Winter Sleep win the Palme d'or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival

It has, and still is a dream of mine to do two things, attend the Oscar ceremony, and go to the Cannes  Film Festival.  This year's festival was filled with female driven, and directed films, with few American films in contention, I was a little out of the loop, but followed the blogs and the perspective on the different films viewed.  The Turkish film Winter Sleep ended up taking the big prize, the Palme d'or.  

Many were predicting Two Days One Night to win the big prize, or at least one of the other prizes, but the film went home empty handed. Two Days One night was directed by the famed Dardenne's, Jean-Pierre, and Luc, and stars Marion Cotillard.  Look out for this to the Foreign Language submission from France.  

Cotillard was a potential expected winner for Best Actress, but that honor went to Julianne Moore, for the David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, The Fly) film Maps to the Stars.  Moore has never won an Oscar, this could be her year.  Timothy Spall won Best Actor for the Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Secrets and Lies) film Mr. Turner.  Cannes is great because it steps outside the normal Hollywood bubble, and pushes people to get to see some of the best films.  See the full list of winners below.

Palme d’or
Winter Sleep, directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Best Director
Bennett Miller for Foxcatcher

Grand Prix
Les Merveilles (Le Meraviglie) directed by Alice Rohrwacher

Jury Prize
Xavier Dolan for Mommy
Jean-Luc Godard for Goodbye to Language

Best Actress
Julianne Moore for Maps to the Stars

Best Actor
Timothy Spall for Mr Turner

Prix du scénario
Andrei Zviaguintsev et Oleg Negin for Leviathan

Camera d’or
Party Girl from Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger, Samuel Theis

Season (Series) Finales the Best and the Worst 2014 (Spoilers Inside)

Best Series Finale 

How I Met Your Mother

This show had people angry tweeting Carter Bays, and Craig Thomas, the creators, as though there were pitchforks they could shove through their phones/computers.  The problem is the fan anger consumed most reports, while many people I know loved the finale.  Life is not exactly a fairytale, and while we invested time in Robin in Barney, a whole season on a wedding, might have been a flaw, but there was clearly only one woman who could tame the Barnacle a daughter.  The last couple of episodes including the finale, gave you closure, it just did not tie it up in a neat little bow, people need to realize like life, television endings can't be perfect, but this one was satisfying!!

Honorable Mentions:

Raising Hope, Community

Biggest Letdown/Mistake

ABC canceling Trophy Wife, FOX canceling Enlisted, and NBC canceling Community

These three networks seem to pushing away from the comedy game, but with twitter events to save shows, and the power of social media, one would think it would have been smarter to invest in these shows rather than put them out to pasture.

Let's start with NBC, I think this is a mistake mainly because of the shows cult status, but I understand, the ratings were a train wreck.  I get this cancelation, to some extent, but come on the network execs know "6 seasons and a movie" from fans, and they should have done a shortened sixth season.  As a fan I am grateful the show had 5 seasons, and that Dan Harmon was back to close things out.

I will lump ABC and FOX together for their treatment of Trophy Wife and Enlisted, two first year shows, both critically acclaimed, how do you help successful shows with smaller fan groups find an audience?  Why you pair them with bigger hits.  I bemoaned ABC for not moving Trophy Wife to after Modern Family, the two fit together.  Enlisted could also have been moved to Tuesday nights, and would have worked solidly with their comedy block at FOX.  I think the way these two shows were treated is further proof that network execs just do not care about comedy anymore, unless its generic.  Look at the shows remaining, there is aren't tons of great comedies to choose from.

Worst Season of Television New Girl 

I gave up on New Girl a a few episodes after the Super Bowl, right before Nick and Jess broke up.  While I can't speak to the show's quality or season finale, I can say the show that had the best season finale last year, slowly became a show I wanted to miss week after week.  I get the opposites attract thing, but Jess and Nick did not make much sense, things seemed cluttered, and can they give Winston something funny to do that does not involve him being creepy with cats, or write the character off, and bring back Damon Wayans Jr. full time.

