TRAILER: New Orleans-Shot ‘Kidnapping Freddy Heineken’

The New Orleans-shot film Kidnapping Freddy Heineken stars Anthony Hopkins, Sam Worthington, Jim Sturgess and True Blood alum Ryan Kwanten. This true thriller set in period Amsterdam has been acquired by Alchemy and is set for release on March 6.

Anthony Hopkins stars as Freddy Heineken, who was kidnapped by five boyhood friends, who succeeded in generating the largest ransom ever paid. Daniel Alfredson directed the film, which was adapted by William Brookfield from the best-selling book by Peter R. de Vries.

Game of Thrones Episodes to Screen at Local Theatres

Excellent films have been released in theaters over the past five years. But the best storytelling I’ve come across in the last half decade has all been on television. Once the graveyard of big screen talent, television has become one of the most compelling experiences in media. And Game of Thrones is the best show on television.

HBO’s veteran fantasy drama will cross the now-narrow sea from small screen to the largest screens in advance of its 2015 return. IMAX screens across the country, including some in South Louisiana, will be screening Game of Thrones at the end of this month. It will be the first time ever for the company, which sells premium large format theatrical experiences, to show television content.

The two-hour event will feature two hour-long episodes from Game of Thrones season four, followed by a special season five sneak preview that’s exclusive to IMAX. The tickets to the event go on sale tomorrow, Friday, January 16 here. The event begins on Thursday, January 29 and continues through February 5.

IMAX and HBO had originally scheduled the history-making event to kick off on January 23, but the tremendous response from social media encouraged the partners to expand the one-week engagement to more theaters.

If you live in South Louisiana, you can join me as I slam popcorn and Diet Coke at one of these three participating theaters:

AMC Baton Rouge 16 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
AMC Westbank Palace 16 (Harvey, Louisiana)
Grand 16 – (Slidell, Louisiana)

New theaters are being added everyday. And if you talk during my screening, remember those words from Arya Stark: “Valar Morghulis.”

All men must die.

Les Miles Hires Alabama’s Kevin Steele as Defensive Coordinator

Les Miles was in talks with signing Nick Saban protege, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Instead, Miles landed Kevin Steele, Alabama’s linebacker coach. Steele had stints with Nebraska, Florida State, the Carolina Panthers and Clemson. His Clemson exit was less than impressive with Steele’s Clemson  defense allowing seventy points against West Virginia. But they say Kevin Steele is a great recruiter and recruiting has continued to keep LSU competitive even as it has struggled.

With the unsettling departure of John Chavis, Miles was in need of an elite defensive coordinator. Chavis had already mentally moved on before the Tigers even faced the underwhelming Fighting Irish from Notre Dame. After mentally departing, Chavis physically moved on directly following Nashville’s Music City Bowl and shipped out to Texas A&M, where he will now face off against his former Tigers.

LSU is also currently in talks with the passionate Ed Orgeron, who has experience in the SEC coaching at Arkansas, Tennessee and Ole Miss, where he was the head coach. Orgeron will likely become the Tigers defensive line coach, a spot where the Tigers have been one of the most overrated teams in the country. The Bayou Bengals have seen great recruits underperform at the defensive tackle positions and hopefully Orgeron can maximize players at that position.

We will see if these hires by the Mad Hatter will help the Tigers prevail. And lets all hope Ohio State’s Braxton Miller can transfer and play so we won’t have to sit through another season of Baton Rouge Quarterback Mediocrity.

Please leave your comments below!

‘NCIS: New Orleans’ Renewed for Second Season

With a whopping 18.1 million total viewers this season, NCIS: New Orleans has been granted a second season. CBS Studios has found success with four new dramas this fall including Scorpion, Madame Secretary, Stalker and NCIS: New Orleans. The crime drama shot in New Orleans leads all CBS fall dramas in viewership and has it’s proverbial foot on the accelerator as it hopes to end its first season strong and gain even more momentum for its second season.

This is great news for the local film community in New Orleans, which will continue to benefit from the steady income and employment a flagship network show like NCIS: New Orleans brings with it. The show, which is distributed globally through distribution deals in hundreds of international territories, also offers great promotional value for a city that has come to depend on more than production spend. Tourism is generated by the additional exposure that a fictional show set in New Orleans brings with it.

It was only in late October when NCIS: New Orleans, Scorpion and Madame Secretary were given full season orders. Now they have accumulated strong followings and large success they have all achieved prized second seasons.

Catch the twelfth episode of NCIS: New Orleans tonight on CBS at 8:00 pm. This weeks episode is entitled “The Abyss.”

Mark and Jay Duplass Talk New HBO Show ‘Togetherness’

Metairie natives Jay and Mark Duplass talk about their new show for HBO, Togetherness.

Brett and Michelle are struggling to rekindle the spark in their relationship, which has fizzled from the stresses of marriage and children. When Brett’s friend Alex and Michelle’s sister, Tina, move in with them, the foursome engage in a tragically comedic struggle to follow their personal dreams, while still remaining good friends, siblings and spouses to each other.

Created by Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass & Steve Zissis, Togetherness is the TV debut as a writing team from brothers Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass. The new comedy series began its eight episode season.

Blending laughter and pathos, the show follows four adults nearing 40, living under the same roof and struggling to keep their relationships and their dreams alive.

Q: Together you have written, directed and produced more than 20 movies. How is working on a series different from working on a film?
MARK DUPLASS: The main difference is being able to track the very intricate, subtle interactions between the characters. When you’re dealing with the 90minute format of a movie, you’ve set the whole thing up, then you’ve got a good chunk in the middle where you can dig into things, and then you’ve got to wrap it up. With TV, you put the ball in the air and you have tons of time to mine all of those awkward, funny, sad interpersonal relationship dynamics that really get us excited about storytelling.

