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They’re not standing around the watercooler, but Cheryl Sadler, Mark Meszoros, Mark Podolski and Nicole Franz are talking about what they’ve been watching, listening to and playing during their free time.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

'Identity Thief' back on top of weekend box office

From The Associated Press:
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Identity Thief," $14 million, ($170,000 international). (Review by The Washington Post's Ann Hornaday: 'Identity Thief' squanders comic pairing of McCarthy, Bateman)
2. "Snitch," $13 million. (Review by The AP's Todd McCarthy: 'Snitch' a well-made yarn about drug world)
3. "Escape From Planet Earth," $11 million.
4. "Safe Haven," $10.6 million, ($1.4 million international). (Review by The AP's Stephen Farber: 'Safe Haven' is routine romantic thriller)
5. "A Good Day to Die Hard," $10 million, ($35.7 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros: Willis, Courtney team for ‘A Good Day to Die Hard,’ but it lands softly)
6. "Dark Skies," $8.9 million.
7. "Silver Linings Playbook," $6.1 million, ($5 million international). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire: Charming 'Silver Linings Playbook' has great performances from Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence)
8. "Warm Bodies," $4.8 million, ($2.5 million international). (Review by The AP's Sheri Linden: Zombie love story 'Warm Bodies' could use more heat)
9. "Side Effects," $3.6 million. (Review by Lemire: Twisty thriller 'Side Effects' recalls Soderbergh's 'sex, lies and videotape')
10. "Beautiful Creatures," $3.4 million, ($4 million international). (Review by Lemire: ‘Beautiful Creatures’ aims to be new ‘Twilight’ by mixing romance with so-so supernatural stuff)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Original Die Hard still the gold standard

Yipee Ki Yay ... Mother Russia?

That's how far the "Die Hard" franchise starring Bruce Willis has fallen. The latest, and fifth installment, "A Good Day to Die Hard" hits the big screen on Valentine's Day, to which I say, "Yipee Ki-yay!!!" No, not really. Above is the tag line for this sequel as John McClane and (a new twist) his son battle the bad guys in Russia. Sounds kind of lame, but I'm a sucker. I'll see the film, even though I'm sure it won't rank anywhere near the original "Die Hard."

Similar to "Jaws," and its four-film franchise that got worse with the release of each sequel, the original film, released in 1988 and celebrating its 25th anniversary, continues to be the gold standard of action movies.

The sequels, while not horrible, don't hold up to John McClane's first adventure in Los Angeles' fictional Nakotomi building. Remember disccussions about action films that followed the original "Die Hard." They went like this:

"What's this one about?"

"It's Die Hard in a ..."

That's high praise, but it's more than that. "Die Hard" was unlike anything moviegoers had seen, especially with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone exploding off the screen in the 80s. Willis' McClane was an ordinary, everyday wise-cracking cop who did what it took to survive and took a big-time beating in the process.

Sure, the stunts were preposterous, but when McClane was pulling broken glass from his bare feet in the film's third act and was fearing the end was near, it pulled the viewer in as to think, "Wow, this guy could really die." He probably would have in real life, but this is a movie after all. John McClane doesn't die.

Let's not forget the supporting actors, either. From heist leader Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) to Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) to Deputy Police Chief Dwane T. Robinson (Paul Gleason) to TV reporter Richard Thornburg (William Atherton), "Die Hard" had it all: Non-stop action, funny one-liners, a plot with a twist and a set of actors suitably cast.

That's what "Die Hard" fans want every time out, but that's not the reality. With each installment, each factor has taken a hit. All the films are enjoyable, and I'm interested how "Good Day" stacks up, but I'm don't have high hopes.

When all else fails, there's always the original "Die Hard."

- Mark Podolski | @MPodo


Monday, February 11, 2013

My (current) favorite Mumford & Sons songs

Photo by The Associated Press
I've really fallen in love with Mumford & Sons' "Babel," so I was happy to see it take home the Album of the Year Grammy Award last night. In the past couple of months, "Babel" and the group's 2009 album "Sigh No More" have been in quite heavy rotation in my iTunes library.

Last night during the Grammy Awards, Mumford & Sons performed "I Will Wait":


That song — and "The Cave" — are what drew me to the group, but my current favorite songs are "Not With Haste" and "Ghosts That We Knew" from "Babel," and "After the Storm" from "Sigh No More." Check those out below:

"The Cave":



"Not With Haste":



"Ghosts That We Knew":



"After the Storm":



(Confused about the big awards from last night? Check out this explainer for the difference between Song, Record and Album of the Year, and also the list of the 2013 Grammy Award winners.)


