Sunday, August 28, 2011

Phnom Penh Lullaby (Kolsanka z Phnom Penh)

A Parallax Film/Polish Film Institute production. (Worldwide sales: Krakow Film Foundation, Krakow.) Created, directed by Pawel Kloc. Compiled by Kloc, Przemyslaw Niczyporuk.With: Ilan Schickman, Saran, Marie, Jasmine. (British, Hebrew, Khmer dialogue)The oddest of odd couples -- a persistantly poor Israeli guy in exile as well as an alcoholic Cambodian lady, neither who talks the other peoples language -- share two kids along with a curious feeling of love in docu "Phnom Penh Lullaby," Polish helmer Pawel Kloc's irritatingly uninvolving debut feature. Lensed with immediacy by d.p. and co-author Przemyslaw Niczyporuk totally on Phnom Penh's unfriendly roads, the film appears about the cusp of facts however drifts and dawdles. Despite a good fest run, commercial prospects even about the tube look slight. Kloc has mentioned he targeted "to create this film like a fiction," and also to treat your camera "as an invisible guest" within the lives of Ilan Schickman and g.f. Saran, futilely attempting to raise young girls Marie and Jasmine on Ilan's earnings like a tarot readers. A lot of the game handles tries to place Marie having a relative, because the parents can not afford to boost her. Their skills are filled with tragedy, but it's tough being psychologically associated with individuals who appear to not understand how to take proper care of themselves, not to mention kids.Camera (color, HD), Niczyporuk editor, Jacek Tarasiuk music, Marc Marder. Examined at DocuWeeks, La, August. 26, 2011. (Also in Hot Paperwork, Moscow, Bay Area Jewish, Reykjavik, Sheffield Documentary film festivals.) Running time: 102 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Watch X-Men: First Class Online For Free

Thursday, August 25, 2011

'Help,' Irene could sweep weekend B.O.

'The Help''Our Idiot Brother'The quiet times of August turn to happen to be the perfect place for "The Assistance,Inch that is poised to again top Stateside box office. The Disney-DreamWorks pic is pitted against a trio of wide releases, that are all prone to earn under $15 million.The imminent arrival of Hurricane Irene about the New England may also hit weekend.B.O., which is not expected to maintain exactly the same frame this past year, when "Takers" and "The Final Exorcism" bowed with $20.5 million and $20.4 million, correspondingly.Horror pic "You Shouldn't Be Scared of the Dark," with FilmDistrict starting at 2,760 U.S. locations, is anticipated to top the beginners, monitoring within the $tens of millions of-$12 million range, as the Weinstein Co.'s Sundance comedy pick-up, "Our Idiot Brother," at 2,555, could easily trump "Dark" having a similar performance within the low teens. Actioner "Colombiana," which The new sony acquired like a service deal, should estimate the $7 million-$8 million range, based on B.O. commentators.Monitoring services happen to be substantially off recently, so shuffling one of the new records would not be too surprising.Overseas box office often see a lot of same, as couple of debut game titles go into the fray against Sony's repeat champion "The Smurfs," that has cumed $211.5 million after four days. "Cowboys and Aliens," having a cume of $17.8 million, stands the very best possibility of unseating "Smurfs" (pic grows into 18 marketplaces including France, Germany and Mexico).Last weekend, disappointing B.O. returns one of the new records had bizzers accusing negative reviews and poor audience reaction, while "The Assistance,Inch in addition to Fox's "Rise from the Planet from the Apes," still hold well according to strong word-of-mouth. "The AssistanceInch has made almost $80 million through Wednesday "Apes," $138.4 million.Reacting towards the title's hold available on the market, Disney is adding another 88 locations for "The AssistanceInch that's following the Mouse added 156 playdates last weekend, according to exhib demand. As a whole, "The AssistanceInch is out a few days ago at 2,778 U.S. engagements.It's very rare for any film to position No. 1 for multiple consecutive days, carrying out a debut which was not within the top place. "The Blind Side" rose to No. one in its third frame -- so did "True Grit" -- but neither film handled to remain on top throughout their 4th outing."The AssistanceInch is not prone to achieve overall domestic totals similar to "The Blind Side" ($255 million), because the latter pic performed through Christmas and first-quarter 2010. Likewise, "True Grit, having a cume of $171 million, achieved positive results from elevated moviegoing throughout this years holidays, plus an honours-season boost. In either case, "The AssistanceInch stands among the summer's most enjoyable surprises, no matter final totals.Both "You Shouldn't Be Scared of the Dark" and "Our Idiot Brother" could attract similar auds -- namely, femmes under 25 -- though "Brother" also boasts strong interest from male moviegoers. Both limit some more youthful auds given their R rankings.Created by Guillermo del Toro, "You Shouldn't Be Scared of the Dark" stars Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and Bailee Madison. Pic was funded by Miramax for any reported $28 million (FilmDistrict acquired distribution privileges following the Disney-Miramax divorce). FilmDistrict, which footed the P&A bill, promoted the film heavily according to recognition for del Toro.Meanwhile, "Our Idiot Brother," which toplines Paul Rudd because the title brother or sister, cost Weinstein $six million being released of Sundance, by having an added minimum P&Dedication around $15 million. Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer and Zooey Deschanel co-star as Rudd's siblings.The weekend's third wide release, "Colombiana," was fully funded and promoted by Europa Corp. The new sony signed onto distribute the film Stateside through its TriStar label, in addition to handle some Latin American areas. Pic informs the storyline of the youthful lady, performed by Zoe Saldana, who after seeing the murder of her parents, matures to become an assassin.A set of Sundance photos, "Greater Ground" and "Circumstance," bow in limited release."Greater Ground," Vera Farmiga's directorial debut from The new sony Pictures Classics, opens at three locations in New You are able to and L.A., while Kerbside Attractions' Iranian gay-designed drama "Circumstance" bows today in a total seven U.S. playdates. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

