NFL Player Hines Ward Talks About His Scene in 'Dark Knight'

In one of the most memorable scenes for the recently released trailer for "The Dark Knight Rises," NFL player Hines Ward can be seen running for a touchdown as the football field collapses behind him.This is not the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver's first time in front of the cameras in a non-football game role - he is a former "Dancing with the Stars" champion.Ward spoke to the media after the trailer was release to talk a little about his role in the film. Although since he's been sworn to secrecy about most of the film, he was limited in what he could say. Ward was invited by the producers to be a part of the film, along with several other pro football players."It blew me away. I mean to be a part of something that will last forever was amazing. I was truly blessed to be a part of it all," Ward told the "Los Angeles Times" about his reaction to seeing himself in the trailer.Ward, who said he's always been a Batman fan, told "USA Today" that he doesn't usually take kickoff returns, which is what he's pictured doing in the trailer. The scene was filmed at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh."I hadn't run back a kickoff in forever," said Ward. "It was a little bizarre. But I scored on the return and any time I score it's a lot of fun.""The Dark Knight Rises," the upcoming final installment Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, stars Christian Bale and Tom Hardy and is set for a July 2012 release. The Hollywood Reporter

Pour a Proper Cup of Tea Today for Christopher Hitchens

He had divisive opinions and a rare mind, but the late, great Christopher Hitchens also, from time to time, deviated from politics, culture, and history to examine other important issues including film, filmmakers, and — importantly! — how to make tea. Pour one out for Hitch today — the proper way, no dunking — with his wise words from last year. “If you use a pot at all, make sure it is pre-warmed. (I would add that you should do the same thing even if you are only using a cup or a mug.) Stir the tea before letting it steep. But this above all: “[O]ne should take the teapot to the kettle, and not the other way about. The water should be actually boiling at the moment of impact, which means that one should keep it on the flame while one pours.” This isn’t hard to do, even if you are using electricity rather than gas, once you have brought all the makings to the same scene of operations right next to the kettle.It’s not quite over yet. If you use milk, use the least creamy type or the tea will acquire a sickly taste. And do not put the milk in the cup first—family feuds have lasted generations over this—because you will almost certainly put in too much. Add it later, and be very careful when you pour. Finally, a decent cylindrical mug will preserve the needful heat and flavor for longer than will a shallow and wide-mouthed—how often those attributes seem to go together—teacup. Orwell thought that sugar overwhelmed the taste, but brown sugar or honey are, I believe, permissible and sometimes necessary.Until relatively few years ago, practically anything hot and blackish or brackish could be sold in America under the name of coffee. It managed both to be extremely weak and extremely bitter, and it was frequently at boiling point, though it had no call to be. (I use the past tense, though there are many places where this is still true, and it explains why free refills can be offered without compunction.) At least in major cities, consumers now have a better idea how to stick up for themselves, often to an irksome degree, as we know from standing behind people who are too precise about their latte, or whatever it’s called.Next time you are in a Starbucks or its equivalent and want some tea, don’t be afraid to decline that hasty cup of hot water with added bag. It’s not what you asked for. Insist on seeing the tea put in first, and on making sure that the water is boiling. If there are murmurs or sighs from behind you, take the opportunity to spread the word. And try it at home, with loose tea and a strainer if you have the patience. Don’t trouble to thank me. Happy New Year.” - Excerpted from “How to Make a Decent Cup of Tea” R.I.P. Christopher Hitchens. Leave your thoughts on tea making and other Hitchens concerns below. How To Make a Decent Cup of Tea [Slate]

Nominations reaction: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"

Jean Dujardin in 'The Artist'"I appear just like a spoiled child, however, if i had been shooting it never really joined our mind (about) the honours it might receive. We always wanted results but it is a very abstract artwork, so its a very nice surprise to find out it perfectly received."

'The Artist' Named Best Picture by Boston Film Experts

Director Steven Spielberg stood a submit Oscar champion Christian Bale's starring role in Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War, which opened up Sunday mid-day in Beijing.our editor recommendsZhang Yimou Being Honored at Asia Off-shoreline Screen AwardsChina Chooses Zhang Yimou's Christian Bale starrer 'Flowers of War' for Oscar Language Submission TheHollywood Reporter formerly reported Spielberg's role in acover story with Bale and Zhang, However, Spielberg's director friend joined more detail the way the recommendations came to exist. "I asked for Steven Spielberg, who's a pal, to determine the British script and recommend stars," Zhang mentioned inside a press conference carrying out a premiere. Among people suggestions was Bale, who had starred becoming an adult actor in Spielberg's own turn pointing in China, 1987's Empire in the Sun,also with various novel set throughout Japan's World War Ii occupation of eastern China. STORY: The Flowers of War: Film Review Spielberg then advised Bale to make use of Zhang. "He passed [Zhang] Yimou instructions to provide in my experience, plus it mentioned, 'do it.'" Getting a financial budget of $100 million, the film is regarded as the pricey obtainable in China, around a year ago's top domestic box office artist, Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock, made. Even though, Zhang blown off any suggestion it put greater commercial pressure on him for your film to complete. "Company company directors shouldn't think about this stuff. It prevents you from developing a good movie," Zhang mentioned. STORY: An Auteur + This Actor = Game Changer The Two-time Oscar-nominated director similarly dodged an problem about whether Flowers was an attempt to finally win that trophy. "Winning an Oscar wasn't the goal. We just preferred to produce good art creating a good film," he mentioned. "I don't really know the Oscar process much, so that it's around luck." Zhang, who also directed the opening occasions in the 2008 Olympic games, is representing China again with Flowers since the country's official entry to find the best Language Film award. Bale plays John Burns, a u . s . states drifter who finds themselves inside the then-Chinese capital in 1937, similar to the Nanjing Massacre -- which saw entering Japanese troops rape and murder thousands of Chinese regular people -- will get on-going. Several youthful hookers take refuge in the chapel near to the brothel where they work, and Burns, wearing clerical robes, offers them defense from the burglars. Flowers' female lead, newcomer Ni Ni, put herself on the limb when asked for if she felt a steamy scene between her character and Bale's was necessary, just like Ang Lee's Lust, Caution -- that have its sex moments removed and acquired a couple-year industry stop for actress Tang Wei. "I love Tang Wei but she's a great actress, very beautiful, which i've many userful stuff here from her," Ni mentioned. The film is positioned to start wide in China on 12 ,. 16, a restricted U.S. release on 12 ,. 23. Related Subjects Worldwide Asia Christian Bale Zhang Yimou

'Skyfall' Recruits Ben Whishaw As Bond's New Q

Welcome to the big time, Ben Whishaw! The 31-year-old Brit has been cast as Q in "Skyfall," the 23rd James Bond film. If youve only seen the Bond movies of the Daniel Craig era, you may not be familiar with Q, so here's some background info: Q is not really a name, but a job description (like Judi Dench's M). As the head of MI6's Q division, Q provides our hero with all of the gadgets he requires to get his missions done. Need an invisible car? Underwater jet pack? Explosives disguised as toothpaste? Then Q's your man! Though Q was MIA from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace hed been a fixture in Bond flicks since the Sean Connery days. Desmond Llewelyn played Q in 17 of the movies, followed by John Cleese who handled the job twice (first as Qs assistant R) for Pierce Brosnans Bond. Ben Whishaw has acted with Daniel Craig twice before, in Layer Cake and Enduring Love, both from 2004. But his casting marks an intriguing change in the Bond world for the first time, Q will be younger than 007. It seems fitting: the young tech geek ushering the stodgy spy into a new digital age. We cant wait to see what super-cool doodad Q will come up with next. Tell us what you think of the latest "Skyfall" casting in the comments section and on Twitter!

Tops in tubthumps?

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' cast at one of the final photocalls. Steven Spielberg preems 'The Adventures of Tintin' in Paris. Every year, the 80 or so members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. spend most of their time flying back and forth across the U.S. and around the world, attending screenings and press junkets and talking to movie stars about their latest film."Our press conferences are pretty serious and predictable," says former president Philip Berk, who writes for FilmInk Australia. "But sometimes something really special happens."Case in point: When the HPFA gang flew to Paris in October for the "Tintin" junket, they also managed to arrange a press conference with exiled director Roman Polanski for "Carnage.""In 33 years of being with the HFPA, this is the first time I've ever met him and he was very affable, charming and surprisingly accessible," Berk says. "Of course, we didn't want to broach the subject of the scandal when we were there to talk about the film, but he actually alluded to it several times. That was pretty memorable."Judy Solomon, a member since 1956 who reps Israel and writes for Women's World, agrees that the Paris trip was "the most outstanding moment of the year. To get two giants like Spielberg and Polanski in one day? It can't get any better, and they're both so great to interview -- you can ask them anything."Solomon last interviewed Polanski in person back in 1974 when he was still living in Hollywood. "Obviously so much has happened since then, but he still has the same passion for film," she says.HFPA member Yukiko Nakajima, who writes for the Japanese market, also cites the Paris trip. "Spielberg was fascinating, as he discussed how he first came across Tintin in a French review of 'Indiana Jones,' " she recalls. "So he bought the rights, but it then took him 30 years to make the film."Jorge Camara, who writes for the Dominican Republic's Cineasta, and who has served as HFPA president six times, says talking to Pedro Almodovar recently for "The Skin I Live In," was a standout interview "and a real insight. He told us he's had many offers to direct Hollywood studio pictures, but turned them all down because he couldn't work in the Hollywood system, while Polanski told us that he, unlike so many European directors who tried to make it in Hollywood, knew how to 'work the machinery.' "Ruben Nepales, who writes for the Philippines market, cites Mickey Rourke for "Immortals" and Robin Williams for "Happy Feet Two" as the most memorable press conferences of the year. "Mickey is so colorful -- a journalist's dream because he doesn't hold anything back," Nepales says. "He told us about bulking up to play a rugby player in his next film, 'The Beautiful Game,' and said his doctor had OK'd him to use steroids - they'd help his energy, stamina and his sex life. No one could quite believe it. At another point, he apologized to his agent in the back for saying something else he shouldn't have."According to Nepales, Williams was also out of control, but in a very different way. "He does a one-man show every time we see him," says the journalist, "and this time, since he'd just got remarried again a week or so before, he described his honeymoon in Paris -- all in French. He got up and did 15 minutes on the honeymoon, and it was hysterical."For Gabriel Lerman, who writes for Spain outlets, an HFPA trip in September to Tampa and Miami was most interesting. "First, we visited Winter, the dolphin star of 'Dolphin Tale' in her aquarium near Tampa, and they showed us how her prosthetic tail worked, and some of us got very close to her and even touched her. That was pretty amazing."The group then flew to Miami to visit the set of "Charlie's Angels." "We met the stars, and there was no fighting or anything like that, but we could tell something wasn't quite working," he recalls. "So no one was that surprised when it was cancelled two weeks later."For German Karen Martin, who writes for Swiss, German and Japanese outlets, the highlight was going to London for the final "Harry Potter" film. "It was bittersweet, because we interviewed all the kids when the franchise began a decade ago, and talked to them for every one since, and it's like watching family grow up," she says. "They were all so shy and nervous 10 years ago, and we saw them gain confidence and become more relaxed over the years." Now that the eight-movie multibillion-dollar franchise has finally come to an end, "you wonder how their careers will develop," she adds. "What will they do next?"GOLDEN GLOBES RACETops in tubthumps? Best Picture: Drama | Best Picture: Comedy or Musical | Television | Animation Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

