There’s a marked shift in this film to a more traditional Stallone shoot ‘em up, one that’s very 80’s in it’s approach, all gleaming muscles and billions of bullets fired. It’s the sort of film that would have (And did) star Chuck Norris – where the righteous American will suffer at the hands of the vile communist oppressors, then come back and BLOW THEM ALL UP.

It’s got everything an 80’s action movie fan could want – lingering shots of Stallone’s oiled up muscles, an almost certainly doomed love interest (Julia Nickson Sakai) and an evil Russian commander, played by Steven Berkoff, busily chewing all the scenery he can find. There’s some of the first film’s trying to raise the plight of veterans, but that get’s shoved away behind the explosions. It’s very much a lazy Sunday type of movie, so fire up the barbeque, grab a few cold drinks and get comfy on the couch for some classic action!

“They drew first blood, not me”

If you’ve come to the film expecting a Stallone style barrage of blood and bullets, you’ll be strangely surprised by First Blood. True, there’s a fair bit of gunfire and a spectacular explosion or two, but it’s a far more thoughtful film than much of his later work. It attempts to tell the story of a damaged man, one of a generation who thought they were fighting the good fight, but came home to be reviled and ignored. An issue not often touched upon at the time of the films first release.

Vietnam veteran John Rambo (Stallone) is hitchhiking to see a fellow veteran, only to find he has since passed away from Agent Orange exposure. Moving on, Rambo is picked up by town Sherriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy), who wants him out of town. When he refuses to leave, he is arrested and left in the care of Teasle’s torture happy deputy and fellow officers, one of whom is played by a young David ‘Sunglasses’ Caruso. An attempt to shave him dry causes Rambo to flash back to his time as a POW and he breaks out, fleeing into the nearby woods and setting the scene for the rest of the film.

Rambo’s not the near invincible superman you think you know– he’s very much a damaged man who would prefer to be left alone but finds himself hunted and harassed past breaking point. Unable to adjust to civilian life post war, he’s just trying to get by, but is forced to take up arms again, not for his country, but simply to survive.  If you've never seen it, it’s worth watching. If you have, surely it’s time to watch it again?

Hugh Jackman is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Jean Valjean in the upcoming theatrical release of Les Miserables, which hits cinemas this Boxing Day. Nicole Kidman is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for her lead role as Martha Gellhorn in the Hemingway & Gellhorn, broadcast in Australia on showcase, and Naomi Watts is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Maria in the upcoming film about the Boxing Day Tsunami, The Impossible. Jacki Weaver is also nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Silver Linings Playbook.
 

Subscription television programming continues to dominate the award nominations this year:
Showcase‘s Game Change, Hemingway & Gellhorn, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Nurse Jackie and Breaking Bad; Movie Extra’s Mad Men; Soho’s The Newsroom; FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum, Sons of Anarchy, Homeland and The Walking Dead; FOX8’s Modern Family and Glee; and The Comedy Channel’s The Big Bang Theory, Louie and Parks and Recreation.
 

TV1 nominations:
• Julianna Margulies for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for The Good Wife, premiering February 2013.
• Alec Baldwin for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for 30 Rock
• Tina Fey for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for 30 Rock
• The casts of The Office and 30 Rock for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Nominees for the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2012 in five film and eight primetime television categories as well as the SAG Awards honours for outstanding action performances by film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning in LA..

For a the full list of nominations: click here!

19th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
BRADLEY COOPER / Pat - “SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK”
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Abraham Lincoln - "LINCOLN”
JOHN HAWKES / Mark - "THE SESSIONS"
HUGH JACKMAN / Jean Valjean - "LES MISÉRABLES"
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Whip Whitaker - "FLIGHT"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JESSICA CHASTAIN / Maya - "ZERO DARK THIRTY”
MARION COTILLARD / Stephanie - “RUST AND BONE”
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Tiffany - “SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK”
HELEN MIRREN / Alma Reville - “HITCHCOCK”
NAOMI WATTS / Maria - “THE IMPOSSIBLE”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
ALAN ARKIN / Lester Siegel - “ARGO”
JAVIER BARDEM / Silva - "SKYFALL"
ROBERT DE NIRO / Pat, Sr. - "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN / Lancaster Dodd - “THE MASTER”
TOMMY LEE JONES / Thaddeus Stevens - “LINCOLN”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
SALLY FIELD / Mary Todd Lincoln - "LINCOLN"
ANNE HATHAWAY / Fantine - “LES MISÉRABLES”
HELEN HUNT / Cheryl - “THE SESSIONS”
NICOLE KIDMAN / Charlotte Bless - "THE PAPERBOY”
MAGGIE SMITH / Muriel Donnelly - “THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL”

