Jon Voight

Blu-Ray Review: Michael Mann’s ‘Heat’ a Modern Masterpiece

BrianTT — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:23:31 -0700

CHICAGO – Michael Mann might first seem the ideal fit for Blu-Ray. He’s a notorious perfectionist, apparent in every frame of his remarkable output of films that includes such great modern classics as “Manhunter,” “The Insider,” “Collateral,” and “Public Enemies”. But one of Mann’s best films, “Heat,” recently released on Blu-Ray, is an interesting example of a director who has a vision that shouldn’t necessarily be overly polished by the HD format. The film looks like Mann wants it - gritty, dark, and like, well, actual film. It’s a release that some buyers may think doesn’t look “HD enough,” but to this Mann aficionado thinks that it looks just right.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

As for the film itself, it’s one of the rare ’90s films that gets better every time I see it. It’s a battle of wills between two of the most legendary actors of all time - Al Pacino & Robert De Niro - and it is arguably the last time they would ever be this good. It saddens me deeply to think about a young generation who may only know De Niro as the old guy from “Meet the Fockers” and the reputation Pacino must have after junk like “88 Minutes” is something I don’t even want to think about. This is the final gust of wind from when these two were still not just actors, they were forces of nature.

Heat was released on Blu-Ray on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

Two of the best actors of all time star as a cop and his number one criminal in Mann’s modern crime epic. Densely plotted, incredibly detailed, and perfectly acted by an ensemble that also includes Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, and Amy Brenneman, “Heat” is one of the best movies of its kind ever made, a contemporary action classic.

Before he finalized “Public Enemies,” Mann went into a studio and personally oversaw a detailed remastering of “Heat” for this Blu-Ray release. The result is a 1080p transfer (in 2.40:1) that looks simply amazing. There’s been a bit of controversy as to the lack of detail in it but Mann has made a film that he wants to look gritty and dark and, ultimately, the format shouldn’t be built around presenting the most polished picture but the one that most captures the intention of the filmmaker. I believe the “Heat” Blu-Ray does just that.

As for special features, it’s an extensive lot including a commentary by Mann, 11 additional scenes, and 5 documentaries - “True Crime,” “Crime Stories,” “Into the Fire,” “Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation,” and “Return to the Scene of the Crime”.

There was much controversy surrounding the quality of Mann’s last two films - “Public Enemies” and “Miami Vice” - and, as I mentioned before, the legacy of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro simply must be tarnished by some of the choices these two great actors made in the ’00s. Anyone turned off by any of the recent work by these three gentlemen shouldn’t keep that from going back and seeing what they accomplished when they got together. And anyone who still likes Mann’s films, shouldn’t miss a great Blu-Ray for one of his best.

‘Heat’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer. It was written and directed by Michael Mann. The film was released on Blu-Ray on November 10th, 2009. It is rated R.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Kiefer Sutherland, ‘24’ Continue to Set the Bar

BrianTT — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:08:11 -0600

CHICAGO – The standard DVD season sets for “24” have long been setting the bar for what TV on DVD “should be”. Winning awards for their technical transfers and detailed, copious special features, the producers of “24“‘s home releases took it a step further this year by changing the game yet again with the Blu-Ray release of “24: Season Seven”.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

After a lackluster first season release (which they made up for with a “Special Edition” a few years later), the next five seasons of “24” were essentially perfect TV on DVD releases. They had informative, detailed special features, gorgeous video & audio, and fascinating commentary tracks. And it didn’t hurt that they were for some of the most beloved programming of the ’00s.

Season seven was clearly a chance for “24” to change the game again. The sixth season had been a clear winner for worst of the series to date by TV and DVD critics and instead of being allowed to get right back on that horse and reverse the shark-jumping ways, the Writer’s Strike delayed season seven by a whole year.

24: Season Seven was released on Blu-Ray on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox

The seventh horrible day in the life of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) brought “24” back from the brink of ridicule, delivering a much more effective thrill ride than season six. In a clever move, the writers of “24” both recognized the time off - this day started four years after the last - and even blew up many of the conventions of their own show, including having CTU completely fall apart and bringing back the considered-dead Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) and having audiences guess all season is he was really good or bad.

