A “DATELINE” EXCLUSIVE – LESTER HOLT SITS DOWN WITH JENNIFER HUDSON ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 AT 7PM/6C AND THEN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 9 SHE WILL BE LIVE ON “TODAY”

December 29, 2011 – New York, NY – In a “Dateline” exclusive airing on Sunday, January 8 at 7pm/6pm Central, Lester Holt interviews Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson. And on Monday, January 9 – the day before her new book I Got This, hits shelves – she will appear live on “TODAY.”

On “Dateline,” Lester Holt and Jennifer Hudson talk intimately about her body image, weight loss and healthy living tips as they cook together; Hudson also discloses details of her upcoming nuptials, the Julian D. King Gift Foundation she started in her nephew’s honor, and more.

Sound bites from the interview follow. If used, must include mandatory credit with airdate:

On her new book:
Lester Holt: This book is about your career.

Jennifer Hudson: Yea.

Lester Holt: But it’s also about your image. It’s about the struggle with weight.

Jennifer Hudson: Well I was much heavier growing up. But I was wearing, like size 22s or 24s and things like that.

Lester Holt: I Got This is more than a book title; it’s her musical anthem for “making it” as a larger woman from Chicago’s rough-and-tumble South Side, all the way to the top.

Jennifer Hudson: … That’s just how I look at things. Instead of second-guessing myself or doubting things, or even defeating myself before I even try. That’s where this came from. You know what – I Got This. That’s why I wrote this book. It’s like I wanna be that voice cheering others on you know. And if I got this, you got it too.

###

On Hudson’s fiancé David Otunga:
Lester Holt: I don’t know how to put this … let me just say that’s one chiseled piece of man candy.

Jennifer Hudson: Yes, he is. With a sweet romantic side, too. He’s very old-fashioned. Something he proved in August 2008 when he took the opportunity to ask my mom for, you know, permission to propose. And she gave her blessing.

###

On performing at the Super Bowl in February 2009, her first appearance since the tragic deaths of her family:
Lester Holt: Were you sure you were even ready to step out?

Jennifer Hudson: Well, I felt as though I had to. Again, just the same as I hear my mother’s voice in my head, I can hear my brother’s voice in my head. And he– they, like, everybody, it’s like, is she ever gonna sing again? Is she gonna– you know? And what was I gonna say to that– I could hear him, like, “Jennifer–” he would always say, “Knock it off, Jenny,” if I was cryin’ about somethin’ or if I was upset, discouraged, mad, “Jenny, knock it off.” That’s what I hear in my head. And it’s like, “Okay, well, what they want me to do? I can either just sit here and mope around, or do what I know that would make them proud.” And that’s what I did.

Lester Holt: And the crowd loved you for it.

###

Where Hudson was on that tragic day:
Lester Holt: … in Ebony Magazine, you talked about – that in some ways, he (David Otunga) saved your life, too.

Jennifer Hudson: Yeah, he did. I remember it like yesterday. And I was literally pickin’ up my bags to walk out the door to go to my mother’s house. And he called me, like, “Can you come out here instead of going, you know?” And I was like, “Okay, sure.” And that one decision, that one thing, I wouldn’t be sittin’ here.

Lester Holt: You would’ve been there?

Jennifer Hudson: Uh-huh.

###

On a wedding date and her dress:
Lester Holt: You’re so busy singing, David is busy wrestling. Have you guys had time to set a date?

Jennifer Hudson: Oh, we’ve set the date. We’re just not telling. … no, not telling. Some things you keep to yourself. (but) I could tell you about my dress if you want to hear about the dress.

Lester Holt: Yea, I’d love to hear about the dress.

Jennifer Hudson: It’s a show. It has three pieces to it. I designed it myself. It has a coat for the entrance and then when I get ready to walk, you take that part off. And then it’s another dress. And then by the time I get to the alter, it’s a whole new dress.

###

David Corvo is the senior executive producer and Liz Cole is the executive producer of “Dateline” (Fridays at 10pm and Sundays at 7pm ET) and Jim Bell is the executive producer of “TODAY” (Mon. – Fri., 7-11am ET). Follow “Dateline” on Facebook and Twitter @datelinenbc.

