same time. Kenny is an overgrown child who was given the ability to have all of his dreams come true because of the excess of sports. Now, he’s just a big, stupid fish in a little pond, constantly running into the shore.

The great Hawkes (“Deadwood”) anchors the lead character’s more over-the-top behavior in realism, and there’s an honest sadness in Powers fall from grace that adds depth to the barrage of f-bombs that I hope is developed in future episodes.

Ben Best and Danny McBride in HBO’s “Eastbound & Down”.
Photo credit: Fred Norris/HBO

My biggest concern about “Eastbound & Down” is that it will be ALL childish behavior and vulgarity for all six episodes. There’s room to go either way with “Eastbound” after the premiere and maintain the show’s strong start or descend into repetition. Can they keep this up for six episodes without getting boring? Will we really care about Kenny when the joke grows old? It certainly doesn’t in just 30 minutes, but I’m worried about the ability to keep the show fresh in the later innings. The short order - only six episodes - definitely gives me pause.

“Eastbound” is not for the easily offended. Powers is a raging jerk who swears more than a drunk truck driver and cracks jokes that would make a lot of people turn away in disgust. Personally, I think Green and McBride have found something sublimely brilliant by dropping an ego-centric, crazy SOB back into the bible belt that created him. When someone like Kenny Powers becomes a household name, can he possibly be turned back into an average gym teacher?

Wherever it goes from here, the premiere of “Eastbound & Down” is just damn funny. Kenny’s response to the kid in gym class who says “My dad said you ruined baseball” is worth tuning in for by itself. “Eastbound” had me laughing from the very beginning and more consistently through its first thirty minutes than anything in a long time.

A lot of the humor may be juvenile, but “Eastbound & Down” hit my funny bone like a fastball, which simply cannot be said about a lot of TV’s recent scripted comedy. I’m still not sure he’ll make it a full nine innings, but I can’t wait to see Kenny Powers take the mound again.

‘Eastbound & Down,’ which airs on HBO, stars Danny McBride, John Hawkes, Katy Mixon, Ben Best, Andrew Daly, and Jennifer Irwin. The series premiere, directed by Jody Hill, airs on Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at 9:30PM CST.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: Chicago ‘Underworld: Rise of the Lycans’ Writer Kevin Grevioux on Science-Based Vampires

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:37:33 -0700

CHICAGO – While Alfred Hitchcock and more recently M. Night Shyamalan have teetered between whether or not to write roles for themselves into their own scripts, there’s no tottering for Chicago-born Marvel Comics writer and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” character creator Kevin Grevioux.

For the inside story behind the 2009 “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” film from the lips of the “Underworld” character creator (the original Kate Beckinsdale film opened in 2003), HollywoodChicago.com sat down with the vastly brawny and distinctly deep-voiced Kevin Grevioux on the film that makes the series a trilogy.

Rhona Mitra stars in “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”.
Photo credit: Lakeshore Entertainment Group

“When I wrote the original ‘Underworld’ script, I had my role in it and I knew what I had to do,” Grevioux said in a Chicago interview with HollywoodChicago.com editor-in-chief Adam Fendelman on the topic of his Lycan (werewolf) character named Raze. “I had to taper it to make sure it fit well within the film. I had to make it big enough but not too small.”

Grevioux continued: “After I finished my screenplay, the other writers (Len Wiseman and Danny McBride) were making the role bigger. We all were. But I said at one point: ‘Hold up, fellas. We can’t go down this path. If this role is too big, then they’re gonna get LL Cool J or whoever is the flavor-of-the-month black man to play it and I won’t be able to.’”

That’s when Grevioux knew it was time to defend his own character holy grail. He added: “So we tapered it down some so it would be cool for me but not as attractive to a bigger actor.”

This was at a time when Grevioux was new in the industry and hadn’t yet earned today’s prized Hollywood star power. He added: “At the time, none of us had done a film before. We were all new and had no power. I identify myself more as a writer than an actor. Acting is something I fell into because I had the look – whatever that means – or distinctiveness. But writing is really where I flourish. I have a wealth of ideas.”

