Before Kathleen Kennedy and co. hired J.J. Abrams to direct “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the movie was one of the hottest gigs in town. Many names circled and were rumored for the job, and David Fincher was among those tossed into the mix. Going to a galaxy far, far away wasn’t a stretch for the filmmaker, who in 1983, was hired by Industrial Light & Magic as an assistant cameraman and matte photographer, and worked on a little movie called “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.” Obviously, Fincher didn’t direct ‘The Force Awakens,’ but he’s got a fascinating perspective on what it means for a filmmaker to step into that world.
Continue reading David Fincher Discusses The High Expectations Of Directing A ‘Star Wars’ Movie at The Playlist.
Continue reading David Fincher Discusses The High Expectations Of Directing A ‘Star Wars’ Movie at The Playlist.
- 10/19/2017
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Nearly 40 years after Roman Polanski’s rape trial began, his victim is asking a court to end the ongoing case. “I would implore you to finally bring this to a close as an act of mercy to myself and my family,” Samantha Geimer said to L.A. Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon yesterday, according to Variety. “We are human beings, not wins and losses.”
Read More: Roman Polanski Calls the Court System ‘Dishonest’ in Latest Filing
Geimer, who was 13 at the time, has lived with the unresolved proceedings for decades, as Polanski fled the country in 1979 and has never returned. “He got arrested. I knew he was sorry the next day,” she said after the hearing. “I was sure he instantly regretted what he had done and wished it hadn’t happened. It just wasn’t as traumatic for me as everyone would like to believe it was. I was a young,...
Read More: Roman Polanski Calls the Court System ‘Dishonest’ in Latest Filing
Geimer, who was 13 at the time, has lived with the unresolved proceedings for decades, as Polanski fled the country in 1979 and has never returned. “He got arrested. I knew he was sorry the next day,” she said after the hearing. “I was sure he instantly regretted what he had done and wished it hadn’t happened. It just wasn’t as traumatic for me as everyone would like to believe it was. I was a young,...
- 6/10/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Roman Polanski is still angry at the United States justice system. After comparing the courts to Nazis, the Oscar-winning filmmaker and his lawyer Harland Braun are seeking to have the 2010 testimony of a former district attorney unsealed and given to Interpol. In the process, they made sure to call the court in question “dishonest.”
“Roman Polanski, a dual citizen of France and Poland, who has litigated with Jackie Lacey in the courts of three countries, should not be subject to a worldwide arrest warrant based on a conviction for which he has already served three times the sentence promised to him by the dishonest Los Angeles Court,” reads paperwork obtained by Deadline.
Polanski pled guilty to statutory rape 40 years ago. After serving 42 days in prison, he was about to accept a plea bargain that...
“Roman Polanski, a dual citizen of France and Poland, who has litigated with Jackie Lacey in the courts of three countries, should not be subject to a worldwide arrest warrant based on a conviction for which he has already served three times the sentence promised to him by the dishonest Los Angeles Court,” reads paperwork obtained by Deadline.
Polanski pled guilty to statutory rape 40 years ago. After serving 42 days in prison, he was about to accept a plea bargain that...
- 6/3/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
As this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival winds down, one of its most heated debates is still warming up: how the fest will (or won’t) adapt to the streaming age.
It was announced recently that Cannes will no longer screen movies that don’t receive theatrical releases in France, meaning Netflix titles like Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” won’t make the cut next time around. Roman Polanski has weighed in while discussing “Based on a True Story,” arguing that the streaming giant and its ilk “don’t pose a basic threat” to the theatrical experience.
Read More: ‘Based on a True Story’ Review: Roman Polanski’s Latest Doesn’t Meet High Expectations — Cannes
“People want to go to the movies not because of better sound, projection, or seats, but because they want to participate in an experience with an audience around,” said Polanski during the press conference for his new film,...
It was announced recently that Cannes will no longer screen movies that don’t receive theatrical releases in France, meaning Netflix titles like Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” won’t make the cut next time around. Roman Polanski has weighed in while discussing “Based on a True Story,” arguing that the streaming giant and its ilk “don’t pose a basic threat” to the theatrical experience.
Read More: ‘Based on a True Story’ Review: Roman Polanski’s Latest Doesn’t Meet High Expectations — Cannes
“People want to go to the movies not because of better sound, projection, or seats, but because they want to participate in an experience with an audience around,” said Polanski during the press conference for his new film,...
- 5/27/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Though Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section is technically a non-competitive one, each year, various partners and sponsors of the slate give out awards to a number of films that screen in the well-regarded section. If you’re looking to catch up on the next big thing to come out of the festival, these awards offer a smart look at exactly that (with a few well-known names, too, just for good measure).
