In Unlock Art: Great Double Acts, The Kills investigate the importance of collaboration to the artistic process, and how artists have always collaborated in some form or other throughout history including Rubens, Jeff Koons, Gilbert & George and Jake and Dinos Chapman. The film challenges the popular myth: that art is made by solitary, angst-ridden artists, and reveals just how varied and abundant artistic creation can be when collaboration is involved.
This is the sixth Unlock Art film in the series of eight produced in collaboration between Tate and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts which aims to unlock the big stories and ideas behind art. Other presenters in the series include author and broadcaster Dawn O’Porter, HBO Girls star Jemima Kirke, actor Alan Cumming and new Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi.
Unlock Art aims to take viewers on a journey through various art movements and themes, from the history of the nude and humour in art, to Surrealism and Pop – offering the need-to-know facts, and making the arts more accessible to a wider audience.
Persistently renowned for pushing the boundaries with themes of death and rebirth, this spooky, vampire drama with half human fairies thrown in for good measure, has been taken to the hearts of the public and inspired many copycat style dramas. None though will equal series 6, which promises to be not just memorable but thoroughly dramatic and emotional. With Series 6, producer Brian Buckner has set himself the onerous task of proving to loyal fans that True Blood didn’t outstay its welcome, by ensuring he leaves fans begging for more with Robert Kazinksy’s short but sweet dalliance with vampires.
New Cast Member
Robert Kazinsky, the 30 year old British actor of EastEnders and Pacific Rim fame, joins True Blood in its sixth and final season. This is a brave move for Kazinsky, entering a show which has such an established and cult following in its closing act. Making one’s mark on an established partnership is no mean feat, particularly with a cast and crew who have worked on the previous five seasons. However, it seems that injecting new blood into True Blood’s final series has injected new life into the well-worn formula of this sexy horror drama about real life southern vampires.
Kazinky’s emergence onto the scene provided a new frisson between his character Macklyn Warlow and Sookie Stackhouse. Kazinzky’s character evolves over the course of the season like a good wine ages over a season, no doubt to the anticipated delight of True Blood’s loyal fans.
What to expect in series 7
A real sense of fresh energy has been poured into this series of True Blood which has given the show a major boost and helped ensure that it carries its strengths from previous seasons, and also injects a new impetus to this, its swan song.
Given that half the cast are now no more, there has been a welcome return to a more parochial and homely family unit. A feel which Kazinsky thinks strikes the right note for the final season: “That’s absolutely the right way to go, so this entire [sixth] season was about getting there. That’s Brian’s dream and what he’s doing is brilliant for the show.”
No shrinking violet, and just as well given the abundant nude scenes the character plays as a love interest of lead character Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, Kazinksy tackles some interesting plotlines in the show including a scene with Jason Stackhouse, Sookie’s brother.
Determined to end the show on a high note, producer Brian Buckner has bravely cast Kazinsky in several passionate scenes, none more risk taking than that with fellow co-star Ryan Kwanten who plays Jason, Sookie’s womanising brother. This interseting twist tests and examines the boundaries and relationships between Sookie, Jason and Macklyn. Series 6 is guaranteed to be a show stopper of vampire proportions.
Just as it sparked a revival of vampirology when it premièred in 2008, so it has left the stage with its fans wanting more, surely the sign of a meaty drama, talented cast and great writers which will prove hard, if not impossible, to emulate.
Fresh from her fantastic SuperBowl performance, Beyonce Announces The Mrs.Carter Show World Tour. She entertained the masses last night at the SuperBowl half time, and even teamed up with her Destiny Child members. She put in an amazing performance and now will be touring the world in case you want to see her at a venue near you.
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Starring BEYONCÉ
2013 Tour kicks off in Europe April 15th
North American Tour Begins June 28th
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour starring Beyoncé kicks off in Europe on April 15, 2013. With stops in twenty European cities, including Dublin, Ireland; Berlin, Germany; Paris, France and a four-night stint at The 02 in London, UK, this is Beyoncé’s first multi-city tour in over three years.
Beyoncé’s North American Tour begins on June 28 in Los Angeles, California. The tour will travel to over twenty cities throughout North America this summer, including Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center, Atlanta, Georgia, at the Gwinnett Center, Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center, Toronto, Ontario at Air Canada Centre, and Boston, Massachusetts at TD Garden.