Best Season Finale (Comedy)

Parks and Recreation

Throughout most of this season there was a lot happening, Leslie getting re-called, Ann and Chris moving away, Leslie getting pregnant, and getting a dream job offered to her, the shows finale pushed things forward, and showed the brilliance of what many fans knew was coming, the final lap.  This show is the most under appreciated one out there.

Best Season Finale (Drama)

Last year this was mildly trick, but the winner was Revenger for a second year, and while Revenge had a great season finale this year, it did not make the cut, there are however three shows that did.

Arrow-Wow, just wow.  Hey DC if your movies could be this good you would be in excellent shape to challenge Marvel.  This show knows how to bring it home, and the second season was a great season of television, the finale's action mixed with emotion had me on the edge of my seat.

The Good Wife-Will's death has caused a lot of change in both the characters personal and professional lives.  The Good Wife just had the best season of network television in years and the finale dropped a lot on our laps, from Alicia possibly running for States Attorney, to Diane joining Florrick/Agos, and more.  The show knows how to ramp up.

Hannibal-Just watched this last night and I had a nightmare or two, this show is haunting.  Thankfully NBC renewed this for a third season, because the "Red Dinner" left a lot of unanswered questions.  NBC has a winner on their hands, and if you do not watch Hannibal, start!

X-Men Days of Future Past has Earned the Title "Must-See Film of the Year." Bryan Singer's Adept Knowledge of the Genre, and these Characters Make this a Much Deeper, and Satisfying Film

X-Men: Days of Future Past (4 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by: Bryan Singer (X-2: X-Men United, The Usual Suspects

Written by: Simon Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence, and Peter Dinklage

Imagine what X-Men: The Last Stand would have looked like 8 year ago, in 2006 if Bryan Singer, and Simon Kinberg had worked together.  Once you have seen X-Men: Days of Future Past you will be kicking Singer for taking Superman Returns, but this film more than makes up for, and maybe even corrects some of the mistakes of Last Stand.

The film starts in the Future, mutant and human kind have been hunted and tormented by the future versions of the Sentinels.  Few X-Men stand, but the ones that do must fight their lives as the Sentinels continue to hunt them down.  Kitty Pride played with stronger conviction than ever by Ellen Page has the ability to create allusions, which transport mutant Bishop back in time to warn the mutants of these attacks.  Along with the Professor X, Magneto, and Wolverine some of team plot for someone to go back in time to change the past.  Based on Wolverine's healing ability, he soon becomes the obvious candidate.

Wolverine's mind is transplanted into his body in 1973, a little over ten years after the events from X-Men: First Class.  The younger Professor Xavier (McAvoy) is in a much darker place, her along with Hank McCoy or Beast (Hoult) still live in the mansion but the rest of the group have disbanded, or been drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Xavier and McCoy have been taking a serum to help control their powers, and limit the problems they have experience with their mutation.  Logan must connect these two with Mystique and Mageneto in order to prevent the catastrophic events of the future.

Bryan Singer has always been adept at bringing these characters to life.  Singer was at the forefront of super movie bonanza with X-Men back in 2000.  Most critiqued the first film, but Singer had a tricky task at hand with that film; he was tasked with being the first person to adapt a Marvel comic to live action film, not an easy task.  If you look back for the time period, and for what the film was its not bad, minus Storm's line about what happens to a toad when its struck by lightening, fun fact Joss Whedon wrote that line, learned that in Entertainment Weekly.  Singer stepped up his game, with X-2 (2003) the story was deep, the action was great, but then he had to step away.

