Jordana Brewster

Film Review: Formula Takes Another Lap in ‘Fast & Furious 6’

BrianTT — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:57:40 -0400

CHICAGO – “How did you know the car would be there to break my fall?” Everything you need to know about the current tone of the “Fast & Furious” franchise exists in that line. Not only are these people superhero enough to leap through the air from one vehicle to another but this is a world in which automobiles are designed to BREAK falls. It’s ridiculous, insane escapist entertainment, and while the bloated running time and less-exciting setting makes “Fast & Furious 6” a slight step down from the more well-paced “Fast Five,” it’s still a damn fun ride that’s sure to please the audience out to see a sixth installment of vehicular man-sanity.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

At the end of “Fast Five,” Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his team went their separate ways with millions of dollars but with warrants remaining on their heads. When an international criminal named Shaw (Luke Evans) surfaces in London with the intent of buying a WWIII-capable military weapon, Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) knows that Dom and his driving family are the only ones who can stop him. It helps entice Dom back into the world of hot cars and hotter women that Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) has surfaced in Shaw’s crew. Dom buried Letty, the love of his life. How could she still be alive? Get Letty, give Shaw to the authorities, and everyone gets the pardon that will allow them to go home again. Sounds like a deal.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Fast & Furious 6” in our reviews section.

Of course, we are treated to a getting-the-band-back-together montage like the Car & Driver version of “The Avengers.” Dom is ready to rock after saying goodbye to a supportive Elena (Elsa Pataky). Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) have a baby but she’s ready to let him risk his life again for the family (the “Fast” movies LOVE to play on the concept of makeshift families and how these people will do anything for one another…it’s an emotional hook that grabs both women and alpha males and is an underrated reason for the franchise’s success). Hobbs has a new, hot partner in Riley (Gina Carano). Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson) are off spending their cash while Gisele (Gal Gadot) and Han (Sung Kang) are ready to start a life together. They all come back for Dom and the chance for freedom.

The script for “Fast & Furious 6” simply must have been outlined and bullet-pointed as a series of action set pieces (with a break for what is essentially a music video in the middle before a great street-race sequence). You can picture the production meetings. “How do we get a tank involved?” “Will audiences believe that a man can jump from a moving plane to a moving car?” “Speaking of that plane, where’s the longest runway in the world?” Characters? Plot? Those are secondary to squealing tires and things that go boom. If the characters of “FF6” aren’t driving at truly irrational speeds, they’re beating the crap out of each other. Remember that great fight scene between Johnson and Diesel in “Five”? There are a few of those in “Six,” including two between Rodriguez and Carano and a free-for-all in the climax that had the preview audience I saw the film with screaming with delight.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Fast & Furious 6” review.

“Fast & Furious 6” stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Gina Carano, and Luke Evans. It was directed by Justin Lin. It is rated PG-13 and opens on May 24, 2013.

Fast and Furious 6
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Passes to ‘Fast & Furious 6’ With Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:26:40 -0400

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 25 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated new “Fast & Furious 6” starring Dwayne Johnson!

“Fast & Furious 6,” which is rated “PG-13” and hits theatres on May 24, 2013, also stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Luke Evans, Elsa Pataky, Gina Carano, Gal Gadot, Sung Kang, Lee Asquith-Coe and Shea Whigham from director Justin Lin and writer Chris Morgan based on characters by Gary Scott Thompson.

To win your free “Fast & Furious 6” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Sunday, May 19, 2013
at 5 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.
If you have trouble submitting your entry below, please e-mail Adam Fendelman.

Here is the synopsis for “Fast & Furious 6”:

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent in “Fast & Furious 6”. Reuniting for their most high-stakes adventure yet, fan favorites Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Elsa Pataky are joined by badass series newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano.

Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete.

Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again.

Building on the worldwide blockbuster success of “Fast Five” and taking the action, stunts and narrative to even greater heights, “Fast & Furious 6” sees director Justin Lin back behind the camera for the fourth time. He is supported by longtime producers Neal H. Moritz and Vin Diesel, who welcome producer Clayton Townsend back to the series.

The movie poster for “Fast & Furious 6” starring Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel.
Image credit: Universal Pictures

The trailer for “Fast & Furious 6” can be watched now below.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 25 admit-two movie tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our “Fast & Furious 6” Hookup. Good luck!