ACADEMY AWARD AND GRAMMY(R) AWARD WINNER JENNIFER HUDSON TO PERFORM “LIVE ON LETTERMAN” WEBCAST, PRESENTED BY AT&T, MONDAY, JUNE 13

CBS Interactive Music Group’s leading concert webcast series, LIVE ON LETTERMAN, presented by AT&T, will feature Jennifer Hudson in a live webcast concert from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on Monday, June 13 (9:00 PM, ET/6:00 PM, PT), in support of her recent release, I Remember Me.

 

Fans can watch the Jennifer Hudson webcast live or on-demand at http://www.cbs.com/late_night/liveonletterman/.  In addition, the show will be offered live and on-demand through CBS properties and broadcast on select CBS RADIO stations, as well as through VEVO’s Web site, mobile and connected devices and syndication partners.

 

Jennifer Hudson first came into the public eye as a contestant on the third season of “American Idol” and has since risen through the ranks to become both an esteemed vocalist and a breakthrough actress, receiving a GRAMMY® Award in 2009 for Best R&B Album for Jennifer Hudson, and a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role as Effie White in “Dreamgirls.”  Hudson recently released her follow-up album, I Remember Me, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and is now RIAA-certified Gold, featuring the new single, “Where You At.”  The album, a testament to music’s power to heal, ranges from intense and intimate to joyous and danceable, while demonstrating the range and growth of Hudson as an artist.

 

Hudson’s LIVE ON LETTERMAN webcast will follow the taping of her performance on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, which will be broadcast, Thursday, June 16 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

KAREN RODRIGUEZ IS ELIMINATED ON “AMERICAN IDOL”

VIEWERS CAN DONATE TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

TO HELP THEIR EFFORTS IN JAPAN

 

TOP 11 FINALISTS SING CLASSIC MOTOWN TUNES LIVE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, ON FOX

Jennifer Hudson and Sugarland to Perform on Next Results Show

Thursday, March 24

 

Finalist Karen Rodriguez was eliminated tonight on AMERICAN IDOL after she received the fewest of America’s votes. On Wednesday’s performance show, the Top 12 performed songs from the year they were born, and Rodriguez, 21, from New York, NY, sang “Love Will Lead You Back.” In addition, Grammy Award-winning pop superstars The Black Eyed Peas sang their latest hit, “Just Can’t Get Enough,” and IDOL Season Nine winner Lee DeWyze took the stage to perform “Beautiful Like You.”

During the show, host Ryan Seacrest announced that viewers can help those affected by the recent tragic events in Japan by donating much-needed funds. Donations will be accepted via text-messaging by texting REDCROSS to 90999. A $10 donation will be added to the user’s mobile bill, and proceeds will go to the American Red Cross to help their efforts in Japan. Messaging and data rates may apply. Visit www.mgive.org for terms, conditions and additional information.

In addition, AMERICAN IDOL announced last night that profits from the sales of the “American Idol Top 12 Season 10” compilation album and the individual performance downloads from the album between now and the end of the season will benefit the American Red Cross and their relief efforts in Japan.

On Wednesday, March 23 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 11 finalists – Casey Abrams, Naima Adedapo, Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Stefano Langone, Jacob Lusk, Scotty McCreery, Paul McDonald, Thia Megia, Haley Reinhart and Pia Toscano – return to the IDOL stage to sing classic Motown tunes.

Tune in the following night, Thursday, March 24 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), to the live results show to find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who is sent home. Also, Season Three finalist and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson will return to the IDOL stage to perform, and multi-platinum country music duo Sugarland will also perform.

Fans can view the full official profiles for each of the Top 11 finalists at www.americanidol.com/contestants. Keep up with the latest AMERICAN IDOL news on the AMERICAN IDOL Facebook page at www.facebook.com/americanidol. And be sure to check out the official AMERICAN IDOL Twitter for the scoop straight from the IDOL set (@americanidol).

Emmy Award-winning AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Founder, 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Nigel Lythgoe, President, Big Red 2 Entertainment. AMERICAN IDOL has been No. 1 among Adults 18-49 for the past seven consecutive seasons and currently ranks as the No. 1 television show of the 2010-11 season.

