HBO's The Newsroom: Restoring Journalism to its Roots

I'm slightly late broadcasting the news about HBO's fresh series The Newsroom, as I'm sure many are along with me. Few television series have revolved around broadcast journalism - the '90s had NewsRadio and Just Shoot Me! - both were sitcoms, focusing more on situations between colleagues, doing what situation comedies do. There hasn't been a solid drama. The Newsroom has changed that. Writer/creator Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network) captures the anxieties and stress of not only reporting events in the nick of time, but also being able to provide the news - unfiltered. Powerhouse Jeff Daniels plays the "number two news anchor in ratings" Will McAvoy, who returns to his cable show "News Night" to discover that he has been given a new team of colleagues and producer. Emily Mortimer (City Island, Hugo) plays McAvoy's newly-hired-producer-behind-his-back MacKenzie McHale, who is also McAvoy's ex-girlfriend. The new producer's aim is to restore journalism to its fighting roots, urging McAvoy to ditch the current style and report the news with his opinion, where content will be the force that drives ratings. "New Night" has an ongoing battle with a magazine in the same building, accurately titled "TMI," who reports about the Housewives of whatever and conjures up personal stories against even McAvoy himself. The Newsroom is fast-talking, sometimes overlapping, Preston Sturges dialogue. The scenes are packed with so many digs and references happening at the same time that you almost need a crawl at the bottom of the screen, so as not to miss any of the clever banter. How often does that happen anymore? The ensemble cast is excellent, the characters are layered, and the news is riveting. Since the beginning of Season 1 is set in 2010 and ends in 2011, The Newsroom covers real historical events; and the buildup of tense situations in the newsroom are suddenly cut like a knife when a red alert flashes for breaking news. The energy produced on-screen is electric. I would actually just like to watch The Newsroom for news now, and frankly, my dear, I don't care that I'll be a year behind. Season 2 is on the air this June. Tune in. Satisfaction guaranteed.

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Poltergeist Curse: Urban Legend or Production Nightmare?

Gather 'round ghoulies. Come into the light. Let me tell you a story revolving quite possibly the best horror film ever made: Poltergeist (Steven Spielberg, 1982). The following information are facts, based on actual events that happened to many of the cast involved in the Poltergeist movie trilogy. Six cast members died deaths shrouded by mystery or tragedy, while the other cast is said to be "cursed." So why were they cursed? Remember the scene (pictured above) where JoBeth Williams is swimming in a muddy pool of bodies? Production decided to use real human cadavers as props because it was allegedly cheaper than using prop skeletons. The Poltergeist cast and crew thereby cursed by the angry spirits of the deceased used in the making of the 1980s box office hits. Actors and actresses in the Poltergeist trilogy who died untimely deaths are: Dominique Dunne , who played older sister Dana in the first film, was st...

Once Upon Maleficent

Tale as old as time...No, wait... that's Beauty and the Beast . Disney's ideals have changed since its classic Sleeping Beauty was released in 1959. Then, female animated characters were driven by "true love," or rather, the idea of romantic perfection: a dashing hero who will save them from dreaded despair. If her Prince found her , then all was well in Dislandia. The fairy tales provided escapism for viewers, but also exceedingly high expectations, thereby disappointment. But, fear not! The Beauty re-imagined Maleficent validates that things are different now; in fact, one may not even have to do anything to attain the message in this Fairytale 2.0. Maleficent begins with a classic Disney opening, along with narration from a friendly voice...a young fairy named Maleficent. A compassionate healer, she cures trees and such in her fairy kingdom The Moors. Maleficent's pre-black-rubber days consisted of protecting her land and the creatures who inhabited it...

Lifetime's 'Witches of' Eastwick... I mean: 'East End'

Lifetime witches can be so caring and generous, I've heard. Lifetime has ordered ten episodes of the new TV show Witches of East End , about a mother witch of two ( Julia Ormond ), and her adult daughters Jenna Dewan-Tatum ( American Horror Story ) and Rachel Boston ( American Dreams ) who are unaware of their powers and immortality. Virginia Madsen ( Sideways ) has recently been cast to join the Lifetime coven. Recently ABC's Eastwick (2009) only survived one season of fledgling sorcery before getting the axe. The series is loosely based on the novel by Melissa de la Cruz of the same name. This all sounds charming, will probably be a little practical about the magic used, but we can all hope for some real Hocus Pocus since there won't be any teenage witches.

Ed & Lorraine Warren: 'Conjuring' Up The Wicked

We love to be scared. We love it even more when it's based on a true story. Director James Wan who brought you Saw and Insidious , has a new horror film out - The Conjuring . The bone chilling tale based on the true events experienced by husband and wife Ed and Lorraine Warren - the paranormal investigator dream team. The film takes place in 1971, where the Warrens give lectures on demonology at Universities, aside from debunking paranormal cases with their years of expertise. The Warrens even have a museum of haunted artifacts in their abode, taken from cases so haunting, they have a priest on the payroll who regularly visits to bless the room. The Warrens are brought on by Carolyn Perron, played by Lily Taylor ( The Haunting , Six Feet Under ), to help her family of five daughters who are being haunted and taunted by dark spirits in their farmhouse. Things go bump-in-the-night, to say the least....

The Triumph of Camp X-Ray

After premiering at Sundance Film Festival in January to critical praise, Camp X-Ray , the directorial debut from writer/director Peter Sattler which stars Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi was picked up by IFC Films and released OnDemand, on iTunes, and Amazon Oct. 17. Sattler opens the film with a shot of the Twin Towers up in smoke, which is then revealed to be current news on the television at Ali Amir's residence, played by Peyman Maadi ( A Separation ). Privately praying in his humble apartment, Ali suddenly has his head enveloped by a black bag and is whisked off on a boat, along with other visibly-and-audibly shielded men across the ocean. Sattler cuts to eight years later, where we follow Kristen Stewart 's Army private first class Amy Cole who has just arrived to Camp Delta located at Guantanamo Bay, and stationed to guard the detainees. Informed by her superior that this is a war zone, the guards are put on suicide watch every 3 minutes. While she's just be...

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