With Singer back as director the franchise feels whole again, Matthew Vaughn did a fantastic job with First Class, in fact he brought the series back to life, but Singer is going to make these continue their relevance, while making a strong sense of competition for other comic franchise films.  Singer knows how to dive deep into this comic book cannon; he is adept pushing forward the great emotional depth of story and character, mixed with the humor to balance the tone perfectly.  Singer use of the great action sequences with these Sentinels of the future, are some of the most emotional and captivating i have seen on the screen.  Without giving too much away, its Singer's direction, which glues the film together; he creates the perfect tone, and the cast carries out his symphonic orchestrations perfectly.

Blending the cast of the original X-Men films, with the new cast, seemed like a brilliant but daunting task.  The good news is that film is carried by some of the most charismatic actors and actresses working today: Jackman, McAvoy, Fassbender, and Lawrence.  These four are at the heart of the story, and I would watch paint a house, well Jackman should be shirtless of course.  Along with these four you have Peter Dinklage, as a complex man trying to fight the good fight for humans, and he is just terrific.  Then you have old and new cast members like Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Ellen Page, Omar Sy, and Evan Peters.  I could go on and on about this talented cast, they are a fantastic ensemble, and make each moment count.

Days of Future Past, challenges what it means to fight for a cause, and how one ripple, one moment can drastically alter the future for better or for worse.  X-2 and First Class were great films because they got at the deeper meaning of what it means to be a mutant.  Future Past takes this a whole new level, dealing with the pyschology of the evolution of mutant powers, what path you will or should take on your journey, and then in turn, all mixed with some great characters, and terrific action.  Many listed this as one of their "must-see" films of the year, and they were right.  

The Problematic Nature of The Voice

What's going on with Adam's hair, isn't Christina bitchy, what's going on with that tattoo on Cee-Lo's head?  These tend to be the thoughts most people discuss when they talk about The Voice.  While The Voice is not alone in this when it comes to singing competitions, American Idol is guilty as well, the crutch of The Voice is meant to focus on the talent, and vocal abilities of the contestants.  How are these contestants meant to succeed after their career on the show, when these judges who turn around in their swivel chairs still pull all the focus.

Let's take a season by season look at what happens to the contestants who have won show: 

Season 1 Winner

Javier Colon released an album entitled Come Through for You on Universal Public Records in 2011.  Colon parted from the label in June of 2012 statin the following "I went into it with high hopes, as I believe everyone did. But when you pour your heart and soul into a new album that you think is really great, and your label who is supposed to support, market and promote your music does neither, it's really hard not to be upset. The truth is, we are all better off going our separate ways." Colon continues singing and looking for "a more mutually beneficial relationship".

Season 2 Winner 

Jermaine Paul winning song "I Believe I Can Fly" from The Voice landed at number 83 on the billboard, his follow-up single with coach Blake Shelton went nowhere.  There is little other information out there on Paul.

Season 3 Winner

Cassadee Pope seems to have done the best, especially since her niche market has been Country music. Pope signed to Republic Nashville, and her debut single "Wasting All These Tears" reached 37 on the Billboard Charts, and number 5 on the Country Charts, still never heard it.  Pope has done decent enough but not outside of Country music, and not enough be deemed successful.

Season 4 Winner

Danielle Bradbery has certainly opened for some opened up for some major tours, Brad Paisley, and Hunter Hayes; she has also performed at the Grand Ole Opry, another country maven who has a small niche market and will reach smaller audiences, but never cross over to mainstream.

Season 5 Winner

Tessanne Chin, has seemed to do a lot of performances all over the place; she is of Caribbean decent and has performed in Kingston at a free concert, along with concerts all over the region.  Chin performed at The Rose Bowl, the White House, and will be headlining the Voice tour this summer; she will also be releasing her first album this summer through Republic Records.

I do not mean, nor do I intend to slam any of the contestants who have won this show.  Each of them have worked hard, and have a tremendous amount of talent.  I respect them, and their vocal abilities.  The problem is the egotistical way in which these judges, push themselves more than the talent who win the show.  Sure Blake Shelton has helped his country mavens, that has happened, but in reality who do you remember at the end of the day, the judges.