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
ARGO
BEN AFFLECK / Tony Mendez
ALAN ARKIN / Lester Siegel
KERRY BISHÉ / Kathy Stafford
KYLE CHANDLER / Hamilton Jordan
RORY COCHRANE / Lee Schatz
BRYAN CRANSTON / Jack O’Donnell
CHRISTOPHER DENHAM / Mark Lijek
TATE DONOVAN / Bob Anders
CLEA DUVALL / Cora Lijek
VICTOR GARBER / Ken Taylor
JOHN GOODMAN / John Chambers
SCOOT McNAIRY / Joe Stafford
CHRIS MESSINA / Malinov

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
JUDI DENCH / Evelyn Greenslade
CELIA IMRIE / Madge Hardcastle
BILL NIGHY / Douglas Ainslie
DEV PATEL / Sonny Kapoor
RONALD PICKUP / Norman Cousins
MAGGIE SMITH / Muriel Donnelly
TOM WILKINSON / Graham Dashwood
PENELOPE WILTON / Jean Ainslie

LES MISÉRABLES
ISABELLE ALLEN / Young Cosette
SAMANTHA BARKS / Eponine
SACHA BARON COHEN / Thénardier
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Madame Thénardier
RUSSELL CROWE / Javert
ANNE HATHAWAY / Fantine
DANIEL HUTTLESTONE / Gavroche
HUGH JACKMAN / Jean Valjean
EDDIE REDMAYNE / Marius
AMANDA SEYFRIED / Cosette
AARON TVEIT / Enjolras
COLM WILKINSON / Bishop

LINCOLN
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Abraham Lincoln
SALLY FIELD / Mary Todd Lincoln
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT / Robert Todd Lincoln
HAL HOLBROOK / Preston Blair
TOMMY LEE JONES / Thaddeus Stevens
JAMES SPADER / W.N. Bilbo
DAVID STRATHAIRN / William Seward

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
BRADLEY COOPER / Pat
ROBERT DE NIRO / Pat, Sr.
ANUPAM KHER / Dr. Cliff Patel
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Tiffany
CHRIS TUCKER / Danny
JACKI WEAVER / Dolores

PRIMETIME TELEVISION
 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
KEVIN COSTNER / “Devil Anse” Hatfield - “HATFIELDS & McCOYS”
WOODY HARRELSON / Steve Schmidt - “GAME CHANGE”
ED HARRIS / John McCain - “GAME CHANGE”
CLIVE OWEN / Ernest Hemingway - “HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN“
BILL PAXTON / Randall McCoy - “HATFIELDS & McCOYS”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
NICOLE KIDMAN / Martha Gellhorn - “HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN”
JULIANNE MOORE / Sarah Palin - “GAME CHANGE”
CHARLOTTE RAMPLING / Eva Delectorskaya - “RESTLESS”
SIGOURNEY WEAVER / Elaine Barrish Hammond - “POLITICAL ANIMALS”
ALFRE WOODARD / Ouiser - “STEEL MAGNOLIAS”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson - “BOARDWALK EMPIRE”
BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White - “BREAKING BAD”
JEFF DANIELS / Will McAvoy - “THE NEWSROOM”
JON HAMM / Don Draper - “MAD MEN”
DAMIAN LEWIS / Nicholas Brody - “HOMELAND”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison - “HOMELAND”
MICHELLE DOCKERY / Lady Mary Crawley - “DOWNTON ABBEY”
JESSICA LANGE / Sister Jude - “AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM”
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick - “THE GOOD WIFE”
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham - “DOWNTON ABBEY”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy - “30 ROCK”
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy - “MODERN FAMILY”
LOUIS C.K. / Louie - “LOUIE”
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper - “THE BIG BANG THEORY”
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker - “MODERN FAMILY”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton - “NURSE JACKIE”
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon - “30 ROCK”
AMY POEHLER / Leslie Knope - “PARKS AND RECREATION”
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett - “MODERN FAMILY”
BETTY WHITE / Elka Ostrovsky - “HOT IN CLEVELAND”

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson
CHRIS CALDOVINO / Tonino Sandrelli
BOBBY CANNAVALE / Gyp Rosetti
MEG CHAMBERS STEEDLE / Billie Kent
CHARLIE COX / Owen Sleater
JACK HUSTON / Richard Harrow
PATRICK KENNEDY / Dr. Douglas Mason
ANTHONY LACIURA / Eddie Kessler
KELLY MACDONALD / Margaret Thompson
GRETCHEN MOL / Gillian Darmody
VINCENT PIAZZA / Lucky Luciano
PAUL SPARKS / Mickey Doyle
MICHAEL STUHLBARG / Arnold Rothstein
SHEA WHIGHAM / Elias “Eli” Thompson
ANATOL YUSEF / Meyer Lansky

