HBO Axes 3 Series While Renewing Enlightened

First Published: December 20, 2011 2:47 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption How to Make it in America stars Lake Bell, Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk, Scott Kid Cudi Mescudi and Eddie Kaye Thomas smile for photographers at the Cinema Society and HBO screening of How to Make it in America at Landmarks Sunshine Cinema in NY City on February 9, 2010NY, N.Y. -- HBO is renewing its Golden Globes-nominated freshman series Enlightened, but is axing three other series. Hung and Bored to Death will not return for a fourth season, nor will How to Make it in America be back for a third cycle, the network said Tuesday. Enlightened, which ended its first season earlier this month, last week earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy or Musical Series, as well as a nomination for its star, Laura Dern. On the show, Dern plays an unstable career woman who wants to be a social activist. HBO will premiere six new series in 2012. They include Luck, an untitled drama series created by Aaron Sorkin, Veep, 'Girls, 'Lifes Too Short and Angry Boys, which debuts on New Years Day. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Addams' retools for road

'The Addams Family'TORONTO -- After opening to scary reviews in Chicago in 2009 and worse ones in Gotham in 2010, legiters might have expected the folks behind Broadway musical "The Addams Family" to close the crypt door quietly and fade away into oblivion.Instead, the creative team made like Dr. Frankenstein and overhauled the piece completely before launching it on the road in September.The surprising result: It's alive. And the show's unusual post-Rialto transformation reps an increasing understanding among legit producers that a Main Stem production doesn't have to serve as a show's final cut."These days Broadway is the beginning of the journey, not the end," says "Addams" producer Stuart Oken. "We had a whole world out there to see 'The Addams Family,' so why not make it right?""The Addams Family 3.0," as Windy City producer Oken of Elephant Eye Theatrical now calls it, has been garnering upbeat reviews and solid business, with dates booked through next summer and plans for international versions in Australia, Brazil and elsewhere falling neatly into place.This time around, the tone struck by the critics is best captured in a line from Judith Newmark's review in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Is it a masterpiece? No. But it's appealing entertainment."It's not unheard of for post-Broadway rejiggering to occur. Successful longrunners including "Wicked" and "The Lion King," for instance, have fixed niggling creative issues in road versions, with the changes subsequently worked back in to the Main Stem original. The tour of "Legally Blonde," meanwhile, went out with a largely redesigned physical production that proved far more sustainable than the pricier Broadway draft."Addams," however, stands out for the extensive nature of the creative work undertaken in the wake of its Broadway debut.The story was overhauled using a new plot element -- patriarch Gomez lying to wife Morticia over their daughter's impending marriage -- as a motor to drive things forward. Composer Andrew Lippa came up with new songs, while Jerry Zaks helmed from scratch. A fresh cast, led by Douglas Sills ("The Scarlet Pimpernel") and Sara Gettelfinger ("Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"), now play things for lightness and charm."Everyone was onboard with the notion that we had a real opportunity on the road to finally finish what we had started," Zaks says.Oken now admits that he initially put together a variety of elements that sounded good individually, but never really gelled.Getting the "Jersey Boys" team of Marshall Brickman and Rick Elise to write the book seemed smart, as did the choice of composer-lyricist Lippa ("The Wild Party"), "Memphis" choreographer Sergio Trujillo and stars Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia. He reached into left field to pick the indie-minded director-designer team responsible for "Shockheaded Peter," Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, to be the creative leaders of the production. The matchmaking didn't pan out.In Chicago, Oken says, "It all deteriorated in the final stages of rehearsal, and the best we could do before the opening was keep our heads above water." The result, which bowed in Chi in November 2009, proved a strange hybrid: part Gothic spectacle, part old-school musical.Dismissive notices almost sank them, but the producers rallied and called in Zaks, who had worked previously with Lane ("Guys and Dolls," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"). The director also had an established reputation as a show doctor ("Smokey Joe's Cafe"), with the Broadway retooling of "Sister Act" among his more recent credits.The main creative obstacle to overcome, according to creatives, was the initial choice to tell a new story based on the Addams cartoons, rather than the property's subsequent iterations on the tube or the bigscreen."We learned very quickly that the audience wanted what they remembered, not some new take on the material," Trujillo says. "And we didn't have the time to change it the way they wanted."Adds Oken: "You get into the panic of coming into Broadway and it's a very tough, painful experience, especially when you know you're not ready."Although the show's April 2010 opening brought largely nasty reviews, the appeal of the original material kept drawing people in -- and prompted the team to give it another try."The Addams Family" closes Dec. 31 on the Rialto after 750 perfs. It likely won't recoup -- but producers are hoping the retooled road version helps the title earn its keep. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

ABC News Shoots Down Barbara Walters Retirement Reports

The investors in a slate of Paramount movies, including Transformers and Mission: Impossible III, who sued the studio Nov. 30 are only the latest to complain about "Hollywood accounting." I am not taking sides in the dispute, but like the hundreds of lawsuits brought by actors, filmmakers and financiers through the years, the case filed by the Melrose 2 investors shows how badly the industry needs to change the system for paying profit participants.our editor recommendsBox Office in Free Fall: How Low Can It Go?Awards Box Office: 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' Nabs No. 3 Specialty Opening of 2011Box Office Report: 'New Year's Eve' Leads Worst Weekend Since 2008 With $13.7 MillionBox Office Report: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Hits $500 Mil Worldwide in 12 Days PHOTOS: Top 10 Superheroes Of All Time: Battle of Box Office Brawn Nearly all Hollywood dealmakers agree that the contractual language that dictates how participants are paid has gotten out of hand. Contracts were once simple and straightforward, but thanks to overaggressive lawyers and accountants, profit definitions can now stretch more than 100 pages, requiring months of negotiations and leading to litigation over how much money actually is owed. Rightly or wrongly, studios are losing the recent cases that go to court. And widespread distrust of studio bean counters has contributed to the retreat of investors from Holly-wood and escalating demands by talent for higher upfront pay because they're skeptical of getting anything on the backend. The silliness of it all is that there is a perfectly logical alternative that is fair to both sides of the equation: tying participations directly or indirectly to U.S. box-office numbers as reported by Rentrak. To some extent, this is already happening in the form of box-office bonuses for talent; what I am proposing is expanding the concept to embrace all financing and talent participations. PHOTOS: Biggest Box Office Bombs I am not suggesting box office should be the endpoint, but it should be the starting point. If a star negotiates a 5 percent stake in a movie that has a box-office gross of $100 million, he or she gets $5 million -- simple. This formula could be supplemented by adjustments based on (a) the average ratio of DVD revenue to box-office gross at the time of payment, (b) the ratio of foreign revenue to U.S. revenue at the time of payment, (c) a preset distribution fee (calculated as a percentage of box office), (d) a preset distribution expense (as a percentage of box office) or (e) a preset production cost. But when I say "preset," I mean that in no event can any of the calculations be based on actual revenue or expenditures because that would drag us back to the current lunacy of endless negotiations, audits and litigation. Assume a studio intends to produce a $100million film but wants to limit its risk to $50 million. It raises $50 million of equity from an investor and agrees to fork over 50 percent of box office. If the film flops at the box office with only $10 million, the studio pays the investor $5 million, keeps the $45million balance of the outside investment and is happy. If the film gets to $100 million at the box office, the studio gives the investor a break-even payment of $50 million, and the studio is happy because it will keep worldwide rights and profits from a successful film. If the film scores big with $200 million in box office, the studio will pay the investor $100 million, and the studio is still happy because it accepted that possibility as a trade-off for reducing its risk. PHOTOS: Top 15 Grossing Threequels of All Time Contrast that approach with the Melrose2 lawsuit against Paramount, the culmination of months of negotiations over hundreds of pages of arcane accounting concepts followed by years of audit disputes. My approach creates a transparent system that allows actors and filmmakers to know their worth and investors to know the value of their investments just by opening the trades, rather than waiting for months only to receive accounting statements they don't understand. This approach eliminates the perceived opaqueness (right or wrong) of Hollywood accounting and leaves a spotlight on the thrill of "owning a piece" of a film. Private-equity funds would come back to Hollywood, talent negotiations would be easier and everyone would benefit because the more the studios can hedge risks, the more they can spend on a film and the more films they can make. PHOTOS: 10 Billion Dollar Babies: Movies That Have Crossed the 10 Figure Mark Schuyler M. Moore is a lawyer at Stroock and the author of The Biz, Taxation of the Entertainment Industry and What They Don't Teach You In Law School. He can be reached at smoore@stroock.com. ♦♦♦♦♦ HOW IT WOULD WORK: Here is a more sophisticated example of converting a net-profit interest to a box-office calculation, if an actor or other profit participant's contract provides as follows: Share of net profits: 5% Cost of film: $30 million Distribution fee: 35% of gross revenue Distribution expense percentage: 40% of gross revenue Gross revenue to studio: 3x U.S. box office Based on these assumptions, if a movie has U.S. box office of $100 million, the studio would be deemed to receive gross revenue worldwide from all media of $300million (equal to 3x U.S. box office). The calculation of net profits would thus be as follows: $300 million: Deemed gross revenue - $30 million: Cost of film - $105 million: Distribution fee (35% of $300 million) - $120 million: Distribution expense (40% of $300 million) $45 million: Net profit The participant would thus be entitled to a net-profit payment of $2.25 million (5% of $45 million). PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Box Office Flops of Late Summer 2011 Related Topics Transformers Mission: Impossible 3

Warners buys privileges to autism memoir

Warner Bros. has acquired feature film privileges to Kristine Barnett's approaching memoir, tentatively entitled "Scattered Abilities," inside a pre-emptive deal. Book will inform the storyline of the mother and her 12-year-old boy, Jacob, and the journey from autism to genius. The son's first couple of years were spent alone however he required a liking to math and could recite the mathematical constant pi to 70 numbers at 3. He started attending college classes in Indiana at 8 and it has a math IQ that's been measured at 170. Deals for that book and film were with different 74-page proposal. Courtenay Valenti will oversee the work for the studio. It deal was discussed by Susan Kamil, senior Vice president, writer and editor in chief of Random House. The memoir is anticpated to be among the posting house's major game titles for 2013 and foreign privileges happen to be offered in 18 areas. UTA discussed with respect to Barnett and her posting agent Laurie Bernstein of Alongside Literary Prods. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Acad reveals candidate of shorts

