PILOT EPISODE A "SMASH"!

Still from Smash

Yes! I've finally seen that Pilot of NBC's Smash and can I express how pleased I am with it? It's actually more Fame than its lacking 2009 Remake! Here we see Julia (Debra Messing), the Co-Writer of this forthcoming Marilyn Monroe Musical and the tensions she is having at home with her Husband who disapproves of her branching into the venture. We also see Karen (Katharine McPhee) introduced as a green and struggling Actress on the verge of a big break after some unsuccessful auditions and her closest competition ultimately for the role of Marilyn Monroe, Ivy (Meg Hilty). Ivy appears to be struggling with some personal demons of her own and some insecurities after failing to get her big break despite having been schooled and having much experience in minor roles on Broadway. We also meet another of the main characters Derek (Jack Davenport), an arrogant and womanizing Choreographer who just almost pushes the boundaries too far with Karen.

We really feel Messing's excitement about what's to come, while McPhee is perfect in her vulnerability and eagerness.  Anjelica Huston is seen little but is commanding every moment she's on. Hilty wows us right off the bat as Monroe in a Baseball-themed number complete with thrusting, flung about from dancer to dancer like a sulty rag doll.  The Episode ends with the number Let Me Be Your Star, performed by Hilty and McPhee (which quickly has disappeared from YouTube) and quite honestly, I can't get it out of my head.

Smash premieres February 6, 2012 at 10:00 PM.  CTV airs in Canada.  I'm hooked.

(Photo credit: NBC)

50/50 - TIFF MOVIE REVIEW

Still from 50/50

We often don't think of Cancer as a funny thing, but Vancouver-filmed 50/50 makes the most of it finding humour in the worst possible scenario. The Jonathan Levine Film, was written by Will Reiser who was inspired by his own battle with the Disease. It tackles heavy subject matter with a dash of optimism while at the same time, remaining true to the heart of the struggle.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a powerful, performance making proud those backers who first took note of his talent as a Child Actor in Sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, and if you weren't sold on him with his work in 2009's sleeper hit 500 Days of Summer, 50/50 will have you seeing him as a cut from the same cloth as talented contemporaries like James Franco and James McAvoy.

Gordon-Levitt's portrayal of Adam is authentic and mostly numbing myself having battled Cancer at one point in my life, I can appreciate that. He brings to life delicately the resentment, the doubts of uncertainty and disappointments which not only come from coping on a personal level, but also seeing how the Disease can affect one's own social support network. Despite being much a Comedy, the focus is honed-in just enough at the right moment that we are reminded how serious Adam's struggle is and ultimately that is where we get a proper glimpse at Gordon-Levitt's range.