BREAKING BAD
JONATHAN BANKS / Mike Ehrmantraut
BETSY BRANDT / Marie Schrader
BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White
LAURA FRASER / Lydia Rodart-Quayle
ANNA GUNN / Skyler White
RJ MITTE / Walter White, Jr.
DEAN NORRIS / Hank Schrader
BOB ODENKIRK / Saul Goodman
AARON PAUL / Jesse Pinkman
JESSE PLEMONS / Todd
STEVEN MICHAEL QUEZADA / Gomez

DOWNTON ABBEY
HUGH BONNEVILLE / Robert, Earl of Grantham
ZOE BOYLE / Lavinia Swire
LAURA CARMICHAEL / Lady Edith Crawley
JIM CARTER / Mr. Carson
BRENDAN COYLE / John Bates
MICHELLE DOCKERY / Lady Mary Crawley
JESSICA BROWN FINDLAY / Lady Sybil Crawley
SIOBHAN FINNERAN / O’Brien
JOANNE FROGGATT / Anna
IAIN GLEN / Sir Richard Carlisle
THOMAS HOWES / William
ROB JAMES-COLLIER / Thomas
ALLEN LEECH / Tom Branson
PHYLLIS LOGAN / Mrs. Hughes
ELIZABETH McGOVERN / Cora, Countess of Grantham
SOPHIE McSHERA / Daisy
LESLEY NICOL / Mrs. Patmore
AMY NUTTALL / Ethel
DAVID ROBB / Dr. Clarkson
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham
DAN STEVENS / Matthew Crawley
PENELOPE WILTON / Isobel Crawley

HOMELAND
MORENA BACCARIN / Jessica Brody
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET / Finn Walden
CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison
RUPERT FRIEND / Peter Quinn
DAVID HAREWOOD / David Estes
DIEGO KLATTENHOFF / Mike Faber
DAMIAN LEWIS / Nicholas Brody
DAVID MARCIANO / Virgil
NAVID NEGAHBAN / Abu Nazir
JACKSON PACE / Chris Brody
MANDY PATINKIN / Saul Berenson
ZULEIKHA ROBINSON / Roya Hammad
MORGAN SAYLOR / Dana Brody
JAMEY SHERIDAN / Vice President Walden

MAD MEN 
BEN FELDMAN / Michael Ginsberg
JAY R. FERGUSON / Stan Rizzo
JON HAMM / Don Draper
JARED HARRIS / Lane Pryce
CHRISTINA HENDRICKS / Joan Harris
VINCENT KARTHEISER / Pete Campbell
ROBERT MORSE / Bertram Cooper
ELISABETH MOSS / Peggy Olson
JESSICA PARÉ / Megan Calvet Draper
TEYONAH PARRIS / Dawn Chambers
KIERNAN SHIPKA / Sally Draper
JOHN SLATTERY / Roger Sterling
RICH SOMMER / Harry Crane
AARON STATON / Kenneth Cosgrove

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK
SCOTT ADSIT / Pete Hornberger
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon
JUDAH FRIEDLANDER / Frank Rossitano
JANE KRAKOWSKI / Jenna Maroney
JACK McBRAYER / Kenneth Parcell
TRACY MORGAN / Tracy Jordan

THE BIG BANG THEORY
MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler
KALEY CUOCO / Penny
JOHNNY GALECKI / Leonard Hofstadter
SIMON HELBERG / Howard Wolowitz
KUNAL NAYYAR / Rajesh Koothrappali
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper
MELISSA RAUCH / Bernadette Rostenkowski

GLEE
DIANNA AGRON / Quinn Fabray
CHRIS COLFER / Kurt Hummel
DARREN CRISS / Blaine Anderson
SAMUEL LARSEN / Joe Hart
VANESSA LENGIES / Sugar Motta
JANE LYNCH / Sue Sylvester
JAYMA MAYS / Emma Pillsbury
KEVIN McHALE / Artie Abrams
LEA MICHELE / Rachel Berry
CORY MONTEITH / Finn Hudson
HEATHER MORRIS / Brittany Pierce
MATTHEW MORRISON / Will Schuester
ALEX NEWELL / Wade Adams/Unique
CHORD OVERSTREET / Sam Evans
AMBER RILEY / Mercedes Jones
NAYA RIVERA / Santana Lopez
MARK SALLING / Noah “Puck” Puckerman
HARRY SHUM, JR. / Mike Chang
JENNA USHKOWITZ / Tina Cohen-Chang

MODERN FAMILY
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS / Lily Tucker-Pritchett
JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett
NOLAN GOULD / Luke Dunphy
SARAH HYLAND / Haley Dunphy
ED O’NEILL / Jay Pritchett
RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny Delgado
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
ARIEL WINTER / Alex Dunphy

