Timothy Olyphant

Blu-ray Review: Catch Up with ‘Justified: The Complete Third Season’

BrianTT — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:31:45 -0500

CHICAGO – FX’s “Justified” is one of the best shows on TV and its cult of popularity continues to grow with each passing season. When the fourth season premiered earlier this week, it had half a million more viewers than for the third season premiere. People keep falling in love with Raylan Givens and Boyd Crowder, two of the most fascinating characters on TV. Watch the recently released third season Blu-ray set to find out why.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

The second, Emmy-winning season of “Justified” is still the peak for the series but the third season was only a slight dip in quality. The fact is that Margo Martindale’s incredible work as one of the most fascinating villains in TV history cast a shadow over what followed and characters played by Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson couldn’t match her magnetism. However, the supporting cast and regular ensemble of “Justified” continued to do riveting work and the Blu-ray release is stunningly loaded with special features. It’s so great to see a company treating a show’s loyal fan base as well as Sony is doing here with “Justified.” If you’re a part of the program’s growing legion of fans, it’s well-worth a pick-up.

Justified: The Complete Third Season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 3, 2012
Photo credit: Sony

Synopsis:
In the nonstop, gunslinging third season of the highly acclaimed hit series, Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) must wield his brand of renegade justice against modern crime like never before. Surrounded by dirty politicians, drug cartels, murder frames, hidden fortunes and multiple criminal forces warring for control - including archenemies Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins, The Shield) and Dickie Bennett (Jeremy Davies in his Emmy-winning role), a mystery man named “Limehouse,” a lethal mob enforcer newly arrived from the Motor City and in a final shocking showdown, his own father - Givens finds himself in everyone’s cross hairs.

Click here to buy “Justified: The Complete Third Season”

Special Features:
o 9 Commentaries
o Outtakes
o Deleted Scenes
o Crossing The Line: Making Season 3
o Ellstin’s Joint: Noble’s Holler Set Tour
o Anatomy Of A Stunt
o In Conversation: Timothy Olyphant And Walton Goggins

“Justified” stars Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter, Nick Searcy, Erica Tazel, Jacob Pitts, David Meunier, and Raymond J. Barry. The third season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 3, 2013.

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

TV Review: Fourth Season of FX’s Brilliant ‘Justified’ Begins

BrianTT — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:54:59 -0500

CHICAGO – The third season of FX’s “Justified,” arguably the best drama on one of the most creatively vital networks on television (it’s this or “SoA”), had big shoes to fill. Mags (Emmy winner Margo Martindale) was such an amazing character that her shadow persisted over the entire next season. The fourth season, starting tonight at 9pm CST, features a more confident, refined sense of pacing than last year as the two stars of the show — Timothy Olyphant & Walton Goggins — have been relieved of the pressure to follow up season two and seem to be more comfortable in their characters than ever. Raylan Givens & Boyd Crowder are two of the most fascinating TV creations of the last decade. It’s great to have them back.

Television Rating: 4.5/5.0

There is some carryover from season three as Raylan (Olyphant) is still a bit lost, living above a bar and sleeping with its beautiful owner while Boyd (Goggins) and Ava (Carter) are making ends meet in their own under-the-radar way. Which is code for drugs and whores. Problems start for the Crowder clan when a preacher (played by Joe Mazzello, the kid from “Jurassic Park” two decades later) comes to town espousing forgiveness and redemption but mostly just stealing employees from the drug and prostitution underground. It’s hard to find women willing to sell themselves when religion is taking over your community. But is it a “good” religion or just another form of brainwashing? The opportunity to play with the idea that those preaching Jesus may be as (or even more) duplicitous than those preaching sin is going to be a fun one for the underrated writers of this show. The second episode features a scene with Boyd during a sermon that is among my favorite in any show of the last several years.

Justified
Photo credit: FX

But I’m getting ahead of myself. In the first episode, religion starts to sneak in but so does pure force. A mysterious character lurks on the fringe who we learn is a backyard fighter. Another pops up in Boyd’s life, played by “ER” vet Ron Eldard, who may end up being Crowder’s enforcer. Even the great Patton Oswalt (“Young Adult”) gets in on the action in the premiere as a plot arises based on something found in the walls of Arlo’s house. He’s a force in his own way. Oswalt makes everything better.

