Elton John and Leon Russell: Documentary on their collaboration on “The Union” airs Thursday on HBO
From left, Elton John and Leon Russell - Provided Photo
“The Union,” a documentary directed by Cameron Crowe capturing musical legends Elton John and Oklahoma native Leon Russell as they collaborated on their album, debuts at 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2 on HBO.
A summary of the film, provided by HBO, is as follows:
After 38 years of not seeing or speaking to Leon Russell, Elton John listens to Russellʼs greatest hits album while on safari in Africa with his partner David Furnish. He is moved to tears. Distraught at the thought that Russell – whom John considers one of his greatest musical influences – has seemingly fallen into obscurity, he vows to contact his idol and propose that they collaborate on an album together.
So begins “The Union,” an unprecedented personal look into the making of John and Russellʼs acclaimed album of the same name. Stepping into The Village studio in Los Angeles, director Cameron Crowe captures a myriad of intimate moments involving the two artists, including the first-ever filming of John composing music to lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, his longtime collaborator. Underscoring Johnʼs desire that the new album sound like one of Russellʼs classics, the film is filled with concert footage of John and Russell throughout their careers, including Johnʼs first U.S. appearance at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, a show attended by Russell.
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“Luck”: Quality of new HBO drama should ensure satisfaction for viewers
From left, Dennis Farina and Dustin Hoffman in "Luck" - HBO Photo
If you’re drawn to character-driven drama, you’re bound to be enamored with the HBO series “Luck,” which focuses on the many personalities involved with horse racing.
“Deadwood” creator David Milch and acclaimed director Michael Mann have collaborated on a series that has as much talent in the cast as it does behind it.
As the series begins, Dustin Hoffman stars as Chester “Ace” Bernstein, who has just been released from federal prison and has bought a horse that his driver and bodyguard, Gus Demitriou (Dennis Farina) fronts as the owner for.
The horse’s proficient but disreputable trainer is Turo Escalante (John Ortiz), whose girlfriend, Jo, (Jill Hennessey) is the track veterinarian.
Nick Nolte plays trainer-turned-owner Walter Smith, who is haunted by a past event, but has a horse with serious potential.
Four degenerate gambling buddies, Marcus (Kevin Dunn), Renzo (Ritchie Coster), Jerry (Jason Gedrick) and Lonnie (Ian Hart) pool together what money they have to bet Jerry’s hunch on the day’s long shot, a high-stakes Pick Six winners contest.
Other key roles include jockey agent Joey Rathburn (Richard Kind); beginner jockey Leon (Tom Payne); exercise girl Rosie (Kerry Condon); and veteran jockey Ronnie Jenkins, played by real-life racing Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.
Guest stars such as Joan Allen, Bruce Davison, Mercedes Ruehl, Patrick J. Adams and Sir Michael Gambon also appear throughout “Luck.”
The first episode, directed by Mann and written by Milch, sets the tone for a show that is deliberately paced (with the exception of the horse races), is beautifully shot, and is absolutely intoxicating in its ability to get viewers caught up in the lives of all of these diverse characters.
Hoffman’s restrained and principled Ace is fascinating to watch, especially as he interacts with Gus.
Nolte’s performance as agonized and honorable horse owner Smith is commendable as well; while Condon’s portrayal of Rosie, who has dreams of becoming a jockey, makes you cheer for her.
In addition, Kind plays stuttering agent Rathburn in a dignified way that invokes sympathy for his down-on-your-luck character.
“Luck,” abounding in rich characters, absorbing acting by the entire cast and a story that involves all walks of life, is a good risk for television viewers to take.
“Luck” premieres at 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29 on HBO.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Nick Nolte in "Luck" - HBO Photo
“Luck”: HBO to preview new drama series
Dustin Hoffman - AP Photo
HBO has scheduled a sneak preview of the first episode of its new drama series “Luck” immediately following the season finale of “Boardwalk Empire,” which airs at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.
This one-time only event will air on the main HBO channel exclusively; HBO GO and HBO On Demand aren’t included, according to a news release.
“Luck,” which centers on horse racing, including the owners, gamblers, jockeys and various gaming industry players, stars Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, Richard Kind, Jason Gedrick and Nick Nolte.
Executive producers for the pilot are David Milch, Michael Mann and Carolyn Strauss; co-executive producer is Henry Bronchtein and Dustin Hoffman is producer.