NURSE JACKIE
MACKENZIE ALADJEM / Fiona Peyton
EVE BEST / Dr. Ellie O’Hara
BOBBY CANNAVALE / Dr. Mike Cruz
JAKE CANNAVALE / Charlie Cruz
PETER FACINELLI / Dr. Fitch Cooper
EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton
DOMINIC FUMUSA / Kevin Peyton
ARJUN GUPTA / Sam
LENNY JACOBSON / Lenny
RUBY JERINS / Grace Peyton
PAUL SCHULZE / Eddie Walzer
ANNA DEAVERE SMITH / Gloria Akalitus
STEPHEN WALLEM / Thor Lundgren
MERRITT WEVER / Zoey Barkow

THE OFFICE
LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER / Kevin Malone
CREED BRATTON / Creed Bratton
CLARKE DUKE / Clark
JENNA FISCHER / Pam Halpert
KATE FLANNERY / Meredith Palmer
ED HELMS / Andy Bernard
MINDY KALING / Kelly Kapoor
ELLIE KEMPER / Erin Hannon
ANGELA KINSEY / Angela Martin
JOHN KRASINSKI / Jim Halpert
JAKE LACEY / Peter
PAUL LIEBERSTEIN / Toby Flenderson
B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard
OSCAR NUÑEZ / Oscar Martinez
CRAIG ROBINSON / Darryl Philbin
PHYLLIS SMITH / Phyllis Vance
CATHERINE TATE / Nellie Bertram
RAINN WILSON / Dwight Schrute
 

SAG AWARDS HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES
 

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
THE BOURNE LEGACY 
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
LES MISÉRABLES
SKYFALL

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE 
BREAKING BAD
GAME OF THRONES 
SONS OF ANARCHY
THE WALKING DEAD
 

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild 49th Annual Life Achievement Award

DICK VAN DYKE
 

Additionally, Philipps has been named social media ambassador for this year’s SAG Awards. Through posts on Twitter and Facebook, Philipps will serve as the online face for the awards during the six weeks leading up to the live Jan.  She will give viewers access to behind-the-scenes moments, including updates on the production, presenters and fashion. She will also be posting from the red carpet on awards night!

In the hit sitcom “Cougar Town” Philipps plays Laurie, the feisty protégé to realtor Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox). With their group of friends known as the “cul de sac crew,” they support each other through the challenges and pitfalls of life — with a little dysfunction and a whole lot of wine.

In addition to “Cougar Town,” Philipps’ has had TV roles in “Dawson's Creek,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “Undeclared,” “ER,” “Love, Inc.” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” Film credits include “Made of Honor,” “He’s Just Not That Into You” and “I Just Don’t Know How She Does It.” Her next big-screen role will be opposite Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Brendan Fraser, Peter Dinklage and Sam Rockwell in “A Case of You,” due for release in 2013.

In 2003, Diggs shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a motion picture cast for his work in director Rob Marshall’s “Chicago.” A Syracuse University graduate in musical theater, Diggs began his professional career in a Broadway revival production of Rogers & Hammerstein’s “Carousel” and created the role of Benjamin Coffin III in the Tony Award-winning “Rent.” In 2005, he reprised the role for the film version of the musical.

In “Private Practice,” Diggs portrays Dr. Sam Bennett, aka “Dr. Feelgood,” an internist, cardiothoracic surgeon and founding partner of Seaside Heath & Wellness. He originated the role of Bennett in 2007 on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Other TV credits include “Ally McBeal,” “The West Wing,” “Kevin Hill,” “Will & Grace” and “Day Break.” Diggs made his feature film debut opposite Angela Bassett in “How Stella Got Her Groove Back.” He will next be seen in the independent feature film “The Trials of Cate McCall” opposite Kate Beckinsale, James Cromwell and Nick Nolte.

SAG-AFTRA announced that the SAG Life Achievement Award, the union's highest accolade, which honors career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment, will be given to none other than perennial entertainer Dick Van Dyke.

Van Dyke is best known for his roles in 'Bye Bye Birdie', 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' and 'Mary Poppins.' Now 86, he's garnered five Emmys, a Tony Award and a Grammy in his nearly 60-year career.

Off-set, he has tirelessly volunteered his time to The Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles homeless shelter, as well as to raising funds for music and art programs in public schools. In 1967, he became a spokesperson for the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation after losing a granddaughter to the disease. More recently, in 2010, he was named the first spokesperson for the Cell Therapy Foundation.

Those of you who are fans of the SAG Awards will know that Mr. Van Dyke is no stranger to the show. He presented the 43rd SAG Life Achievement Award to his 'Mary Poppins' costar Julie Andrews in 2007 at the 13th SAG Awards, where he met his current bride Arlene Silver. This past year, he was called on  again—this time by Mary Tyler Moore—to present his on-screen 'wife' with the 48th SAG Life Achievement Award at the 18th SAG Awards."