Disclaimer
Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since showings are overbooked to ensure a full house, winners are not guaranteed entrance and must arrive early. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the showing’s scheduled start time. HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. HollywoodChicago.com is not responsible for errors or omissions entered in user submissions. Comments are closed in this Hookup.

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

TV Review: TNT Finds Escapist Fun Buried in New ‘Dallas’

BrianTT — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:14:14 -0400

CHICAGO – HBO’s “True Blood” has some serious competition this summer for your sleazy, sexy, soap opera time in the form of TNT’s rejuvenated and remarkably enjoyable reboot of “Dallas,” a show that really shouldn’t work but does so surprising ways. As J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) says in the premiere, “Blood may be thicker than water…but oil is thicker than both.” With stronger-than-expected performances, a consistent tone, and enough backstabs and double crosses to make the ladies of Wysteria Lane roll their eyes, “Dallas” is better than ever.

Television Rating: 4.0/5.0

The producers of “Dallas” were smart to take their show and its fans completely seriously. They could have delivered a tongue-in-cheek ode to the days when nighttime soaps like “Falcon Crest” and “Knot’s Landing” ruled the ratings. It could have been pure cheese. Instead, they embraced their show’s mythology, building on it in ways that the original showrunners would have adored. It’s not a reboot or restart as much as if “Dallas” never went off the air over twenty years ago. And with its beautiful and surprisingly talented cast blending perfectly with familiar faces from the ’80s, “Dallas” works for multiple generations. It should be a huge hit.

Dallas
Photo credit: TNT

The basic hook of “Dallas” is simple — the drama of the Ewing clan from when the show was in its prime has moved to the next generation. Where Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and J.R. battled for control of the Ewing fortune, now their sons butt heads and betray each other. John Ross Ewing (Josh Henderson) is, of course, J.R. and Sue Ellen’s (Linda Gray) son, and the more devious of the two cousins who serve as the center of the piece. John Ross is drilling on the legendary Ewing estate of Southfork and finds an oil reserve right on the grounds. Grandma’s will prohibits him from drilling at Southfork and so the first few episodes of the rebooted “Dallas” are about wrestling for control of the show’s legendary setting, a clever way to introduce us to new characters while giving reasons for the old ones to stick around.

Dallas
Photo credit: TNT

Bobby’s son Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) is the dreamer, the guy who thinks there’s a way to keep the Ewing fortune growing through alternative fuel sources. On the first night (it’s a two-hour premiere), Christopher learns that his father Bobby is trying to sell Southfork, gets married to his (seemingly) sweet girlfriend Rebecca (Julie Gonzalo), and learns that his former girlfriend Elena (Jordana Brewster), now with John Ross, didn’t really leave him but received a break-up email that he never sent. Who forced Elena & Christopher apart? How can John Ross drill at Southfork? What will happen with Christopher’s dangerous fuel alternatives? Did I mention Bobby is dying of cancer?

Of course the return of a show like “Dallas” needs to feature drama at a wedding and lines like “I know it was you.” Don’t worry. The soap opera quotient of “Dallas” is high. If I sit and think about all the secrets, double crosses, and hidden agendas in just the first three episodes that I’ve seen, it can seem ridiculous. And yet it’s also remarkably enjoyable. This is high-grade cheese, the kind of twisting and turning narrative that works even as it’s getting more and more unrealistic. It’s just fun. If you don’t like “Dallas,” you just don’t like soap operas. It’s not high art. The characters are silly and don’t always behave the way people would in the real world. The dialogue is beyond over-the-top. But a show should be judged on its intentions and “Dallas” never sets out to be “Mad Men.” It wants to be sexy, silly, and nothing more than pure entertainment and it achieves those goals.

Dallas
Photo credit: TNT

One of the main reasons “Dallas” works as well as it does is the very strong cast. In particularly, Hagman is spectacular. He plays J.R. in 2012 like a Machiavellian master. He’s been manipulating lives for decades and he’s reached Howard Hughes levels of crazy. One gets the impression that he would stab literally anyone in the back to get his way and Hagman completely nails the part, finding the balance of menace and charisma to make the character work again and better than before. Duffy is personable and engaging but, outside of Hagman, the show really belongs to the young cast. Brewster in particular is better utilized here than she ever was on film — beautiful, charismatic, and interesting.

