BAM’s Blog fifth annual Valentine’s Day DVD list
"Stardust"
Way back on Feb. 14, 2008, I posted my very first entry on the brand-new BAM’s Blog: a list of my favorite films appropriate for Valentine’s Day viewing.
The list was conveniently subdivided into different categories so that lovebirds of every feather could find the ideal cinematic treat for Valentine’s Day.
Some traditions are worth keeping, so here is the 2012 edition of BAM’s Blog recommended Valentine’s Day movies. It’s been updated to include a few new films that I’m loving on this day of devotion. As an added bonus, I previewed the list Monday in the Life section of The Oklahoman, on NewsOK and here on the blog; here is the full, official list.
So for this middle-of-the-week Valentine’s Day, curl up with your valentine and a good DVD, Blu-ray or Netflix stream:
"The Philadelphia Story"
Romantic comedies
The films in this category must be both uproariously funny and aw-inspiringly romantic. For all the rom-coms coming out of Hollywood, it’s telling that this part of the list gets updated the least:
“It Happened One Night” (1934): An out-of-work reporter (Clark Gable) and rebellious heiress (Claudette Colbert) take a bumpy road trip in Frank Capra’s Oscar-winner.
“The Philadelphia Story” (1940): Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant get entangled in a love pentagon in this classic screwball comedy, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies.
“North to Alaska” (1960): For those fans of John Wayne or a good Western, check out this romantic screwball story about a pair of pals, Sam (Wayne) and George (Stewart Granger), who strike gold in Alaska. When Sam returns to Seattle to fetch back George’s French fiance, he finds she has married another. Determined to head off his buddy’s broken heart, Sam recruits a gorgeous French prostitute named Angel (Capucine) to become George’s new lady-love. Soon, Sam, George and George’s teenage brother Billy (Fabian) are all vying for Angel’s affections.
“When Harry Met Sally” (1989): Hilarity ensues as Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) move from loathing to friendship to love.
“While You Were Sleeping” (1995): Lucy (Sandra Bullock) forms a crush on a handsome man (Peter Gallagher), saves his life, is mistaken for his fiancee and falls for his charming brother (Bill Pullman).
“Bridget Jones’s Diary”(2001): Brit Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) tries to improve her life and find real love in this chick flick.
"Jane Eyre"
Happily ever after
Fairy tales and other fantasies appear here; in this category, the path to true love may be perilous, but love eventually wins the day:
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961): True love develops between professional escort Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) and kept man Paul “Fred” Varjak (George Peppard) in the iconic film from the late, great director Blake Edwards, a Tulsa native.
“Ladyhawke” (1985): A knight (Rutger Hauer) and his lady fair (Michelle Pfeiffer) must break the curse set on them by an evil bishop (John Wood). Just try to ignore the dated ’80s soundtrack from The Alan Parsons Project collaborator Andrew Powell. (I’m just sure music in the 12th century didn’t use quite so many synthesizers.)
“Pretty Woman” (1990): The movie that elevated Julia Roberts to superstardom features the redhead as a down-on-her-luck prostitute who is hired by a rich, disconnected businessman (Richard Gere) as his escort for various business and social functions. Naturally, they fall in love and make each other better people and all that.
“Serendipity” (2001): Suspend your disbelief and enjoy Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara’s (Kate Beckinsale) efforts to find one another after their magical first meeting. The film recently was released on Blu-ray, for extra lovely viewing.
“Stardust” (2007): Neil Gaiman’s fairy tale for grown-ups has all the necessary ingredients: an enchanted kingdom, wicked villains and, of course, a happy ending.
“Enchanted” (2007): An evil queen’s (Susan Sarandon) spell sends a wide-eyed animated fairytale princess (Amy Adams) to the mean streets of real-life New York, where she charms everyone, including a cynical single dad/divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey).
“Letters to Juliet” (2010): An American girl (Amanda Seyfried) vacationing in Italy finds and answers a 50-year-old letter to Juliet. In the process of helping the writer (Vanessa Redgrave) find her long-lost true love, the young American gets her own chance at real romance.
“The Tempest” (2010): Many universal themes are involved in what is widely considered one of Shakespeare’s last and best plays, including betrayal, revenge, forgiveness, and yes, love. Director Julie Taymor’s adaptation features a gender switch in the main role of the wizard Prospero, with Dame Helen Mirren making the magic as Prospera. But the love story between Prospera’s innocent daughter Miranda (Felicity Jones) and the courtly Prince Ferdinand (Reeve Carney) remains unchanged and romantic as ever.
“Jane Eyre” (2011): Director Cary Fukunaga (“Sin Nombre”) and his talented young cast, including Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender and Jamie Bell, bring fresh energy to the often-adapted gothic tale. Every aspect of the narrative is heightened: The mystery crackles with suspense, the romance smolders with sensuality, and the coming-of-age story flares with intensity.