This year’s winners include a number of very buzzy titles, including Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider” (which was recently picked up by Sony Pictures Classics), Claire Denis’ Juliette Binoche-starring “Let the Sunshine In” (picked up at the festival by Sundance Selects), along with Philippe Garrel’s “Lover For a Day” and Jonas Carpignano’s “A Ciambra” (which was also bought by Sundance Selects at the fest).
Read More: Cannes 2017 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Purchases
Check out...
This year’s winners include a number of very buzzy titles, including Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider” (which was recently picked up by Sony Pictures Classics), Claire Denis’ Juliette Binoche-starring “Let the Sunshine In” (picked up at the festival by Sundance Selects), along with Philippe Garrel’s “Lover For a Day” and Jonas Carpignano’s “A Ciambra” (which was also bought by Sundance Selects at the fest).
Read More: Cannes 2017 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Purchases
Check out...
- 5/26/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Read More: Cannes Critics Week Awards: ‘Makala,’ ‘Gabriel and the Mountain’ Take Top Honors
The Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury headed by Cristian Mungiu and including Clotilde Hesme, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Barry Jenkins and Eric Khoo has awarded the 2017 Cinéfondation Prizes during a ceremony held in the Buñuel Theatre, followed by the screening of the winning films. The winners are:
First Prize
“Paul Est Là” (“Paul Is Here”)
Directed by Valentina Maurel
The Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle (Insas), Belgium
Second Prize
“Heyvan” (“Animal”)
Directed by Bahram Ark and Bahman Ark
Iranian National School of Cinema, Iran
Third Prize
“Deux Égarés Sont Morts” (“Two Youths Died”)
Directed by Tommaso Usberti
La Fémis, France
The Cinéfondation allocates a €15,000 grant for the first prize, €11,250 for the second and €7,500 for the third. The winner of the first prize is also guaranteed the presentation of his or her first feature film at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury headed by Cristian Mungiu and including Clotilde Hesme, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Barry Jenkins and Eric Khoo has awarded the 2017 Cinéfondation Prizes during a ceremony held in the Buñuel Theatre, followed by the screening of the winning films. The winners are:
First Prize
“Paul Est Là” (“Paul Is Here”)
Directed by Valentina Maurel
The Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle (Insas), Belgium
Second Prize
“Heyvan” (“Animal”)
Directed by Bahram Ark and Bahman Ark
Iranian National School of Cinema, Iran
Third Prize
“Deux Égarés Sont Morts” (“Two Youths Died”)
Directed by Tommaso Usberti
La Fémis, France
The Cinéfondation allocates a €15,000 grant for the first prize, €11,250 for the second and €7,500 for the third. The winner of the first prize is also guaranteed the presentation of his or her first feature film at the Cannes Film Festival.
- 5/26/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
"You, apparently, are all I want for Christmas."
Update: THR is giving a conflicting report, stating that Mariah Carey will actually be playing Gotham's mayor, not Commissioner Gordon. No word yet on which report is correct, but considering how familiar audiences are with the character of Gordon, it would make more sense if they cast a male actor.
Looks like that Lego Batman Movie, the DC-oriented spinoff of The Lego Movie, is going to put an interesting spin on the iconic character of Police Commissioner James Gordon. For this kid-friendly caper, the production has swapped the gender of the good ol' Commish, and we now know who will be voicing the character. It sounds like Gordon's going to have a hell of a set of pipes, because she'll be voiced by Mariah Carey.
The multi-platinum recording artist has apparently signed on to bring Commission Gordon to life. No word yet...
Update: THR is giving a conflicting report, stating that Mariah Carey will actually be playing Gotham's mayor, not Commissioner Gordon. No word yet on which report is correct, but considering how familiar audiences are with the character of Gordon, it would make more sense if they cast a male actor.
Looks like that Lego Batman Movie, the DC-oriented spinoff of The Lego Movie, is going to put an interesting spin on the iconic character of Police Commissioner James Gordon. For this kid-friendly caper, the production has swapped the gender of the good ol' Commish, and we now know who will be voicing the character. It sounds like Gordon's going to have a hell of a set of pipes, because she'll be voiced by Mariah Carey.
The multi-platinum recording artist has apparently signed on to bring Commission Gordon to life. No word yet...
- 11/10/2015
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
“I think like any genre, the movies have to be good and you have to keep the audience engaged. One of the things that we’re doing when we’re bringing together the DC Justice League Universe is we’re creating not only stories that work for the individual film but they have some resonance to the other films that we’re doing. And I’m hoping that what’s also gonna keep the interest very keen is we’re telling hopefully compelling stories. I mean, one of the great things about dealing with superheroes in general, at least from our standpoint, is they’re both inspirational and aspirational characters, so you’re hoping that the audience is gonna want to be like some of them but you’re also hoping that the audience can relate to some of them, that if we make their stories compelling and relatable, interesting and emotional,...
