Recently in Film and TV Category

Last night, Jay Leno hosted his final tonight show, available until mid-June on nbc.com, mixing both a look at the past and a look toward the future.

His opening stand-up included thanking Michael Jackson, Monica and Bill and others who helped the comedy write itself during the past 17 years. The comedy piece was a look back at the best of Jaywalking, his regular feature of recorded bits walking around L.A. asking "normal" folks easy current events questions with quite humorous results.

His only guest was his replacement--Conan O'Brien--with a somewhat awkward interview looking at what the new The Tonight Show will look like starting on Monday.

Musical guest was James Taylor. Leno introduced him mention that on his way out of Boston years and years ago Taylor's song, "Ten miles behind me and Ten-thousand more to go" was playing on the radio leaving an impression on him that has lasted all these years.

The final "goodbye", I thought, was the most touching. I'm going to let you watch that for yourself. It starts after the final commercial break.

Conan begins on Monday. Leno's new show will premier at 9 pm (Central) in September.

Last week, we watched Traitor (imdb, amazon.com), a Jeffrey Nachmanoff film featuring Don Cheadle (The Oceans 11 series, Hotel Rwanda).

The film follows the story of Samir Horn, a defected American solider, devout Muslim, as he begins more involved with a terrorist cell planning an attack on the United States and the government agents trying to learn more about his terrorist cell and the impending attack.

Overall, this PG-13 movie provided an entertaining 114 minutes as Samir's story unfolds and the viewer learns more about him. The film does a fine job in giving enough evidence to leave you confused and wondering if he's a good guy caught up in something about his head or if he's really worth the "high-value target" status given to him by the government.

Some of the characters lacked the development that would have set this movie on the top of the mountain, while some of the characters that are well-developed seem unbelievable. The film spends a great deal of time building up the plot pulling you toward the climax; however, the story seems to end far too abruptly after that. With ten more minutes, the unfinished subplots and new questions could be answered easily.

If you're looking for something to rent on a Friday night and feel like something a bit more serious, try out Traitor.

Tonight, Vanessa and I went to see the latest Mummy movie (she liked the first two, don't ask about this one) and was struck by the complete lack of people at the theater. No, not just that particular screen showing that particular can't-believe-we-paid-full-price-for-this film, but the entire cineplex.

There were, maybe, 50 cars in the parking lot at both 7:30 pm when we arrived, and just before 10 pm when we left. I've never seen that lot so empty.

I know it is OU weekend, but seriously, don't people go out to the movies on Friday night?

Okay, I promise that my blog will not be used only for video sharing. That being said, there's been a number of videos I've wanted to share.

This next one is a two-part film commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops discussing vocations to the priesthood. The film is entitled "Fishers of Men" and well worth the 15 minutes.

A horrible accident occurred today in Phoenix, AZ. CNN reports that two news helicopters crashed while covering a police chase. Four people, a pilot and a photographer from each news station, were killed in the accident. No one on the ground was killed.

The CNN story quotes a Phoenix official stating that the suspect in the police chase will probably be held responsible for their deaths.

My question is should that guy be held responsible? Sure, I'll grant, that if he hadn't led police on a chase, there would have been zero chance of the accident occurring. However, is it his fault that two helicopters covering his actions came into contact with each other? Throw the book at him for everything else, but is this really his fault?

That being questioned, it is still a sad accident. Let's keep the four and their families in our prayers.

The second season of The West Wing is one of the finest seasons of television drama. Period.

I'll focus on my favorite episode, the season finale of 'Two Cathedrals'. During the previous episode, we learn that the well-loved secretary of the President was killed by a drunk driver while she was driving her first new car home. She has known the President since his school days and has worked for him for quite a long time.

The President has MS and had lied about it. He never told anyone. Only 20 or so people know.

So today, the day of the episode, the White House had planned on announcing to the American public that the President has MS and due to the timing of the death, it is also the day of the funeral.

The President is in a personal crisis. A beloved friend is dead. He reflects upon all that has not gone right over the past two years while discerning if he'll run for a second term, despite the problems that will fall upon him for his failure to disclose his illness.

This is a very powerful episode that my review can't do justice.

The President literally yells at God, in an argue to determine if it is his way or His way that he should follow. From my own discernment, I very much understand this desire.

He is faced with fear, with doubt, with not wanting to accept what he feels God is leading him to. It sounds like a discernment story I know quite well.