Visit americanidol.com for additional information regarding AMERICAN IDOL voting, as well as exclusive videos, interviews and photos, as well as special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.

NEXT WEEK ON THE VIEW (3/21-25, 2011)

KEIFER SUTHERLAND, JENNIFER HUDSON, DONALD TRUMP AND KATE WINSLET
ARE AMONG THE FEATURED GUESTS ON “THE VIEW,” MARCH 21-25

Keifer Sutherland (“24,” “The Lost Boys”), now on Broadway in “The Championship Season,” joined by another of the show’s stars, comic Jim Gaffigan, Academy Award(tm) winners Jennifer Hudson (“I Remember Me”) and Kate Winslet (“Mildred Pierce”), former TV talk show host Dick Cavett (author, Talk Show), Donald Trump (“Celebrity Apprentice”), Chef Rocco DiSpirito, Clinton Kelly (host, TLC’s “What Not to Wear”), comic Richard Lewis (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Sarah Brokaw, daughter of newsman Tom Brokaw and author of Fortytude, are featured MARCH 21-25 on “The View” (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET) on the ABC Television Network.

On Friday, March 25, Brooks Douglass (“Heaven’s Rain”) and his sister, Leslie, recount the horrific events of 1979 when their Okarche, Oklahoma home became the target of a random burglary, destroying an innocent family, their parents tragically murdered, while they themselves were shot and left to die but miraculously survived.

Scheduled guests the week of MARCH 21-25 are as follows (subject to change):

MONDAY, MARCH 21 – First appearance on “The View” from acclaimed actor Keifer Sutherland, joined by one of his stage co-stars, comedic actor Jim Gaffigan (Broadway’s “The Championship Season”); former television talk show host Dick Cavett (author, Talk Show).

TUESDAY, MARCH 22 – Academy Award(tm) winner Jennifer Hudson (“I Remember Me”); seven principles of fat burning.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 – Donald Trump (“Celebrity Apprentice”); new installment of “Ladies Who Lunch” with guest, Chef Rocco DiSpirito; Macy’s fashions with guest Clinton Kelly (host, TLC’s “What Not to Wear”).

THURSDAY, MARCH 24 – Comic Richard Lewis (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”); Sarah Brokaw, daughter of newsman Tom Brokaw and author of Fortytude.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25 – Academy Award(tm) winner Kate Winslet (“Mildred Pierce”); Brooks Douglass (“Heaven’s Rain”) and sister Leslie recount the horrific events of 1979 when their Okarche, Oklahoma home became the target of a random burglary destroying an innocent family, their parents tragically murdered, and they themselves shot and left to die; prom fashions; grand finale of “‘The View’: Where’s My Car?”

“The View” features Daytime Emmy Award-winning hosts Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd. It’s the original forum in which real women discuss everyday issues, share their opinions and engage in colorful conversations. “The View,” broadcast in HDTV and produced in 2-channel stereo sound, is now available to watch online daily at 4:00 p.m., ET/1:00 p.m., PT on the ABC Digital Full Episode Player at ABC.com. “The View” is produced by ABC Daytime and Ms. Walters’ Barwall Productions, with Ms. Walters serving as executive producer along with Bill Geddie, who also serves as executive producer for “The Barbara Walters Specials.” “The View” is directed by Mark Gentile.

For breaking news and updated videos follow “The View” (@theviewtv) and hosts Barbara Walters (@BarbaraJWalters), Joy Behar (@JoyVBehar), Elisabeth Hasselbeck (@ehasselbeck) and Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) on Twitter.(tm)

YOLANDA ADAMS, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, JENNIFER HUDSON, MARTINA MCBRIDE AND FLORENCE WELCH WILL JOIN TOGETHER IN A ROUSING CELEBRATION OF THE QUEEN OF SOUL, ARETHA FRANKLIN, ON “THE 53RD ANNUAL GRAMMY(R) AWARDS”

ESPERANZA SPALDING JOINS STUDENTS FROM THE GRAMMY^® JAZZ ENSEMBLES AND GRAMMY^® CAMP FOR A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

Marc Anthony, Jamie Foxx, Jewel, John Mayer, Pauley Perrette and Donnie Wahlberg Added to the Star-Studded Lineup as Presenters