TV Ratings: CBS Tops Black Friday With Holiday Specials, 'Blue Bloods'

After being taken into custody on Wednesday, American-Egyptian filmmaker Jehane Noujaim is a free woman again.our editor recommendsLara Logan Breaks Silence About Egypt Sexual AssaultChristiane Amanpour Describes Chaos in Cairo: "Machetes, Meat Cleavers, Swords, Rifles The Control Room director was in her birth city of Cairo, filming protests in Tahrir Square for her latest project, when she was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails and jailed in Tora prison. She gave an interview to NBC News after her release. "My charge was throwing Molotov cocktails and destroying public property," she said. "If I throw a rock I'd hit the back of the head of the protester in front of me... that claim was so ridiculous, yet I was in prison for 36 hours because of it." Noujaim was not abused, as some journalists have claimed to be. Her phone and camera were confiscated, though, and she said all she did to incite the arrest was flee an area filled with tear gas clouds. "If that happens to me, imagine what happens to a kid who gets picked up off the street who doesn't have all of these connections," she said. Noujaim has been working in Tahrir Square protests for 10 months for a film about Egypt's revolution. She admitted in the interview that the process was slow. "These changes take time," she said, "and I don't want to put this gigantic blame on the poor kids in the police or the poor kids in the army." Control Room, her 2004 documentary about Al Jazeera and the way news organizations covered the invasion of Iraq, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, a DGA Award and a WGA Award. Related Topics

The building of 'My Week With Marilyn'

The entire year 2008 was frought with turmoil for Michelle Williams. Heath Ledger, her estranged husband, died of the accidental overdose in The month of january, departing her a grief-stricken single mom. Although fresh from an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," her career is at limbo -- her passion project, "Blue Valentine," had yet to materialize, and she or he considered departing acting altogether."I wasn't confident that acting was the best place for me personally,Inch she states. "Or maybe I had been worthwhile or loved things i was doing any longer."It had been also around that point that Williams first read Adrian Hodges' script for any Marilyn Monroe project, that she'd been wooed by director Simon Curtis. She was attracted towards the story, which offered an overview of the week from the actress' existence throughout the nineteen fifties, but worried that they wasn't quite ready for that commitment. "I finished the final page, place it alongside my mattress coupled with already committed during my own mind to creating this movie," states Williams. "However the terror occur."Curtis, an experienced British TV and stage director who was simply focusing on his first feature-pointing assignment in excess of 5 years, travelled to NY and met with Williams in her own Brooklyn home. "He came bearing gifts: books, postcards and little lure, little enticements, to playing Marilyn," she recalls.Although she'd a strong offer for that lead, Williams told Curtis she desired to audition to make sure she was suitable for the part. She was unsure if she could do justice to this kind of legendary character -- especially one who'd meant a lot to her while becoming an adult in Montana she'd were built with a poster of Monroe on her behalf bed room wall that they looked each and every evening. She also concerned about the feasibility of changing her look. "There have been certain unbridgeable gaps," she states ."I could not re-arrange my face and the body to appear like hers."While she spent the following six several weeks toiling over research, Curtis and the team remained hopeful. "We stored returning to her," states producer David Parfitt. "She'd refuse. Then we'd disappear for a little and choose she gets to get it done. We'd have another go. Then her agent and manager got behind it. She was very difficult to persuade."Throughout this time around, Derek Cianfrance's 10-year journey to create "Blue Valentine" finally materialized, and Williams shot her difficult role -- an Oscar nomination would result -- being an unhappy wife opposite Ryan Gosling. She states the shoot behaved like a type of therapy. "It introduced me to existence and reminded me, introduced me to myself," she states.At comparable time, Harvey Weinstein, whose company had acquired "Valentine," fell deeply in love with Williams' talent. "Harvey stated, 'I desire to be more associated with this girl,' " states Parfitt. "Therefore we stated, 'Well, we now have this other film.' And that he stated, 'I need it.A "The concept for any movie by what happened in 1956 when Monroe, America's greatest superstar, travelled to London to create the film "The Prince and also the Showgirl" with Lawrence Olivier, the U.K.'s finest actor, started around 2003 after Curtis read two books through the late Colin Clark: "The Prince, the Showgirl and Me" and "My Week With Marilyn." Throughout the following six years, Curtis became a member of forces with Parfitt to obtain development funds in the BBC and also the U.K. Film Council, then anxiously waited 18 several weeks while Parfitt discussed the privileges with Clark's estate and six several weeks more for Hodges' script.Finally, at the begining of 2010, Williams committed, and after $ten million in funding from Weinstein, it had been a try. "For me personally, the key discovery -- the expensive -- could be that the broadly recognized picture of Marilyn Monroe would be a character that Norma Jeane performed," states Williams. "Unless of course you study her and understand her a little much better than the generally recognized view, you could miss who she was underneath that. Marilyn would be a part she performed." Getting Monroe's complicated duality to existence was Williams' greatest goal.For Curtis, taking the authenticity of your time and put was crucial. This method started with shooting at London's Pinewood Galleries around the very stages where Olivier had directed and starred with Monroe. Curtis added additional locations at Parkside House, where Olivier had remained at Clark's home in the Eaton school, which Clark attended and, because of an unparalleled deal, to shoot even before Windsor Castle for any couple of hrs early one Saturday.But there is another element, adds Curtis. "It originated from a line within the Clark journals which was, 'This is really a story book, but nonetheless, it's correct.A It is a true story which i thought about being magical too,Inch he states.Making miracle on the $ten million budget is not easy -- nor, as Weinstein told Parfitt, is gathering "the very best British and worldwide cast." So Curtis, Parfitt and Weinstein drawn on buddies and industry connections to complete the blanks. Curtis convinced Judi Dench to experience Dame Sybil Thorndike, whom she'd known. Parfitt used a vacation to L.A. with respect to BAFTA to satisfy with Kenneth Branagh, his former business partner, and employed him to experience Olivier. Weinstein then introduced in Emma Watson for that role from the youthful costume designer, Lucy.Williams, meanwhile, ongoing her intense research into Monroe. In May 2010, she travelled to London for conferences with makeup artist Jenny Shircore."We spent a day just waiting in front of the mirror," states Williams. "We were not attempting to reconfigure my face. I was attempting to add, you realize, the bend from the lip, an eye liner. It started a lengthy process."It had been key in early stages that Williams, much shorter and lighter, not look the same as Monroe rather, she desired to funnel her essence. Williams acquired just a little weight to approximate Monroe's signature curves, however it just made her face puffy, so rather Williams and Shircore used padding to complete her sides and rear finish.Like Williams, costumer Jill Taylor did intense research, finding photos from the building of the film within an archive. "Michelle is really a much more compact lady," states Taylor, "and so i really needed to focus on obtaining the proportions right." They needed to find clothes for 3 Marilyns: the glamorous, sexy actress the smoothness of Elsie that Monroe plays within the movie inside the movie and also the real-existence Monroe, who used simple, customized clothes, frequently in earth tones.Taylor's greatest challenge was that they could only make one reproduction of the whitened gown Monroe had worn within the movie, which Williams needed to put on for any quarter from the eight-week shoot. "I had been nearly wetting myself every single day for 12 days straight," recalls Taylor. "If something happened into it, there is not one other dress."Also, due to his postproduction schedule on "Thor" working in london, Branagh showed up only 2 days before production began. This left very little time for Taylor to suit the custom military uniforms Branagh required for Olivier's role because the prince. Taylor found the main one Olivier used, but due to Branagh's broad shoulders, she needed to find an identical uniform from the costume house. She did, however, use braiding from the original, adding medals she made.For Williams, the movie's most difficult scene was one which needed no costume whatsoever: Monroe chimes with Clark (Eddie Redmayne) on the lark and applies to a nude go swimming. The setting is summer season, however it really was late fall."We worried for days in advance because it may be freezing cold in October," states cinematographer Ben Smithard. "It had been a complete nightmare."When Parfitt saw a rest within the British weather, they rushed towards the location, where they needed to do more 30 shots in four hrs. "It had been pretty frightening," states Smithard. "We outfitted the advantage from the water so that they might get out and in and wouldn't drown."But there is virtually no time to setup lighting for every shot, so that they did the majority of the shoot in sun light, constantly worrying that they are losing their illumination."It had been a horribly untidy freezing hurry," states Williams, "also it was said to be an attractive summer time day. Sometimes 1 / 2 of acting is disregarding the sun and rain.InchThe safety and health supervisor told Curtis the stars could simply be within the icy water for 70 seconds at any given time. Tents and oxygen tanks was by. "I am a director who admires stars," states Curtis, "but I have never respected stars a lot as individuals two starting that water."Williams can't remember ever being that cold. "I am pretty hearty I am from Montana. But that certain I simply could not recover from this. I could not get my bloodstream warm. I had been frozen towards the core."At some point, her teeth were chattering, so that they had Williams bite on the clean cloth. "I figured I would break a tooth," she recalls.Other activities were not as funny. Like a low-budget project, they stored being knocked from the stages at Pinewood, that was also sought after from the kind of the most recent "Pirates from the Caribbean" film, "Hugo," "War Equine" and "Captain America." At various occasions, they gone to live in Shepperton, Twickenham and Ealing galleries.Through the production, Williams fretted concerning the large production amounts she needed to do as Monroe. "Discuss jumping off a high cliff and finding your wings in route lower," she states. "I have never done anything like this. I am not really a singer or perhaps a dancer, however i discovered a real love for both."The large opening number is really a version of "Warmth Wave," an additional is dependant on "The Old Black Miracle," both choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and Denise Faye."She practiced every single day for six days," states Parfitt. "She'd just a little dance to complete, that was apparently simple. She'd start your day doing the work like a warm-up exercise for Marilyn's movement."They anxiously waited to complete the development amounts close to the finish from the shoot to provide Williams additional time to organize.InchThe truly amazing factor about singing and dancing could it be enables you to be in our,Inch states Williams. "You are doing too lots of things to anticipate or judge or the stuff that's the dying from the creative process."Curtis thinks the casting made the film work, especially getting Williams and Branagh within the central roles. "There's not a lot of stars on the planet who could accomplish individuals figures," states Curtis. "Which was the greatest challenge, and that i feel lucky I not just got individuals two stars, however they were both precisely the age range their figures were in 1956."Williams loves that they could celebrate Monroe. "This is not a biopic," she states. "Marilyn is simply a character in somebody else's story. We did not possess a duty to inform her entire existence, and therefore our film isn't a tragedy. It's a story book become a reality, a confection. I did not realize how funny it had been until I first viewed it by having an audience."Williams sees "Week With Marilyn," like "Blue Valentine," as "another board that road" to the craft she loves. "I will keep walking inside a straight line and never detouring," she states. "The entire factor felt just like a giant growth spurt for me personally being an actor."Like a movie with couple of visual effects, makeup was among "Marilyn's" most significant visual tools.Every morning started with Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh investing 3 to 4 hrs using the film's makeup artists. While Branagh was fitted having a prosthetic face to attain Olivier's square jaw and cleft face, he used a headset and took in to Olivier provide a dramatic reading through from the Bible. "The parting from the hair was razor sharp," states Branagh, "and also the color needed to be perfect and brilliant. Olivier had kind of musically built arched eye brows. Everything needed to be minimalist, but required a great deal of your time.InchWilliams, meanwhile, spent hrs with makeup designer Jenny Shircore, who placed the actress' hairpiece every day making up both her face and the body. "What Jenny does is art," states Williams. "But art isn't exactly the same. Every single day was slightly different, inside a minuscule way. We are both slightly obsessive."Still, there have been days the particulars evaded them. So having a Sharpie pen, Williams authored around the makeup mirror: "mole, teeth, tattoo" to help remind them of Monroe's famous beauty mark to place the dental appliance over Williams' crooked lower teeth and also to hide the actress' small tattoo of the heart on her behalf wrist. "In the finish from the shoot, I embroidered just a little cloth for Jenny," states Williams. "It stated, 'Mole, teeth, tattoo.' " The Hollywood Reporter