Ten live-action short films result in the Academy of motion Picture Arts & Sciences' report on films that will advance inside the voting process for your 84th Academy awards. Some 107 pictures had initially qualified inside the category. Fundamental necessities 10 films: -- "Je pourrais etre votre grand-mere (I Really Could Become The Perfect Grandmother)," Bernard Tanguy, director-producer -- "Love at first Sight," Michael Davies, director, and Sandra Gorel, producer -- "Pentecost," Peter McDonald, director -- "Raju," Max Zahle, director, and Stefan Gieren, producer -- "The Road Home," Rahul Gandotra, director-producer, and Ameenah Ayub, producer -- "The Roar in the Sea," Ana Rocha Fernandes and Torsten Truscheit, company company directors -- "Sailcloth," Elfar Adalsteins, director-producer -- "The Shoreline," Terry George, director-producer -- "Time Freak," Andrew Bowler, director, and Gigi Causey, producer -- "Tuba Atlantic," Hallvar Witzo, director The Short Films and also have Animation Branch Searching at Committee seen all the qualified records for your preliminary round of voting in tests kept in La. Short Films and also have Animation Branch individuals will choose three to five nominees from among the 10 game game titles round the candidate. Branch tests will probably be kept in La, NY and San Francisco Bay Area within the month of the month of january. The 84th Academy awards nominations will probably be introduced survive Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 a.m. inside the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Dubai International Film Festival Chairman Reflects on the the Event's Growth and Progress (Q&A)

Bloomberg/Getty Images On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee plans to mark up and vote on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), an important piece of legislation that's been fostering fervent debate in recent weeks. In advance of the markup, Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the committee, has made some tweaks in a so-called manager's amendment, aimed at building support by attempting to clarify the bill's main targets as foreign "rogue" websites, narrowing definitions of bad actors, limiting the private right of action that allow copyright and trademark owners to sue, and addressing concerns that anti-piracy measures could eventually denigrate the security and integrity of the Internet. The changes are in direct reaction to criticism that has transcended political parties, and the modifications were welcomed by the entertainment industry lobby and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. But the new version of SOPA still has not gone nearly far enough in narrowing its definitions and curtailing its service provider obligations to appease leading technology companies and other groups rallying against the bill. One of the main criticisms against SOPA is that it's de facto "censorship," requiring ISPs at times to prevent access to infringing sites by making efforts under order to block web browser requests for flagged domain names. The prospect of domain name system (DNS) blocking and filtering has alarmed some who believe it would be intrusive and undercut the secure structure of the Internet. Among the many changes in Rep. Smith's managers amendment is a "savings clause," which not only explicitly clarifies that SOPA is not meant to be a prior restraint on free speech, but also would remove a duty to monitor activity on a network and restrictcourts from making any order that would "impair the security or integrity" of DNS. On the other hand, service providers will still face obligations to cut off access to pirate sites. Under the new version, it will be measures determined to be "least burdensome, technically feasible, and reasonable means designed to prevent access by its subscribers located within the United States to the foreign infringing site that is subject to the order." The italics illustrate new language in the modified bill, clearly designed to convince the tech community that a weight is being lifted from their shoulders. The provision also removes a five day deadline from implementing such action upon a court order, but since the language is deemed vague by many, and application has yet to be seen, many critics believe that is still adds up to anxiety and liability for leading U.S.-based tech companies. Public Knowledge, one of the groups leading the charge against the bill, doesn't believe there has been much progress in the new SOPA. "The amendment continues to encourage DNS blocking and filtering,which should be concerning for internet security experts and human rights activists alike," saidSherwin Siy, deputy legal director of Public Knowledge. Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt also echoed that sentiment. The bill would "criminalize linking and the fundamental structure of the Internet itself," he said yesterday. That reaction brought strong rebuke from the MPAA, which has been attempting to steer legislation through the home stretch. "Schmidt's comment that the legislation 'criminalizes the intermediaries' is a new weapon in their arsenal of hyperbole," said Michael O'Leary, senior executive vp for global policy at the MPAA. "There is broad recognition that all companies in the Internet ecosystem have a serious responsibility to target criminal activity. This type of rhetoric only serves as a distraction and I hope it is not a delaying tactic." Insiders believe that the bill will inevitably pass the House Judiciary Committee before gathering some resistance among the broader Congressional caucus. In recent weeks, opposition to the bill has unified groups as diverse as the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, albeit it for different reasons. Some think it is government intrusion. Others see it as an inevitable impingement on free speech. Leading tech acolytes such as Twitter general counselAlex Macgillivray andWikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales are delivering a blow-by-blow account of the mounting concerns orproposing proteststo continue to raise awareness. Other critics see the inevitability of new anti-piracy legislation and have been rallying behind an alternative bill entitled the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN),sponsored by SOPA critics Sen. Ron Wyden and Republican Rep. Darrell Issa. That alternative bill would take a more modest copyright infringement approach by allowing rights-holders to file petitions against "rogue" foreign sites with the International Trade Commission, which would then be allowed to attack the financial backbone of these sites by drying up funds from credit card processing companies. Supporters of SOPAdoubt the remedy goes far enough to properly address piracy by enhancing obligations from service providers. The debate is likely to only get louder in the next week or so as Congress makes its moves before winter break. In advance, both sides are attempting to position themselves as being the sensible ones in the room by adopting the other side's language. The critics of SOPA say they want to address piracy -- but in a measured way. The supporters of SOPA love free speech -- but need to protect the vibrancy of art. At a speech this morning at the Center of American Progress, MPAA chairman Chris Dodd continued his call for Congress to act now. "I want to make it clear right at the outset that our fight against content theft is not a fight against technology," he said. "Attacking international content theft is not about restricting speech. Quite the opposite. Just as the Constitution defends an artist's right to create, copyright protections defend the artist's ability to do so." E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner MPAA Chris Dodd

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever: Theater Review

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures The San Francisco Critics Circle rallied around The Tree of Life on Sunday, naming it the best picture of the year and giving its best director award to the film's Terrence Malick. It also singled out the movie'sEmmanuel Lubezki for best cinematography.our editor recommendsGotham Awards 2011: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best FeatureThe Tree of Life: Cannes ReviewJessica Chastain 'The Tree of Life' Featurette The group, comprised of 31 Bay Area film critics, met at the Variety Club Screening Room, where it voted Gary Oldman best actor for his portrayal of a British intelligence officer in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spywhile hailing Tilda Swinton as best actress for portraying the mother of a severely troubled boy in We Need to Talk About Kevin. PHOTOS: Gotham Awards 2011 Red Carpet Arrivals: Tilda Swinton, Elizabeth Olsen and Other Supporting actor and actress awards went to Albert Brooks for Drive and Vanessa Redgrave for Coriolanus. The Tinker writing team of Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan took the best adapted screenplay prize, and J.C. Chandor received the best original screenplay prize for Margin Call. Rango was named best animated feature; Certified Copy, best foreign language film; and Tabloid, best documentary. STORY:Gotham Awards 2011: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best Feature A special citation for an underappreciated independent film was given to The Mill and the Cross. The National Film Preservation Foundation received the Marlon Riggs Award for courage and vision in the Bay Area film community. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'X-Men' & 'Tree of Life' Premieres Tilda Swinton Gary Oldman The Tree of Life Terrence Malick We Need to Talk About Kevin Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The Three Stooges Meet the iPhone, Ogle Sofia Vergara and Poke Snooki In Underwhelming First Trailer

There’s something for everyone in the first trailer for The Three Stooges. Well, something for everyone who enjoys Sofia Vergara in tight sweaters, lobster-down-the-pants gags and Jersey Shore cameos. If any of those ideas interest you, click ahead to see the Farrelly brothers’ take on modern-era Moe, Larry and Curly. After spending over a decade in development limbo, The Three Stooges finally arrives in theaters April 13 with Chris Diamantopoulos (Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of ‘Mork & Mindy’) playing Moe, Sean Hayes as Larry and Will Sasso (MADtv) embodying Curly. The bumbling trio, best known for their slapstick act that originated in 1925, are somehow transplanted to modern-day Earth for Bobby and Peter Farrellys’ film. The movie chronicles the Stooges’ attempt to save their childhood orphanage and their accidental forays into reality television and murder mysteries. The supporting cast includes Jane Lynch, Larry David (?!), Jennifer Hudson, Sofia Vergara, Stephen Collins and at least four members of the Jersey Shore cast. In spite of the promising slate of actors involved (and the gratuitous shot of a hot nun in a sexy swimming suit), The Three Stooges looks to be another remake that audience members would have preferred never been made. VERDICT: Why I oughta…wait until The Three Stages is released on Blu-ray. [via Apple]

Healthy Hollywood: Wellness Wednesday Kelly Osbournes #1 Beauty Secret!

First Published: December 7, 2011 12:45 PM EST Credit: Getty Images NY., N.Y. -- Caption Kelly Osbourne is all smiles at the 2011 Fashion Awards Dinner to benefit Phoenix House at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in NY City on November 2, 2011 Drink lots of water, Kelly Osbourne reveals to Healthy Hollywood. I realized, my skin gets really bad when I dont drink a lot of water. I force myself now to drink as much as possible. The more water I drink, the clearer my skin, adds Kelly. Weve all heard it time and time again; water does a body good. Try and drink at least 8 cups daily and itll help rev up metabolism, detoxify the body, and give skin a fresh-faced glowplus water is a lot cheaper than the latest feel-good elixir. Sounds too good to be true but sometimes the best tricks are also the simplest and cheapest. Celebrity nutritionist Christine Avanti works with big-time water drinkers, Chelsea Handler and Giuliana Rancic. Christine shares with Healthy Hollywood some of her favorite tips to get more water in your system. So, start chugging. Tip #1 Sip yourself skinny Adding spices and herbs, such as cinnamon and mint to your water will help boost your metabolism. Mint also lessens inflammation. Tip #2 Chase away hunger pangs & cravings Try a sugar-free mint or even a chocolate Metromint water. The satisfying mint will help cure that afternoon hunger craving without the big calories. Tip#3 Hydrate to shed unwanted pounds Drinking two 8-ounce glasses of water before breakfast, lunch, and dinner while also cutting back on portions may help you lose and keep it off for at least a year. Also, dehydration reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your working muscles, making you more lethargic and less likely to exercise. Tip #4 Eat more veggies to up water intake Eating high-water content vegetables and fruits has been shown to help lower body mass index and shrink waistline. The water in vegetables helps to fill you up so youre less likely to overeat. Healthy Hollywood has also singled out two types of bottled water that are new to the market and enhanced with vitamins and popular with celebs. Jamie Foxx drinks OXYwater, which has 70 trace minerals, oxygen and loads of antioxidants. Another new standout is Omega Water, which is a fave of Eric Stonestreet and Brooke Burke, and is infused with heart-healthy Omega-3s. For more wellness tips, head to www.christineavanti.com. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Zoe Kravitz May Join Will Smith, Jaden Smith and M. Night Shyamalan in Space Drama

