I’m not generally a fan of the phrase “jumped the shark.” I think it’s presumptuous; as if I personally decided the standards with which a show should continue, and how it should be evaluated. I know what you’re saying “but… that’s exactly what you do.” Yes, yes it is. But that doesn’t mean I don’t oftentimes feel bad about it. So when it came time to think of what aspect of 2011’s television offerings I would break down for your perusal, a nagging feeling piqued in the back of my mind – a lot of what’s on television should no longer be on television. And I’m not just talking about shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, or any other number of programs that have worn out their proverbial welcome in the Neilsen households of America. No, I’m referring specifically to the handful of TV shows that chose 2011 as the year to hammer that final nail in the coffin of television irrelevancy. Just what, pray tell, are these shows that I’ve deemed no longer worthy of filling my DVR? Read on, and when preparing the hate mail, remember that Mikela has one A, not two.

A new Bonnie and Clyde movie from writer/director Tonya S. Holly has been in the works for a while now. It seemed like smooth sailing for the project, because not only does it have a strong Hollywood legacy to build off of because of 1967’s Bonnie & Clyde starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, it also had a known star attached with Hilary Duff signed on to play Bonnie Parker. A remake and a famous face? That’s as good as gold in executive eyes. But these days things don’t seem to be so sure. Joining Duff as Clyde Barrow was going to be Gossip Girl and Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch actor Kevin Zegers, but due to scheduling conflicts, both Duff and Zegers have had to drop out of the film. Okay, so maybe the loss of Duff hurts a bit more, but you get the point. This movie has gone from a surefire hit to a big question mark, and all because of scheduling problems. So why couldn’t the people in charge jostle around the schedule and make this work? A joint statement from Holly and producer Tom Rogers said, “Due to our obligations with investors and international buyers, it is imperative that we stick to our current schedule. Therefore we are forced to explore other options for the two lead roles. Unfortunately this happens all the time in the world of filmmaking.” Ah, good old bureaucratic red tape sabotaging things that would be in its best interest to [Due to Content Scraping and Theft, we have been forced to try abbreviated feeds. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and woud very much appreciate you clicking through to view the full article on FilmSchoolRejects.com]

It seems like somebody working for the upcoming NU Image/Millenium production Straight A’s has been burning up the phone today trying to get word out about the project. So far Variety has come out with not one, but two casting reports for the film. First, a little bit about what the movie is. James Cox, who has not done much, but is probably best known for his last film, 2003’s Wonderland, is set to direct. The script, from writer Dave Cole, is about a man who has been in and out of rehab for a decade, and who is haunted by the ghost of his dead mother. This pesky old ghost continually gripes at him that he needs to seek out his family and make amends with the people that he turned his back on long ago. Armed with a cache of pills and weed, this man makes his way back to his hometown of Shreveport to spend some time with his brother and his brother’s wife, who still pines after our main character, as he was her first love. Oh what a tangled web we weave.

Russell Edgington is a prime example of a great villain. Not only was he smart and calculated, but he also had the power and strength to get things done on his own. And when Edgington got down and bloody, he looked cool doing it. The vampire king was one of the few vamps on True Blood that seemed interested in actually having fun. He always looked as if he was going to a party and simply looking for a good time, especially with the help of his slick 70s style wardrobe. Sadly, Edgington isn’t around this season, but don’t fret. As actor Denis O’Hare says below, the plan is for him to return. Things didn’t end well for Edgington last season, but the King of Mississippi had persistence and ambition, so there was no real reason for us to be doubting his return. While Denis O’Hare isn’t on this season, the actor was still kind enough to make the time to discuss his role on the show. Throughout my whole chat with O’Hare he wore his love for Edgington on his sleeve. From discussing the character’s past to his childlike wonder, the actor remained enthusiastic.

I think we all know each other well enough now. Yeah? Let’s talk fetishes. When I took the position of Reel Sex columnist the first story idea that sprung to mind revolved around BDSM culture. I’ve always been fascinated with the back and forth of this lifestyle, and with so many examples of light to moderate to down-right kinky in mainstream cinema it’s not difficult to find something that everyone can enjoy. Some of the films springing to mind right off the bat are ones we’ve looked at before, like 2002’s Secretary (which we will explore more in depth below), but there are so many more that established the base of mainstream BDSM culture in cinema. Here is just a small sample of what to expect before you dive, gag-ball deep, into some of the most controversially kinky films.