Weddings, parties, interrupted meetings, hidden agendas, infidelity — life hasn’t really changed much on “Dallas.” Fans of the heyday of the nighttime soap have long lamented its disappearance from the TV landscape. Maybe the return of “Dallas” proves not that these shows went away out of lack of interest but because they’re harder to pull off than they look. Few have been as entertaining as “Dallas,” whether it’s 1982 or 2012.

“Dallas” stars Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Brenda Strong, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, and Larry Hagman. It premieres on TNT on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 8pm CST with back-to-back episodes.

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Chicago Passes to TNT’s ‘Dallas’ VIP TV Party With Star Q&As

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 17:01:14 -0400

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 admit-two VIP TV party passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the two-hour series premiere of the new TNT TV show “Dallas”! After the screening, there will also be a Q&A with stars Brenda Strong and Jesse Metcalfe! Our winners will also be treated to complimentary popcorn and soda (one each per person)!

For the return of the Ewings, “Dallas” on TNT also stars Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Jordana Brewster, Steven Jeffers, Jennifer Besser, Kimberly Lynn Campbell, A.C. Hensley, Dianne Sullivan and Kevin Page from writers David Jacobs and Warner Horizon. “Dallas,” which airs on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), debuts on TNT with two back-to-back episodes on June 13, 2012.

To win your free passes to “Dallas” on TNT courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This advance TV screening is on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete below, the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Sunday, June 3, 2012
at 11 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.

Here is the synopsis for “Dallas” on TNT:

The Ewings are back and only on TNT. Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray return to Southfork as J.R., Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing in TNT’s all-new series “Dallas”. They’re bringing with them a whole new collection of secrets, schemes and betrayals.

This time, they’re joined by the next generation of Ewings who take ambition and deception to a new level. The ruthless rivalries and Texas-sized power struggles within the oil- and cattle-rich Ewing dynasty are ready to heat up TNT’s summer lineup in “Dallas,” which will air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) beginning with two back-to-back episodes on June 13, 2012.

TNT’s “Dallas” stars Josh Henderson (“Desperate Housewives”) as J.R. Ewing and Sue Ellen Ewing’s son, John Ross, who is determined to undermine his grandmother’s legacy by drilling for oil on Ewing land. Jesse Metcalfe (“John Tucker Must Die”) is Christopher, Bobby’s adopted son, who hopes to take the family business in the new direction of alternative energy sources. Jordana Brewster (“The Fast and the Furious” movies) plays Elena Ramos: John Ross’ girlfriend and Christopher’s former fiancée.

Julie Gonzalo (“Veronica Mars”) is Rebecca Sutter, Christopher’s fiancée, who is trying to find her place in the vast Ewing family tree. And Brenda Strong (“Desperate Housewives”) is Ann, Bobby’s wife, whose beauty and grace are matched by a fierce resolve to maintain peace within the family.

“Dallas” airs on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) with a debut on TNT on June 13, 2012.
Image credit: TNT

The “Dallas” TV trailer can be watched now below.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 40 admit-two tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our “Dallas” VIP TV Hookup. Good luck!

Disclaimer
Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since advance screenings are overbooked to ensure a full house, winners are not guaranteed entrance and must arrive early. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the screening’s scheduled start time. Winners are typically e-mailed our advance-screening passes two days before the screening date. HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. Note: Comments are closed in this Hookup.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Blockbuster ‘Fast Five’ is Addictive Escapist Ride

BrianTT — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:39:09 -0400

CHICAGO – “Fast Five,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, is one of the most interesting pop culture phenomena of 2011. All of us who complain that sequels are never good and that films usually get worse as a franchise gets older had to admit that this was the exception to the rule. Not only the most critically-acclaimed film in the “Fast and the Furious” franchise, it also became the highest-grossing in the series, making an AMAZING $620 million worldwide and currently ranking fifth on the year in domestic gross. This was a monster hit in every way and I’m pretty sure fans of it will want to include it in their Blu-ray collection in that action movies are often the most-rented and most-purchased on the home market. People love to watch their favorite action flicks over and over again and “Fast Five” is many buyer’s favorite of 2011 to date.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