Zoe Kravitz, from one famous father to another? Apparently! Lenny's daughter is in talks to join Will and Jaden Smith in the M. Night Shyamalan blockbusters '1000 A.E.' -- which, as far as Moviefone HQ knows, has nothing to do with 'Titan A.E.' THR reports Kravitz and Sophie Okonedo are negotiating to play members of the Smith's onscreen family: Kravitz as Will's daughter, Sophie as his wife. Based on an original script by Shyamalan, Stephen Gaghan ('Traffic') and Gary Whitta, 'A.E.' -- which may or may not be titled 'After Earth,' according to Whitta's Twitter account -- focuses on a father and son (Smith and Smith) who crash land on an inhospitable Earth; when the father falls into peril, it's up to his son -- a "failure as a warrior" -- to save the day. Shyamalan's last film was 'The Last Airbender'; Smith was last seen in 'Seven Pounds,' but will appear again onscreen in 'Men in Black III.' [via THR/Heat Vision] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Madonna Set For Super Bowl Halftime Show, Will Collaborate With Cirque Du Soleil

Two months after speculation first started making the rounds, NBC and NFL tonight confirmed that Madonna will perform during the halftime show at the upcoming Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5. Madonna’s set will be created by a team from Cirque du Soleil, Madonna’s frequent collaborator, creative director/choreographer Jamie King, and multimedia artists from Moment Factory. The choice of Madonna continues a recent trend of going with older performers outside of the adults 18-49 demo. Aside from The Black Eyed Peas, the list of recent Super Bowl halftime acts includes The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.

Sundance Releases More Game titles

Grabbers along with other photos addedYesterday, the Sundance Institute introduced its massive, hanging helicarrier (we love to to assume it's how Robert Redford will get around when he isn't making films) lower to radio contact level and started blaring particulars from the 2012 festival's feature and documentary competition line-up. Today it is the turn from the Spotlight, Park City at Night time, NEXT and New Frontier sections.Spotlight is really a opportunity for films which have performed elsewhere on the planet to have their time under the sun(dance). One of the films showing are fighting techinques action madness The Raid (which a number of Team Empire have previously seen and loved) and Andrea Arnold's undertake Wuthering Levels.Plus there is Park City at Night time, the house for that bizarre, terrible, twisted and funny tales you will need to see within the wee hrs. Featured movies include Grabbers (the Irish horror comedy starring Richard Coyle and Russell Tovey) and Tim And Eric's Big Movie, produced through the warped minds of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. How warped? Look upon their works (the teaser), ye mighty and become... confused.Finally, We now have Next (that also features the odd emoticon logo design &hArr), which comprises very original films produced in intriguing ways as well as on low budgets, and New Frontier, which remembers new media, art and performances."In lots of ways, the extremes from the Festival's program are most readily apparent within our out-of-competition sections, which showcase the craziest comedies, probably the most terrifying horror films and uncompromised visions from singular voices popping up from round the country and also the world," Sundance Director of Programming Trevor Groth stated inside a statement. "Hopefully audiences test out their film choices for an equal degree because these filmmakers have played around with using their storytelling."For any full list and much more particulars, get thee towards the Sundance site.

How USA Co-Presidents Will Move Beyond the 'Blue Skies' Programming (Q&A)

Spotify on Wednesday announced that it is launching Facebook-style apps that add certain features and functionality to its online music service.our editor recommendsSpotify to Launch Facebook-Style AppsGoogle Music Launch Unveils a Solid Competitor to Apple, Amazon, SpotifySpotify Boasts 458% Year-on-Year Revenue BoostSpotify: As Media Goes Gaga Over Launch, Pandora Stock FallsSpotify Usage Explodes After F8, Facebook Integration According to the company, developers can now create HTML 5 apps for Spotify. The apps announced included ones for THR's sister publication Billboard, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork as well as Songkick, a concert listings site, and TuneWiki, which that displays lyrics to a song as it's playing. PHOTOS: Apple Products in TV and Movies One app will display lyrics while a song plays, while another will generate a list of upcoming concerts by artists in a user's playlist and provide links that allow users to buy tickets. Stockholm-based Spotify's "app finder" is will include reviews from magazines and blogs that let users listen to albums as they read reviews. The apps will be free for paying and non-paying users. During the announcement in NY, CEO Daniel Ek touted the move as "bringing music to where it should have been." Meanwhile, the apps also could help differentiate Spotify amid growing competition from the likes of Google, Apple and Amazon.com. So what do the tech experts have to say about the announcement? CNET's Greg Sandoval was less than impressed. "Maybe because we're so used to the app platforms from iTunes, Android, and Facebook that Spotify's announcement today that it too is building such a platform doesn't inspire much awe," he wrote. "Or maybe it's because the new apps that the company demonstrated today at a press event here don't do much that's new." He also questioned" how much music fans care about new ways to interact with their music users will even be interested in the apps" as well as what motivation developers have "to build for the service when they won't be allowed to generate revenue from their wares like they can with iPhone or Android apps." STORY: Spotify to Launch Facebook-Style Apps Likewise, Gizmodo's Adrian Covert expected more from the announcement. "Many of these apps, only being developed in the past couple of weeks were minimal, and reps for each company promised more features in the near future," Covert wrote. "I'd definitely like to see more dynamic generation of lists and recommendations-- or even filters for general Spotify navigation -- based on a certain criteria unique to each sites content." On the other hand, Wired's Eliot Van Buskirk was more optimistic. "Ever since Spotify launched users have requested new features -- everything from 'DJ mode' to the ability to buy tickets," he wrote. "This strategy of outsourcing those new features to outside app developers makes a lot of sense from that point of view, because it allows Spotify to add a massive number of optional features that will be invisible to users who just want the vanilla version." He added: "Talk of [application programming interfaces mayseem like the stuff of technology wonkery, geekery or nerddom, but think about it: A kid coding away in a basement all night, anywhere in the world, can build apps within the most popular music subscription service in the world. Want to play your friends' Facebook preferences? Create a party playlist automatically based on the people attending? Tag songs to locations so that others can stumble across them? ... With Spotify's revamped API, and the ability to include the apps within Spotify itself, the sky is the limit." STORY: Spotify Boasts 458% Year-on-Year Revenue Boost TechCrunch's Josh Constine was similarly hopeful, writing that Spotify's "new integrations ... unlock the potential of its massive music catalogue." "The apps could inspire longer listening sessions that expose users to more ads, get them more attached to their paid accounts, and share more links that drive referral traffic from Facebook," he added. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Apple Products in TV and Movies Related Topics Facebook Spotify

Kate Gosselin Talks Facelift Rumors & If Shed Ever Do More TV With Jon Again

First Published: November 29, 2011 12:55 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Kate Gosselin on Access Hollywood Live on November 29, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kate Gosselin continues to brush off rumors of going under the knife recently and the former reality TV mom said she cant understand the public fascination with her appearance. I have no idea. Slow news day? she laughed, when asked by Billy Bush and Kit Hoover why she remains tabloid fodder on Tuesdays Access Hollywood Live. Honestly, I feel like it should go away and the rumors just keep getting more and more ridiculous. Im busy raising my kids and working and I honestly laughed at the facelift thing because I dont know any 36 year olds who have had a facelifts or need one. As for why some are suggesting her appearance has changed, Kate said it could be due to her new fitness regimen. Im running a marathon on Sunday Im running a lot of miles. Obviously your body is going to change and you lose a lot of weight. Im guessing thats what people are noticing, Kate said. My hair was parted differently? Different makeup artist that day? I mean, honestly Im 36! No, I have not had a facelift, she continued. People have too much time on their hands. POLL: Do You Think Kate Had More Work Done? Click here to vote! When it comes to her time in front of the cameras with her family, Kate whose new gig is as a blogger for CouponCabin.com said she does miss certain aspects (and perks) from her reality TV tenure. We all miss the adventures and the trips and the benefits. Theres definitely something missing in our lives and we miss the people that were behind the cameras, she said of herself and her kids. From a mom aspect, I miss being able to show my kids the world and do all of those adventures and I think that I miss the most convenient job in the whole wide world to get paid when someones coming in recording your home videos is still a dream come true and it worked that way. But would Kate who admitted she wants to further my career in TV ever step back in front of the cameras for a large payday if it meant her ex-husband, Jon, would be a part of the deal as well? You could offer me every last dollar on the planet. I dont work for money. Jon lives his own life now and I have a lot of peace in my life for me and the kids so Id have to say no, I cannot compromise my morals and standards to get paid a ridiculous amount of money, Kate explained. I dont feel like its healthy or beneficial for my kids to watch so theres no point. Ill never film another frame of TV with Jon again, she concluded. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keck's Exclusives: NBC to Fete Betty White's 90th Birthday

Betty Whitened Invites are heading out for NBC's 90th special birthday for beloved TV icon Betty Whitened. The dinner-style event is anticipated to become shot in La before year's finish and can air like a special sometime near to Betty's milestone on The month of january 17, 2012. One of the famous faces prone to offer on-camera tributes: stars from Betty's series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Hot in Cleveland, in addition to funny ladies in the NBC comedy selection. Furthermore, TV Land's Cleveland is planning a chapter focused on the birthday of Betty's character, Elka Ostrovsky. The special has been executive created by Kaira Lachman,Steve Ridgeway and Jon Macks, whose credits range from the Tonight Show, the Emmys and also the Oscars. NBC also offers a real possibility series located by Betty, entitled Off Their Rockers, that is waiting for an airdate. The series features seniors playing pranks on naive youngsters. Retirement clearly isn't a word within this active lady's vocabulary. Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

OWN Extends Seasons for 'Our America With Lisa Ling,' 'Welcome to Sweetie Pie's'

Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network is extending the orders for two series: Our America With Lisa Ling and Welcome to Sweetie Pie's.our editor recommendsOprah Winfrey's OWN Network Orders Supermodel Docu-SeriesOWN Renews 'Our America With Lisa Ling' The network has picked up eight more episodes of Our America for a total of 16 episodes for the second season. Ten additional episodes have been ordered for the family docu-series Welcome to Sweetie Pie's for a total of 18 episodes for its rookie year. The announcement comes as the two series posted double-digit growth for a fifth straight week and a day after OWN picked up a Beverly Johnson docu-series. "The audience is finding and responding to these programs, and the ratings continue to build, which is a great testament to both shows," said Eric Logan, co-president of OWN. "Lisa fully immerses herself in every topic she covers and challenges us to think differently. Along with her team, she's created story-telling perfection," said Sheri Salata, co-president of OWN. "We've all fallen in love with the Montgomery family. You never know what they'll do or say next. We couldn't be more pleased viewers are tuning in to enjoy all the fun." Season to date, Our America, which covers challenging topics, has averaged 405,000 viewers on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. Welcome to Sweetie Pie's, airing Saturdays at 9 p.m., averages 388,000 viewers and hit a series high on Nov. 12 among women 25-54 with a 0.46 rating. It also is No. 2 among African American women in the 25-54 demo. The new episodes of Our America are currently in production and will air next spring. Production on Welcome to Sweetie Pie's additional episodes will begin in December to air in spring. Related Topics Oprah Winfrey

Occupy Wall Street Protesters Cautioned of Police Descent By Unlikely Celebrity

Questlove Questlove, drummer of the home band on Late Evening with Jimmy Fallon, cautioned Occupy Wall Street protesters from the impending police eviction via Twitter."Omg, drivin lower south st near #ows. Somethin bout to visit lower years old, swear I counted 1000 riot gear cops bout to drag sneak attack #carefulyall," he tweeted at 11:30 Monday evening.Browse the relaxation of present day newsThe drummer - also from the Grammy-winning band, The Roots - is really a Twitter celebrity in the own right, with 1.76 million fans. His ominous tweet was retweeted a lot more than 100 occasions, drawing the interest of protestors, a lot of whom doubted his message.Jimmy Fallon spoofs Bieber paternity suit with '(It Isn't My) Baby'At 12:39 a.m. he reiterated, "ok once more. South St in New york city. blocks from #OWS. saw a GANG (like a minimum of 500+ targeted up) waiting in line gettin ready for somethin."Because it switched out, police moved in on Zuccotti Park around an hour and twenty minutes after his initial tweet was sent.

NBCU wing taps marketing topper

NBCUniversal has drawn on John Shea to guide marketing initiatives at its Entertainment & Digital Systems and Integrated Media. Shea, that has just finished one fourth in the division since it's "CMO in residence," will require around the chief marketing officer title permanently and add professional v . p .. He reviews to division topper Lauren Zalaznick. It is the Integrated Media a part of that lengthy title which will keep Shea busy -- mix-brand initiatives Women at NBCU, Hispanics at NBCU, Healthy at NBCU and Eco-friendly is Universal will come under his oversight. An unconventional part of the hire is really a first-look deal for just about any content the professional produces. Shea's background includes creating top quality shorts series for MTV with Unilever and Verizon. The media initiatives, that NBCU produces bespoke ad campaigns across its television and digital qualities, happen to be most from the company's advertising strategy because it seeks to figure out ways to include its ad partners right into a media landscape which includes less and less traditional spots. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

The Zone: Film Review

Capping off his "Full Moon" trilogy of recent releases, micro-budget filmmaker Joe Swanberg's The Zone world premiered at AFI Fest with little attendant fanfare, concluding a cinematic dialogue with his actors and audience that began with Silver Bullets and Art History, which debuted at Berlin earlier this year. Given Swanberg's well-established popularity with indie-leaning festivals, The Zone and its Full Moon counterparts will continue to appear on the circuit for as long as he decides it's advantageous to keep them in circulation. Plans to self-distribute on DVD through Factory 25 starting with fourth quarter 2011 as part of a limited edition subscription service rather than relying on usual partner IFC Films will avoid the risk of a disappointing theatrical release. Settling again into familiar, tiresome introspective mode, Swanberg plays himself as a filmmaker directing a trio of actors in a fraught relationship drama. Also depicting themselves are coupled twenty-somethings Larry (Lawrence Michael Levine) and Sophia (Sophia Takal), who share a tatty Brooklyn apartment with Kate (Kate Lyn Sheil) that they refer to as "The Zone." Joe's no-budget film (a nod to Pasolini's Teorema) about a visitor (filmmaker Kentucker Audley) who seduces each of the three residents in quick and unconvincing succession is unraveling, rent by jealousies among the intimate castmembers and his own self-doubts about his role as a filmmaker. The by now formulaic nested narrative structure yields little stylistic flair -- unless shooting a few scenes on a mobile phone can be considered imaginative -- with Swanberg relying on rudimentary lighting, uninspired camerawork and rote editing, pointlessly undercutting the otherwise serviceable hi-def format. All around, the acting is naturalistic and unremarkable to the point of almost contradicting the concept of performance. Despite his own frequent self-absorption and offhand creative process, Swanberg has forged a unique connection with his young, Caucasian, college-educated peers, many of whom face lives of increasingly diminished expectations both in his films as well as in real life, confronting a teetering economy and cratering job market. His direct depictions of youthful emotional turmoil, casual nudity and wary, semi-committed sexual activity are able to access a compelling authenticity few other contemporary filmmakers have been able to convincingly explore or replicate. Although collaborators may sometimes feel emotionally mistreated by is invasively inquisitive filmmaking style, Swanberg's willingness to publicly critique his own creative process on camera is an uncommon approach that most filmmakers don't have the nerve to attempt. The laid-back, low-fi productions comprising the Full Moon trilogy may seem almost deliberately provocative, but actually represent the unwinding of a conversation that Swanberg has been having with himself and his audience throughout the series and indeed during much of his career. Whether anyone other than a small circle of friends, fans and followers is still participating in his self-reflexive dialogue is questionable however. As a self-described "art film" director, Swanberg has set the bar remarkably high compared to the resources and creative vision he's been prepared to deploy in his films thus far. In examining issues of art, intimacy and desire, The Zone reveals that Swanberg appears less convinced than ever of his own effectiveness as a filmmaker within the limitations of the mumblecore format. Venue: AFI Fest Production company: Swanberry Productions Cast: Sophia Takal, Lawrence Michael Levine, Kate Lyn Sheil, Kentucker Audley, Joe Swanberg, Adam Wingard, Dustin Guy Defa Director/screenwriter/producer/editor: Joe Swanberg Directors of photography: Adam Wingard, Joe Swanberg, No Rating, 70 minutes AFI Fest

Andy Serkis Signs for 'Rise from the Planet from the Apes' Follow up

Nobody thought there will be a 'Rise from the Planet from the Apes' follow up. Hell, nobody wanted a 'Rise from the Planet from the Apes' follow up -- a minimum of, not to start with. Back on August. 4, each day prior to the movie was launched, the anticipation were not high then, apparently from nowhere, the film converted into a vital darling and made nearly half a billion dollars worldwide. Fast-toward three several weeks later and there is some not-so-surprising 'Apes' follow up updates. Deadline reviews that Andy Serkis is near to signing an offer to reprise his role as Caesar the ape. Serkis's participation is sensible there is even brief Oscar talk surrounding his portrayal from the primary character, that could continue. Deadline also reviews that Fox intentions of campaigning for which will be a breakthrough nomination. There's still no official word on which the follow up could be about, though director Rupert Wyatt has considered the thought of a 'Full Metal Jacket'-esque story. "Generation x of apes, individuals which have originate from our protagonists, possibly going in a conflict with humans and showing real fear, in the same manner as starting war for youthful soldiers within this era, telling their story," Wyatt told Bleeding Awesome. Serkis is visible next as Captain Haddock in 'The Adventures of Tintin' on 12 ,. 21. [via Deadline] [Photo: twentieth century Fox] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Oren Peli's Ghost Town Film Underway

But still no Area 51There's still no sign of the long-gestating Area 51, but Oren Peli's next film, an untitled nature-run-amok project, has just started shooting in Eastern Europe.Peli was behind the original no-budget Paranormal Activity, which emerged, blinking in the light of box office glory, in 2009, and spawned a succesful franchise that's still ongoing. Area 51 followed, but since then Peli has preferred to act as producer (James Wan's Insidious; Rob Zombie's Lords Of Salem; Barry Levinson's The Bay) and leave the megaphone in someone else's hands.That remains the case with this new film: reports back in May suggested Untitled would be Peli's third as director, but it now emerges that Bradley Parker, an FX man with credits on Let Me In and Fight Club, is behind the cameras.The film, which for reasons unknown has lost its original moniker of The Diary Of Lawson Oxford, involves a group of friends who get stranded in a town that's been abandoned for years following a nuclear disaster. Nature (and, by the sound of it, something un-natural) has taken hold in the meantime. Peli says it's "the kind of scary movie I know I'd happily stand in line to see."The cast so-far announced includesJonathan Sadowski (the 2009 Friday 13th), Devin Kelley (TV's The Chicago Code), Nathan Phillips (Wolf Creek), and singer Jesse McCartney.Last we heard, from Peli cohort Jason Blum, Area 51 is still an ongoing concern. "LikeParanormal Activity, we went back like fifty times for additional photography," Blum explained in June. "The great thing about doing extra shooting for inexpensive movies is that the cost is low, so we screen and shoot and screen and shoot..." There's still no release date.