The stars in this film, you may or may not recognize, there is one familiar face however, and that is of the veteran of French film - Jean Reno.

In Le Chef, Reno plays a well renouned chef, Alexandre Lagarde who heads up the Lagarde restaurant and is so good in fact, that he's been able to mantain 3 stars for his restaurant for 15 years.

At the start of the film we meet Jacky Bonnot (Michael Youn), a 32 year old lover of haute cousine. Bonnot has no professional background in the culinary art and keeps on getting fired from his jobs in simpler kitchens which do not appreciate Homard a la Parisienne or Selle de Veau a la Prince Orloff.

After another one of his job losses (4 within 3 weeks), Jacky is desperate to stick to any work he can find as his heavily pregnant wife is at the end of her term at work and beggs Jacky to think about the future of their young family.

Jacky starts painting windows at an old people's home.

Meanwhile Alexandre Lagard is at cross roads with his boss' young son who is growing and capitalising the business of grocery packaged food and needs the top chefs to endorce the nutritionally weak but uber viable products.

Lagard, being a proud believer in culinary excellency, strongly declines and thus is threatened with losing his restaurant, reputation and is preparing for the worst - Molecular food lover critics coming to his restaurant on the day of the unveiling of the new menu.

Only by pure chance, Lagarde hears about Jacky Bonnot extraordinary self-taught culinary talents and offers the newbie an internship position at the restaurant.

The movie continues on a traditional French comedy plot, with funny scenarios of hidden identities, spying on competition and warmly trying to make the viewer sympathise with the characters who are just human, no matter how stubborn.

Lagard and Bonnot become good mates through the unexpected and  hilarious working relationship.

Both actors (Youn and Reno) do a fantastic job in this warm comedy and I truly enjoyed this film. I feel that I've missed the old school style of warm but well written comedies that French films used to be able to offer on a regular basis. Let's hope they continue in the same spirit!

Here is the official trailer:

Have you got favourite foreign film comedies which are just plain good, funny watching?

Le Chef is in selected cinemas across Australia  from the 14th of June

To win 1 of 10x double passes to the film, CLICK HERE

1. Tom Cruise in Risky Business

2. Uma Turman and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction

3.  Simple Men

4. Tropic Thunder

5.  Breakin' Turbo Broom Dance

6. A nod to Electric Boogaloo: Jean Claude Van Damme as a spadex-clad extra in Breakdance

7. Starsky and Hutch dance off

8.  Napoleon Dynamite

9.  Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion

10.  Little Miss Sunshine

Who is Gil Grissom?

The character Gil Grissom is the heart of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation but he is also an enigmatic figure. Grissom is hard to get to know and both his crack team at the Las Vegas Police Department Crime Lab and fans of the television show have to be patient to learn more about what makes the genius scientist tick.

According to the imdb.com character profile of Grissom, under his obsessive eye and expertise, the Las Vegas Police Department Crime Lab is one of the finest crime-solving units in the country. It is second only to the FBI national headquarters at Quantico (made famous by film The Silence of the Lambs where Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling is in training). Grissom is very socially awkward but excels with people when he is teaching or in his work domain, which is pretty much 24/7!

Grissom is also a world-renowned forensic entomologist – insect expert – and seems to prefer the company of the dead. That way he can avoid emotion and focus on his first love – science. Interestingly Grissom has also become somewhat of a sex symbol for fans of the TV franchise. A 2005 Slate.com article dubbed Grissom ``The sexiest man in the morgue’’ and speak to fans who indulge in writing and reading online fan fiction that imagines what Grissom gets up to when he’s not at the crime lab.

In a 2009 television interview on CBS program The Early Show , actor William Petersen said of his famous and beloved character:  "I think he has a big heart. I don't think he would do what he does if he didn't have a big heart. He likes to pretend he has a big brain instead.’’

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is on TV1 daily.

The actor will also be joined by Reggie Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal. "Finally, I get to say 'Soup for you! Soup for everyone!'" says Jason Alexander.

Mr Yeganeh, played by Larry Thomas in the Seinfeld episode, closed shop in 2004 and now the brand is a franchise. Jerry Seinfeld visited the restaurant recently and told the workers: "Make sure you get everything right with this restaurant - Al's a very important man." "They have not reconciled," the spokeswoman said of Al and Jerry.

Watch the original scene here:

References: http://screencrush.com/soup-nazi/
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/
Image: NBC/Youtube

From Quebec writer/director Jean-Marc Vallée, Cafe De Flore is a masterpiece, combining two narratives set 40 years apart in two different places (Montreal, Canada and Paris, France). Vallée cuts between the stories with practically no connection between them for most of the film. There is a subliminal message which follows throughout and its reinforced through repetition. A piece of music called Cafe de Flore, from the '60s and recently remixed into a techno-trance version by a UK musician.