In booming HD sound and with crystal clear video, “Fast Five” is the kind of movie which you need to turn up loud and turn off your brain. It is pure escapism and, judged on those terms, it totally works. Critics are often accused of being cynical, of losing touch with what mainstream audiences are looking for in an action movie. And yet, most critics correctly recognized that “Fast Five” was, above all else and above most of the movies this year, FUN. Yes, it defies logic at every turn (you could get wasted with a drinking game based purely on how many times Paul Walker’s character should be dead from a jump that would kill any man) and features dialogue that sounds like it was written by a 12-year-old, but that pre-teen knows how to conceive, stage, and execute what really matters in a movie like this — ACTION.

Fast Five was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 4th, 2011
Photo credit: Universal

Plot recap from my theatrical review:

“The opening scene of the fifth (and best) film in the series features Brian (Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) breaking Dominic (Vin Diesel) out of a prison transport. Some time later, the two accomplices mosey on down to Rio (a great setting for a film like this one) at the behest of Vince (Matt Schulze, who hasn’t been in one of these movie since the first, “The Fast and the Furious”). He’s got a gig and he knows the on-the-run Brian and Mia could use the money. Of course, Dom shows up to make sure it goes off without a hitch.

If it EVER went off without a hitch, there wouldn’t be five movies in this series. After an amazing sequence involving multiple cars, a truck going into the side of a train, and a cliff dive that should have killed both participants, our three heroes find themselves the targets of both a Rio crime kingpin (Joaquim de Almeida) and the federal agents sent to capture Dominic and Brian. The latter are led by the moving brick wall known as Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), who partners up with the gorgeous local Elena (Elsa Pataky).

Fast Five was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 4th, 2011
Photo credit: Universal

To get revenge on the kingpin and yet stay one step ahead of the international law, Dominic and Brian need to call in some reinforcements. Enter a cast of familiar faces from the franchise including Roman (Tyrese Gibson, absent since “2 Fast 2 Furious”), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, also missing in action since #2), Han (Sung Kang, from “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” and “Fast & Furious”), Gisele (Gal Gadot, from the last film), and Leo (Tego Calderon) & Santos (Don Omar). The crew plans to steal $100 million. Of course, the plan involves a lot of fast cars.”

For the first time in the series, director Justin Lin seems to recognize that these movies need to be ridiculous to work. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously and simply tosses out suspension of disbelief. Everyone is trying to kill our heroes and they just stole four cop cars. Would they drag race those cop cars through Rio? HELL no. But it makes for a great scene if you just toss your disbelief out the window. Don’t just suspend it. Kill it.

When I saw “The Fast and the Furious,” I never would have guessed that I’d be reviewing a fifth film in this franchise only ten years later (and the success of this film makes it very likely that a sixth film is around the corner). After seeing the horrendous “Fast & Furious,” I thought I’d never see another film in the franchise. Now, I kind of can’t wait to see this one again.

Now that I’ve been given that chance to see “Fast Five” again on Blu-ray, I wondered if my original praise would hold up. It totally does. This is just as fun and escapist as you remember and the Universal Blu-ray amply assists the film in what really works about it. It’s the kind of movie for which amped up video and audio couldn’t be more important. I can’t understand people watching something this larger-than-life on an iPhone. Find the biggest TV you can get your hands on and the most supercharged audio system and turn it up. Scare the neighbors.

As for special features, they’re pretty strong although somewhat annoyingly organized. I can’t stand mini-featurettes that don’t feature a Play All function. Why push people back to a menu every 5-7 minutes? It’s just weird. The deleted scenes and gag reel are kind of annoying too but no one can deny the quantity of material, including an audio commentary by Lin. Like the movie itself, the Blu-ray is about excess with a barely-different extended version, DVD version, and digital copy. Five movies in and this franchise isn’t just going strong it’s ready to take over your Blu-ray player.

“Fast Five” stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Joaquim de Almeida, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Elsa Pataky, and Dwayne Johnson. It was written by Chris Morgan and directed by Justin Lin. It is rated PG-13 and was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 4th, 2011.