Watercooler: The Good, the Bad and the Glee

Matthew Morrison Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's great, and sometimes it's infuriating. Whatever it is from week to week, Glee is always fun to watch...with others. Like drinking games, flash mobs and stonings, the musical is best enjoyed in groups, whether they're on your couch, phone or Twitter feed. When it soars - as it did with the episode before its baseball hiatus - we gather 'round to sing its praises, marvel at the "return to form" and express how much we all love the idea of Santana and Mercedes joining Shelby's group. When it's less than awesome, as it was last night, with those blah numbers and that gruelingly overplayed gag about Brittany's obsession with Irish exchange student Rory being a leprechaun, we run ourselves ragged clowning on the show, bouncing bashes off one another like a Sue-Burt showdown. But here's the thing: Good or bad, we'restill watching, tweeting, commenting and generally having a blast with the communal camaraderie. It's a rare series that can keep us entertained despite its flaws. Are there huge holes in the logic sometimes? Sure. Do we kind of hate Rachel, but love her voice? Sure, times a bazillion. And do we buy the idea of Quinn being able to get her baby back with a simple call to Child Services? Not for a second. Still, there remains an allure to Glee that is inescapable. It's the TV equivalent of a grab bag. You never know if you're gonna get the emotional thrill of the Artie-centric "Wheels," the dazzling stunt-theming of "The Power of Madonna" or the annoying Kurt-as-martyr spectacle of "Never Been Kissed." All we can really count on is that we're all gonna be talking about it. And really, isn't that half the fun of watching TV anyway? So talk to us in the comments below. What did you think of last night's Glee, and who do gab with when you're watching? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Snow Whitened Includes A New Dwarf

Johnny Harris Set For Stephen Graham...One of the numerous story book tweaks within the works, Snow Whitened And Also The Huntsman has already been busy shooting underneath the direction of Rupert Sanders. Therefore we were surprised to determine that the change has been manufactured to among the dwarf roles, with Johnny Harris overtaking as Nero for Stephen Graham.Harris, presently receiving lots of praise for his focus on supernatural drama The Fades, is walking in to the part based on the Independent (through the Playlist). Graham sadly needed to out because of an agenda clash with shooting miniseries Parade's Finish.The primary Snow Whitened cast already includes Billy Burke, Chris Hemsworth, Mike Claflin and Charlize Theron because the heroine, the huntsman, the prince and also the evil full correspondingly.For the brand new dwarf arrival, he's joining Ian McShane (Caesar), Nick Frost (Tiberius), Bob Hoskins (Constantine), Toby Johnson (Claudius), Eddie Marsan (Hadrian) and Ray Winstone (Trajan). Harris may also be observed in Thanks For Visiting The Punch opposite James McAvoy and Mark Strong the coming year.Snowfall Whitened And Also The Huntsman is going to be on June 1, 2012.

Why the 'Heinous' Reference to Prone to Movie theaters Could Eliminate the Film Industry

You almost certainly have no clue Bob Lefsetz, however when you depended round the decimated music business to make a living, you sure would. His free e-e-e-newsletter, The Lefsetz Letter, is required reading through through for label professionals, A&R males, managers, publicists, bookers, and -- ok 4g iphone, artists, nearly all whom are needing to learn economic self-reliance since they've been abandoned/liberated with the traditional major-label system. Day in and excursion, Lefsetz preaches a simple message for which makes it through digital revolution: be consistent with your art, supply the people what they desire, and permit the cash sort itself out. Now he's turning his target the film business. There's an easy reason Hollywood has only recently began to grapple using the kind of challenges that have been shredding the music activity business for just about any decade now: quality. During this current climate of technological revolution, movies have a very long time to download, even legally, and require much space to help keep. For the moment, no less than, Digital video disks (that's been enhanced cousins Blu-sun sun rays) still feel less crazy than Dvds do. Furthermore, it suggests that -- unless of course obviously you will find the persistence from the monk as well as the hardware from the hacker -- you're probably not inclined to get 36 several hours on Bit-torrent waiting for 'Fast Five' to download. But everyone knows that digital transfers and storage get simpler each day. This can be a temporary respite, not just a solution. And also the same factor applies to theatrical gimmicks like 3d and IMAX. While so artists started to rely on live performances (and merchandise tables) for earnings, since you can't download an energetic interaction, Hollywood may be inside a disadvantage relating to this score. Sure, movies look better round the silver screen, but it's still the identical movie, meaning the theater really must slay the living room if this involves amenities, comfort, and sheer enjoyability. Does it? Disappear, Bob: Going to the cinema can be a heinous experience. Forget having less focus as well as the sticky flooring, a few things i hate most in regards to the movie theaters might be another patrons. Who talk and text and think they're inside their areas. Hell, this is why If only to stay home. If you're a teen and you have to neck, if you want to escape your parents' purview, I buy it. Or you really are a couple of with youthful children. But nearly everybody has top quality exhibition systems inside our houses. We'd rather start to see the movies in your house. But this doesn't comport while using interests in the art galleries and movie theaters, just what do lots of people do? STEAL The Flicks! As well as the music business trained us this can not be stopped. You'll be able to play Whac-A-Mole, you'll be able to piss off your customers, however, you can't win. At Moviefone HQ, we've been banging this drum pretty hard lately. Like we believe that it is important. Last Thursday, we come up with your 5 top reasons for not going to the films. Now you'd like to learn: What exactly can theater entrepreneurs triggered by boost the experience, and allow you to get towards the films? [Photo: Alamy] 5 Main Reasons Why You Aren't Going to the films See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Fall TV: Who Made It Happen Better?

Ashton Kutcher, Ted Danson, James Spader Ever seem like your preferred Television shows are discussing exactly the same brain? Because of contract discussions, pilot trends and other alike high cliff-wardrobe hangers, we have seen several shows treading similar narrative territory already this fall. CSI, Law & Order: SVU, Work and 2 and Half Menall changed lead figures while NCIS and Castle both saw figures on the shrink's couch. But which shows made it happen better? Below, we pit them against each other and choose a champion.1. Changed a number one Guy (Comedy Edition)Challengers: 2 . 5 Males versus. The OfficeThe Setup: Charlie Sheen was fired from 2 . 5 Males after his media rant condemning show creator Chuck Lorre. Steve Carell elected to not renew his contract after seven seasons as Dunder Mifflin boss Michael Scott.The way the Shows Handled It: Males wiped out off Sheen's Charlie Harper and introduced in as jilted billionaire guy-child Walden Schmidt, who bought Charlie's house. Work hired James Spader's Robert California to exchange Michael Scott, but Spader's character was marketed to Boss of Sabre, departing Andy (Erectile dysfunction Helms) responsible for Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch.Advantage: 2 . 5 Males. Although Spader appears game, Robert California's creepy clumsiness takes getting accustomed to. As a result, we are still within the relationship phase with Office 2.. For better or worse, Men's fresh paint-by-amounts tales seem to be trucking right along as if Sheen's firing only agreed to be a bump within the road (or, more precisely, the train track).2. Changed a number one Guy (Drama Edition)Challengers: CSI versus. Law & Order: SVUThe Setup: Laurence Fishburne chose to not renew his CSI contract after two seasons, while Christopher Meloni walked from SVU after 12. Both Fishburne's Ray Langston and Meloni's Elliot Stabler figured conspicuously to their particular shows' high cliff-wardrobe hangers: Langston was charged with killing serial murder Nate Haskell and Stabler shot and wiped out a youthful lady who opened up fire within the precinct.The way the Shows Handled It: On shows, the figures easily made a decision to leave behind the task. CSI hired Ted Danson to experience cool new Graveyard Change Supervisor D.B. Russell. SVU made two new employs: Danny Pino plays Nick Amaro, who moved in to the unit from drugs while Kelli Giddish plays Amanda Rollins, a transfer from Atlanta's sex crimes squad.Advantage: CSI. The brand new bloodstream on SVU does all right, however the show has not really reinvented itself. (The earlier Benson will get over Stabler, the greater.) Meanwhile, Danson's got the chops to become both light and heavy with respect to the situation, and that he jells using the cast in ways Fishburne never did. He's the very best factor to occur towards the show because the finish of Grissom's run.3. Busted a number one Guy from JailContenders: House versus. The Mentalist versus. Hawaii Five-0The Setup: Hugh Laurie's titular character on House was charged with driving his vehicle through his ex-girlfriend's home inside a jealous rage, Five-0's McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) was presented for that murder from the governor and something of her aides, and also the Mentalist's Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) surrendered to police after shooting and killing the guy he thought to become his enemy, Red-colored John.The way the Shows Handled It: Patrick Jane published their own bail after beating his fellow inmates inside a high-stakes poker game. McGarrett was shanked by Victor Hess (James Marsters), even though being moved towards the hospital, he busted from the ambulance. Despite being up for parole in 5 days, House incited a riot and challenged the authority from the prison's top physician. He was purchased for everyone his full term, until Foreman (Omar Epps) sprung him on conditional parole.Advantage: House. Convicts aren't any match for the kind of Patrick Jane (and apparently, neither would be the jurors that set him free). Even though we loved watching McGarrett rough people up on the way to showing his innocence, we respect that House performed the realism card and left House imprisonment. A minimum of until Episode 2.4. Spent A While around the CouchContenders: Castle versus. NCISThe Setup: Castle's Detective Beckett (Stana Katic) was purchased to determine a shrink after being shot with a sniper at Capt. Montgomery's funeral. NCIS cut back Dr. Cranston (Wendy Makkena) when Agent DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) could not recall the particulars of the shootout including another NCIS agent.The way the Shows Handled It: NCIS broke through DiNozzo's jokes and defense systems on his method to recalling that Cade (Matthew Willig) was the NCIS mole, which DiNozzo wasn't the guy who shot him. Beckett's shrink (Michael Dorn) got her to confess that they appreciated from her shooting -- including Castle's "I really like you" -- despite the fact that she told Castle (Nathan Fillion) she didn't.Benefit: Castle. Although both tales setup new conflicts for his or her particular shows (Who's Strattonreally? Will Castle and Beckett not be together?), we are more intrigued by Beckett's willful lie than DiNozzo's temporary memory lapse. Plus: Beckett, who may never have been a simple nut to hack, continues to be going to her doc, revealing her true feelings piece by piece.5. The Children Have Become UpContenders: 90210 versus. ParenthoodThe Setup: The children of 90210's West Bev Senior High School graduated. But, much like Parenthood's Amber, not every the scholars in TV's best zipcode visit college.The way the Shows Handled It: OnParenthood, Amber (Mae Whitman) moved right into a crappy apartment and it is busting her difficulty to pay the bills. And it is totally killing mother Sarah (Lauren Graham). Meanwhile, 90210's Dixon (Tristan Wilds) has turned into a pill-popping DJ/music producer and Liam (Matt Lanter) purchased a bar and it is near being a super-famous model. As well as their parents are nowhere to appear!Benefit: Being a parent. Amber's story has not been in the forefront, but it is been much more enjoyable (and fewer laughable) than watching an 18-year-old (!) buy and operate a bar.6. Traveled To the '60sContenders: Pan Am versus. The Playboy ClubThe Setup: Inspired through the recognition of AMC's early sixties-set Mad Males, NBC and ABC both eco-friendly-lit new series that occur within the same era. Pan Am concentrates on the soapy drama of jet-setting stewardesses as the Playboy Club informs the storyline from the Hugh Hefner's legendary rabbits.The way the Shows Handled It: Although both shows deserve kudos for his or her efforts in costuming, neither has got the decade nailed. Each series (possibly unrealistically) champions the girls' liberation, and both shows frequently diverge using their primary story to service other TV tropes. (Stewardesses as spies! The Mafia!)Advantage: Pan Am. Because, well, that a person's still around the air... for the time being.Would you accept our picks?