Q: Why did you bring Togetherness to HBO?
MD: The thing that makes HBO really exciting is that they bet on their filmmakers. They help you when you need it, but they don’t necessarily try to develop you too much or push you too much in one direction. It was really exciting to be able to make a show and be fully supported, but also to do exactly we wanted to do.

Q: With Mark in one of the lead roles, it begs the question: Does any of the show come from personal experience? What other influences went into creating the show?
JAY DUPLASS: Mark and I spent a ton of time in our 20s trying to be very referential, trying to be the Coen brothers and failing miserably at that. Then we lucked into this experience where we started making fun of ourselves on screen. The first movie we ever made that was really any good was a seven minute short film about a guy trying to perfect the personal greeting of his answering machine and failing to do so, and having a nervous breakdown, which actually happened to one of us in real life. This show is an extension of our caveman style of filmmaking. Mark and I did not grow up in Hollywood.

We didn’t know anyone in the industry, and we didn’t have any awareness of people who made movies until we went to college in Austin and saw what Richard Linklater was doing. We’ve always made things by hand and represented our own world, and I think Togetherness is probably the truest and most accurate thing that we’ve ever done.

The show is about being in your late 30s, living on the East Side of LA, having kids and trying to be a family person, and trying to also make your own dreams come true. That’s really just the stuff of our lives and the conflict of our lives. In terms of drawing inspiration, we just talk about our own lives and the lives of our best friends and our family, and all the material comes from there.

Q: How do you work together?
MD: Every project is a little different in terms of how we approach it, but this is the most intensely collaborative project we’ve done, because it’s bigger in scope. We’re functioning in a lot of roles and we’re preparing a bit more on this show than we normally do. There are just natural lines that get divided, where Jay and I talk about who is going to take the lead at this one given moment. We’ve never had an issue with crazy ego stuff about letting one person take the lead, which is important because you can’t have two people sitting in the driver’s seat at all times trying to push the pedal and fight with each other. It’s a great comfort to know that if I’m feeling grumpy and uninspired, Jay will push a little bit harder and get things done.

JD: One thing that’s nice is when stuff goes down, Mark and I can discuss it between the two of us, and be super honest.

Q: How did you find your collaborative voice for Togetherness?
MD: Jay and I discovered our voice through the conversations we’ve had our whole lives, where we’re up an hour or two late and a little bit tired, and either crying or laughing about something that’s going on in our lives.

If we feel like we have one major strength, it is to look at the pain and the struggles of intimacy and friendships and your dreams, and take one step back and realize how stupid and funny you look in the middle of all of it.

Q: What is it about minor victories in life that inspire people to keep going?
JD: We’ve realized that the big victories never tend to be exactly what you think they will be, whereas sometimes the minor victories are the ones that really count. For example, everyone tells you how wonderful it is to have children, but in our experience 90% is struggle and 10% is totally, absolutely beautiful and validates the whole experience. Take this morning: Before I took my two-year-old son to school, we were rushing and rushing, and he said, “I want stay with you, Dad.” That made up for the whole last month when he’s had a sinus infection and has been whining nonstop. That kind of little victory, that’s what life is like and that’s what we’re trying to represent.

Q: In the show, Brett’s best friend and Michelle’s sister both move in with the married couple. What is the dynamic of this foursome?
MD: Alex and Brett are soul mates in a way, but the arrival of Tina makes things much more complex. What’s really interesting to us is how group dynamics change, depending on who’s in the group and how many are in the group.

Q: What does music bring to the show?
JD: We spent a lot of time on the music, more than on any other project, because we have four equally strong lead characters. Brett is into Rush, really intense prog rock. Michelle is into ‘80s New Wave. Tina’s probably into hair bands, so in the pilot, you hear Sebastian Bach. We imagine that Alex grew up in Detroit, so he listens to oldschool rap.

Q: What does “togetherness” mean to you?
JD: Togetherness is a double edged sword. At first you think it can be a saccharine feeling, where you want to be with your family and snuggle up together. The other side is that you feel trapped, and the only thing that you want to do is escape.

Golden Globes 2015: Winners

The 2015 Golden Globe Awards were passed out last night. Although the Globes are not considered an accurate predictor of the Academy Awards, they are a popular celebration of film and television culture that help determine some of the buzz around possible Oscar contenders.

Among the nominees of note to our readers in Louisiana are Quvenzhane Wallis’ nod for her starring role in Annie. A native of Houma, Louisiana, Wallis’ breakout film was Beasts of the Southern Wild, for which she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Also of note are Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey’s Best Actor nominations for True Detective, which was shot in Louisiana. Their costar on the HBO psychological thriller, Michelle Monaghan, was also nominated. And the show itself True Detective, received a nomination for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. Kathy Bates received a Supporting Actress nomination for her role in American Horror Story: Freak Show, which was shot in New Orleans. Her co-star Jessica Lange received a Best Actress nom.

Here are the winners in Bold:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

BOYHOOD
IFC Productions and Detour Filmproduction; IFC Films

FOXCATCHER
Annapurna Pictures; Sony Pictures Classic

THE IMITATION GAME
Black Bear Pictures; The Weinstein Company

SELMA
Paramount Pictures and Pathé; Paramount Pictures

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Working Title Films; Focus Features

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

JENNIFER ANISTON
CAKE

FELICITY JONES
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

JULIANNE MOORE
STILL ALICE

ROSAMUND PIKE
GONE GIRL

REESE WITHERSPOON
WILD

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

STEVE CARELL
FOXCATCHER

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
THE IMITATION GAME

JAKE GYLLENHAAL
NIGHTCRAWLER

DAVID OYELOWO
SELMA

EDDIE REDMAYNE
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

BIRDMAN

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

INTO THE WOODS

PRIDE

ST. VINCENT

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

AMY ADAMS
BIG EYES

EMILY BLUNT
INTO THE WOODS

HELEN MIRREN
THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY

JULIANNE MOORE
MAPS TO THE STARS

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS – Native of Houma, Louisiana
ANNIE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

