Saturday, November 12, 2011

Adjustment Bureau Poster - FT Promo Flyer - 2011 Movie Matt Damon - 11 x 17

  • Promo Flyer to advertise the movie The Adjustment Bureau
  • Adjustment Bureau Movie Promo Flyer
  • Size 11 x 17 inches approx (28 x 43 cm)
  • Window display/ Telephone Pole Flyer sized Poster
David Norris (Matt Damon) glimpses the future Fate has planned for him...and chooses to fight for his own destiny. Battling the powerful Adjustment Bureau across, under and through the streets of New York, he risks his destined greatness to be with the only woman he's ever loved (Emily Blunt).Matt Damon is doing things a lot of top movie stars are sometimes scared to do: spreading his image thin among a range of roles, directors, and material. His forays away from the huge successes of, say, the Bourne movies or the Ocean's series which have highlighted his fully realized strengths as a buff action hero who can also slip effortlessly into natural comic charm aren't exactly ri! sky. His image as a leading-man movie star is pretty much sealed, but in movies like The Informant, Invictus, Hereafter, True Grit, and others, he's stretching some different muscles that take him closer to character-actor territory. That has largely been a good thing for his fans, if not for his box-office stats. The Adjustment Bureau takes him somewhere in between--he's in leading-man territory with the Damon charisma in full bore and giving his all to a story that needs the toned actorly muscle he provides.

Based on a novelette by science-fiction icon Philip K. Dick, The Adjustment Bureau exposes a cadre of people who are either superhuman or nonhumans and control the world by magically influencing the fate of every single person in it. Damon plays David Norris, an aspiring politician who rose from working-class roots in Brooklyn (a not-so-closeted skeleton that sometimes comes back to haunt him) to wealth and the likely prom! ise of high office. Unfortunately, David takes some liberties ! with his fate that don't correspond with the narrative laid out by "the Chairman," the entity in charge of the Adjustment Bureau autocrats whose matching fedoras are none-too-subtle symbols for wings. The movie evades any mention of religion, but those hats and references to the Chairman are huge winks. Emily Blunt is the equally appealing presence who screws up the Chairman's plan in concert with Norris. They fall for each other hard again and again, constantly thwarting and confounding the bureau's best-laid adjusting tricks at every turn. Though it is often simplistic in its plot contrivances, the movie is nifty, clever, nimbly paced, and filled with ingenious special effects. Especially impressive is the recurring motif of doors that are virtual wormholes--a closet that leads to the middle of Yankee stadium, an Escher-like maze of conference rooms that constantly double back on themselves (shades of the dizzying door sequence in Monsters, Inc.). Another cool visual prop a! re the plain bound books bureau functionaries carry that are filled with intricate, animated schematic diagrams that chart the course of a life and how it interacts with others. John Slattery, Anthony Mackie, and Terence Stamp round out the uniformly excellent cast headed by Damon and Blunt, and with the slick production design and inventive effects, the glossy performances go a long way in adjusting up any dramatic shortcomings The Adjustment Bureau may have improperly calibrated. --Ted Fry"Adjustment Team" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in Orbit Science Fiction, Sept-Oct 1954, No.4.

"SOMETHING WENT WRONG ...AND ED FLETCHER GOT MIXED UP IN THE BIGGEST THING IN HIS LIFE." -- Orbit introduction to "Adjustment Team".

Sector T137 is scheduled for adjustment and a Clerk is supervising a canine Summoner to ensure real estate salesman Ed Fletcher is inside Sector T137 during the process. An 8:15 bark ! to summon a Friend With A Car is needed. Unfortunately the bar! k is a m inute late, bringing an Insurance Salesman causing Fletcher to leave for work late. Arriving at Sector T137 after it's been de-energized, Fletcher enters a terrifying gray ash world. Escaping white-robed men he flees across the street back to the everday energized world outside Sector T137 fearing he's had a psychotic episode.


On Friday, March 11 2011 Universal Pictures will release the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. "The Adjustment Bureau" is loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story titled "Adjustment Team".
Matt Damon plays David Norris, a former Fordham University basketball player and charismatic United States Congressman who seems destined for national political stardom. He meets a beautiful ballet dancer named Elise Sellas, played by Blunt, only to find that strange circumstances keep them from becoming romantically involved. Norris discovers forces are at work to keep them apart, and he peels the layers ! to find out why."Adjustment Team" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in Orbit Science Fiction, Sept-Oct 1954, No.4.