Justified
Photo credit: FX

I love the approach to storytelling in the first two episodes of the new season of “Justified,” one that was reportedly inspired by Elmore Leonard’s “Raylan,” which was a series of short stories about the beloved Marshal. The scripts to these two episodes are among the series’ best in the way they balance various story arcs at the same time without ever losing focus on the Hatfields & McCoys of this series — the Givens & Crowders.

I must admit that I miss Natalie Zea, who was abruptly written out last season and appears on FOX’s “The Following” in two weeks (and will reportedly re-appear in a few episodes this season but not as a regular). Winona was a fascinating character, one who grounded Raylan in ways that the show is missing now. As for new cast members, well, I like them all, which is incredibly rare. How many show can introduce four to five new characters at the start of a season and have them all work? The casting director and producers need a raise as even small characters, like the kids who set the premiere’s plot in motion, feel perfectly embodied. And it appears that the great Joelle Carter looks likely to have an expanded role this season after not being used enough in season three. There’s not a false piece here even if the show does belong to Olyphant and Goggins, both of who have arguably never been better.

Look, I miss Mags too. And her debut in the season two premiere of the show is likely an episode that will never be topped by the show’s creators. However, as a pair and when determining overall potential of an entire season, this is my favorite 1 & 2 of any “Justified” season to date. I’ve seen so much new TV lately and even the best of it has an occasional whiff of desperation — that desire to please that comes through in thin characters, weak plotting, and cliched storytelling. There’s NONE of that here. It’s one of the most confident shows on TV. And I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

“Justified” stars Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter, Nick Searcy, Erica Tazel, Jacob Pitts, David Meunier, and Raymond J. Barry. It returns January 8, 2013 at 9pm CST.

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

TV News: FX Renews ‘Justified’ For a Fourth Season

BrianTT — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:03:10 -0500

CHICAGO – With six episodes left to go in the third season, FX announced that their critical smash “Justified” would return for a fourth season in early 2013. Season three of Timothy Olyphant drama is averaging 4.3 million total viewers every week, an incredible number for cable, and last year’s run ended up on a number of top ten lists and won Margo Martindale an Emmy. By most measurements, it’s FX’s biggest hit.

Nick Grad, FX Executive Vice President of Original Programming, made the announcement, saying, ““Justified is one of television’s best series and this season has reinforced that excellence. Graham Yost and his writing team continue to deliver compelling material and richly drawn characters brought to life by the brilliance of Timothy Olyphant and our terrific ensemble cast. Their work is validated by universal acclaim, awards, and ratings that have grown every year. We look forward to many more seasons to come.”

Graham Yost, the creator of “Justified” from a story by Elmore Leonard, added to the press release, “There are many reasons all of us on Justified are grateful to get a chance to do another season. We get to do more work with amazing actors, writers, producers, directors, musicians, editors and a jaw-droppingly talented crew. We get to keep doing a show that appeals to a wide demographic: people in Harlan, retired US Marshals, criminals (we honestly did hear that), and, most happily, our guide, our muse, Elmore Leonard. Best of all, we get to keep doing a show on FX (and while that may sound like craven ass-kissing, when you look at their roster, you can’t help but feel grateful to be on that list).”

Said roster includes “Louie,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Archer,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “The League,” and “American Horror Story.” “Justified” stars Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Nick Searcy, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Joelle Carter, and Natalie Zea.

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

TV Review: FX’s Brilliant ‘Justified’ Returns With Spectacular Premiere

BrianTT — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:15:49 -0500

CHICAGO – Fans of “Justified,” which should be all fans of TV drama, couldn’t possibly be disappointed with the season premiere of one of the best programs on television, tonight, January 17th, 2012 at 9pm CST. It does exactly what a season premiere should do — calling back to the last season while setting the table for the next one. Like only the best dramas, the writers and producers of “Justified” find ways to make their creation deeper and more refined every year. Last year, it was my #8. It could easily go up this year. It’s the best drama on TV right now.