The “Luck” pilot was written by David Milch and directed by Michael Mann.
The drama will make its official debut Jan. 29 on HBO.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
“Enlightened” debuts Monday on HBO
Laura Dern stars in "Enlightened" - HBO Photo
The new HBO comedy-drama “Enlightened,” starring Laura Dern, begins a ten-episode season at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10.
Dern, Academy Award nominee for “Rambling Rose,” plays Amy Jellicoe, an ambitious executive at a global conglomerate who has been her own worst enemy for most of her adult life, according to a news release.
After her self-destructive choices at home and at work cause a public, humiliating breakdown and then an extended stay at a Hawaiian treatment center, Amy returns to her broken life, intent on leading a more enlightened existence.
Her newly discovered noble intentions only increase the drama however, causing unexpected chaos for those around her.
Dern also serves as executive producer along with Mike White (“Year of the Dog”), who co-stars, writes and directs as well.
In more information provided by HBO, Luke Wilson (“Old School”) stars as Amy’s drug-addicted ex-husband Levi and Diane Ladd, Dern’s real-life mother and Academy Award nominee for “Rambling Rose,” “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and “Wild at Heart” portrays Amy’s disapproving mother Helen.
Other cast members include Sarah Burns (“I Love You, Man”) as Krista, the former assistant who’s taken Amy’s old job; Timm Sharp (“‘Til Death”) as Amy’s sleazy boss Dougie; and Amy Hill (“50 First Dates”) as Judy, the no-nonsense human resources representative who won’t give Amy a break.
White plays Amy’s seemingly meek co-worker Tyler.
“George Harrison: Living in the Material World” documentary a treasure for fans
George Harrison - Provided Photo
The life of rock icon George Harrison is documented impressively through photos, writings, film footage, music and interviews in the film “George Harrison: Living in the Material World,” directed by Academy Award-winner Martin Scorsese.
The movie will premiere in two parts, beginning from 8 to 9:35 p.m. Oct. 5 and concluding from 8 to 10 p.m. Oct. 6 on HBO.
The best part of the documentary is that a lot of Harrison’s life’s story is told in his own words, as well as through interviews with people including his family, Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, and former Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Various sides of Harrison’s personality are shown and discussed, with the assorted visual and musical elements woven together, from his start with the Beatles, their break-up, his spiritual journey, his solo musical accomplishments and much more.
In one segment of the documentary, Harrison’s Traveling Wilburys bandmate Petty talks about Harrison calling him when their fellow bandmember Roy Orbison passed away.
During their phone conversation, Petty said Harrison told him, “He’ll be OK. He’ll be OK. He’s still around,” he said. “Just listen. He’s still around.”
Thankfully, all you have to do is simply listen to the sublime “Something,” or any of his and/or the Beatles’ music, and George Harrison is still around, too.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
HBO picks up new series by Aaron Sorkin, former Oklahoman Olivia Munn among cast
Olivia Munn - AP Photo
HBO has picked up a new series by Aaron Sorkin, as yet untitled, centering on a cable news anchor (Jeff Daniels), his new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), his newsroom staff (Alison Pill, John Gallagher Jr., former Oklahoman Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and Thomas Sadoski) and their boss (Sam Waterston).
The group’s goal is to do the news well despite corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal entanglements, according to a news release.
Sorkin, creator of “The West Wing” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” is the show’s pilot writer and is an executive producer along with Scott Rudin, and Alan Poul.
Greg Mottola is the pilot director and Francine Maisler is casting director.
“True Blood” renewed for fifth season
Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer of "True Blood" - HBO Photo
“True Blood” has been picked up by HBO for its fifth season, according to a news release.
“True Blood” is centered on a time when vampires have come out of the coffin and follows the on-and-off romance between waitress and part-faerie Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people’s thoughts, and Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), 173-year-old vampire.
Alan Ball is creator of the series and also serves as an executive producer of the show, which is based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.
“True Blood” recently was given four Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series to Tulsa native Alfre Woodard.
Production on the series’ fifth season is scheduled for later this year in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in summer 2012.
“True Blood”: Season four premieres Sunday on HBO; second episode airs immediately after on xfinityTV.com and HBOGO.com exclusively
From left, Alexander Skarsgard, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer of "True Blood" - HBO Photo by Art Streiber
The fourth season of “True Blood” debuts at 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO, and fans of the show who subscribe to HBO on Comcast can exclusively go to xfinityTV.com and HBOGO.com to view the next episode a week earlier than its airdate, according to a news release.