While I am being critical of The Voice, the same problem exists with American Idol today, although they have toned that down with their judges this year, last year's spectacle with Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey did nothing to save the ratings.   Other competitions never pretend to make people pretends to churn out talent more.  While these winners have more success than they would have without the series, I can't help but that The Voice, and American Idol promise more than they pay out.  They glorify the concept of "celebrity" and don't give the contestants/winners what they deserve.

Comic Book Movie Fatigue seen through the Lens of the Spider-Man films

In May 2002, the first Spider-Man series from SONY opened to an impressive114 million for its opening weekend.  The first Spider-Man ended up grossing 403 million domestic, and 418 million in foreign markets. 12 years later the trajectory of this franchise, and the reboot, have put the once most profitable super hero towards to lower end of the spectrum for super hero films.  Does this signal fatigue in a genre or a studio that needs to take stock in the web-slinger.

Let's take a look at the raw data first:

Film	Opening Weekend	Domestic Gross	Foreign Gross
Spider-Man	114, million	403.7 million	418 million
Spider-Man 2	88 million	373.5 million	410 million
Spider-Man 3	151.1 million	336.5 million	554.3 million
The Amazing Spider-Man	62 million	262 million	490 million
The Amazing Spider-Man 2	91 million	172 million (To date 5/18)	461 million (To date 5/18)

Many articles have been written about "comic book movie fatigue" but numerous films the Dark Knight franchise was a success, and any film associated with Marvel's The Avengers has only gotten a bump in their sequels.  DC's Man of of Steel performed solidly, but DC, and Warner Brothers is also hoping to get more traction by including Batman, and Wonder Woman in the sequel, with hope of build up to a Justice League film.  Spider-Man is the perfect example of a successful film franchise turned downward.  You can take each series one at a time, or look at them together.  I think doing both matters.

Let's look at the Sam Raimi directed trilogy first.  Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man installment was the highest grossing Spider-Man film domestic, meanwhile the third (and worst) has the dubious honor of having the highest opening weekend, foreign gross, and is the highest grossing of any Spider-Man film.  While Spider-Man 3 has multiple "bests" for the series and its reboot, the opening weekend gross is 45 percent of entire domestic gross, not exactly a crowning jewel, hence no fourth film from Raimi.

If you look at the reboot from Marc Webb, the first film performed adequately, considering it had the lowest opening weekend of any Spider-Man film, 62 million.  The sequel has earned almost 30 million more, but may barely gross 200 million.  In its second and third weekends The Amazing Spider-Man 2 lost about 60 percent (weekend 2), and 50 percent (weekend) based on this trajectory the film may only gross 8 million next weekend, putting it at 180 million, and probably 5 million throughout the week week prior, 185 million.  This will have the poorest box domestic box office for any film in either franchise.

One hard truth of the matter is the importance of the foreign markets, and the role they play in helping boost a franchise.  Let's move away from Spider-Man for a minute and move to the Man of Steel.  Return of Superman and Man of Steel both grossed around the domestically with inflation, in fact if you factor inflation into the mix Return of Superman may come out the winner.  Man of Steel released last year made 377 million in foreign markets, while Return of Superman made 191 in foreign markets. The proof is in the pudding that foreign box office numbers help save films.

On one hand the Spider-Man name is "safe" all five films have performed on equal footing in foreign markets.  One the other hand, SONY has a few things to worry about, Spider-Man is not part of "brand."  The franchise is trying to brand their villains, but can outsourcing films centered around villains work.   I am speaking about SONY's upcoming plans for a Sinister Six film or films potentially.  While I am not sure I want Marvel and Disney to have/own everything.  I think this is the point where we see that this "fatigue" is not entirely real, but more about charting out a path.

Kevin P. Sullivan has it right in his article Amazing Spider-Man: How to Save the Series, while SONY wants to compete, maybe "taking a breath" is a good idea.  Planing spin-offs of a film that has increasingly dropped at the domestic box office, and has not lit foreign markets on fire is risky.  I liked Amazing Spider-Man 2, flaws and all, I think this reboot is much better than the original series.  I know I know Spider-Man 2, was deep, and a good film, but Tobey Maguire was not Peter Parker, and that was not Doc Octopus, sorry.