Television Rating: 5.0/5.0

The writers of “The Gunslinger,” the season premiere of “Justified,” wisely realize that there are a few loose ends from the devastating season finale of season two (recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, which we’ll get to at the end of this review). Most germane to one of the best scenes in the history of the show in the season premiere, Ava Crowder (Joelle Carter) was shot by Dickie Bennett (Jeremy Davies). Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) had essentially released Dickie to Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) with the understanding that he’d get him back for his justified vengeance. That didn’t happen and Boyd returns to Raylan near the beginning of the premiere, demanding what he’s owed. It’s a stunning scene, one of the best in the history of the show and another opportunity for Olyphant and Goggins to prove why they are among the best actors on TV. More on that later.

Justified
Photo credit: FX

The wounds of the end of season two of “Justified” are physical as well as moral. Raylan is recovering from a pretty bad gunshot wound, one that has left him in bed more than he’d like and even reduced his notorious reaction time when the clock strikes high noon and it’s time to draw. He has to deal with the weight of getting well enough to do the job that so clearly defines him while also coming to terms with the fact that Winona (Natalie Zea) is pregnant.

Justified
Photo credit: FX

Of course, a season premiere of a show like “Justified” can’t just wrap up loose ends from the one before. The “big bad” of the season must be at least introduced, much like Margo Martindale STOLE the first episode of season two (and had probably won her Emmy before it was even over…she will be missed this season). This year, the honor goes to the great-and-underrated Neal McDonough (“Band of Brothers,” “Boomtown,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) as a sleazy businessman with ties to Raylan’s world (or at least that of his ex-wife-and-current-girlfriend’s past). McDonough is a great actor, a man who brings gravity to everything he does and one hopes that this role gives him a fame boost in the same way it did the similarly-underrated Martindale. The casting directors at “Justified” have done something similar with McDonough as they did with Martindale — find a great actor who has been working regularly for years and give them the juicy part they deserve.

The recurring guest stars — McDonough, Davies, etc. — are stellar but this show belongs to the regulars, the quartet that seems to get more impressive with every episode — Olyphant, Goggins, Carter, and Zea. (And that’s not meant as any slight at all to the Marshal service cast — Nick Searcy, Jacob Pitts, and Erica Tazel — who also seem to get more dramatically accomplished with every episode). The Crowders, Winona Hawkins, and, above all else, Raylan Givens have become, in less than three full seasons, some of the most engaging and memorable characters on TV. I love the choices made by all four of these actors in the first two episodes of season three of “Justified.” They know these characters through and through, and, consequently, never feel false. And yet they take risks. Ava is getting more confident (and even violent). Winona is clearly falling deeper in love with Raylan. Boyd is as pissed as he’s ever been. And Raylan seems more vulnerable than usual. All four actors are incredible.

Justified
Photo credit: FX

Finally, McDonough is not the only guest star in the season premiere of “Justified” that deserves a bit of praise. Desmond Harrington pops up as a total maniac, a complete 180 from his most popular role — Quinn on “Dexter.” Harrington is only in a few scenes in the season premiere but he’s stellar — menacing, unpredictable, and thoroughly entertaining.

That’s the key phrase for all of “Justified” — thoroughly entertaining. The second episode of the new season doesn’t falter at all from the premiere and I don’t expect this show to lose any dramatic tension all season. The writers have perfected the skill of writing a show like this one in that they know they need to have the occasional stand-alone story or case for Givens and his team to solve but they never lose track of the overall story. What I love about the premiere (and the episode that follows) is the defined repercussions of people’s actions. In most shows, the giant stash of weed that Boyd’s idiotic men stole from Dickie last year would never be seen again. A loose end. There are no loose ends in “Justified.” Every action has a reaction. And that depth of writing has led to the depth of character that elevates this program above its peers and places it firmly in the ranks of the best shows in the history of cable television. It’s easily the best one on right now.

Justified: The Complete Second Season
Photo credit: Sony

If you need to catch up, the second season of “Justified” was just released on Blu-ray by Sony Pictures Entertainment and it looks spectacular. The HD transfer is as good (maybe even better) than watching the show in its original FX HD airing. That’s all we want — to be able to recreate the original experience again and again, maybe even with a bit more polish. The special features, listed below, are a nice collection for a show in 2012 but, given my clear love for the show, I would have liked a bit more like a commentary track or two, but the program itself makes it work a pick-up for any TV-on-Blu-ray collector.