'Bones' Casts Ben Savage in Guest-Starring Role

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Former Boy Meets World star Ben Savage is headed to Bones. The actor has landed a guest-starring role on the Fox drama series, which stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz. STORY: Fox Entertainment Chief on the Future of 'House,' 'Bones,' 'Terra Nova,' and More He tweeted about the gig Wednesday afternoon. "First day on the set of Bones," he wrote. "Great show and a very talented cast!" Savage is set to play a former shipping store employee who becomes part of an investigation. He will be featured in the upcoming season's fourth episode, which will air in December. Bones kicks off its new season Nov. 3. VIDEO: Comic-Con 2011: 'Bones' Highlight Reel Hits the Web Since Boy Meets World ended its seven-season run in 2000, Savage has most held guest-starring roles in such series as Chuck and Without a Trace. He also was in ABC's comedy pilot Making It Legal that was in contention for the 2007-08 season but didn't go forward. Ben Savage David Boreanaz Emily Deschanel Bones FOX

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Madea's Big Happy Family

Madea jumps into action when her niece, Shirley, receives distressing news about her health. All Shirley wants is to gather her three adult children around her and share the news as a family. But Tammy, Kimberly and Byron are too distracted by their own problems: Tammy can't manage her unruly children or her broken marriage; Kimberly is gripped with anger and takes it out on her husband; and Byron, after spending two years in jail, is under pressure to deal drugs again. It's up to Madea, with the help of the equally rambunctious Aunt Bam, to gather the clan together and make things right the only way she knows how: with a lot of tough love, laughter ... and the revelation of a long-buried family secret.

Monday, August 15, 2011

David Cronenberg, Pedro Almodovar Films Set for New York Film Festival Galas

David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method and Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live Inwill be featured in Gala slots at the upcoming 2011 New York Film Festival.our editor recommendsThe Skin I Live In (La Piel Que Habito): Cannes 2011 Review'A Dangerous Method': Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley Star in Historical Drama (Video) Cronenberg's Method, which stars Michael Fassbender as Carl Jung, Viggo Mortensen as Sigmund Freud and Keira Knightly as a mutual patient, will screen on Oct. 5. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on Nov. 23. Skin, Almodovar's latest film, which sees the Spanish director reteaming with Antonio Banderas in a thriller set against the backdrop of plastic surgery, will play the festival Oct. 12, two days before its scheduled Oct. 14 release via SPC. It's the first time NYFF has hosted two galas in addition to its opening, closing and centerpiece events. Explained Rose Kuo, executive director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, which produces the festival, "This year has seen a great deal of growth for us with the opening of our new Film Center and we are thrilled to continue the expansion at this year's NYFF. We will be offering more screenings, panels, and family events as well as these two new marquee nights that feature highly anticipated fall films." The festival runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 16. Related Topics David Cronenberg Pedro Almodovar International The Skin I Live In A Dangerous Method

Friday, August 12, 2011

Re-Capturing the Joy of Dance

I had a breakthrough! In my last post I mentioned that dance no longer brings me the same joy it used to. Today, for one brief moment, I finally re-captured that joy.My transition back to dance has been tough so far, and very humbling. I am supposed to be a professional performer, and I look like an amateur. I've felt that dreaded self-consciousness creep in at times, and I've definitely looked like a fool. And after nearly 20 years of training I've had to start at the beginning, almost as if all those years were just a figment of my imagination.Today I attended a Theater Dance class (at the beginner level) for the first time in who knows how long. As a musical theater actor Theater Dance is like comfort food for my body- or it used to be. And even though the across-the-floors were rudimentary, they gave me an incredible opportunity.We went across the floor to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray. It is impossible to hold back when dancing to that song, isn't it? I'm realizing now that that sense of abandon is what I've been missing in my return to dance. The combination was incredibly simple, but it went perfectly with the sentiment of the music.As I made my way through the combination I felt something take hold of me. All of that warmth and happiness that dance used to bring me came flooding back. I felt as if energy and light were shooting out of me in all directions like comets tearing through the sky. It was complete abandon at its best.CONTINUE READING ON UNSCRIPTED