Spider-Man is a great character and SONY either needs to not put the cart before the horse or figure while using the things that they have, the talented Andrew Garfield, to their advantage.  Comic book movie fatigue has not set in as most think its just that SONY is trying to play this game alone, with no other connections, and today's day in and age film viewers are savvy, hell Amazing Spider-Man 2 did not even have their own ending credits scene, they only showed a clip from the upcoming X-Men film, talk about dumb.  Those end credits scenes are like cat nip to comic movie goers, and removing that from the process, means you may have nothing solid enough planned.  I hope to see Spider-Man continue to show up on my screen, but I challenge SONY to think deeper about this franchise.

CBS Announces their Fall 2014-215 with a Yawn, more Spin-Offs for NCIS and CSI, can the network get more Boring?

I guess I am asking the question rhetorically, but the "most watched" broadcast network, needs to take some risks, but this year is not that year.  NCIS is getting a new spin-off in New Orleans, which will air on Tuesdays at 9 PM, bumping to Monday at 10 pm.  CSI's franchise looked DOA, with the cancellation of NY, and Miami, but there is a new series focusing on Cyber crime, more ways to scare your grandmother.

Monday night comedy is being trimmed, but The Big Bang Theory will start out on Monday nights during Football season (the fall).  2 Broke Girls will replace it in 2015.  Mom will follow it at 8:30 which is VERY smart.

CBS is showing their true colors, with 2 new comedies, and six new dramas, it appears they are retreating from these, and by retreating I mean going into the past as well because one of those comedies is the mid-season comedy The Odd Couple.  

If I could, and I did I would yawn over, and over again over this schedule.  I guess I am not their demographic either way.  Well these upfronts could not have ended in a less exciting way.

CBS Fall 2014-2015 Schedule
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8 PM – The Big Bang Theory/2 Broke Girls
8:30 PM – Mom
9 PM – SCORPION
10 PM – NCIS: Los Angeles

TUESDAY
8 PM – NCIS
9 PM – NCIS: NEW ORLEANS
10 PM – Person Of Interest

WEDNESDAY
8 PM – Survivor
9 PM – Criminal Minds
10 PM – STALKER

THURSDAY
8-11 PM ET – NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Sept 11-Oct 23)
Beginning Oct 30:
8 PM – The Big Bang Theory
8:30 PM – The Millers
9 PM – Two And A Half Men
9:30 PM – THE MCCARTHYS
10 PM – Elementary

FRIDAY
8 PM – The Amazing Race
9 PM – Hawaii Five-0
10 PM – Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8 PM – Crimetime Saturday
9:00 PM – Crimetime Saturday
10 PM – 48 Hours

SUNDAY
7 PM – 60 Minutes
8 PM – MADAM SECRETARY
9 PM – The Good Wife
10 PM – CSI/CSI: CYBER

2014-15 New Series Descriptions

New Fall Dramas

MADAM SECRETARY – MADAM SECRETARY stars Téa Leoni as Elizabeth McCord, the shrewd, determined, newly appointed Secretary of State who drives international diplomacy, battles office politics and circumvents protocol as she negotiates global and domestic issues, both at the White House and at home. A college professor and a brilliant former CIA analyst who left for ethical reasons, Elizabeth returns to public life at the request of the President following the suspicious death of her predecessor. The President values her apolitical leanings, her deep knowledge of the Middle East, her flair for languages and her ability to not just think outside the box, but to not even acknowledge there is a box. McCord’s team includes her Chief of Staff Nadine Tolliver (Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth), speechwriter Matt Mahoney (Geoffrey Arend), press coordinator Daisy Grant (Patina Miller) and her charming assistant, Blake Moran (Erich Bergen). As McCord debates third world problems and finesses foreign dignitaries at work, that’s just a warm-up for when she goes home to her supportive husband Henry (Tim Daly) and their two bright children (Katherine Herzer and Evan Roe), where “politics” and “compromise” take on new meaning. MADAM SECRETARY is a CBS Television Studios production, in association with Revelations Entertainment. Barbara Hall (“Judging Amy”) is an executive producer with Revelations’ Lori McCreary and Academy and Golden Globe Award winner Morgan Freeman, and David Semel. The pilot was directed by David Semel.