Often composers fall into a groove, defining themselves with a particular style and running with it across the cinematic board. Not so with Nathan Barr, whose career is speckled with comedies, horror movies and a little of everything in-between. Barr’s eclectic resume includes True Blood; Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever; Broken Lizard’s Club Dread, Beerfest and The Slammin’ Salmon; The Last Exorcism; and Ruben Fleischer’s upcoming action comedy 30 Minutes or Less. His latest, the character-driven thriller The Ledge, was picked up by IFC Films after premiering at Sundance. The movie centers on Gavin (Charlie Hunnam) who has an affair with Shana (Liv Tyler), the wife of fanatical religious man Joe (Patrick Wilson) who forces Gavin to either jump off the ledge of a building or watch him kill his wife. It’s like that middle school game “MFK,” but real. We sat down with Barr during Sundance to talk about his process as a composer, the similarities and differences between his many projects and what how each one is its own musical challenge:

Not every week can be a winner when it comes to DVD purchases, but that’s a good thing right? Gives us time to save more cash for the releases that truly matter… like the upcoming Warner Archive release of The Herculoids: The Complete Series. Hell yes. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to watch this week. As is often the case there are plenty of titles worth renting and avoiding, and they run the gamut from old to new, big to small, good to bad. The highest profile title is probably Nicolas Cage’s Drive Angry, and by “high profile” I of course mean it stars recognizable faces and not that it made any money at the box office. Other releases this week include True Blood‘s third season, Brian Austin Green’s sad attempt at a comic book movie (Cross), Javier Bardem’s Oscar-nominated Biutiful, the Megan Fox/Mickey Rourke (apparent) train wreck Passion Play, and many more. As always, if you see something you like, click on the image to buy it. Rookie Blue: The Complete First Season Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym) is a recent police academy graduate just beginning her career as a cop. She’s joined by four other rookie recruits for thirteen episodes of drama, action, and fairly solid character work. Sure McNally sees more gunplay in her first year than most cops see in their entire lifetime, but this is Canada and everything’s exaggerated up there. This first season is lightweight fun, but the actors (both the rookies and their [Due to Content Scraping and Theft, we have been forced to try abbreviated feeds. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and woud very much appreciate you clicking through to view the full article on FilmSchoolRejects.com]

It’s another buy-happy week of Blu-ray selections here on This Week in Blu-ray. Warner Bros. comes correct with a brilliant release of A Clockwork Orange, George Lucas does video commentary and doesn’t talk about Star Wars, vampires and werewolves tear each others’ clothes off, Nic Cage kills just about everyone, Javier Bardem is handsome and someone thought it would be a good idea to put Megan Fox and Mickey Rourke together on-screen. It was not. Reading this Blu-ray column, however, is a great idea. A Clockwork Orange: 40th Anniversary Edition A Clockwork Orange is one of those great films that I’ve had the honor of seeing properly projected. Of course, that was at 3am during a sci-fi marathon and I may have slept through the second act, but the fact remains: I’ve seen what it’s supposed to look like. So when I report that it looks even better on Blu-ray, that’s not something to take lightly. This week’s Pick was an easy one. Warner Bros. has handled Stanley Kubrick’s ultra-violent masterpiece with great care. From the sturdy, book-like packaging to the fresh Blu-ray exclusive features (including one where Malcolm McDowell looks back 40 years later and another that considers the cultural impact of the film’s violent nature), everything is in step with the greatest expectations for what this release should look like. It’s a collector’s item and a wonderful celebration of a film that, even after 40-years, still holds up as a stunning testimony to the greatness of Stanley Kubrick.

Summer is a time for playing outside, sitting on the beach, going for a swim, taking a stroll in the park with a significant other while… oh, who am I kidding… Summer is for one thing: warm, entertaining television. And with the 2010-2011 television at an end this week, it’s time to look ahead to the wonderful crop that is set to begin at the top of next month. So with that, I present to you 10 Summer Shows Not To Miss! (But beware of some spoilers.)

Episode: “Evil is Going On” (Season 3, Episode 12) Synopsis: Season 3 comes to a close as Eric’s plan against Russell moves into its final act. In the middle of that, Sookie finds out the truth about both her vampire suitors. Elsewhere, Jason and Sam each face up to the new challenges in their lives. Review: My first reaction to the third season finale of True Blood is “meh.” Not because it was bad, just because when you compare it to previous season finale’s it doesn’t really stack up. There weren’t any real shocking moments, there were no spectacular deaths, and, secure in the knowledge of a fourth season, few things were wrapped up and a few storylines were left wide upon.

Episode: “Fresh Blood” (Season 3, Episode 11) Synopsis: Eric puts his plan to kill Russell Edgington into play, putting both Sookie and Bill in danger. Jason struggles with the revelation his girlfriend is a werepanther, Tara confronts Deputy Andy over Eggs’ death, and Sam hits the bottle hard. Review: Gird yourself, True Blood fans, there’s only one episode left and Bon Temps is a mess. Well, emotionally, compared to the physical trouble and threats facing the sleepy town at the end of last season. This episode went about shuffling the deck of character relationships, setting up for an explosion of change for next season, though it did seem out of place at times.