Oscar PR Chief Leslie Unger Resigns

Leslie Unger, the main publicist for that Oscars this past year, has resigned the publish. It’s a part of a restructuring from the department. She'd had the experience for nearly 2 decades. Unger was the publicist who disinvited me in the Academy awards this past year because Deadline had revealed exactly what would happen in the Academy awards, except who would win trophies.

Amazons Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire Can get An Early On Spark, And Mixed Reviews

Amazon . com . com stoked the hype around its new Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire tablet by shipping it every day before schedule, the business introduced today. That’s a smart move: Furthermore for the extra PR and customer goodwill it produces, your final decision offers the online shop another day to promote videos, music, and books that will “offset the weakened margins (in addition to deficits)” it could look at this quarter by selling named below cost, Caris & Co analyst Scott Tilghman states. Research firm iSuppli estimations that Amazon . com . com stays about $210 to produce each Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire it is $199. No real surprise the promotion machine is at high gear: Hulu Plus — that's around the iPad and Barnes & Noble’s new Nook Tablet — today grew to become an associate from the parade of content companies crowing regarding Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire programs.A Hulu Plus subscription costs $7.99 monthly, and might be utilized on any device that benefits it.Hulu’s “never-ending mission could be to offer you the cell phone industry's premium content when, where and the way you need,” senior product manager Lonn Lee states in the blog publish. Experts generally like the Amazon . com Amazon Kindle Fire, although most realize that it’s less efficient or versatile since the iPad: Engadget states it “isn’t a perfect experience, however when very little else it’s a good consider not able to retail commerce.” CNET states that despite the fact that it “lacks the tech specs on more-pricey Apple and Android pills,” it’s still “an outstanding entertainment value that honours simplicity over techno-wizardry.” And Gizmodo calls it “a terrific, compact little friend, and — is even saying anything? — the most effective Android tablet so far.”

Under Fire: Journalists in Combat

A JUF Pictures production in colaboration with Documentary, with the help of the Canadian Media Fund, using the participation of Rogers Documentary Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and Ontario Media Development Corp. Created by Martyn Burke, Anthony Feinstein. Executive producers, Laura Morton, Bruce Cowley. Directed, compiled by Martyn Burke.With: Finbarr O'Reilly, Jon Steele, Susan Ormiston, Ian Stewart, Chris Hedges, Christina Lamb, Anthony Loyd, Jeremy Bowen, Paul Watson.A sobering number of conversations with reporters and photography enthusiasts who've found themselves caught in physical and moral war zones, "Under Fire" reckons using its subject in straightforward but engrossingly tough-minded fashion. One emerges from author-director Martyn Burke's docu hard-pressed to think about an occupation having a more distinctively harrowing group of work hazards, including publish-distressing stress disorder, the addictive thrill of existence-or-dying situations, and also the essential callousness needed to document the disasters of war. Carrying out a limited run, the docu should settle easily into smallscreen showings. Audiences unconvinced through the "war is really a drug" doctrine established by Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" will discover it nicely corroborated through the self-accepted adrenaline lovers here, whose collective war-confirming experience spans a fantastic quantity of overseas conflicts from Sarajevo and Chechnya to El Salvador and Libya (Tim Heatherington is among the lately slain journos memorialized). Probably the most affecting, self-lacerating interview comes thanks to former La Occasions correspondent Paul Watson, regretfully remembering his legendary photo of Staff Sgt. William Cleveland's body being pulled with the roads of Mogadishu. Polished speaking-heads approach is interspersed with firsthand combat clips and excessive intertitles.Camera (color), Jesse Purser editor, Christopher McEnroe music, Mark Korven. Examined on DVD, Pasadena, Calif., November. 11, 2011. Running time: 90 MIN. Contact Justin Chang at justin.chang@variety.com

'Mountaintop' mulls options

With Samuel L. Jackson leaving to shoot a film, producers Jean Doumanian, second left, and Sonia Friedman, right, are considering recasting 'The Mountaintop,' which also stars Angela Bassett.To recast or not to recast?That's the question for producers of Broadway play "The Mountaintop." The show has so far eked out a single-week extension of a limited run that, at least for now, ends Jan. 22, when Samuel L. Jackson, who stars in Katori Hall's two-hander with Angela Bassett, must exit to shoot a film. And it's a question faced by every producer of a promising production that can attribute a major percentage of its aud-appeal to a big-name cast.Recasting always comes with B.O. risks, and for "Mountaintop," the jury's still out -- but producers Jean Doumanian and Sonia Friedman acknowledge it's a possibility. "It's eminently recastable," Friedman says of the show."Mountaintop," about Martin Luther King Jr. on the eve of his assassination, is one of several unusually strong-selling plays on the boards these days, but at the moment it's the only one grappling with the idea of recasting. Last season's Tony fave, "War Horse," has managed to make its puppet equine the defacto star, pulling in close to $1 million per week without a Hugh Jackman to propel sales. This season's "Relatively Speaking" is also posting solid numbers, but while there are familiar thesps in the show, the real draw seems to be its trio of big-name scribes: Woody Allen, Ethan Coen and Elaine May.Another non-tuner attracting crowds is "Other Desert Cities," which also features some well-known actors, but seemed -- at least prior to its Nov. 3 opening -- to be packing houses based mostly on the buzz the show had accumulated in its well-reviewed Off Broadway stint.That leaves "Mountaintop," which could well survive without Jackson and Bassett, thanks to the show's link to a civil rights icon and a built-in appeal to the African-American demo that can turn out in force for the right Rialto play with the right cast, as illustrated by prior Broadway successes including "Fences" and "Cat on a Tin Roof."Still, depending on who the new stars are, a cast change can always throw a show off its game. Box office smash "God of Carnage," for instance, never had quite the same mojo it did with its original thesps (including James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden).Besides, recasting isn't the only option for "Mountaintop," to hear producers tell it. The show's starry Broadway bow has helped give the play a national profile that's spurred interest from regional presenters. In addition, producers are talking about a live HD cinemacast of the show, probably sometime in January, with Broadway Near You, a company of which "Mountaintop" helmer Kenny Leon is a.d.There's also the possibility that Jackson could be tempted to return to the production following his film engagement, which seems to suggest a possible scenario that might see Bassett appear in the show for several weeks with a temporary co-star. Producers wouldn't confirm this possibility, but it's said the play's new TV ad is notably Bassett-centric, featuring the actress delivering the show's memorable, climactic monologue. "We'd love to get Sam back," Doumanian acknowledges.Hall's script already has had an unusual trajectory, bowing in a tiny fringe theater over a London pub before jumping to an Olivier-winning West End run and its Broadway incarnation. Doumanian and Friedman, who both got involved in the play in June 2009, say they're certain the play has plenty of life in it, but still aren't sure whether it's on Broadway or beyond."We're not done with it yet," Friedman says. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