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

Interview: Need For Speed With ‘Fast Five’ Star Tyrese Gibson

PatrickMcD — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:08:36 -0400

CHICAGO – The familiar character actor Tyrese Gibson is on a roll. The singer, author and actor has recurring roles in two big film franchises, including the portrayal of Roman Pearce in “Fast Five,” set to release on Blu-Ray and DVD on Oct. 4, 2011.

Gibson also portrays Robert Epps in all three Transformers movies, including this summer’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” He is R&B singer of note as well, having released five albums, including this year’s “Open Invitation.” And if that weren’t enough, the prolific Mr. G. also currently has a New York Times Bestseller book on the charts, “How to Get Out of Your Own Way.”

Tyrese Gibson (right) as Roman Pearce and Ludacris as Tej in ‘Fast Five’
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

HollywoodChicago.com sat down with Tyrese Gibson a couple weeks ago and talked about the “Fast Five” Blu-Ray DVD release and all of his other media projects.

HollywoodChicago.com: Fast Five is a classic heist movie. How did the ‘gang’ that was doing the heist bond as a group before you started or during filming?

Tyrese Gibson: The first day I hung out with Vin [Diesel] was the first day of filming, in particular. One of the ‘48 Laws of Power’ is to never outshine the master. I know him and Paul Walker are the stars of the franchise. The mentality for me was it wasn’t about being in every scene, but I do want to play my part, add to the mission and sprinkle my energy through the franchise in all the spots I’m suppose to be in.

I’ve never been the competitive type, I have a saying ‘I don’t compete, I win.’ Going in to it that is my mentality, we’re much better getting along and collaborating, because it’s not about us, it’s about the fans who show up and enjoy us in this movie. I brought that energy to the set, and we were all good.

HollywoodChicago.com: In films like ‘Fast Five’ and the Transformers series, where so many elaborate stunts, camera moves and post production effects to be put in place, what do you observe about the role of the director that is different than movies you’ve done without the effects and what are those differences?

Gibson: It is different. John Singleton, Clint Eastwood and Lee Daniels are actor’s directors. They are into character arc and character development. When you want to do a film like that, those are the folks you go to. But when you want to do a big action movie that’s fun, with a high level of escapism, you go to Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg. The movie is suppose to be fun and it’s catering to a specific audience. These films serve their purpose – popcorn, fun, teeny-bopper madness.

HollywoodChicago.com: I read you had to fly between the Fast Five set and the Transformers set to get both of the films done. What was the difference between those two sets, both in how the directors were creating the mood and the overall atmosphere of each?

Gibson: First, I couldn’t believe that they allowed me to do both at the same time, everybody was cool and accommodating. It was one of the best summers of my life, though, an all-time movie high. For me, what ended up happening I never wanted the cast, crew or director to feel like one or the other films were more important than the other. I specifically would not come to the set of Transformers talking about scenes I’d shot on ‘Fast Five.’

The difference in the directors were very extreme. I look at Justin Lin of ‘Fast Five’ as a Zen master. How is it possible to have a cast with all the egos, success and everything else all in one movie? But at no point did any of us not know what was going on. It was then possible to develop a character arc – a beginning, middle and an end – for each of the characters in the movie. That was just great and forward thinking of Justin Lin and writer Chris Morgan.

As far as Michael Bay, he is most aggressive towards himself, and the cast and crew, because he has very high expectations of everyone. So many directors are artsy-fartsy, and get consumed with the creative aspect of what they’re doing, and get behind schedule while working on a movie. Amongst all those A-list directors like the Michael Bays of the world, they’ve got an internal competition going on – who can shoot the biggest movies, with the biggest budgets, in the smallest amount of time. It becomes about capturing the magic, anchoring it with the greatest story we can, but we’ve got to get it done. When we go from one set to another on a Michael Bay movie, people are running, driving fast, everything is in motion. I appreciate Michael Bay and his process, because he gets sh*t done.

HollywoodChicago.com: t this point in your career, how do you determine what film projects will be the best for you and keep your career going? Do you picture yourself doing a more intimate film like ‘Baby Boy’ again?

