Alan Rapp

I had the chance to check out the pilot for Love Monkey last night starring the intensely likeable Tom Cavanagh as a A&R Rep looking for new music artists to sign while cursing the current industry push for more pop princesses and big bags of cash.  The show balances Tom’s job with his friendship with his three guy friends (Jason Priestley, Larenz Tate, and Christopher Wiehl) and his relationship with his best friend (Judy Greer).  More than a little bit reminiscent of the musical snobbery in High Fidelity but also very entertaining as Cavanaugh et al exude charm.  The show is based off Kyle Smith’s book.  Painfully though the monkey has been scheduled on Tuesday nights against one of the only good shows left on TV ABC’s Boston Legal meaning if you want to catch it you might have to do so in the next few weeks.  Here’s hoping it lasts long enough to find a branch to call its own.

Love Monkey
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Miss a show or forget a DVD release or movie opening?  Don’t fret true believers cause we’re here to help you out.  Here’s what’s on tap for your entertainment dollar this week.

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RazorFine gets you set up for the week with a look at what’s coming to your local theater, video store, and beamed directly into your television this week.  Here’s what’s happenin’ this week…

Love Monkey

TV
This week on the tube:

The 63rd Annual Golden Globes 8:00/7:00 Monday NBC
American Idol 8:00/7:00 Tuesday FOX (just kill me!)
Love Monkey (series premiere) 10:00/9:00 Tuesday CBS
Skating with Celebrities 9:00/8:00 Wednesday FOX (kill me now!!!)
Miss America 8:00/7:00 Saturday CMT
Dennis Miller All In 10:00/9:00 Saturday HBO

DVD
New releases for Tuesday January 17:

Lois & Clark Season Two

Adventures of Superman – Complete Second Season
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman – Complete Second Season
Doogie Howser, M.D. – Season Three
The Mary Tyler Moore Show – Complete Third Season
The Devil and Max Devlin
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Junebug
Lord of War
The Man
My Dog, the Thief
Two For the Money
Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

Film
Movies opening Friday January 20th:

Underworld Evolution
The sequel to 2003’s Underworld continues the tale of the war between death dealers (vampires) and lycans (werewolves).  Returning are most of the original characters including Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Shane Brolly, and Michael Sheen.  Who’s been waiting for this sequel?

Transamerica 
This has been out in limited release for a few weeks and finally gets a long delayed wide release.  One of Aaron’s Top 10 movies of the year (read Marion’s review here).  Felicity Huffman plays a pre-op transsexual who learns of a teenage son just days before his/her surgery.  It’s a journey about self-discovery and life’s choices.  The last half of the film is simply spectacular and Huffman gives an Oscar worthy performance.  Not for everybody, but definitely worth a look for those of you not turned off by the subject matter.

The New World
A Terrance Malick flick!  Malick goes where many have gone before in telling the story of John Smith (here played by Colin Farrell) and the struggles between the Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.  Also along for the ride are Christian Bale, Christopher Plummer, and Q’orianka Kilcher as Pocahontas.  Promises to be beautifully shot but can Malick breathe new life into a well-trodden story?

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Albert Brooks is hired by the United States Government to discover what makes Muslims laugh.  The film was a hit when it was released at the Dubai Film Festival last year and opens in limited release in the US this week.  The film was dropped by Sony Pictures because of it’s controversal title and nature but was picked up by Warner Independent Pictures who hope they can find an audience for this off-beat little film.

Why We Fight
Also opening in limited release this documentary examines the issue of whether or not American foreign policy is too influenced by the military.  Has the military industrial complex become a monster that we can no longer control?  Eugene Jarecki asks these questions and more.  (Sounds like what I wanted Syriana to be).

It seems the horrendous atrocity known as Blade Trinity wasn’t quite able to kill the franchise after all.  Spike TV and New Line Television have decided rather than letting the “day walker” die from the lethal script of the last movie they’d rather opt for the slow death by making a two hour pilot TV movie instead.  Writer of all three movies (and director of the least, um..I mean last) David S. Goyer was chosen to pen the script.  Kirk Jones (aka Kirk “Sticky Jones, aka Onyx, aka Sticky Fingaz) has been cast in the main role with Jill Wagner, Jessica Gower, Neil Jackson, and Nelson Lee rounding out the cast.  Peter O’Fallon has been tapped to direct.  What, no pro-wrestlers or Jessica Biel this time?

Blade
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