NCR States Blockbuster Express Cost Increase Will Simplify Consumer Options

NCR really wants to sell the Blockbuster Express DVD kiosk business, however it may suffer from some angry clients on Tuesday if this implements its 3-2-1pricing plan.The organization continues to charge $3 for that first evening to rent a DVD that’s been out 4 weeks or less. (Really new movies will definitely cost a cent more they’re now $2.99.) The large change involves Dvd disks in the 29th towards the 90th next day of they’ve been launched: NCR is raising the very first evening cost to $2 from $1.After 3 months theprice drops to $1. In each situation it is an additional buck for every additional evening. (Blu-ray dvds cost $another than Dvd disks in each window.) Exactly why is NCR making the modification? It's some PR cover Redbox just elevated its cost to $1.20 from $1. And a week ago NCR’s John Bruno told analyststhat the organization is exploring “profit-improving initiatives including premium prices for that new releases.” NCR also really wants to keep galleries happy: Using its greater cost, Blockbuster Express isn’t susceptible to the 28-day delay on new releases that Warner Bros, Universal, and Fox affect Redbox and Netflix. Bloomberg reviews that galleries will get a bit of the experience in the $2 rental fees. NCR states it'll guarantee that new releases is going to be offered at its 10,000 kiosks clients who look for a choice that’s sold-out can text NCR requesting a promo code providing them with $1 off another $3 or $2 disc. That allows NCR to put this like a professional-consumer move. “We are earning this transformation according to feedback from your clients,” the organization states, adding that “with this transformation we're simplifying our prices structure and clearly determining our portfolio of movie rental options.” One factor that’s not obvious: Blockbuster Express no more is attached to Blockbuster, which Dish Network bought in April. The satellite company and NCR are in the court fighting over NCR’s to make use of the Blockbuster title so it licensed last year.

Emperor, Le Vision team on Lo Chi-leung mystery

Hong Kong's Emperor Movies and China's Le Vision Pictures are joining around the period murder-mystery feature directed by Lo Chi-leung and produced by Derek Yee. The companies introduced the project Thursday within the American Film Market. Distribution in China will probably be overseen by Le Vision Pictures, and EMP will handle sales and distribution for your relaxation around the world. The still untitled production, that's been in pre-production near Shanghai, will star Nicholas Tse, Lau Ching-wan and Yang Me. Principal photography will begin this month for just about any summer season release. Lo and Yee labored together on ''Viva Erotica'' (1996), ''Double Tap'' (2000) and ''Inner Senses'' (2002). Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Are plans crashing down around Icon U.K.?

'Drive'LONDON -- Two years after Len Blavatnik's Access Industries bought Icon's U.K. distribution and foreign sales operations, with big plans to expand Icon around the world, all signs seem to indicate that Access's excitement with the film biz is cooling.The grand plans for Icon's global expansion have long been abandoned, while a strategic alliance announced a year ago with the Weinstein Co. has come to nothing.Now Blighty's film biz is abuzz with reports that Access is shopping Icon's U.K. library to potential buyers, following the distrib's recent weak performance.The possible sale of that library, which includes titles such as "Drive," "A Single Man" and "Precious," would leave Icon to simply focus on the foreign sales business. However, the company is also struggling to attract new projects for its international arm, with Access providing only limited support.Perhaps it's that the U.S.-based industrial group has bigger fish to fry. The company acquired Warner Music in May for $3.3 billion, and is now the favorite to snap up EMI's recorded music arm, which has been put on the block by Citigroup. Icon is a small concern by comparison, and Access seems unwilling to invest more cash or management time in growing the business.Access and Icon refuse to comment. But one insider confirms Access is open to offers for its U.K. distribution arm: "It's like one of those things you have that doesn't make a huge difference to you, and you want to sell but only if the price is right."Icon's U.K. arm looks set for its worst year at the box office since 2006. With a gross of 7.4 million ($11.8 million) so far, the company will be lucky to make half of its 2010 and 2009 box office takings, which sat at $26.3 million and $26.8 million, respectively.While Icon U.K.'s 2010 slate was peppered with some moderately successful releases, including "Edge of Darkness" ($5.9 million) and "A Single Man" ($5.1 million) there were a slew of misses as well, including Gurinder Chadha's "It's a Wonderful Afterlife" ($1.5 million) and "The Box," ($1.9 million).So far in 2011, only two pics have passed the 1 million ($1.5 million) mark: "Drive" ($4.1 million and counting) and "West Is West" ($4.3 million).Some rival distribs even say they were approached by Access as long as six months ago to assess the value of the U.K. library.Two years ago, under the direction of former PolyGram and UIP topper Stewart Till, the intention was to set up Icon as an international distribution network that could rival the likes of other major indies in the European market and further afield.The backing of Blavatnik, a Russian-American billionaire, coupled with Till's expertise signaled what seemed to be a big future for the company.Till kicked the tires of several distribs in Italy, Spain, France and Germany, but could not find suitable acquisitions at a realistic price. At the same time, a series of U.K. theatrical failings cooled the enthusiasm of Access for further expansion in the distribution business.A year ago, Access told Till to retreat back to Blighty and focus on fixing the U.K. operations and building up the foreign sales arm.However, this was not what Till, an advocate of the multiterritory distribution philosophy, wanted. So he moved from CEO to a part-time role as chairman, while Hugo Grumbar and Ian Dawson became joint managing directors, with Grumbar handling international sales and Dawson the U.K. operation.In January, Icon laid off 15% of its staff. In an effort to cut costs, certain pivotal roles were merged including head of home entertainment and head of marketing.Rumors were rife that Grumbar and Dawson were given a year to show results or the company would be shut down.Since then, Icon's international sales operation has handled pics such as "Coriolanus," which was sold to TWC in Berlin, Sundance hit "Project Nim" and the yet-to-be released Mel Gibson pic "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."At Cannes, Icon launched presales of the $20 million spoof "The Biggest Movie of All Time 3D," which was supposed to start shooting in November. It lined up a healthy $12 million in commitments from distribs, but with Access unwilling to cover the gap in a timely fashion, Icon was unable to close the financing on schedule, and the producers have been forced to postponed production while Icon continues its efforts to piece together the budget.Last year, before the American Film Market, Icon announced it was launching a new film financing alliance with the Weinstein Co. Under the deal, Icon and TWC would jointly identify projects in the $5 million-$20 million range, which Icon would bankroll and TWC would distribute in selected territories. Both companies announced that the fund could reach $100 million over its initial two-year period.One year later, however, and the relationship has borne no fruit. One insider suggests that after the splashy announcement, Icon never ended up signing the deal, after its execs realized that the terms were stacked against the company.Indeed, for the past year, Icon seems to have spent more time pulling out of deals than consummating them. Last week, Icon went into arbitration with River Road Entertainment, the producers of Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," after cancelling a plan in April to distribute the pic in Blighty.The U.K. distribution company's most significant acquisition this year has been the low-budget horror pic "You're Next," which Icon pre-bought for a low-six figure sum from HanWay Films at Cannes. The horror-thriller was one of the buzz titles at Toronto this year, selling to more than 30 territories; Lionsgate snapped up U.S. rights in a low seven-figure deal. But Icon's U.K. release will follow the U.S. release, which isn't skedded until next year."It's a crowded landscape here in the U.K.," says one source. "And Access don't seem to be giving Icon the backing and support they need to make themselves a formidable player. Perhaps it's a question of experience and infrastructure, but rumors are rife and people are hesitant to give them films because of that." Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Trio Of True Blood stream Co-Executive Producers Sign Overall Handles Cinemax

EXCLUSIVE: Three True Blood stream veterans, co-executive producers Alexander Woo, Raelle Tucker and John Buckner, have signed separate 2-year overall handles Cinemax. Beneath the 2-year pacts, the three continues as co-executive producers round the vampire drama for your approaching fifth season. In addition, the deals demand UTA-repped Woo and Tucker and CAA-repped Buckner to develop new projects for your pay cable network. (Woo, Tucker and Buckner may also stay with True Blood stream once the series visits a sixth season.) All 3 are actually while using show, created and executive produced by Alan Ball, forever.

SAG, AFTRA tout merger progress

Intends to merge Hollywood's two greatest artist unions stick to track as reps from the Screen Stars Guild and also the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists continue focusing on The month of january for finishing your final proposal. SAG and AFTRA released some pot statement Wednesday, a next day of a five-day meeting came to the conclusion, saying the confab have been "remarkably productive." It had been the 3rd formal confab from the Group for just one Union, which received updates in the workgroups in Governance & Structure Finance & Dues Collective Negotiating Pension, Health & Retirement Procedures & Staff and Member Education & Outreach. Just like the 2 previous conferences in June and August, the unions revealed only general particulars concerning the substance of discusssions. Advocates have contended that the combined union could be more effective and take away jurisdictional overlaps. Competitors have contended the new union ought to be for stars only but SAG voters happen to be backing professional-merger candidates extremely in recent elections. If the proposal be accepted in The month of january through the national boards, people might be requested to election by next spring inside a contest that will require 60% of individuals voting in each union to approve. SAG presently has about 120,000 people while AFTRA has about 70,000 about 45,000 entertainers owned by both unions. "It was an incredibly productive meeting and that we made solid progress over the full spectrum of issues we must consider," stated SAG leader Ken Howard and AFTRA leader Roberta Reardon. "The people and staff of both unions still are a genuine team, and our efforts still prove our shared interests are far more than any variations we now have. "The entertainment and media industries are changing more rapidly than ever before, and the opportunity to bring our unions together is really a chance -Body we intend to make the most of. We are devoted to protecting the very best facets of SAG and AFTRA in the end develop a effective new union that'll be better still outfitted to defend myself against the emerging facts we are facing. One factor is for certain: We are much more powerful together than we're apart." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Real Steel, Footloose Duke It For No. 1

First Released: October 16, 2011 12:24 PM EDT Credit: Vital Pictures Caption Movie Clip: The Cast Of Footloose Cowboy On The Party Area! La, Calif. -- The robot boxers of Real Steel and also the ballroom dancers of Footloose have been in a good fight for that box-office title. Based on studio estimations Sunday, the Hugh Jackman tale about machines within the boxing ring required in $16.3 million, which may allow it to be no. 1 movie for that second-straight weekend. But Real Steel arrived barely in front of the remake Footloose, which opened up with $16.a million. Footloose is really a new undertake the eighties film in regards to a youth challenging a cities dance prohibit. The films are close enough they could switch ratings once final amounts are launched Monday. Thehorror remake The One Thing opened up at No. 3 with $8.7 million. Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilsons bird-watching comedy The Large Year flopped having a $3.3 million opening. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AFI Fest announces auteur photos, Swanberg focus