Episode: “I Smell a Rat” (Season 3, Episode 10) Synopsis: An episode of secrets: Jason reveals his involvement in Eggs’ death, Hoyt spills his true feelings for Jessica, and Bill reveals Sookie’s true nature. Review: “A fairy? How lame is that?” You said it all, Sook, though I don’t think any of us are surprised at the reveal. And did Bill just say aliens exist? After three seasons of “What is she” we finally get our answer: Sookie is a fairy. Or an “old one.” What importance is that? Well apparently they’re super tasty and offer special abilities to vampires, who presumed to have hunted them to extinction.

Episode: “Everything is Broken” (Season 3, Episode 9) Synopsis: Eric is confronted about the death of the Magister by Vampire League of America figurehead Nan Flanagan and the mysterious Vampire Authority comes into play. In Bon Temps, Sookie and Bill reconnect while Sam snaps under the pressures surrounding him and hands out an ass beating. Jason does something awesome. Review: Two in a row! This was another great episode of True Blood, definitely in the top three of the third season. Once again there is increased focus on Eric and the episode is better for it. Talbot’s death last episode was still a sticky residue on the ground, at least until Russell goes all creepy, scoops the goo into a crystal bowl and carries it around, talking to it. Dating someone for something like 3,000 years will do that to you.

Episode: “Night on the Sun” (Season 3, Episode 8) Synopsis: Sookie reevaluates her relationship with Bill while Jason takes the next step forward with Crystal. King Russell makes a move on Sookie while Alcide is away and Eric plays two gambits with bloody results. Review: Finally! A fantastic episode. While season 3 has been good, it was far from great in my opinion, until tonight. Sure the werewolves are still pussies (I have to say that every review, contractually) but there was a lot going on this week that was very engaging.

If you were Andrew Paquin and your sister, along with her husband, were currently starring in one of the most popular and sexy shows currently on television, what would you do? If “write a script and get them to guest in it so that a studio could put their faces prominently on the box art” then you should get a drink with him. Because you think alike. So perhaps that is a bit harsh. I mean, really, who wouldn’t take advantage of something like that? Regardless, Open House is a thriller currently available on DVD that stars Brian Geraghty and Tricia Helfer as a pair of sadistic squatters with a thirst for blood. Not thirsting for blood this go around is Stephen Moyer, who guests stars along with his wife, Anna Paquin, who is in the film for a few minutes.

Episode: “Hitting the Ground” (Season 3, Episode 7) Synopsis: Sookie manages to free Bill, who remains at death’s door. Meanwhile, Sam confronts the Mickens’ over their dog fighting activities while Eric and the King of Mississippi advance on their goals. Review: This episode was 50/50 for me. I really dug the subplots of Sam, Jason, and Eric, who got pretty decent screen time, but I wasn’t a fan at all of the Sookie stuff, though it reveals, presumably, something about who or what she really is.

I’m a big fan of survival. I figure not matter how bad life is, it’s always at least a step better than being dead. As such, my self-preservation instinct is very high. While I’m not risk averse or danger shy, if I’m faced with a life or death situation, I’m choosing life and doing whatever it takes to come out on top. I naturally assume that most people are like that. Living is pretty awesome. Why then, when faced with death do characters insist on opening their mouths? Many times in movies if you just keep your trap shut you’ll either slip by unnoticed or be allowed to leave. Not keeping your mouth shut is idiotic.

Episode: “I Got a Right to Sing the Blues” (Season 3, Episode 6) Synopsis: Tara attempts to mount a rescue of Sookie and Bill when all are being held at the King of Louisiana’s residence. Meanwhile, Eric and the King head off to ‘negotiate’ with the Queen of Mississippi while Sam finds out disturbing news about his families income source. Review: If you’d thought that True Blood was lacking in blood so far, then tonight was for you. With dead vampires, torture, skull cave-ins, and plenty of the red stuff soaking into the floors, this was possibly the bloodiest episode of the entire series. But does all that blood mean it’s good?

Episode: “Trouble” (Season 3, Episode 5) Synopsis: Multiple storylines careen towards each other as the psychotic vampire detective Franklin brings Tara to the Vampire King of Mississippi, which brings Tara and Bill face to face. If that weren’t enough, Sookie’s search takes pause when the Mississippi vampires decide to look for her, instead.

Episode: “9 Crimes” (Season 3, Episode 4) Synopsis: Bill reaches out to Sookie in an unexpected way while she continues her search with the aide of the werewolf Alcide.  In Bon Temps, Andy is promoted to Sheriff, causing a jealous and misguided Jason to demand a job on the police force. Things with Eric go south when the Magistrate shows up at Fangtasia on the trail of some vampire blood peddlers. Review: The first really great episode of the third season has arrived.  Yes, the last two were good, but felt rushed and awkward for the most part.  With things settled down considerably, we get more meat and less teasing throughout all the storylines.