"(500) Days of Summer"
Bittersweet treats
If you need or enjoy a good weep, one of these films just might be for you. Some of the endings are kind of happy, others are a bit tragic, but love is what makes the world go ‘round in these tales:
“Casablanca” (1942): Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman give up their passionate love affair to save the world from the Nazis. Sigh. A classic.
“Roman Holiday” (1953): I don’t think you can have a romantic DVD list with too much Audrey Hepburn, so I’m also recommending this classic gem starring the elfin actress as a sheltered and restless princess who gives her handlers the slip and finds love and adventure with an American journalist, played by the dashing Gregory Peck. In the end, they can never be together, but they’ll always have Rome.
“Like Water for Chocolate” (1992): Tita (Lumi Cavazos) and Pedro (Marco Leonardi) are desperately in love, but tradition prohibits Tita, the youngest daughter in her family, from marrying, instead condemning her to a lifetime of caring for her tyrannical mother (Regina Torne). The Mexican movie was nominated for a 1993 Golden Globe for best foreign language film.
“Titanic” (1997): Writer-director James Cameron’s blockbuster romance/disaster about a poor young artist named Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is struggling to get home to America and a beautiful socialite named Rose (Kate Winslet) who is being forced to marry to solve her family’s financial issues and how they fall in love just before their grand ship hits an iceberg will get an appropriately epic 3D and IMAX theatrical re-release on April 4. But if you can’t wait to let your heart go on the adventure, you can always set sail a little early in the privacy of your own home.
“Once” (2007): A Dublin, Ireland, street musician (Glen Hansard) and talented Eastern European immigrant (Marketa Irglova) make beautiful music together, but she has a husband and he has a girlfriend. Will they become a duet or go their separate ways? The movie, which won a best original song Oscar for the gorgeous theme “Falling Slowly,” has been adapted for the stage and is set to debut soon on Broadway.
“Becoming Jane” (2007): Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) falls in love with roguish Irishman Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) in this speculative romance. Austen never married, so that’s a hint that all will not go well.
“(500) Days of Summer” (2009): In his feature film debut, Marc Webb, director of the upcoming reboot “The Amazing Super-Man,” cast off the wretched conventions of modern- day romantic comedies, telling an emotionally resonant love story with a nonlinear plot line, amazing soundtrack and strong performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
“Up” (2009): The Oscar-winning computer-animated tale by the Pixar geniuses has zany talking dogs, a crazy colorful flightless bird and the vivid spectacle of a house sent aloft by millions of balloons. But the heart of the poignant story is a grieving widower (voice of Ed Asner) making the trip he and his late wife planned but never got around to taking. And it’s a more stalwart soul than I who can make it through the montage of Carl and Ellie’s life without crying.
"Gnomeo & Juliet"
Family-friendly fare
So what if you have a couple of tykes snuggled between you and your sweetie on the couch? You can still enjoy a romantic movie that’s appropriate for the whole clan:
Any of the Disney “princess” movies: The ones with my favorite heroines include “Mulan,” “Aladdin” and “Tangled,” along with “Beauty and the Beast,” which is still showing in 3-D in some movie theaters.
“The Princess Bride” (1987): Westley (Cary Elwes) refuses to let pirates, a prince or even death come between him and his Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright).
“Shrek” (2001) and “Shrek 2” (2004): Grumpy ogre Shrek (voice of Mike Myers) and his Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) discover that their love isn’t based on society’s rules of beauty. And that’s OK.
“WALL-E” (2008): A lonely trash-compacting robot finds a hand to hold with a sleek probe droid in another of Pixar’s winners for best animated film.
“Gnomeo & Juliet”(2011): I’m not one to classify movies as guilty pleasures; I firmly believe different films have different purposes and there’s no point in feeling guilty if a stupid comedy makes you chuckle or a big-budget actioner gets your pulse pounding. But I feel a bit sheepish in admitting that I was utterly charmed by Disney’s transformation of The Bard’s greatest tragedy into a zanily animated, happily-ever-after comedy about a pair of garden gnomes (voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt) who fall in love despite the feud between their respective color-coded families of backyard knick-knacks. Watch it with your kids and be prepared to giggle a lot and have Elton John songs stuck in your head for days.
"The Terminator"
Romance and weapons
Say you enjoy your romance mixed with plenty of action, maybe even some cinematic gunplay. Consider yourself locked and loaded with these films:
“The Terminator” (1984): Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) travels across time to save Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) from the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). He travels across time for her! Now that’s romantic.
“True Lies” (1994): A mild-mannered wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) gets drawn into the action and danger when she discovers that her seemingly boring husband (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is actually an elite government spy.
“Desperado” (1995): It’s got Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek falling in love between all the flying bullets, so this actioner offers everyone someone quite nice to look at.