A spotlight on mumblecore forefather Joe Swanberg and game titles for that New Auteurs and Youthful People in america sections happen to be introduced through the AFI Fest. Fest, which runs November. 3-10 in Hollywood, will award the brand new Auteurs Experts Prize the very first time. One of the primary and 2nd-time filmmakers competing for that prize are Cristian Jimenez with Cannes screener "Bonsai," Julia Loktev with "The Loneliest Planet," and Markus Schleinzer with "Michael." Game titles within the Youthful People in america section for emerging U.S. filmmakers include "The Colour Wheel," "Eco-friendly," "Wuss" and "The Dish and also the Spoon," docu "Dragonslayer" and experimental pic "Spark to be.Inch The spotlight on Joe Swanberg will screen his Full Moon trilogy, including "Silver Bullets," "Art History" and also the world premiere of "The Zone." Contact Pat Saperstein at pat.saperstein@variety.com

Ali Landry Gives Birth with a Boy

Ali Landry Ali Landry and her husband, filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde, will be the parents from the boy, People reviews.See the relaxation in the day's news on TVGuide.comThe 8-pound baby was produced Saturday in La, and so they named him Marcelo Alejandro, the actress' repetition told playboy.Examine out photos of Ali LandryThe 38-year-old model, best known to as acrobatic Doritos girl, and Monteverde are actually parents to Estela, 4. The happy couple tied the knot in April 2006. Landry was formerly married to Mario Lopez.Ali Landry pregnant with baby No. 2When she introduced having a baby, Landry - who'll show on TV Guide Network's approaching Hollywood Moms' Club -- mentioned she'd be "really nervous" if she'd a boy.

Farhadi: A Persian poet in pictures

Iranian helmer Asghar Farhadi is Variety's Middle East Filmmaker from the YearWithout any doubt, this really is helmer-scribe Asghar Farhadi's year. In Feb, his fifth feature "A Separation," grew to become the very first Iranian film to nab Berlin's Golden Bear. A obvious favorite from the Berlinale jury, the pic also stated acting kudos for that men and women ensemble cast, which incorporated Farhadi's teen daughter Sarina. Meanwhile, in Tehran, the drama collected an archive seven awards in the Fajr Film Festival.Even though Iranian game titles acclaimed at foreign fests haven't been popular within the domestic market or perhaps in arthouse distribution offshore, "Separation" dollars the popularity. Since spring, the film went from strength to strength, approaching millions of admissions in France and turning out to be a significant hit in your own home, selling distribution privileges in each and every territory and accumulating exclusive honors. Forthcoming Stateside via The new sony Classics, it's the Islamic Republic's candidate for that foreign-language film Oscar.Farhadi, who's to get Variety's Middle East Filmmaker of the season award at Abu Dhabi, is the best choice, states Variety worldwide director Alberto Lopez. " 'A Separation' is really a shining proof of transcending edges and also the energy of cinema. Asghar Farhadi has produced a universal and memorable story that remains lengthy within the memory."In telling the storyline of the secular middle-class family at the time of upheaval that ends up incompatible having a poor religious family, the 39-year-old Farhadi stands out an easy around the difficulties and contradictions of contempo Iranian society while integrating issues of gender, class, justice, personal recognition and wounded pride. Like Alfred Hitchcock, he uses situational suspense to ratchet up tension from scene to scene as new particulars emerge that alter the tale's moral perspective and change viewers' sympathies.More to the point, in anatomizing his faceoff between modern values and traditional practices Farhadi never passes judgment on some of his figures rather, he enables the intricate twists and turns from the plot to call their positions into question.He notes, "Should you give an response to your audiences, your film only will finish within the cinema. However when you pose questions, your film really starts after people watch it it continues within the viewer."Farhadi also performed with ambiguity rather than imposing solutions in the earlier works, specifically in "About Elly" (2009). Individuals acquainted with his previous films will even recognize how their styles are cleverly combined and reworked in "Separation": the appearance at Islamic justice and forgiveness from "Beautiful City" (2004), the fraught middle-class marriage from "Fireworks Wednesday" (2006) and also the difference in social mores over the class divide from "About Elly."Farhadi is among the rare filmmakers in a position to reasonably illustrate the urban middle minimizing classes and elicit dramatic tension using their discordances. He depends on in-depth character development, precise casting, extensive rehearsals and intelligent thesping to attain credible figures whose actions will always be understandable and whose scripted dialogue results in just as real-speak.Since his feature debut "Dancing within the Dust" (2003), Farhadi has progressively collected a powerful team of specialists around him, but "A Separation" marks his first collaboration with lenser Mahmud Kalari, Iran's finest cinematographer. Together, they create the film as wealthy formally because it is on almost every other level. Using interior space is especially amazing, using the central visual motif of open and closed doorways integral towards the plot. Seem, too, becomes crucial as Farhadi plays throughout using what is heard and never seen.Farhadi's psychologically complex and significantly engrossing films are much more accessible compared to highly symbolic works of his compatriots. They're also more significant compared to sentimental, children-on-a-mission tales from Iran that found Western arthouse favor within the late the nineteen nineties.At any given time by which harsh censorship has derailed the careers of a lot of Iranian artists, one only hope that Farhadi's obvious-eyed take a look at their own culture will still be treasured in your own home in addition to abroad.He's aware from the thin line he treads. After his Berlin win, he was requested to share with you the problem in Iran. His reply: "I'm able to either say what you would like me to express and also the result is I recieve into trouble and should not make films any longer. Or I'm able to say around I am permitted to and continue making films. I favor making films. I am not really a hero, I am a filmmaker."FEST TRAVELER: ABU DHABIAbu Dhabi blends talents Circle Conference victim of their own success A Persian poet in pictures Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Is Leonardo DiCaprio's 'Satori' The Next 'Bourne' Franchise?

By Sterling Wong Is Leonardo DiCaprio the next big action star? The critically acclaimed actor has been known recently for more Oscar-baity fare like the upcoming J. Edgar, but it looks like the stars trying to shake things up. Hes signed up to work with Quentin Tarantino as the villain in Django Unchained, and now DiCaprio is set to kick some butt as the star of Satori, a film adaptation of Don Winslows bestselling novel. Set in the Cold War era of the 1950s, DiCaprio will play Nicholai Hel, a Westerner who grew up in Japan and becomes an expert in martial arts and Go, a Japanese chess game, reports Deadline. Hel is recruited by the CIA to assassinate a Soviet ambassador to China, but he is betrayed and has to run for his life as various intelligence agencies chase after him. Theres no memory loss involved, but were definitely seeing some distinct similarities between DiCaprios Hel and Matt Damons Jason Bourne, what with the CIA betrayal and Hel and Bournes hyper-intelligence. Like Bourne, "Satori" will have an international feel to it: besides having a history in Japan, the film will also see DiCaprios character making his way across Vietnam as hes chased by antagonists from America, China, Russia and France, among others. Indeed, if "Satori" turns out to be a hit, it's said that Warner Bros. hopes to develop it into a successful franchise much like the "Bourne" series. "Satori" will not be the first film adaptation of a Don Winslow property. The author has another book, Savages, in the big screen works. Directed by Oliver Stone, this movie features an ensemble cast that includes John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Benicio Del Toro and Emile Hirsch. With a scheduled release date of September 28, 2012, Savages looks likely to hit theaters much earlier than Satori. Outside of "Satori," DiCaprio is currently busy filming Baz Luhrmanns The Great Gatsby and after that is completed, he will move on to Django Unchained, which is expected to keep him busy until spring 2012. So, it looks like action fans will have to be patient, and in the meantime, we can get our "Bourne" fix with the Jeremy Renner reboot, The Bourne Legacy, which will be released next year. What do you think of Leonardo DiCaprio as an action star? Tell us in the comments or on Twitter!

Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2010

New Line Reboots Mortal Kombat

EXCLUSIVE: New Line Cinema is bringing back Mortal Kombat, setting up a live action reboot of the martial arts-heavy franchise that will be written by Oren Uziel and directed by Kevin Tancharoen. Both of those guys have earned the work, since it was their unauthorized viral short that breathed life into franchise. Uziel wrote and Tancharoen directed the eight-minute short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, which starred Michael Jai White as Jax, Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade, Matt Mullins as Johnny Cage, Ian Anthony Dale as Scorpion and Lateef Crowder as Baraka. Tancharoen did this with the idea that he could prove himself to Warner Bros as an action director and reboot the movie franchise. Initially, Warner Games, which put out a videogame reboot in April, 2011, wasn’t amused and sought to shut down the effort. But Tancharoen’s effort created enough of a demand when it leaked online that the studio’s digital division, Warner Premiere, made a deal with him to generate a 10-episode web series. Those episodes began airing on YouTube in April 2011. New Line then went to Tancharoen and Uziel and put together the movie. Mortal Kombat premiered in 1995, and the original film grossed $122 million worldwide. Interest waned with the 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, which grossed only $51.3 million worldwide. The studio is keeping the plot under wraps.