On June 28, Beyoncé returns to Los Angeles, California as part of the BET Experience At L.A. Live at the Staples Center. She is set to headline the first of the three-night STAPLES Concert series. And continuing her successful run at international music festivals, following a headlining night at Glastonbury in 2011, she is confirmed to headline at the world’s largest music festival, Rock in Rio, on its first night, September 13 at the “City of Rock” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rock in Rio has set records for its massive crowds and its powerful media drive.
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour promises to be the entertainer’s most ambitious undertaking to date. It is expected to be bigger in scope than any of her previous shows. Slated to run for almost one year, the second wave of the tour is planned for Latin America, Australia and Asia.
Following her historic performance tonight at the Pepsi SuperBowl XLVII Halftime Show, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Beyoncé officially returns to a full-time touring schedule, her first since the I AM…WORLD TOUR in 2009, with a new, bolder state-of-the-art production.
Fans can join the Beyhive Blog for free at www.beyonce.com to access exclusive content, pre-sale tickets, VIP packages and more, including an exclusive MasterCard package to the Bey Stage. A limited number of tickets to The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour will be available early for purchase in the US and Europe.
Beyoncé’s last tour, the critically acclaimed and incredibly successful, “I AM…WORLD TOUR was ranked #1 on Billboard’s Hot Tour chart. The show thrilled more than 1.1 million fans at more than one hundred shows in 32 countries and six continents across the globe.
Beyoncé is one of the most widely recognized and highly respected women in pop culture. A solo recording artist, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman, she has released four #1 solo albums and has sold over 75 million albums worldwide. Her work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including 16 Grammy Awards. Billboard named her the Top Female Artist and Top Radio Songs Artist of the 2000s decade. The Recording Industry Association of America also recognized Beyoncé as the Top Certified Artist of the 2000s.
The critics have consistently praised her energetic stage shows likening her to the best entertainers of the past with her own brand of sass and class that makes her the artist of the future. “Beyoncé has a breathtaking need to entertain,” said Ben Ratliff of the New York Times and Chantal Eustace of the Vancouver Sun summed it up writing, ‘Beyoncé twisted all the theatrics into her musical performance flawlessly, demonstrating her many talents as an artist.”
On February 16, HBO will premiere Life Is But A Dream, an intimate feature-length documentary film directed and produced by Beyoncé for Parkwood Entertainment. The film provides unprecedented access into the on and off-stage world of the entertainer.
The North American tour is promoted by Live Nation Global Touring and is produced by Parkwood Entertainment.
EUROPE:
April 15 Belgrade, Serbi Kombank Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 17 Zagreb, Croatia Arena Zagreb On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 19 Bratislava, Slovakia Slovnaft Arena On Sale Fri. Feb 8
April 22 Amsterdam, Holland Ziggo Dome On Sale Fri. Feb 8
April 24 Paris, France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 25 Paris, France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 26 Birmingham, UK LG Arena On Sale Sat. Feb 23
April 29 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
April 30 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 01 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 03 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 07 Manchester, UK Manchester Arena On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 11 Dublin, Ireland The O2 On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 12 Dublin, Ireland The O2 On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 14 Antwerp, Belgium Sportpaleis On Sale Fri. Feb 8
May 17 Zurich, Switzerland Hallenstadion On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 18 Milan, Italy Mediolanum Forum On Sale Fri. Feb 8
May 20 Montpellier, France Park & Suites Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 22 Munich, Germany Olympiahalle On Sale Fri. Feb 15
May 24 Berlin, Germany O2 World On Sale Fri. Feb 15
May 25 Warsaw, Poland National Stadium—Orange Warsaw Festival
May 27 Copenhagen, Denmark Forum On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 28 Oslo, Norway Telenor Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 29 Stockholm, Sweden Ericsson Globe Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
NORTH AMERICA:
June 28 Los Angeles BET Experience/Staples Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jun-29 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-2 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-5 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-6 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-9 Ft. Lauderdale, FL BB&T Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-10 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-12 Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Center On Sale Sat. Feb. 16
Jul-13 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-15 Houston, TX Toyota Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-17 Chicago, IL United Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-18 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-20 Detroit, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-21 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-22 Montreal, QC Bell Centre On Sale Sat. Feb. 9