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

'White Collar' Star to Make TV Directing Debut on Series (Exclusive)

Joe Corrigan/Getty ImagesTim DeKay One of White Collar's stars is stepping behind the camera. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Tim DeKay, who plays FBI agent Peter Burke on the USA Network drama, will be making his television directing debut with the episode, "Stealing Home," set to air February 2012. The episode, set around a "priceless stolen baseball," began shooting Tuesday in New York City. Additionally, 90210 and Californication alum Hal Ozsan will appear as the beloved and elusive contract thief from Great Britain, Gordon Taylor. Gordon is in Manhattan to assemble an all-star crew for his next big heist, which may include Neal (Matt Bomer) and Mozzie (Wille Garson). Through this, Neal is reminded of what life could be like again as a high-end thief. "It's interesting because I look at it from an actor's point of view," DeKay told THR late last week. "It confirms my thought about always relying on the director when he or she gives me a note. To a degree, they perhaps know the moment a little better than I do as an actor because [they've] been with the script much longer." The story treads on familiar ground for the TV vet, who has had his hand in directing shorts and theater. "I played some baseball in high school and college and I coach my son's Little League team," he said. "I was certainly able to contribute to the wardrobe decisions more than I've ever contributed to wardrobe in my life." DeKay, who has been in prep for about two weeks, is well aware of the internal challenges that await him as he takes the helm. "There definitely will be some fighting in my head," he says. "The crew might see me in the corner just arguing with myself as to whether or not I can get another take." Don't worry though, DeKay reassures that his screen time will not drastically decrease for the episode. But he issued a warning to those living in the Big Apple: "If you heard any kind of screams, if you lived in New York, you knew it would be on my first day of shooting." White Collar airs its midseason finale with guest star Beau Bridges on Tuesday at 9 p.m. and returns for the second half of Season 3 in January. Email: philiana.ng@thr.com White Collar

Tribeca sets 2012 dates

Lionsgate's 'Lincoln Lawyer' pic starring Matthew McConaughey grossed $58 million at the domestic box office.The Tribeca Film Festival's 11th edition will run April 18-29.Tribeca will be accepting submissions from Sept. 19 ahead of an Oct. 28 early deadline and a Dec. 2 official deadline for all features and shorts. There's also a Jan. 11 late deadline, which is only an option for features.The fest has set the calendar for its related Tribeca Film Institute programs, including Tribeca All Access, the TFI Doc Fund, the Latin America Media Arts Fund and the TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund. Submissions opened Monday with a deadline of Oct. 10.In April, Tribeca logged an overall attendance of 115,000 at movies and panels, screening 93 features and 60 shorts.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Apes Rise To No. 1 Weekend With $54 Million

FIRST PUBLISHED: August 7, 2011 1:10 PM EDT LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Apes have climbed to the top rung of the weekend box office. According to studio estimates Sunday, Rise of the Planet of the Apes took in $54 million to open as the No. 1 movie. That was more than analysts expected for the Apes prequel, though well below the $68.5 million opening of Tim Burtons Planet of the Apes remake 10 years ago. The family tale The Smurfs remained at No. 2 for the second-straight weekend with $21 million, lifting its domestic total to $76.2 million. The sci-fi Western Cowboys&Aliens, which debuted at No. 1 narrowly ahead of The Smurfs a week earlier, fell to third with $15.8 million, raising its total to $67.4 million. The comedy The Change-Up opened a weak No. 4 with $13.5 million. Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Olivia Wilde: Porn Star Linda Lovelace Biopic 'Would Be Interesting'