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005): Shawnee-born Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have smokin’ chemistry as assassins on opposite sides.
“300” (2006): Sure, most of this pumped-up Greek legend is focused on big battle sequences and impressive pectorals, but King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) make one hot power couple.
“Thor” (2011): Chris Hemsworth quite ably supplies the brawn as the Norse god cast down to Earth, but Oscar winner Natalie Portman gets to be the brains as relentlessly curious and lovably disorganized astrophysicist Jane Foster in the movie version of the Marvel Comic.
“Drive” (2011): Director Nicolas Winding Refn’s sun- and blood-soaked slice of Los Angeles neo-noir isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you can handle some Tarantino-level outbursts of violence, you can marvel at the crackling chemistry between Ryan Gosling as the enigmatic Hollywood stunt driver/getaway wheelman and Carey Mulligan as the lovely, vulnerable, single-mom neighbor who opens his heart and changes his life without even trying. And yes, their kiss in the elevator is as sexy as you’ve been led to believe
-BAM
Video: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” trailer
Check out the newly released trailer for the anticipated sci-fi adventure “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” adapted from the popular novel by Seth Grahame-Smith.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted”), the movie stars Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Rufus Sewell, Anthony Mackie and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
The movie opens in theaters June 22.
-BAM
Monday Catchy Quote No. 201
A catchy quote from a movie, TV show or other source to brighten the beginning of your week:
Gilbert: If a dragon falls in the forest and nobody gets to hear about it, does it make a thud?
- Click here to learn the source.
-BAM
Fall in love with a good DVD on Valentine’s Day
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
Fall in love with a good DVD on Valentine’s Day
Column: For the fifth year, entertainment writer and blogger Brandy “BAM” McDonnell lists her favorite movies to watch at home on the official day of love.
With Valentine’s Day falling on Tuesday this year, a night out on the town may not be the most practical plan for couples determined to celebrate on the official day of love.
Of course, film fans know that you can always find romance with a good DVD, Blu-ray or Netflix stream.
Way back on Feb. 14, 2008, I posted my first entry on my new blog, BAM’s Blog: a list of my favorite films appropriate for Valentine’s Day home viewing, conveniently categorized so that lovebirds of every feather could find the ideal cinematic treat for Valentine’s Day.
Some traditions are worth keeping, so here is a preview of the 2012 edition of the BAM’s Blog recommended Valentine’s Day DVDs. On Tuesday, look for the full, official fifth annual list, which has been updated since last year to include a few more films that I’ve recently fallen for, at blog.newsok.com/bamsblog.
Romantic comedies
The films in this category must be both uproariously funny and aw-inspiringly romantic. For all the rom-coms coming out of Hollywood, it’s telling that this part of the list gets updated the least:
“It Happened One Night” (1934): An out-of-work reporter (Clark Gable) and rebellious heiress (Claudette Colbert) take a bumpy road trip in Frank Capra’s Oscar-winner.
“The Philadelphia Story” (1940): Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant get entangled in a love pentagon in this classic screwball comedy, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies.
“When Harry Met Sally” (1989): Hilarity ensues as Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) move from loathing to friendship to love.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001): Brit Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) tries to improve her life and find real love in this chick flick.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's"
Happily ever after
Fairy tales and other fantasies appear here; in this category, the path to true love may be perilous, but love eventually wins the day:
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961): True love develops between professional escort Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) and kept man Paul “Fred” Varjak (George Peppard) in the iconic film from the late, great director Blake Edwards, a Tulsa native.
“Ladyhawke” (1985): A knight (Rutger Hauer) and his lady fair (Michelle Pfeiffer) must break the curse set on them by an evil bishop (John Wood). Just try to ignore the dated ’80s soundtrack from The Alan Parsons Project collaborator Andrew Powell. (I’m just sure music in the 12th century didn’t use quite so many synthesizers.)
“Serendipity” (2001): Suspend your disbelief and enjoy Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara’s (Kate Beckinsale) efforts to find one another after their magical first meeting. The film recently was released on Blu-ray, for extra lovely viewing.
“Jane Eyre” (2011): Director Cary Fukunaga (“Sin Nombre”) and his talented young cast, including Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender and Jamie Bell, bring fresh energy to the often-adapted gothic tale. Every aspect of the narrative is heightened: The mystery crackles with suspense, the romance smolders with sensuality, and the coming-of-age story flares with intensity.
Bittersweet treats
If you need or enjoy a good weep, one of these films just might be for you. Some of the endings are kind of happy, others are a bit tragic, but love is what makes the world go ‘round in these tales:
“Casablanca” (1942): Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman give up their passionate love affair to save the world from the Nazis. Sigh. A classic.