Jul-23 Boston, MA TD Garden On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-25 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-26 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-27 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-29 Washington, DC Verizon Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Aug-2 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Aug-3 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
‘It’s God’s plan’ a calm Sarah Palin (Julianne Moore) announces as she is chosen to become the Republican vice presidential nominee in the historic American election of 2008. The events themselves seem so fresh and vivid in the memory that to describe them as history feels somewhat redundant. We all remember the raised eyebrows and gasps of incredulity as the Governor of Alaska was plucked from relative obscurity to become one of the most recognised faces on the planet. Few could predict the ultimate outcome. Based largely on the political journal of the same name, Game Change tracks the decision by the McCain campaign team to hoist a ‘game changing element’ into the ring of the election. Head organiser Steve Schmidt (Woody Harrelson) believes that a fiery right wing candidate will boost bedrock support whilst her being a woman will cross the gender divide and provide a celebrity counter balance to Barack Obama’s unprecedented popularity. John McCain (Ed Harris) is delighted with the decision especially after her barnstorming opening speeches. However joy soon turns to dread as they discover that Palin is woefully ignorant on America’s key foreign policies. Public adulation turns to mockery and she soon begins to buckle under the strain of the campaign. The rest as they say is history…
The release date of Game Change has not gone unnoticed in political circles with Plain and McCain having accused the film of lies before having even watched it. With a new election looming the timing could not be more noticeable. Of course it is the portrayal and performances that will define such a project. As Palin, Julianne Moore is quite frankly a tour de force. Often critics get caught up in their own adjectives and hyperbole but in all sincerity; there are moments I forgot I was watching Julianne Moore. The physical and vocal ticks are uncanny yet there is a strong parallel between the images of Palin that we recall and the portrayed image that we were not privy to. Moore perfectly conveys the sense of someone desperately out of their depth yet refusing to fold. The media harassment that hounded her and her family is plain to see for all including those opposed to her politics. As much as race and age played a crucial factor in Obama and McCain’s public image, so to do the fact that Palin was a woman and may have forgotten (or overlooked) the frankly misogynistic attitude of many mainstream media outlets towards her at the time of her campaign. These elements are expertly woven by director Jay Roach into the narrative along with archive and interview footage edited to seem that the actors are interacting with their real life counterparts. This includes an incredibly self referential moment when a humiliated Palin watches the now infamous Saturday Night Live sketch with Tina Fey.
But it is in the ultimate treatment of Palin that the film falls short. Whilst casting her in sympathetic light for the opening act the descent into an ‘uncontrollable renegade’ seems to come too fast and comes off as a tad unconvincing, a shame considering the initial scenes. There is a genuine punch the air moment in the third act when Schmidt (a brilliant Harrelson) puts her firmly in place whilst retaining a professional tone but it’s the one subtle moment toward the finale that you can increasingly feel the melodrama creeping in. The film can’t decide to ultimately exonerate her or to condemn her. It doesn’t help that McCain himself is pretty much side lined by the drama. Ed Harris is a magnificent screen presence and though certainly not up to Moore’s pedigree he definitely has McCain’s physicality nailed. Yet he is reduced to watching from the side lines occasionally stepping forward to deliver a bit of sage advice for the ‘young firebrands.’ It’s a waste of a great performer and whilst I normally wouldn’t mind in any other work I severely doubt the actual John McCain swears so much. It passes over from shocking into quite frankly silly.
HBO have maintained a high standard of quality across a range of platforms and to a degree it’s really encouraging to see a television movie draw such talent to it and get such a wide release. I don’t think it’s flawless by any means though I concede that projects like this will always divide opinion in their portrayal of such recent events. The powerhouse performances see it through however and with the election just around the corner who knows; maybe we’ll be back here in four years?
True Blood is back with fairies, panthers, wolves, vampires and witches all in one tiny American town. This should be interesting….
Spoiler Alert
Sookie is back after going missing for two years.(she was hanging out with fairies and her dead grandfather) A lot has changed since she left and her brother has sold her house. But who bought it? Eric, and not surprisingly, that causes some problems.
Season 4 Episode 1 “She’s Not There”
Sookie journeys away from Bon Temps leaving Eric and Bill to win back the human public. Elsewhere, Jason learns that no good deed goes unpunished.
Season 4 Episode 2 “You Smell Like Dinner”
After returning to Bon Temps, Sookie adjusts to the town’s new realities. Meanwhile, Bill reveals more about his past and Eric crashes a witches meeting. The witches put a spell on Eric and he loses his memory. Sookie ends up looking after him. Little does she know that her brother has been kidnapped and someone is trying to use him to have babies with.
True Blood is pure fantasy. It is lots of fun and it is also very adult. Not one for kids but a good evenings entertainment.
