Remember Me RCC Rating: Worth Seeing At A Matinee

The Hawkins’ patriarch, Charles (Pierce Brosnan), is more concerned with work than his children, and the death of his son barely registered as a blip. Despite having a lot of family money to fall back on, black sheep Tyler wants to live on his own without his father’s help in a crappy apartment with his best friend Aiden.

During an night out to raise Tyler’s spirits, a bar fight gets our pensive hero arrested by a hard-assed Sgt. Craig (Chris Cooper). Tyler then has a chance encounter with Ally (Emilie de Ravin), the officer’s daughter, and Tyler hatches a dubious plan to attempt to seduce her to get revenge for a wrongful arrest. Predictably, the scheme backfires as Tyler falls for Ally, and he has to reconcile the plot with his emotions.

The filmmakers deserve credit for challenging the audience to put themselves in Tyler’s shoes. It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, and an enjoyable one.

Twelve-year-old Ruby Jerins is quite the scene stealer, and held her own with the likes of Pattinson and Brosnan. It was quite refreshing getting to see de Ravin in a lead role – I enjoyed her on “Lost” until she started yelling about her baby constantly.

As for Pattinson’s acting, everyone will be a critic, and this was a good opportunity for him to stretch his legs. Tyler’s character was fairly well rounded, offering up not only the chance to be charming, but to be sarcastic, funny and dramatic as well. I honestly think this role will open some minds about Pattinson’s acting ability.

While elements of the movie may make audiences cringe, “Remember Me” will stick with viewers long after the lights come up. Solid performances from surprising sources make it a memorable outing.

Green Zone RCC Rating: Worth Watching On Cable

Having said that, the film opens up with a series of contrived scenes where Matt Damon plays an all-too-heroic American soldier in 2003 Iraq who discovers over and over that there are no weapons of mass destruction in the locations to which he had been sent. This sends our hero on a quest to get to the bottom of a vast government conspiracy, pulled off single-handedly by Greg Kinnear. “Where are the WMD’s?” the character exclaims throughout the film like an echo of Sean Penn’s 2003 award speech. This super soldier eludes dozens of US troops, fights off countless faceless villains and captures one of Saddam’s top men. He completes all of this completely unscratched, emails a full account of the story to all of the media and even has his face-to-face ‘gotcha’ moment with Kinnear. The film’s typecasting was pathetic, from Jason Isaacs (“Brotherhood”) as Damon’s nemesis all the way to Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter films) as the world-worn CIA agent. Another Bush-era conspiracy film down the tubes.

Damon’s choices of films are typically wiser than this. I suspect his agent, Patrick Whitesell, owed Michael Moore a big favor. Consider it paid. The writer of the film, Brian Helgeland, is one of my favorites – even though he can turn in hit-or-miss work. He is, after all, the first person in history to win an Academy Award (“L.A. Confidential”) and a Razzie Award (“The Postman”) in the same year. I had hoped for strong character development, as Helgeland does like almost no other Hollywood writer. Instead, he fed us a chewy meal with no real flavor. It was only Damon’s marquee value that kept Green Zone from being a straight-to-video Van Damme knockoff.

If you like visuals, see it. If you like story, skip it. Overall, I would recommend watching it on cable.

Yes, I realize that was unnecessary, which is precisely the way that some people may feel about the fact that there are two more “Wizard of Oz” related projects in the works. After the recent success of “Alice in Wonderland,” it seems Hollywood is quickly jumping on the chance to bank off of another existing franchise. The LA Times reports that Warner Brothers and New Line are working on developing two different scripts based on Dorothy and her friends.

The Warner Brothers untitled project has been scripted by Josh Olson, who we know best for writing “The History of Violence.” According to The Times, Olson’s script puts the spotlight on Dorothy’s granddaughter and her return to Oz to “fight evil.” With the involvement of “Spawn’s” Todd McFarland, this version looks like it will probably be a little darker, and a lot more adult than the version that we’re used to.

There is not much to report about New Line’s project, “Oz,” except that it has been written by Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After) and will be produced by Temple Hill, who is currently having a huge success with the Twilight Series. I’m hoping that like Olson’s version, Lemke finds a way to revisit Oz without simply “remaking” the original film.