As a “Valentine” and “get-well card” to Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and GRAMMY^® Legend Award recipient Aretha Franklin, four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, four-time GRAMMY winner and Latin GRAMMY^® winner Christina Aguilera, GRAMMY winner Jennifer Hudson, country superstar Martina McBride and current nominee Florence Welch will perform together on THE 53^rd ANNUAL GRAMMY^® AWARDS live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 (8:00-11:30 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.  The special segment will feature individual and collective performances of some of the Queen of Soul’s classic hits in celebration of the 18-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee’s ongoing music legacy.  Current nominee Esperanza Spalding also will perform in a special number with members of the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Camp.

Two-time GRAMMY and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner Marc Anthony, GRAMMY and Academy Award^® winner Jamie Foxx, seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Mayer, actor Pauley Perrette and actor/singer Donnie Wahlberg have been added as presenters to the music industry’s premier event.  They join a star-studded lineup that includes current three-time GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley, pop singer/actor Miley Cyrus, singer/actor Selena Gomez, two-time Emmy^® winner Neil Patrick Harris, nine-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Norah Jones, three-time GRAMMY winner Kris Kristofferson (who will introduce Barbara Streisand’s performance), six-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Legend, two-time GRAMMY winner and actor LL COOL J, current nominee Nicki Minaj, nominee Paramore, actor Seth Rogen and current nominee Blake Shelton.

Adams, Aguilera, Hudson, McBride, Spalding and Welch join previously announced performers and nominees Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Muse, Katy Perry and Barbra Streisand (who will appear in a rare performance); nominees Justin Bieber and Usher, with Jaden Smith; nominees B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe; nominees Drake and Rihanna; nominee Cee Lo Green, with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Jim Henson Company Puppets; and Mick Jagger with Raphael Saadiq.

First-time nominees Spalding and Welch each have one nomination: both are up for Best New Artist.

Arcade Fire, Bieber, B.o.B, Jagger, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse, Paltrow and Smith will be performing on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, and all five Album of the Year nominees are set to perform on Music’s Biggest Night^®: Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga and Perry.

Additionally, the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony will take place from 1:00-4:00 PM, PT, at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be streamed live internationally on www.grammy.com/live and on www.youtube.com/thegrammys beginning at 1:00 PM, PT.  Current GRAMMY nominees Bobby McFerrin and Esperanza Spalding will co-host the star-studded ceremony, which will feature performances by current nominees including Afro-Colombian hip-hop trio and Latin GRAMMY winner ChocQuibTown; blues musician and five-time GRAMMY winner Buddy Guy; singer/songwriter and GRAMMY winner Cyndi Lauper; American roots musician Maria Muldaur; contemporary blues artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd; trombone and trumpet player Trombone Shorty; legendary gospel and soul singer Mavis Staples; jazz musician Kirk Whalum; and R&B singer/songwriter and GRAMMY winner Betty Wright.

Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the night in approximately 98 categories will be current nominees: performance artist Laurie Anderson, pop singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, electronic/dance music artist and remixer BT, actor/comedian Kathy Griffin and Latin Jazz musician Wayne Wallace.  The live stream of the Pre-Telecast will remain on GRAMMY.com as video on demand for 30 days following the event.

THE 53^rd ANNUAL GRAMMY^® AWARDS are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy.  Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

About The Recording Academy

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers.  Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards – the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music – The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs.  The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.  For more information about The Academy, please visit http://www.grammy.com/.  For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization’s social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

Official CBS Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CBSTweet

Jennifer Hudson celebrates the anniversary of Michigan Avenue Magazine in Chicago

Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson helps Michigan Avenue magazine celebrates its two-year anniversary in Chicago, IL on October 5, 2010.. Hudson who performed I Will Always Love You and I Tell You I m Not Going , posed for the magazine’s September cover. Hudson is a Chicago native. Fame Pictures, Inc. Content © 2010 famepictures All rights reserved.

“Earth Song” performance/Michael Jackson tribute at the GRAMMY’s

One of the coolest performances from last night’s GRAMMY Awards was the Michael Jackson tribute with Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson singing “Earth Song”. The performance was in 3D, thus the audience were donning their 3D glasses.