- 11/10/2015
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
Diesel in 'xXx'
Vin Diesel loves using his personal Facebook page to discuss upcoming projects, and to hype them directly to his rabid fan base. Yesterday, he posted a video that included updates on his upcoming slate of films.
In the video, he says he was blessed to receive "three great new" scripts this weekend. The first one he addresses is the script for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. He says he read it on Saturday and "was kind of blown away by" it. "One of the great things about this script is how much fun it is," Diesel says. He describes it as "an extreme sports take on the spy genre." He also says he relishes how much fun the character of Xander Cage is for him to play. He doesn't have to go dark, or go troubled. Cage is just a blast, according to the actor.
He...
Vin Diesel loves using his personal Facebook page to discuss upcoming projects, and to hype them directly to his rabid fan base. Yesterday, he posted a video that included updates on his upcoming slate of films.
In the video, he says he was blessed to receive "three great new" scripts this weekend. The first one he addresses is the script for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. He says he read it on Saturday and "was kind of blown away by" it. "One of the great things about this script is how much fun it is," Diesel says. He describes it as "an extreme sports take on the spy genre." He also says he relishes how much fun the character of Xander Cage is for him to play. He doesn't have to go dark, or go troubled. Cage is just a blast, according to the actor.
He...
- 11/9/2015
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
Next year's Captain America: Civil War has the potential to be The Avengers 2.5. What was originally thought of as Captain America III when it was announced last year, has been revealed to be a massive entry in Marvel's Cinematic Universe. With several established characters crossing over into Captain America's film, and several new players in Marvel's sprawling world of superheroes being introduced, Civil War promises to be anything but "just another sequel." As such, fans have been clamoring for a trailer, and it sounds like the wait for one may soon come to an end.
Word on the street is that Marvel has been holding the trailer for the film, which opens in just six months, in order to attach it to the release of their franchise sibling Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18th. LucasFilm and Marvel Studios are both the properties of parent company Disney,...
Word on the street is that Marvel has been holding the trailer for the film, which opens in just six months, in order to attach it to the release of their franchise sibling Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18th. LucasFilm and Marvel Studios are both the properties of parent company Disney,...
- 11/9/2015
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
Boy, oh boy. Lots of movies bomb. Lots of blockbuster productions come out and quickly vanish. Lots of great ideas get misfired. Lots of terrible ideas come out, and are confirmed to be terrible. These things happen all the time. What doesn't typically happen is when the folks involved with those productions each takes turns taking a dump on them. In the months since Fantastic Four was released, the film's director and members of the cast like Kate Mara, have publicly thrown shade on Fox's failed reboot. Well, now we can add Doctor Doom into the mix.
Actor Toby Kebbell, who played the seminal Fantastic Four villain, gave a frank assessment on what was at stake for him in a chat with IGN. He started by stating that he absolutely agrees with the fan base, who thrashed the film when it came out this summer.
"I was disappointed, but the fans aren’t wrong.
Actor Toby Kebbell, who played the seminal Fantastic Four villain, gave a frank assessment on what was at stake for him in a chat with IGN. He started by stating that he absolutely agrees with the fan base, who thrashed the film when it came out this summer.
"I was disappointed, but the fans aren’t wrong.
- 11/9/2015
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
CBS is getting set to launch its TV adaptation of the successful buddy action franchise Rush Hour. The original films starred international superstar Jackie Chan and Chris "I Only Do Rush Hour Movies" Tucker, as a pair of mismatched cops. While I can't speak for the sequels, since I didn't see them, I know the first one was plenty of fun. It also co-starred Elizabeth Peña, so I was a bit biased. The films cost $263 total, and pulled in a cumulative haul of about $850 million for New Line. They also made Brett Ratner a Hollywood entity, so we can thank them for that.
Now Ratner is working on this series as a producer, and it looks like the series is going to closely follow the blueprint he created for the films. You can see for yourself with this special sneak preview below:
Based on the preview, it's clear that this...
Now Ratner is working on this series as a producer, and it looks like the series is going to closely follow the blueprint he created for the films. You can see for yourself with this special sneak preview below:
Based on the preview, it's clear that this...
- 11/5/2015
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
wwe.com
Mixtapes were an integral part of the teenage years of anyone born in the pre-MP3 world. Deliberating over which songs to choose and what order to put them in, the planning and construction of the tape was almost as enjoyable as the listening. High expectations and excitable standards often led to the end product not being as flawless as one would hope, but that just meant putting more effort into the next one.
