Tag Archives: 2012

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap hits theaters June 15th

Ice-T takes us on an intimate journey into the heart and soul of hip-hop with the legends of rap music. This performance documentary goes beyond the stardom and the bling to explore what goes on inside the minds, and erupts from the lips, of the grandmasters of rap. Recognized as the godfather of Gangsta rap, Ice-T is granted unparalleled access to the personal lives of the masters of this artform that he credits for saving his life. Interspersed with the performers’ insightful, touching, and often funny revelations are classic raps, freestyle rhymes, and never before heard a cappellas straight from the mouths of the creators. What emerges is a better understanding of, and a tribute to, an original American art form that brought poetry to a new generation.

For more info, visit theartofrap.com, www.facebook.com/ArtofRap and www.twitter.com/artofrap

Film Review: The Grey

By Sommer Thornton

Liam Neeson (Taken) comes out the gate in 2012 in director Joe Carnahan’s new survival drama, “The Grey.” Liam Neeson stars as John, a brawny member of an Alaska oil drilling team, who is so plagued by his wife’s death he’s near suicide. But John and his crew soon meet immeasurable disaster when their plane crashes in the arctic. The survivors soon learn that in no man’s land, they are governed only by the laws of the wild, and John emerges as the “alpha”. The men must seek shelter, hunt, and evade multiple packs of wolves, whose territory they’ve invaded.

It wasn’t just the dense Alaskan landscape, but the compelling point of view shots of the plane crash and of the survivors in their most perilous moments that puts the viewer in the axis of terror. For some reason, John is never a pretentious hero. Yet he risks his life to save as many of his comrades as he can- probably because he understood that in the wild, there is survival in numbers. As the numbers of his crew dwindle John goes from survival to hero, to cursing God- and begging to be saved.

Liam Neeson is the usual valiant character with a heart, as he was in many of his earlier films. What makes this film worth seeing isn’t the “happy ending”. It’s truly the work of the editor, sound designer, and the cinematographer that make this movie great. At every moment the reverberating growl of the menacing wolves atop the sound of John and the men’s feet crunching backward in the snow mixed with the crackle of the fire immerses the viewer in the wild arctic tundra. I say, go see this movie and think happy thoughts after. The Grey comes out nationwide in theaters January 27, 2012.

Madonna to Perform Feb. 5th During Super Bowl XLVI Halftime show

Material Girl and international superstar Madonna, a multi Grammy Award-winning Universal Records recording artist, will perform in the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show on NBC at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5, the NFL and NBC announced during tonight’s Sunday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions.  Madonna’s performance will be imagined by Cirque du Soleil and Jamie King.

Madonna joins an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes The Black Eyed Peas, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.

A world class entertainer, singer, songwriter, producer, director and video visionary, Madonna has sold more than 300 million records in the course of her three decade career as The Material Girl.  She is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.  Her last tour was the most successful tour by a solo artist in history.  Madonna is currently in the recording studio working on a new album scheduled to be released next year.  Her new film W.E. which she directed, wrote and produced is opening in a limited one week release December 9 in Los Angeles and will open nationally on February 3, two days prior to Super Bowl XLVI.

Madonna has partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, Jamie King, and multimedia artists from Moment Factory, to create a signature performance. This year marks the fifth time Bridgestone Americas has sponsored the Super Bowl halftime show.  The tire company’s new brand campaign, fittingly titled “Time to Perform,” will debut during the game.

 

The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live— Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night®

Three-time GRAMMY® winner Ludacris, GRAMMY winner Lupe Fiasco, and GRAMMY-winning duo Sugarland have been added to the lineup for “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night®” (www.grammy.com). Previously announced performers are country artist Jason Aldean and five-time GRAMMY winner Lady Gaga, and two-time GRAMMY winner and once again LL COOL J is set to host. The one-hour special takes place live on Wednesday, Nov. 30 , at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE. The show, which will announce nominations in several categories as well as feature performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees, will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network (www.cbs.com) from 10 – 11 p.m. ET/PT. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy®’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys , www.facebook.com/thegrammys .

This concert special marks the fourth time nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards will be announced live on primetime television. Last year’s airing of the nominations special led to increased ratings in all key demographics for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast earlier this year, delivering the show’s best ratings in all key measures in more than a decade.

In addition to unveiling nominations for the 54th GRAMMY Awards, “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!” will feature a special, live announcement from a truly iconic group regarding their historic band reunion set to take place on the GRAMMY stage on Feb. 12, 2012.

Tickets for “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night” are on sale now at www.nokiatheatrelalive.com and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at 800.745.3000. For discounts on groups of 10 or more, and for more information on VIP packages, visit www.aegtickets.com or call 877.234.8425.

The road to Music’s Biggest Night begins with “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!” and culminates with the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 , and broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.