Until there are more developments on these projects, it’s difficult to say which (if either) would be the better choice. Keep in mind we also have “Wicked” due out in 2012, which is based on the Broadway musical about the wicked witch [which, in turn, was based on the novel by Gregory Maguire - Ed.]. I think I may be of the “if it ain’t broke…” frame of mind, but it seems Hollywood is hell-bent on revisiting every single one of my childhood favorites.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been back to Oz.  In 1985, we got the “sequel” “Return to OZ” (which scared the bejeezus out of me,) and in 2007 The Sci-Fi Channel (now SYFY) gave us “The Tin Man,” starring Zooey Deschanel.

Conan’s new web site, TeamCoco.com, calls the show “A night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence.” The tour will also feature “Conan’s little buddy” Andy Richter and members of the former Tonight Show Band (no word if that includes drummer Max Weinberg.

Tickets are already on sale at TicketMaster, ranging from $39.50 – $79.50. There are also “meet-n-greet” packages available for $250 – $695.

In “Remember Me,” Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler didn’t think anyone could possibly understand what he was going through until the day he met Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate. Love was the last thing on his mind, but as her spirit unexpectedly heals and inspires him, he begins to fall for her. Through their love, he begins to find happiness and meaning in his life. But soon, hidden secrets are revealed, and the circumstances that brought them together slowly threaten to tear them apart. “Remember Me” is an unforgettable story about the power of love, the strength of family, and the importance of living passionately and treasuring every day of one’s life.

Here’s your freshly-minted synopsis as if you really needed it:

In THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between Edward and Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.

Directed by David Slade, “Eclipse” opens on June 30, 2010.

The star-studded continuation of the “Wall Street” franchise features Shia LaBeouf, Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Frank Langella and Carey Mulligan.  Cinematical speculates on the reasons for pushing the film back.  Fox may be positioning “Wall Street” for Oscar considerations since the film is such a star packed and flashy affair.  Most big name films receive their premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival so that they can be fresh in the minds of the Academy when they are making Oscar considerations.

A later release date may up “Wall Street’s” Oscar chances but it will also be playing against bigger competition and the box office.  In April, its main competition would have been “The Losers” and the Jennifer Aniston vehicle “The Bounty Hunter.”  While in September it faces stiff competition such as Zack Snyder’s “Legend of the Guardians” and “The Eagle of the Ninth.”

If anything though, the film’s trailer looks promising and the cast has some outstanding players working with a big name director.  With all of these factors considered, “Wall Street” will probably be okay regardless of when it premieres.

Since Going Off-Air Eleven Years Ago

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM®:

THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON

In Stores, Exclusively from HBO Home Entertainment^® On June 8, 2010

10 Episode, 2-Disc DVD Includes Extensive Bonus Features with Entire Cast of Seinfeld!

Larry David is back in Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Seventh Season, and this time, he has a little help from his friends!  Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards come together for the moment everyone has been waiting for – the Seinfeld reunion show, which only Curb Your Enthusiasm could provide.  Featuring all ten classic episodes, the 2-Disc DVD will hit stores on June 8, 2010, just in time for Father’s Day.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Seventh Season is bursting with extensive bonus content featuring all four Seinfeld stars:

• “The Seinfeld Reunion:  It Could Only Happen on Curb…” – Find out how the Seinfeld story arc came about from Curb and Seinfeld cast members who talk about the much-anticipated reunion.
• “Rebuilding the Seinfeld Sets” – Production designers, set decorators, and more discuss what it was like to bring Seinfeld back to life by resurrecting the sets and modernizing them for 2009.
• “Larry David as George Costanza” – Jason Alexander coaches Larry on how to play George, a character that was originally based on Larry himself.
• “A Seinfeld Moment on Curb: Interview with Larry David and the Seinfeld Cast” – Interview featuring Larry, Jerry, Julia, Jason and Michael talking about what it was like to reunite again after eleven years.