To understand Grevioux’s “Underworld” writing in contrast to so many other vampire incarnations including the hit 2008 film “Twilight,” its 2009 sequel “New Moon,” “True Blood” on HBO, all the Anne Rice vampire novels and the underrated foreign child vampire film “Let the Right One In,” one must understand the source from which he derived his vampire and werewolf perspective.

Michael Sheen (left) and Kevin Grevioux star in “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”.
Photo credit: Lakeshore Entertainment Group

As a self-professed conspiracy theorist and sci-fi fanatic with science degrees in microbiology and genetic engineering, Grevioux didn’t write “Underworld” vampires with the typical sense of mysticism. Instead, he created them through science in the way he believes they actually could be.

Continue reading on page two…

Interview: Brandon T. Jackson of ‘Tropic Thunder’ Breaks Out With ‘Booty Sweat’ Calling Card

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:30:45 -0600

CHICAGO – For “Tropic Thunder” star and Chris Tucker protégé Brandon T. Jackson, the fictional Booty Sweat literally is his Hollywood calling card.

The Red Bull-like energy drink is a scripted creation of writer, director, producer and star actor Ben Stiller in the new comedy. The film’s talent list, which includes both “A”-list actors and up-and-coming actors, is longer than two or three typical films today combined.

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller, left) and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr., right) are shooting an epic war movie and wind up in a real battle in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Rapper Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) tackles his first serious acting role in “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Along with recognized actors Robert Downey Jr. (who plays the memorable role of an actor who surgically blackens his skin), Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Nick Nolte and rising actors Danny McBride, Bill Hader and Steve Coogan, director Stiller takes a chance on newcomers Brandon T. Jackson and Jay Baruchel.

“Tropic Thunder” serves as the first major roles for both Jackson and Baruchel. The film also features cameos from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jon Voight and Tyra Banks.

While the film is an offensively complicated picture that certainly has figured out how to whirl about a laugh around every corner, so does its complication sometimes force the story to tug about in many different directions.

“Tropic Thunder” sometimes feels like it clearly knows where it’s going and at other times is completely lost in the black hole of Stiller’s uniquely melodramatic brain.

Along with Justin Theroux and Stiller, the film also lists Etan Cohen as a co-writer of the film’s screenplay. This Cohen is not to be confused with Oscar-winning phenomenon Ethan Coen (the brother of Joel Coen) of “No Country for Old Men,” “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo” fame.

Left to right: Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) are actors shooting a war movie who get caught up in a real battle in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Rating: 4.0/5.0

While the drink Booty Sweat is a smash hit in the film and merely serves as one of its comedic asides, in real life the liquid isn’t nearly as renowned. It’s currently selling at novelty stores such as Spencer’s Gifts (as well as Amazon.com) and is one of many ways the movie is drumming up buzz.

Still, it’s trying to explode virally for the film at BootySweat.com and Alpa-Chino.com. Clearly borrowed from actor Al Pacino, Alpa Chino is Jackson’s character name in the film. In addition to Chris Tucker, Jackson names Jim Carrey as another comic inspiration.

HollywoodChicago.com recently interviewed the 24-year-old Jackson about his breakout role, today’s struggle to best the masses competing for Hollywood work and why he’s trying to build his own “star brand” that’s nothing like Kanye West.

“I know how to be funny to black audiences,” Jackson told HollywoodChicago.com, “but the challenge in ‘Tropic Thunder’ was having universal appeal.” He added: “It’s very difficult getting work in Hollywood right now especially for a young black comic. I’m trying to build a brand. I’m not just doing one-off projects. I’m always doing comedy and will never hit up a 9-to-5 desk job.”

Cody (Danny McBride) is a trigger-happy explosions expert on an epic war film that goes awry in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

The Detroit born and bred Jackson makes the clear differentiation between how he’s crafting his nascent “star brand” as a “young black comic” in stark contrast to “all that hip-hop stuff” in which people like Kanye West are rolling in fat rolls of dough.