NCIS: NEW ORLEANS – NCIS: NEW ORLEANS is a drama about the local field office that investigates criminal cases affecting military personnel in the Big Easy, a city known for its music, entertainment and decadence. Leading the team is Special Agent Dwayne Pride (Golden Globe Award winner Scott Bakula), aka “King,” a native of NOLA who is driven by his need to do what is right. Working with Pride is Special Agent Christopher LaSalle (Lucas Black), who plays hard but works harder; and Special Agent Meredith “Merri” Brody (Zoe McLellan), a charismatic and tough interrogator who transferred from the Great Lakes office in search of a fresh start. Supporting them is coroner Dr. Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder), who is as eccentric as she is smart. This colorful city that harbors a dark side is a magnet for service personnel on leave, and when overindulgence is followed by trouble, Pride’s team is at its best. Gary Glasberg (“NCIS”), Mark Harmon (“NCIS”) and Jeffrey Lieber are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

SCORPION – SCORPION, inspired by a true story, is a high-octane drama about eccentric genius Walter O’Brien (Elyes Gabel) and his team of brilliant misfits who comprise the last line of defense against complex, high-tech threats of the modern age. As Homeland Security’s new think tank, O’Brien’s “Scorpion” team includes Toby Curtis (Eddie Kaye Thomas), an expert behaviorist who can read anyone; Happy Quinn (Jadyn Wong), a mechanical prodigy; and Sylvester Dodd (Ari Stidham), a statistics guru. Pooling their extensive technological knowledge to solve mind-boggling predicaments amazes federal agent Cabe Gallo (Robert Patrick), who shares a harrowing history with O’Brien. However, while this socially awkward group is comfortable with each other’s humor and quirks, life outside their circle confounds them, so they rely on Paige Dineen (Katharine McPhee), who has a young, gifted son, to translate the world for them. At last, these nerdy masterminds have found the perfect job: a place where they can apply their exceptional brainpower to solve the nation’s crises, while also helping each other learn how to fit in. Nick Santora, Emmy Award winner Nicholas Wootton, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Heather Kadin, Walter O’Brien, Scooter Braun and Justin Lin are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Justin Lin (“The Fast and the Furious”) directed the pilot.

STALKER – STALKER stars Maggie Q and Golden Globe Award winner Dylan McDermott in a psychological thriller about detectives who investigate stalking incidents – including voyeurism, cyber harassment and romantic fixation – for the Threat Assessment Unit of the LAPD. Det. Jack Larsen (McDermott) is a recent transfer to the Unit from New York City’s homicide division, whose confidence, strong personality and questionable behavior has landed him in trouble before – but whose past behavior may also prove valuable in his new job. His boss, Lt. Beth Davis (Maggie Q), is strong, focused and an expert in the field, driven by her traumatic personal experience as a victim. With the rest of their team, young but eager Det. Ben Caldwell (Victor Rasuk) and deceptively smart Det. Janice Lawrence (Mariana Klaveno), Larsen and Davis assess the threat level of cases and respond before the stalking and intimidation spirals out of control, all while trying to keep their personal obsessions at bay. Kevin Williamson (“Scream”) is the executive producer for Warner Bros. Television.