And Fox wisely chose not to make people who watch the show on DVD wait any longer than they already had and made the amazing decision to release the seventh season of “24” the day after the season finale aired.

Think about the precedent. People could buy the entire season of “24” before most viewers who watch it on DVR even had a chance to watch the season finale. TV on DVD has undeniably changed the way people watch television, but there was always a window of time that often made viewers who waited for DVD feel a little behind the times. If the “24” day-after-finale release becomes a pattern, viewers who wait for DVD or Blu-Ray will be nearly up-to-date with those who watch a show in its original airing. Ratings are going to drop even further.

Not only did Fox change the release date pattern (previous seasons of “24” has been released on DVD near the holidays to prime audiences for the upcoming season to air on TV), but they released this technically accomplished show on Blu-Ray for the first time. And, of course, “24” looks and sounds amazing on Blu-Ray. The sound design on this show has long been some of the best on TV and the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is simply spectacular.

“24: Season Seven” on Blu-Ray includes two excellent featurettes - “The Making of Season 7” and “Hour 19: The Ambush”. Deleted scenes and the cool “The Fimucite Festival Presents: The Music of 24” are also included.

Commentaries include:

Episode 1 - Executive Producer/Director Jon Cassar and Carlos Bernard
Episode 3 - Executive Producer Manny Coto, Co-Executive Producer Brannon Braga and Bernard
Episode 5 - Cassar and Annie Wersching
Episode 9 - Executive Producer David Fury and Hakeem Kae-Kazim
Episode 10 - Coto, Braga, and Wersching
Episode 12 - Co-Executive Producer/Director Brad Turner and Tony Todd
Episode 13 - Turner, Composer Sean Callery, and James Morrison
Episode 14 - Executive Producer Juan Carlos Coto, Wersching, and Bob Gunton
Episode 18 - Executive Producer Howard Gordon, Bernard, and Jeffrey Nordling
Episode 22 - Executive Producer Evan Katz, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Glenn Morshower
Episode 23 - Executive Producer David Fury, Co-Executive Producer Alex Gansa, and Morshower
Episode 24 - Executive Producers Howard Gordon and Cassar

‘24: Season Seven’ was released by Fox Home Video and stars Kiefer Sutherland, Carlos Bernard, Cherry Jones, Colm Feore, Jeffrey Nordling, Rhys Coiro, Janeane Garofalo, Anne Wersching, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The show was released on May 19th, 2009. It is not rated.

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

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Pride and Glory’ Wastes Two Talented Stars in Generic Drama

BrianTT — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:41:25 -0700

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – The Blu-Ray package for Gavin O’Connor’s “Pride and Glory” features shots of stars Edward Norton and Colin Farrell wielding guns on both the front and back of the case. The artistic intention is clear - Try and sell this generic, dull cop drama as an action film, as that’s the genre that takes off on the home market. Don’t buy it.

“Pride and Glory” is most interesting as an example of how even a talented group of actors can go shockingly awry if the script doesn’t work. I think the very-talented Norton and Farrell both thought they were making a movie about characters with gray moral codes like Vic Mackey from “The Shield” or Bud White from “L.A. Confidential,” but they ended up making a flick with all good or bad and no degrees in between. Gray is interesting. Black and white is boring and conventional.

Pride and Glory was released by Warner Brothers Home Video on January 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

Norton is one of the best actors of his generation and Colin Farrell has made some great decisions lately, including his work with Woody Allen on “Cassandra’s Dream” and choosing a role in “In Bruges” that would win him a Golden Globe. But “Pride and Glory” was a mistake. It’s one of those screenplays that is based on nothing but ridiculous, unbelievable melodrama and that mistakes monologues for character development. We’ve seen the story of corrupt cops and the ripple effect their decisions have on their family and friends a thousand times before.

Pride and Glory was released by Warner Brothers Home Video on January 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

Four cops are gunned down in a New York drug den. Immediately, something doesn’t look right. What were the cops doing there in the first place? And why does it look like they were ambushed? Could someone have tipped off their murderers that the officers were on their way?