RALPH FIENNES
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

MICHAEL KEATON
BIRDMAN

BILL MURRAY
ST. VINCENT

JOAQUIN PHOENIX
INHERENT VICE

CHRISTOPH WALTZ
BIG EYES

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

BIG HERO 6

THE BOOK OF LIFE

THE BOXTROLLS

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

THE LEGO MOVIE

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

FORCE MAJEURE TURIST (SWEDEN)

GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE (ISRAEL) AMSALEM GETT

IDA (POLAND/DENMARK)

LEVIATHAN (RUSSIA)

TANGERINES MANDARIINID (ESTONIA)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

PATRICIA ARQUETTE
BOYHOOD

JESSICA CHASTAIN
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY
THE IMITATION GAME

EMMA STONE
BIRDMAN

MERYL STREEP
INTO THE WOODS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

ROBERT DUVALL
THE JUDGE

ETHAN HAWKE
BOYHOOD

EDWARD NORTON
BIRDMAN

MARK RUFFALO
FOXCATCHER

J.K. SIMMONS
WHIPLASH

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

WES ANDERSON
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

AVA DUVERNAY
SELMA

DAVID FINCHER
GONE GIRL

ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU
BIRDMAN

RICHARD LINKLATER
BOYHOOD

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

WES ANDERSON
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

GILLIAN FLYNN
GONE GIRL

ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU, NICOLÁS GIACOBONE, ALEXANDER DINELARIS, ARMANDO BO
BIRDMAN

RICHARD LINKLATER
BOYHOOD

GRAHAM MOORE
THE IMITATION GAME

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

ALEXANDRE DESPLAT
THE IMITATION GAME

JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS
GONE GIRL

ANTONIO SANCHEZ
BIRDMAN

HANS ZIMMER
INTERSTELLAR

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

“BIG EYES” — BIG EYES
Lana Del Rey

“GLORY” — SELMA
John Legend, Common

“MERCY IS” — NOAH
Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye

“OPPORTUNITY” — ANNIE
Greg Kurstin, Sia Furler, Will Gluck

“YELLOW FLICKER BEAT” — THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1
Lorde

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

THE AFFAIR
SHOWTIME

DOWNTON ABBEY
PBS

GAME OF THRONES
HBO

THE GOOD WIFE
CBS

HOUSE OF CARDS
NETFLIX

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

CLAIRE DANES
HOMELAND

VIOLA DAVIS
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER

JULIANNA MARGULIES
THE GOOD WIFE

RUTH WILSON
THE AFFAIR

ROBIN WRIGHT
HOUSE OF CARDS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

CLIVE OWEN
THE KNICK

LIEV SCHREIBER
RAY DONOVAN

KEVIN SPACEY
HOUSE OF CARDS

JAMES SPADER
THE BLACKLIST

DOMINIC WEST
THE AFFAIR

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

GIRLS
HBO

JANE THE VIRGIN

THE CW

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
NETFLIX

SILICON VALLEY
HBO

TRANSPARENT
AMAZON

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

LENA DUNHAM
GIRLS

EDIE FALCO
NURSE JACKIE

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS
VEEP

GINA RODRIGUEZ
JANE THE VIRGIN

TAYLOR SCHILLING
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

LOUIS C. K.
LOUIE

DON CHEADLE
HOUSE OF LIES

RICKY GERVAIS
DEREK

WILLIAM H. MACY
SHAMELESS

JEFFREY TAMBOR
TRANSPARENT

BEST MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

FARGO
FX

THE MISSING
STARZ

THE NORMAL HEART
HBO

OLIVE KITTERIDGE
HBO

TRUE DETECTIVE – Shot in South Louisiana
HBO

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL
THE HONORABLE WOMAN

JESSICA LANGE
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW

FRANCES MCDORMAND
OLIVE KITTERIDGE

FRANCES O’CONNOR
THE MISSING

ALLISON TOLMAN
FARGO

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

MARTIN FREEMAN
FARGO

WOODY HARRELSON – Shot in Louisiana
TRUE DETECTIVE

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY – Shot in Louisiana
TRUE DETECTIVE

MARK RUFFALO
THE NORMAL HEART

BILLY BOB THORNTON
FARGO

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

UZO ADUBA
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

KATHY BATES – Shot in Louisiana
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW

JOANNE FROGGATT
DOWNTON ABBEY

ALLISON JANNEY
MOM

MICHELLE MONAGHAN – Shot in Louisiana
TRUE DETECTIVE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

MATT BOMER
THE NORMAL HEART

ALAN CUMMING
THE GOOD WIFE

COLIN HANKS
FARGO

BILL MURRAY
OLIVE KITTERIDGE

JON VOIGHT
RAY DONOVAN

Export NOLA 2015

The 7th annual Export Nola will be held tonight, January 9 and Saturday January 10. Music will be played at the Cutting Room, Midtown Live and Brooklyn Bowl. The music will feature deeply rooted Louisiana music groups. You can read more at http://backbeatfoundation.org/. Below: Who, Where and When.

Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Brooklyn Bowl | 1.10.2015
The Funky Nation is a stellar group of world-class musicians who meet the challenges of their funky band leader. BSFN’s signature Noladelic Powerfunk sound masterfully combines a rock sensibility with improv-style associated with jazz and the horn-heavy front section that’s the hallmark of big band funk.Big Sam began playing with the Dirty Dozen at the tender age of 19 before striking out on his own and creating the Funky Nation.