Actor, Singer & Author Tyrese Gibson in Chicago, September 15th, 2011
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

Gibson: One of my next projects, which my company just secured, are the life rights and the life story of Teddy Pendergass. Just like what Jamie Foxx did with Ray Charles, I spent a lot of time, and a lot of special, intimate moments with Teddy Pendergass. I was at his wedding, and I was one of the pallbearers at his funeral. He said to me that there is nobody else in this world that he wanted to bring ‘who I am and what I am as a musician to film.’ I will take on this role humbly and respectfully, and I’m hoping to do right by him, his family and legacy.

HollywoodChicago.com: You recently released a book, ‘How to Get Out of Your Own Way,’ which was an extension of a blog piece called ‘The Love Circle.’ What motivated the Love Circle and how did that extend into the idea for doing the book?

Gibson: The Love Circle wasn’t necessarily a blog, it was more of a concept that I created. It was a community of fans that I had that I got together through this voicemail service called, ‘Say Now.’ This is a company that allows you to leave a voicemail, press pound, and this energy would go out – in my case – to over 700,000 fans. Basically, you’re able to promote, advertise or make mention of anything you want and it goes directly to the fans in their voicemail box on their mobile phones.

What I ended up doing was making it much more spiritual – motivational, inspirational and insightful – giving people a heads-up to try and create a shift in their world in whatever capacity I could. Being a public figure has responsibility, that’s what it is. Not to be doing dumb sh*t day after day, because they’ll say, he’s doing it, why don’t I?

I hired somebody to type out these voicemails, and that became about 45% of the content of my book, now a New York Times bestseller. We took all the messages, puzzled them and put them all together. Whatever I wanted to add, I just flushed the thought out.

HollywoodChicago.com: What has been the reaction so far?

Gibson: There are a lot of public figures who are so contained and concerned about putting their own truth and realities out there. That’s not who I am, I believe in transparency. I’m not the biggest star in the world, and not the most wealthy, I’m just me. In this book, I wanted to give people permission to want better for themselves. They want something bad, but they don’t know what the hell they’re doing and they have no sense of direction. They have no idea how to get to what they’re after. I look at my book as a roadmap about what’s around the corner before you get there.

“Fast Five” releases on Blu-Ray and DVD October 4th. Featuring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson, Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson. Screenplay by Chris Morgan, directed by Justin Lin. Tyrese Gibson’s “Open Invitation” and “How to Get Out of Your Own Way” are available wherever CDs, downloads and books are sold.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 ‘Fast Five’ DVDs Starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:35:56 -0400

CHICAGO – In our latest action/crime edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, we have 10 DVDs up for grabs for the home entertainment release of “Fast Five” starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson!

Universal Home Entertainment will release “Fast Five” (the most recent installment of the successful “Fast & Furious” franchise) on DVD on Oct. 4, 2011. “Fast Five” also stars Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Joaquim de Almeida, Elsa Pataky, Michael Irby and Fernando Chien from director Justin Lin and writer Chris Morgan.

To win your free “Fast Five” DVD courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.

Universal Home Entertainment will release “Fast Five” on DVD on Oct. 4, 2011.
Image credit: Universal Home Entertainment

Here is the plot description for “Fast Five”:

In “Fast Five,” Vin Diesel and Paul Walker head up an all-star reunion of the explosive “Fast & Furious” franchise in sultry Rio de Janeiro.

Former cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) (“Fast & Furious,” “Takers”) and his girlfriend Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) (“Fast & Furious,” “Dallas”) bust Mia’s brother Dom (Vin Diesel) (“Fast & Furious,” “The Chronicles of Riddick”) out of prison and blast across South America to elude the authorities. Finding themselves backed into a corner in Brazil, they assemble an elite team of top racers to help pull off the one last job that could mean freedom for them all.

But hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) (“Faster,” “The Other Guys”) is hot on their trail and so is a corrupt and powerful businessman who wants them dead. When Hobbs and his strike force launch an all-out assault to capture the Torettos and their team, he can’t separate the good guys from the bad. Instead, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey before someone else runs them down first.

The movie trailer for “Fast Five” can be watched now below.

To secure your free “Fast Five” DVD, 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 below. You must submit your answer using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Comments have been disabled on this page.

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 DVD player. Please answer our question below.

Can people who go to prison ever fully recover?
Note: Comments have been disabled on this page.