The investigation into that horrific night will include a severely traumatized investigator named Ray Tierney (Norton), his reckless brother-in-law (Farrell), his brother (Noah Emmerich), and his irascible father (Jon Voight). How far will Ray go into his investigation when it keeps leading him back to his own front door?

“Pride and Glory” has several flaws but most of them come back to one major problem - the screenplay. Every single line of dialogue either pushes the generic plot forward or features some cliche from the cop movie handbook. It all climaxes in a final act that is one of the most ridiculous of 2008.

Norton clearly figured out that the script was problematic at some point during production because you can literally see this excellent actor check out of the film. It’s his most half-asleep performance. On the other end of the spectrum is Voight’s scenery-chewing, ridiculous, Razzie-worthy turn.

Farrell isn’t bad but his character is so over-the-top that he can’t do much with him. O’Connor and co-writer Joe Carnahan make the mistake of turning Jimmy, Farrell’s character, into a worthless scumbag, a guy who actually holds an iron over a baby’s face to get the information he needs. “Pride and Glory” would have been much more effective if there was any gray area to Jimmy instead of just an awful human being.

“Pride and Glory” may be all blacks and whites thematically, but the Blu-Ray release is being produced by Warner Brothers, which means stunning HD. The 1080p widescreen picture is very good and the Dolby TrueHD track gets the job done. New WB theatrical releases always look and sound very good on Blu-Ray and “Pride and Glory” is no exception. It’s what we’ve come to expect from Warner Brothers.

As for special features, “Pride and Glory” includes only a comprehensive documentary calls “Source of Pride: The Making of Pride and Glory” and a digital copy of the film. With dozens of interviews and over an hour of running time, “Source of Pride” is better-than-average when it comes to featurettes. In many ways, the documentary is more interesting than the film, as it illustrates how much hard work goes into a film like “Pride and Glory,” even if the final product doesn’t turn out like they hoped it would.

‘Pride and Glory’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich, and Jon Voight. It was written by Joe Carnahan & Gavin O’Connor and directed by O’Connor. It was released on January 27th, 2009. The film is rated R.

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

‘24’ Reflects Changing Times With Excellent Season-Seven Premiere

BrianTT — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:09:24 -0700

CHICAGO – The world has changed significantly since Kiefer Sutherland and the rest of the team behind Fox’s “24” were forced to save it repeatedly over the first six seasons of one of the most popular shows of the last decade. Will “24” still be relevant with controversy over real-life torture dominating the headlines and a new regime getting ready to take office?

The new season of “24” picks up at 8am in the life of Jack Bauer and it will be after noon by the time the first four hours have unfolded over two nights on FOX, starting January 11th, 2009. In the opening moments of the first episode, the chief engineer of the government’s infrastructure and security system is kidnapped and a group of domestic terrorists has taken control of something very powerful - our nation’s air traffic control.

The clock is ticking for 24: SEASON 7 to premiere with a special two-night, four-hour event Sunday, Jan. 11 and Monday, Jan. 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Photo credit: Michael Muller FOX

Meanwhile, as he came home to do at the end of “24: Redemption”, Jack is being questioned by the government for the interrogation techniques that he used while he was an agent for CTU. At the same time a new President, Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), is dealing with her first big crisis in office.

Controversy over the detainment of people without due process and the use of extreme methods to get answers from suspects while a new leader takes control of the White House. Anyone who thinks “24” shouldn’t be viewed in context of what’s happening in the real world is clearly missing the point. The writers of the show have very consciously made an effort to have “24” not only reflect the times we are in but to change with them.

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. The clock is ticking for 24: SEASON 7 to premiere with a special two-night, four-hour event Sunday, Jan. 11 and Monday, Jan. 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal/FOX

Of course, it’s not all discussion and politics. Before the end of the first hour, Jack is putting his controversial techniques to use when he is brought from Capital Hill to the FBI to help stop the terrorists who have taken in-flight planes hostage.

Why Jack? Well, it turns out that the man behind the terrorist plot is someone that Bauer knows very well, the thought-dead Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), who Jack saw pass away in his arms near the end of season five. He didn’t die. (And, don’t worry, this is not a spoiler. It’s revealed within moments of the premiere. We would never spoil the end of even the first hour of the new season, much less any details from the three that follow.)

