On Demand Weekly

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of movies on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: FIRST POSITION (Sundance Selects).

FIRST POSITION
By Amy Slotnick

Viacom Media Networks (VMN) unveiled the results to their “Social TV: Viewers C’s the Moment” study. It explores the social TV phenomenon through the lens of the viewer as part of the growing shift in TV viewing from a lean-back to a lean-forward experience. Consumers engaging in Social V activities "C's the moment" primarily by communicating, consuming content and checking comments.

“One of the main goals of this research was to understand how to inspire Social TV activity among our audiences,” said Colleen Fahey Rush, EVP and Chief Research Officer, Viacom Media Networks.

The top takeaways for the TV industry from the comprehensive study are:
• With the combination of TV and Social TV, it’s never been a better time to be a fan.
• Consumer expectations are high. Social TV websites and apps have to be special to drive engagement and consistent use.
• Destinations need to build across multiple devices (computer, smartphone and tablet) to capture consumers.

Courtesy of Viacom Media Networks: “Social TV: Viewers C’s the Moment” study (May 17, 2012)

“This is not a social study. This is a Social TV study,” Stuart Schneiderman, Strategic Insights and Research, Viacom Media Networks commented.

Consumer behavior:
National online surveys were conducted with over 1,500 VMN viewers aged 13 – 54.

When asked what “Social TV” means to them,

the most commonly reported words were

“interactive,” “friends,” “Facebook” and “Twitter.”

Some key findings:
• There is no one size fits all in terms of chat options: 56% communicate through the social TV app/service; 53% use Facebook; 50% send individual or group texts; and 38% use Skype or Apple FaceTime. Many respondents described cobbling together unique communication systems to interact with different social circles while watching a show.
• Live TV show viewing unlocks the real value of social TV services and co-viewing activities. Features relating to communication, content and comments are twice as likely to be used during live than time-shifted viewing.
• There are 13 Social TV activities and the average participant in the study engage in an average of seven different ones – online or offline – on at least a weekly basis. The most common activities include watching TV with others (85%), searching for supplemental content (61%) and viewing TV show clips on social networks (58%).

Courtesy of Viacom Media Networks: “Social TV: Viewers C’s the Moment” study (May 17, 2012)

Communication
Communication is a top priority for Social TV users. Many respondents said they use different methods to communicate (text, email, Twitter, etc) with different social circles.

Courtesy of Viacom Media Networks: “Social TV: Viewers C’s the Moment” study (May 17, 2012)

Content

On Demand Weekly's Editor-in-Chief, Britt Bensen spoke with Jason O’Mara (“Life On Mars”, “Terra Nova” and the yet to be named “Ralph Lamb Project” for CBS this Fall), co-star of the new movie on demand, ONE FOR THE MONEY (Lionsgate) with Katherine Heigl.

On Demand Weekly (ODW): We’re going to start with a question from a twitter. What’s your favorite beer?
Jason O’Mara (JO): I haven’t drunk alcohol in 17 years.

ODW: What do you like to do when you’re not working?
JO: Honestly, I really like to spend time with my family. My (8 year old) son loves to swim. And I find myself spending a lot of time building Legos with him.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading because I’m trying to find books to adapt as a producer. Between all that, I don’t have time for much else. I tried to take up golf a few years, but I discovered I’m not very good at it.

ODW: Neither am I. You’ve been in major TV series and movies. Do you have a preference?

Jaosn O'Mara / ONE FOR THE MONEY (Courtesy of Lionsgate)

JO: I don’t really. I love going to the movies. Always have since I was a child. The cinema darkened room in front of a large screen and share that experience with others is just fantastic! I hope it never goes away as a cultural experience. I am a bit of a movie nerd.

But also some of the best TV is happening right now. I love television as much as I love film. As time goes on as an actor, I’m starting to nose around to see what else I can do? If I read a good book, can we turn this into film or a television series.

ODW: You’ve played a policeman in “Life On Mars,” a character on the run initially in “Terra Nova,” and now a policeman on the run in ONE FOR THE MONEY. I’m noticing a trend. What’s next?
JO: Hopefully it’s going to be a pilot I just shot with Dennis Quaid (for CBS). “The Ralph Lamb Project” that takes place in 1960’s Las Vegas. He plays a real life guy called Ralph Lamb, a cowboy who becomes the sheriff of Clark County, including Las Vegas during the Rat Pack and when the Mob came in. Dennis Quaid plays Ralph Lamb. Michael Chiklis plays the head of the Mob. I play Dennis Quaid’s brother, Frank Lamb. Carrie Ann Moss plays the DA.

I’m not on the run, but it does involve riding horses if that counts.
(Editor’s Note: CBS announced they picked up the show during Up Fronts.)