"SOMETHING WENT WRONG ...AND ED FLETCHER GOT MIXED UP IN THE BIGGEST THING IN HIS LIFE." -- Orbit introduction to "Adjustment Team".

Sector T137 is scheduled for adjustment and a Clerk is supervising a canine Summoner to ensure real estate salesman Ed Fletcher is inside Sector T137 during the process. An 8:15 bark to summon a Friend With A Car is needed. Unfortunately the bark is a minute late, bringing an Insurance Salesman causing Fletcher to leave for work late. Arriving at Sector T137 after it's been de-energized, Fletcher enters a terrifying gray ash world. Escaping white-robed men he flees across the street back to the everday energized world outside Sector T137 fearing he's had a psychotic episode.


On Friday, March 11 2011 Universal Pictures will release the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" s! tarring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. "The Adjustment Bureau" is! loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story titled "Adjustment Team".
Matt Damon plays David Norris, a former Fordham University basketball player and charismatic United States Congressman who seems destined for national political stardom. He meets a beautiful ballet dancer named Elise Sellas, played by Blunt, only to find that strange circumstances keep them from becoming romantically involved. Norris discovers forces are at work to keep them apart, and he peels the layers to find out why.Adjustment Bureau Movie Promo Flyer

0 comments

Buffalo Soldiers

0 comments

GoNaturally Organic Assorted Gluten Free Hard Candies, 30-Ounce Bag

  • No artificial flavor. No artificial Color
  • Made in USA. 100 Natural and Healthy
A smart, charming teenage girl, Hayley probably shouldn't be going to a local coffee shop to meet Jeff, a 30-something fashion photographer she met on the Internet. But before she knows it, she's mixing drinks at Jeff's place and stripping for an impromptu photo shoot. It's Jeff's lucky night. But Hayley isn't as innocent as she looks, and the night takes a turn when she begins to impose a hard-hitting investigation on Jeff in an attempt to reveal his possibly scandalous past.The supercharged possibilities of a single set and two amped-up actors are explored in Hard Candy, a twisted cocktail with a poison kicker. After a flirtatious encounter in an online chat room, two people agree to meet for coffee: a 32-year-old man (Patrick Wilson) and a 14-year-old girl (Ellen Page). They quickly advance to hi! s house, and just as quickly, the apparent pedophilic seduction morphs into something else entirely. After the tables turn, Hard Candy becomes a tale of revenge and torture that might have tempted a filmmaker like Park Chanwook. Here, first-time feature director David Slade opts for a slick look that stays close to the actors, and you can't really blame him--this movie is like a conceptual, more-than-slightly unbelievable off-Broadway play, a showcase for actors and "controversial" ideas. Those actors are strong: Patrick Wilson (Angels in America, Phantom of the Opera) is every bit as creepy as he needs to be, and Ellen Page has nothing short of a triumph. The Canadian actress was around 18 when she shot the film, but looks like an adolescent, which makes her authoritative wrath all the more shocking to witness. The provocations of Hard Candy sometimes seem arbitrary or forced, but Page's electrifying performance can't be denied, or dismissed. --Robert HortonGonaturally organic assorted gluten free ! hard can dies comes in pack of 6, each weighs 3.5 ounce bags (total of 21 ounces). It has no artificial color.it is made by hand in america. It is gluten free and contains all natural flavors. Hillside candy is our company’s corporate umbrella name for three brands of candy. The brands are golightly sugar free candy, in business since 1980 (though the business started many years earlier), hillside sweets, a line of sugar based hard candy, and gonaturally, a line of USDA certified organic candy. These 3 made in america lines are sold in drug store chains, mass merchandisers, grocery chains, supermarkets, gourmet stores, rebaggers, gift basket companies and other businesses. Each of hillside’s lines offers quality, consistency and delicious taste.
0 comments

Ball Bounce & Sport Fun Hopper

  • Have Fun Hopping indoor and outdoor
  • Durable vinyl, textured bottom
  • Safe, recessed reinflatable valve
  • Grab n Grip handle
  • For ages 4 years and up

Jack Ryan always wanted to play pro ball. But he couldn't hit a curveball, so he turned his attention to less legal pursuits. A tough guy who likes walking the razor's edge, he's just met his match -- and more -- in Nancy. She's a rich man's plaything, seriously into thrills and risk, and together she and Jack are pure heat ready to explode. But when simple housebreaking and burglary give way to the deadly pursuit of a really big score, the stakes suddenly skyrocket. Because violence and double-cross are the name of this game -- and it's going to take every ounce of cunning Jack and Nancy possess to survive . . . each other.