Transformers 3 Dark Of The Moon Online Free

Seven Entrepreneurs Quit of 'The Playboy Club' After PTC Requires Boycott

The Oldsters Television Council states seven companies have attracted their ads within the second episode in the Playboy Club - plus they are getting in touch with Capital One, Samsung and Chrysler to follow along with together with their lead.our editor recommends'Playboy Club': Gloria Steinem Advocates Boycott of NBC Series'Playboy Club's' Sean Maher Arrives: 'It Feels So Liberating' Stating the show's ratings, the crowd's leader Tim Winter states, "What's been apparent to everyone outdoors of NBC must easily be apparent extending its love to people inside NBC: The Playboy Club can be a commercial disaster and really should be studied from the airwaves. We demand the network to cancel this degrading and sexualizing program immediately." Kraft, Sprint, Lenovo, UPS Store, Subway, P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Campbell's Soup did not advertise inside the second episode on Monday. PHOTOS: Fall TV Dying Pool: Which Show Will Probably Be Axed First? The premiere was soft with 5 million audiences and basically single.6 rating inside the ad-coveted 18-49 demo. It sunk 19 percent within the second week, with only 3.8 million audiences together with single.3 inside the key demo. The PTC has specific the show for objectifying and degrading women since it was acquired by NBC. PHOTOS: Fall's 12 Most Anticipated Shows It vows to hold onto request people to get hold of entrepreneurs "until they cease sponsorship from the broadcast television program that's mainstreaming the pornography industry." "Just like a licensee in the public airwaves, NBC has breached everyone trust by airing what comes lower to some weekly advertisement for just about any pornographic brand. As proven with the Nielsen ratings for your Playboy Club yesteryear 2 days, anymore airing in the show not only pushes an anti-family agenda, but can be a profoundly bad business decision," added Winter. PHOTOS: Fall TV Preview: The Completely New Shows "Before program is slowly removed within the public airwaves, PTC will probably be getting in touch with its people together with other concerned people to get hold of the sponsors. Today, we request Capital One, Chrysler and Samsung if their corporate values are consistent with people in the Playboy brand," Winter ongoing. Related Subjects The Playboy Club

Trio of plays for Tricycle

A rioter throws a rock at riot police in London last month. "The Riots," a play derived from spoken evidence of the civil unrest that swept across London in August this year, will kick off the season at London's Tricycle Theater as part of a three-play slate. "Riots," by Gillian Slovo and directed by Nicolas Kent -- who is leaving the North London venue in 2012 after 28 years at the helm -- continues Kent's tradition of verbatim dramas drawn from real-life political events. Prior outings include "Guantanamo -- Honor Bound to Defend Freedom," which transferred to the West End and NY and was performed at the U.K.'s Houses of Parliament and on Capitol Hill in Washington. Slovo's play, which runs Nov. 17-Dec. 20 with a press night set for Nov. 22, draws on everything from tweets by taxi drivers to moment-by-moment accounts by riot police in order to build a real-time picture of the riots as they unfolded. Its analysis of what happened and why will be taken from interviews with politicians, teachers, lawyers and community leaders as well as victims and onlookers. Other plays in Kent's final season include the first revival of Marie Jones' comedy "Stones In His Pockets," helmed by Indhu Rubasingham. Previewing from Dec 15, it opens Dec. 20. Kent's farewell will be "The Bomb -- A Partial History in Two Parts." Running Feb. 9-April 1, it consists of two full evenings of short plays commissioned from Lee Blessing, Ryan Craig, John Donnelly, David Greig, Elena Gremina, Amit Gupta, Zinnie Harris, Ron Hutchinson, Diana Son and Colin Teevan.The first of the two parts, "First Blast (1940-1992)," looks at Britain's involvement with the building of the atomic bomb through the Cuban missile crisis to the development of India's bomb and the break-up of the Soviet Union. Latter seg, "Second Blast (1992-2012)," looks at Israel's and Iran's nuclear capability, the "axis of evil" and North Korea through to current negotiations with Iran. The Tricycle Theater's production of slapstick Hitchcock spoof "The 39 Steps" hit Broadway in 2008 and then shifted to Off Broadway a couple of years later. Last season its Aghanistan-themed marathon "The Great Game: Afghanistan" had a run Off Broadway. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

Watch Transformers 3 Online

Fox Orders New Gordon Ramsay Series

Gordon Ramsay Gordon Ramsay will stir some misunderstanding once again - but this time around around it won't be in the kitchen area area. Round the heels of Hell's Kitchen's finale which attracted almost 6 000 0000 audiences, Fox introduced Wednesday it's bought another unscripted series from Ramsay's production company.Fall Preview: Get scoop inside your favorite returning showsThe series, tentatively titled Hotel Hell, follows Ramsay together with an organization of hospitality industry vets simply because they travel mix-country to update fighting hotels."They're tales that everyone can interact with, because virtually people have stood a bad hotel experience that's switched a holiday or business travel in to a total disaster," Ramsay mentioned. "You are prepared to put the hospitality industry for the test."Fall TV: Start to see the 17 stars as well as sturdy . eyes relating to this yearThe show's format will mimic individuals of Kitchen Bad dreams or nightmares - with Ramsay delivering business refurbishments to hotels, hotels, and bed mattress-and-breakfasts in serious demand for help.Hotel Hell will be the fourth addition to Ramsay's reality TV empire. More youthful crowd stars in Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Bad dreams or nightmares and MasterChef.

Box Office Report: 'The Lion King' Still a Champ 17 Years Later

Disney's re-release of The Lion King is mining gold at the domestic box office, where it's on course to gross $15 million or better for the weekend and win the No. 1 spot away from three new films.our editor recommends'Drive': Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan Share Passionate Kiss in an Elevator (Video)'Drive': What the Critics Are SayingDisney's 'The Lion King' to Return to Theaters in Digital 3D'Straw Dogs': What the Critics Are Saying'Straw Dogs': Is The New Movie Better Than The Original? Families are turning out in force to see the 3D conversion of the 1994 animated classic (theaters also are playing the toon on some 2D screens), which is tied to the Oct. 4 release of the Diamond Blu-Ray edition of the film. PHOTOS: Ryan Gosling's Career in Pictures Heading into the weekend, tracking suggested Lion King would gross $12 million to $13 million, but box office observers upped their estimates because of such strong sales on Friday (some believe the pic could even come in as high as $18 million, but others aren't as bullish). Elsewhere at the box office, Friday night business will determine the fate of the weekend's three new releases, but early returns suggest Ryan Gosling action-thriller Drive is in a close race with Warner Bros. holdover Contagion for the No. 2 spot at $12 to $13 million each for the weekend. STORY: 'The Lion King' Poised to Win Weekend Box Office FilmDistrict is distributing Drive in the U.S.; the critically acclaimed film and Toronto Film Festival favorite was directed byNicholas Winding Refn and also stars Carey Mulligan andBryan Cranston. Heading into the weekend, tracking pegged Drive's opening weekend gross at around $10 million. Sarah Jessica Parker comedy I Don't Know How She Does It and Rod Lurie's remake Straw Dogs - the other two new films - are off to a softer start. Early projections have I Don't Know How She Does It, from the Weinstein Co., grossing around $7 million, although the number could be higher if word-of-mouth is strong among women, the film's target demo. Screen Gems' Straw Dogs also is expected to gross around $7 million for the weekend, give or take. Box office observers cautioned that a more accurate read won't come until Friday night since Straw Dogs - like Drive - is rated R, meaning it isn't doing big matinee business. Straw Dogs stars Alexander Skarsgard, James Marsden andKate Bosworth. Related Topics Ryan Gosling Drive The Lion King Straw Dogs

Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Online Free

Completeness

Aubrey Dollar and Karl Miller are science students who find romance behind their nerd-speak. A Playwrights Horizons presentation of a play in two acts by Itamar Moses. Directed by Pam MacKinnon.Elliot - Karl Miller Molly - Aubrey Dollar Lauren, et al - Meredith Forlenza Don, et al - Brian AversThat deadly theatrical form, the romcom, gets a jolt of life from Itamar Moses, taking a break from his TV writing chores (on "Boardwalk Empire" and "Men of a Certain Age") to pen a romantic comedy that doesn't turn the stomach or insult the intelligence. Although "Completeness" observes the standard conventions of a cute-couple comedy, Moses ascribes a contempo sensibility to his characters, grad-school scientists who hide their personal anxieties behind torrents of surprisingly lyrical nerd-speak. As played by two appealing leads, these kids are in good hands, but their romance has a hard time surviving an awkward second act. The highly structured revolving set (by David Zinn) and the hi-tech design of the lighting (Russell H. Champa) and video projections (Rocco DiSanti) play a key role in that problematical second act, which makes a huge literal point about the way technology can both assist and impede human connections. But the only set pieces that count are the sterile computer cluster where Elliot (Karl Miller) and Molly (Aubrey Dollar) meet cute and the big warm bed where they dare to be human. Miller, a rare and true find who appears to have eluded the attention of the Hollywood studio talent bandits, is such a likable performer that Elliot, a computer science grad student at an undesignated university, wins our hearts before he even opens his mouth. The lovestruck lad is so socially tongue-tied and physically uncoordinated that Molly, the molecular biologist he's been trying to pick up, has to come to his rescue by asking for help with an experiment that's been throwing up data that is "sort of noisy and full of crap." Molly's a charmer, but she's also formidably smart and sure of herself, and Dollar gets extra credit for letting us see that fine intelligence along with her girlish insecurities. So score two for helmer Pam MacKinnon ("Clybourne Park"), who also directed the play when it preemed at South Coast Rep. Actually, score four for this helmer, because Brian Avers and Meredith Forlenza are plenty of fun to watch as the various ex-lovers and would-be lovers who serve to make the plot look more complicated than it is. Would that Moses had given these characters more to do in the second act, when Elliot and Molly have the big breakup that's pretty much obligatory in romantic comedies. For some reason, the playwright neglected the mechanical plot engineering necessary to support some plausible dramatic complications for the breakup, which feels abrupt and insufficiently motivated. In one respect, Elliot and Molly are no different from countless other lovers in countless other plays: They're wary of commitment and want some assurances they won't be hurt if they let down their guard. But Moses poses this eternal question in an original and interesting way, by making it the nub of the biology science problem that Elliot tries to solve with the data-mining algorithm he programs for Molly. So when these articulate lovers enthusiastically speak (in streams of dense but strangely musical technical language) of brute force algorithms that can organize masses of possibilities into manageable, even predictable probabilities, they are actually calculating their own odds of being hurt. The metaphors may not be on a par with the imagery in "Ode on a Grecian Urn," but every generation speaks its own poetry and Moses seems to have the ear for it.Sets and costumes, David Zinn; lighting, Russell H. Champa; original music and sound design, Bray Poor; projections and video, Rocco DiSanti; production stage manager, Charles M. Turner III. Opened Sept. 13, 2011. Reviewed Sept. 8. Running time: 2 HOURS, 20 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows The Movie

