Music-driven teen entertainment abounds on the small and large screen, but few endeavors have the heart and intelligence of last summer’s Bandslam, now available on DVD.
Penned by Josh A. Cagan and director Todd Graff, Bandslam received much critical acclaim. “What makes the film work is its feeling for the characters,” praised Roger Ebert, who gave the film 3 out of 4 stars. Ebert is not alone: Bandslam has a 90% approval rating from the industry’s Top Critics on RottenTomatoes.com.
Bandslam stars Vanessa Hudgens, Aly Michalka, Gaelan Connell, Lisa Kudrow and features a cameo from David Bowie.
Walden Media has tapped Curtis Hanson to direct surfing drama “Mavericks,” with Brandon Hooper and Jim Meenaghan producing.
The story, based on Hooper’s script, centers on the late Jay Moriarity and his quest to ride the iconic Northern California break known as Mavericks, where winter swells bring in treacherous waves the size of five-story buildings.
CityNews.ca spoke with Connell recently about the movie, meeting David Bowie, and how film school is going.
You’re in a rock band but don’t play an instrument in the movie. Was that a disappointment to you?
We’d do a take and then I’d pick up a guitar and jam with the cast. If anything there was less pressure. I have no problem acting in front of a huge amount of people but anytime I have an instrument it becomes a lot more nerve-wracking.
E.T. offers a first look at the set of Ramona and Beezus and talks to Josh Duhamel and the cast about marriage and their experiences of being in weddings. In Ramona and Beezus, the latest Beverly Cleary book brought to life in a new comedy that focuses on the relationship between two sisters, Josh plays a handsome groom who marries Aunt Bea, Ginnifer Goodwin’s character. Sixteen-year-old Disney sensation Selena Gomez stars as older sister Beezus to young actress Joey King’s character, Ramona Quimby. Selena opens up to ET about the biggest challenge working on a new project outside her hit show, “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
We’re going to be running a contest to win a copy of Cosmic very soon. Keep your eye’s on us, as we’re working on how the contest will work. We have five copies to give away, and are very excited about this book.
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Liam has always felt a bit like he’s stuck between two worlds. This is primarily because he’s a twelve-year-old kid who looks like he’s about thirty. Sometimes it’s not so bad, like when his new principal mistakes him for a teacher on the first day of school or when he convinces a car dealer to let him take a Porsche out on a test drive. But mostly it’s just frustrating, being a kid trapped in an adult world. And so he decides to flip things around. Liam cons his way onto the first spaceship to take civilians into space, a special flight for a group of kids and an adult chaperone, and he is going as the adult chaperone. It’s not long before Liam, along with his friends, is stuck between two worlds again—only this time he’s 239,000 miles from home.
Frank Cottrell Boyce, author of Millions and Framed, brings us a funny and touching story of the many ways in which grown-upness is truly wasted on grown-ups.
Over the last couple of days, I’ve been in Los Angeles with many fascinating people from all over the United States. Grace Hill Media, Twentieth Century Fox and Walden Media were our host as we gathered for the L.A. Lakers and Boston Celtics basketball game on Thursday night, while meeting Mr. Phil Anschutz, the owner of Walden Media. It was an incredible night, meeting many of the people that are going to be incorporating Narnia into their programs this year.
At long last, the story that I’ve been waiting so long to reveal to the world. Here is a very special Narnia story, that happened last fall, as described by publicist Ernie Malik.
What is it like to fall in love in Narnia?
by Ernie Malik
A curious question you may think. We bring it up here, while cruising along on our third voyage through this wondrous world created by C.S. Lewis, because the wonder of love did happen…to six couples who worked on both the first and second film adaptations.
Here it is, finally, the poster for this summer’s long-awaited release: Ramona and Beezus! Starring Selena Gomez as Beezus and Joey King as Ramona Quimby.
The release date is July 23, 2010.
The adventures of Ramona Quimby come to life in this all new film based on the best-selling books by Beverly Cleary. Ramona’s vivid imagination, boundless energy, and accident-prone antics are put to the test when she helps her family face its biggest challenge. Along the way, Ramona (Joey King) must deal with her over-achieving older sister Beezus (Selena Gomez). Directed by Elizabeth Allen, Screenplay by Laurie Craig and Nick Pustay.
One of the best, and most highly underrated movies of 2009, Bandslam, is heading to DVD on March 16th!
From Walden Media and Summit, it is the story of Will, a normal guy that moves to a new town when his mother gets a new job. It is there that he meets some new friends that change his life forever.
Great performances and a surprising storyline makes this underdog tale one to own.
now available on DVD.
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Bandslam
Tooth Fairy
Ramona and Beezus
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