Jack Ryan always wanted to play pro ball. But he couldn't hit a curveball, so he turn! ed his attention to less legal pursuits. A tough guy who likes walking the razor's edge, he's just met his match -- and more -- in Nancy. She's a rich man's plaything, seriously into thrills and risk, and together she and Jack are pure heat ready to explode. But when simple housebreaking and burglary give way to the deadly pursuit of a really big score, the stakes suddenly skyrocket. Because violence and double-cross are the name of this game -- and it's going to take every ounce of cunning Jack and Nancy possess to survive . . . each other.

Jack Ryan always wanted to play pro ball. But he couldn't hit a curveball, so he turned his attention to less legal pursuits. A tough guy who likes walking the razor's edge, he's just met his match -- and more -- in Nancy. She's a rich man's plaything, seriously into thrills and risk, and together she and Jack are pure heat ready to explode. But when simple housebreaking and burglary give way to the deadly pursuit of a really big ! score, the stakes suddenly skyrocket. Because violence and dou! ble-cros s are the name of this game -- and it's going to take every ounce of cunning Jack and Nancy possess to survive . . . each other.

The Big Bounce is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Walter S. Tevis is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of Walter S. Tevis then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.The Fun Hop circumference should not exceed 44 inches per instructions. The hopper will increase in size after inflation about 1/2- 1 inches. The Hopper is designed to carry one child and a maximum weight limitation-100 poundsEvery child knows this much about evolution: somewhere, way, way back, we were kangaroos. All you need to satisfy the deep primal desire to get around by hopping is one of these big, heavy-gauge vinyl hopping balls. The slightly stippled surface of the blue vinyl provides plenty of grip, and the ball inflate! s to over 53 inches in circumference, so it can accommodate different sizes of human Roo. The best feature of this model is a large, solid, arch-shaped handle so that you can hang on across long stretches of rough outback. A pump is required. --Richard Farr
0 comments

El Cantante

  • In their dazzling first on-screen pairing, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony bring to life this riveting tale of romance and redemption based on the true story of salsa legend Hector Lavoe and the woman who kept him from falling over the edge.It's the 1970s and the salsa revolution is in full swing. Hector Lavoe (Anthony), is the singer, El Cantante whose voice can move millions and whose passion mo
In their dazzling first on-screen pairing, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony bring to life this riveting tale of romance and redemption based on the true story of salsa legend Hector Lavoe and the woman who kept him from falling over the edge. It's the 1970s and the salsa revolution is in full swing. Hector Lavoe (Anthony), is the singer, El Cantante whose voice can move millions and whose passion moves one woman, his wife Puchi (Lopez). But when the spotlight brings Lavoe's personal demons and addict! ions to light, it will take the incredible devotion of his wife to put him on the path to becoming the legend he was born to be.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurette

Though they don't look much alike, slight actor-singer Marc Anthony was born to play robust salsa sensation Héctor Lavoe. In addition to similar ancestry and vocal skills, Anthony has been building a respectable cinematic resume with roles in Big Night and Martin Scorsese's Bringing out the Dead. The title of El Cantante comes from a number Rubén Blades wrote for The Singer. Lavoe would make it his signature song. In the film, Anthony's wife, producer Jennifer Lopez, plays Puchi, the Nuyorican beauty who won Lavoe's heart. She narrates their story from the perspective of 2002 (the real-life Puchi passed away shortly afterwards). Leon Ichaso (Piñero) contrasts Lavoe's rise from Puerto Rican street singer to Ne! w York superstar with his fall from innocent immigrant to hero! in-addic ted ladies man. By the mid-1980s, Lavoe's popularity hit its peak, and Ichaso spends the rest of the time ticking off the tragedies of his final years: the break with trombonist Willie Colón (John Ortiz), stay in a mental ward, etc. It's a dynamic portrait, and Anthony and Lopez work well together, but despite the urban setting and Latin-flavored soundtrack, El Cantante follows virtually the same trajectory as Ray and Walk the Line (Ichaso has also directed biopics of Jimi Hendrix and Muhammad Ali). His movie looks and sounds authentic, but Lavoe's story might've been better served as nonfiction. There's a sense that there was more to the man than what appears on screen. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
0 comments