Cedric Burnside Project
Midtown Live | 1.10.2015
Cedric was born and raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi. At the young age of 13, he began touring around the world playing drums with his grandfather, North Mississippi blues legend R.L. Burnside. In late 2006, Cedric & Lightin’ Malcolm teamed up and toured as “The Juke Joint Duo”. In 2010, Cedric collaborated with his younger brother, Cody Burnside, and his uncle, Garry Burnside, to create The Cedric Burnside Project.  Following the passing of Cody, Cedric keeps the flame burning, touring with Trenton Ayers. Cedric is also the recipient of three Memphis Blues Award for Drummer of the Year, last one being awarded in 2013.

Lost Bayou Ramblers
Brooklyn Bowl | 1.10.2015
Lost Bayou Ramblers was born deep in South Louisiana performing old style, predominantly acoustic Cajun music at clubs and festivals across the US, Europe, and Canada. Formed in 1999 by Louis Michot (fiddle and vocals) and his brother Andre Michot (accordion and lap steel guitar), they grew to include producer Korey Richey (electric bass), Johnny Campos (electric guitar) and Eric Heigle (drums).   In 2008, the Ramblers were nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Zydeco or Cajun Music category.

Luke Winslow King
Midtown Live | 1.10.2015
Luke Winslow King is a guitarist, singer, composer, and lyricist known for his slide guitar work, and interest in pre-war blues and traditional jazz. Winslow King’s work consists of an eclectic mix, taking in delta-folk music, classical composition, ragtime, and rock and roll; juxtaposing original songs with those from a bygone era.

Mia Borders
Cutting Room | 1.9.2015
With her endlessly soulful voice, richly emotional songwriting, and undeniable style, Mia Borders embodies the spirit of her hometown. Described by the Times Picayune as a “singer-songwriter sui generis, playing sultry, often confessional original tunes sometimes cloaked in a thorny coat of high-energy, blues-rock riffage; sometimes, she calls to mind Ani DiFranco, but funkier.”

Mississippi Rail Company
Cutting Room | 1.9.2015
The aim of Mississippi Rail Company is moving music forward via a vehicle of the past. Their music is an experiment in irony, embracing New Orleans roots music, rock ‘n roll, folk, and blues traditions while refusing to fall subject to any of their claims. It manages to sound as if it could have been produced in 1920, even as its content and structure are decades ahead of its time.

Naughty Professor
Brooklyn Bowl | 1.10.2015
Naughty Professor is a forward thinking music endeavor pioneered by six young musicians from around the country, now anchored in New Orleans, Louisiana. Formed in 2011, the band’s mission was to embody the jazz-influenced party culture of the Big Easy in a constantly evolving, high energy funk/soul outfit. Naughty Professors’ live performances weave together complex compositions and loose individual improvisation.

New Orleans Swamp Donkeys
Traditional Jazz Band with Special Guest Alia Shawkat of Arrested Development, Cedar Rapids, etc.
Cutting Room | 1.9.2015
The Swamp Donkeys play traditional jazz, blues, jass originals, vaudeville, modern jazz adaptations, and many other jazz and New Orleans-derived styles. They have beginnings and educations in the authentic, New Orleans, grassroots music scene, playing local festivals and second lines, which grew into world-class music education programs and playing in concerts across the country.

Stooges Brass Band
Cutting Room | 1.9.2015
The Stooges Brass Band has earned their rank as one of the elite brass bands in New Orleans. The band consistently provides a welcome blast of true New Orleans spirit engaging audiences with their innovative blend of traditional New Orleans brass sounds, contemporary jazz and hip-hop beats. Guitarist Elliot Slater adds the rock and funk element to the already immensely prominent group. Emerging onto the scene in 1996, the Stooges Brass Band has gained notoriety as a full-blown musical party immersing the crowd in a cut-loose vibe that is contemporary yet deeply rooted in the culturally rich musical legacy of New Orleans.

TRAILER: Baton Rouge-shot ‘Demonic’

Five people are murdered while trying to summon and film ghosts and it is up to a police officer and a psychologist to solve the case. Maria Bello and Frank Grillo star in this Baton Rouge-shot horror film.

James Wan knows his way around scaring audiences. His films include Saw, Insidious: Chapter 2 and The Conjuring just to name a few. James Wan produced and Will Canon directed the film.

For more about this film check out our previous post about this terrifying film.

IN THEATERS: ‘Inherent Vice’, ‘Predestination’, ‘Taken 3′, ‘Selma’

Inherent Vice

In a drug fueled 1970s Los Angeles, Joaquin Phoenix splendidly fits the role of Larry “Doc” Sportello in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film Inherent Vice. The film also features highly recognizable actors like Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph and Boardwalk Empire alum Michael Kenneth Williams. 148 min. Rated R.

Predestination

The Spierig Brothers return with their Daybreakers star Ethan Hawke for their new film Predestination. Hawke plays a time-traveling Temporal Agent on his final assignment tracking down one criminal that has eluded him throughout time. 97 min. Rated R.

Taken 3

Ageless sparkplug Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills in the third installment of the Taken series. 109 min. Rated PG-13.

Selma

The powerful march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama led by Interstellar alum David Oyelowo who plays Martin Luther King, Jr. Filmed in Alabama and Georgia, the film is jam packed with mega stars including Oprah, Cuba Gooding Jr, Giovanni Ribisi, Tim Roth, Common, Martin Sheen and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce. 128 min. Rated PG-13.

TRAILER: Marvel’s Georgia-shot ‘Ant-Man’

Chris Pratt just nailed his part as Star-Lord in Marvel’s incredibly popular Guardians of the Galaxy, and he did it with a mix of humor and heroics. It’s a formula that Marvel is looking to repeat, especially because of the box office’s response to Guardians. Ant-Man will star Paul Rudd in a superhero movie that will hopefully make you laugh, and, given his comedy pedigree, I have high hopes that Paul Rudd will nail it too.