“Like Water for Chocolate” (1992): Tita (Lumi Cavazos) and Pedro (Marco Leonardi) are desperately in love, but tradition prohibits Tita, the youngest daughter in her family, from marrying, instead condemning her to a lifetime of caring for her tyrannical mother (Regina Torne). The Mexican movie was nominated for a 1993 Golden Globe for best foreign language film.
“Once” (2007): A Dublin, Ireland, street musician (Glen Hansard) and talented Eastern European immigrant (Marketa Irglova) make beautiful music together, but she has a husband and he has a girlfriend. Will they become a duet or go their separate ways? The movie, which won a best original song Oscar for the gorgeous theme “Falling Slowly,” has been adapted for the stage and is set to debut soon on Broadway.
“(500) Days of Summer” (2009): In his feature film debut, Marc Webb, director of the upcoming reboot “The Amazing Super-Man,” cast off the wretched conventions of modern- day romantic comedies, telling an emotionally resonant love story with a nonlinear plot line, amazing soundtrack and strong performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
"Tangled"
Family-friendly fare
So what if you have a couple of tykes snuggled between you and your sweetie on the couch? You can still enjoy a romantic movie that’s appropriate for the whole clan:
Any of the Disney “princess” movies: The ones with my favorite heroines include “Mulan,” “Aladdin” and “Tangled,” along with “Beauty and the Beast,” which is still showing in 3-D in some movie theaters.
“The Princess Bride” (1987): Westley (Cary Elwes) refuses to let pirates, a prince or even death come between him and his Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright).
“Shrek” (2001) and “Shrek 2” (2004): Grumpy ogre Shrek (voice of Mike Myers) and his Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) discover that their love isn’t based on society’s rules of beauty. And that’s OK.
“WALL-E” (2008): A lonely trash-compacting robot finds a hand to hold with a sleek probe droid in another of Pixar’s winners for best animated film.
Romance and weapons
Say you enjoy your romance mixed with plenty of action, maybe even some cinematic gunplay. Consider yourself locked and loaded with these films:
“The Terminator” (1984): Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) travels across time to save Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) from the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). He travels across time for her! Now that’s romantic.
“Desperado” (1995): It’s got Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek falling in love between all the flying bullets, so this actioner offers everyone someone quite nice to look at.
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005): Shawnee-born Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have smokin’ chemistry as assassins on opposite sides.
“300” (2006): Sure, most of this pumped-up Greek legend is focused on big battle sequences and impressive pectorals, but King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) make one hot power couple.
-BAM
UPDATED: 2012 Grammys: Most Oklahoma nominees have to settle for the honor of being nominated
Ryan Tedder (AP file)
UPDATED 10:48 p.m. Monday: Here are a couple more Grammy accomplishments by Oklahoma music stars, courtesy Oklahoma Rock Newsblog.
British singer-songwriter Adele won six awards – sweeping the record, album and song of the year categories – while rockers the Foo Fighters earned five prizes when the Grammy Awards were handed out tonight in Los Angeles. To read my live blog, click here.
Best known as the frontman for pop band OneRepublic, Tulsa native Ryan Tedder shares in Adele’s album of the year win as one of the producers of “21.” (In addition, Tedder co-wrote “Rumour Has It” and another “21″ track, “Turning the Tables,” with Adele.)
Tedder also was nominated for non-classical producer of the year for his work on several records, including Beyonce’s “I Was Here,” Jennifer Hudson’s “I Remember Me” and Adele’s “Rumour Has It.” But Paul Epworth, who also worked with Adele along with Foster the People, won the producer prize.
Some Oklahomans were in the spotlight during the Grammy Awards: Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton performed with The Band Perry and Glen Campbell in a tribute to Campbell, who is retiring from touring to cope with his Alzheimer’s disease. Checotah native Carrie Underwood performed with legendary crooner Tony Bennett before they presented the new artist award to Bon Iver. Reba McEntire, who hails from Chockie, and Shelton’s wife Miranda Lambert, a Texas native who now calls Tishomingo home, were presenters.
Underwood is among the various artists who collaborated with Bennett on his “Duets II” album, which won the best traditional pop vocal album.
Oklahoma City native The World Famous Tony Williams and Tulsa native Charlie Wilson, helped rapper Kanye West win three Grammys. Vocals by Williams and Wilson were featured on West’s “All of the Lights,” which won best rap song and best rap/sung collaboration.
Also, the album containing “All of the Lights,” titled “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” won best rap album. Williams’ vocals were featured on the album tracks “Dark Fantasy,” “Gorgeous,” “Runaway,” “Hell of a Life” and “Lost in the World,” according to Oklahoma Rock Newsblog.
For the most part, though, the 2012 Grammy nominees with Oklahoma ties had to settle for being nominated tonight:
- Muskogee native Ester Dean shared in an album of the year nomination as one of several producers on Rihanna’s “Loud,” but the prize went to Adele and her collaborators for “21.”