Apollo Precision Tools DT0773N1 135-Piece Household Pink Tool Kit

  • Versatile array of tools for small household projects
  • Chrome plated to resist corrosion
  • Includes sturdy blow molded case
  • Heat treated for strength and durability
  • Tested against industry standards for hardness, torque, finish, and usability
Six students lie dead at the hands of a fellow classmate. In the aftermath an unlikely bond is about to form. Alicia (Busy Philipps "Dawson's Creek") is a Goth misfit who hates the world and everyone in it and may know more about the shooting than she's telling. Deanna (Erika Christensen Swimfan) one of the injured is a classic overachiever confined to a hospital bed. Brought together by fate united by secrets they couldn't be less alike or need each other more.System Requirements:Running Time: 132 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 043396018952 Manufacturer No: 01895"Trust me... I'm a designer!" Many neigh! bors did... and regretted it. Others had their doubts but were delighted. It's all here: the highs, the lows, the tears and the tantrums that make up the best of Changing Rooms, hosted by Carol Smillie, with personal insights from some of your favorite designers.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Biographies:Overview of the designers and their most memorable creations
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes

The title is a quote from star Laurence "the Cuffs" Llewelyn-Bowen himself, and Changing Rooms: Trust Me, I'm a Designer is a "best of" compilation, celebrating more than 100 editions of the popular BBC home makeover show. Although it might imply that the focus is on the designers themselves, despite their larger-than-life personalities what comes through most strongly here is the practicality of actually getting the work done. The question whether anyone other than the designers themselves actually likes the results is as c! heerfully up-in-the-air as ever, of course. This compilation s! cores hi ghly--perhaps higher than the show itself for anyone who's not a fan--because, with so many episodes to choose from and with the opportunity to use some snappy editing, we're spared all the finger-drumming, pacing up and down, and general waffling about, which inevitably takes up a certain amount of time in any individual edition. Instead, we move neatly and quickly between ideas, discussions, and practical considerations in a very un-boring fashion. Of course, there's plenty of fun along the way, such as the absolutely priceless moment when Llewelyn-Bowen nearly convinces "Handy" Andy Kane that he has to board over a swimming pool and create two rooms from the resulting space using only the inevitable MDF (medium-density fiberboard). It's instructive, great fun, and a very neat package of material. --Roger ThomasIn Decorate, the world's top designers and leading decor experts including Kelly Wearstler, Amy Butler, Jonathan Adler, and many others come togethe! r to share over 1,000 professional tips, ideas, and solutions for every room and every budget. Written and compiled by Holly Becker, founder of the hugely popular design blog Decor8, and Joanna Copestick, acclaimed lifestyle writer, this intensive home dcor program combines beautiful inspiration with nuts-and-bolts how-to for stunning results. More than 500 gorgeous color photographs provide motivation while line illustrations, checklists, shortcuts, and floor plans make it easy to get started. For those looking to make the most of their home and create stylish interiors, Decorate is the start-to-finish resource to keep on the bookshelf for years to come.This 135 piece household tool kit is perfect for a variety of small projects around the house. With almost everything you need in a compact case, you'll be finding projects to use them with! This set includes an 100 piece fastener set, a 4.8 volt cordless screwdriver, an 18 mm utility knife, 10 1-inch CRV screwdri! ver bits (1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, PH1, PH2, PH3, PZ1, PZ2, PZ3, ! 10 1-in ch CRV screwdriver bits (T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4) an 8-inch scissors, an 8-ounce claw hammer, four precision screwdrivers (Phillips #0, Phillips #1, slotted 2.4 mm, slotted 3.0mm), UL electrical tape, 6-inch long nose pliers, a 9-inch plastic magnetic level, a 12-foot-by-5/8-inch measuring tape, a 6-inch adjustable wrench, a UL recharger, and a 2-inch putty knife. There's no assembly required, either, so getting going is a snap.The Apollo Precision Tools DT0773N1 135-Piece Household Pink Tool Kit is a fun, versatile array of tools for small household projects. Featuring a charming pink color scheme and a rugged carrying case, this tidy, multipurpose kit is ideal for a wide variety of general household projects. Tools in the kit, including a steel claw hammer, a utility knife, an adjustable wrench and pliers amongst others, are heat treated and chrome plated for long-lasting durability. Each tool is tested against industry standards for hardness, t! orque, finish and usability and should last a lifetime under normal use.


The Apollo Precision Tools DT0773N1 135-Piece Household Pink Tool Kit:
  • Features 135 tools including a cordless screwdriver.
  • Provides the versatility needed for a range of home projects.
  • Showcases comfortable handle designs that are easy to grip
  • Includes a rugged and convenient carrying case




The included carrying case makes for easy storage and portability. View larger.


The 135-piece set includes a 4.8-volt cordless screwdriver. View larger.


