Rock of Ages Preview~ “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”!

The all-star movie musical Rock of Ages hits theaters this weekend and I’m a little too excited about it. I’m not sure if it’s gonna be a hot mess or a really well crafted movie musical (ala Hairspray which was also directed by Ages helmer Adam Shankman), but I will be there day 1 to find out. Regardless, it looks like a really good time and the curiosity factor of seeing Tom Cruise as the ultimate rock god is pretty much reason enough to see it. I’m also thrilled to see Oscar winner Catharine Zeta-Jones back singing and dancing on the big screen like she did in the brilliant Chicago. In the film, she plays an anti-rock crusader and sings the big Pat Benatar classic “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”. Now, I have your first look at that scene below. Check it out!

Rock of Ages~ “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Catharine Zeta-Jones

And check out the full film trailer below. The movie which chronicles the rise of two young Hollywood wannabes played by newcomer Diego Luna and Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough on the rocking Sunset Strip in the 80′s also stars Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Malin Ackerman, Bryan Cranston and the aforementioned Cruise and Zeta-Jones. Ages features some of the best rock and metal anthems of the 80′s from the likes of Poison, Bon Jovi, Journey, Foreigner, Guns N’ Roses, Warrant, Quiet Riot, Night Ranger, Extreme, Def Leppard and more! It hits theaters this Friday June 15.

Rock of Ages trailer

First Look~ “Rock of Ages” the movie!

Adam Shankman scored a big hit with his movie version of the Tony winning musical Hairspray. The film was awesome and even garnered some awards love (grabbing Golden Globe and SAG nods). Now, the director/producer/choreographer (and sometime So You Think You Can Dance judge)is at it again with a new cinematic version of the Tony nominated musical Rock of Ages. The show chronicles the rise of two young wannabe rockers and the metal scene of Hollywood in 1987 set to the music of some of the best rock, metal and pop acts of the decade like Foreigner, Def Leppard, Twisted Sister and Pat Benatar. It features an all-star cast including Oscar nominee Tom Cruise, Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Alec Baldwin, Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Paul Giamatti, Julianna Hough, Malin Ackerman, Grammy winner Mary J. Blige, Russell Brand and newcomer Diego Bonita. The first trailer for the film which hits theatres this summer just popped up on the web and the question is… does it rock? … Well, um, no. But it does look fun and I live for a musical. So, I’ll be there regardless. I have to say Zeta-Jones looks to be a standout (no surprise) and I’m surprisingly impressed with the brief images of Cruise. But what do you think? take a look at the trailer below and tell me if you think this film will be one for the ages or should be stuffed under a rock.

Rock of Ages trailer

Will the Oscars Crown Clooney Again?

2006 was the year of George Clooney and the Oscar. He won for Supporting Actor for Syriana and grabbed nods for Director and Screenplay for Goodnight and Good Luck. As we head into this year’s Oscar season, it looks like Clooney may be ready for a sequel of his own as the Academy king. This year he has two films in the race, and just like when he won, he’s the star of one and writes, directs and stars in another.
In The Descendants, Clooney plays a grieving father who tries to connect with his two daughters in a film by Oscar winner Alexander Payne (Sideways) and co-starring in her first big buzzworthy performance Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of An American Teenager). Looking at the trailer and the people involved, it may be just the ticket to getting Clooney his first Best Actor award. (He was previously nominated in that race for Up in the Air and Michael Clayton). For more on The Descendants which hits theatres on November 23rd, click here and check out the trailer below.

The Descendants

Clooney’s other film is the adaptation of Beau Willimon’s award-winning play Farragut North. Now titled The Ides of March, the movie has a hefty Oscar pedigree with Clooney directing, co-starring and co-writing a cast including Oscar winners Marisa Tomei and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and Paul Giamatti, Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright (Angels in America) and Emmy nominee Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce). This political thriller follows a principled staffer (Gosling) working on a political campaign for Clooney’s character and gets thrust into a world of dirty dealings and machinations on the campaign trail. This one looks like total Oscar bait after viewing its trailer and I can’t wait to see it when it hits theatres on October 7th. I’m betting the film will be a huge contender for Picture, Screenplay, Director, Actor (Gosling) and Supporting Actor (Hoffman, Giamatti, Clooney). For more on March, head here and check out the trailer below…. Will it be all Clooney all the time at this year’s Oscars? I think it’s a safe bet….

The Ides of March

Four More enter the Crowded Best Actor Race

So far, there are only two certainties in the Best Actor race this year: James Franco (127 Hours) and a nominee last year, Colin Firth (The Kings Speech). That leaves three spots open and a ton of contenders. Leading the pack currently for those openings are Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Jeff Bridges (True Grit), Javier Bardem (Biutiful), Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception or Shutter Island), Robert Duvall (Get Low),  Mark Wahlberg (The Fighter) and Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine). Now, we can add four more to that list including the aforementioned Gosling (previously nominated for Half Nelson) whose new drama with Kirsten Dunst and Oscar nominee Frank Langella, All Good Things, hits theatres in early December. The other three who will try to vy for a spot with films opening in December are the never-nominated Jim Carrey as a gay con man in the hilarious I Love You Phillip Morris, former nominee Paul Giamatti (Sideways) in Barney’s Version and former two-time winner Kevin Spacey (American Beauty, The Usual Suspects) as Jack Abramoff in Casino Jack. Take a look at the trailers for all four new films below and let me know just who you think will make the final five.

Ryan Gosling in All Good Things

Jim Carrey in I Love You Phillip Morris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CXnwkh_Oro&feature=player_embedded

Paul Giamatti in Barney’s Version

Kevin Spacey in Casino Jack