Antoine, the lead character (Kevin Parent)  is just about to turn 40 - blessed with a beautiful lover, two gorgeous daughters and a job filled with travel and adulation. He is a DJ and music is his life and is an integral part of the film. In the opening scene, Pink Floyd's Breathe can be recognised through the guitars and scream. Parent himself is a musician and song writer, and fits naturally into the role of Antoine.

We cut to 1969 Paris, where Jacqueline (Vanessa Paradis, a single mother raising a young boy with Down syndrome. His name is Laurent. Jacqueline injects her life and soul into her son and from the early scenes it is evident that he is her only reason to live.

You may ask impatiently - what do these two worlds have anything in common? But there’s great pleasure to be found if you just follow the thread as it unveils.

Antoine, as we discover through his throughts and discussions with a psycologist,  found his soul mate while still at school, bonded by a shared love of music (why what else!). He and Carole (Hélène Florent) got married and had a family but Antoine later fell in love with Rose (Evelyne Brochu) and he left his family for the new woman. Antoine’s new relationship brings him happiness but there is turmoil from family members and inner doubt. Why did you leave one soul mate for another?

Questions of this nature start to arise, is the past just a dream or is it the future? The characters continue to analyze their dreams and wake up and sleep walk. What does this all mean? This film will challenge the way you think about love.

There is a traditional climax where everything heads for a trainwreck of a situation for a minute or two and the ending is almost bittersweet. There is a bit of abruptness but this invites for conversation and perhaps even a little soul-searching. Overall a great production, staging and storytelling gets 4 stars from me.

Enter here to WIN double passes to see Cafe De Flore

Have a look at the trailer here:

One of the world’s most popular television franchises, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation burst on to American screens in 2000 and has been going strong ever since.  

And now it has a new home at TV1.

The original series has spawned spin-offs CSI: Miami and CSI:NY and has had an influence on the rash of crime investigation-themed shows like Bones, NCIS, Cold Case and Without A Trace.

The first season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation starred William Petersen as Las Vegas CSI night supervisor Dr Gil Grissom and Marg Helgenberger as his sassy and instinctive assistant Catherine Willows.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who has hit on a winner for his crime-themed shows – big music, cinematic style and slick police procedurals – CSI starts with the violent crime, the motive (as discovered by the CSI team), then the perps  caught by the end of the episode. It’s a formula that has been blamed for what police and law enforcement professionals have dubbed “The CSI Effect” – people have an appetite like never before for information about forensic science and also have an unrealistic expectation of what the discipline can deliver. In particular, it has been noticed in the United States, United Kingdom and here in Australia that jurors are influenced by television shows like CSI and have an over-inflated sense of their understanding of forensic procedures.

Criticism aside, CSI has had a huge influence on television culture. The CBS show has been in the top twenty programs in the United States since it started over 12 years ago.  And for fast-paced, slick entertainment it’s hard to go past this series.

The show’s popularity has meant some big names have attached themselves to the franchise – Laurence Fishburne, Elisabeth Shue and Ted Danson now star in the latest series.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation season 1 starts on TV1 on Friday, April 13 at 8.30pm.

ABC have confirmed that the Emmy- winning actress, Doris Roberts, will guest star as Gaby’s employer, when she is working as a personal shopper.

The couple (Carlos and Gaby) get into a tug of war for the woman’s attention as Carlos wants Roberts’ character to donate money to his new charity. Roberts will appear in episode 820, “Lost My Power.”

Eva Longoria broke the news herself when she wrote, “ Working with the amazing Doris Roberts today!” on whosay.com

The talented actress who plays Raymond’s (Ray Romano) mother on the popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond has recently signed on to an ABC pilot, Counter Culture. Roberts is going to be playing Aunt Lee, a Southern belle who works at a diner.

Counter Culture was written by Stephnie Weir (actress and former writer for MADtv).

Roberts was recently reunited with Patricia Heaton (Raymond co-star) on “The Middle”, as a guest star in one of the episodes.

The all round comedy actress' schedule is more than eventful these days! We hope that this streak continues for Roberts!

Watch the "Everybody Loves Raymond" marathon this Easter on TV1

Image courtesy of  whosay.com

Much softer than many of the gritty crime dramas of today, Murder, She Wrote is one of those shows you can watch while having a cuppa (I tape it to watch while I’m folding my kids’ clothes or doing chores) and it’s a treat to see what murder mystery follows Jessica Fletcher, seemingly wherever she goes. (I guess there wouldn’t be a show without that happening!)