This Hookup is simple: 10 lucky readers will be selected as the winners of our free “Fast Five” DVD Hookup! The winners will be mailed their DVDs at our expense. Good luck!

Disclaimer
HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and
its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway.

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

Film Review: ‘Fast Five’ Furiously Finds Fun Factor in Franchise Finest

BrianTT — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:19:46 -0400

CHICAGO – Maybe director Justin Lin learned how to have fun directing the now-classic paintball episode of “Community.” Wherever he figured out that his movies need not be so damn self-serious or wordy, he took that knowledge to the set of “Fast Five,” a movie that this critic who hated “Fast & Furious” absolutely dreaded when it was first announced. Now I can’t wait for the inevitable sixth movie in the most unexpected mega-franchise of the new millennium.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

“Fast Five” is ludicrous, impossible, ridiculous, and stupid…and I mean that as a compliment. When the film kicks it into gear and the cars, bullets, and bodies are flying fast, it is an incredibly effective action film. The calendar may say that Summer is a few months away, but the escapist entertainment that the season is known for starts today with the release of this rocking thrill ride, one of the most purely enjoyable movies in a long time. Yes, it defies logic at every turn (you could get wasted with a drinking game based purely on how many times Paul Walker’s character should be dead from a jump that would kill any man) and features dialogue that sounds like it was written by a 12-year-old, but that pre-teen knows how to conceive, stage, and execute what really matters in a movie like this — ACTION.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Fast Five” in our reviews section.

The opening scene of the fifth (and best) film in the series features Brian (Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) breaking Dominic (Vin Diesel) out of a prison transport. Some time later, the two accomplices mosey on down to Rio (a great setting for a film like this one) at the behest of Vince (Matt Schulze, who hasn’t been in one of these movie since the first, “The Fast and the Furious”). He’s got a gig and he knows the on-the-run Brian and Mia could use the money. Of course, Dom shows up to make sure it goes off without a hitch.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Fast Five” review.

Fast Five
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 100 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘Fast Five’ With World-Premiere Simulcast

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:31:32 -0400

CHICAGO – In our latest action/drama edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 100 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Fast Five” with Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Paul Walker!

This special screening of “Fast Five,” which is the first “Fast & Furious” film to be released in IMAX, will also feature a pre-show, world-premiere simulcast! “Fast Five” also stars Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Elsa Pataky, Gal Gadot, Sung Kang, Matt Schulze, Joaquim de Almeida, Michael Irby, Don Omar, Alimi Ballard and Geoff Meed from director Justin Lin and writers Chris Morgan and Gary Scott Thompson. The film opens everywhere on April 29, 2011.

To win your free advance-screening pass to “Fast Five” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! This event begins on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7 p.m. in Warrenville, Ill. There will be a live simulcast of red-carpet arrivals from Rio de Janeiro followed by a special advance screening of “Fast Five”. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The movie poster for “Fast Five” with Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Paul Walker.
Image credit: Universal Pictures

Here is the plot description for “Fast Five”:

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of returning all-stars from every chapter of the explosive franchise built on speed in “Fast Five”. In this installment, former cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law. Dwayne Johnson joins returning favorites Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Tego Calderon and Don Omar for this ultimate high-stakes race.

Since Brian and Mia Toretto (Brewster) broke Dom out of custody, they’ve blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull off one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he’s not the only one on their tail.

Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can’t separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey before someone else runs them down first.

The movie trailer for “Fast Five” can be watched now below.

To secure your free advance-screening “Fast Five” pass, 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. You must include your e-mail 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. Please answer our question below.

What has been the highest adrenaline moment of your life?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: 100 lucky readers will be selected as the winners of our free “Fast Five” Hookup! Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

Disclaimer
HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and
its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway.

Tell Your Friends About HollywoodChicago.com on Facebook & Twitter

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

TV Review: Tricia Helfer Brings Color to TNT Cop Drama ‘Dark Blue’

BrianTT — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:56:12 -0400

CHICAGO – TNT’s hit-and-miss cop drama “Dark Blue” returns tomorrow night, August 4th, 2010 with a great pair of episodes featuring the addition of the always-excellent Tricia Helfer of “Battlestar Galactica,” but the improvements aren’t merely in the supporting cast, as the first two hours of season two hint at the opposite of a sophomore slump. “Dark Blue” is still a deeply flawed program but the technical elements of the show have improved, the cast seems much more comfortable, and the writing is more tightly-paced. It may never be a great show, but it’s developing into a pretty damn good one.