Ant-Man was filmed in Georgia and was written by Step Brothers, Anchorman and Talladega Nights penman Adam McKay and also the star himself, Paul Rudd. This unconventional Marvel film also stars Hobbit alum Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Boardwalk Empire alum Bobby Cannavale and the courageously funny Judy Greer.

With the release date only six months away, the Marvel marketing machine is gearing up, giving us this first teaser, along with a slew of photos and new information about the long-in-development project that swapped director Edgar Wright for direct Peyton Reed.

The film is set to be released July 17, 2015. Although the long, tumultuous development process may have some fans hesitating and Marvel’s newest offering, it should be a fantastic summer blockbuster that features the can’t-miss actor, Paul Rudd.

Health Scene: New Year’s Resolutions

This article originally ran in the 2015 January/February issue of Scene Magazine

Aaron Williamson is a health advisor and fitness trainer to the film industry. He has helped craft the physical transformations of Jamie Foxx in Django Unchained, Zac Efron in Neighbors and Josh Brolin in Oldboy. He recently finished molding Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke into legendary action heroine Sarah Connor for Terminator: Genisys. Find out more at aaronwilliamson.net. 

According to a recent study, the number one new year’s resolution is two words: lose weight. Any yet only 8% of those resolutions are kept. What do you think most people who fail to meet their resolutions are doing wrong?
Everyone has the thought of going into the new year that they are going to get healthy, start eating better, or another similar resolution. Where they fall short is this: they have this idea in their head but there’s no blueprint. Once the new year rolls around and it’s time to achieve this goal, or resolution, there’s nothing to follow. If you go into the gym without a blueprint, especially if you are someone who is not familiar with the equipment and don’t know about nutrition, you kind of fumble around because you are trying to figure out what to do “on the go.” The best thing you can do is to put that plan on paper. There, you can begin to plan out how to make this goal a reality. Simply going into the gym with only an idea in your head is really setting yourself up for failure. I see it time and time again: people go to the store, go to the gym or go to the kitchen trying to get in shape and they just don’t know what to do. It’s because they haven’t thought the plan through. Make a plan, follow the plan and just stick with it. That’s the key to achieving your resolution or goal.

They go in with a goal but with no road map to get there.
Right. They go in with a head full of steam and no plan. The expectation is to have these amazing, dramatic results in such a short period of time. It’s just unrealistic. That’s where people get set up for failure. They don’t understand there’s a process to it. It’s not about just going to the gym for two or three weeks and then you are going to see these dramatic changes.

It also seems like many people make their resolutions too complicated. They are trying to accomplish major paradigm shifts. And yet most experts say you should keep your goal simple. What is a simple nutrition goal you can set?
Let’s break it down like this. Say you eat four meals a day (which is ideal for the normal person). That’s twenty-eight meals per week. That gives you twenty-eight chances to be successful in a week. If you fall short during a few meals, you are still on the right track. That’s nothing major and you won’t break your resolution. And remember, when you are starting a new nutrition plan at the beginning of the year, you don’t want to start off at 100 miles per hour like you are competing in a bodybuilding competition. You’ll burn yourself out. Just take it week-by-week, subtracting one thing from your diet each week, whether it’s sodas or a candy bar, or something you know is not healthy. Take one thing out and replace it with a piece of fruit or a vegetable, or something healthy. Those little things will help you make huge changes over time and you’ll feel better.

What’s a simple training goal for the new year?
Exercise with other people. Whether it’s with a partner or in a group. There will be days where it’s going to be hard to find time to train, especially if you work long hours or have kids. If you have someone that’s there to help you to fit in that thirty minutes or an hour of exercise, that’s going to get you through those tough times. Going into the gym by yourself when you are tired, hungry or aggravated will make it a lot harder to push through what you need to do. If you have someone else there, you’ll be able to feed off each other’s motivation and energy. You are also making it more enjoyable, especially if you are a competitive person.

What if you lose sight of your goal?
First, you have to look at how you lost sight of it. Did you really give yourself enough time to accomplish the goal? Are you confused over the goal? Keep in mind that you have an entire year to accomplish this resolution. New year’s resolutions aren’t just about January and February. It’s a lifestyle change. There aren’t any quick fixes. So just step back and regroup. Maybe talk to a nutritionist or talk to a trainer, someone who can help you get your head back to where it needs to be. And just start again. There’s nothing wrong with it. It happens to the best of us. It’s happened to me before. Life happens. It throws you off and you just have to jump back in it. This is your life, and there are reasons you’ve decided to make these resolutions. And remind yourself: don’t ever give up because you may never know who is looking up to you. You never know who you are motivating.

You are really dispelling the myth that you must have a “perfect path” to reach your goal.
You can make mistakes and still reach your goal. Exactly. Don’t think you can compress a year’s worth of work into only one or two months. Keep a log. Keep a journal. Whatever is going to keep you on point and help you to compare your progress. Set mini-goals and when you reach those mini-goals, reflect on it. Give yourself a pat on the back for doing what you set out to do that week.

Don’t be afraid to indulge a little. That’s where a lot of people go wrong. They think they have to cut everything out. So many times they are so motivated at the beginning, only to get burnt out. If you have a craving, satisfy it. Eat a piece of chocolate. If you want to have a burger one night out with your friends, do it. You can still enjoy life and you don’t have to eat tuna with mustard and broccoli every day.

What else should we keep in mind going into the New Year with a more health-conscious mindset?
I’m kind of a big food sensitivity guy. With so many processed foods going around these days, people have developed more food sensitivities. When you are eating a meal that you think is healthy and light, but it leaves you feeling bloated for hours, there’s probably some type of sensitivity. Maybe brown rice or chicken or some fruit you’re eating doesn’t agree with your body. If you can figure out what that is, and swap it with something else, it will make a huge difference in the way you feel, your energy level and the way you look. Pay attention to what you’re eating & the way it makes you feel.