FilmNation flies high with 'Sky'

FilmNation Entertainment looking to ''Eye in the Sky,'' acquiring Guy Hibbert's screenplay as a directing vehicle for Oliver Hirschbiegel (''Downfall''). FilmNation made the announcement Monday at the Toronto Film Festival and said it's ''aggressively'' putting the thriller together with the aim of starting to prep later this year. ''Sky'' follows a group of characters around the globe as they are each impacted by the decision to drop a drone missile on a house in East Africa. This will be Hibbert and Hirschbiegel's second collaboration following ''Five Minutes of Heaven,'' starring Liam Neeson. FilmNation EVP Production Karen Lunder brought in the project to the company and will produce alongside FilmNation's President of Production Aaron Ryder. Stephen Wright, who works with the BBC where the project was initially developed, will also produce. ''As a company we have been searching for a project to do with Oliver for some time,'' Ryder said. Hirschbiegel said he was drawn to the project because of the tense subject matter that examines contemporary warfare and its detachment from real life. FilmNation acquired the rights from BBC Films, in cooperation with BBC TV. Zoe Brown brokered the deal for the BBC and Alison Cohen negotiated the deal for FilmNation. Hirschbiegel is repped by UTA and by Attorney Barry Hirsch. Hibbert is repped by UTA and The Agency in London. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Watch The Hangover 2 Movie

U.S., Korea groups ink three dimensional pact

American and Korean people from the Worldwide three dimensional Society have signed a memorandum of understanding pledging mutual cooperation on content production, marketing, distribution and knowledge discussing among member companies within the two nations. Executives and government authorities expect the agreement to boost Korea's three dimensional industry. I3DS people for the reason that country include Korea Telecom, the EBS educational broadcast network and satcaster Skylife. U.S. people include The new sony, Disney and DreamWorks Animation. The signing ceremony between your two nations' I3DS sections happened at DreamWorks Animation on Friday. One of the loudspeakers was See Joong Choi, chairman from the Korea Communications Commission, the same as the FCC. He advised support for three dimensional content production and technology in Korea. KCC director Yong Su Oh pointed to lack of three dimensional content in Korea in comparison towards the U.S. and urged cooperation between your two countries' three dimensional industries to advertise the biz in Korea. Another agreement was signed between your two I3DS sections and also the Korea Radio Promotion Association to encourage educational programs and trades. Dr. Doo Hwan Choi, chairman Korea's I3DS chapter and CTO of Korea Telecom, which co-backed the ceremony, stated the society's educational programs will give you the sorts of possibilities and program development needed through the burgeoning business. Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com

Julianne Moore Goes Back To School

With Greg Kinnear inside the British TeacherThere are a few ginormous Julianne Moore fans around these parts, so every single day when she subscribes for just about any new project seems as being a Good Day. Ideally she'd sign up for a completely new project each day but that will in all probability destroy her. Rather, we'll take tidings that she's joining Greg Kinnear inside the British Teacher and hope it gives her plenty of opportunity to flaunt her acting chops. Billed becoming an 'indie comedy', The British Teacher follows high-school British teacher Linda Sinclair (Moore) whose existence is switched upside lower with the return from the star student. Mentioned pupil has not successful just like a playwright in New You'll be able to and attended his small-town school, most most likely in a few kind of teaching capacity, where he makes things awkward for Sinclair. Whether there's an intimate position, we're not wholly sure, but they're unlikely being trading time bickering over Wally Whitman. The British Teacher marks the directorial debut of Craig Zisk. There is a good slice of offbeat TV work behind him, including cases of Puppy puppy nip/Tuck, The Big C and Weeds, that may give some clue concerning the tone of his first feature. However, may possibly not. Unsure yet on Kinnear's role in things but return for further on that.

For Stars, Pretending being Sick Pays Off

Ever play physician becoming an adult? Now you can play patient, earning money carrying it out.From New You'll be able to to Hollywood, medical schools pay stars to portray patients to have the ability to train medical students and nurses about bed room manner and the way to conduct routine exams. The calls them "standardized patients." "We uncover smart, gifted stars [to assist] us in training generation x of doctors," referred to Dr. Sondra Zabar, the director in the standardized patient program at NYU Langone Medical Center's Program for Medical Education, Innovation and Research. "We use standardized patients for that 'learners'whether they are medical students or people or facultyto practice important capabilities."In 1963, Dr. Howard Barrows at College of La was the first to coach and rehearse standardized patients (SPs). The practice is ongoing to develop to date, in line with the Association of Standardized Patients, over four dozen medical schools round the united states . States and Canada use SPs. "In the last ten to 15 years, [using SPs] has converted into a typical part of all med school training," states Zabar. "Even part of the licensure of medical students includes a standardized patient exam."Most artists try SP programs through pals, but every once in awhile an advert look on C-list or on job-hunting websites. With enough schools always looking for new stars, finding these jobs is not always tough, nevertheless it takes dedication and skill to keep booking gigs. Actress Jamie Fair has labored just like a standardized patient within the College of Pittsburgh for any very long time. To obtain the job she applied online then stood a phone interview. Next, she was introduced straight into talk to the director in the program and current standardized patients. Once hired, artists must undergo a workout program. The Western College of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif. has intensive training periods that are spread over three visits for the college. The School of Pittsburgh requires 16 to twenty several hours of fundamental training before stars even go to a medical student. At New You'll be able to College, a mix of character and record training is important.InchWorking out itself was rigorous and intensive, but very informative," referred to actor Kamil Haque, who labored just like a standardized patient in Pomona. Most training is paid out, nevertheless the real earnings come when you start coping with student doctors and nurses. Rates may differ. At NYU, the hourly rates are $25. Brown College Mediterranean school pays $100 to $200 for that means by-depth and the way extended each simulation is. For completely new standardized patients at Western College of Health Sciences, pay tops off around $80 for just about any five- to six-hour day's work. A typical day for just about any standardized patient ranges from playing an roughed up wife to being recognized together with ailments. In one situation, actress Tischa Culver visited Barcelona for just about any doctors' association convention where she was examined for fibromyalgia syndrome syndrome. "The doctor would squeeze your elbow and ask for you to definitely certainly describe the discomfort in a single to 10,Inch Culver referred to. She'd been trained items to say based on her character. Becoming an actor, being a SP frequently means supplemental income while aiding to maintain capabilities fresh between gigs. "This certainly helps during my improvisation capabilities in addition to character development," mentioned Phyllis Lynn, an actress which has labored just like a SP at Brown College Mediterranean school. "Obtaining the SP program generates for me the opportunity to produce credible figures that are grounded the simple truth is,In . Haque added. "I've got a opportunity to do and understand that like me evaluating students doctors, I too am being examined. I buy instant feedback in my performance and where I am in a position to improve." "We learned that standardized patients, or people that do that kind of work, appreciate it since they are contributing to another generation of doctors," Dr. Zabar mentioned. "They find they study a lot themselves. Many of them condition that this is their explanation have different anticipation with how they approach their unique doctors, and they have new insight about medical health insurance and counseling."Visit the ASPE website for all of the med school programs concerning the u . s . states that look for simulated patients. CONTACT NYU Langone Medical Center's Program for Medical Education, Innovation and Research By email: premier@nyumc.org College of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Advanced Clinical Education Center By email: acec@medschool.pitt.edu Western College of Health Sciences Brown College Alpert Med School Office of Curriculum Matters

Leonardo DiCaprio Mistaken For Jewelry Thief

SYDNEY, Australia -- A hooded, sunglasses-wearing Leonardo DiCaprio sparked a brief panic at a Sydney, Australia jewelry story on Thursday. The mistaken identify snafu went down at Sydneys The Family Jewels store where the actor turned up to check out some bling. All of a sudden these two big burly guys came into the shop, shop owner Kane Kelfkens told Splash News. We saw a hooded figure come in with dark glasses and [my sales assistant Linda] thought, Oh boy, this is serious. So, she rushed next door and said, There might be a hold up next door, he explained. [She] realized that Leo was the man under the hood. Hed taken off his glasses and she relaxed. Despite the brief tense moment, Linda kept her sense of humor about the situation. She actually had a bit of a joke with him about thinking that he might have been a thief. When he wanted to a look at one of the necklaces, she said, Dont you run out the door with that necklace, he recalled. Kane said the actor was looking at a $1600 Nepalese antique necklace adorned with lapis lazuli and coral for his mother. One of the best ones we have in the store, Kane said of the necklace. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Watch X-Men: First Class 2011

Disney taps Chapek to head consumer products

The Walt Disney Co has tapped Robert Chapek as president of Disney Consumer Products. He has served as head of distribution of the Walt Disney Studios since November 2009. Chapek replaces Andy Mooney, who revitalized the Mouse House's licensing business over the past 12 years. He ankled unexpectantly this week. Chapek has also served as president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. In his new role, Chapek will oversee what Disney calls a newly formed companywide consumer products organization, which will consolidate retail and licensing across Disney's lines of business including Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, Marvel, media networks, interactive media and consumer products. "Bob's vast experience, talent and proven track record will be key to implementing a consolidated approach to retail resulting in a more efficient and effective organization," said Disney chief Bob Iger, to whom Chapek reports. "As the retail market becomes more centralized, it is important to provide the consumer with an array of choices in a seamless, coordinated way." Chapek said, "I'm excited about the opportunity to lead our newly expanded team and to grow our brands, franchises and movie properties in the fast-changing retail and licensing marketplace." As a result of Chapek's move, Alan Bergman, president of the Walt Disney Studios, will assume Chapek's former responsibilities of theatrical and TV platform distribution of studio movies. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

La-Bas. A Criminal Education (La-Bas. Educazione criminale)