- Shelton was nominated for country album of the year for “Red River Blue,” but trio Lady Antebellum won a surprise victory in the category with “Own the Night.”
- Shelton was nominated for “Honey Bee” and Underwood for “Mama’s Song” in the best country solo performance, but singer-songwriter Taylor Swift won for “Mean.”
- Vince Gill earned his 41st Grammy nomination in the best country song category with “Threaten Me with Heaven,” which the Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred star penned with his wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and the late Will Owsley. Also, Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy were nominated for writing Thompson Square’s “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” and Dave Barnes was nominated for penning Shelton’s “God Gave Me You.” But Taylor Swift won the country song category, again with “Mean.”
- Country duo Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, received its first Grammy nod for best country duo/group performance for its breakthrough hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.” But The Civil Wars scored the Grammy for “Barton Hollow.”
- Four-time Grammy winners Kings of Leon, who have ties to Oklahoma City and Talihina, were nominated for best rock album for their fifth studio effort, “Come Around Sundown.” The Grammy went to the Foo Fighters’ “Wasting Light.”
- Stephen C. Mitchell’s rock documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” which opened 2011’s deadCenter Film Festival, contended for best long-form music video. The prize was awarded to James Moll, the video’s director, and James Moll and Nigel Sinclair, producers, for “Foo Fighters: Back and Forth.”
- Tulsa native Charlie Wilson, former frontman of the Gap Band, was nominated for best R&B performance for his hit “You Are,” from his 2010 solo album “Just Charlie.” The award went to Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Is This Love.” In addition, Wilson, his wife Mahin Wilson and their fellow songwriters Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days Jr. and Wirlie Morris shared a nomination for best R&B song for “You Are.” But “Fool For You,” written by Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim and Jack Splash, became the winning song.
- Christian worship group Gungor, which is fronted by former Tulsan Michael Gungor, earned a nod in the new best contemporary Christian music album category. Chris Tomlin won for “And If Our God Is For Us….”
Some Oklahoma talents did help others win Grammys tonight:
- The 40th anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Derek and the Dominos’ beloved 1970 album “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs” earned the best surround sound album Grammy. The late Carl Radle, a Tulsa native, was the band’s bassist.
- Oklahoma City kindie rock duo Sugar Free Allstars is among the various artists featured on “All About Bullies … Big and Small,” named best children’s album. The Allstars collaborated with fellow kindie rocker Secret Agent 23 Skidoo on the compilation track “Cooperate.”
-BAM
Blake Shelton, Thompson Square, Carrie Underwood and other Oklahomans competing for Grammys tonight
Blake Shelton (AP file)
Several music stars with Oklahoma ties will be part of “Music’s Biggest Night” when the 54th Annual Grammy Awards air live from Los Angeles from 7 to 10:30 tonight on CBS. Follow my live blog tonight right here on BAM’s Blog.
Here are the Oklahoma nominees and performers to root for tonight:
Ada native Blake Shelton is nominated for best country album for “Red River Blue” and best country solo performance for the album’s chart-topping first single “Honey Bee.” The Tishomingo resident’s No. 1 hit “God Gave Me You,” written by contemporary Christian singer Dave Barnes, also earned a nod for best country song, an award presented to songwriters.
In addition, Shelton and The Band Perry will give a special performance with country legend Glen Campbell during the show, and Shelton’s wife and fellow country star Miranda Lambert will be a presenter, along with Chockie native Reba McEntire.
In the best country solo performance category, Shelton will compete against Checotah native Carrie Underwood, who is nominated for her emotional ballad “Mama’s Song.” The Recording Academy this year consolidated many Grammy categories, so solo country artists are longer separated into male and female competitions.
Underwood also is featured on legendary crooner Tony Bennett’s “Duets II,” nominated for best traditional pop vocal album. Underwood, a five-time Grammy winner, and Bennett, who has 14 golden gramophones plus a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, are set to perform together on the awards show.
Country duo Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, received its first Grammy nod for best country duo/group performance for its breakthrough hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” which earned songwriters Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy a best country song nomination, too.
Vince Gill earned his 41st Grammy nomination in the best country song category with “Threaten Me with Heaven,” which the Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred star penned with his wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and the late Will Owsley. Gill already has earned the most Grammys of any male country artist with 20.
Four-time Grammy winners Kings of Leon, who have ties to Oklahoma City and Talihina, are nominated for best rock album for their fifth studio effort, “Come Around Sundown.” Plus, Stephen C. Mitchell’s rock documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” which opened 2011’s deadCenter Film Festival, will contend for best long-form music video.