American cable network HBO’s modus operandi seems reliably similar across many of its shows. A large array of characters interacting on an arresting, gigantic backdrop and slowly building up their story arcs with one another before tying them together in a steadily escalating rush to the end. Those seeking immediate, self contained thrills each and every week should look toward FOX and ABC for such shows. This approach extends to HBO’s current hot ticket Boardwalk Empire; an epic, lavish and violent show set in Atlantic City at the beginning of prohibition in the 1920’s and the explosion of organised crime that followed. Central to the action is Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson (played by American indie king Steve Buscemi), the county treasurer with an eye for opportunity and loose morals. He straddles the worlds of both law and crime effortlessly ensuring that he, his corrupt sheriff brother Eli (Shea Whigham) and their cronies come out of a situation with their wallets bursting. As the drama unfolds Nucky contends with both infamous historical figures of the time; Arnold Rothstein (Michael Sthulbarg) and Al Capone (Stephen Graham), and with fictional counterparts such as unhinged war veteran/prodigy Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), widow turned mistress Margaret Schroder (Kelly MacDonald) and zealous Federal Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon).
Due to the delayed release of season one in the UK, we had the pleasure of both seasons only being separated by a few months. At the outset of season two Nucky and Margaret are living together seemingly contented. Yet this is shattered when Eli and Jimmy, the latter spurned on by his domineering mother Gillian (Gretchen Moll), lead an open rebellion against Nucky’s leadership with the alcohol flowing into the city proving the key factor. Battle lines are drawn, blood ties are broken and bodies drop like flies as both sides struggle to hold onto what both believe are theirs.
The most easily recognizable aspect of Boardwalk Empire’s quality is its look and design. Every scene, every location and arguably every frame are immaculate to a tee and the cinematography and visual effects weigh up just as much. The show is produced by master filmmaker Martin Scorsese (who also directed the pilot episode) and his influence and sway clearly show and not just in the visual department. As a whole the show engages with the love/hate relationship between America and the almost mythic figure of the organised criminal. There is nothing as trivial as good and bad in this world; the viewer has to use their own moral compass to determine who is the least evil. The theme of betrayal and mistrust runs throughout this season as protégé’s turn against mentors and families against their own. This comes to a head particularly in the penultimate episode where we discover the cause of the friction between Jimmy and Gillian as their story takes a turn similar to Oedipus Rex. The tension is practically unbearable as…well let’s just say things get Freudian. Very Freudian…
The performances of Boardwalk Empire are frequently cited as its major draw. Indeed any show with Steve Buscemi at the helm is worthy of all attention. As well as playing to the strengths of confidence and arrogance that have permeated through many of the characters he has played in the past, there is a vulnerability to Nucky that allows Buscemi to tap into emotional depths that perhaps he has not had the chance to truly reach in previous roles. His roles opposite his brother, from both fisticuffs to graveside revelations, are nothing short of heart-breaking. Michael Pitt proves an almost perfect foil, his youthful charm and handsomeness are a sidestep diversion to Jimmy’s brutality and crumbling psyche under the pressure of demon parents and gangster dealings. His eyes are deep and expressive but there is an underlying darkness that is sometimes genuinely terrifying. Pitt has utilised similar skills on the independent circuit and it’s a pleasure to see them demonstrated on a mainstream outlet. There are equally impressive turns amongst the supporting cast, most underrated amongst them being perhaps British actor Jack Huston as disfigured veteran turned hitman Richard Harrow, a role that despite being delivered beneath a prosthetic mask rings with tortured emotion.
Unfortunately it is in the initial portrayal of its female characters that the show falls down. Model turned actress Paz de la Huerta is saddled with an inconsequential role as Nucky’s former mistress Lucy, a role that could have more impact if it were not for de la Huerta’s inert performance; every line reading is as flat as the Ferns’. Her poor performance would be less distracting if the shows maker didn’t insist on her being nude in the majority of her scenes. Aleksa Palladino fares a little better as Jimmy’s unsatisfied artist wife Angela. Her performance is fine yet she is given little material to work with which makes a particular end of game plot revelation lack the gut punch it deserves. Thankfully there are two roles for women in the show that stand tall and proud; Kelly MacDonald and Gretchen Moll. When we meet Margaret Schroder in season one she appears initially as an oppressed victim who slowly but steadily reacts with confidence and assuredness to her changing circumstances. Ranging from deceiving lawman to fending off attackers via shotgun, MacDonald is a tour de force of vulnerability and uncertainty; her later scenes as she grapples with her personal guilt never lapse over into sentimentality. On the flip side of this Gretchen Moll inhabits the role of Gillian with such chilling venom (‘You will not be disrespected!’) with moments of breathtaking clarity into her characters inner torment. An early scene where she confronts the invalid man who violated her as a child is perfectly paced; drawing in with allusion, steady reveal and a final devastating explosion in violence. A sympathetic villain if there ever was one.
