The Clinton on-stage appearance was kept very hushed to maintain the surprise. Also in Monday's round-up of news, Zero Dark Thirty tops the weekend's box office as it headed into wide release; the Golden Globes had their best ratings in years; the Berlin International Film Festival sets its co-production market; and Robert DeNiro will receive honors at an Italian festival ahead of the Oscars. more »
Even as the current Texas Chainsaw rises to the top of the box office, a fourth installment is in the offing. Also in Wednesday's round-up of news briefs, Tina Fey is in talks for the Muppets sequel; anti-torture protesters greet Zero Dark Thirty D.C. premiere; Biden is bringing in industry to talk violence ahead of possible gun policy changes; and Jeffersons doorman Ned Wertimer dies. more »
Sony Pictures Classics took North American rights to the latest film by Woody Allen, starring Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Bobby Cannavale and more. Also in Tuesday's news round-up, Australia's Academy picks its nominees just two days before the Oscar noms; the Domestic Box Office hits a record; Mark Romanek is exiting Cinderella; and R.I.P. director David R. Ellis. more »
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is likely to win four weekends in a row at the box office. Also in Friday's round-up of news, Ashton Kutcher's Steve Jobs pic jOBS will head to theaters months after its Sundance debut; Kickstarter passes $100 million pledge mark; Michael Haneke withdraws Amour from an awards race; and a look at weekend expansions among the Specialties. more »
The film starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio is riddled with the N-word, but that has not turned off African American audiences. Also in Thursday's news round-up, the Senate Intelligence Committee is set to investigate CIA contacts with the Zero Dark Thirty filmmakers; DiCaprio is headed for Santa Barbara fest honors; and John Turturro doc will bow NYC non-fiction series. more »
The 23rd installment of James Bond became one of only a little over a dozen to score $1 billion worldwide. Also in Wednesday's round-up of news, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey crossed a milestone of its own; Silver Linings Playbook snatches European awards; China's Lost in Thailand marks a record at home. more »
The Batman finale was the most watched movie trailer on YouTube, though it actually placed only third overall. Also in Thursday's round-up of news, the Palm Springs International Film Festival sets its lineup including opening and closing titles; Sundance unveiled its competition juries; and release dates are set for Arnold Schwarzenegger's Ten and Paramount's Anchorman sequel. more »
Wong Kar Wai's latest will open the 63rd edition of the Berlinale February 7th out of competition. Also in Wednesday's round-up of news, Angelina Jolie is eyeing her second directorial project for Universal; Jon Voight is eyeing a KGB agent role in an upcoming Ronald Reagan pic; Universal sets a date for Riddick; and the National Film Registry names titles to its list. more »
Michael Haneke's Amour and Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master lead London critics' nominations. Also in Tuesday's news round-up, Toronto critics name their picks for 2012; Richard Gere is among more honorees at the upcoming Palm Springs International Film Festival; Bully is set for Producers Guild honors; and Ricky Gervais is eyeing the Muppets sequel. more »
The film won a number of prizes including Best Picture. Also in Monday's round-up of news, seven films made the Academy's Shortlist of titles competing in the hair and makeup category; Lili Taylor's latest is set for a Berlin premiere; newcomers in the Specialty Box Office opened weak over the weekend; and film critic Karina Longworth is leaving L.A. Weekly.
Silver Linings Playbook Wins 4 Satellite Awards Including Best Picture
David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook took five prizes at the 17th annual Satellite Awards Sunday including Best Picture and best director for Russell and best actor prizes for Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, THR reports.
7 Movies On Makeup Short List
Seven films remain in competition for the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 85th Academy Awards. Hitchcock, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Misérables, Lincoln, Looper, Men in Black 3 and Snow White and the Huntsman made the short list. Three nominees will lead into the Oscar ceremony.
Lili Taylor's The Cold Lands Set for Berlin Premiere
The film by Tom Gilroy will have its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. Also starring John Ventimiglia, the pic revolves around Atticus who flees from authorities after his mother's sudden death into the rugged mountains and dense forests of upstate New York. The feature is part of the initial films announced in the Berlinale's Generation Programme. See the full list of announced titles here.
Any Day Now Soft as Holdovers Hyde Park On Hudson and Silver Linings Playbook Stay Solid Any Day Now bowed in 16 theaters a brave story starring Alan Cumming about a gay couple fighting to retain custody of special needs child they reared. Any Day Now is a brave film and story that earned audience prizes at festivals throughout the year. Unfortunately it did not connect fully with paying audiences in its debut but hopefully its audience will build through word-of-mouth. It averaged only $2,563 per location. More specialty results at Deadline.
Film Critic Karina Longworth Leaves L.A. Weekly
Longworth began at L.A. Weekly replacing Scott Foundas who headed to the Film Society of Lincoln Center. He's returning to Village Voice Media as its critic. She is writing a book about Meryl Streep for Cahiers du Cinema and will freelance, TOH reports.
Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg will switch roles in the follow-up to last year's Tintin. Also in Friday's round-up of news, Lincoln crossed the $100 million mark in the U.S.; The Who is heading to the big screen; Dylan McDermott is headed to a Stephen King pic; and a look at some of the weekend's new Specialty Release newcomers.
Peter Jackson Plans Tintin 2 for 2015
Jackson will begin work on a sequel to last year's feature version of Tintin before he completes his current Hobbit trilogy. Jackson told reporters in Belgium that he would work on the follow up to The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn next year. The first Tintin film was directed by Steven Spielberg with Jackson as producer; Spielberg revealed in February that the Oscar-winning pair would swap roles for its sequel, The Guardian reports.
Lincoln Crosses $100 Million Domestically
Thirty-four days after its initial limited release in 11 theaters, Steve Spielberg's Lincoln crossed the $100 million mark. The feature, starring Daniel Day-Lewis received seven Golden Globe nominations Thursday.
The Who Pic Heads to the Big Screen
Actor Cary Elwes will direct the story of the life and death of Kit Lambert, the rock impresario and manager of The Who, with production set for late spring 2013. Lambert discovered The Who, ironically, when he was trying to make a film about a band, THR reports.
Dylan McDermott Boards Mercy
McDermott has joined the fantasy horror project based on a Stephen King story from the author's Skeleton Crew series. Frances O'Connor, Chandler Riggs and Joel Courtney are also starring with Peter Cornwell directing, Deadline reports.
Weekend Specialty Preview: Any Day Now, Yelling to the Sky, Save the Date, Let Fury Have the Hour
A slew of indie actors have movies opening in the specialty arena this weekend.Alan Cumming has won festival raves for his role in Any Day Now. Zoë Kravitz and Gabourey Sidibe star in Yelling to the Sky, Deadline reports.
Peter Jackson's initial Hobbit is looking to match its Lord of the Rings brethren. Also in Wednesday's news round-up, Joel Edgerton is eyeing to star in next Natalie Portman pic; Andy Samberg is set to take on the Spirit Awards; Top Gun is flying toward IMAX; and Hobbit mock-buster gets a new title.
The Hobbit Tracking for $70 Million Opening
Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey looks like it will take in $70 million-plus at the box office this weekend, putting the 3-D pic on par with the Lord of the Rings franchise. On the same weekend in 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King opened to $72.6 million in North America, THR reports.
Joel Edgerton Eyes Jane Got a Gun
Edgerton is in talks to join the Lynne Ramsey-directed Western action pic Jane Got a Gun, which stars Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender. The film revolves around Jane Hammond (Portman), who reaches out to her ex-lover (Fassbender) to help her when her outlaw husband becomes the target of a violent gang, Deadline reports.
Andy Samberg to Host 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards
The Saturday Night Live veteran will host the 28th annual event in February, which honors the best in the indie film world. The 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards will take place in Santa Monica on February 23rd, LAT reports.
Top Gun Aims for IMAX in 3-D
The 1986 Tom Cruise feature has been remastered in 3-D, which the late director Tony Scott supervised. Top Gun will head back to the big screen for a six-day IMAX engagement beginning February 8th followed by the latest Blu-ray release in a 3D/2D two-disc set coming February 19, Deadline reports.
Age of the Hobbits Set for Cambodian Release Under New Title
Backers of the mock-buster who were stopped by a Federal judge Monday from releasing their film with the title saying it could be confused with Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will now release the pic under the title, The History of Mankind in its native Cambodia, THR reports.
Warner Bros. won its lawsuit against mock-buster Age of the Hobbits. Also in Tuesday's news round-up, Amy Adams will be feted for The Master; Tim Buckley feature is heading to U.S. theaters; Disney will adapt Dolphin pic for a feature; and Gus Van Sant is lending his name for the U.S. release of acclaimed Laurence Anyways.
Warner Bros. Triumphs in Hobbit Mock-buster Case
A federal judge granted Warner Bros., MGM and others a restraining order against mock-buster Age of The Hobbits, saying the victory over Global Asylum's "cynical business model." Global had planned a to release a parallel pic, Age of the Hobbit against Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Deadline reports.
Amy Adams to Receive Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Cinema Vanguard Award
The three-time Oscar-nominated actress will be presented the events's prize January 31st. Adams is a contender for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the wife of a cult leader in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, THR reports.
Greetings From Tim Buckley Heads to U.S. Theaters
Directed by Dan Algrant, the Toronto Film Festival feature explores two generations of musicians, Tim and Jeff Buckley. Penn Badgley plays Jeff Buckley as a young musician who rehearses his public singing debut at a Brooklyn tribute to his father and struggling to come to terms with his legacy with the help of an unlikely woman at the show. While they discover each other and New York City, the film also explores Tim’s (Mr. Rosenfield) 1960s heyday, as he drives cross-country with a girlfriend and finds himself on the verge of stardom. Tribeca Film will distribute the pic with Focus World, a subsidiary of Focus Features.
Disney to Adapt Dolphin Boy Feature
The studio secured rights to the Israeli documentary, which revolves around a teenager from an Arab village in northern Israel who is traumatized from a violent attack and slowly recovers with the help of dolphins. The Bucket List writer Justin Zackham will write the script for Disney, Variety reports.
Gus Van Sant Joins Xavier Dolan's Laurence Anyways in U.S. Release
Van Sant's Promised Land is gathering some Oscar buzz, but he'll lend his name as executive producer to acclaimed young Quebecois filmmaker Xavier Dolan's third Cannes title, Laurence Anyways as it heads out to U.S. screens in 2013. Set in the '90s, Laurence Anyways is the tale of a young couple and the difficult decisions they must face after the man decides to start living his life as a woman.
Kristen Stewart will star opposite Ben Affleck in a con-artist comedy. Also in Monday's round-up of news briefs, a Chinese actor will take up a role in Iron Man 3 as the production heads to Beijing; NY Online Film Critics pick their top film for 2012; and Broken wins top British Independent Film prize.
Kristen Stewart Confirms Focus with Ben Affleck
Stewart says she'll join Ben Affleck in the con-artist comedy Focus. She'll play an inexperienced con artist who meets a more seasoned counterpart, played by Affleck. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa are directing from their script, Deadline reports.
Bradley Cooper to Receive Palm Springs International Film Festival Fete
Silver Linings Playbook" star Bradley Cooper will receive the Desert Palm achievement award for acting at the Palm Springs Film Festival's awards gala. The ceremony will be held Jan. 5 during the 24th edition of the festival taking place January 3 - 14, Variety reports.
China's Wang Xuequi Joins Iron Man 3
Marvel starts filming Iron Man 3 scenes in Beijing and has cast actor Wang Xuequi as a new character, 'Dr. Wu.' It was rumored Hong Kong actor Andy Lau would join the pic as an ally of billionaire inventor Tony Stark, but he backed out, Deadline reports.
NY Film Critics Online Pick Zero Dark Thirty
The New York Film Critics Online gave their kudos to Zero Dark Thirty on Sunday, voting it the year’s best picture and also naming Kathryn Bigelow best director. The film also won an award for Mark Boal’s screenplay, THR reports.
Broken Wins Top British Independent Film Awards Prize Broken, the debut feature by theatre director Rufus Norris, also picked up a best supporting actor prize for Rory Kinnear. Psychological thriller Berberian Sound Studio won the most awards including best director for Peter Strickland and best actor for Toby Jones, BBC reports.
Terrence Howard joins a slew of stars in a cop caper. Also in Friday's round-up of news, the weekend is not shaping up to be a kind one for Playing for Keeps at the box office; James Marsden is strolling toward a Walk of Shame with Elizabeth Banks; Hyde Park On Hudson, In Our Nature and California Solo are among the weekend's Specialty Release newcomers; and Rubberneck & Redflag head to theaters via Tribeca Film.
Terrence Howard Joins Chain Gang in Prisoners
Also starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo, Viola Davis, Maria Bello and Paul Dano, the film follows a small-town carpenter (Jackman) whose daughter and her best friend are abducted. The cops cannot find them and he takes the law into his own hands. In the process, he comes into contact with a detective (Gyllenhaal) who oozes confidence, Deadline reports.
Weekend Box Office Preview: Playing for Keeps Likely a Flop
Gerard Butler's soccer romantic comedy Playing for Keeps with Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Dennis Quaid may only open in the $6 million range, THR reports.
James Marsden Strolling a Walk of Shame
Marsden will join Steven Brill's Walk of Shame with Elizabeth Banks. Banks plays a news anchor who has a wild night out and is locked out on the street without money, phone, ID etc and has a series of misadventures while winding a path to the most important job interview of her life, TOH reports.
Specialty Release Preview: Hyde Park on Hudson, In Our Nature, California Solo & More
Oscar hopeful Hyde Park on Hudson with Bill Murray as Franklin Delano Roosevelt is this weekend’s highest profile debut in the specialty market. There’s also In Our Nature with Jena Malone and John Slattery, and Robert Carlyle headlines California Solo in a role written with him in mind. The late Ernest Borgnine stars in The Man Who Shook The Hand Of Vicente Fernandez in a role that turns the idea of celebrity upside-down, Deadline reports.
Rubberneck and Red Flag Head to Theaters via Tribeca Rubberneck revolves around a workplace obsession gone wrong. Boston scientist Paul lusts after a co-worker and though at first it's polite flirtation at first, things go south when the co-worker begins to date someone else on the job. Red Flag centers on a solipsistic filmmaker takes his independent film on tour. Hoping to escape the pain of his recent breakup. Tribeca Film picked up both films directed by Alex Karpovsky and will be released theatrically in February.