The season four premiere will be available there as well.
Episode two will also be accessible on the XFINITY TV app and On Demand to Comcast HBO customers.
XfinityTV.com recently talked to “True Blood” Executive Producer Alan Ball and quizzed him for his list of essential episodes worth re-watching to get viewers up to speed.
His list, provided by XfinityTV.com, is as follows:
“TRUE BLOOD” EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ALAN BALL’S MASTER LIST OF ESSENTIAL EPISODES
1. Season 1, Episode 2: “This is the first time Sookie (Anna Paquin) drank Bill’s (Stephen Moyer) blood, and the first time they kissed.”
2. Season 1, Episode 5: “This has the Civil War flashback and told how Bill was made. Also, it’s where Gran was found dead.”
3. Season 2, Episode 4: “In this episode, Maryann (Michelle Forbes) threw Tara a (Rutina Wesley) birthday party and you finally got a sense of what she was up to.”
4. Season 2, Episode 9: “The key moment was when Eric’s maker, Godric (Allan Hyde) went into the sun.”
5. Season 2, Episode 12:“When Maryann was summoning Dionysus, that set the stage for a lot of what has happened since.”
6. Episode 3, Season 3: “Bill had hate sex with his maker, Lorena (Mariana Klaveno), and breaks her neck. We found out that that’s just really good sex for a vampire.”
7. Season 3, Episode 5: “This one featured the moment where Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) realized Russell Edgington (Denis O’Hare) is the man who killed his family. We had a lot of fun with the flashbacks to Eric and the Vikings.”
8. Season 3, Episode 9: “Eric killed Russell’s lover in this episode. Meanwhile, Sookie and Debbie Pelt (Brit Morgan) had their big fight scene, which was great. And Sookie and Bill came together here.”
9. Season 3, Episode 12: “We had the reveal that Jesus (Kevin Alejandro) is a brujo (a witch). He and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) had already had their V trip, which is also important to remember for this season.”
To find out more information, or to watch these episodes (Comcast subscribers only), click here.
“Treme,” featuring former Tulsan Melissa Leo, returns Sunday on HBO
Melissa Leo in "Treme" - HBO Photo by Paul Schiraldi
“Treme,” HBO’s series about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, begins its 11-episode second season at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 24, according to a news release.
The show’s stars include former Tulsa resident and Academy Award-winner Melissa Leo, Khandi Alexander, Clarke Peters, David Morse, Wendell Pierce, Lucia Micarelli and Steve Zahn.
“Cinema Verite” an absorbing look at the beginnings of reality TV
Diane Lane in "Cinema Verite" - HBO Photo
In 1973 PBS aired the series “An American Family.”
The show was created by filmmaker Craig Gilbert and centered on the filming of the Loud family during a seven-month period in 1971.
The Santa Barbara family shot to notoriety in 1973 when the series was broadcast and the struggling marriage of Pat and Bill Loud, as well as Pat’s support of her openly gay son, Lance, were spotlighted.
In the HBO movie “Cinema Verite,” it is shown that Gilbert’s aim for the project was not only to have an impact on culture, but also that he thought the situations the Loud family was going through were relatable to people in a different way than what was usually shown on TV.
It is also shown that Alan and Susan Raymond, who worked on the actual filming of “An American Family,” often disagreed with Gilbert about what content was appropriate to record.
James Gandolfini gives a first-rate portrayal of Gilbert, who seems to be concerned about the family, but more interested in getting the most provocative footage.
Patrick Fugit and Shanna Collins as the Raymonds are good at representing ethical standards during the conflict of opinions between themselves and Gilbert.
Tim Robbins is skillful in his performance as philandering husband Bill Loud, who doesn’t make much effort to hide his many liaisons, and Thomas Dekker’s characterization of Lance Loud is superb.
The most significant asset in this movie, though, is Diane Lane. Her depiction of Pat Loud is completely engrossing and totally draws you in.
“Cinema Verite” presents the story of reality TV’s birth, and, whether you’re a fan of the genre, or rue its existence, you’ll get caught up in this film.
“Cinema Verite” premieres at 8 p.m. April 23 on HBO.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