The great English actress Angela Lansbury plays Jessica Fletcher – a modern-day Agatha Christiewho lives in the fictional Maine fishing village of Cabot Cove.  Fletcher is a great feminist character (older, successful woman) who paved the way for more mature female characters to lead crime television shows. Even though Lansbury had been acting in film and on stage for years (she is a Tony winner), Murder, She Wrote boosted her profile in a big way and she became a staple of women’s and television magazines as the show consistently ranked in the top-ten shows on US screens for the first nine years of its 12-year run (1984 to 1996).

The appeal of this show is its quaintness and self-contained mysteries (sometimes there were telemovies and two-part mysteries over the years) that take place in all sorts of interesting locations. Jessica Fletcher has family, friends and fans of her books wherever she goes. It’s also fun to see the fashions of the early 1980s to mid-1990s (Jessica Fletcher is one stylish, smart woman!).

Murder, She Wrote is on TV1 weekdays at 7.30am.

But it is the classic 1980s sitcom Who’s the Boss? that spearheaded the way for the role reversal of gender relationships on TV. Tony Danza plays Tony Micelli, a tough but sensitive Brooklyn former major league baseball player and single dad who finds himself working as a live-in housekeeper to high flying career woman Angela Bower. Angela lives in a large Connecticut home with her son Jonathon and spitfire mum Mona.

Who’s The Boss? lasted eight seasons (1984 to 1992) and for Gen Xers it was probably one of the most-loved sitcoms of the time, along with ones like Family Ties and Growing Pains.

As far as sitcoms go, Who’s the Boss? is near perfect in its construction and scope for storylines – Angela (Judith Light) is uptight with serious hang-ups around her mother Mona (Katherine Helmond) who is very attractive and man-crazy. Angela’s son Jonathon (Danny Pintauro) is seven, shy and is the perfect foil to Tony’s confident, sassy nine-year-old daughter Samantha (Alyssa Milano). Tony comes into the Bower household and shakes it up, not to mention the ever-present attraction between employer and employee. The kids grow up together and become like brother and sister.

Tony Danza is incredibly likeable and one of the great sitcom characters.  Tony Micelli was at the forefront of a trend to address gender representation on television and challenge the “traditional” family. Families were no longer the “Leave it to Beaver” model of family. In Who’s The Boss? the household blended in a more unusual way, which allowed humour, drama and social issues to be addressed.   Who’s the Boss? was also representative of a focus on women’s issues on TV in the 1980s – single parenthood, career, the notion of “having it all”.

Social impacts aside, Who’s the Boss? is a fun, nostalgic watch. I am immediately transported back to my 1980s childhood as soon as I hear the theme song “Brand New Life”.  

Who’s The Boss? Is on afternoon on TV1.

If you haven’t had a chance to tune into Season 2 of Drop Dead Diva, here is a run down. Once you familiarize yourself  with the charming cast and what the plot is all about, it should be pretty easy to jump into Season 2 to catch up on this fun ‘easy watching’ series.

The show is based on an original story, which is very refreshing. Deb ( played by Brooke D’Orsey)is an aspiring model – vain as vain can be and Jane (played by Brooke Elliott) is a top ‘big girl’ lawyer who is conquering the career ladder with the help of her assistant Teri (played by stand up comedian Margaret Cho). When Deb suddenly passes away in a car accident, she acquires Jane’s recently deceased body to continue living and trying to do more Good than Bad.  I wonder if the fact that both actresses are called Brooke in real life adds to the ‘one body’ connection between the two personas.

“You’re shallow” , Fred describes Deb as she goes to the ‘gate’ of Heaven/Hell.

Fred is working as gate keeper who decides whether a person has done enough good vs bad deeds in their life and is assigned to Deb as a guardian angel while she walks through Jane’s life.

Deb, when she becomes a lawyer, gives Jane the lovable characteristics of an actress/model and tries to help out every client with body and soul in mind.

As an addition to adapting to the politics of the new firm, Jane/Deb is also fighting for the affection of her boyfriend Grayson, who was going to propose before Deb passed away.  Funnily enough he started working at Jane’s law firm the day after she went through her ‘sudden demise’.

Jane’s office rival Kim has already set her eye on Deb’s partner in life and it’s a constant flow of empathy for Jane as she has to watch Kim’s sly flirtations and set ups on court.

Luckily Deb’s best friend Stacy, also an aspiring model, recognizes her in Jane’s body and this creates for a lot of girly comedy moments with similar quirky quotes which we loved in “Legally Blonde.”

“We don’t have to go out to have fun “- comment on Deb’s new appearance.

“…I got us a cook book. Tonight we can make a bunt cake out of apple sauce and air!” -  on fun activity together.

Apart from light “ Legally Blonde” humour, the court case scenes remind me of the court case drama series from way back, "Ally McBeal", i.e. the cases are realistic but at the same time very human, which is what adds to the dramatic element of this series and relationships between office members spanning beyond professional stems – a good addition to any good rating show.