Special Features:
o Outtakes
o Deleted Scenes
o On the Set of Justified
o Clans, Feuds & Apple Pie
o Talking Shop: Roundtable Discussion
o BD Live Enabled

“Justified” stars Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter, Natalie Zea, Nick Searcy, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Jeremy Davies, and Neal McDonough. The show returns to FX on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 9pm CST. “Justified: The Complete Second Season” was released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 3rd, 2012.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Johnny Depp Gets Animated in Confident ‘Rango’

BrianTT — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:58:35 -0400

CHICAGO – There’s a rare level of artistic confidence in “Rango” that we usually don’t see outside of Pixar. What I mean by that is that SO many animated flicks that I have to suffer through in a calendar year are trying to appease a marketing plan, a producer, a focus group, etc. “Rango,” while being a bit overrated by some, is undeniably unique in its vision and trying only to appease that creativity. It’s an occasionally inspired film that looks stunning in HD and is accompanied by some stellar special features.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

Rango (Johnny Depp) is an imaginative pet chameleon who finds himself stuck in the middle of the Nevada desert after his habitat crashes through the back of his owner’s car. Adventurous, daring, and without much choice in the matter, our hero wanders into the hazy horizon and stumbles about a town in crisis. As the drought gets worse and water becomes an increasingly-important commodity both for survival and power, the town is in desperate need of a hero. Could that hero be Rango?

Rango was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on July 15th, 2011
Photo credit: Paramount Home Video

The pitch for Gore Verbinski’s film is incredibly simple if you really break it down — an animated Western with desert creatures. “Rango” follows a very traditional structure with a newcomer in town being set-up for a major fall and then his inevitable redemption. On top of that structure, writer John Logan (“The Aviator,” “Sweeney Todd”) builds a mountain of in-film references to everything from “Chinatown” to Hunter S. Thompson to Clint Eastwood and much, much more. In fact, “Rango” gets a bit weighed down by its own inspirations, sometimes feeling a bit hollow and soulless because of them. It sometimes feels like a movie made for critics or movie nuts more than families.

Rango was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on July 15th, 2011
Photo credit: Paramount Home Video

And, while we’re on that subject, this may be the most violent animated PG movies of the year. It arguably should have been PG-13 to make clear to families that it is NOT for the little ones. Not only is a the major villain of the piece a giant, terrifying, gun-slinging rattlesnake, but the entire piece is incredibly dark and remarkably violent. Just a warning.

Once you’re old enough to see “Rango,” it’s definitely a clever, unique piece of work. Having said that, it’s also kind of abrasive and thinks it’s the smartest kid on the block. There’s a genuine quality missing from the film that made it so I admired it but can’t say that I loved it. It doesn’t draw you in like the best animation because it’s SO self-aware. Logan and Verbinski have made a movie so referential and clever that it lost a bit of the heart needed to truly succeed in this genre.

Having said that, it looks AMAZING, especially in HD. Perhaps the smartest thing that Verbinski and his team did was to hire the great cinematographer Roger Deakins (“True West,” “No Country For Old Men,” “The Shawshank Redemption”) as a visual consultant. “Rango” looks absolutely incredible and it’s worth seeing for its visual compositions alone. I just wish there was more beneath the surface.

As for the Blu-ray release, it’s a solid one with a commentary track on an extended edition of the film along with deleted scenes (including a funny never-before-seen ending) and entertaining featurettes. Fans of “Rango” won’t be disappointed.

Synopsis:
“Get ready to tango with Rango, a winner with critics and audiences that’s “like nothing you’ve ever seen before” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). Johnny Depp is spectacular as Rango, a kooky pet chameleon who gets tossed into a wild and raucous town in desperate need of a hero. Refreshingly original with eye-popping animation, Rango is “loads of fun and genuinely funny” (Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times).”

