Posts Tagged ‘Cloris Leachman’

One of the greatest times of the year for top notch movies is the summer! Movie execs even change the dates their movies debut in order to take part in this sweltering time of year. Here are six films we can’t wait to see during the Summer 2009 movie season…

June

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Summer is an infamous time of year for sequels and 2009 is no exception.  The trailer alone for “Transformers 2” promises amazing action, explosive destruction, CG-palooza and there’s even a plot thrown in there too. Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) discovers the back story of the giant robots that are causing demolition worldwide – Egypt, Paris and the US. The cherry on this sundae – IMAX footage, which is sure to enhance the already exciting special effects. June 24th.

Away We Go – “Go’s” trailer caught my eye when I saw “Adventureland.” The odd couple of John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph (two hugely funny actors not frequently seen on the large screen) had me scribbling down the release date in the dark theater so I wouldn’t forget. “Go” is a “road trip” film for adults as Krasinski and Rudolph travel to see family and friends to find a place that feels like home before they become parents for the first time. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels, and Catherine O’Hara are just a couple of the odd ball friends and family members visited by the pregnant couple. June 5th.

July

Public Enemies – Johnny Depp and Christian Bale – that’s all you need to be sold on this summer semi bio-pic. Directed by the successful Michael Mann (“Collateral,” “Ali,” “The Insider,” “Heat,” and “The Last of the Mohicans”) this film is already being talked about as the only summer film that will be remembered at Oscar time.  “Enemies” is a depression era crime drama about infamous bank robber John Dillinger (Depp) and the clean cut FBI agent determined to bring him in, Melvin Purvis (Bale).  Two stories from behind the scenes recount that Bale was in character 24/7 and that Depp was actually giddy at the opportunity to handle Dillinger’s actual brief case. This is going to be a real box office melter. July 1st.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – “Prince” should have been on the Fall ’08 list, but the higher ups who made the movie moved it to summer ’09 for financial reasons. The 2nd to last book in the JK Rowling series has a darker story that revolves around the origins of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Through multiple memory type flashback sequences the audience and Harry will learn a lot more about Voldemort’s history. There’s also the prospect of love for some of our favorite Hogwarts’ students (but I won’t tell you who in case you haven’t read the book). July 15th.

August

The Boat That Rocked – Haven’t heard of this movie yet? That’s ok – you’ll be dying to see it because of the cast alone: Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”), Emma Thompson (“Stranger Than Fiction’), Gemma Arterton (“Quantum of Solace”), Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”), Kenneth Branagh (“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”), January Jones (“Mad Men”), Rhys Darby (“Yes Man”), Jack Davenport (the “Pirates” movies), Nick Frost (“Hot Fuzz”), Rhys Ifans (“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”), Kirsty Mather (“Mamma Mia”), and Tom Wisdom (“300”). What a line up! And it’s directed by Richard Curtis who did “Love Actually.” August 28th.

Inglourious Basterds – Yes, the movie title is spelled correctly. Leave it director Quentin Tarantino to find the craziest spelling for his latest film starring Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, B.J. Novak, Samuel L. Jackson and Cloris Leachman. “Inglourious” is two stories in one – the first is about a Jewish girl whose family is killed by Nazis, she leaves and ends up working at a movie theatre, and infatuated with a German war hero and plotting revenge for her family’s deaths. The second story – a group of Jewish-American soldiers who are working behind enemy lines plot their own scheme against the Nazis. How do the two stories relate? The movie theater is the key (how ironic). August 21st.

Dancing with the Stars officials revealed this season’s lineup, which includes more than a few recognized performers, such as R&B Grammy award-winner, Toni Braxton. 

Joining Braxton will be ABC’s All My Children egomaniac, Susan Lucci; Sugar Ray frontman cum celebrity reporter, Mark McGrath; TV and stage legend, Cloris Leachman; “Beautiful-but-is-she-really-talented?” Kim Kardashian; former ‘N Sync boy band member, Lance Bass; Ted McGinley, best known as Al’s Bundy’s next door neighbor on Married With Children; Olympic volleyball gold medalist, Misty May-Treanor; celebrity chef, Rocco Dispirito; and Brooke Burke, former Wild On E! and Rock Star host. 

Wow…and to think there was nothing to look forward to this season.

ABC announced on Monday the new lineup of celebs who will be shimmying and waltzing onto Dancing with the Star’s seventh season starting Sept. 22.

We’ve got the oldest and youngest contestants to ever compete, athletes who want to add the mirror ball trophy to their gold medal collection, a former boy bander, a Soap diva and more.

Read on for the complete line-up and my commentary on who might win and who might get voted off faster than a quickstep.  

Susan Lucci: This daytime diva will have plenty of votes from her devoted allegiance of soap fans; yet, she’s notoriously known for not winning the Emmy 18 years in a row before finally winning in 1999. On DWTS, she’s only got one chance to win! 

Lance Bass: The former ’N Sync member’s chances look pretty good because he has dance skills from his boy band days. Plus, fellow ’N Syncer Joey Fatone is a previous runner-up.

Cloris Leachman: The 82-year-old Oscar-winning actress is DWTS oldest ever star to compete (the previous eldest star was George Hamilton who was 66 in Season Two). We all love Mary Tyler Moore’s Phyllis and no disrespect to her, but she will have very stiff competition with the younger stars.

Toni Braxton: The Grammy-winning singer has a heart condition, but it is unknown if it will affect her rigorous dancing regimes. Season One champ Alec Mazo as her partner could help her odds.

Misty May-Treanor and Maurice Green: With four of the past six DWTS winners being athletes, the two-time gold medal-winning Olympic athletes could face off on the dance floor. Green has an extra edge being partnered with two-time winner Cheryl Burke.

Kim Kardashian: The reality star and celebutante recently injured her foot, which may give her an early disadvantage. Also, the young and pretty don’t always have the right moves. Just ask previous young and pretty stars, Willa Ford and Shannon Elizabeth, who got voted off early.

Brooke Burke: Speaking of young and pretty contestants, this TV host/model might have the same low chances as Kardashian. 

Cody Linley: The 18-year-old Hannah Montana star is the youngest star to ever compete. With two-time winning Julianne Hough as his partner, Linley could make the final cut.

Ted McGinley: The actor from Married With Children and Hope and Faith is notorious for being on shows right before they get cancelled, so here’s just hoping he doesn’t get DWTS cancelled.  

Warren Sapp: The former NFL star has the athlete DWTS winning streak increasing his odds. Plus, partner Kym Johnson, who helped Joey Fatone place second in Season 4, is a serious contender

Rocco DiSpirito: DWTS has had actors, athletes, singers and comedians, but DiSpirito is the first chef to compete. He’s good in the kitchen, but the dance floor… who knows?   

Jeffrey Ross: The comedian might not be laughing on the dance floor. Comedians generally have two left feet (see Adam Corolla and Steve Guttenberg). Plus, partner Edyta Sliwinska is the only professional dancer to compete in every season but is yet to win.