To stop Tony, Bauer is forced to work with several new faces at the FBI, including its head, Larry Moss (Jeffrey Nordling), two of its analysts (Rhys Coiro & Janeane Garofalo), and agent Renee Walker (Anne Wersching). Of course, Tony isn’t the only familiar face making an eventual return. Jon Voight will also return later in the season

Is Jack the only man that can stop Tony? What really happened to the now-dead son of President Taylor? The “First Man,” Henry Taylor (Colm Feore), doesn’t think his son committed suicide. And is the terrorist attack on air traffic control related to the President’s impending decision to intervene in a genocide in Africa?

And will interrogation and torture play a role through the entire season? It’s certainly a major part of the background of the first four hours. The government’s response to Bauer’s past has had very little effect on him, although he does seem a little calmer in these first four hours than he usually is in the two-night premiere of “24,” as if he’s been through this kind of crap too many times to panic again.

But, and maybe this is what “24” fans really want to hear, Jack is always going to be Jack. He will go to whatever ends necessary to save his country and there are several moments in the morning of the seventh season where he’s screaming, choking, and getting ready to kill to get the job done. In fact, an audience could definitely take from “8:00am-12:00pm” that the creators of “24” are condoning torture when an agent like Jack Bauer thinks its necessary. Case in point - When someone with necessary information says “I have rights” in one episode, the agent questioning him responds with “I suggest you use your last breath wisely.”

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer (R) and Annie Wersching as Renee Walker (L). Day 7 premieres with a special two-night event Sunday, Jan. 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Monday, Jan. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal/FOX

At the same time, there’s a definite theme of consequences of government action, no better represented than in the character arc of Tony Almeida. Bernard’s return to the show, as soap opera-esque as it may be, gives a jolt to the series that was missing in season six.

With all the political issues aside, how’s the action? There’s a Bauer escape at the end of episode three that stands with his best and all four hours feel more believably paced than the cluttered action of season six. The first four hours of season seven may not be as “explosive” as some seasons, but it feels more like the first two seasons - confident and as tightly and expertly edited as anything you’ll see on television this year.

It’s not surprising that the action is well-done and “Redemption” hinted at how directly “24” would address real-life issues this year, but what’s most unexpectedly promising about the start of season seven is the expanded cast. At least at the beginning, this is not the “Jack Bauer show” by any stretch of the imagination. Great stage actors Jones and Feore are unlike any President and spouse we’ve seen on the show to date and I love the new team of “good guys” in Garofalo, Nordling, Coiro, and Wersching. (Although, on “24,” you can never be sure who’s actually “good”.) There’s not a single false performance in the first four hours of season seven.

A great ensemble, interesting political themes, and action as good as anything in movie theaters at this time of year. The debut of the seventh season of “24” is good enough to think that the changes in character and tone to reflect the changing times and the new administration might work well enough to keep this landmark show around for the years it takes to see another one.

‘24,’ which airs on FOX, stars Kiefer Sutherland, Carlos Bernard, Cherry Jones, Colm Feore, Jeffrey Nordling, Rhys Coiro, Janeane Garofalo, Anne Wersching, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The premiere of season seven airs on January 11th, 2009 at 7PM CST.

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 DVDs of David Zucker’s Comedy ‘An American Carol’

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:56:48 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 10 DVDs up for grabs for David Zucker’s new comedy “An American Carol”. Zucker has brought us films including “Airplane!,” “The Naked Gun,” “Scary Movie 3,” “Scary Movie 4” and “BASEketball”.

“An American Carol” stars Leslie Nielsen, Paris Hilton, Dennis Hopper, Jon Voight, James Woods, Robert Davi, Gary Coleman, Kelsey Grammer and Bill O’Reilly as himself. The DVD street date for “An American Carol” is Dec. 30, 2008.