Special Features:
o Never-Before-Seen Ending
o Uncover 10 Deleted Scenes
o Watch with Storyboard Reel Picture-in-Picture
o Go Behind the Scenes with Cast and Crew
o Meet the Real Creatures of Dirt
o Take an Interactive Trip to Dirt
o Digital Copy Of Feature Film

“Rango” stars Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone, and Timothy Olyphant. It was written by John Logan and directed by Gore Verbinski. It is rated PG and was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 15th, 2011.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Derivative, Generic ‘I Am Number Four’

BrianTT — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:59:07 -0400

CHICAGO – Very few films have felt more made my a movie-making machine than the dull “I Am Number Four,” a film that hopes so desperately to feel like something that you’ve seen before and that you’ll like the familiarity that it never develops a personality of its own. With a dull lead, lackluster romance, goofy dialogue, and melodramatic storytelling, “I Am Number Four” disappoints in nearly every way that a movie can.

Blu-Ray Rating: 1.5/5.0

With echoes of everything from “Star Wars” to ’80s-era Spielberg to “The Twilight Saga,” “I Am Number Four” posits that the new kid in school is really an alien being hunted by another alien species. We have seen countless movies that work on the idea that the new kid at school is not what he seems. Throw in a little action, a little romance, and some sci-fi jargon and you have yourself a movie. Sorta.

I Am Number Four was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 24, 2011
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

The title “I Am Number Four” refers to its central character, a Mogadorian named John (Alex Pettyfer). It turns out that aliens are after his people and they have killed numbers one, two and three. Now, John and his protector Henri (Timothy Olyphant of “Justified”) try to go deeper into hiding to protect him but they end up in the least-protected place in the world — high school.

Wouldn’t you know it, John falls for a sweet photographer named Sarah (Dianna Agron of “Glee”) and the dynamic between alien and high school girl is clearly meant to echo that of vampire and sullen teen in “Twilight.” Haven’t you always known that the dreamy boy at high school was more than he seemed?

I Am Number Four was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 24, 2011
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

The high school romance and subplots about John’s protector and his subsequent protection of a bullied kid at school whose father may have known about the existence of the Mogadorians isn’t nearly as bad as when John’s powers start to develop and he shoots lights out of his hands with no clear definition of his powers. He’s a superhero with no restrictions and it makes the action of the film just ludicrous. He’s super strong and can shoot light out of his hands. And he’s sweet to beat-up kids and heartbroken teen girls. He’s like a superhero imagined by a pre-teen girl.

“I Am Number Four” is so heavy on ridiculous special effects and even more ridiculous dialogue that none of it has any impact at all. Roger Ebert brilliantly pointed out that the whole thing is so divorced from the real world that it might as well have been a cartoon. He was close. Most modern theatrical cartoons are better.

Synopsis:
Three are dead. Who is Number Four? From director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia), producer Michael Bay (Transformers) and the writers of TV’s Smallville comes this gripping, action-packed thriller. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary teen masking his true identity to elude a deadly enemy sent to destroy him. Living with his guardian (Timothy Olyphant) in the small town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events - his first love (Dianna Agron, TV’s Glee), powerful new abilities and a secret connection to the others who share his incredible destiny. Complete with bloopers and more, I Am Number Four is an explosive, suspense-filled ride that will take you to the edge of your seat and beyond.

Special Features:
o Deleted Scenes
o Bloopers
o Becoming Number Six
o Digital Copy Of Feature Film

“I Am Number Four” stars Alex Pettyfer, Dianna Agron, and Timothy Olyphant. It was directed by D.J. Caruso. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Disney on May 24th, 2011.

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 6 ‘I Am Number Four’ Blu-Rays From Producer Michael Bay

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:37:43 -0400

CHICAGO – In our latest superhero edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Blu-ray, we have 6 Blu-rays up for grabs to “I Am Number Four” from the director of “Disturbia” and producer Michael Bay! “I Am Number Four” will be released on Blu-ray on May 24, 2011.

“I Am Number Four” stars Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron (“Glee”), Teresa Palmer, Callan McAuliffe, Kevin Durand, Jake Abel, Jeff Hochendoner, Patrick Sebes, Greg Townley, Reuben Langdon, Emily Wickersham, Molly McGinnis, Brian Howe and Andy Owen from director D.J. Caruso, writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and producer Michael Bay.

