Critics give high marks to Neeson, but are divided on neo-Hitchcockian thriller.
By Shawn Adler
January Jones and Liam Neeson in "Unknown"
Photo: Warner Bros.
With apologies to the groundhog, Liam Neeson is quickly becoming February's biggest star. Two years after the action-thriller "Taken" made him perhaps Hollywood's unlikeliest action star, the Oscar-nominated man who played Oskar Schindler is back to kick butt and take names in "Unknown," a neo-Hitchcockian thriller about a man who awakens after a car accident to discover the life he thought he had has been taken away, possibly just an after-effect of amnesia.
Is the movie itself worth forgetting? Here's what the critics are saying:
The Twist
"As much as 'Unknown' tries to be an intelligent thriller for grown-ups, the premise is pretty silly and normally, when that's the case, you know it's going to lead to an equally silly twist. Dark Castle regular Jaume Collet-Serra's previous movie 'Orphan' had one of the funniest twist endings possibly ever, though this doesn't quite achieve that extreme of insanity because the plot is so based in thriller clichés we've seen before, there aren't as many surprises until that third act. We won't give away the big twist, though we'll say that the film's biggest problem is that once it's revealed, much of what happens in the film's third act negates what happened earlier by turning much of it into nonsensical drivel." — Edward Douglas, Coming Soon
Will the Real Mr. Neeson Please Stand Up?
"With Harrison Ford mellowing with the years, Liam Neeson is stepping into the position, near and dear to action fans, of the average, over-civilized American man who, finding himself surrounded by trouble, picks up a tire iron and learns to swing it. It's one thing to convince an audience you're tough when you're covered with muscles. But to do so while wearing a jacket and tie takes concentration and sincerity. Neeson brings his own special quality to this type of role. As we saw in 'Taken,' in which he had to rescue his daughter in Paris, and now in 'Unknown,' playing a scholar whose identity gets stolen in Berlin, Neeson has a way of getting upset — a frantic purposefulness — that fills viewers with both empathy and anticipation: He's so miserable that we care." Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
"Casting is crucial to a movie. The right lead changes every other aspect of the film, impacting the tone and the way scenes play. The wrong lead will suck the energy out of a movie, leaving what could have been a delight leaden and dull. Liam Neeson is the wrong lead for 'Unknown.' What's worse, he doesn't seem to care; bringing one boring level of gruff intensity to every scene, Neeson is unmodulated and uninterested in creating anything subtle. Which sounds weird when talking about a big, ultimately dumb movie like 'Unknown,' but if Jaume Collet-Serra's last film, the incredible 'The Orphan,' proves one thing it's that his special brand of lunacy needs strong, subtle actors to play it." — Devin Faraci, Badass Digest
The Supporting Players
"The venerable German actor Bruno Ganz plays a former Stasi agent whom Martin hires to help him prove his identity, and Frank Langella has a brief and marvelous small part as an American professor whom Martin contacts for help. The one scene that Ganz and Langella have together is worth the price of admission. Both are actors capable of elevating whatever material they're in, and for a few moments this fair-to-middling spy drama feels as emotionally rich and morally ambiguous as a Graham Greene novel." — Dana Stevens, Slate
The Final Word
"This is a studio thriller released in February, people, not the second coming of Hitchcock. Still, keep your expectations reasonable and director Jaume Collet-Serra — undaunted by the presence of the 2005 'House of Wax' remake on his résumé — will exceed them, delivering an exciting and unjaded entertainment with tremendous atmosphere, one that will keep you guessing almost to the final frame." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon
Check out everything we've got on "Unknown."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658343/unknown-liam-neeson-reviews.jhtml
Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth Rƶhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming Emma Stone
Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera Amerie Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/cb6NPBCB0Ys/
Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel Anna Kournikova Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott
Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump
Name: Cruz David Beckham
Date of Birth: February 20th, 2005
Parents: Victoria Beckham & David Beckham
Siblings: Brooklyn Joseph (03/09/99) and Romeo James (09/01/02)
Facts:
Quotes:
"We're all learning sign language because one of our friends is deaf. So, of course, the first thing Cruz, who is 5, wanted to learn was how to say, 'I have gas,' and the 's' word. He also wanted to know what other swear words were." - Victoria, on her cheeky youngest son.
"Hmm .... well, you know when you get a TV you get a manual? Well, there isn?t one for motherhood. I?m constantly trying to figure it out and questioning whether I?m doing it right. But I?m so proud my kids. They are very well-mannered. We?ve always been very strict with the kids. That?s the way David and myself were brought up. But they?re free spirits as well. They laugh. They joke. They have fantastic personalities. I love hanging out with them." - Victoria, on motherhood.
Check out the gallery for some cute snapshots of Cruz from the past year!
