Talking Pictures

Based on a 30’s radio show, newspaper publisher Britt Reid’s alter ego “The Green Hornet” was a kind of anti-hero hero. Seemingly a criminal, the masked Hornet and his trusted sidekick, Kato, battled criminals (and sometimes the law) to make sure justice was served.

If the plot is a bit familiar to you (especially anyone older than 50) you’re right, as The Green Hornet takes its plot line from “The Lone Ranger” legend.

In fact, Britt Reid is the grand nephew of John Reid, the Lone Ranger himself.

In the new film “The Green Hornet,” Britt Reid is a spoiled rich kid with daddy issues who is board with his life. After his father dies and leaves his media empire to Britt, the young man begins to find some purpose in helping those who can’t help themselves.

Seth Rogen (who also co-wrote the screenplay) takes on the challenge of playing the masked vigilante with Jay Chou as Kato, a car mechanic who has a knack of invention and making coffee.

The script is smart and action filled with just enough tongue-in-cheek humorous dialogue to give the film a sense of itself as both Britt and Kato discover they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

I do have a couple of minor problems beginning with the fact this update of the Green Hornet should have been released in the summer, as I think it would fare better to a summer audience. And the 3-D was choppy, hindering and actually was unnecessary as it did not add to the film in the least.

But despite those drawbacks, “The Green Hornet” is worth the ticket in.

It gets a B and is rated PG-13 for sequences of violent action, language, sensuality and drug content.

Despite the fact Gwyneth Paltrow can really, really sing, Country Strong isn’t interesting enough to hold an audience’s interest for long. This cliche-ridden soap opera plays out like the lyrics to a 3rd rate country song, which is too predictable and too shallow to be taken seriously.
The film focuses on a young man (Garrett Hedlund) who want’s to sing because he loves to share his songs with “the people.” He meets a recovering alcoholic country superstar (Gwyneth Paltrow) who takes a shine to him and
gives him the chance to perform on her come back tour, much to the concern of her manager / husband played by Tim McGraw. I can’t begin to explain the many pitfalls with this film, but my first problem is why have a film featuring country music and starring Tim McGraw where he doesn’t sing a note?
Then there’s the problem with Paltrow’s superstar character constantly canceling her performances on the “comeback tour,” but the opening acts still go on and the audience never seems to mind. However the concert promoters keep showing up and complaining, but it seems it’s “OK” because everyone “goes way back” and remembers “the old days.”
Also a secondary character, Chiles Stanton, played by Leighton Meester is hired by Tim McGraw’s character after she flubs an audition completely. She proves she just isn’t ready for performing on the road, yet is hired and
becomes a featured act.
Country Strong is a mess and despite decent performances by the cast, it just isn’t worth the ticket price in.
It gets a C- and is rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content.

Tony Toscano’s Top 10 Films of 2010

1. True Grit
2. Toy Story 3
3. 127 Hours
4. The Fighter
5. The Social Network
6. The Town
7. How to Train Your Dragon
8. Inception
9. RED
10. Megamind

Just when everyone thinks Disney has resigned itself only to computer-generated animation, they toss us a real end of the year gift called The Princess and the Frog.

The Princess and the Frog uses hand-drawn animation to dazzle the viewer, but captures the viewer’s heart with a really tender and romantic story of a young hard-working woman in New Orleans during the Jazz era.

The film is replete with memorable characters and a terrific score by Randy Newman. The Princess and the Frog is an absolute delight and deserves an A.  It’s rated PG.

Shia LaBeouf sits with Tony Toscano and discusses his new film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” with Talking Pictures’ Tony Toscano

Actress Megan Fox chats with Talking Pictures Tony Toscano about her new film ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”