The 3-D explosion of the 1950s -- and its re-emergence in the 21st century - had a very specific economic agenda in mind; namely, to get people to stop watching their TVs and to drag themselves out to the movies. But will the new 3-D TVs take away the last special perk that movie theaters have to offer?
Happy Thanksgiving! Or, you know, Happy pre-Thanksgiving. However you want to commemorate the day before our nation's oldest original holiday ritual, remember to count your blessings -- be they loved ones, health, wealth, Anne Hathaway salvaging SNL's season... you name it. They're in your life and in your culture, often interfacing in powerful ways. Let's all gather now to give thanks. The turkey won't get cold, I promise.
Also in this Wednesday edition of The Broadsheet: Harry Potter breaks more records... Google may purchase a royale with cheese... the Brad Pitt-starring Moneyball gets a release date... and more ahead.
A mysterious video from District 9 director Neill Blomkamp popped up in the digital iPad version of WiReD Magazine - and nobody knows what it is! In the clip itself, two guys find a dead monster (or possibly alien), and then a dead something else in the distance. A circular stamp on the side reads: "18.12 AGM Heartland Pat Pend USA." Don't worry, I've tried entering every version of that phrase into a web browser to no avail. Though if anyone is better than me with anagrams and has some other suggestions, chime in. So yes, it could be a promo for Blomkamp's upcoming sci-fi film Elysium...or something else.
Expectations for The Nutcracker in 3-D weren't terribly high to begin with. The film had been shelved for two years, given a reportedly awful 3-D conversion and it's opening against Disney's much-hyped Tangled. But according to the first reviews, it's much worse than all of that. Yes, we're talking about a misguided Holocaust allegory that apparently makes the prison camp in Toy Story 3 look like Neverland. Let's take a look at some of the most scathing, Nazi-themed reactions to the film, which is currently ranking at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The trailer for the latest (and possibly final) Robert Zemeckis-produced motion-capture opus Mars Needs Moms has arrived and, to it's credit, the CGI humans here do not look quite as much like horrifying corpses as they did in The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol. The premise is cute, as far as this sort of thing goes, and some of the space landscapes are rendered beautifully...and yet, more than any other trailer recently, Mars Needs Moms makes me yearn for old-school animation.
· Whoopi Goldberg visited The O'Reilly Factor to discuss his guest-stint on The View a few weeks back -- the one that resulted in Goldberg and Joy Behar walking off the show. The appearance airs tonight on Fox, but you can preview it here. [Deadline]
I'll be there. You'll be there. The glitter-caked hopes of a generation will be there. A drag queen with a "Half-Breed" outfit will be there. But most of all, utter skepticism will be there. I'm talking about tonight's midnight Burlesque premiere, which will raise the stakes on burlesque-themed cinema for weeks to come. To prepare ourselves for the gala at hand, let's line up the 21 biggest questions that need to be answered by tomorrow morning -- when the magic, rouge, and absinthe have faded.
If you're a Dancing with the Stars fan who also believes in black helicopters, this season has been like a dream come true. Movieline has already discussed the Bristol Palin phenomenon -- and DWTS host Tom Bergeron has weighed in with his very own "f*** you" to conspiracy theorists -- but was there something truly sinister behind last night's apparent voting blackout?
On Saturday night, SNL aired a Nasim Pedrad starring sketch called "Camel Tame," a parody commercial on a more effective way to hide unsightly camel toe. Well, touché, SNL, because here comes Funny or Die's "Cameltoe Shows," starring Kelly Brook, which takes the SNL idea and stands it on its head. Instead of hiding cameltoe, the Funny or Die version celebrates it -- makes it more sightly. But wait, aren't these pretty much the same sketches? Did one outlet get the idea from the other?
· Well, here's the best thing you'll see all day: Cookie Monster -- of Sesame Street fame -- wants to host SNL, and he made an audition tape showing just why he should be considered. If you hate cookie jokes, happiness and a spoof of MacGruber called Macarooner, then don't bother clicking ahead to watch. For everyone else, do so, then stick around for more Buzz Break.
Last night, Natalie Portman appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman to plug her new Oscar contender, Black Swan. Over the course of the conversation, Letterman managed to completely embarrass Portman with his constant assertions that Portman is a shoo-in for Best Actress. But after some research, we discovered that Portman, a frequent guest in the Letterman hot-seat, has a way of tickling the talk show host's playfully flirtatious side.
Santa Claus, Hanukkah Harry and the rest don't have anything on Movieline's 2010 Holiday Gift Guide, stacked deeper still with fun staff recommendations for movies, TV shows, books, video games and the occasional mind-control leisure activity. To say nothing of opportunities to dance like Michael Jackson or (attempt to) dress like Greta Garbo. There is literally something here for everyone. Have a browse, and let us know if any of us can help you find anything; we'll be the ones wearing name tags and reindeer antlers.
Chelsea Handler began her campaign to succeed Barbara Walters as television's blondest interviewer with last night's Big Interview Special. The E! special featured conversations with Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway and Christina Aguilera. Only unlike the 86-year-old 20/20 anchor, Handler came off less like your nosy great-aunt, and more like your gabby best friend who wanted to know everything about your sex scenes, gay best friends, Oscar disappointments and bucket bathroom habits. Let's check out the highlights ahead.
A new selection of items can be found in the red-velvet-and-white-plush-trim sack that is Movieline's Gift Guide, including cheapskate craft tips from Amy Sedaris, a dynamite new Rita Hayworth box set, James Franco's pet project, an AT-AT the size of a pony, and the Human Centipede poster that will warm every heart in the house. It's more tasteful than a Lexus with a bow on it, anyway. Go check it out!
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