New Fall Comedy

THE MCCARTHYS – THE McCARTHYS is a multi-camera comedy about a loud, sports-crazed Boston family whose somewhat athletically challenged son, Ronny (Tyler Ritter), is chosen by his father to be his assistant high school basketball coach, much to the surprise of his more qualified siblings. Ronny wants nothing more than to move away, join the singles scene and find a partner. His distraught mother, Marjorie (Laurie Metcalf), is not upset that her favorite son is gay, but that he wants to leave Boston and his family. Ronny’s plans change, however, when his politically incorrect and outspoken father, Arthur (Jack McGee), stuns everyone with his choice for an assistant. Touched by his father’s offer, Ronny embarks on a completely different future – and he can be sure that his loving, tight-knit family is going to have a very vocal opinion about it. Jimmy Dunn, Joey McIntyre and Kelen Coleman also star. Brian Gallivan, Mike Sikowitz, Will Gluck, Andy Ackerman and Richie Schwartz are the executive producers for Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios. Emmy Award winner Andy Ackerman directed the pilot.

New Midseason Dramas

BATTLE CREEK – BATTLE CREEK stars Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters in a drama about two mismatched law enforcement officers whose polar opposite views of the world and crime-solving breed frustration, disdain, humor and possibly a grudging respect as they team together to clean up the hardscrabble streets of Battle Creek, Mich. Det. Russ Agnew (Dean Winters), a good but gruff, hard-boiled detective, has his world upended when strikingly handsome, charismatic Special Agent Milton Chamberlain (Josh Duhamel) opens an FBI field office at the police station and chooses Russ to be his partner. Milt’s polished sophistication and access to unlimited state-of-the-art equipment is impressive to his new co-workers in the absurdly underfunded department. As Russ and Milt work long hours together in the economically distressed city of Battle Creek, the question is: will it be Milt’s charm and endless supply of high-end resources or Russ’s old-fashioned cynicism, guile and deception that prove to be the keys to catching the bad guys in his beloved hometown? Janet McTeer, Kal Penn, Edward Fordham and Aubrey Dollar also star. Emmy Award winners Vince Gilligan and David Shore as well as Mark Johnson and Bryan Singer are the executive producers for Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios.

CSI: CYBER – CSI: CYBER stars Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette in a drama inspired by the advanced technological work of real-life CyberPsychologist Mary Aiken. Special Agent Avery Ryan (Arquette) heads the Cyber Crime Division of the FBI, a unit at the forefront of solving illegal activities that start in the mind, live online, and play out in the real world. She also knows firsthand how today’s technology allows people to hide in the shadows of the Internet and commit serious crimes of global proportion. While other agents search for criminals in dark homes and alleys, Ryan searches the “dark net,” a place deep in the bowels of the Web where criminals are anonymous, money is untraceable and where everything is for sale with just a keystroke. Emmy Award winner Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn, Anthony Zuiker, and Emmy Award winners Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

New Midseason Comedy

THE ODD COUPLE – THE ODD COUPLE stars Matthew Perry as endearing slob Oscar Madison and Thomas Lennon as uptight neat freak Felix Unger, two former college buddies who become unlikely roommates after the demise of their marriages. It’s not long after Oscar lets Felix move in that Oscar fears he’s made a monumental mistake. However, despite how exasperated they make each other, these mismatched friends agree they can help each other move on from their divorces and somehow make this crazy living arrangement work. Wendell Pierce and Lindsay Sloane also star. Matthew Perry, Emmy Award winner Joe Keenan, Bob Daily, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

The Normal Heart is an Emotional Journey Which Helps you Understand the Depth of Love, through the trying times of HIV-AIDS Outbreak

The Normal Heart

Directed by: Ryan Murphy (Running with Scissors, Glee)

Written by: Larry Kramer 

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Taylor Kitsch, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, and Julia Roberts 

Larry Kramer wrote the play The Normal Heart, which premiered off-Broadway in 1985, and was revived in 2011.  The 2011 play was a huge success at the Tony Awards, winning Best Revival of Play.  Kramer wrote this largely autobiographical play about his own experiences about the HIV-AIDS crisis between 1981 and 1983.