To win your free “An American Carol” DVD courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first 10 people to submit a favorite holiday memory as part of this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The DVD for the David Zucker comedy “An American Carol” hits the streets on Dec. 30, 2008.
Image credit: Vivendi Entertainment

Here is the plot description for “An American Carol”:

The American spirit is celebrated in the outrageous and totally irreverent comedy “An American Carol” from David Zucker: the master of questionable taste (“Airplane!,” “The Naked Gun,” “Scary Movie 3” and “Scary Movie 4”).

In “An American Carol,” a cynical and anti-American “Hollywood” filmmaker sets out on a crusade to abolish the Fourth of July holiday. He is visited by three spirits who take him on a hilarious journey in an attempt to show him the true meaning of America.

To secure your free “An American Carol” DVD, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply submit your favorite holiday memory. You must submit your favorite holiday memory using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment in this Hookup. Please only submit your memory using this submission form.

You must include your e-mail address, name and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential and is only for us to mail winning DVDs. Your personal information will not be sold or shared elsewhere.

Submit your favorite “An American Carol” holiday memory now!

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: The first 10 people to submit a memory win! The 10 DVDs will be mailed to the winners at our expense.

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

TV Review: ‘24’ Searches For ‘Redemption’ With Prequel to Season Seven

BrianTT — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:24:46 -0700

CHICAGO – After a delay that lasted well in excess of a year, “24” returns to FOX this Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008 from 7 to 9 p.m. with a two-hour “special event” (they used to just be called “TV movies”) called “24: Redemption”.

The prequel to season seven of “24” intends to bridge the gap between day six and seven for Jack Bauer and set the plot in motion for what promises to be an interesting reboot of a show that hasn’t been on the air in almost two years.

The 2008 writer’s strike delayed the seventh season of “24” by an entire year. The show, which has never aired under anything but the George Bush presidency, now faces a brave new world when Jack Bauer starts another ticking clock in early 2009.

The writers of this prequel “event” are keenly aware that not only has their show been off the air for a lifetime in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of television but also that they need to appeal to an audience that’s preparing for the much-debated “change” that has been promised by new president elect Barack Obama.

Obama will be the man in the Oval Office for nearly all of season seven of “24”.

While it may or may not carry over to the upcoming season of the show, there’s an interesting new dynamic at play in “24: Redemption”. The trademark “torture first; ask questions later” attitude of “24” has been replaced (at least in this prequel) by a more idealistic world view with a hero who saves the day and a new president who promises change.

Thankfully, Kiefer Sutherland never looks into the camera and says: “Mr. president, yes we can.” It’s still a dark and brutal program, but there has clearly been a creative reassessment of the show. It’s the kind of self-awareness that could resurrect a series that looked like its popularity might be sliding away with Bush and Cheney’s ever-plummeting approval ratings.

Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) battles an international crisis in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal, FOX Broadcasting

The sixth season of “24” ended with Jack Bauer once again alone and without support. The seventh season picks up four days later with Jack in front of a U.S. Senate subcommittee. He’s forced to answer for his controversial past conduct and “24: Redemption” is meant to bridge those two Jacks.

Robert Carlyle as Carl Benton in “24: Redemption”.
Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal, FOX Broadcasting

In the years since season six, Jack has been wandering the globe while finding himself in the fictional country of Sangala, Africa where he works with a special-ops pal named Benton (Robert Carlyle) in a boys’ school.

Of course, no one has worse timing than Jack Bauer. He just happens to be at the school on the same day that a sadistic warlord (Tony Todd) is planning a bloody coup and needs some “little soldiers” to help with the mass murder.

Jack is literally on the road out of town with a backpack over his shoulder when things get serious. He is once again drawn into an international crisis. One minute, he’s off to save the next African village and literally 10 minutes later he’s dodging a rocket launcher.

It’s the classic Bauer dilemma: help out and face the government official (Gil Bellows) trying to bring Jack back to the U.S. for justice or turn his back on innocent children. It’s no contest for our man Jack.

While “Redemption” may be a “24” with no counterterrorist unit (CTU), it hasn’t lost any of its distrust for government and its officials. Gil Bellows is definitely smarmy enough, but even he doesn’t touch just a few minutes with Jon Voight.