Tulsa native Charlie Wilson, former frontman of the Gap Band, is nominated for best R&B performance for his hit “You Are,” from his 2010 solo album “Just Charlie.” In addition, Wilson, his wife Mahin Wilson and their fellow songwriters Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days Jr. and Wirlie Morris share a nomination for best R&B song for “You Are.”
For the second straight year, Christian worship group Gungor, which is fronted by former Tulsan Michael Gungor, is celebrating a nomination for its new album. The group’s 2011 album “Ghosts Upon the Earth” earned a nod in the new best contemporary Christian music album category. Gungor’s 2010 release “Beautiful Things” was nominated last year in the now-eliminated best rock or rap gospel album division.
Best known as the frontman for pop band OneRepublic, Tulsa native Ryan Tedder is nominated for non-classical producer of the year for his work on several records, including Beyonce’s “I Was Here,” Jennifer Hudson’s “I Remember Me” and Adele’s “Rumour Has It.” Since he produced “Rumour Has It,” Tedder shares in the Adele’s nomination for album of the year for her smash “21,” too. (In addition, Tedder co-wrote “Rumour Has It” and another “21″ track, “Turning the Tables,” with Adele.)
Muskogee native Ester Dean also has a share of an album of the year nomination as one of several producers on Rihanna’s “Loud.”
The 40th anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Derek and the Dominos’ beloved 1970 album “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs” earned a nomination in the best surround sound album category. The late Carl Radle, a Tulsa native, was the band’s bassist.
And, Oklahoma City kindie rock duo Sugar Free Allstars is among the various artists featured on “All About Bullies … Big and Small,” nominated for best children’s album. The Allstars collaborated with fellow kindie rocker Secret Agent 23 Skidoo on the compilation track “Cooperate.”
-BAM
Video: “The Bourne Legacy” trailer
The first trailer for the upcoming sequel “The Bourne Legacy” has debuted, and it looks very promising.
If you’re going to continue the Bourne franchise without Matt Damon, I can’t imagine a much better situation than carrying on with two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner, two-time Oscar nominee Edward Norton and Oscar winner Rachel Weisz.
Plus, Joan Allen, Albert Finney, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn are all back for the fourth film in the series.
“The Bourne Legacy” is due in theaters Aug. 3.
-BAM
Thompson Square, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, other Oklahomans to compete for Grammy glory Sunday night
Thompson Square (AP file)
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Oklahomans to compete for Grammy glory Sunday night
BAM: Country duo Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, are relishing their first chance to win one of the music industry’s most prestigious prizes.
Keifer and Shawna Thompson just couldn’t wrap their heads around the big news: The couple, who make country music under the moniker Thompson Square, had just become Grammy nominees.
“I’ll tell you what, “When we found that out, we just about lost our minds. That’s the big enchilada there. It doesn’t get any bigger than Grammys,” said Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson during a recent phone interview.
In a week, he and his wife will play an eagerly awaited hometown show at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami. Before they head back to Oklahoma, though, the couple will be part of “Music’s Biggest Night”: the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which will air live from Los Angeles from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
“We’re definitely gonna go,” said Keifer Thompson. “Are you crazy?”
Thompson Square received its first Grammy nod for best country duo/group performance for its breakthrough hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” which earned songwriters Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy a best country song nomination, too.
Oklahoma nominees
The couple is hardly the only nominee with Oklahoma ties.
Ada native Blake Shelton is nominated for best country album for “Red River Blue” and best country solo performance for the album’s chart-topping first single “Honey Bee.” The Tishomingo resident’s No. 1 hit “God Gave Me You,” written by contemporary Christian singer Dave Barnes, also earned a nod for best country song, an award presented to songwriters.
In addition, Shelton and The Band Perry will give a special performance with country legend Glen Campbell during the show, and Shelton’s wife and fellow country star Miranda Lambert will be a presenter, along with Chockie native Reba McEntire.
In the best country solo performance category, Shelton will compete against Checotah native Carrie Underwood, who is nominated for her emotional ballad “Mama’s Song.” The Recording Academy this year consolidated many Grammy categories, so solo country artists are longer separated into male and female competitions.
Underwood also is featured on legendary crooner Tony Bennett’s “Duets II,” nominated for best traditional pop vocal album. Underwood, a five-time Grammy winner, and Bennett, who has 14 golden gramophones plus a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, are set to perform together on the awards show.
Vince Gill earned his 41st Grammy nomination in the best country song category with “Threaten Me with Heaven,” which the Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred star penned with his wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and the late Will Owsley. Gill already has earned the most Grammys of any male country artist with 20.
Four-time Grammy winners Kings of Leon, who have ties to Oklahoma City and Talihina, are nominated for best rock album for their fifth studio effort, “Come Around Sundown.” Plus, Stephen C. Mitchell’s rock documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” which opened 2011’s deadCenter Film Festival, will contend for best long-form music video.