An Eskimo, Figli del Bronx, Minerva Pictures Group production, together with Film Commission Regione Campania, Gesco, Fare Piu, Audioimage, About the Docks, Rai Cinema. Created by Dario Formisano, Gaetano Di Vaio, Pietro Pizzimento, Gianluca Curti. Executive producer, Gennaro Fasolino. Directed, compiled by Guido Lombardi.With: Kader Alassane, Moussa Mone, Esther Elisha, Billi Serigne Faye, Alassane Doulougou, Fatima Traore, Salvatore Ruocco. (French, British, Italian, Neapolitan dialect dialogue)Finally, a refreshing consider the problems of illegal immigration in Italia that does not only thinks outdoors this area but seems to engage in the city it's spotlighting. Newcomer helmer Guido Lombardi's "La-Bas. A Criminal Education" has some first-timer defects, but it is also got truthfulness and honesty miles prior to other large-allocated local product. The little Rome- and Naples-based shingles backing Lombardi ought to be recommended for putting gold coin right into a pic that might possibly not have great local legs but, using the right critical push, could travel the fest circuit as well as hit Euro arthouse screens. Castel Volturno is really a seaside town 18 miles from Naples having a large African population and an issue with the Camorra. Artist Yssouf (Kader Alassane) is fresh from the plane from Africa, looking for an uncle who guaranteed him employment and a nice income. Rather Yssouf only finds impoverished Africans battling to earn a living and keep a feeling of community. When he is doing locate Uncle Moses (Moussa Mone), Yssouf finds out he's a drug dealer capitalizing from an uneasy partnership having a branch from the Camorra. Enticed by the potential of generating quick dough, he joins his uncle's biz and distances themself in the encouraging, decent people he met when he first showed up. He'd want to see the incandescent Suad (Esther Elisha) again, however when he finds out she's a prostitute, are all too embarrassed to communicate. When a devout Muslim, Yssouf now drinks, skips hopes, and starts to feel progressively uncomfortable together with his participation in the uncle's shady dealings. Competition between warring Camorra factions exposes the Africans' reliance on local drug lords, and violence becomes inevitable. The murderous evening in the pic's finale is dependant on an incident from 2008, when six African males were gunned lower outdoors a tailor's shop. "La-bas," that is French for "lower there," discloses the vulnerability of people of the community who risked their lives to get at Italia, simply to be faced with deficiencies in employment and being marginalized as outsiders. Lombardi's script can use a little of tightening here along with a little expansion there, however the feeling of place is tangible, also it appears to check out the city from inside as opposed to the usual standpoint of righteous first-worlders naively wanting to prove they are concerned. The choice to shoot mostly in French and British instead of Italian increases the authenticity. Thesps are a mixture of pros and amateurs, even though the mixture works, there's one stand-in Elisha, an Afro-Italian actress who radiates confidence. Lensing is informal and simple, though color correction about the print seen seems to not be complete, and digital quality could be uneven. Editing develops toward the finish and finds precisely the right rhythm to take full advantage of the strain.Digital camera (color, HD), Francesca Amitrano editors, Annalisa Forgione, Beppe Leonetti music, Giordano Corapi production designer, Maica Rotondo costume designer, Francesca Balzano seem, Davide Mastropaolo, Leandro Sorrentino assistant director, casting, Sergio Panariello. Examined at Venice Film Festival (Critics' Week), Sept. 5, 2011. Running time: 98 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

HAMMOND: Controversial Shame Arrives, Stirring Telluride Talk And Scaring Distribs; David Cronenbergs A Dangerous Method

On the heels of their world premieres at the Venice Film Festival, David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method and Steve McQueen’s Shame had their North American premieres at Telluride on Sunday. Both films star Michael Fassbender, and in the controversial latter film, he really reveals all as does co-star Carey Mulligan. The sexually provocative scenes were enough to guarantee an NC-17 rating, which made at least three potential distributors who saw it here skittish. One told me that without the 55-plus crowd this art picture will die and the potentialNC-17 willdrive them away. But McQueenisn’t editing it evenif distribs suggest cuts. (For instance, Mulligan who plays a night club singer does a rendition of New York, New York that lasted longer than the Spanish Civil War.)Despite the film’s attributes, Shame will be a very tough sell even with sex scenes as marketing bait. McQueen was still in Venice and couldn’t make it to the Rockies. But he sent a video introduction. Reaction among the packed audiences for the first two showings of Shame today were mixed. Some hated it and some appreciated it, but no seemed to be doing cartwheels except critics in Venice. One thing is clear, however: Fassbender is a definite star, not only in McQueen’s film but also in A Dangerous Method, playing Swiss doctor Carl Jung opposite his intellectual equal, Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). He keeps his clothes on in this one. A Dangerous Method is a film of ideas, and those are rare. It’s also a film of words. Lots of them. Cronenberg was still in Venice, but screenwriter Christopher Hampton was here explaining how he came full circle from writing a screenplay based on the John Kerr book, turning it into a play, and then back again after Cronenberg expressed interest. The play was called The Talking Cure, but apparently no one got the cure because these guys just keep talking. Fortunately, Hampton’s dialogue is in the hands of skilled actors and a filmmaker who knows how to get nice visuals on the screen. Method goes out via Sony Classics on November 23. I ran into SPC President Michael Barker, who flew in from Venice on Friday night. He told me he thinks he can get Oscar nominations for all the stars of the film. He’s also very high on his otherthree Telluride debuts, Agnieszka Holland’s Polish Oscar entry, In Darkness,Cannes BestScreenplay winner Footnote from Israel,and the Iranian film A Separation, which won raves from the fest-goers I polled as they exited the film’s first showing this morning. The provocative film should be a contender for Iran in the Foreign Language Oscar competition, barring internal politics — which is one reason the Academy should change the rules that allow each country to choose it’s entry. Barker also was still talking up Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, which became the second-most-successful film in SPC history (after Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The film has been playing since May and was re-released on several hundred screens last weekend, just in time for Hurricane Irene which Barker admitted killed business. But he said the movie shot up dramatically this weekend, making the decision to expandmore viable for SPC. The company is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and in honor of that, Barker andco-president Tom Bernard threw a dinner Saturday night at La Marmotte. However, Bernard was a no-show as other commitments kept him from Telluride for the first time in aboutthree decades, and he reportedly was very upset having to miss it. Another company throwing a party (Sunday afternoon)was Oscilloscope in honor of the Telluride tribute to Tilda Swinton. She stars in their post-Cannes pickup We Need to Talk About Kevin, which started screening here today. How Swinton lost the Cannes Best Actress award is still a head-scratcher. In Cannes I suggested to Swinton that she bring the film to Telluride, and then Itracked down fest co-directors Tom Luddy and Gary Meyer to tell them she was interested.Lo and behold, she’s here getting toasted. But even though she says she’s trying tosee other movies, she’s busy with her own and wants to come back as a guest director maybe as soon as next year. She’s very proud of her Oscar-winning performance in Michael Clayton (she gave the statuette to her agent WME’s Brian Swardstrom, and it is still his, she says). The film has been prominent here. It screened in Elks Park on Thursday night, and clips were included in both her tribute and George Clooney’s. She also praised one of the few films she has seen here, Clooney’s The Descendants. She told me it makes her want to go to the less-traveled parts of Hawaii thatthe film shows. She also said she recalls the ovation of several minutes that her film got in Cannes. That’s par for the course for Cannes, but Swinton says it is even more pronounced in Italy. She participated in the first of her two tributes here Sunday night and will do anotherMonday morning.(There are always two completetributes for each person at Telluride for some reason.) Kevin director Lynne Ramsey made the trip to Telluride, too, and told me she loves it so much she wants to skip Cannes from now on and only come to Telluride. Oscilloscope has big Oscar campaign plans for Swinton and Kevin, and have kept their relationship with awards maven Cynthia Swartz, who just ankled 42 West for her own company, Strategy PR/Consulting. Two years ago, Swartzcooked up a campaign that landed Oscilloscope’sunderdog, The Messenger, two major Oscar nominations.Exec David Finkel told me they plan to do a one-week run on December 4 in Los Angeles and then reopen at the end of January when nominations are announced. Swinton plans to be in Los Angeles doing appearances with the film for much of November. That’s a good thing because many Academy members might want to avoid the searing subject matter of this uncompromisingmovie. Finkel said the company has the money for the campaign and plans to spend it to secure awards recognition. He said they were smitten with the dark, tough film from the moment they saw it in Cannes. Meanwhile, on Day 4 of our Telluride George Clooney Watch, George did the second of his tributes this morning and was in rare comic form. Having just turned 50, he described himself as “AARP’s Sexiest Man still alive”. He also is pretty savvy about the longevity of careers in show business these days, saying his Aunt Rosemary’s up-and-down career taught him a valuable lesson. “I knew you weren’t gonna be in front for very long. There is a sell-by date,” he said. Headded that healways thought of himself as a film actor even when he was only appearingon the sitcom The Facts of Life. “Film actors look down on TV actors, and TV actorslook down on reality fuckers,” is how he described the pecking order in Hollywood. Words to live by. And with that he was off to the airport, but not before asking me if I was going to be at the Toronto Film Festival next week.The answer is “yes” as the fall fest madness continues.

Last Exorcism Follow up Planned

Damien Chazelle will write the script.... Considering the fact that horror thriller The Final Exorcism made $62. 5 million worldwide from the thrifty budget of $1. six million, it's not just a surprise to are convinced that a follow up has become within the works. The film, that also obtained Best Horror against the kind of Allow Me To In and Paranormal Activity 2 at our very own honours ceremony, would be a found footage jewel that saw troubled evangelical preacher Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) inviting a documentary crew along to his final exorcism to finally reveal the truth that the practice is fake. However when they get through to the group of player Louis Sweetzer (Louis Herthum), that has known as Marcus directly into help his daughter Nell (Ashley Bell), all of them uncover greater than they bargained for...While Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland authored the script for that first movie, the task of penning the follow up continues to be handed to rising newcomer scribe Damien Chazelle. As they has only one created feature film credit to his title, that might be Guy and Madeline on the Park Bench, a little movie musical he modified from their own thesis project and obtained a location in the Tribeca Film Festival. Since that time, he's offered a number of scripts, including Hitchcockian thriller Grand Piano and also the Claim, which sees just one father attempting to save his kidnapped daughter from another couple, and which arrived about the 2010 Black List. Should you were not already annoyed at him, he's still only 25. There is no word on which the brand new Exorcism outing will really be known as, or what it will likely be about, but we are likely to guess evil spirits or devils will feature heavily.