ODW: You're from Ireland but had a NY accent in LIFE ON MARS and a NJ accent for ONE FOR THE MONEY. How do you prepare for dialects?
JO: I just try to do my best to get an ear in and work with the best dialect coaches, who are invaluable, especially for an Irishman in America. For ONE FOR THE MONEY, I spent some time down in Trenton (NJ) with US Marshals who run the NY/NJ Regional Task Force. I went on ride-alongs. It was pretty intense. That’s a tough job those guys have.

It was great experience for Joe Moreli (his character in ONE FOR THE MONEY). I got to see what it is like for both the bounty hunter side of things as well as the fugitive. The first thing fugitives lose on the run is body weight. They are literally on the run going from place to place. I had to get my weight down which involved a lot of running.

ODW: Staying within character as Joe Moreli in ONE FOR THE MONEY, have you provoked anybody recently?
JO: (laughs) That’s right. I love the relationship between Moreli and Plum. I hope we get to do some more of it. They know each other so well. They’re old friends who grow up next door to each other, but there’s so much history between them, there’s almost too much history between them to bare.

And to add more complications,

they are sexually attracted to each other.

It’s a fascinating, complicated relationship and

a lot of fun to bring to life on set.

Jaosn O'Mara and Katherine Heigl / ONE FOR THE MONEY (Courtesy of Lionsgate)

ODW: How was it handing and then taking away a towel from Katherine Heigl in the shower?

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of movies on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: ONE FOR THE MONEY (Lionsgate).

ONE FOR THE MONEY
In the illustrious words of Debbie Reynolds “Who wouldn’t enjoy a nice thong.”
By Kate Asche Wilson

If you’re in the mood for an Ang Lee inspired Academy Award nominee with a musical score that makes angels cry, and a script that Aaron Sorkin envies then turn back now. Go watch THE ENGLISH PATIENT on demand and cry by yourself in a corner. If, however, you enjoy Katherine Heigl and are willing to watch her transform from bumbling to badass in an hour and a half than ONE FOR THE MONEY is the perfect film for you.

(Courtesy of Lionsgate)

Based on Janet Evanovich’s bestselling novel of the same name, ONE FOR THE MONEY follows stereotypical Jersey girl Stephanie Plum as she finds herself thrust into the seedy world of bounty hunters, rogue cops, and Asian stoners. Portraying our heroine is Katherine Heigl who has traveled far from the drama of “Grey’s Anatomy” and found herself in the deep abyss of awkward comedy. From brazen Judd Apatow films, to hidden rom-com gems Heigl has proven herself to be more than adept at headlining a film, and paves the way for Stephanie Plum to waltz into our lives.

(Courtesy of Lionsgate)

Stephanie Plum’s journey begins after securing herself a job at her cousin Vinnie’s Bail Bonds business. Plum unintentionally discovers that an ex-flame, Joe Morelli (played by the ridiculously charming Jason O’Mara), has skipped bail, and needs to be apprehended and detained. Lucky for her a little bit of blackmail goes along way. Unlucky for him, she holds a grudge. She sets off to track him down, picks up a curious array of supporting characters along the way, and discovers that, although Morelli is convicted of murder, there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

Now for the moment of truth. Let me parcel down my thoughts into the three categories that every film should be judged on: The good, the bad, and the hilariously inappropriate.

The Good: Katherine Heigl and Jason O’ Maras’s chemistry. No matter how cheesy the writing was these two somehow made it bearable. Honestly I don’t believe Katherine Heigl was the perfect fit for Stephanie Plum, but that woman can turn any situation into something quirky and fabulously awkward. Jason O’Mara was perfect as Joe Morelli, channeling his sexy badassery to the fullest extent. Trust me you want to watch this movie just to see him with his shirt off. I even stopped cringing at Heigl’s horrifying accent when they were on screen together. Now that’s a feat.

(Courtesy of Lionsgate)

The Bad:

HAYWIRE is now on demand.

MMA superstar Gina Carano Is Mallory Kane, a highly trained government operative who works in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist who was being held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Instantly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious – and dangerous – trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she'll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.

Backed by an all-star cast of Golden Globe® nominees Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton and Michael Fassbender, Oscar® and Golden Globe® winner Michael Douglas and Channing Tatum.

Here are ODW's 5 Things You Should Know About HAYWIRE

1) Gina Carano began her career as an MMA fighter and was handpicked by director Steven Soderbergh to make this film after he saw one of her MMA fights on television.

2) Gina Carano trained for about two months prior to filming with Aaron Cohen, the film’s Special Ops Technical Advisor. Aaron is a counterterrorism consultant and former Israeli Special Forces operative.

3) Haywire’s fight choreographer J.J. Perry was also the fight choreographer on WARRIOR. Gina gave input and added in some of her MMA movies into the fight sequences.

4) The first fight that was shot for the film is the one between Gina Carano and Michael Fassbender. Michael was also Gina’s first on-screen kiss.

5) The film was shot on location in Dublin, Barcelona, and New Mexico.

Look for HAYWIRE on your cable provider's Movie On Demand section.

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