Tulsa native Charlie Wilson, former frontman of the Gap Band, is nominated for best R&B performance for his hit “You Are,” from his 2010 solo album “Just Charlie.” In addition, Wilson, his wife Mahin Wilson and their fellow songwriters Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days Jr. and Wirlie Morris share a nomination for best R&B song for “You Are.”
For the second straight year, Christian worship group Gungor, which is fronted by former Tulsan Michael Gungor, is celebrating a nomination for its new album. The group’s 2011 album “Ghosts Upon the Earth” earned a nod in the new best contemporary Christian music album category. Gungor’s 2010 release “Beautiful Things” was nominated last year in the now-eliminated best rock or rap gospel album division.
Best known as the frontman for pop band OneRepublic, Tulsa native Ryan Tedder is nominated for non-classical producer of the year for his work on several records, including Beyonce’s “I Was Here,” Jennifer Hudson’s “I Remember Me” and Adele’s “Rumour Has It.” Since he produced “Rumour Has It,” Tedder shares in the Adele’s nomination for album of the year for her smash “21,” too. (In addition, Tedder co-wrote “Rumour Has It” and another “21″ track, “Turning the Tables,” with Adele.)
Muskogee native Ester Dean also has a share of an album of the year nomination as one of several producers on Rihanna’s “Loud.”
The 40th anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Derek and the Dominos’ beloved 1970 album “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs” earned a nomination in the best surround sound album category. The late Carl Radle, a Tulsa native, was the band’s bassist.
And, Oklahoma City kindie rock duo Sugar Free Allstars is among the various artists featured on “All About Bullies … Big and Small,” nominated for best children’s album. The Allstars collaborated with fellow kindie rocker Secret Agent 23 Skidoo on the compilation track “Cooperate.”
Thrilling nomination
Thompson Square was enjoying a rare night off when the Grammy nominations were announced Nov. 30.
“I decided to stay in and was in my pajamas, watching, I’m sure, some reality show. … Keifer and I both had forgotten that they were announcing the nominees that night, and about 10 o’clock our manager called and was like, ‘Is your husband there?’ and I know … when he wants to talk to both of us, it’s either really good news or really bad news,” she said.
“He told me about it, and all I could do was just say ‘What?’ over and over again. I was like, ‘What? You’ve gotta be kidding me.’ I thought he was joking. We finally got a hold of Keifer — he was out with some of his buddies in downtown Nashville — and his response was exactly the same. He just kept saying ‘What? What?’ like he couldn’t understand. It wasn’t processing.”
“It’s just crazy to think you’re in that kind of game,” Keifer added. “It feels good, though. We’ll take it.”
Grammy Awards Live Blog
Follow along with Brandy McDonnell’s live blog of the 54th Annual Grammy Awards from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday here at BAM’s Blog at blog.newsok.com/bamsblog.
Thompson Square
When: 9 p.m. Feb. 17.
Where: Buffalo Run Casino, 1000 Buffalo Run Blvd., Miami, OK.
Information: (918) 542-7140 or www.buffaloruncasino.com.
-BAM
Target, Walmart hosting “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” release parties tonight
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. To read my interview with “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” director Bill Condon, click here.
Target, Walmart hosting “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” release parties
Forget vampires vs. werewolves: Friday night’s anticipated DVD release of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1” is setting up an epic battle between big-box giants Target and Walmart.
“Breaking Dawn — Part 1” drops on DVD and Blu-ray at the stroke of midnight Saturday, with release parties planned Friday night (tonight) at Walmart and Target locations across the country, including many Oklahoma stores.
Nearly 500 Target stores nationwide, including the Midwest City, Norman and Quail Springs locations, will extend their hours to 1 a.m. Saturday morning for the release events. Beginning at 11 p.m. Friday, fans will be shown an exclusive, world-premiere scene from the fifth and final film, “Breaking Dawn — Part 2.”
At midnight, fans can purchase the Target exclusive, limited edition DVD of “Breaking Dawn — Part 1” that includes an authentic prop flower from the wedding scene encased in an acrylic keepsake, according to a news release.
For more information, go to Target.com/Twilight.
More than 2,700 Walmart stores across the country, including several across Oklahoma, will have giveaways, trivia games and “Twilight”-theme bakery treats at release parties beginning at 11 p.m. Friday. The stores will feature a cameo by Cullen vampire Rosalie (Nikki Reed) on their in-store TV feed during the lead-up to the release, according to Home Media Magazine.
Walmart also will be selling an exclusively packaged version of the movie, the “Bella’s Wedding Special Edition,” featuring collectible wedding dress packaging, a fabric poster of Bella and Edward’s big day and music videos from Bruno Mars and Christina Perri.
For more information, go to www.walmart.com/moviecenter.