The set is perfect for all different types of household projects. View larger.
All the Tools You Need For Small Household Projects
Whether you're hanging pictures in your new home or assembling a television stand in a dorm room, this kit puts everything you need for light- and medium-duty projects and repairs at your fingertips. Organized in its durable carrying case for quick and easy access, the tools are readily available so you get the job done without scouring through a toolbox.

Equipped with a box cutter, a rechargeable cordless 4.8-volt screwdriver, a measuring tape, a level, a putty knife, and more, this all-in-one kit features 135 tools that get you up to spe! ed for moving in, fixing up, moving out, and everything in bet! ween.

Durable, Easy to Use, and Portable
Each tool in the kit is engineered with a special heat treatment and chrome plating for long-lasting, corrosion-resistant performance. When not in use, the tools are housed securely in an exclusive blow-molded case that is designed for protection against wear and tear.

The tools feature an easy-grip design for comfortable use, while their lightweight, compact size makes them ideal for those who find larger tools too cumbersome. In fact, the entire kit weighs only 7.7 pounds, making for convenient storage and easy portability.

Colorful Pink Design for Those Who Think Outside the Toolbox
The kit's lively pink color scheme adds fun to those humdrum home repairs and makes it a stylish gift for do-it-yourselfers who appreciate a little creative flair. And if you've ever lent a tool to a neighbor and never seen it returned, you'll be delighted by the distinctive look of these tools, which makes them so easy to identify.!

Support Breast Cancer Awareness with Each Purchase
In addition to being a perfect household tool kit, a portion of the proceeds go to help fund breast cancer awareness initiatives. Think pink!

What's in the Box
4.8-volt cordless screwdriver, with a UL recharger, also a one hundred fastener set, 18mm utility knife, ten 1-inch bits, CRV (1/8-inch , 5/32-inch, 3/16-inch 1/4-inch, PH1, PH2, PH3, PZ1, PZ2, PZ3), ten 1-inch bits-CRV (T10, T15, T25, T27, T30, 1/8-inch, 5/32-inch, 3/16-inch, 1/4-inch), 8-inch scissors, 8oz claw hammer, four screwdrivers (Phillips No. 1, No. 0, slotted 2.4mm, 3.0 mm) UL electrical tape, 6-inch long nose pliers, 9-inch plastic magnetic level, 12-foot 5/8-inch measuring tape, 6-inch adjustable wrench, 2-inch putty knife.

0 comments

Ashes of Time Redux [Blu-ray]

  • UK Import
  • Region-Free
  • Blu-ray
From Director Wong Kar Wai comes the definitive version of Ashes of Time, an epic martial arts masterpiece of larger-than-life characters, breathtaking landscapes and exquisite fight scenes. The story centers on Ouyang Feng (Leslie Cheung), a heartbroken and cynical man who spends his days alone in the desert, connecting expert swordsmen with those seeking revenge and willing to pay for it. As Ouyang narrates his tale, interweaving the stories of his unusual clients, old friends and future foes, he begins to realize the mistakes of his own past, and how his fear of rejection may have led him to a life of exile.A complicated, sparse, and beautiful film, Ashes of Time Redux is the slightly tweaked version of Wong Kar Wai’s 1994 film. Like some of his other work, the movie borrows a few characters from novelist Louis Cha, but the fi! lm is definitely classic Wong. Ou-yan (Leslie Cheung) is heartbroken, after losing the love of his life to his brother. His friend Huang (Tony Leung Ka Fai) also is broken hearted. Ou-yan provides an unusual service--he connects swordsmen with people seeking revenge. He faces a moral dilemma when he is hired by both a man named Yang and a woman named Yin to kill Huang. There is a clever secret about Yin and Yang's motives that unfolds nicely. The fight sequences are artistically choreographed by Sammo Hung and Wong lovingly presents the action in a slow motion blur that showcases the languid beauty of martial arts. Other characters meander in and out of the plot. The most compelling is a blind swordsman (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) whose wife has a connection to Huang. The storyline at times gets confusing, but the narration by the two male leads offers nice clarity. Wong chooses to keep his set uncluttered, letting the camera focus on one or two characters rather than a sea of ex! tras. Cinematographer Christopher Doyle enhances the melanchol! y tone o f the film by utilizing sepia tones and dramatic framing that captures an otherworldly essence. --Jae-Ha KimOuyang Feng has lived in the western desert for some years. He left his home in White Camel Mountain when the woman he loved chose to marry his elder brother rather than him. Instead of seeking glory, he ends up as an agent. When people come to him with a wish to eliminate someone who has wronged them, he puts them in touch with a swordsman who can do the job.A complicated, sparse, and beautiful film, Ashes of Time Redux is the slightly tweaked version of Wong Kar Wai’s 1994 film. Like some of his other work, the movie borrows a few characters from novelist Louis Cha, but the film is definitely classic Wong. Ou-yan (Leslie Cheung) is heartbroken, after losing the love of his life to his brother. His friend Huang (Tony Leung Ka Fai) also is broken hearted. Ou-yan provides an unusual service--he connects swordsmen with people seeking revenge. He faces a m! oral dilemma when he is hired by both a man named Yang and a woman named Yin to kill Huang. There is a clever secret about Yin and Yang's motives that unfolds nicely. The fight sequences are artistically choreographed by Sammo Hung and Wong lovingly presents the action in a slow motion blur that showcases the languid beauty of martial arts. Other characters meander in and out of the plot. The most compelling is a blind swordsman (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) whose wife has a connection to Huang. The storyline at times gets confusing, but the narration by the two male leads offers nice clarity. Wong chooses to keep his set uncluttered, letting the camera focus on one or two characters rather than a sea of extras. Cinematographer Christopher Doyle enhances the melancholy tone of the film by utilizing sepia tones and dramatic framing that captures an otherworldly essence. --Jae-Ha Kim
0 comments