Sleep Tight (Mientras duermes)

A Filmax release of a Filmax Entertainment presentation of a Castelao Producciones production with the participation of TVE, Canal Plus, TVC. (International sales: Filmax, Barcelona.) Produced by Julio Fernandez. Executive producers, Carlos Fernandez, Alberto Marini. Directed by Jaume Balaguero. Screenplay, Alberto Marini, based on his novel.With: Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Alberto San Juan, Iris Almeida, Petra Martinez, Carlos Lasarte, Margarita Roset.A dark thriller about an unhappy Barcelona apartment-block concierge set on destroying the happiness of others, "Sleep Tight" is designed to give auds sleepless nights, and mostly succeeds. Featuring a shudder-inducing perf from Luis Tosar, pic reps a worthy addition to the eminently marketable canon of recent Spanish horror, as helmer Jaume Balaguero capably handles a more classical approach to genre than the mock-doc technique deployed for the "Rec" gorefests he co-helmed. Good opening-weekend B.O. in Spain should be followed by solid sales offshore. Right from the start, it's clear that Cesar's (Tosar) obsession with happy-go-lucky Clara (Marta Etura) will end badly. Clara's perpetual radiance frustrates the beetle-browed Cesar, who considers himself incapable of such joy. Cesar has clearly failed charm school. The tactics he employs to upset Clara include sending disturbing anonymous letters, entering her apartment at night to inject her skin cream with a liquid that will give her welts, and lying under her bed while she sleeps before quietly giving her chloroform and sliding in between the sheets. But preteen neighbor Ursula (Iris Almeida) is up to Cesar's tricks, and starts blackmailing him. During the daytime, Cesar musters all the sweetness and light he can, taking care of the dogs owned by elderly resident Veronica (Petra Martinez). But after he releases about a kilo of roaches into Clara's apartment, she leaves the building, which was not his intention. After she returns with boyfriend Marcos (Alberto San Juan), an even angrier Cesar ups the stakes. Tosar, having delivered the most memorably over-the-top psycho perf in recent Spanish cinema in Daniel Monzon's "Cell 211," here shows he can embody a whole different register of sociopath. Fawning, mumbling and humble by day, Cesar at night becomes as quick, dark and morally oblivious as the roaches he's let loose; Tosar's intensely compelling perf is at times more disquieting than the fast-moving plotline can handle. Though it would be overstating things to say the script generates sympathy for Cesar, it is careful in the early scenes to show his cruelty as pathetically childish. Pic's centerpiece is a scene that elegantly straddles farce and horror as Cesar is trapped in Clara's apartment with Clara and Marcos. It's testament to the skill of scribe Alberto Marini (adapting his own novel) that viewers will find themselves, hopefully uncomfortably, rooting for the villain. Indeed, Tosar's perf is sufficiently gripping to paper over some credibility flaws, mostly deriving from the incredible good luck Cesar seems to have when executing his admittedly meticulously laid plans. Etura (also a "Cell 211" vet) does decent work, but is hampered by the fact that Clara is passive and fundamentally uninteresting. The clumsiest scenes have Cesar confessing to his hospitalized mother (Margarita Roset) -- unnecessary given pic employs voiceover. Like the two "Rec" films released so far, "Sleep Tight" is set mostly within a single apartment block, and Pablo Rossi's lensing turns its old, creaking elevators and shadowy nooks and crannies into an appropriately Gothic backdrop that juxtaposes nicely with the clear pastels and streaming sunlight of Clara's apartment. Extensive use of closeups makes for some creepily textured images and intensifies the general sense of claustrophobia. Patti Page's 1955 hit "Keep Me in Mind" is used in a couple of sequences, somewhat unsubtly illustrating the truism that love is a dangerously obsessive game.Camera (color, widescreen), Pablo Rosso; editor, Guillermo de la Cal; music, Lucas Vidal; production designer, Javier Alvarino; costume designer, Marian Coromina; sound (Dolby Digital), Oriol Tarrago, Jordi Rossinyol. Reviewed at Cines Princesa, Madrid, Oct. 17, 2011. (Also in Fantastic Fest; Sitges Film Festival.) Running time: 108 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Jimmy Fallon sells three scripts to NBC

FallonJimmy Fallon is angling to increase his NBC footprint from late evening to primetime.Holiday Road, the shingle Fallon silently released in The month of january to create scripted and unscripted series, has offered three comedy scripts towards the Peacock. It is the first sales for that production company, which is to establish at Universal Television.The "Late Evening with Jimmy Fallon" host and among the show's authors, Amy Ozols, will executive produce the series, which are now being composed by scribes who either focus on the late-evening series or Fallon's previous NBC home, "Saturday Evening Live.""Fallon" author Jeremy Bronson is joining together on "Body fat Take advantage of," in regards to a former rap star who's balancing being famous and as being a good father."WorkInch author Charlie Grandy, who labored with Fallon when he was on "SNL," is behind "DILFs," which represents 30-something fathers battling without being developed enough to parent, but they're.InchFallon" author Gerard Bradford is behind "Ron," in regards to a loveable doofus who's one step father to some guy who is identical age as him.NBC were built with a similar arrangement with Conan O'Brien when he was still being area of the network's late-evening selection. O'Brien's shingle, Conaco, created several series that managed to get to NBC's air, including "Andy Barker, P.I."When O'Brien gone to live in The best spinner's this past year, Conaco signed a general cope with Warner Bros. Television. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Agency Showdown: WME-John Ferriter $25 Million Arbitration Begins

Neil Rasmus/PatrickMcMullan.com/Sipa Press/NewscomJohn Ferriter. our editor recommendsWME-John Ferriter Arbitration Set for Oct. 19 (Exclusive)'Millionaire' trial begins! Smith, Silverman, Ferriter set to testify Lawyers for William Morris Endeavor and its former board member John Ferriter are in a Century City conference room Wednesday for the start of an arbitration over Ferriter's abrupt 2009 exit from the agency Ferriter, the longtime William Morris agent turned manager who reps such popular personalities as Piers Morgan, Dr. Drew Pinsky and X Factor host Steve Jones, sued his former employer for $25 million claiming he was marginalized by WME execs Ari Emanuel, Rick Rosen and Mark Itkin and eventually forced out of the agency. WME argues that Ferriter, the only William Morris partner to vote against the 2009 merger of the venerable agency with upstart Endeavor, left the company on his own. Here's more background on the case. The private arbitration is scheduled to last two weeks in front of Judge Stephen Lachs. Sources tell THR that more than 100 names are on the witness list, including Ferriter, Emanuel, former WMA chief Jim Wiatt and blogger Nikki Finke, who Ferriter believes wrote negative articles about him at WME's behest. But the planned two-week time period means only a fraction of those potential witnesses likely will testify. The case already has featured depositions of several top WME agents and Wiatt, as well as six days of testimony by Ferriter, who is expected to be the star witness in the arbitration. Ferriter says he was pushed aside and fired despite a record of stellar performance when it became clear that he wasn't as enthusiastic about the WME merger as his colleagues. Complicating matters, Ferriter entered the hospital days after the merger was approved and nearly died from a blood clot that led to a Penicillin-resistant MRSA infection. When he returned to the agency in July of 2009, Ferriter says he was targeted by new management for elimination. Over the past two years of litigation, the sides have engaged in extensive document discovery. The level of secrecy around the case is so high that sources say during certain parts of the arbitration, the parties and witnesses will be asked to leave the room as certain "attorney eyes only" documents will be presented to the judge for review. WME is repped by lead attorneys Patricia Glaser and Kerry Garvis Wright. Ferriter is repped by his sister, litigator Patricia Kramer. Attorneys for both sides declined to comment. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni William Morris Endeavor

A ballsy time to sell sports

The requirement of attention-getting characteristics makes TV's hunger for sports more ravenous than in the past. Yet all the cash flowing directly into these games has only made the sporting world more chaotic than in the past -- and really should have gone systems interested in the sobriety from the partners.Buoyed with the unquenchable appetite for sports, the completely new trend is ideal for every professional franchise, college conference in addition to a person marquee team, like the U. of Texas, to demand its own funnel. And instead of temporarily halting to question once the blueberry slices become too thin for clients to determine, such clothes as ESPN, Fox Sports and Time Warner Cable appear content to permit the inmates run the asylum.While all of this boosts queries about whether avarice might strangle the golden goose, since nobody desires to risk being omitted, there's little evidence of be worried about dying by gluttony.Despite splitting $9 billion yearly, professional football's entrepreneurs and players involved with labor strife inside the summer season, then grudgingly showed up in an offer -- and returned with time to write predictably boffo ratings. Meanwhile, talking about only $4 billion yearly has brought to poverty-pleading Basketball entrepreneurs sidelining professional basketball players not under the season's initial few days, and possibly substantially longer.Like the Nfl, the Basketball is coming initially from off a great season ratings-wise, fueled with the free-agency fracas unleashed by pitchman supreme Lebron and also the Miami Warmth teammates. The league could discard that momentum whether or not this sacrifices most or all of the season -- an absolute possibility.The NBA's absence leaves the spotlight on Major league baseball, whose postseason pyrotechnics genuinely have people buzzing about the sport again. Clearly, to have the ability to fully appreciate America's pastime, one should overlook the ripoffs relevant to steroid drugs or insolvent entrepreneurs that have recently filled courtrooms.Still, the wackiest developments have involved these growth and development of a continuously greater volume of local or regional sports systems, many of which may take a hit once the Basketball lockout remains.Time Warner began a investing in an offer war in La by snagging rights for the much-beloved Opponents, compelling Fox Sports to preemptively goal to increase its relationship while using Dodgers utilizing a 17-year, $3-billion deal. The only real problem was that Dodger owner Frank McCourt anxiously needs the cash to, among other activities, settle his untidy and extremely public divorce, compelling Mlb commissioner Bud Selig -- concerned about how McCourt might spend the $385 million Fox pledged to commit upfront -- to a part of and halt the agreement. (Full disclosure: I'm a part-time reason for Foxsports.com.)National football league and nfl and college football, meanwhile, has interfered with decades of tradition and upended historic rivalries in the crazy try to reconfigure itself into "super-conferences" to have the ability to maximize TV revenues. Despite the fact that conference-hopping has temporarily cooled, how lengthy devoted to pondering where teams would land through the off-season was exceeded only with the steady drip of ripoffs over players receiving improper benefits. In their own personal way, each thread demonstrates having less rational authority controlling what many derisively reference as amateur athletics.Through all of this, major media companies have essentially thrown up their hands, insisting their billions in costs play no part in perpetuating defects in our system.Much is for several: The money develops. Consider ESPN's $15 billion deal to improve its "Monday Evening Football" rights through 2021 -- growing its annual payment greater than 70%, to $1.9 billion. For just about any network that needs exclusive programming to command expense from cable operators and clients, the Nfl is simply must-have TV -- suggesting additional obligations off their systems, and for that reason plenty more cash for entrepreneurs and players to fight over afterwards.Nevertheless, focusing on systems and leagues ignores another constituency in this equation -- and perhaps the most crucial one: Die-hard fans, who might periodically express their disgust over battles pitting uniform players against billionaire entrepreneurs, but who used can't stay away for nearly any time period.As extended as fans remain totally hooked on the exploits from the favorite teams, basically, several different sports might have them -- as well as the TV industry -- with the balls. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com

