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Hallstrom, Tatum and Sparks Team Up for Dear John

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:01:24 -0700

I can confidently say that Lasse Hallstrom has become one of my most well-respected directors over time. I loved Chocolat, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and last year's indie film The Hoax, and I have a lot of respect for The Cider House Rules and The Shipping News. So whenever there's news about a Hallstrom project, I sit up and pay attention.

Now Hallstrom is signed on to direct Channing Tatum in an adaptation of Nick Sparks' bestselling novel Dear John. According to Variety, the story follows "a soldier who, while home on leave, falls for a conservative college student." Tatum will play the soldier, though there's no word yet on who will play his leading lady.

I tend to think of Sparks' books as sentimental weepies and while I liked the movie version of The Notebook, frankly I barely got through A Walk to Remember. But who knows? Maybe Channing and whoever is cast as the "conservative college student" will become the next Ryan and Rachel!

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TV Tonight: New Amsterdam

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:30:00 -0800

I truly have no idea if New Amsterdam, which premieres tonight on Fox after American Idol, is going to be a huge hit or a huge flop. It has quite a few things working in its favor: an attractive star (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), an intriguing premise (detective will remain immortal until he finds true love), and a plum time slot for its premiere.

On the other hand, I found the first episode of the show to be utterly ridiculous. Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing; as I noted in my Pilot Watch last Summer, the show didn't work for me as a drama, but I thought it was an outstanding comedy. Or, upon further reflection, maybe I should have called it an outstanding soap opera. Every plot twist was so telegraphed, and every development so utterly unrealistic, that I couldn't help but be sucked in. Really, the guy's been living in New York for 400 years and nobody's realized that he still appears to be a strapping 40-something for all eternity?

The show has been compared to Pete Hamill's novel Forever, and while I haven't read the book, I can see some similarities between the two - most notably the degree to which you must suspend disbelief to make the story work. As a visual work, New Amsterdam is fairly impressive (noted film director Lasse Hallstrom, who directed the pilot and is one of the show's executive producers, probably has something to do with that). As a drama, it probably depends on how much you can take. Can you laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of a plot twist or premise and still enjoy a show? If so, New Amsterdam might be one for you; I admit I'll be watching for a while.

To watch a couple of clips from tonight's premiere - including one where Amsterdam nearly dies, but doesn't, because he's still yet to find love - just read more.

Photo courtesy of Fox

Pilot Watch: "New Amsterdam"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: Fox's "New Amsterdam."

What's it about? Short answer: John Amsterdam is a New York police detective who also happens to be immortal - or, at least, he will be immortal until he meets his one true love. If you want the long answer (and it certainly is long) here's the full description.

Who's in it? Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Stephen Henderson, Zuleikha Robinson

The good and the bad: I had to combine the categories here because, well, here's the thing: While I thought "New Amsterdam" wasn't a very good drama, it was pretty hysterical as a comedy. It's the kind of show that's meant to have a drinking game written for it, with instructions to drink every time Amsterdam mentions a suspiciously large unit of time (he's been sober for 15,000 days), every time he runs into an aging old girlfriend, or every time his image blurs with that of the Native American woman who put the immortality spell on him back in 1642. (Note that I don't necessarily recommend actually playing said drinking game, because you'd be plastered by the end of the pilot. Be safe out there.) Granted, the Lasse Hallstrom-directed pilot is pretty to look at, as is Waldau himself. But everything beyond that is ridiculous. How has nobody ever recognized him? What must his resume look like? How often must he change his name to stay under the radar - and why, oh why, would he pick Amsterdam?

Will I watch? I can't lie: I was pretty entertained, albeit probably not for the reasons Fox was hoping.

To watch a preview for the show and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Photos courtesy of Fox

Movie Preview: Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried in Dear John

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:30:22 -0700

You were all pretty split on your feelings about Channing Tatum, but we can all agree that the actor has made a name for himself as the muscle-bound sensitive guy. He gets even deeper into that archetype in Dear John, an adaption from the Nicholas Sparks novel where he plays the love interest of Amanda Seyfried.

The two fall for each other one Summer while Seyfried's character Savannah is home from college and Tatum's John is home on leave. When they have to leave each other and return to their respective obligations, they begin writing letters to keep in touch, hence the title.

Normally I would be holding my nose for this schlockfest, but I can't deny the talent of director Lasse Hallstrom, the charisma of the two leads, or the major soft spots I have for The Notebook and A Walk to Remember - movies made from Sparks books. And there's another bonus: Six Feet Under's Richard Jenkins as John's dad. To watch the trailer and decide if it's going to be a cheesy mess or a heart-tugger, just read more.