For more health and fitness tips, read the Health Scene online at health.sceneent.com and visit Aaron’s personal website at www.aaronwilliamson.net.

Fitness Myths: Busted 

“New Year’s Resolutions don’t work and there’s no benefit to making them.” 

They are beneficial but they only work if you do. If you don’t do the work, they don’t work. Dedicate yourself to what you want to achieve. Make that plan. Write it down. Follow it. Set those mini-goals. You will succeed. There are so many distractions in life. And if you don’t keep those goals you’ve created in mind, there’s always going to be an excuse for everything. What’s important is this: write that goal down and put it on your fridge. Put it on your bathroom mirror so that it becomes engrained in your mind. If you are thinking about it constantly, when something pops up, you won’t get deterred from what you have set out to achieve.

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. THE CONTENT IS NOT GUARANTEED TO BE CORRECT, COMPLETE OR UP-TO-DATE. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO CREATE A CLIENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND AARON WILLIAMSON, SCENE MAGAZINE, OR ANY ASSOCIATED COMPANIES, AND YOU SHOULD NOT ACT OR RELY ON ANY INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION WITHOUT SEEKING THE ADVICE OF MEDICAL DOCTOR. IN READING THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTING WITH AN EXPERIENCED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND RECEIVING COUNSEL BASED ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION. MANY OF THE PRINCIPLES MENTIONED ARE SUBJECT TO EXCEPTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH MAY NOT BE NOTED. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY HEALTH AND EXERCISE PROGRAM.

I Own a Gun

Editor’s Note: John Richie is a filmmaker based in New Orleans Louisiana. After producing the award-winning documentary Shell Shocked, Richie is turning to Kickstarter to help fund the follow up film, 91%. You can support that film on Kickstarter here. There’s only five days left.

I‘m a New Orleanian and a gun owner. I’m making a film about gun control. Before I go any further, I want people to understand that this is not a film about banning guns. I am one generation removed from people who had to hunt before they went to school in the morning to ensure their family had food. I hunted myself as a kid for recreation. A ban on guns is not the issue on the table.

Last year, I released my first long-form documentary called Shell Shocked which was about youth and gun violence in New Orleans.  Shell Shocked examined the contributing factors to gun violence and what could be done to address the problems to make life better for teenagers. Although Shell Shocked educated people, gun violence still remains a problem in New Orleans.

Between 2013 and 2014, New Orleans saw a drop in homicides that put us behind Detroit as the homicide capital of the U.S. The NOPD claimed a victory, but there was an increase in the amount of shootings. It is not a secret. Gun violence is not just going to go away. While making Shell Shocked, I got to know several teenagers and families who experienced a direct loss due to firearms. I have never had the experience of a friend or family member being shot, but after spending time with kids and moms who have, I saw the impact of this kind of loss. It’s life-changing and it can’t be taken back.

Many of these shootings were from the hands of children, which begs the question: How did they get these guns? As a country, we do not fully appreciate how much gun violence we experience. The U.S. has roughly nine firearm fatalities for every 100,000 people. Britain has 0.22, or 45 times less than the U.S. In the last ten years, more people have been shot in the United States than American soldiers in the Vietnam War.

This is a real problem. I think it is hard to see, because most of us are born here and have never lived in a country that has effective, sensible gun regulations. So why are we talking about regulating guns? Because we live in a country that has roughly 130,000 gunshot victims per year–30,000 of whom die. Many are children. Some are parents. A lot of them were minding their own business or going about their day when it happened.

Many will live on with health problems due to trauma, lead poisoning, scars, spinal injuries, and brain damage that will cost the country three billion dollars a year in health care costs. They will leave behind family and friends who love them, and rely on them, because they provided for them. No other country in the world experiences this enormity of loss, except for countries in war, and even then, 130,000 casualties would be a very large conflict.

Some people would say that this is proof that our gun laws do not work, and in my opinion, they are absolutely right. Our current Federal Background Check, which is supposed to keep guns out of the hands of children, felons and the mentally disturbed, has “loopholes” – a term which does not begin to convey the scope of the problem. It is estimated that 40% of firearm sales every year occur without background checks. In most states, the only gun-selling agent required to do a background check is a licensed gun dealer, i.e. a sporting good store or Wal-Mart.

Gun shows, people selling guns online, or a person selling guns without a business license are not required to uphold the Federal Gun Act of 1968. This means that sellers with the least amount of accountability and oversight have no restrictions at all, when it comes to who they sell guns to. If somebody dies from a gun that was sold in any of these manners, there is no liability for the person who sold it (even if they knew the person could not own a gun by law). In the larger sense, this lack of accountability and oversight has been a major culprit in the gun violence we experience in our day to day. The good news is something can be done about this, which has proven to reduce the amount of shootings.

I am making 91% to bring attention to this. In 2013, after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, there was an opportunity to fix some of the problems with our lax gun laws. A poll came out of Quinnipiac University that showed that 91% of Americans were for background checks on all gun sales. Why? Because, we believe that background checks are sensible. It’s an easy issue to agree on.  Yet, Congress did not act. Instead, they continued to make up excuses as to why they would not vote our will and listened to lobbyists instead. They will continue to do this as long as we seem to not care or understand. Meanwhile, we will continue to have 130,000 victims or more every year, which can be avoided. People need to see how important it is for all of us to support good gun laws. This is why I have to make 91%. Please consider supporting the film 91% by donating to the Kickstarter. There is less than six days left. Please donate today!

You can find more information on the Kickstarter page here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/199805024/91-a-documentary-about-guns-in-america

Merry Christmas from Scene Magazine

On the eve of Christmas, I want to write you a quick note. Thank you for supporting Scene this year. It’s been an exciting year of expansion with new challenges around every corner in the form of new opportunities.

We’ve added some great new Scene team members in Beth Burvant, Jordan McGuire and Lauren Fain. We’re still adding to the team, we’re stronger than ever and our plans for 2015 are bolder than ever. I can’t wait to share them with you.