Lindsay Lohan: I'm Spending So Much Time & Fulfilling My Obligations

First Released: October 14, 2011 9:40 PM EDT Credit: Getty Premium La, Calif. -- Caption Lindsay Lohan is spotted in the Givenchy aftershow party at LArc in Paris on October 2, 2011 Lindsay Lohan is protecting herself following reviews she was kicked from carrying out her court-purchased service in the Womens Center in Downtown La. I'm not to become made a good example of any longer, she authored on her behalf WhoSay account on Friday, apparently striving her words at TMZ, which, on Thursday, first reported Lindsay was no more carrying out her community service in the Womens Center. I'm spending so much time and fulfilling my obligations each day, towards the court in addition to myself, the actress ongoing. Basically travel, its for work and it is been approved. Out of the box anything I actually do after i leave the condition. Id be thankful if individuals will just allow me to do what's requested of me, to ensure that I'm able to get my existence back. Please disregard the reviews without any truth for them. Thanks. As formerly reported on AccessHollywood.com, Lohan has become serving her court-purchased community service with a brand new organization. On Thursday, a representative for that American Red-colored Mix in La confirmed to gain access to Hollywood the actress is carrying out her community service using the group. The representative was not able to provide particulars on her behalf start date or even the character of her work. A repetition for Lohan wouldn't discuss why the actress is no more dealing with the very first organization she was designated to through the court. Lohan has another hearing while watching judge in La on October 19. She was formerly purchased to accomplish 480 hrs of community service inside a year, a sentence associated with her probation for drunken driving and misdemeanor thievery cases. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Oscar Isaac to star in Coen brothers film

IsaacThe Coen brothers will shoot 'Inside Llewyn Davis' next year in NY.After a thorough search, "Drive" thesp Oscar Isaac has emerged as the Coen brothers' choice to star in their next film, the folk music pic "Inside Llewyn Davis."StudioCanal is set to co-finance the Scott Rudin-produced pic, which will be made without a domestic distribution partner.Story focuses on the folk music scene in Greenwich Village in the 1960s and the title character is loosely based on Dave Van Ronk, a folk singer who was friends with Bob Dylan, among other famous musicians.Isaac is in talks to play Llewyn Davis, a struggling folk musician born and bred in Queens. Despite being a talented singer and guitarist, he just can't seem to make ends meet playing music.Robert Graf ("True Grit") will exec produce, while StudioCanal will handle international sales and distribute the film in France, as well as several other territories. Production is skedded for early next year in Gotham, where the Coens have never really made a movie despite residing there.Isaac will soon be seen as a key character in Tony Gilroy's "The Bourne Legacy," though he initially tested for the lead role that Jeremy Renner ended up getting. Thesp co-stars alongside Channing Tatum in the high school reunion drama "Ten Year," which sees him perform a song that he wrote specifically for the film. He also plays a ukulele-playing teacher opposite Maggie Gyllenhaal in Fox/Walden Media's drama "Learning to Fly."Like the Coens, Isaac is repped by UTA, as well as Inspire Entertainment. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

It's 'A Good Day To Die Hard,' But Will It Be...Gooder?

On Wednesday (October 12), Fox introduced the 5th entry inside the "Die Hard" series, likely to be on Valentine's 2013, will probably be referred to as "An Excellent Day To Die Hard." The dunia ngeblog soon skyrocketed in peanut, however, many were too quick to forget the crazy title that riffs round the phrase "Die Hard" is just componen for your course with this particular acclaimed action franchise. We at MTV News are pumped for your new flick, despite the fact that the title lives around the crazy tradition, we are feeling it might be even wackier. Compared to that finish, we now have suggested a few game game titles which go a stride further. Prepare to die really, very difficult following a jump. » "Die Hard 5: You Can't Kill Dying" » "Die Hard 5: McClain Strikes Back" » "Die Hard 5: Dying ... Prepare to Die" » "Die Hard 5: Dead and Loving It" » "Die Hard 5: Knock, Knock, Whos There? Dying!" » "Die Hard 5: Die Harderer" » "Die Hard 5: This Time Around Around It's The Swedes" » "Die Hard 5: Breakable" » "Die Hard 5: Tears in the Boy" » "Die Hard 5: Bruce Willis Must Put Additional Time On His Pool Cabana" » "Die Hard 5: You Think These Game game titles Write Themselves?" » "Die Hard 5: Dying Wears a Toupee" » "Die Hard 5: Tick, Tick, Boom!" » "Die Hard 5: This Time Around Around Its A Chick" » "Die Hard 5: Homegrown Terror" » "Die Hard 5: Suck It, Indiana Manley" » "For That blue pill, You'll Die Hard" » "Eat S*** And Die Hard" » "Die Antwoord" » "Live And Let Die Hard Already" » "Die Hard 5: The Die Hard Increases" » "Now I have Got A Die Hard 5, Ho Ho Ho" » "Yippie Ki Yay Mother F******, It's Another Die Hard Movie" » "Die Hard 5: I'm So Tired" And drumroll please... the champion is... » "Die Hard 5: Twilight" Special due to Kevin Sullivan, Gil Kaufman, James Montgomery, Daniel Montalto, Eric Ditzian, John Phares and Josh Wigler for contributions. Leave your alternate "Die Hard 5" game game titles inside the comments section and also on Twitter!

Hi-Years old, Start It! 'The Lone Ranger' Will Most likely Happen at Lower Budget

After days of backwards and forwards, it seems 'The Lone Ranger' with The Actor-brad Pitt will really happen at Disney. Deadline reviews that Depp, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer arrived at a contract around the production budget, meaning filming should start sometime later this season. Disney initially balked at that which was reported like a budget of nearly $250 million. No figures are presently available however it was assumed the studio would move forward using the film if Bruckheimer and Verbinski might get the price within the $215 million range. Initially scheduled for 12 ,. 21, 2012, 'The Lone Ranger' stars Depp as Tonto, Armie Hammer because the titular hero and newcomer Ruth Wilson because the female lead. Compiled by Justin Haythe ('Revolutionary Road'), it had been reported the script featured three high-listed train derailments. [via Deadline] [Photo: GF/bauergriffinonline.com] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Morning Grind: Michigan Lady Sues FilmDistrict Over 'Drive' Trailers

Being reductive of a film as lovingly crafted as 'My Week With Marilyn' feels just a little cheap, but considering Oscar months are about cuts: for anyone who is wondering which approaching bit of Oscar bait might be the heir(ain) apparent to 'The King's Speech' have a look at 'Marilyn.' Within the film's primary theme (by 'The King's Speech' composer Alexandre Desplat) to the presence of Harvey Weinstein's title in credits with a lead performance, here by Michelle Williams, that seems destined for honours glory, 'My Week With Marilyn' shares more with recent Best Picture champion than you might have assumed. That's its strength, additionally to the limitation. Good journals of Colin Clark, 'My Week With Marilyn' can be a coming-of-age story masked just like a biopic. Or possibly a biopic masked just like a coming-of-age story. In 1956, within the ripe ages of "nearly 24," Clark (Eddie Redmayne) leaves where you can are another assistant director round the number of 'The Princess as well as the Showgirl' with Mister Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Williams). Throughout the time from the shoot -- which Monroe stretches beyond the norms because of her devotion for the Method kind of acting championed by Lee and Paula Strasberg -- Clark as well as the world's most well-known leading lady come under a more sophisticated relationship of love and wish, much for the consternation of Olivier, Marilyn's primary handler Milton Greene (Dominic Cooper, entirely Howard Stark mode) and Colin's maybe-girlfriend Lucy (Emma Watson, Hermione'ing up). Colin's in over his mind with Marilyn, nevertheless the pull of her come-hither winks and little-girl-lost persona is just too much for nearly any guy to manage. No less than that's exactly what the film notifies us. Frequently. Like 'The King's Speech,' this is often a "tell, don't showInch production: through pointless voice-over and-handed dialogue, 'My Week With Marilyn' hammers home its slight points -- that Colin could possibly get his heart broken that Monroe is playing an element and unable to flee, even if sherrrd like to -- with techniques that recalls an Cinemax telefilm. Thank heavens then for your performances. Much less you're surprised, but Williams is perfection as Ms. Monroe. She nails the nuance and subtlety in the role -- which really requires three different personas: everyone Marilyn Monroe, the non-public Marilyn Monroe as well as the part in 'The Princess as well as the Showgirl.' "You have to consider them together, because they need to adhere," Williams mentioned inside a publish screening Q&A within the NY Film Festival on Sunday. "I realize that might be three different facets, but I am unsure simply how much it can help to consider them as three separate people." Williams might be minimal fancy area of the film, a remarkable fact since lots of portrayals of Monroe border on cartoon. You'll be able to tell the task she place in this performance: not just while using voice, actions and attitude, though your vision. Williams draws you into Monroe's wounded soul progressively, carefully and deliberately. It's too early to talk about Oscar locks and management -- much less we have not already -- nevertheless it seems highly probable that Williams will probably be round the short-report on Best Actress competitors come next February. For that relaxation in the cast: Redmayne is adorably naive and mouth-gaped throughout, giving Colin a bit of new charm that never feels forced. Branagh can get the showboat-y role of Olivier -- Mister Ray to his pals -- playing the acting titan as both blustering idiot and cold-eyed perfectionist, a ageing prat who uses "honesty" in order to cut lower all rivals. Everyone else is dependably British and solid, with Dame Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, Toby Manley and Julia Ormand knocking out their brief moments and moments with professionalism, reliability , sophistication. The issue: for just about any movie of a forbidden love and among Hollywood's finest and several inscrutable stars, 'My Week With Marilyn' feels too professional. It's all regulated controlled too safe. Like 'The King's Speech,' it's as gorgeous just like a still photograph -- the film never moves. Simon Curtis, a skilled of British television work making his feature debut here, has something to with this particular -- his style makes Tom Hooper appear like David Fincher -- but he's given no the assistance of the on-the-nose script. Much less eventually it matters: 'My Week With Marilyn' can be a performance movie and, as Redmayne confirmed following a film, that's Curtis's strength. "The primary reason lots of amazing stars were concentrating on this film was since they love utilized by Simon," mentioned Redmayne. "He's a great facility with stars." Which is always to say, expect if Harvey Weinstein has another Oscar ace up his sleeve ultimately, the actor's branch might be the greatest voting block inside the Academy. When The Weinstein Company clicked up Cannes favorite 'The Artist,' many assumed it could become Harvey's Best Picture cause célèbre. Still might. With 'My Week With Marilyn,' though, 'The Artist' may likely involve some inter-office company. [Photo: The Weinstein Company] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED: 'My Week With Marilyn' Photos Michelle Williams as Marilyn MonroeEddie Redmayne as Colin ClarkKenneth Branagh as Mister Laurence OlivierEmma Watson and Eddie Redmayne as Lucy and Colin Clark See All Moviefone Galleries »