A true HBO® signature series,  the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning Curb Your Enthusiasm has been lauded as “…the funniest show on television” by The Boston Globe and given a “Grade: A+” by Newsday. Driven by Larry David’s off-kilter humor, Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Seventh Season finds Larry, playing himself as cantankerously as ever, trying to orchestrate a reunion with the celebrated cast of Seinfeld (which he co-created and co-executive produced), while coping with the aftermath of his separation from Cheryl and his continuing entanglement with the Black family.

Chronicling Larry’s often banal world and blurring the line between reality and fiction, the series is shot with only scene outlines in cinema verité-style, giving the show an uproariously fresh and spontaneous narrative and improvisational quality.  The seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm includes special guest stars Rosie O’Donnell (Nip/Tuck), Sharon Lawrence (Monk), Catherine O’Hara (Temple Grandin from HBO), Meg Ryan (The Women), Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), Christian Slater (The Forgotten) and Sherry Stringfield (ER).  The series is executive produced by Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Gavin Polone, Alex Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer, Tim Gibbons and Erin O’Mally.

Click here to pre-order it.

“It just gets better and better” – Newsday

Entourage®: The Complete Sixth Season

Available on DVD and – For the First Time – on Blu-ray^TM Disc

Exclusively from HBO Home Entertainment^® on June 22, 2010

Includes All Twelve Episodes, Behind-the-Scenes Interviews, Featurettes and

Hilarious Commentaries from Cast and Crew

The boys are back!  The sixth season of the Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Peabody award-winning hit comedy series Entourage® returns to store shelves on June 22, 2010 from HBO Home Entertainment^®, just weeks before its seventh season premiere.   Entourage®: The Complete Sixth Season marks the Blu-ray Disc premiere of the series and, along with the SD version, contains all 12 episodes and bonus behind-the-scenes features and commentaries in a three-disc set.

Called “mystifyingly satisfying” (The Hollywood Reporter), the sixth season of Entourage provides “plenty of fun with the boys” (Chicago Sun-Times).   Vince is on the verge of ending a prolonged career slump thanks to an offer to star in Martin Scorsese’s “Gatsby.”  Now, with the film about to open, he’s a hot property once again, but is it time for the rest of the crew to finally step out of his shadow?

With extensive bonus materials on both the SD and BD versions, fans can further immerse themselves in the hip, Hollywood lifestyle of Vince and the gang.  Features include “Life at the Top,” an exclusive look at the making of season six featuring interviews with cast and crew; “A Day at the Speedway,” a behind-the-scenes feature with cast and crew as they race Ferraris at the Auto Club Speedway; “ONE x ONE PSA,”  directed by Matt Damon; and three hilarious audio commentaries with creator/executive producer Doug Ellin, executive producer Ally Musika, Adrian Grenier (Vince), Kevin Connolly (Eric), Kevin Dillon (Drama), Jerry Ferrara (Turtle), Jeremy Piven (Ari), and Bob Saget.

Additional cast members include Rex Lee as Ari’s harried assistant Lloyd; Debi Mazar as Vince’s publicist Shauna; Carla Gugino as Ari’s nemesis Amanda; Emmanuelle Chriqui as Eric’s ex-girlfriend Sloan; Gary Cole as Ari’s embattled colleague and Beverly D’Angelo as Ari’s partner Babs.  Celebrities appearing as themselves in cameos this season include Matt Damon, LeBron James, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tom Brady, Ed Burns, Zac Efron, 50 Cent, Alexis Dziena,  Steve Nash, Jami Gertz and  David Schwimmer.

Click here to pre-order it.

Here’s the Red Carpet Crash “Lost” post-show show, filmed minutes after Lost S6×07 “Dr. Linus” finished airing. Our panel gives their patented knee-jerk reactions:

• Ben Linus sings a little redemption song
• Michael Emerson punches his Emmy Award nomination ticket
• We finally get confirmation that the Dharma-ites left the Island in the Sideways timeline, and it wasn’t all a dream
• Uncle Rico’s back as Ben’s dad
• As Act I of the final season ends, guess who’s coming to eat mangos?

If you’ve got a take on “Dr. Linus,” leave it in the comments section below.

“By The Numbers” is filmed live at the Angelika Theatre Dallas, Tuesday nights following the conclusion of “Lost.” Why aren’t you there spouting off your opinions?