All in all Boardwalk Empire has played like crafty card shark. It knows exactly when to show its big hand yet also feels like its holding a lot of tension back. Every jaw dropping set piece or character moments is bookended by copious amounts of exposition and the sense of characters moving into place though on a large chess board. It is these moments of sheer muscular strength that make the show a force to be reckoned with and earn the patience during its quieter moments. It has been renewed for a third season and after its powerful final seasons there is the strong hope that these two first seasons have laid the groundwork for the true fireworks. Even still below par HBO is miles ahead of the competition and with Buscemi and MacDonald at the helm, anything is possible.
The search is on to find a leading man to play Sinbad in a contemporary re-imagining of the 8th Century legend for Sky 1 and BBC Worldwide.
The new Sinbad will be treading the line between Hero and Villain. On the run from his home town of Basra and under a curse for a killing that led to the death of his much-loved brother, the streetwise Sinbad finds himself cast out to sea. Surviving a violent and magical storm, both Sinbad and his intriguing fellow ship-mates are forced to band together to face their inner demons, hopes, loves and fears. Our flawed hero embarks on an epic and emotional quest to rid himself of the curse and embrace his destiny. “When mystical meets muscle anything can happen…”
Produced by Impossible Pictures (who also produced ITV’s Primeval), Sinbad is part of Sky1’s multi-million pound HD drama investment fund.
Elaine Pyke (Head of Drama, Sky 1) commented: “Our SINBAD is 21, reckless, utterly charming and cursed. Mysticism, magic, monsters and high octane action adventure, this SINBAD is always exciting and sometimes challenging. This unique series will have the ambition of LOST, the pace of 24 and take the viewer to visually stunning locations on both sea and land. Sky’s SINBAD will be a multi-layered series for today’s prime time audience.”
Sophie Gardiner (Exec Producer, Impossible Pictures) added: “This is a hugely ambitious project and we’re thrilled to partner with Sky to reinvigorate this much loved action hero. We’re confident that SINBAD will confound audience’s expectations and create a big, noisy series for Sky 1.”
Shooting is expected to start in February 2011 in Malta and Sinbad is scheduled for premiere on Sky 1 HD in Winter 2011.
Stuart Murphy also unveiled a whole host of new commissions and acquisitions including:
Dogumentary, A brand new observational documentary from the makers of Pinapple Dance Studios (Pulse Films) centres on the world of dog grooming salons, doggy day care centres and vets’ clinics where cameras will follow the people who work at them, as well as their clients. But in Dogumentary the stars of the show are the pampered pooches themselves, and these are no ordinary canines – they can actually talk. In surreal moments, the mutts talk to each other in funny and off-the-wall exchanges about their lives, loves and observations on the world.
Ross Kemp Extreme World. The BAFTA®-winning documentary team (Tiger Aspect) return as Ross Kemp reports from some of the most dangerous places on Earth. Over five hard-hitting episodes, Ross travels to Mexico, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and Chicago to learn how international organised crime, terrorists and local criminal networks have created alliances that are destroying millions of lives. Plus, in a UK-based episode, he reveals the grim truth about people trafficking in Britain.
Prince William and The Tusk Trust Project (Working Title). In an exclusive 1hr long documentary by Spun Gold, presented by conservationist and adventurer Ben Fogle, Sky 1 HD gains unprecedented access to Prince William’s first official visit to Africa as he travels to Botswana, the home of wildlife conservation charity Tusk Trust. Marking the charity’s 20th anniversary, royal patron Prince William talks about his love of Africa, his passion for conservation and staying grounded, before challenging Ben to run a fund-raising marathon in Kenya.
Also announced are aquisitions from the US including: Raising Hope from the makers of My Name Is Earl. The Middle, from Warner Bros International about an ordinary family struggling to survive life – and each other – in Middle America. Ride-Along, A gritty new police drama from The Shield creator Shawn Ryan and Lone Star, a 20th Century Fox Production in which newcomer James Wolk is Robert/Bob Allen, a charismatic schemer who has meticulously constructed two lives for years without arousing any suspicions… until now.