To win your free “I Am Number Four” Blu-ray courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The Blu-ray for “I Am Number Four” from the director of “Disturbia” and producer Michael Bay.
Image credit: DreamWorks

Here is the plot description for “I Am Number Four”:

Three are dead. Who is Number Four? From director D.J. Caruso (“Disturbia”), producer Michael Bay (“Transformers”) and the writers of TV’s “Smallville” comes this gripping, action-packed thriller. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary teen masking his true identity to elude a deadly enemy sent to destroy him.

Living with his guardian (Timothy Olyphant) in the small town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events including his first love (Dianna Agron from TV’s “Glee”), powerful new abilities and a secret connection to the others who share his incredible destiny. Complete with deleted scenes and more, “I Am Number Four” is an explosive, suspense-filled ride that will take you to the edge of your seat and beyond.

The movie trailer for “I Am Number Four” can be watched now below.

To secure your free “I Am Number Four” Blu-ray, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com Web site account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having a free Web site account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply answer our question. You must submit your answer using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment on this page. Your entry will be invalid if you only comment on this page and don’t submit into our Web-based form.

You must include your first and last name, e-mail address and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will not be sold or shared, will be kept strictly confidential and is only for awarding winning entries. You must own a Blu-ray player. Please answer our question below.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?

This Hookup is simple: 6 readers will be selected as the winners of our free “I Am Number Four” Blu-ray Hookup! The winners will be mailed their Blu-rays at our expense. Good luck!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: ‘Elektra Luxx’ Offers Middling Showcase For Carla Gugino

mattmovieman — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:44:47 -0500

CHICAGO – Sebastian Gutierrez is the sort of filmmaker who thrives best on the festival circuit. His work is just quirky and distinctive enough to garner overenthusiastic praise from jaded festival goers in the mood for markedly lighter fare. Yet when screened out of the celebratory atmosphere at SXSW, Gutierrez’s films fail to register as anything more than mediocre trifles.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

“Elektra Luxx” is a more assured and likable film than its lifeless predecessor, “Women in Trouble,” but it’s still nowhere near as funny or insightful (or sexy) as it thinks it is. Gutierrez seems to be fashioning these estrogen-fueled ensemble comedies after the work of cinema master Pedro Almodóvar. Imagine “Volver” as a sitcom on TV Land, and you’ll get an approximate idea of this picture’s playful, curiously amateurish tone. The gags are as broad as the drama is campy, yet what more can one expect from the co-writer of “Snakes on a Plane”?

Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “Elektra Luxx” in our reviews section.

Like “Women,” this film mainly serves as a showcase for the considerable talents of Gutierrez’s girlfriend and frequent collaborator, Carla Gugino. Her empathetic portrayal of the titular porn star makes this mess more diverting than it has any right to be. As the film opens, the newly pregnant Luxx is attempting to part ways with her adult film career, opting instead to teach at a community center. Her class? “How to Act Like a Porn Star in Bed,” of course. She’s soon approached by hopelessly needy flight attendant Cora (Marley Sheton) with a proposition straight out of an Atom Egoyan picture. Cora wants her husband to be seduced so she can feel less guilty about her own infidelity. But Luxx ends up mistaking a hunky private detective, the wonderfully named Dellwood Butterworth (Timothy Olyphant), for Cora’s husband. One of the film’s most unexpected highlights is the way in which a low-key Olyphant injects his all-too-brief screen time with much-needed charm and class (seriously, the film could’ve used more of him). He’s one of the few members of this crowded, overqualified cast that manages to leave some semblance of an impression.

‘Elektra Luxx’ stars Carla Gugino, Adrianne Palicki, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Marley Shelton, Timothy Olyphant, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kathleen Quinlan. It was written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez. It opened March 11 in New York and L.A., and is available on Video OnDemand. It is rated R.

Continue reading for Matt Fagerholm’s full “Elektra Luxx” review.

Carla Gugino and Timothy Olyphant star in Sebastian Gutierrez’s Elektra Luxx.
Photo credit: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Interview: Joelle Carter Brings Spark to FX’s Brilliant ‘Justified’

BrianTT — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:07:23 -0500

CHICAGO – Joelle Carter was one of those actresses who was probably a familiar face through small roles in films like “American Pie 2” and “High Fidelity” or through a number of TV guest appearances, but it was her excellent work on the first season of the FX hit “Justified” that brought her to a new level of fame. She gave us a call this week to discuss the second season of her great show and offer some insight into the process of creating Ava Crowder, working with Timothy Olyphant, the city of Chicago, and even the long-term potential of the show.