The Normal Heart centers around Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo), a Jewish-American gay rights activist.  While away with his group of friends at Fire Island one of the young men played by Jonathan Groff starts to feel sick.  After Craig (Groff) starts to show signs of what is referred to as "gay cancer" Ned an activist himself starts to see this disease is becoming a problem with other gay men.

Ned ends up up going to the Dr. Emma Brookner (Julia Roberts) who urges Ned that the only way he can escape the disease is to never have any sexual contact with a man.  Ned and brings Emma to his friends, encouraging them to take up the cause and fight to help gay men who are starting to die quicker and quicker because of this disease.  

Ned represents real life activist Larry Kramer, and Ruffalo does a brilliant job as the obnoxious loud mouth who is not afraid to slam open the closet door, and shine a light on political aspects of the problems going on within the gay community.  While Ned pushes through the red tape, he attempts to find Felix Turner (Matt Bomer) at the New York Times who could be an ally, and fight for their cause in the press.  The problem is that Felix just does not have the desire to be an activist like most of Ned's friends.  In order to help fight the cause Ned does get to open the Gay Men's Health Alliance with Bruce Niles (Taylor Kitsch), Tommy Boatwright (Jim Parsons), and Mickey Marcus (Joe Mantello).

Larry Kramer obviously had to take the script for the stage, and work with director Ryan Murphy to expand the concept of the play.  While I never did get to see the play, the film's expansion into this television movie work on many levels.  Kramers expands the exploration and beginning of what the world of Fire Island looks and feels like, and while plays have speeches, which can have a harder time translating to film, Kramer along with Murphy's direction makes each moment feel genuine, and heartfelt.

At the center of this film is heart, for Kramer this is obviously personal; he has translated this story to the stage, and now to film.  Kramer does a great job getting you to connect with each and every one of these people, their stories, backgrounds help define these characters into deep levels.  As stated above Kramer is Ned, and while most people might find a real life Ned obnoxious, Ruffalo plays this character to perfection.  With every outburst, or tear you feel connected to Ned, and Ruffalo never lets you lose hope in him, and the fight he has assumed.

While I am giving a lot of credit to the creative genius behind this story Larry Kramer, which he deserves, Ryan Murphy's direction makes this story sing, no pun intended Glee fans.  Over the years Murphy's direction in television and film have grown, and this is easily his best work.  The proof is in the strength of every performance on screen.  Murphy gives you heartbreak, tears, love, and even some moments of joy and giggle or two.  You have to admire his direction within this film, and the life he gives to this film version of the play.  Murphy direction along with cinematographer Daniel Moder (yes Julia Robert's husband) give the perfect lens to make every moment feel as though you are in the early 1980s.  

Without the great direction, and source material this film would of course be a shell, but the performances also help make this material just as strong.  My personal favorite performance outside of Ruffalo was Matt Bomer who I fell for on Guding Light in looks and acting ability.  Bomer's Felix is the heart behind Ned, and their story is beautiful.  You will not be able to watch their love story without a tear or several falling from your face.  Julia Roberts is also amazing as Emma; she is hard as stone, but  eventually loses it as she rallies to get people to pay attention to finding a cure or researching this disease.  Kitsch, and Parsons are also impressive they add depth and heart to this story.  Kitsch is closeted, but has love and wants to fight hard for this cause.  Parsons is love able, and scarred, you see it in his eyes.

At the end of the day, The Normal Heart is about fighting against the machine, rallying to a cause, but more so about love. Kramer's tale is about understanding that love is the same for everyone, and no group should be forced into extinction because they love someone of the same sex.   You can see this with the way Ned connects with his brother, his friends, and Felix.   The Normal Heart also shows the way the system treated gay men because of this disease, there is something dark in a system which forces people into fearing coming out of the closet, or prevents them from standing up for them self. Yet each interaction, each moment makes you understand the depth of love, and of course the heart.