We’re not doing a New Year’s Eve party this December 31. After four years of doing great events, we’ve decided to take a break and reflect. We encourage you to do the same! But I suppose you can still bond with those you love at some other NYE party somewhere.

We have big plans for events in 2015, so stay tuned. You can expect New Year’s Eve 2016 in one year. And a slew of opportunities to be Scene that we have yet to announce.

Until then, take some time to enjoy the holidays.

And go see American Sniper.

Sincerely,

Micah Haley
Editor-in-Chief
Scene Magazine

IN THEATERS: ‘American Sniper’, ‘Unbroken’, ‘The Imitation Game’, ‘Big Eyes’, ‘Into The Woods’

American Sniper

Bradley Cooper stars in Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper. Cooper plays Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, America’s most decorated sniper, who encounters the strenuous rigors of coping with life on and off the battlefield. In this film, Bradley Cooper offers one of the greatest performances of the year. 132 min. Rated R.

Unbroken

Director Angelina Jolie recreates the amazing true story highlighting the olympian, war veteran and courageously brave Louis Zamperini. Zamperini is played by Jack O’Connell, who thrives as a rebel who inspires Americans. The script is written by the brilliant filmmaking duo of Joel and Ethan Coen. 137 min. Rated PG-13.

The Imitation Game

Ingenious mathematician Englishman Alan Turing must crack the Enigma Code to ward off German attacks in WWII. This heroic true story comes to life with Benedict Cumberbatch leading the way as Alan Turing. The film also stars Keira Knightley. 114 min. Rated PG-13.

Big Eyes

Tim Burton’s Big Eyes stars Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams as a feuding artistic husband and wife. Waltz discovers Adams’ talents for painting captivating pieces that highlight the subject’s oculars. Lies and law suits ensue between the once successful marriage. 105 min. Rated PG-13.

Into The Woods

A majestic conglomerate of popular fairytales Disney’s Into The Woods sends us whirling through the lives of multiple families and story lines in hopes of reversing a curse. The film stars Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp. 124 min. Rated PG.

All films open on Christmas Day.

TRAILER: Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart in New Orleans-shot ‘Get Hard’

Narrow-minded millionaire James King (Will Ferrell) is arrested for fraud and sentenced to ten years at San Quentin prison. King looks upon a physically and vocally colorful Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) for prison prep help. James King will have to go from soft millionaire to the hardest prisoner on the block under Darnell’s coaching.

Alison Brie, T.I. and Entourage‘s Paul Ben-Victor also star in Get Hard. This film was shot at Second Line Stages and many other locations in New Orleans.

Get Hard is set to be released on March 27, 2015. Let us know your thoughts on the trailer below.

IN THEATERS: ‘The Hobbit: The Battle Of Five Armies’, ‘Annie’, ‘Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb’

The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies

Peter Jackson continues the journey to the middle of the earth as JRR Tolkien’s story comes to life. Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Lee Pace, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen star. 144 min. Rated PG-13.

Annie

Louisiana native Quvenzhané Wallis stars as Annie in the new reboot of the classic musical. The film with a new urban twist also stars Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. Will Gluck directed the film. 118 min. Rated PG.

Night At The Museum: Secret of The Tomb

Late night adventures in a museum are always a good time. This time around Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and his pack of historic heroes head to work at a British museum in order to investigate the disintegrating tablet of an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh. 97 min. Rated PG.

BUKU Music + Art Project: 2015 Lineup

The BUKU Music + Art project has announced the first artists that will grace the stage of the 2015 festival. In only a few short years, BUKU has established itself as one of the premier electronic music festivals in the country, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world to the city of New Orleans.

To kick off the lineup release, BUKU has released a beautifully shot (and pretty much Not Safe For Work) promo video announcing their headliners. Take a look up top.

The two-day fest takes place at Mardi Gras World, an urban venue located in the heart of New Orleans. Close to hotels, some of the best food on the planet and the international city’s year-round selection of world-class local music, BUKU is the perfect weekend getaway. Held on March 13-14, 2015, it’s a spring break without the hassles of the beach.

The 2015 festival will welcome EDM mainstay Bassnectar, A$AP Rocky, the uplifting indie pop band Passion Pit, and the new wave of electronic music duo Empire of the Sun, who return to New Orleans after their performance at newly restored Civic Theatre. The South African rap group Die Antwoord will also be returning to New Orleans, having previously played the Voodoo Music Experience.

Also performing are TV on the Radio, Porter Robinson and the electro-rock group STS9. The Chicago-based trap duo Flosstradamus will spin live, along with G-Eazy, Swedish pop star Tove Lo, the always boss Borgore and Alaskan rock band Portugal. The Man. Others include Run the Jewels, Zomboy, Gramatik, Odesza, Jamie Jones, Bobby Shmurda, Thomas Jack, Yung Lean & Sad Boys, Mr. Carmack, Raury, Bob Moses, In the Valley Below and The Range.

Lil’ Boosie, who was released from prison early this year after serving time for a drug-related charge and probation violation (and beating a murder rap), will perform under his new artist alias Boosie Badazz. He’ll be flanked by fellow Louisiana-based artists Big Freedia, Pell, Suicidyear and DJs Musa, Carneyval, Klutch and ChrissCross.

The music is complemented by visual art installations, pop-up street performers and enough local food and drink to fuel the festival activities of thousands. All of that combined with great March weather make BUKU pretty close to the spring equivalent of the Voodoo Experience. If you think that’s high praise, it is.

There will be more artists announced before BUKU so stay frosty. More information on the BUKU Music + Art Project can be found on the festival’s official website at www.thebukuproject.com.