Jackson also says he’s continuing to use the concept of a “class clown” in his branding that he just hasn’t been able to shake since high school.

In 2005, Jackson was also seen in the lesser-known, coming-of-age comedy “Roll Bounce” about rollerskating, which was filmed in Chicago and also starred Mike Epps, Bow Wow and Meagan Good.

The young comic describes his first role of prime Hollywood prominence in “Tropic Thunder” as his “most proud and challenging role” thus far. As for working for director Stiller (who also directed 2001’s “Zoolander,” “Reality Bites” and a few others), Jackson said: “Ben knows what he wants. You’d better be funny or go home.”

RELATED IMAGE GALLERY
View our full, high-resolution “Tropic Thunder” image gallery.

RELATED READING
More film reviews from critic Adam Fendelman.

We spoke with Jackson at a time in his career where he describes being in “mystery mode”. He’s attempting to delicately navigate a balance between “taking any work I can just to get paid” and “being selective” with the roles like in “Tropic Thunder” that’d get him the biggest bang for Hollywood’s buck.

While 2008 still has many more performances left to see, in Jackson’s view the two he’d pick for an Oscar would be Robert Downey Jr.’s role in “Tropic Thunder” (yes, he’s biased) and Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker in the epic film “The Dark Knight”.

While Jackson was mostly business in our Chicago interview, he also enjoyed lounging about in the hotel room’s plush couches. He left us with the following line in describing his favorite aspect of being in film as compared to stand-up comedy: “The best thing about doing film is the food. It’s just magical.”

“Tropic Thunder,” which is directed by Ben Stiller, stars Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Steve Coogan, Brandon T. Jackson and Jay Baruchel with cameos from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jon Voight and Tyra Banks. The film opened everywhere on Aug. 13, 2008.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

God’s Vajoojoo Tastes Like Semi-Glorious ‘Pineapple Express’ in Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen Stoner Film

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:01:00 -0600

CHICAGO – If god had a vajoojoo, Judd Apatow and company think it’d taste something like smoking “Pineapple Express”. There’s no question “Pineapple Express” is ultimately a stoner film, but is it the ultimate stoner film of our decade?

Always the most difficult proposition in a comedy is maintaining its comedic pacing with consistency.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

A comedy’s goal is to sidesplittingly laugh your socks off from start to finish (and even after the credits roll). So often, though, a semi-successful comedy will instead feel like a humorous rollercoaster replete with some ups and some downs due to the inability to maintain its “A”-game material in a consistent fashion.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “Pineapple Express”.

View our full, high-resolution “Pineapple Express” image gallery.

“Pineapple Express” falls victim to the comedic consistency trap. While the story has its heart in the right place for a film that’s centered on reefer madness and the script successfully grows ever-more complex and ridiculous, the story needs to be sliced and diced.

For every two comedic lines that successfully land one falls short. While the film certainly has the beginnings of stoner-film greatness, it’s still sometimes stifled by lines that had the potential to be roundhouse knockouts and instead were crippled stumbles.

That said, everything successful about “Pineapple Express” comes in threes from its writing (Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg) and its primary actors (Rogen, James Franco and Danny McBride).

There’s a lot of talk about James Franco playing against type for this role. Based on his performance, though, this shouldn’t be viewed as Franco playing against type. This should be viewed as Franco having found his type. For Franco, all other roles pale in comparison.

“Pineapple Express,” which is directed by David Gordon Green and is written by Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow and Evan Goldberg, stars Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Rosie Perez, Amber Heard, Gary Cole and Kevin Corrigan. The film opened everywhere on Aug. 6, 2008.

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “Pineapple Express” review.

Dale Denton (Seth Rogen, standing) and Saul Silver (James Franco, being carried) are two lazy stoners running for their lives in “Pineapple Express”.
Photo credit: Dale Robinette

Saul Silver (James Franco, left), Red (Danny McBride, center) and Dale Denton (Seth Rogen, right) in “Pineapple Express”.
Photo credit: Dale Robinette

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “Pineapple Express” review.