FRAGMENTS (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

“An all-star cast in an ensemble film.  With separate stories of five different individuals, a live film adaptation of the novel is challenging and difficult.  Director Rowan Woods was able to come up with a dark, provocative film but its not a film that is mean to tug at your heart but a film to show how people react to a tragic event quite differently.”

Images courtesy of © 2008 Winged Films, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: FRAGMENTS

DURATION: 96 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: English, French 5.1 (Dolby Digital), Subtitles: English and French

COMPANY: Peace Arch Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

RATED: R (For Violent Content, Sexuality and Language)

RELEASE DATE:  August 4, 2009

Directed by Rowan Woods

Based on a story by Roy Freirich

Executive Producer: Gilbert Alloul, Naomi Despres, John Flock, Lewin Webb

Produced by Robert Salerno

Co-Produced by John J. Kelly

Music by Marcelo Zarvos

Director of Photography: Eric Alan Edwards

Editing by Meg Reticker

Casting by Nicole Abellera, Jeanne McCarthy

Production Design by Max Biscoe

Set Decoration by Maria Nay

Costume Design by Mary Claire Hannan

Starring:

Kate Beckinsale as Carla Davenport

Forest Whitaker as Charlie Archenault

Dakota Fanning as Anne Hagen

Guy Pearce as Dr. Bruce Laraby

Jeanne Tripplehorn as Doris Hagen

Josh Hutcherson as Jimmy Jaspersen

Jennifer Hudson as Kathy Archenault

Jackie Earle Haley – Bob Jaspersen

Robin Weigert as Lydia Jasperson

Embeth Davidtz as Joan Laraby

Hayley McFarland as Lori Carline

Tim Guinee as Aaron Hagen

Jacquie Barnbrook as Lori’s mom

One moment can change a lifetime. Shots ring out and the early morning tranquility of a diner shatters. As survivors pick up the pieces, they find themselves transforming in the most unexpected ways as they cope with the aftermath. One brief moment and their lives are changed forever.

Featuring an all-star cast including Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, and Academy Award® winners Forest Whitaker (Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland, 2006) and Jennifer Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls, 2006).

In 2008, the novel “Winged Creatures” writted by Roy Freirich was released.  Not long after, the film was greenlighted for a live film adaptation and Director Rowan Woods (“Farscape” and “Little Fish”) would be the man to bring some life to the original story for the big screen.  Joining Woods is composer Marcelo Zarvos (“The Air I Breathe” and “The Good Shepherd”) and cinematographer Eric Alan Edwards (“Love Happens”, “The King of Texas” and “Knocked Up”).

Starring an all-star cast which includes Kate Beckinsale (“Van Helsing”, “Underworld” and “Vacancy”), Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland”, “Vantage Point” and “Street Kings”), Dakota Fanning (“War of the Worlds”, “Push” and “Man on Fire”), Guy Pearce (“Bedtime Stories”, “Traitor”, “Rules of Engagement” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”),  Josh Hutcherson (“Journey to the Center of the Earth”, “Bridge to Terabithia” and “Little Manhattan”),  Jennifer Hudson (“Sex and the City”and “Dreamgirls”), Jean Tripplehorn (“The Firm”, “Water World” and “The Trap”) and Jackie Earle Haley (“Watchmen”, “Breaking Away” and “The Bad News Bears”).

“FRAGMENTS” (known as “Winged Creatures” in other countries) is a film that has had its challenges.  Because of its not-so-happy storyline, the film had challenges with financing and only when all-star talent such as Kate Beckinsale, Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning and a few others were part of the film, then the film was able to obtain financing.  But unfortunately, after a test screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the film didn’t get massive distribution at theaters and very few people saw it.  In fact, there were posters that the film would be in theaters in July 2009 but for some reason, the film is being released in the US on DVD in August 2009.

With that being said, I have to emphasize that I doubt that its treatment was due to a bad film but because it’s a film that is more or less straight-forward and makes no attempt to captivate the hearts of the viewer.  This is not that type of film.  I’ll explain further during my “Judgment Call” at the end of this review.