HollywoodChicago.com: Where are you at in filming?

Joelle Carter: We’re starting the last episode today. The end of #12.

HollywoodChicago.com: How has this season been different for you?

Carter: Well, Ava is more involved with other characters besides Timothy’s. So, that’s fun. She goes back home. She’s digging into herself and home and figuring out that she kind of belongs there. She might be more comfortable. I think she always thought she needed to get out but she might just be a hometown girl.

Joelle Carter
Photo credit: FX

HollywoodChicago.com: You think in the first season that she was more “ready to run”?

Carter: Yeah. Ava’s really kind of “in the moment.” She can’t really plan for the future. She’s never been given that luxury. Every day she might have been killed by her husband.

HollywoodChicago.com: That’s interesting because I think she’s not alone on that show — there’s a lot of people in the world of “Justified” who kind of operate out of quick instinct. “This works for me now.”

Carter: I believe it’s an environmental thing. It’s the country they live in. You’re surviving; you’re not just living.

Joelle Carter
Photo credit: FX

HollywoodChicago.com: Exactly. When you started season two, how much did you know about the entire arc of the season? Did they give you an outline or is it more episode to episode?

Carter: Some of the actors know more. I didn’t know a lot. They gave me a map. They said, “We want this to happen. We want this to be the end result of season two.” And I was like, “OK, I love that.” But then it was a slow burn to get there. In a lot of ways, that’s the only way to do it and for it to be justified, for lack of a better word (laughs). I’m proud of the work that I ended up doing. It seemed like a lot had to happen in really small scenes but it came across. It was frustrating but it all happened the way it should [have].

HollywoodChicago.com: What was frustrating? Not knowing for sure where your character was headed?

Carter: Sometimes. And even getting the episodes and the scenes and heading to the set and kind of not knowing “how is my character here when she was there last week?” It’s about really digging in deep with the director and the other actor.

HollywoodChicago.com: And this show has that kind of deep-digging creative process?

Carter: It’s a little more open than a lot of shows that I’ve worked on. But maybe it’s like that when you get the shows that are more character-based because when you start living as these characters then they come to you too.

HollywoodChicago.com: How much input do you have? Can you say, “Hey, I know this character by now and I don’t think Ava would say this or do this”?

Carter: Yes. You can say “I think that maybe this would be interesting,” and they’ll think about it.

HollywoodChicago.com: How is Timothy unique as a co-star?

Carter: He has a lot of energy. I don’t know if I was working his hours if I could…he must sleep really well when he goes home. I believe that at the place that he is in his career — taking this and not knowing what would happen after the pilot — was a risk for him. He loves Elmore Leonard to death. He’s read probably everything he’s written. Leonard’s books are like a Bible to him. So it was a challenge that he tried to put on the writers and the other actors.

Joelle Carter
Photo credit: FX

HollywoodChicago.com: What’s been the most difficult aspect of this job for you? Something specific or general — whatever comes to mind.

Carter: Not knowing the answers in the 2nd season. I get a scene and there’s a lot of different aspects to it. In my craft, it’s about answering questions. Sometimes, I have to make up answers. But that’s the beauty of television. They can bring in new aspects and new characters.

HollywoodChicago.com: Have you been surprised at all by the rabid fan response? I get asked about “Justified” all the time.

Carter: I wasn’t expecting anything. I was really excited to play Ava with Timothy and Elmore Leonard — I thought it was like a gift. And then they called back and said I was going to be a regular and it was like Christmas. After we had shot most of the first season, we saw the pilot and I remember looking at Tim and thinking “this is good.”

Joelle Carter
Photo credit: FX

HollywoodChicago.com: What do you think it is that has attracted fans?

Carter: It’s different than anything else on TV — style, subject matter, people, region. It’s a little risky. They’ll kill off a character or bring someone back from the dead. If the characters are someone they can fall in love with — bad or good — then you want to know what’s going to happen next.

HollywoodChicago.com: You have some experience filming in Chicago with “High Fidelity” and expressed love for the city? What’s different about Chicago?