Voight is licking his lips at the scenery he plans to chew in season seven as an American businessman who may have ties to terrorism (and a certain bloodthirsty warlord in Sangala). All of this happens to be going down on the day that president elect Allison Taylor (the great Cherry Jones) is taking over residence in the Oval Office.

The scenes between Jones and Powers Boothe’s outgoing president Noah Daniels have a riveting parallel to reality with the two even comparing the new leader’s “idealism” and the old one’s “cynicism”. Daniels delivers the line that President Bush probably wishes he could say to Barack Obama: “Let’s talk after you’ve been sitting in my chair for a while.”

The concept of one government inheriting not only the problems but also possibly the underhanded dealings of the previous one could add a new creative energy to a show that was seriously lacking it in season six. The casting of Jones makes one wonder if the producers of “24” thought Hillary Clinton was the more likely winner on Election Day.

President elect Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones, right) meets with U.S. President Noah Daniels (Powers Boothe, left) before her inauguration in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
Photo credit: Greg Gayne, FOX Broadcasting

Jones and Boothe are spectacular, but “24” has and will always belong to Kiefer Sutherland who doesn’t miss a beat stepping back into Bauer’s well-worn shoes.

“24: Redemption” has an unusual supporting cast in that it introduces some new players for season seven, features several actors who will only be in “24: Redemption” and doesn’t include many of the regular faces (like Mary Lynn Rajskub or the returning Carlos Bernard).

That said, perhaps it’s appropriate that with the exception of Jones’ few scenes we’re reintroduced to “24” with a movie that features Sutherland front and center. If anyone is going to carry the show back from the worst season in its history, it’s going to be Jack Bauer. In the end, “24: Redemption” is really just prologue and back story for what’s to come in season seven.

However, judged as a standalone “event” (as FOX likes to describe it), it comes up a little short. The action in Sangala is too predictable (Bellows, in particular, might as well be twirling a curly-cue mustache as he’s such a stereotypically slimy bad guy) and the pile of coincidences that can sometimes bring down the show hurts the believability of the action in the nation’s capital.

The president elect’s son (Eric Lively) gets involved with the drama surrounding what’s happening in Africa in a way that doesn’t feel plausible at all (which is saying a lot for this show). The real-time structure is stretched as far as it ever has been.

While “24” has always been a program that requires an intense suspension of disbelief, “24: Redemption” seems to need more than average. For a country that recently voted for change, “24: Redemption” seems to be going in the right direction but may not have gone far enough to not look like a Bush-era relic.

“24: Redemption,” which airs on FOX, stars Kiefer Sutherland, Robert Carlyle, Cherry Jones, Jon Voight, Tony Todd, Gil Bellows and Powers Boothe. The two-hour event airs on Nov. 23, 2008 at 7 p.m. CST.

Flip through our high-quality, 22-image slideshow for “24: Redemption”.

Read our interview with “24” star Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O’Brian).

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 22-Image Gallery For ‘24: Redemption’ With Kiefer Sutherland

BrianTT — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:50:58 -0700

CHICAGO – This 22-image slideshow contains official press images for the new TV film “24: Redemption” (previously named “24: Exile”), which stars Kiefer Sutherland, Gil Bellows, Robert Carlyle, Cherry Jones, Powers Boothe and Jon Voight. The prequel to the seventh season of “24” airs on Nov. 23, 2008 at 8 p.m. EST or 7 p.m. CST on FOX.

“24” jump-starts its seventh season with a two-hour, real-time special movie that airs on Nov. 23, 2008. Set and shot entirely in Africa, “24: Redemption” stars Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer who is forced to battle an international crisis with mentor Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle).

Meanwhile, the U.S. prepares to inaugurate new president Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones). Set a few months before day seven will officially begin for “24,” “24: Redemption” also introduces two characters who will be integral to that season’s plot: Frank Tramell (Gil Bellows) and Jonas Hodges (Jon Voight).

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. Unless otherwise noted on an individual photo, all photo credits for this slideshow belong to Kelsey McNeal and the FOX Broadcasting Company.