Bertolucci abandons 3d request 'Me and You'

ROME -- Bernardo Bertolucci on Monday will return to the director's chair after an eight-year hiatus to shoot coming-of-age drama ''Io e te'' (Most of us) which, unlike previous plans, will not maintain 3d.Following announcing in Cannes that this can be a stereoscopic pic, Bertolucci states he's been expected to abandon that plan, thinking about the truth that ''3D is known as pricey and vulgarly commercial,'' he complained recently to students at Rome's CSC film school. Two-hander will feature youthful little-known Italo thesps Jacopo Olmo Antinori and Tea Falco becoming an introverted teen and also the older half sister getting a heroin problem. They've created a detailed rapport inside the basement were the adolescent boy is hiding out, and where he tries to help her kick her habit. ''In a few days we'll descend inside the basement, and we'll re-emerge only around Christmas,'' Bertolucci mentioned in the statement. Pic is founded on the most effective-selling eponymous short novel by Niccolo Ammaniti, known outdoors Italia mainly for ''I'm Unafraid,'' modified for your bigscreen by Gabriele Salvatores. The ''Io e te'' script was co-composed by Bertolucci with Ammaniti, Francesca Marciano and Umberto Contarello (''This Ought to be the Place'').Also aboard are previous Bertolucci collaborators Fabio Cianchetti, who's lensing, editor Jacopo Quadri, costume designer Metka Kosak and hang up designer Jean Rabasse.A Ten-week shoot is planned on ''Io e te,'' which Blighty's HanWay Films is selling worldwide. Rome-based Mario Gianani is co-creating with Bertolucci's own Fiction shingle. Medusa will distribute in Italia.Pic, which utilizes 2003's ''The Dreamers,'' will probably be Bertolucci's first Italian-language feature in thirty years. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Market value of pic biz

ACADEMY SHIFTSVariety editor-in-chief Tim Gray spoke with Tuesday's keynote speaker Tom Sherak, who talked about fundamental shifts going on at AMPAS, including outreach plans and Oscar changes. OVERSEAS AURATwentieth Century Fox Intl.'s Kieran Breen, left, Intl. Exclusive Media's Alex Walton, GK Films and Parlay Films' Lisa Wilson, Sony's Michael Fisk and HSI Films' Eric Christenson participate in a panel discussion on international role reversal. Moderated by Variety's Andrew Stewart, the discussion centered on the changing strategies to the global marketplace, among other ideas. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTDreamWorks Studios topper Stacey Snider honors Marvin Levy as the first inductee into Variety's marketing hall of fame. WHO YOU GONNA CALLProducer-helmer Ivan Reitman confirms he has a "Ghostbusters 3" script at Wednesday's keynote Q&A with Variety senior critic Peter Debruge. CLICKING WITH AUDIENCESSpotify's Richard Gregory, left, and Shazam's Peter Szabo discuss ways to motivate the public to go to the movies. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

'Dark Shadows' Score Will Probably Be 'Wilder' Than 'Edward Scissorhands,' States Danny Elfman

Despite the fact that first photo we'd from the Actor-kaira Pitt within the "Dark Shadows" garb had us feeling slightly skeptical, the second batch of photos that hit the Interwebs the other day have us to being inside the moon excited for director Tim Burton's undertake the seventies vampire cleaning cleaning soap. Better yet, MTV News handled to acquire a handful of more "Shadows" particulars from Burton's other frequent movie-related collaborator, composer Danny Elfman, who revealed expect something "slightly wild." "Its still very early, theyre not necessarily done shooting. I merely sent them some stuff to enable them to enjoy it while theyre editing," Elfman told us about his progress on "Shadows" within the premiere of "Real Steel," the score that more youthful crowd composed. "In my opinion its just apt to be fun. You'll be able to tell from Johnny Depps look of your hair rapidly the softball softball bat, its like, Oh wow, thats different. Its [occur] the 70s, its apt to be fun." Regarding which type of appear Elfman goes for in creating the "Shadows" score, we asked for if it has a pronounced theme, a la his previous use Burton's films like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Edward Scissorhands." "In my opinion case just a little wilder than 'Edward Scissorhands,' however have no clue. I really have no clue what you should expect until its done." Elfman also mentioned he and Burton had spoken about utilizing a smaller sized-scale orchestra, but that nothing remains occur stone yet. "In my opinion we might maintain it small. That was Tims first thought making it tiny, however with nevertheless maybe well ensure it is large. Things can transform between from time to time." Will Elfman's "Dark Shadows" score be another classic like "Beetlejuice," "Nightmare" or "Scissorhands?" Reveal inside the comments or on Twitter!

Damon Lindelof talks Michael Fassbender in Prometheus

20th Century Fox is being incredibly tight-lipped about Ridley Scott's new addition to the Alien series but a few more details about Prometheus are starting to emerge.Yesterday we had an official synopsis that answered a few questions and now writer Damon Lindelof has revealed some very interesting details."[Michael Fassbender] plays a robot. One of the things that evokes the idea of Blade Runner is, 'What does the movie look like from the robot's point of view?' If you were to ask him, 'What do you think about all of this? What's going on? What do you think about these humans who are around you?', wouldn't it be cool if we found a way for that robot to answer those questions," Lindelof said in an interview with MTV.Lindelof also talked about Charlize Theron's role and her character's paycheck courtesy of Weyland-Yutani."Her character's name is Meredith Vickers and she's sort of a corporate entity. That's another one of the familiar things from the Alien movies - that there are corporate interests in play. I feel like Charlize brought a new spin on that old variation. It's a remix... I don't think she's slimy [like Paul Reiser's character in Aliens]. She's not the fast-talking, snake-oil face of the company. By the way, 'What company is she a face of?' I think is a big part of the fun. As we were developing the script, she had some really cool ideas that made it not the suit you're used to."Lindelof is also keen to stress that this is all Ridley's vision, despite his work on the script: "It was really about channelling that idea so that I was realising his vision, as opposed to imposing my vision on it."

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'Way' more than expected

Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez and Martin Sheen keep it in the family at the Nokia Theater premiere of "The Way" last week. It was a family affair at the premiere of "The Way" at the Nokia Theater Friday afternoon.Not only did father-son duo Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez team up for the movie but Charlie Sheen also showed up, eliciting screams from fans outside."This is the closest role I think he's ever played to himself," Estevez said of his father. "People know him from 'Apocalypse Now,' people know him from 'Badlands.' He's not a killer, right? He's just not." Sheen thanked his helmer son, because he "incorporated all the things that would make the film something that an old guy could do."

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Watch Liam Neeson Fight Baby wolves in First Trailer for 'The Grey'

Take the time to think about the crappy day presented within the first trailer for 'The Grey': Besides the plane flying several Alaskan pipeline employees crash, however the children are then instructed to protect against a pack of ravenous baby wolves within the dead of winter to outlive. Maybe someone really wants to pour sugar in star Liam Neeson's vehicle's gas tank to top things off? Contemplate that although you watch the very first trailer for that backwoods thriller. Directed by Joe Carnahan ('The A-Team'), 'The Grey' reaches theaters on Jan. 27, 2012.

Melissa McCarthy Talks Emmy Win, Hosting SNL & More Bridesmaids

La, Calif. -- Fresh off her win for Outstanding Lead Actress inside a Comedy Series last evening in the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Honours, Melissa McCarthy told Access Hollywood everything felt wonderful. I seem like Im likely to awaken, and, you realize, its likely to be like 4:30 AM and my kids likely to be like, Uh, can one possess some milk? the Mike & Molly star told Access Rob Robinson backstage in the Emmy Honours in La. Yeah, this isn't in a arena of, Oh, this appears right. Melissa ongoing. [But,] I am not likely to fight it. The actress is only going to possess a couple of days to take pleasure in the glow of her Emmy win, as shes on NY and back at the office hosting NBCs Saturday Evening Survive October 1. Im totally nervous, however i cannot wait. I only say take it on! she told Rob. Used to do 12-fifteen years at Groundlings, of look foward to sketch comedy. For focusing on a follow up to her runway giant screen hit, Bridesmaids, spend be there if she will get a phone call. Theres been no official talk, she told Rob. [But, I consider using any means with individuals women, or [director] Paul Feig, or Judd Apatow again. Adding, Unless of course everybody except me is signed on. Is the fact that what is happening? Everyone! Wah-wah, thatd be this type of bummer. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.