— BAM
Bill Condon takes on twice the challenges with “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” movies; “Part 1″ to be released on DVD at midnight Saturday
From left, Robert Pattinson, Bill Condon andTaylor Lautner attend a Nov. 17, 2011, film premiere of "The Twilight Sage: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" in Barcelona, Spain. AP photo
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Bill Condon takes on twice the challenges with “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” movies
The “Chicago” and “Dreamgirls” director made “Breaking Dawn — Part 1,” which will be released on DVD and Blu-ray at midnight Saturday, and “Breaking Dawn — Part 2,” due in theaters Nov. 16, at the same time.
LOS ANGELES — Director Bill Condon’s initiation into the global pop culture phenomenon known as “The Twilight Saga” began with a literal honeymoon period.
Adapting “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth and final book in Stephenie Meyer’s supernaturally popular vampire-romance series, involved dividing the weighty character- and milestone-packed novel into two movies that were filmed simultaneously. But the process started with just Kristen Stewart, who plays human heroine Bella Swan, and Robert Pattinson, who plays her courtly vampire sweetheart Edward Cullen, filming their characters’ honeymoon in Brazil.
“We started this big movie very small. It was only Rob and Kristen plus a couple other actors for half a day … We were starting on a honeymoon. It was kind of a dreamy thing to do, you know. I found it great,” Condon said during a fall press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel. “We had some weather problems and got rained in, socked in, and all had to sleep in bathtubs and things at the honeymoon house. But everything about it was magical.”
“Twi-hard” fans of the series seemed to agree: “Breaking Dawn — Part 1” has grossed nearly $702 million worldwide since it opened in theaters Nov. 18.
The penultimate film in the blockbuster franchise drops on DVD and Blu-ray at the stroke of midnight Saturday, with release parties planned Friday night (tonight) at Walmart and Target locations across the country, including many Oklahoma stores. For more information on the release parties planned at the retail giants, click here.
“The biggest challenge is that these books are so beloved by so many people that you want to make sure that it’s your take on the material but that it doesn’t betray what people’s expectations are and yet still becomes a fully cinematic experience,” said Condon, 56, who became the fourth director to work on “The Twilight Saga” when he took the helm of the final two movies.
“Making two movies at once wasn’t fun, either. Well, it was fun. It was hard, though. It was hard ‘cause it was such a big thing,” he added. “Kristen … would be young Bella, high school girl, in the morning and then a vampire in the afternoon and then a pregnant mother in the evening. She had days like that. It was crazy.”
Condon, who won an adapted screenplay Oscar for the 1998 biopic “Gods and Monsters,” is best known for directing the movie musicals “Dreamgirls” and “Chicago,” as well as the fact-based drama “Kinsey.” Part of the appeal of the “Twilight” films, he said, was the chance to helm an old-fashioned melodrama.
“I’m … a big fan of classic Hollywood genres. And that’s a genre that’s sort of fallen out of fashion. … I think like other things like detective stories it became something that TV took over, and it became devalued. But some of our greatest directors worked in that forum. And it allows you to immerse yourself in emotion, you know, and to do that both with camera and music, with design and color, so I very much embraced and didn’t fight against (that),” he said. “It’s a valuable genre that I think because it often puts women and women concerns in the center, gets devalued too, which is too bad.”
Along with Edward and Bella’s highly anticipated wedding and honeymoon, “Breaking Dawn — Part 1” includes the dramatic arrival of their daughter, Renesmee. The birth not only threatens Bella’s life — an emergency vampire conversion is her only hope for survival — it also endangers the Cullen clan’s pact with the local werewolves of the Quileute Tribe, including Bella’s best pal, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).
“That’s a good example of the challenges because obviously it’s very, very kind of powerfully described in the book, and you want to be true to that experience. But how do you show some of those things? As with a lot of other things, I think the key to doing it and being able to have that experience is to tell it from Bella’s point of view,” Condon said.
“Once Bella’s on that slab, we’re only gonna see what she can see as these things are happening to her — and we’re only gonna see it through her eyes as she gets weaker, as the morphine takes over.”
The harrowing birth of Renesmee and rebirth of Bella as a vampire set up the series’ eagerly awaited finale in “Breaking Dawn — Part 2,” due in theaters Nov. 16. When they learn the baby has been targeted by the corrupt vampire peacekeepers known as the Volturi, the Cullens gather other covens to make a stand and protect the child.
“I remember we would have scenes with the Cullens and you’d have eight or nine vampires in a room and I was thinking, ‘Oh, good, this is an easy day.’ Because we had so many scenes with literally 27 people in a room,” he said. “It’s huge that way. But we have such good actors and it is important that everybody get their moment to define who they are. It’s a real challenge …. about the second movie. But we gather these vampires from around the world, and we want to know as we get into the climax of that movie what each of them represents and what their powers are and who they are.”
-BAM
