The indie filmmaking game (as in true-blue, studio-free indie filmmaking) has gotten to a point where even Francis Ford Coppola is following Kevin Smith into the great unknown of out-of-the-box distribution experimentation, but mumblecore vet Joe Swanberg (LOL, Hannah Takes the Stairs) has partnered with independent release label Factory 25 on yet another crazy idea: Selling four-film, one-year subscriptions to his fans for $99.95 a pop, like a film version of artisanal foodstuff and wine club models.
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Though I like arguing on behalf of underrated performers (Melanie Griffith, for example), sometimes it's more fun to commemorate our indisputably great actors. Bill Murray is the ne plus ultra of deadpan comic delivery -- salty as the Dead Sea, dry as Death Valley, and great in almost everything. He's 61 today, which means it's our duty to shine light upon his more underrated moments in movies. What's your pick?
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Happy Wednesday! Also in today's edition of The Broadsheet: Jeremy Renner may be King... Justin Lin ducks out of the flatlining Terminator revamp... Paramount plans to spruce up the joint... The case for Netflix... and more.
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The entertainment world may have been a little shocked earlier this month to learn that Eddie Murphy would be hosting this year's Academy Awards but three-time Oscar host and Murphy's Bowfinger co-star Steve Martin has complete faith in the comedian's statuette-presenting ability. And a few mildly funny words of advice.
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While discussing the presidential biopic that he is gearing up to shoot in Richmond this fall, Steven Spielberg described what he does not want Lincoln to be. The 2012 title will "not [be] a battlefield movie. There are battles in it, and being in Virginia, we have access to those historic battlefields." Additionally, "the movie will be purposely coming out after next year's election. I didn't want it to become political fodder." On the other hand, Lincoln will chronicle "the great work Abraham Lincoln did in the last months of his life." The drama stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th president of the United States alongside Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and John Hawkes. [Orlando Sentinel]
According to a report from insider tipsters, Disney is set to announce that they've licensed the rights to adapt James Cameron's Avatar into a series of theme park rides at Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Florida. The news follows a long battle between Disney and rival amusement parkers Universal Studios for rights to the 20th Century Fox property, but the Avatar-Disney marriage makes good sense for a few reasons or five. Let's help Disney plan the most Na'vi-riffic Avatar experience possible with these proposed attraction ideas!
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Let's hear it for all the readers and Audrey Hepburn devotees who participated in this week's Breakfast at Tiffany's 10-word-review contest in honor of the film's 50th birthday. We've received a deluge of submissions but alas, we could only choose three as winners. Click ahead to see whose witty write-ups earned them a special anniversary Blu-ray edition of the Blake Edwards classic.
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Now, in addition to Goonies, Newsies, Carrie and Rocky, Hollywood is adapting Diner into a Broadway musical. If it works out, Diner could be the next Billy Elliott or Hairspray! And if not, it could be the next Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark. Scheduled for a fall 2012 premiere, the adaptation of Barry Levinson's directorial debut will revive the saga of high school buddies played by Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Tim Daly and Paul Reiser. Oh, and did I mention that Sheryl Crow is involved?
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There's so much worth anticipating in Parker, director Taylor Hackford's adaptation of the famous literary thief created by author Donald Westlake. Honestly, though, if this sighting alone of Jason Statham on-set as the title character -- in full powder-blue suite and 10-gallon hat -- can't coax a down payment on viewing this upon release, then nothing will. (Oh -- and other pics feature some lady named Jennifer Lopez as well.) This and much more Buzz Break ahead.
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It's often said that we get the culture we deserve, and maybe -- judging by the soft reception for Drive and the general post-Venice quietude around next month's The Ides of March -- the adage is true. Why else would Ryan Gosling, one of the most respected screen talents of his generation, publicly contemplate getting out of the business early?
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This week, Breakfast at Tiffany's rings in its 50th birthday. In its honor, Movieline is giving away three special anniversary Blu-ray editions of Blake Edwards's classic starring Audrey Hepburn as cinema's favorite socialite, Holly Golightly. So put on your guest critic hat (or tiara) and join us below for details on how you can win. [UPDATE: The contest is now closed! Thank you to everyone who participated. We will now sort through your submissions and notify you of a winner shortly.]
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Dolores Hope, the 102-year-old widow of Bob Hope, passed away from natural causes on Monday in Los Angeles. An acclaimed singer and devoted philanthropist, Mrs. Hope had spent 69 years married to her husband before his death in 2003 at age 100; she died in the Toluca Lake home the couple bought together in 1940. R.I.P. [NYT]
Happy Tuesday! Also in today's edition of The Broadsheet: Liam Hemsworth is Expendable... The Brits take on screen smoking... The Americans take on the Brits... A True Blood co-star takes on an American crime legend... Michael Winner is somehow still in the news... and more.
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Variety's Showblitz reports that youngster Liam Hemsworth, who gets his biggest break since dating Miley Cyrus in next year's The Hunger Games, has been cast in the sprawling ensemble of The Expendables 2. Wait, you say -- isn't he, like, four or five decades too young for this film? At 21, Hemsworth is quite a bit less wrinkly than his co-stars. Let's start guessing now who he'll play: Sly's son? A flashback version of Jean-Claude Van Damme? Mickey Rourke's bicep? [Variety]
New images and behind the scenes peeks are steadily emerging over at The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's Tumblr Mouth Taped Shut, including a new piece of maybe-poster art for the December 21 thriller. But there's something familiar in the way Daniel Craig's face is split by Rooney Mara's shadowy profile. Was someone over at Sony marketing borrowing from the Apple playbook?
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