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Sunday, February 10, 2013

'Identity Thief' wins weekend box office

From The Associated Press:
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Identity Thief," $36.6 million ($230,000 international). (Review by The Washington Post's Ann Hornaday: 'Identity Thief' squanders comic pairing of McCarthy, Bateman)
2. "Warm Bodies," $11.5 million. (Review by The AP's Sheri Linden: Zombie love story 'Warm Bodies' could use more heat)
3. "Side Effects," $10 million. (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire: Twisty thriller 'Side Effects' recalls Soderbergh's 'sex, lies and videotape')
4. "Silver Linings Playbook," $6.9 million. (Review by Lemire: Charming 'Silver Linings Playbook' has great performances from Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence)
5. "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters," $5.8 million ($11.6 million international).
6. "Mama," $4.3 million ($6.1 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros: Luke-warm 'Mama' gets good performances from Chastain and others, ultimately shows us too much)
7. "Zero Dark Thirty," $4 million. (Review by Meszoros: Bin Laden hunted in 'Zero Dark Thirty,' one of year's best films)
8. "Argo," $2.5 million. (Review by Meszoros: With stellar espionage drama 'Argo,' Ben Affleck does it again as director)
9. "Django Unchained," $2.3 million. (Review by Meszoros: With fun, vulgar and violent 'Django Unchained,' Waltz, Tarantino again a terrific tandem)
10. "Bullet to the Head," $2 million. (Review by The AP's Jordan Mintzer: Stallone-powered 'Bullet to the Head' a loud and proud B-movie)

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

'Dream' experience with 'Les Misérables' at PlayhouseSquare


I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted.

-- Fantine in "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Misérabels"


I, too, have dreamed a dream -- that "Les Misérables" ended just into the second act. Look, "Les Miz" probably is my favorite musical -- I've certainly seen it several more times than any other -- but I've come to realize just how little I care about Act II.

And, with Tuesday's opening-night performance of the touring production doing a week of show at PlayhouseSquare's Palace Theatre, I decided to live my dream. I sat relatively riveted during Act I, as the company belted out such classics as "At the End of the Day," Master of the House," "Stars" "One Day More" and, of course, the aforementioned emotional song by Fantine. And because what is perhaps my favorite number in the show, "On My Own," opens the second act, I stayed through intermission.

And then I fled in the night like Jean Valjean.

Shameful, you say? A true fan would never do that?

Maybe, but consider my case:

-- Again, I've seen it, several times over the last 15 years, including the recent film that is up for the best picture Academy Award.

-- I am not writing the review of this production for The News-Herald and www.News-Herald.com, instead leaving that duty in the very capable hands of correspondent Bob Abelman, who does a fantastic job reviewing theater for us.

-- I was a little under the weather and very tired.

By the time the first act ended -- about 9 p.m. -- I was dreaming a dream about my couch. And yet I stayed for "One My Own," which has to say something. And boy was it worth staying for.

I was worried right before the show started when it was announced that one of the understudies for the role of Eponine, Erin Clemons, would be performing the role. I really love that song, and I am often a little disappointed by performers' interpretations of it, but bravo, Ms. Clemons. Well done. She knocked it out of the proverbial park.

In fact, if you're also maybe a little "Les Miz"ed out at this point, this production may still be worth seeing simply for the talent on stage.

With the movie still fresh in my mind, it's hard not to compare some of the performances. While I'll still take the key female performers in the film -- Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Amanda Seyfriend (Cosette) over their respective counterparts, Genevieve LeClerc and Lauren Wiley, the latter pair was just fine. On the other hand, I thought Peter Lockyer made a better Valjean than Hugh Jackman and Andrew Varela a better Javert than Russel Crowe. In a show such as "Les Miz," it all comes down to the singing, and this pair of fellas really delivered, especially Varela. His rendition of Javert's signature number, "Stars," just about blew the roof off the place.

 Andrew Varela performs a fantastic rendition of Javert's "Stars."

And if you've seen the movie but not a stage production, I strongly encourage you to head downtown to see this show. It's interesting to see how the two are similar and different. The key difference, I think, is the way the songs are sung. For the movie, director Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") wanted more dramatic, less sing-songy renditions of the songs. It's best paid off with "I Dreamed a Dream," which alone could earn Hathaway the best supporting actress Oscar. (As lovely as it is, LeClerc's just seemed inconsequential by comparison.) On the other hand, it's nice to hear these songs really SUNG again. Truly, this is the better show for your ears.

 "Master of the House," led by Thénardier (Timothy Gulan, top center) and his wife (Shawna M. Hamic, front right, was a real crowd-pleaser Tuesday night, as the catchy and funny number tends to be.

The eyes are another matter. This scaled-down production of "Les Miz" -- first in Cleveland two years ago -- can't hold a candle to previous, more elaborately staged productions or to the film. The staging is well done, of course, but it just all seems too small for the show. (For years, "Les Miz" was performed on the much larger stage of PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre, and recently the touring production of "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" had to be moved from the Palace to the State because it just wouldn't fit on the former's stage.)

With apologies to folks in set design, though, the performances are what matter most, and they are topnotch.

And apologies to anyone offended by my early exit, and hopefully counted among them are none of my generous hosts from PlayhouseSquare. I promise to stay for all of "Sister Act," a musical opening at the Palace March 5.

UPDATE: Abelman's glowing review is live. Check it out. 

-- Mark Meszoros | Entertainment@News-Herald.com | @nhfeatures

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