Actor Dave Davis’ Christmas Anthem “Oh, Bitch It’s Christmas”

Watch actor Dave Davis in his hilarious video about the jolliest time of year. The Bare Handed Bear Handlers are responsible for “Oh Bitch It’s Christmas” and they will have you rethinking your Naughty and Nice list.

The former Lusher and Ben Franklin student chatted with Scene about his life after Katrina and his career path here.

TRAILER: James Marsden and Karl Urban in ‘The Loft’

Five friends share a newly purchased loft, one that will secretly serve as a safe haven from their married lives. The five friends fall into a pit of lust and adventure until one morning they make a shocking discovery. The body of a dead young woman is found in the loft and the men begin to question each other’s loyalty.

The Loft was partially shot in New Orleans. The film stars James Marsden, Karl Urban, Wentworth Miller, Rachael Taylor and Modern Family‘s Eric Stonestreet.

James Marsden leads the way in this intense thriller. Marsden has been filming a lot in Louisiana recently with roles in The Loft, D-Train, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, 2 Guns, Straw Dogs and The Best of Me, which required him to transform his physique. Scene Health and Fitness columnist Aaron Williamson trained Marsden for that film and talked about the experience here. Williamson also has more of his experiences with Marsden on his official website at aaronwilliamson.net.

The film is directed by Erik Van Looy who also directed the original film Loft in Belgium in 2008. The Loft is set to be released January 23, 2015.

Canada Aims to Take Film and TV Business From Georgia, Louisiana

Studio operators see strengthening greenback and rich tax breaks helping Toronto and Vancouver compete with Atlanta and New Orleans

read more

Canada Aims to Take Film and TV Business From Georgia, Louisiana

Studio operators see strengthening greenback and rich tax breaks helping Toronto and Vancouver compete with Atlanta and New Orleans

read more

Gina Carano Joins Dave Bautista In New Orleans for ‘Kickboxer’

The beautiful and badass Gina Carano, the ‘Face of Women’s MMA’, has been cast in the New Orleans-shot actioner Kickboxer. The Haywire alum will play a fight promoter. She joins Jean-Claude Van Damme in a remake of the 1989 film that helped establish him as a household name.

Kickboxer wrapped its New Orleans unit on Saturday, December 13, but still has filming to do in Thailand.

Carano will join the physically fit cast that includes Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Dave Bautista, UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre and the man who started it all, Jean-Claude Van Damme. The gorgeous Thai-English model/actress Sara Malakul Lane has also been cast and will play the love interest in the film. Malakul appeared recently in Jailbait and Syfy’s Sharktopus.

Kickboxer follows X-Men: Days of Future Past stunt performer-turned-actor Alain Moussi on his quest for vengeance. Moussi will play Kurt Sloane. His main objective? Find and fight Tong Po (Bautista), the man responsible for killing Sloane’s brother. Dave Bautista has been red hot lately, starring in Guardians of the Galaxy, and has recently been cast to play a Bond villain in Sam Mendes’ Spectre.

Dimitri Logothetis and Jim McGrath penned the script and Top Gun‘s John Stockwell will direct.

Lineup Announced for Hogs for the Cause

Founded in 2008 by Becker Hall and Rene Louapre, Hogs for the Cause is a non-profit organization that puts on a grand music and BBQ festival.The two wanted to bring back the traditional southern pig roasts and BBQs and put the proceeds to a great cause. The festival now raises money for pediatric brain cancer care.

Each year, over eighty teams compete to be inswined into the Pig League Hall of Fame. Along with delicious smelling pork, music reverberates throughout the festival grounds all day and night, this creates an amazing atmosphere for competitors and attendees alike.

Performers such as Trombone Shorty, Pat Green and Houndmouth have frequented the stages at Hogs. This year is no different as Becker and Rene ushered in great talent that will bring in the New Orleans festival goers.

The lineup this year includes Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Earphunk, Tab Benoit, The Wood Brothers and The Drive-By Truckers. If you have a thirst for great beer, music, pork and outstanding original sauces, then make sure to buy your tickets for Hogs for the Cause here. The Festival is on March 27-28, 2015. See more at their official website www.hogsforthecause.org.

Listen: “Summer 78″ by Yann Tiersen

One of my favorite songs from the brilliant French composer Yann Tiersen. Wistful and uplifting at once. The song is from the film Good Bye Lenin! which stars Daniel Bruhl.

Trailer: New Orleans-shot ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2′

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 returns with internet mogul Lou (Rob Corddry) getting shot. In an uncomfortable place. The gang must track down the shooter. Obviously the only solution is to take the plunge into the Hot Tub. They travel across various decades of time in order to find Lou’s shooter.

The New Orleans-shot comedy Hot Tub Time Machine 2 has added Parks and Recreation alum Adam Scott to the already hysterical cast. The Parks and Rec funny-man is replacing John Cusack, who apparently doesn’t do sequels.

The first Hot Tub Time Machine caught me by surprise. I found myself laughing every time Rob Corddry opened his mouth. Corddry does such a great job of being moronic that you immediately side with him. The trailer reveals Corddry will continue lashing out at his best of friends, churning out laughs by the minute.

The comedic cast continues with the always cool Craig Robinson. He too will lash out at his friends but does it in a teddy bear-like anger. He is cleverly comedic and appears to have great chemistry with everyone he works with. If you missed it, here’s Scene’s interview with Robinson.

The courageously geeky Clark Duke also returns as the son of Rob Corddry’s character. In the first Hot Tub Time Machine, the two despise each other, and when they find out that they are father and son, their relationship remains unchanged. Clark Duke is the butt of most of Corddry’s jokes but has the ability to out-wit his father.

Chevy Chase returns as the hot tub mechanic. Gillian Jacobs joins the cast along with the always funny Thomas Lennon and Jason Jones from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

This film is directed by Steve Pink and was written by Josh Heald. It will be released on February 20, 2015. See more at the film’s official website www.hottubtimemachine.com/.