The idea of a mixtape doesn’t need to be confined to the audio world however. Why not make a hypothetical mixtape of wrestling matches? Take one event, in this case Night of Champions, and construct a card from the history of the show, featuring wrestlers and championships once only. The idea is simple and brief, the conversations that come from it endless and complex.
This year’s Night of Champions is the 9th edition,...
Mixtapes were an integral part of the teenage years of anyone born in the pre-MP3 world. Deliberating over which songs to choose and what order to put them in, the planning and construction of the tape was almost as enjoyable as the listening. High expectations and excitable standards often led to the end product not being as flawless as one would hope, but that just meant putting more effort into the next one.
The idea of a mixtape doesn’t need to be confined to the audio world however. Why not make a hypothetical mixtape of wrestling matches? Take one event, in this case Night of Champions, and construct a card from the history of the show, featuring wrestlers and championships once only. The idea is simple and brief, the conversations that come from it endless and complex.
This year’s Night of Champions is the 9th edition,...
- 9/20/2015
- by John Bills
- Obsessed with Film
Firefly, Season 1, Episode 5, “Safe”
Written by Drew Z. Greenberg
Directed by Michael Grossman
Aired November 8th, 2002 on Fox
Welcome to Sound on Sight’s summer look back at Firefly, the beloved yet short-lived series that aired on Fox during the 2002-2003 TV season. Every Thursday, we will revisit an episode at a time of the show’s one and only season, in the order that they were meant to be seen. The correct sequence is accurately reflected on most, if not all, streaming services that currently have the show, but for those watching via other methods, the accurate order can be found here. Now, without further ado, time to spend some time with the most entertaining group of grifters in The ‘Verse.
After all of the build up and little moments between Simon and River Tam, the episode where their relationship is finally front and center arrives. Unfortunately, the episode...
Written by Drew Z. Greenberg
Directed by Michael Grossman
Aired November 8th, 2002 on Fox
Welcome to Sound on Sight’s summer look back at Firefly, the beloved yet short-lived series that aired on Fox during the 2002-2003 TV season. Every Thursday, we will revisit an episode at a time of the show’s one and only season, in the order that they were meant to be seen. The correct sequence is accurately reflected on most, if not all, streaming services that currently have the show, but for those watching via other methods, the accurate order can be found here. Now, without further ado, time to spend some time with the most entertaining group of grifters in The ‘Verse.
After all of the build up and little moments between Simon and River Tam, the episode where their relationship is finally front and center arrives. Unfortunately, the episode...
- 7/10/2015
- by Whitney McIntosh
- SoundOnSight
That Birdman teaser was so mesmerizing that my brain had no room for other new trailers. I was putting my fingers in my ears lalalaicanthearyou when new trailers arrived to maintain the high. High expectations much? (yikes). But it's time to come down from that teasing cloud and do a quick scan of what we've missed this past week.
Reese & Corey in The Good Lie. Is this an offensive "white savior to unfortunate blacks" movie?
Herewith three trailers that have dropped with Tom Hardy as a bartender in trouble, Reese Witherspoon as a job counsellor (?) to Sudanese refugees, and two acclaimed Roberts, Duvall and Downey Jr, squaring off as an estranged father/son who are brought together by a funeral and then a murder investigation. The trailers and brief Yes No Maybe So breakdowns are after the jump...
Reese & Corey in The Good Lie. Is this an offensive "white savior to unfortunate blacks" movie?
Herewith three trailers that have dropped with Tom Hardy as a bartender in trouble, Reese Witherspoon as a job counsellor (?) to Sudanese refugees, and two acclaimed Roberts, Duvall and Downey Jr, squaring off as an estranged father/son who are brought together by a funeral and then a murder investigation. The trailers and brief Yes No Maybe So breakdowns are after the jump...
- 6/24/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
A sitcom advertising a high-profile guest star is like a baseball player prophesying a home run by pointing his bat towards the outfield bleachers. The pressure is on because everyone knows he’ll be swinging for the fences. It grabs the viewers’ attention for sure, but it also raises their standards. There’s little more disappointing than an overhyped guest appearance that swings and misses. Cameos are the New Year’s Eve of television. High expectations; enormous potential for failure. Given the stakes, I was a little worried about Prince’s post-Super Bowl New Girl appearance.First off, what could be written about Prince that is more hilarious than his real life? Prince has already given us fodder for a classic Chappelle’s Show sketch. And he completely renovated the home he rented from NBA player Carlos Boozer, adding a hair salon and turning a fountain purple Before Changing It Back When He Moved Out.
- 2/3/2014
- by Josh Gondelman
- Vulture
Warner Bros. Pictures
High expectations can make or break an artist, and no higher expectations exist for a creator than to helm a Hollywood blockbuster. While some artists thrive on ballooning budgets, busted deadlines and the boundaries of their sanity (ask Francis Ford Coppola), others crumble beneath the weight of all that mounting pressure. And do I mean pressure.
One need look no further than the journalistic lambasting that surrounded nearly every aspect of 2013′s The Lone Ranger (which wasn’t nearly as bad as everyone wanted you to think it was). In my opinion, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer never even stood a chance, and they’re seasoned Hollywood vets.
So what about the newcomers? Every year and in seemingly greater numbers, fresh-faced directors used to handling small budgets on small projects are being handed the reins of massive franchise-hopefuls or highly-anticipated sequels and reboots. And even...
High expectations can make or break an artist, and no higher expectations exist for a creator than to helm a Hollywood blockbuster. While some artists thrive on ballooning budgets, busted deadlines and the boundaries of their sanity (ask Francis Ford Coppola), others crumble beneath the weight of all that mounting pressure. And do I mean pressure.
One need look no further than the journalistic lambasting that surrounded nearly every aspect of 2013′s The Lone Ranger (which wasn’t nearly as bad as everyone wanted you to think it was). In my opinion, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer never even stood a chance, and they’re seasoned Hollywood vets.
So what about the newcomers? Every year and in seemingly greater numbers, fresh-faced directors used to handling small budgets on small projects are being handed the reins of massive franchise-hopefuls or highly-anticipated sequels and reboots. And even...
- 1/10/2014
- by G.Y. Haney
- Obsessed with Film
In the run up to its release, I was absolutely champing at the bit to see "Submarine," the debut feature from British comedian Richard Ayoade. I'd been a huge fan of the comic's breakthrough work on "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace," the buzz was electric, it appeared to tick all the right boxes in terms of influences, and had a distinctive visual look. And yet when it came to actually seeing the thing, even after loving the first half-hour or so, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. High expectations probably played a part, but ultimately, Ayoade was perhaps a little too in thrall to his influences, and the source material wasn't quite strong enough to make it the classic coming-of-age tale I'd hoped it might be. Three years on, and Ayoade's back with "The Double," [B-] a loose adaptation of the Dostoevsky tale co-written with Harmony Korine's brother Avi.
- 10/15/2013
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Beijing (AP) — Television audiences across China watched an anarchist antihero rebel against a totalitarian government and persuade the people to rule themselves. Soon the Internet was crackling with quotes of "V for Vendetta's" famous line: "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
The airing of the movie Friday night on China Central Television stunned viewers and raised hopes that China is loosening censorship.
"V for Vendetta" never appeared in Chinese theaters, but it is unclear whether it was ever banned. An article on the Communist Party's People's Daily website says it was previously prohibited from broadcast, but the spokesman for the agency that approves movies said he was not aware of any ban.
Some commentators and bloggers think the broadcast could be CCTV producers pushing the envelope of censorship, or another sign that the ruling Communist Party's newly installed leader, Xi Jinping,...
The airing of the movie Friday night on China Central Television stunned viewers and raised hopes that China is loosening censorship.
"V for Vendetta" never appeared in Chinese theaters, but it is unclear whether it was ever banned. An article on the Communist Party's People's Daily website says it was previously prohibited from broadcast, but the spokesman for the agency that approves movies said he was not aware of any ban.
Some commentators and bloggers think the broadcast could be CCTV producers pushing the envelope of censorship, or another sign that the ruling Communist Party's newly installed leader, Xi Jinping,...
- 12/20/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
The NAACP Image Awards have announced the nominees for their 44th annual awards show during a live press conference from the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, CA. Anthony Anderson (Guys with Kids), Niecy Nash (The Soul Man), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Garcelle Beauvais (Flight), Tyler James Williams (Go On), and Zendaya (Shake It Up!) announced the categories and nominees.
The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced during the two-hour star-studded event, which will air live on Friday, February 1 (8 Et live/Pt tape-delayed) on NBC.
Following is the list of categories and nominees for the 44Th NAACP Image Awards:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
"Glee" (Fox)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
"The Game" (Bet)
"The Mindy Project" (Fox)
"The Soul Man" (TV...
The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced during the two-hour star-studded event, which will air live on Friday, February 1 (8 Et live/Pt tape-delayed) on NBC.
Following is the list of categories and nominees for the 44Th NAACP Image Awards:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
"Glee" (Fox)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
"The Game" (Bet)
"The Mindy Project" (Fox)
"The Soul Man" (TV...
- 12/11/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Thanks in large part to its Shonda Rhimes-helmed dramas, ABC leads this year’s NAACP Image Awards nominations.
The Alphabet Net scored 20 nods, including two in the Outstanding Drama Series category for Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy. Scandal leading lady Kerry Washington and Grey’s Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh also received lead actress nominations, while Loretta Devine was recognized for her supporting role. Both Rhimes series also nabbed writing nominations.
Related | Grey’s Anatomy Boss Shonda Rhimes Breaks Silence on Katherine Heigl Kerfuffle: ‘It Stung’
Also of note:
• HBO’s Treme earned four nominations: Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding...
The Alphabet Net scored 20 nods, including two in the Outstanding Drama Series category for Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy. Scandal leading lady Kerry Washington and Grey’s Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh also received lead actress nominations, while Loretta Devine was recognized for her supporting role. Both Rhimes series also nabbed writing nominations.
Related | Grey’s Anatomy Boss Shonda Rhimes Breaks Silence on Katherine Heigl Kerfuffle: ‘It Stung’
Also of note:
• HBO’s Treme earned four nominations: Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding...
- 12/11/2012
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
Looks like the Rihanna Plane was worth it: The singer has notched her first No. 1 album on the Billboard Hot 200. "Unapologetic," RiRi's seventh disc, sold 238,000 copies in its first week.
Though it's certainly an accomplishment worth celebrating, that's a pretty meager number. Consider this: Taylor Swift sold 1.2 million copies of "Red" when she topped the chart in October, and Mumford & Sons moved 600,000 units in its first week.
Rihanna's achievement comes in the wake of her 777 Tour, a week-long sprint that took the singer to seven countries. Roc Nation and Def Jam filled the singer's chartered plane (a Boeing 777, naturally) with journalists and fans. High expectations were deflated when Rihanna's on-board appearances were kept at a minimum, but the press clearly didn't hurt her sales.
It's also curious that "Unapologetic" is Rihanna's first album to top the charts, as her label only released one single in the lead up to the drop date.
Though it's certainly an accomplishment worth celebrating, that's a pretty meager number. Consider this: Taylor Swift sold 1.2 million copies of "Red" when she topped the chart in October, and Mumford & Sons moved 600,000 units in its first week.
Rihanna's achievement comes in the wake of her 777 Tour, a week-long sprint that took the singer to seven countries. Roc Nation and Def Jam filled the singer's chartered plane (a Boeing 777, naturally) with journalists and fans. High expectations were deflated when Rihanna's on-board appearances were kept at a minimum, but the press clearly didn't hurt her sales.
It's also curious that "Unapologetic" is Rihanna's first album to top the charts, as her label only released one single in the lead up to the drop date.
- 11/28/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Two-thousand-double-one came in with the roar of Tiger Mommy and the tragic devastation of Japan’s tsunami. As it continued, the NBA waved farewell to Yao Ming, Gary Locke took a plane to Beijing — and Asians in the library made their cell phones ring. As 2012 begins, here are Tao Jones’s picks for the best, the worst and the most memorable events, individuals and phenomena of the year that was.
People of the Year: Angry men and brainy girls, diplomats,...
People of the Year: Angry men and brainy girls, diplomats,...
- 12/31/2011
- by Jeff Yang
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Feisty playwright best known for her ground-breaking debut, A Taste of Honey
Shelagh Delaney was 18 when she wrote A Taste of Honey, one of the defining plays of the 1950s working-class and feminist cultural movements. The play's group of dysfunctional characters, utterly alien to the prevailing middle-class "anyone for tennis?" school of theatre, each explored their chances of attaining a glimpse of happiness. The central character, a young girl named Jo, lives in a decrepit flat in Salford with her mother, who is apt to wander off in pursuit of men with money. Jo becomes pregnant by a black sailor and is cared for by Geoffrey, a young gay friend, until her mother ousts him in what could be a burst of suppressed maternal love or a display of jealous control-freakery.
Delaney, who has died of cancer aged 71, had to endure harsh criticism for her attack on the orthodoxies of the period.
Shelagh Delaney was 18 when she wrote A Taste of Honey, one of the defining plays of the 1950s working-class and feminist cultural movements. The play's group of dysfunctional characters, utterly alien to the prevailing middle-class "anyone for tennis?" school of theatre, each explored their chances of attaining a glimpse of happiness. The central character, a young girl named Jo, lives in a decrepit flat in Salford with her mother, who is apt to wander off in pursuit of men with money. Jo becomes pregnant by a black sailor and is cared for by Geoffrey, a young gay friend, until her mother ousts him in what could be a burst of suppressed maternal love or a display of jealous control-freakery.
Delaney, who has died of cancer aged 71, had to endure harsh criticism for her attack on the orthodoxies of the period.
- 11/22/2011
- by Dennis Barker
- The Guardian - Film News
Takashi Shimizu's ('Ju-on', 'The Grudge') new airborne horror flick '7500' (Aka 'Flight 7500') is slowly but surely building its manifest. The CBS Films project, currently in pre-production, already has a trio of mile-high stars set up in the form of Ryan Kwanten ('True Blood'), Amy Smart ('Mirrors') and Leslie Bibb ('Trick 'r Treat'). But CBS are reporting on another foursome joining the cast and well...it's a lovely bunch of hotties boarding the flight into the supernatural. Jamie Chung ('Sorority Row', 'Sucker Punch'), Christian Serratos ('The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1'), Scout Taylor-Compton ('Halloween') and sexy Aussie model Nicky Whelan (who thankfully got topless in comedy fare 'Hall Pass') are all signed up and ready to board the project which we have High expectations for. The...
- 11/7/2011
- Horror Asylum
Bob Krasner John Grisham
John Grisham isn’t sure that there will be another John Grisham.
The bestselling author, who recently published a new novel called “The Litigators,” says that his early success was driven, in part, by word-of-mouth in brick-and-mortar bookstores. With many such stores closing down in the face of the e-book revolution, he says things have changed.
“Spreading the word on a good book may be more difficult without the bookstores,” Grisham said in a recent interview in New York City.
John Grisham isn’t sure that there will be another John Grisham.
The bestselling author, who recently published a new novel called “The Litigators,” says that his early success was driven, in part, by word-of-mouth in brick-and-mortar bookstores. With many such stores closing down in the face of the e-book revolution, he says things have changed.
“Spreading the word on a good book may be more difficult without the bookstores,” Grisham said in a recent interview in New York City.
- 11/3/2011
- by Christopher John Farley
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Talking to The Triangle, Chris Evans has revealed more about how he feels donning the iconic suit and becoming one of Marvel's greatest superheroes on the big screen this Summer. Below are a few of the most interesting excerpts, but you can read a lot more by clicking on the link below to hear on over to the site. On Living Up To High Expectations From The Fans: At the end of the day, you’re making the movie for the fans. These movies wouldn’t get made if there wasn’t a built-in fanbase. They just wouldn’t. So at the end of the day, your loyalty is to the people who are passionate about these comic books, so you want to make sure that they’re happy, first and foremost. On Hugo Weaving's Red Skull: Hugo has a presence. You know, it’s his face; it’s...
- 6/3/2011
- ComicBookMovie.com
Title: Sucker Punch Directed By: Zack Snyder Starring: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn High expectations can be a killer. Unfortunately for director Zack Snyder, he works extra hard to insert an insanely high outlook into every single thing that he does and lately, it seems to backfire big time. His brain is geared towards directing and visuals and that doesn’t serve him well as a writer. Whereas the basic concept of Sucker Punch combined with Snyder’s keen eye for the visually incredible had immense prospects, it diluted the script. Spectacular imagery without a sensible and engaging story isn’t a film, [...]...
- 3/25/2011
- by Perri Nemiroff
- ShockYa
Welcome back, Upper East Siders, to another edition of Tvf's Gossip Girl Round Table, where our panel reflects on the events of Monday's episode, "Touch of Eva."
Below, Gossip Guy and Mister Meester and critic-in-chief DANdy take on topics ranging from Danessa and Juliet's agenda to Eva's exit and the upcoming war ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. What was your favorite Gossip Girl quote from last night?
Gossip Guy: Haha, Bassian bubble.
Mister Meester: The obvious: "So you did it just to hurt me. Eva made me into someone I was proud to be. You just brought back my worst self. This means war, Blair ... Me versus you. No limits." The less obvious: "You were just so easy in Paris." Too good.
DANdy: Serena turning Blair's name into a verb. Who among us hasn't been tempted to go off Blair Waldorfing at times?
2. Eva plot hole of the night: Dan finding out her past via Google search,...
Below, Gossip Guy and Mister Meester and critic-in-chief DANdy take on topics ranging from Danessa and Juliet's agenda to Eva's exit and the upcoming war ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. What was your favorite Gossip Girl quote from last night?
Gossip Guy: Haha, Bassian bubble.
Mister Meester: The obvious: "So you did it just to hurt me. Eva made me into someone I was proud to be. You just brought back my worst self. This means war, Blair ... Me versus you. No limits." The less obvious: "You were just so easy in Paris." Too good.
DANdy: Serena turning Blair's name into a verb. Who among us hasn't been tempted to go off Blair Waldorfing at times?
2. Eva plot hole of the night: Dan finding out her past via Google search,...
- 10/5/2010
- by steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs)
- TVfanatic
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Iron Man 2 is rushing madly to theaters and with only a week to go, reviews are already spilling out onto the Internet. Most interesting, perhaps, is that no two reviews are alike here, ranging from laudatory and effusive to downright harsh. After checking out Ugo's own review, read on for a laundry list of reviews currently padding out Iron Man 2's standing on the Tomatometer!
IGN
The filmmakers' loose style of making the Iron Man films may be too evident at times, especially during the aforementioned sequence. Steven Soderbergh may be able to wing it in the Ocean's films, but that's a dangerous method for a movie like Iron Man 2 to adopt. I understand wanting to maintain a similar breezy tone to the relatively happy-go-lucky original film, but in a story such as this -- with so many subplots and spin-off...
IGN
The filmmakers' loose style of making the Iron Man films may be too evident at times, especially during the aforementioned sequence. Steven Soderbergh may be able to wing it in the Ocean's films, but that's a dangerous method for a movie like Iron Man 2 to adopt. I understand wanting to maintain a similar breezy tone to the relatively happy-go-lucky original film, but in a story such as this -- with so many subplots and spin-off...
- 4/30/2010
- UGO Movies
MTV News also caught up with Kirsten Dunst back in 2001 before the franchise was launched.
By Eric Ditzian
Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in 2001
Photo: MTV News
Well before a rebooted "Spider-Man" hits theaters in 2012, we'll get a chance to meet a brand-new Peter Parker — some lucky actor plucked to replace Tobey Maguire now that the 34-year-old and director Sam Raimi have been jettisoned from the franchise. As MTV News plays its own game of Cast That Arachnid — Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Jesse Eisenberg? — we took a look back at the time when we first met Maguire in his Spidey world.
It was January 2001, and production on Sam Raimi's film was about to begin in Culver City, California. MTV was there to chat with the cast and the director at a moment when comic book movies were beginning to return to their fanboy roots after years of schlocky "Batman" and "Superman" flicks.
By Eric Ditzian
Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in 2001
Photo: MTV News
Well before a rebooted "Spider-Man" hits theaters in 2012, we'll get a chance to meet a brand-new Peter Parker — some lucky actor plucked to replace Tobey Maguire now that the 34-year-old and director Sam Raimi have been jettisoned from the franchise. As MTV News plays its own game of Cast That Arachnid — Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Jesse Eisenberg? — we took a look back at the time when we first met Maguire in his Spidey world.
It was January 2001, and production on Sam Raimi's film was about to begin in Culver City, California. MTV was there to chat with the cast and the director at a moment when comic book movies were beginning to return to their fanboy roots after years of schlocky "Batman" and "Superman" flicks.
- 1/13/2010
- MTV Movie News
Chicago – Premiere episodes of ensemble shows like NBC’s nearly-great “Southland” can be a tough nut to crack. How do you interested viewers in a dozen characters in 44 minutes, give them a resolved plot in that same window of time, and intrigue them enough to come back next week? “Southland” expertly does all three. It’s the best new show of 2009.
Television Rating: 4.0/5.0 The saddest thing I thought while watching “Southland” was that it doesn’t feel like an NBC show. The network that was once so vital to the television dramatic writing picture with shows like “St. Elsewhere,” “L.A. Law,” and “ER” has completely fallen behind the pace, giving five hours of primetime a week to Jay Leno this fall.
Southland
Photo credit: Richard Foreman/NBC “Southland” doesn’t quite feel as much like a show of the prime era of NBC as it does a part of...
Television Rating: 4.0/5.0 The saddest thing I thought while watching “Southland” was that it doesn’t feel like an NBC show. The network that was once so vital to the television dramatic writing picture with shows like “St. Elsewhere,” “L.A. Law,” and “ER” has completely fallen behind the pace, giving five hours of primetime a week to Jay Leno this fall.
Southland
Photo credit: Richard Foreman/NBC “Southland” doesn’t quite feel as much like a show of the prime era of NBC as it does a part of...
- 4/9/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
From its opening moments, Feel.Love.Thinking.Of. presents a band reborn. Faunts’ last album (2005’s High Expectations/Low Results) found the Edmonton quartet churning out pastoral post-rock at a glacial pace. By contrast, this record’s titular opener re-imagines Jimmy Eat World as fey electro-pop, and ends with the beat from Gloria Estefan’s “Conga.” In case there’s any ambiguity, those aren’t favorable comparisons. Still, not everything about Faunts 2.0 is a bizarro backpedal. The second song, “Input,” offers expertly conceived folk draped over slow-building downtempo, and track four, “Out On A Limb,” combines grinding ...
- 3/3/2009
- avclub.com
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