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/02/20/happy-6th-birthday-cruz-beckham
Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera Amerie Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello
MTV News rounds up what we know about the songs on the May release.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Paul Warner/WireImage
With months to go until we can get our hands on Lady Gaga's Born This Way, the pop star has been slowing leaking details about the vibe of the May 23 release. Fans have already heard the first single of the same name, and in several recent interviews Gaga has given out a few facts about the songs that fans will hear on the highly anticipated release. While we wait for more, here's a recap of what we know so far.
In the latest issue of Vogue, Gaga revealed that the album's next single is "Judas," which producer RedOne has described as shocking. "The melody sounds like it was written for the Ronettes," the Vogue writer comments. "But it is set to a sledgehammering dance beat and is about falling in love with backstabbing men of the biblical variety."
On Tuesday morning, Gaga confirmed to Carson Daly on Amp Radio that "Judas" will be the second single. "It's about always falling in love with the wrong man over and over again," she said. " 'Judas' is a very very dark song. It's rad."
She also told Vogue about another track on the record, "Americano," describing it as "a big mariachi techno-house record, where I am singing about immigration law and gay marriage and all sorts of things that have to do with disenfranchised communities in America. ... It sounds like a pop record, but when I sing it, I see Edith Piaf in a spotlight with an old microphone."
When Gaga called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show on Tuesday, she described the song "Government Hooker," which is "one of my favorites" and "has more of a hip-hop beat," she told Seacrest.
"We double-timed the beat. It's a super fast, really hard record, and the lyrics are really filthy. It's also empowering, but more in the direction of sexual female empowerment."
On Seacrest, she teased the lyrics to another song, "Hair." On it she sings, "This is my prayer that I'll die living just as free as my hair."
"It's really up-tempo. It's a club record, but has a Bruce Springsteen vibe," she explained. "It's really interesting because it's putting sax on a huge dance record."
She talked about "Hair" again when she visited New York radio station Z-100. "Some of those themes are explored more on this album. To put my money where my mouth is [regarding themes of empowerment on this song and album]." She went on to describe the entire album as "eccentric" during the chat.
Before we can hear anything new from Gaga, she did also reveal one new detail to Daly about the forthcoming video for "Born This Way," which will be about "the birth of a new race within the race of humanity. The birth of a new race that doesn't bear any prejudices.
"I think the most important thing is that I continue to grow, and I knew when I put 'BTW' it would be a transitional moment, because it doesn't sound like [my previous singles," she said, adding that it is the "marijuana" to the "heroin" of the album and that it is a much lighter song than "Judas."
And for those who can't wait, she had this to share while on Z-100, "I'm gonna be releasing about two to three songs before the album comes out on iTunes."
Related VideosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658332/lady-gaga-born-this-way.jhtml
Eve Fergie Foxy Brown Freida Pinto FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips Gisele Bündchen Giuliana DePandi
'It is a monster,' Larry Rudolph tells MTV News about 'Hold It Against Me' follow-up.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears' <i>Femme Fatale</i>
Photo: Jive
With a little more than a month to go before the March 29 release of Britney Spears' Femme Fatale, we spoke to her longtime manager, Larry Rudolph, on the same night her eagerly anticipated "Hold It Against Me" video premiered.
Rudolph revealed to MTV News during our "HIAM" live stream on Thursday night that fans will likely hear another new song before the album — executive-produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke — comes out.
"We have a second song that I think we're gonna end up putting out before the album drops," he teased. "I can't say with 100 percent certainty, but I think we probably will. But we're talking about it now and it is a monster. It really is."
Rudolph has been by Brit's side since the beginning of her career, and he predicted that if fans love "HIAM," then they're in for a real treat with the next song.
"I don't think I've been this excited about releasing a Britney single in many, many years," he added. "It's that good. That's all I'm gonna say about it at the moment. I haven't heard a final mix of it, but I should get it in the next day or two. So far, what I've heard is just extraordinary. It really is amazing. Her fans will be very happy with it. I'm trying hard to get it out before the album comes out."
Spears teased some upcoming promotional plans for the album last week during a Twitter Q&A. "I'm doing a lot of promo," she said. "There will be some major announcements in the next few days." She added, "I'm thinking about the tour right now and I would [love] to visit a lot of places I didn't get to go to on my last tour."
What did you think of Britney's "HIAM" video? Tell us in the comments!
Related Videos Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658324/britney-spears-next-single.jhtml
Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore
Ashley Greene got a ride to her LA home on Friday shortly before her Breaking Dawn costar Kristen Stewart touched down at LAX with her wrist in a splint. The actresses have been hard at work on the film in Louisiana, and Ashley admitted to feeling a little homesick during the shoot. She graces the February cover of Teen Vogue and inside the magazine opened up about how she makes her long-distance romance with Joe Jonas work. The couple have been keeping up their date nights when she's not with her Twilight costars, and he even dropped her off at the airport before one of her most recent trips south.
Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson
Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/02/04/brad-pitt-angelina-jolie-56m-renovation-french-chatea/
Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther CaƱadas Eva Green Eva Longoria Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly Eve Fergie Foxy Brown Freida Pinto FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy