Cast: Garret Dillahunt, Donal Logue, Molly Parker, Kaelan Meunier
Direction: Ryan Redford
Production: Eric Jordan, Paul Stephens
Banner: FUWORKS
Cast: Martijn Lakemeier, Yorick van Wageningen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Raymond Thiry, Melody Klaver
Direction: Martin Koolhoven
Production: San Fu Maltha, Els Vandevorst
Banner: Brainwave
Cast: Goh Nakamura, Chadd Stoops, Lynn Chen, Eric M. Levy, Parry Shen
Direction: Dave Boyle
Production: Duane Andersen, Dave Boyle
Spooner Preview
Cast: Nora Zehetner, Matthew Lillard, Shea Whigham, Pat Healy, Joe Nunez, Wendi McLendon-Covey
Direction: Drake Doremus
Production: Jonathan Schwartz
The Blind Side's John Lee Hancock has been tapped to write and direct an upcoming adaptation of The Partner, John Grisham's bestselling novel.
The 2005 book is about a young lawyer in Mississippi who fakes his own death and winds up stealing millions from his law firm.
In addition to the blockbuster 2009 Best Picture nominee The Blind Side, Hancock has directed The Rookie and The Alamo.
Man on a Ledge
In the cinematic desert that is the January-February movie-release schedule, one gains a greater appreciation for mere competence. And that’s precisely what you’ll get with Man on a Ledge, a mid-budget thriller with modest aspirations and genuine popcorn appeal. Sam Worthington (Avatar, Clash of the Titans) stars as Nick Cassidy, a former New York City cop wrongly convicted for the theft of a prized diamond. After exhausting all judicial avenues for exoneration, he takes the unusual and seemingly desperate next step of planting himself on a ledge outside the penthouse of midtown’s Roosevelt Hotel and threatening to jump. An NYPD psychologist (Elizabeth Banks) is summoned to talk him down, unaware that Nick harbors an ulterior motive. From his perch above midtown, he is secretly orchestrating a scheme to take revenge against the corrupt corporate chieftain (Ed Harris) who engineered his demise and prove his innocence once and for all.
Director Asger Leth, making his U.S. feature-film debut with Man on a Ledge, keeps the pace brisk and never allows the tone to stray into self-seriousness, which is crucial for a movie whose premise is so devoutly ridiculous. The script, from Pablo F. Fenjves, provides enough feints and twists to keep us engaged. Jamie Bell and Genesis Rodriguez aren’t the most believable of couples, but there’s a screwball charm to their comic routine as amateur thieves charged with aiding Nick’s scheme. (Leth can’t resist inserting an entirely superfluous – but nonetheless greatly appreciated – scene of the criminally gorgeous Rodriguez stripping down to a thong in the middle of a heist.) Worthington makes for a likable populist protagonist, even if his Australian accent betrays him on copious occasions, and Harris’ disturbingly emaciated frame lends an added menace to his devious plutocrat villain
Man on a Ledge (2012)
Release Date: 01/27/2012
Rating: PG13
Runtime: Not Yet Available
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Director: Asger Leth
Cast: Sam Worthington, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris, Edward Burns
Open Road’s R-rated action adventure “The Grey” debuted with a better-than-expected $20 million. Drawing fans of star Liam Neeson’s intense turn as a father out for vengeance in the late January 2009 hit “Taken,” this latest effort has the 59 year-old actor battling the elements and more than his share of wolves after a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness and proves that Neeson is one of the top action stars working today.
Sony’s Screen Gems “Underworld: Awakening” in 3-D and IMAX topped last weekend’s chart taking a $25.3 million bite out of the box office in its debut. The R-rated vampire adventure led the mid-week derby as well and earned $12.5 million in this, its second weekend, for a North American total of $45.1 million through Sunday.
Lionsgate’s Katherine Heigl comedy “One for the Money” performed well with a stronger-than-expected $11.75 million. The distributor shrewdly used a Groupon promotion as well as other key marketing strategies to build the audience which was 79% female) for the film and drew fans of the book series upon which the film is based. Lionsgate’s recent acquisition of Summit Entertainment has made headlines and this was certainly a positive weekend for the company.
Flying into its second weekend, Fox’s World War II drama “Red Tails” set its sights on a $10.4 million gross. The true story of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program had a stronger-than-expected $18.8 million debut last weekend and now has $33.8 million in the war chest. Cuba Gooding Jr., Terence Howard and Bryan Cranston star in the PG-13 rated film which is executive produced by George Lucas.
“Avatar” star Sam Worthington is the “Man on a Ledge” which opened this weekend from Summit Entertainment and earned $8.25 million. The taught PG-13 crime thriller centers around an ex-con who is threatening to jump from the ledge of a very tall building in the heart Manhattan, thus keeping the police distracted, while a diamond heist is taking place.
In the wake of nominations on Tuesday, major Oscar nominees got a nice “Oscar bounce” as their greater visibility and credibility made them more of a “must see” this weekend. “The Descendants,” “Hugo,” and “The Artist” all saw solid percentage increases as a result.
The Avengers' Pics
Now that it's 2012, The Avengers doesn't seem like such a far-off dream anymore. We will in fact live to see the greatest superhero team in the Marvel Universe assembling this spring. And although the Avengers as a whole are a celebrated group, there is one member who seems a bit unappreciated: Nick Fury, played by the great Samuel L. Jackson. But as we can see, The Avengers does indeed intend to highlight the wonder of Fury and his epic portrayer. Check out the images below of Jackson and some of his Avengers costars, Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man), Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), and get geared up for The Avengers, coming out on May 4.
I've been told that, before weighing in on the new documentary concert film Shut Up and Play the Hits, I should acknowledge that my relationship with LCD Soundsystem is not one of fandom, but casual familiarity. My limited knowledge consis of an awareness of their existence, recognition of a few of their popular tunes and a recollection of the atomic bomb dropped by the electronic punk band on its devout back in February 2011. Seemingly out of nowhere, LCD Soundsystem lead man James Murphy announced that the group's run would be coming to a close in April, with one last show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. While the definitive ending felt spontaneous, the actual event was anything but, with a final playlist of epic proportions, a show of elaborate of theatrics, cameos drawing from LCD's history and a camera crew documenting the entire process, before and after the concert. I may not be an LCD Soundsystem fan, but thanks to Shut Up and Play the Hits, I can say with confidence that Murphy's critically acclaimed music group went out with a grandiose (and fitting) bang.
Instead of sticking to a string of musical numbers, Play the Hits toys with non-linear storytelling, cross-cutting LCD Soundsystem's performance footage with a pre-show interview between Murphy and Chuck Klosterman and moments from the morning after. Klosterman's Q&A is layered over the film to create introspective narration, but the questions never pierce Murphy's reserved exterior. The post-show footage is equally meandering and uninteresting, with long stretches of Murphy shaving, walking his dog and meeting his former band members for a nice sit down meal. In the wake of LCD Soundsystem, Murphy is a retired man and the movie captures exactly what he'll spend his time doing—but it's not that interesting. Shut up and play the hits, indeed.
As one might guess, it's the explosive last hurrah of Murphy and his band that sparks, each song capturing every ounce of passion, ingenuity and rhythm left in LCD Soundsystem. With a full band, a male choir, special guests like Reggie Watts and Arcade Fire, a screaming, headbanging crowd and a helping of LCD Soundsystem's finest, the concert footage is electric and concert, occasionally repetitive due to limited camera positions, but ignited by Murphy's goal to put on one hell of a show.
A man retiring at the peak of his career is a fascinating topic for a documentary, but Shut Up and Play the Hits isn't that movie. The film is about a singular experience, the gravity of having an actual end point. When the doc strays off path to dig into Murphy's complicated choice, it looses steam. But at least in the movie, unlike LCD Soundsystem's actual career, you know there's always another song coming
At long last, they come face to face. It seems as though the Roberts Rivalry has been going on for decades. In reality, though, the Roberts themselves have barely been going on for decades. I'm of course referring to Emma Roberts, American star of films like It's Kind of a Funny Story and The Art of Getting By, and Craig Roberts, a Welsh newcomer to the big screen, who won audiences with his starring role in last year's Submarine. It seems the thespians Roberts will be either setting aside what has to be a bloodthirsty enmity, or scheming diabolically with the "Keep Your Enemies Closer" maxim, as they will be teaming up in the developing Derick Martini film I Am My Family Secret.
One might wonder why I assume there's such a heated discord between this duo. It can't simply be because of their shared surname. Well...it's mostly that. But there are a few uncanny similarities we can't help but derive theories from. Craig's breakout role was in a film called Submarine—Richard Ayoade's blissful adaptation of Joe Dunthorne's terrific novel. Five years prior, Emma Roberts starred in a movie titled Aquamarine. Now, you can't tell me this is just a coincidence. Moving further: Emma played the lead in Nancy Drew back in 2007. This past year, Craig snagged a part in Jane Eyre. Both movies about woman who uncover closely-guarded secrets! Other connections can be drawn (Emma's upcoming Adult World to Craig's Kiddo; Craig's Being Human to Emma's Hotel for Dogs), but I think I've made my point perfectly clear.