Television Rating: 4.0/5.0

The set-up is simple enough for this Jerry Bruckheimer-produced program. Lieutenant Carter Shaw (Dylan McDermott) heads a group of undercover cops into a different case each week. It’s basically just a cable variation on the success that Bruckheimer has found on the networks with the “C.S.I.” franchise with a few more drug busts and a bit less DNA evidence.

Dark Blue
Photo credit: TNT

Shaw’s team includes a family man named Ty (Omari Hardwick), a bad boy who goes by Dean (Logan Marshall-Green), and a young lady with a shady past known as Jaimie (Nicki Aycox). They operate deep under the radar to bust the truly evil residents of Los Angeles that the regular cops can’t seem to touch. Dean, being the most believable as a wannabe criminal, usually guides the way, but Carter is always in charge.

Dark Blue
Photo credit: TNT

In the first episode, Dean is working on a sting when he crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Alex Rice (Tricia Helfer), who happens to be running her own undercover operation on the same group of scumbags (and also happens to be the hottest FBI agent your television has seen in years) led by the always-slimy Rhys Coiro (he played the loony director Billy Walsh on “Entourage”).

Alex and Carter play a few alpha dog games as to who’s really in charge while they flirt their way to the action climax and set up future appearances for Helfer. Their dynamic is not just the best thing about the premiere but her scenes are stronger than the entirety of season one. More on that later.

Meanwhile, Dean and Jaimie continue their secretive love affair while Ty takes something of a back seat in episode one before getting a little more time as he takes on a former cover in the second hour. Jordana Brewster (“Chuck”) appears in the second episode as an art gallery dealer who flirts with Dean and will appear again before the season is over. Yes, Tricia Helfer and Jordana Brewster on one show. When your show is struggling to find an audience, why not grab two geek goddesses with loyal followings? The plan has worked creatively and time will tell if the viewers follow.

Like most Bruckheimer shows, “Dark Blue” has noticeably strong technical elements that make it look more like a feature film than your average TV show. These shows are a tough balance of slick style over the gritty realism needed to make the plots effective. Sometimes “Dark Blue” is too flashy for its own good but the sizzle seems to have been toned down a bit in season two, allowing the characters and the plots more prominence than the production values.

Dark Blue
Photo credit: TNT

As for performances, Marshall-Green is easily the most interesting regular actor but that’s partially due to the meatier role he plays on the show as the “lead man” in most undercover operations. Aycox and Hardwick still too often feel like actors that could be easily replaced and they’re not quite convincing when they do take the spotlight. As for McDermott, he’s the most inconsistent element of the show. Being a fan of “The Practice,” I’ve always liked McDermott, but I don’t quite believe him in the role of a man so deep undercover that he’s basically lost his humanity. I wish they’d allow McDermott to really explore the dark side of this character and stop thinking that five-o-clock shadow means dark. It should be noted however that he excels most in the scenes with his gorgeous new co-star and it feels like the inclusion of Helfer has inspired McDermott to give more than he did in season one. Sometimes it takes a great leading lady to make a real leading man and McDermott is simply more believable in the romantic moments than the criminal ones.

The real key to the premiere is the addition of Tricia Helfer, who feels like she holds all of the ingredients that were missing from season one. Her addition to the cast sparks the entire show, including even the scenes in which she doesn’t appear. I still think that “Dark Blue” is too often a game of smoke and mirrors where the action takes precedence over the characters, but the strength of Helfer’s performance balances that out much more effectively than in season one. McDermott and his team of cops were buried under the Bruckheimer flash in season one. It was hard to tell exactly what was missing even though most viewers knew something was not quite right. Who would have guessed it would take a sci-fi icon to turn “Dark Blue” into the cop show it promised to be all along?

‘Dark Blue,’ which airs on TNT, stars Dylan McDermott, Omari Hardwick, Logan Marshall-Green, Nicki Aycox, and Tricia Helfer. The show returns on August 4th, 2010 at 8PM CST.

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