Carter: It was a long time ago. It has such a rich music scene. When I was there, it was very windy. I’ve been there for some weddings too — the jazz, blues, theatre.

HollywoodChicago.com: You do a mix of TV and film — is there one you like more than the other?

Carter: I think that the beauty of shooting “Justified” is that it allows us time to do film. You can juggle both. TV is just getting better and better and better. I always love a good movie though because there’s more of a structure — it has to be planned out. They’re only going to have a certain amount of time. There’s a nice feeling when you really get engrossed in your character and the story.

HollywoodChicago.com: I read that you were working on a script to possibly co-direct?

Carter: I am. I’m working on a feature and a book to make into a TV show. It’s a woman in Miami who was a judge and now she’s retired and she’s writing novels about a lawyer in Miami who’s half-Jewish and half-Baptist. She’s strong and fun and I’m interested to see how we can pull it together. Right now, we’re dissecting the books to make sure there’s enough in there to pitch.

HollywoodChicago.com: Do you guys know if you’re coming back for season three?

Carter: I haven’t heard. But people think.

HollywoodChicago.com: I would be stunned. Have you thought about how long you’re willing to do this thing? What if it’s on as long as “The Shield” — seven years? You willing to do this that long?

Carter: (Laughs.) I would love to see what they would do with Ava over seven years. I would totally feel grateful.

Be grateful for Joelle Carter’s work on “Justified” on Wednesday nights on FX. Check local listings.

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

Film Review: Michael Bay-Produced ‘I Am Number Four’ a Solid Block of Superhero Gouda

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:01:00 -0500

CHICAGO – While the new sci-fi/superhero film “I Am Number Four” can be easily dismissed as yet another “Twilight” knockoff, the power of two mega-producers arms the film with nearly as much right as it does wrong. Thankfully for Chicagoans the film doesn’t star Brett Favre because of his numerical jersey affiliation, but with a story this weak, that stretch wouldn’t be too far.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

With “I play a lot of Xbox” as the film’s only funny line from the mouth of Callan McAuliffe after decimating his first bad guy, “I Am Number Four” has one of the cheesiest scripts in recent memory. Words like the “Mogadorians” (the enemy) soil this script and the “story” is merely an insulting excuse to exhibit some genuinely neat-o special effects.

The screenplay comes from Alfred Gough (“Spider-Man 2”), Miles Millar (“Spider-Man 2”) and Marti Noxon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), based on the novel by Jobie Hughes and James Frey. Despite a painfully anemic script that could be better written by a foreign-language student who doesn’t know English, the film does itself some actual justice with its special effects.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “I Am Number Four”.

With some big names attached to “I Am Number Four” (“Transformers,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” director Michael Bay produces and Steven Spielberg was previously attached as a producer), the film invests heavily and successfully in its action sequences and special effects. “Disturbia” director D.J. Caruso directs “I Am Number Four” with some familiar action sequences from “Eagle Eye”.

Speaking of the film’s action violence, “I Am Number Four” is rated “PG-13” for its intense sequences of violence and action and for language. While this film plays to a similar demographic as the “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” flicks, its action sequences are more like “The Dark Knight,” “The Incredible Hulk” and “Iron Man” (all of which are also rated “PG-13”). Parents should think twice about bringing their 13-year-old kids to this Disney/DreamWorks picture.

“I Am Number Four” stars Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron, Teresa Palmer, Callan McAuliffe, Kevin Durand, Jake Abel, Jeff Hochendoner, Patrick Sebes, Greg Townley, Reuben Langdon, Emily Wickersham, Molly McGinnis, Brian Howe and Andy Owen from director D.J. Caruso and writers Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Marti Noxon based on the novel by Jobie Hughes and James Frey. “I Am Number Four” is rated “PG-13” for intense sequences of violence and action and for language. The film, which has a running time of 110 minutes, opened on Feb. 18, 2011.

Continue for Adam Fendelman’s full “I Am Number Four” review.

Sarah (Dianna Agron) is awed by the new ability John (Alex Pettyfer) shares with her in “I Am Number Four”.
Image credit: DreamWorks II Distribution Co.

Continue for Adam Fendelman’s full “I Am Number Four” review.