Martini's new movie, I Am My Family Secret, focuses on a pair of brothers who happen upon a shocker that their parents have been hiding from them. No word on what roles will be filled by the Robertses. This will not be Emma's first time working with director Martini. 2008's comedy/drama Lymelife starred the young actress alongside Alec Baldwin, Jill Hennessy, Cynthia Nixon and Rory and Kieran Culkin.
Most celebrities go from acting to reality TV (although the two may be interchangeable), but Kim Kardashian appears to be going in the opposite direction.
The E! star -- who not too long ago was cast in Tyler Perry's upcoming movie The Marriage Counselor -- has landed a multi-episode arc on Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva. She will play Fred's (Ben Feldman) love interest in the upcoming fourth season, starting with the premiere.
Series creator Josh Berman had this to say about the addition: “I’m ecstatic to welcome Kim to the Diva family. In discussing the role of Nikki with her, I’m blown away by her smarts, sense of humor, and passion. This series is all about reinvention, and I’m so excited to see Kim ‘reinvented’ in the world of Drop Dead Diva.”
Even though Bridesmaids and Kristen Wiig were shut out of the Best Picture and Actress categories when the Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday, the whole gang will be reuniting to present at next month's ceremony.
Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Best Supporting Actress nominee Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper and Wendi McClendon-Covey will appear together onstage at the 84th Academy Awards on Feb. 26.
The full statement from the Academy reads: "Six actresses – Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig – from the hit comedy “Bridesmaids” will be presenters at the 84th Academy Awards, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today. McCarthy received her first Oscar® nomination this year for her supporting role in the film, and Wiig also became a first-time nominee for the film’s original screenplay. All six will be making their first Oscar show appearances."
We all know that Seth Rogen is one of the king's of foul-mouthed, cinematic comedy, but not until Sundance did I realize his wife, Lauren Miller, is just as colorful, crazed and hilarious.
Miller starred and co-wrote the new movie For a Good Time, Call..., which draws from her writing partner Katie Anne Naylon's real life experience running a phone sex hotline from home. Miller plays Lauren, who rebounds from a break-up by rooming with her archenemy from college, Katie (Ari Graynor) . While the new living arrangement gets off to a bumpy start, its Lauren's discovery of Katie's night job as a phone sex operator that brings the two together. Seeing an opportunity, the duo use their respective knowledge, Lauren's savvy business skills and Katie's knack for colorful innuendos, to start their own entrepreneurial endeavor.
Unlike another Sundance female-driven comedy, Bachelorette, For a Good Time, Call... is intentionally bright and perky, but filled to the brim with language that's dirty as hell. Like a mainstream John Waters movie, Miller and Naylon don't hold back from letting their main characters unleash a dictionary's worth of sex terminology. Graynor has a field day with Katie, a real breakout role for an actress who has consistently made the movies she's starred in (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, What's Your Number, The Sitter) funnier. Justin Long appears alongside the two female leads as the gals' gay friend who helps put both their lives into perspective. For an actor who usually ends up stuck with deadpan roles, seeing Long light up the screen is a real treat.
Social Network star and great-name owner Armie Hammer has been arrested for pot possession! Er, was arrested on that charge almost two months ago.
It's unclear as to how or why word didn't get out until today, but Hammer was busted all the way back on Nov. 30, 2011, in Sierra Blanca, Texas -- where drug-sniffing dogs found pot cookies and a pot brownie.
Hammer, who most recently appeared in the biopic J. Edgar and will next be seen in the Snow White reimagining Mirror Mirror, spent one day in jail for the offense before posting the $1,000 bond.
The long- and oft-rumored Office spinoff might be coming surprisingly soon, and starring Rainn Wilson -- although the latter half of that news wouldn't be much of a surprise.
According to Deadline, no deals have been finalized yet, BUT: The proposed series -- conceived by Wilson and Office actor/producer/showrunner Paul Lieberstein -- would see Wilson's Dwight Schrute living at his beet farm/B&B; be hinted at in an episode later this season; and premiere during midseason 2013.
The perennially disgruntled Schrute, lest we forget, has previously looked for work outside of Dunder-Mifflin's Scranton office; just two episodes ago, he was looking for work at Sabre's Florida headquarters. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica. And a
The good news, we guess is that Paula Deen is reportedly well aware that people aren't too happy about her decision to unveil her diabetes diagnosis only after she was paid to.