24redemption1: Captured in Africa exhibit: “24” producer Michael Klick captures Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) performing a stunt while filming “24: Redemption,” which airs on Nov. 23, 2008 on FOX. Photo credit: Michael Klick
24redemption2: Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in “24: Redemption,” which is the two-hour special “day-seven prequel” airing on Nov. 23, 2008 on FOX.
24redemption3: Gil Bellows as Frank Tramell in “24: Redemption”.
24redemption4: Robert Carlyle as Carl Benton in “24: Redemption”.
24redemption5: Captured in Africa exhibit: Unit photographer Kelsey McNeal captures a behind-the-scenes look at Kiefer Sutherland (right) and Siyabulela Ramba (left) while filming “24: Redemption”.
24redemption6: Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, center) battles an international crisis in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”. Robert Carlyle is also pictured on right.
24redemption7: Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) battles an international crisis in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption8: U.S. State Department officer Frank Tramell (Gil Bellows, right) tries to convince Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle, left) that Jack must return to the U.S. in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption9: Robert Carlyle as Carl Benton in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption10: Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) forms a bond with the children at an orphanage in South Africa in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”. Siyabuela Ramba is also pictured on right.
24redemption11: Robert Carlyle as Carl Benton in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption12: Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) battles an international crisis in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption13: An international crisis ensues in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption14: Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) battles an international crisis in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption15: Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) battles an international crisis in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption16: U.S. State Department officer Frank Tramell (Gil Bellows, left) tries to convince Jack to return to the U.S. in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”. Also pictured is Robert Carlyle on right.
24redemption17: Jon Voight as Jonas Hodges in “24: Redemption”.
24redemption18: Jon Voight as Jonas Hodges in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption19: President-elect Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones, right) meets with U.S. president Noah Daniels (Powers Boothe, left) before her inauguration in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”. Photo credit: Greg Gayne/FOX
24redemption20: Jonas Hodges (Jon Voight) attends the presidential inauguration in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”.
24redemption21: President-elect Allison Taylor is sworn in as president of the U.S. in the special two-hour prequel event “24: Redemption”. Photo credit: Greg Gayne/FOX
24redemption22: Captured in Africa exhibit: “24” producer Michael Klick used his infrared camera to capture Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) on the run while filming “24: Redemption”.Photo credit: Michael Klick

Read our full “24: Redemption” review by critic Brian Tallerico.

Read our interview with “24” star Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O’Brian).

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Hookup: 80 Passes to Chicago Screening of ‘Four Christmases’ With Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:38:12 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 80 admit-one passes up for grabs to the Chicago screening of “Four Christmases,” which stars Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Jon Voight, Sissy Spacek, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth and Dwight Yoakam from director Seth Gordon.

For each of the 80 passes we award in this Hookup, each winner has the option to request one additional ticket for a guest. To win your free pass to the advance screening of “Four Christmases” in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first 80 people to submit a comment in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup. That’s it!

The screening will be held on Nov. 19, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

“Four Christmases” features Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Jon Voight,
Sissy Spacek, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth and Dwight Yoakam from director Seth Gordon.
Image credit: New Line Cinema

Here is the “Four Christmases” plot description:

In the comedy “Four Christmases,” Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are a happy, loving and normal couple. In order to stay that way, they have managed to avoid spending extended time with their decidedly abnormal families at all costs and especially during the holidays.

This year’s plan was the same as always: make up a believable excuse to miss Christmas and instead head to sunny Fiji for a holiday week of relaxation and fun. But chance intervenes as bad weather has grounded all flights.

When a news reporter covering the story catches Brad and Kate on camera, their cell phones start ringing. They’re caught red handed. Their families now know. Goodbye, Fiji. Hello, trouble.

Brad and Kate are now forced to face their worst fears by visiting all four of their divorced parents in one day and celebrate four Christmases.

One house is tougher and more revealing than the next in a constant comedy of errors that will ultimately test the strength of their relationship. One thing is for sure: it will be a Christmas they will never forget no matter how hard they try.

“Four Christmases” is directed by Seth Gordon (“The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters”) and stars Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenbugen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Voight and Sissy Spacek. This film is not yet rated.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required.

Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this simple question:

What’s your best Christmas horror story?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: The first 80 people to comment below win! We will be in touch with the 80 winners to distribute your passes. “Four Christmases” opens on Nov. 26, 2008.

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