The film revolves around a tragic incident.  During a normal day at a restaurant in Los Angeles, a man walks in and starts shooting.  A few people are dead, some injured and the gunman kills himself.  But its what happens afterward is what “FRAGMENTS” is about.  Post-Traumatic stress that the characters are suffering.  And each suffer in their own way.

Kate Beckinsale as Carla Davenport – The waitress at the diner.  Before the tragedy, she was a loving mother always trying to find out how her baby is doing.  After the tragedy, despite thinking she is fine, she is suffering post-traumatic situations in which she starts to neglect her toddler by not feeding him.  And uses the opportunity to bring her child to the doctor and see if she can get close to Dr. Bruce Laraby.

The Hagen Family:

Dakota Fanning as Anne Hagen – Anne is a teenager who hid under the table with her friend Jimmy while the gunman was shooting.  While her father was gunned down, she froze and the only thing that she watched was birds flying out the window.  She deals with her father’s death by treating him as a hero but in a way, uses religion and God to justify her emotions.  She seems strong-willed and like nothing has phased her.  She sees herself as a witness and that people should forgive the killer.  She is instrumental in helping another friend and grieving family through their ordeal.

Jean Tripplehorn as Doris Hagen – The mother of Anne who is concerned with her daughter.  Her daughter has become religious but is that to conceal her pain or has the murder of her husband brought Anne closer to God?

The Jasperson Family

Josh Hutcherson as Jimmy Jasperson – A close friend to Anne but has been affected deeply after the tragedy.  Jimmy was hiding under the table with Anne when her father was killed.  Since the incident,  Jimmy has stopped talking and his parents constantly fight of how to get Jimmy out of his shell. The hospital has been offering counseling but he refuses.  He harbords this deep pain that he doesn’t know how to let go.

Jackie Earle Haley as Bob Jasperson and Robert Weigurt as Lydia Jasperson – The parents of Jimmy who are constantly arguing and have their own way of dealing with Jimmy’s situation.  Jimmy’s father is against him receiving counseling because Jimmy’s brother, who is in the military, was wounded in battle in the Middle East.  When his brother came back, he was not the same and was in a state of depression.  The family reached out and got him counseling but in the end, their older son is now in the coma and Bob believes that counseling may hurt their youngest son.

The Archenault Family

Forest Whitaker as Charlie Archenault – Charlie is a man who believes in luck.  While eating at the diner, he is seen holding a pamphlet on cancer.  He was wounded during the diner tragedy and a doctor has told him he was lucky.  Charlie tries to deal with the tragedy in his own way and that is by gambling.

Jennifer Hudson as Kathy Archenault – The authorities are continuously questioning Kathy in regards to her father’s involvement in the shooting and want to speak to him.  She has no idea what’s going on and her father will not answer any of her calls.

The Laraby Family

Guy Pearce as Dr. Bruce Laraby – Dr. Laraby was actually in the diner the day of the shooting and opened the door for the gunman when he exited the diner.  He was the doctor who tried to save Anne Hagen’s father during surgery but was unable to.  Since that day, he has had bad luck with his patients and he has been affected by the tragedy, despite not being at the diner of the time of the tragedy.

Embeth Davidtz as Jan Laraby - The loving wife of Dr. Bruce Laraby – For some reason, she has been suffering from some type of illness and not knowing why she is feeling this way.

The film divides itself into these five different ensemble stories of how each character have lived their life not long after the tragic incident.   There is no straying away from that plot, we literally see how these individuals are brought to their lowest of lows and how, if they can, recover from it.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“FRAGMENTS” is featured in Anamorphic Widescreen (1:85:1).  For the most part, the picture quality on DVD is good, as many parts of the film are shot outdoors and you are able to get some vibrancy with the colors.

Audi is featured in English and French 5.1 (Dolby Digital).  The film is primarily a dialogue-driven film in which the majority of the audio comes from the front and center channels.  Although, the gunshots from the tragic incident is probably where you will hear most of the punch throughout the soundtrack.  Because the tragedy is replayed many times in different situations, the gunshots are heard throughout the film and you can hear it clearly through the front channels and some usage from the surrounds.  But for the most part, it is a dialogue-driven film and you can hear the talent quite clearly.

Subtitles are featured in English and French.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

There is one special feature included on the DVD and that is an audio commentary by Director Rowan Woods.  Woods is upfront about the challenges of funding of the film, why it was shot in Los Angeles, working with the various talents in the film, challenges of making an ensemble film but most importantly is his feelings of why audiences may have not gravitated towards the film.

Many people have many questions of why the film didn’t receive that much attention, especially since it has an all-star cast and the DVD commentary by Rowan Woods will help answer that.

“FRAGMENTS” is a film that will be compared to other ensemble films such as “CRASH” and “BABEL”.  It can also be compared to the television series “The Nine” which has a similarity to this film but the main difference is that “The Nine” revovles around a bank heist and the victims end up becoming close friends and become their own support group, as they also deal with their own post-traumatic stress.  There is also a mystery element that grabs the attention of the viewer.

With “FRAGMENTS”, there is no mystery, there is no support group.  It’s straightforward in showing us that these people who do not want to get professional help have been mentally scarred by these events.  The film doesn’t make one appreciative of the characters either.

Maybe with the exception of Dakota Fanning and Josh Hutcherson’s characters (which the two are more or less the primary characters and have a big reveal at the end), the other characters are just not likable. It’s one thing for the viewer to understand that these characters are suffering from post-traumatic stress but how they deal with it is quite shocking.

The actions that Carla Davenport (Beckinsale) goes through by neglecting her son while trying to get attention is just going to upset people who will no doubt be upset of how bad of a mother she becomes and the neglect she has towards her own baby.

Dr. Bruce Laraby (Pearce) and what he does to his wife in order to makeup his inner ego of losing patients is also going to upset people.

And Forest Whitaker’s role as Charlie Archenault is not going to have viewers feel happy as he tries to gamble his life away and in the process, hurting himself even further.

With an ensemble film, there is some sort of mystery, some sort of storyline that can either captivate your attention, “FRAGMENTS” keeps you watching throughout the end to find out, what really transpired on that fateful day and after seeing the characters being put through hell, you find yourself asking the question, “is that it?”.

And that leads to the question of, how much of “Winged Creatures” made it into the final cut of “FRAGMENTS”.  Perhaps it was too ambitious to take the novel and give it a proper film adaptation because perhaps, there was a lot of storyline that needed to be cut out.  Granted, this film could have been even more tragic than it was, and I’m glad it wasn’t.

For the most parts, we do get a solid performance from Beckinsale who shows that she can portray a variety of characters quite well.  Dakota Fanning is a talented actress and is able to deliver emotion in a variety of levels (like she has done while she was younger). Josh Hutcherson is definitely put into a more emotional role than his previous films but overall, the kid definitely has talent and provides a balance with Fanning’s character.

Forest Whitaker is more or less a loss soul and you wonder if this character was going to snap but in the end, his fix for dealing with his problems is through intense gambling.  Guy Pearce started off strong but its his character that is indirectly such a sleazeball, that you just can’t believe how far he would go in order to boost his inner machismo.  Academy Award winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson has a short role that it didn’t make much of a difference to the overall story.

Supporting characters such as Jeanne Tripplehorn as Anne’s mother and Jackie Earle Haley was great to see both on the big screen.  Especially, Haley for those of us who grew up seeing this actor when he was a child star through the late 70′s and 80′s.

If anything, the positive of the film is that it was an interesting film that focuses not on any conspiracy or mystery, it’s a look of how people deal with tragedy differently.

“FRAGMENTS” is  a deep and somewhat depressing, provocative film and in the end, I enjoyed it for its take on characters dealing with post-traumatic stress.  Again, no conspiracy, no mystery.  It’s a straightforward story of characters near their breaking point.

I wish there were more special features included on the DVD but the commentary was definitely interesting in hearing Director Rowan Woods discuss his overall feeling about the film.

For the most part, “FRAGMENTS” may grab your attention but it’s simply not a film that I can find myself watching it repetitively.

Jennifer Hudson with her award at the 40th NAACP Image Awards

Celebrities attend the 40th NAACP Image Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Pictured: Jennifer Hudson Picture by: Curtis Leigh/ Splash News. Content © 2009 Splash News . All rights reserved.