Whether or not Pula admits to greed in concealing the condition while shilling for her high-fat, high-sugar recipes and now Novo Nordisk diabetes drugs is another story.
In any case, Deen is reportedly baffled by the lack of public support for her illness. But besides the public backlash, what really surprises her is the reaction of her peers.
Besides Anthony Bourdain.
Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/#ixzz1kGU7UmKB
One top food publicist said this: "The amount of chefs that would have come forward with public statements of support and sympathy would have been overwhelming if it wasn't for the fact that Paula hid her diagnosis for three years."
"To only tell the truth when you have locked in a paid spokesperson deal for a non-insulin medication is just too toxic for anyone to want to be involved with."
Truly, it's hard to believe Paula would expect others to get behind a decision to hide her diabetes while continuing to encourage Food Network viewers to eat her cooking.
The cooking that likely led to her health woes in the first place ... call us crazy.
Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/#ixzz1kGUA0U8j
SYNOPSIS
Based on the novel by author Jonathan Safran Foer, director Stephen Daldry's post-9/11 drama follows the journey of a nine-year-old boy as he attempts to solve a family mystery. Two years after his father is killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks, the curious boy discovers a mysterious key hidden in a household vase and begins an exhaustive search for the matching lock. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock star.
Release Date: 12/25/2011
Rating: PG13
Runtime: 2 hr 9 mins
Genre: Drama
Director: Stephen Daldry
Cast: Tom Hanks, Thomas Horn, Sandra Bullock, Zoe Caldwell
SYNOPSIS
The thrilling true story of the Tuskegee Airmen buzzes to the big screen in this epic war adventure from executive producer George Lucas and first-time feature director Anthony Hemingway. In the fire and chaos of World War II, the U.S. military recruits a fearless group of African-American fighter pilots to help reclaim the skies over Europe. Discriminated against both as citizens and as soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen take flight in planes distinguished by distinctive red tails, and fight to defeat the tyranny of the Axis powers. As a result of their bravery, the pilots emerge as true heroes, and prove that all men are truly created equal. Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Bryan Cranston sta
Release Date: 01/20/2012
Rating: PG13
Runtime: Not Yet Available
Genre: War
Director: Anthony Hemingway
Cast: Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Bryan Cranston, Nate Parker
Catherine Zeta-Jones has joined cast of Side Effects, director Steven Soderbergh's pharmaceutical-themed thriller, Deadline.com reports. The film concerns a prescription drug-addled woman (Blake Lively) who becomes involved with a doctor (Jude Law) on the eve of her husband's (Channing Tatum) release from prison. Zeta-Jones will play Dr. Erica Seibert, a role for which Deadline provides precisely zero description. Side Effects, which was written by Soderbergh's prolific collaborator Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, The Informant!), is slated to begin shooting in April in New York.
Launch Party for Q by Jodi Lyn O'Keefe
Late pop star Michael Jackson’s personal physician Conrad Murray was Tuesday sentenced to four years in prison on a charge of “involuntary manslaughter”.
Before announcing the sentence, Judge Michael Pastor lashed out at Murray, noting that the cardiologist made an “egregious series of departures from the accepted standard of care” that represented a “disgrace to the medical profession — an honourable profession which bears the blot, the scourge, of what happened here.”
Murray, 58, was found guilty by a jury Nov 7.
Brian Panish, an attorney for the family of Michael Jackson, read a statement to the court here on behalf of the family, Xinhua reported.
“There is no way to adequately describe the loss of our beloved father, son, brother and friend,” the statement reads.
“We still look at each other in disbelief…We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do here today to bring Michael back…
“We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that reminds physicians that they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder and cast aside their hippocratic oath to do no harm.”
Despite the four-year sentence, the exact amount of time Murray will serve behind bars was unclear due to overcrowding in the county jail system.
The sum of the restitution Murray is supposed to pay to the Jackson Estate and his three children will be determined at a Jan 23 hearing, the judge ruled.
Jackson, 50, died June 25, 2009 in his rented Holmby Hills estate near Los Angeles when he was rehearsing for his series of 50 sold-out concerts, dubbed “This is It,” to be staged in London.
He would have earned at least $100 million from the tour, according to reports.
Los Angeles County Coroner’s office ruled the singer died from an acute intoxication of Propofol, a powerful anaesthetic and other sedatives under the care of Murray.
Before the jury announced their decisions Nov 7, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren called Murray’s treatment of the pop icon “unethical, unconscionable, and an extreme deviation from the standard of care”.
He said Murray demonstrated “consciousness of guilt” by failing to tell paramedics and emergency room doctors that he had given the singer the potent drug.
The former doctor only told the police about the anesthetic two days later because he thought investigators had already found the medication at the singer’s rented mansion, according to Walgren.
Defence attorneys argued Murray, who was hired by Jackson to care for him two months before his death, was weaning Jackson off the medication.
“I was not surprised,” defence attorney Michael Flanagan said, referring to the sentencing. “That was cast a long time ago.”
Jackson’s mother, Katherine, said she was satisfied with the outcome of the high-publicity trial and expressed her gratitude to prosecutors when she was leaving the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
“The judge gave him the maximum,” she said. “So I thank the judge and I thank the prosecutors, and I think everything went well.”
“100 years is not enough” was what Jackson’s brother, Jermaine shouted as he walked by reporters.
Many of the Jackson fans who gathered outside the courthouse agreed that four-year imprisonment is not enough as a punishment for Murray.
Sundance 2012: Potential Deals Multiplying Monday as 'Beasts,' 'Surrogate,' 'Celeste,' More Still in Play
Hot acquisition titles Arbitrage and Beasts of the Southern Wild remain in play, with both films retaining interest from multiple suitors. WME Global, which is repping both films, had set up at least 11 additional screenings of the movies Sunday in Los Angeles and New York for interested parties. Universal, the Weinstein Co. and Relativity were all showing interest in Arbitrage since the film’s positively received premiere screening Saturday night.
Newer arrivals drawing heat include competition features The Surrogate, which had a very positively received premiere Monday, with attention focused on star John Hawkes' performance; and Safety Not Guaranteed, which also has had buyers circling since it unfurled Sunday afternoon. Bids began flying almost immediately following the screening of The Surrogate, a drama about a man in an iron lung who decides to lose his virginity. Helen Hunt also stars. CAA is repping Surrogate, ICM has Safety.
Ben Stiller
Emmy winner Alan Alda is in talks to star opposite Stiller, who is also attached to direct and executive produce with Scott Rudin.
HBO is getting into the Ben Stiller business.
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Ben Stiller's Shingle Inks TV Development Deal With ABC Studios
The actor, who got his big break on a short-lived, eponymous sketch show on MTV/Fox, has signed on to star, direct and executive produce All Talk, a new HBO comedy pilot from novelist Jonathan Safran Foer (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Everything is Illuminated).
The project, which is being billed as “politically, religiously, culturally, intellectually and sexually irreverent,” revolves around the daily and life-altering dramas of a Jewish family in Washington, DC. Emmy winner Alan Alda is currently in negotiations to join Stiller in front of the camera, marking what would be his first series regular role since M*A*S*H. The pilot is tentatively scheduled to shoot this fall.
SYNOPSIS
A young Parisian couple learn that their newborn son has brain cancer, and they defiantly rally their friends and loved ones for the emotional battle that lies ahead while refusing to simply lie down and accept the grim diagnosis. Romeo (Jeremie Elkaim) and Juliette (Valerie Donzelli) met at a club, and from the moment they locked eyes, it felt like they had always been together. Before long, the relationship turns serious and Juliette gets pregnant. Shortly after the birth of their son, however, the happy new parents receive some devastating news: Their child has a deadly form of brain cancer. But with each other's support, and the shoulders of friends and family to lean on, Romeo and Juliette decide not to grieve, but to fight for the future of their child -- and their relationship -- with every ounce of strength they can muster.
Release Date: 01/27/2012
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Drama
Director: Valérie Donzelli
Cast: Jérémie Elkaïm, Valérie Donzelli
STORY: Celeste and Jesse Forever: Sundance Film Review
Performances are strong across the board here, and the picture's solid, understated visuals ground the story further. The pace feels leaden on occasion, but that's hardly inappropriate for a film about lives interrupted by a five-to-eight year prison sentence.
Venue: Sundance Film Festival, U.S. Dramatic Competition
Production Companies: Kandoo Films, Forward Movement
Cast: Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo, Omari Hardwick, Lorraine Toussaint, Edwina Findley, Sharon Lawrence, Dondre Whitfield, Troy Curvey III, Maya Gilbert
Director-Screenwriter: Ava DuVernay
Producers: Howard Barish, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes
Director of photography: Bradford Young
Music: Kathryn Bostic
Costume designer: Stacy Beverly
Editor: Spencer Averick
Sales: Ben Weiss, Paradigm
No rating, 100 minutes