Death Defying Acts

  • During Harry Houdini's tour of Britain in 1926, the master escapologist enters into a passionate affair with a Scottish psychic. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR Age: 796019815512 UPC: 796019815512 Manufacturer No: 81551
Short Plays / Comedy / 2m, 3f / 3 ints. This long-running Off Broadway hit features the work of three gifted playwrights. David Mamet's AN INTERVIEW is an oblique, mystifying interrogation. A sleazy lawyer is forced to answer difficult questions and to admit the truth about his life and career. The why and where of the interrogation provide a surprise ending to this brilliant twenty minute comedy. In HOTLINE by Elaine May, a neurotic woman with enough urban angst to fill a neighborhood calls a suicide crisis hotline late one night. The counselor who gets the call is overwhelmed - it is his first night on the job. This dark and desperate, wildly funny forty mi! nute piece ends Act 1. A well to do psychiatrist has just discovered that her best friend is having an affair with her husband in Woody Allen's wildly comic second act, CENTRAL PARK WEST. She has invited the friend over for a confrontation after getting thoroughly soused. Meanwhile, the husband is about to run off with a college student. CENTRAL PARK WEST provides an hour of constant hilarity. "A wealth of laughter."-N.Y. Newsday "Lighter than air, an elegant diversion."-N.Y. TimesDuring Harry Houdini's tour of Britain in 1926, the master escapologist enters into a passionate affair with a Scottish psychic.

Stills from Death Defying Acts (Click for larger image)


Death Defying Acts would more aptly be titled Houdini’s Whirlwind Romance as it focuses less on the famed magician’s ski! lls and more on what kind of secret lovers he may have had. In this historical drama, ravishing con-artists, Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones), and daughter, Benji (Saoirse Ronan), play two sharp girls ready to take Houdini (Guy Pearce) for a ride. Set in 1920s Scotland, the plot centers on a contest Houdini hosts in Edinburgh to find a psychic medium who can channel his deceased mother. Mary, tired of pick-pocketing to stage fake magic shows, desperately wants Houdini’s $10,000 cash prize and auditions successfully for the role of (real) medium. From there, passions flare up as they negotiate how much of their magic is sheer trickery. Director Gillian Armstrong’s (Little Women) rendition of Houdini’s life depicts him as a regular joe struggling to convince his pragmatic business manager, Sugarman (Timothy Spall), that magic and science are connected. Scenes in which Houdini trains for and then tests his boundaries and skills during famous theater acts, are ! highly entertaining and well re-created. Scenes in which McGar! vie and her daughter read characters for clues to rig their paranormal hoaxes are equally well-done, and Zeta-Jones is gorgeous as a spiritualist. But when Mary and Houdini collide, their definitions of magic turn to mush through Hollywood translation, as something semi-equivocal to faith in love. This unfortunate injection of melodrama in an otherwise smart film cancels out its better parts. Do Houdini fans really want to see him, on screen, grappling with CG angels as he floats, straitjacketed, in his sealed water tank? I doubt it. Still, Death Defying Acts stars Houdini, which automatically makes for some fun. â€"Trinie Dalton
0 comments