Start watching Drop Dead Diva on TV1, Wednesdays at 7.30pm

You can drop into it right here with Season 1 mini episodes on the TV1 Video page:

To find out more on episodes of Drop Dead Diva Click Here




 

Our Trivia App is all grown up and off getting nominated for " Best Use of Technology" in the ASTRA Inductry Excellence Awards!

"The ASTRA Industry Excellence Awards recognise excellence in the promotion and innovation of subscription TV. The 2012 awards will be presented at the close of the ASTRA 2012 Conference on 22 March at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Bayside Gallery.

Award categories encompass a variety of promotional activities across the industry, with categories for both content providers and STV platforms."

Evolved from Cash trivia - a favourite on the TV1 channel - the TV1 Trivia App has become very popular during SAG Awards season, when we tested your knowledge on Screen Actors Guild Awards over the years and General Entertainment questions on film, television and your favourite stars. Now there are over 6,000+ questions from all the hit shows like the Nanny, NCIS, Law and Order, Hogan's heroes, Bewitched, 30 Rock, Drop Dead Diva and many more!

Its a great mix of trivia on classic TV shows vs the new and exciting crime genres and splash of comedy. Seinfeld remains a top played favourite and has been hogging that space since launch! We don't blame you, Ol' Jerry continues to bring smiles to our faces even on our iPhones and iPads! 

I thought I'd play the finger puppet promos here for you to get you familiar with our little App and we hope you'll continue to enjoy it by downloading for your Apple device and challenging your friends and family to a trivia game or two!

DOWNLOAD NOW

TV1 Trivia App @ Launch:

TV1 Trivia App - update:

Full List of ASTRA Awards Nominees

it is no wonder then that Curb Your Enthusiasm natually owns the model of success by having Larry as the semi-fictional character on the show. The key ingredient that's missing is the lovable comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, who does observational comedy so well.

To those who have watched Curb Your Enthusiasm, it is clear that there are so many similarities to Seinfeld (or Seinfeld Chronicles, as it was known when it first piloted on NBC). Tho formula which Seinfeld almost perfected over the many years of success is the key to many sit coms these days. Almost individual stories which emerge through the episode and ascend into the final moments with unexpected and hilarious outcomes done in a very adult - oriented way.

Larry, almost starring as himself, is more cynical than Jerry and doesn't have all the innocent lovable traits. it is almost like the stand up comedian was removed from the show and replaced by the real deal. Which is not far from the truth either.

I've thoroughly enjoyed Larry David's similar project to Curb Your Enthusiasm which is a motion picture, starring Evan Rachel Wood and directed and written by Woody Allen, "Whatever Works." David is thoroughly believable as someone who critisizes everythng and everyone and thinks no one is intellectualy worthy of his time on this Earth.

Funnily enough I always found Seinfeld and his friend George to have similar characteristic traits with the women they've dated and the view point they had on life. But that's just me.

Do you see the similarities between Larry and Larry?

So it was great to finally see Matthew Broderick pop up again as Ferris this week in, of all things, a Superbowl commercial.  Well, to be accurate, Broderick is playing himself but behaving in a very Bueller-like manner.  If you haven't seen it yet, check it out.  This is the extended version.

You could tell this was made with real love by real fans.  But, hey, no Alan Ruck??  Ignoring that small oversight, they've managed to make this spot pretty spot-on.  How good is it?  This video from AkooTV comparing the ad to the original film side-by-side shows you just how good it is:

And then there are the easter eggs littered throughout such as Ferris's vest, the "So choice" vanity licence plate and the red phone.  EW has the full list.

But doesn't this all beg the question: where's our REAL Ferris sequel?  Who's with me here?  I can see it now.  Ferris is 25 years older.  He's hit middle age.  He's stuck in a boring 9-to-5 job with the threat of layoff hanging over his head (it's a Great Recession comedy).  Life has gotten the better of him (as it does with most of us) and he dreams of ditching the job to pursue his dreams when out-of-the-blue he gets a call from his ol' buddy Cameron who convinces him to have the day off against Ferris' now more-mature judgment.  Hijinks ensue!  It writes itself!

I'm not the only one who's had a go at this.  I love this effort from last year:

Even Alan Ruck suggested a set-up himself:

"I used to think why don't they wait until Matthew and I are in our seventies and do Ferris Bueller Returns and have Cameron be in a nursing home. He doesn't really need to be there, but he just decided his life is over, so he committed himself to a nursing home."

It's a real pity that Ferris's original creator, John Hughes, passed away in 2009 before writing a Buell-quel.  I sure hope he left a script locked away only to be released at a pre-designated date.  But then again maybe we should just be grateful for the movie we do have.  As Matthew Broderick once said: