No matter how brilliant the finished product, there is no way The Hobbit is going to be as great as the hijinks leading up to its production. There was that whole MGM bankruptcy followed by the lack of a director, and this was all before SAG and AFTRA went and got in a funk over casting non-union actors and Peter Jackson's set went up in flames. But now, for the (hopefully) final act, New Zealanders are taking to the streets to fight to keep the film's production in their home country! Hopefully a documentary film crew has been following this process.
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Happy Friday! What better way to herald the coming of the weekend than by watching Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart deal with the accidental death of their 4-year-old son in the trailer for Rabbit Hole! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get into the fetal position on my bed.
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As Movieline's Oscar Index has been telling you for weeks, there are two reasons why Made in Dagenham will probably be talked about well into 2011: Sally Hawkins and Miranda Richardson. So does the first trailer for the Nigel Cole film make it clear that this is good, old fashioned Oscar bait?
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Because you were probably watching the NBC Thursday night comedy block -- or maybe Game 5 of the NLCS -- the chances are slim that you remembered to flip over to Comedy Central for Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert for Autism Education. And too bad, since the sight of Chris Rock and Tracy Morgan singing the Simon & Garfunkel classic "Scarborough Fair" was probably funnier than anything on 30 Rock, The Office or Community combined. Click ahead to watch the comedians curse out a beleaguered-looking Paul Simon (or "Simon Garfunkel," as Morgan says) and, later, help the iconic singer/songwriter with his Snoop Dogg impersonation. Funniest thing you'll see all day alert, folks.
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Unknown looks exactly like the type of the absurd action/conspiracy thriller you'd expect to see during the dregs of early January. The trailer recalls Roman Polanski's Frantic , except with memory loss, explosions and a dozen more car crashes thrown into the mix. But as with Taken, Liam Neeson seems to be anchoring the absurd material with impressive commitment, and the supporting cast, including Frank Langella, Diane Kruger and January Jones, is surprisingly solid as well. That said, there's actually another reason that I'll be seeing this movie opening weekend, trailer aside.
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"I've played many parts," Nicolas Cage told a news gathering today as part of his new duties for the United Nations. "Heroes and villains, lovers and losers, and yes, criminals and crimefighters. But Goodwill Ambassador for Global Justice in the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime is certainly my most challenging and meaningful role." That much is clear from Cage's gravity and demeanor (and that three-piece suit!) while addressing the media. He means business! Because somewhere out there, a child is about to eat his brother alive. Or so Cage has heard.
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Here's something I learned today: When Zach Galifianakis does a Between Two Ferns, it's pretty funny because we know it's not real -- even though we try to pretend that it is real. When an actual journalist tries to pull this same stunt, it's sphincter clenchingly awkward -- especially at a press junket.
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When it comes to the theatrical release of I Love You Phillip Morris, I'm more than a little cynical. After all, this is a movie that has been sitting on the shelf for almost three years, missing release date after release date with shocking consistency. Yet barring some End of Days-like catastrophe, it appears that all systems are go for the Dec. 3 launch. Fantastic! If the recently released chaste poster didn't exactly get your juices flowing, however, perhaps this brand new Red Band trailer, stuffed with graphic gay sex and double entrende, will.
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As CocoCam moves into day two, things are going pretty much as expected -- which means zombies, dancing tacos and, as of this writing, a staff game of Twister, complete with a multi-colored disco ball. But late last night something more sinister happened: Usurped TBS host George Lopez -- with help from Dog the Bounty Hunter, natch -- sneaked into Conan O'Brien's offices and stole some Dell computers. Because what's good for the goose is good for the gander, right!? Click ahead to watch Lopez pull a Leno (or Conan, depending on your allegiances).
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Has there been a sudden spike in real-life demonic possession that I missed? What is it about the cultural zeitgeist right now that just screams for another rip-off of The Exorcist every three months? Whatever the reason, like clockwork, The Rite will open in January. It stars "Academy Award Winner" Anthony Hopkins as some sort of exorcism professor schooling a skeptical student in the reality of devil-possession. Oh, and it's inspired by a true story. Aren't they all...
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Whether or not you've seen the award-winning British drama series Shameless, you'll likely enjoy Showtime's adaptation this winter. That is, if you are a fan of serious film actors crossing over into premium cable under the skilled wing of an expert showrunner (John Wells, whose credits include ER and West Wing) working his magic on a comically dysfunctional-yet-heartwarming series.
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Pixar is near unimpeachable in their greatness -- the bizarre handling of Brenda Chapman and female directors in general aside -- but what on earth are they thinking with Cars 2. Oh, right: That the first one made over $460 million worldwide and sold enough toys that the company could purchase its own mid-sized country. With that in mind, here's the teaser trailer for Cars 2, which promises cars-as-super-spies. Because...well, because a toy car that can also dress in a tuxedo means one more stocking stuffer parents will have to buy next Christmas. Click ahead to watch and then wash your brain off with the Up/Rent Is Too Damn High mash-up.
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Over the summer, Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson participated in a humorous video for Fight Back NY (a political action committee designed to remove New York state senators against gay marriage from office), that ended with him proposing marriage to Alec Baldwin. Cut to October, and it appears Fight Back NY has finally gotten Baldwin to respond to Ferguson's overtures. As far as political ads go, it's about 6 million times better than the effort Christine O'Donnell made. More than that, however, the ad is timely, too: Not only is Election Day less than two weeks away, but today is also Spirit Day. Click ahead to watch Alec Baldwin to be confidently obtuse in the way that only he can.
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To give you an idea about how ridiculous the debate for New York State governor went on Monday, the New York Times used this headline for their story about the event: "Albany Governor Debate Verges on Farce." They're being kind. Thanks to Jimmy McMillan, the glove-wearing, sideburn-mustache-having candidate from the Rent Is Too Damn High party (true), the entire debate felt like a Saturday Night Live skit, something it will likely become this weekend. If you can't wait until then for some Rent Is Too Damn High parody, however, click ahead to watch this mash-up of McMillian's words and Pixar's Up. Yes, this is the best thing you'll see all day.
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Come on, Hollywood marketing-types: Fess up. Which of you are responsible for the recent UFO sightings in both Manhattan and El Paso? (I'm looking at you Skyline and/or Battle: Los Angeles.) Because I'm far too cynical and grounded to believe that these mysterious, floating lights can be anything other than viral marketing run amok. Either that or we're about one week away from being invaded by aliens, in which case: Welcome, alien overlords! Use your tentacles to click ahead to watch the video evidence of UFOs among us. Also, smirk at the thought of the news producer at NBC in El Paso using the theme from The X-Files for the music cue.
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