Before I arrive at the meat of the story, I must explain when there's anybody that has room to complain about the amount of press and marketing occasions she's needed to attend during the period of the this past year it's Olivia Wilde. In the outdoors searching in, the lady continues to be on or in a apparently never-ending stream of press junkets, conventions and red-colored carpets for films like "Tron: Legacy," "Cowboys and Aliens," and "The Modification-Up." And since Wilde is really hot at this time, her title will get attached to numerous film projects, i.e. Take advantage of Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's Linda Lovelace biopic, 1 of 2 presently within the works. When MTV News swept up using the busy actress in the premiere of "The Modification-Up," we requested her if she'll undertake the role. "I'm not sure yet, but it might be interesting," Wilde stated of playing the infamous "Deep Throat" star. "At this time I am being really careful and taking pleasure in the work I've done has really emerge,Inch she accepted. "Being an actor sometimes you need to do work that's never witnessed therefore it is really an recognition to create these movies towards the screen and also to show huge numbers of people.Inch Among individuals movies is "The Modification-Up," the R-ranked body swap movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman. "This really is one which I can not wait to exhibit off," she stated. "I've about ten buddies coming [towards the premiere] and that i can't wait to determine their laughing little faces." Inform us what you believe within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Time Warner 2Q profits jump 14 percent

Time Warner posted impressive second-quarter earnings Wednesday, as sales growth climbed to its highest rate for the conglom since the third quarter of 2007.Second quarter profits were up 14 percent to come in at $638 million during the three-month period, ended June 30, while revenue rose 10 percent to $7.03 billion.Stronger advertising sales and subscriptions at Time Warner's TV division, its largest business unit that includes CNN, TNT, TBS and HBO, boosted revenue by 9 percent to $3.5 billion.Subscription revenue at HBO, helped by ''Game of Thrones,'' grew 7 percent. Ad sales at other channels were up 11 percent, while syndication sales of shows like ''True Blood,'' and other content revenue was up another 18 percent.Hits at Warner Bros. that included ''The Hangover Part II'' and homevideo sales of ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part I" helped the film studio rack up a 13 percent boost in revenue to $2.8 billion. Videogame sales of ''Mortal Kombat'' also boosted biz for the division, a growing arm at the company, which is readying to bow tentpole title ''Batman: Arkham City.''Meanwhile, Time Inc.'s publishing arm saw revenue rise 3 percent to $946 million from a 2 percent growth in subs, 1 percent increase in ads and a 56 percent growth in content revenue.Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said growth prospects encouraged the company to buy back $2.3 billion of its shares so far in 2011.He added that the company was planning to invest further in new programming and marketing to grow its audience.''Our continued investment in our content and brands is paying off,'' Bewkes said. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Oprah Winfrey to Receive Academy's Hersholt Humanitarian Award

James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith have been chosen to receive Honorary Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oprah Winfrey will be honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.our editor recommendsTom Sherak Re-elected as Academy PresidentAcademy Poised to Enact New Rules Limiting Oscar Parties (Exclusive) The awards, which were voted Tuesday night by the Academy's board of governors, will be handed out at the 3rd Annual Governors Awards, which will be held Nov. 12 at the Grand Ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland Center. While she is best known as a TV host and producer, Winfrey received an Oscar nomination as best supporting actress for her film debut in 1985's The Color Purple, and she has made several Oscar show appearances since. In fact, at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995, she presented the Hersholt Award to Quincy Jones. Now it's her turn to accept the honor, an Oscar statuette given to an individual "whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry." Winfrey's philanthropic efforts include Oprah's Angel Network, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which opened in South Africa in 2007. Despite his ubiquitous movie presence -- not only did he lend his voice to Darth Vader in Star Wars, but he has appeared in more than 50 films -- Jones has only received one Academy Award nomination: A best lead actor nom in 1971 for his performance as boxer Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope. He made his film debut in 1964 in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. His other films have included Field of Dreams, Coming to America and a series of the Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan movies, beginning with The Hunt for Red October, in which he played Vice Admiral James Greer. Although he has won just one Oscar, for the make-up in 1984's Amadeus, and was nominated for another, for 1989's Dad, Smith has left his mark on dozens of films, earning unofficial standing as the "godfather of makeup." He began his career in 1945 as NBC's first make-up man and went on to lend his talents to such films as The Godfather, The Exorcist and Taxi Driver. In the process, he has also schooled a whole generation of award-winning makeup artists in his craft. While it is usually referred to as the honorary Oscar, the Academy's Honorary Award is given for "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy. Writer-director Phil Robinson will produce the ceremonies, which aren't broadcast, along with the producing team of Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare of Don Mischer Prods. A new tradition, the Governors Awards were instituted two years ago as a way of celebrating the honorary Oscar winners without the time constraints of the annual Oscar broadcast, thereby freeing up the broadcast to focus on its competitive categories. Although since one of this year's awards is going to Winfrey, it's a safe bet she will also be treated to more than just a passing bow during the broadcast. Last year, Francis Ford Coppola was the recipient of the Thalberg Award, which recognized his producing career, while historian Kevin Brownlow and actor Eli Wallach were on hand to receive Honorary Awards. Director Jean-Luc Godard was also honored, although he chose not to attend the ceremony. Related Topics James Earl Jones Oprah Winfrey Academy Awards AMPAS Francis Ford Coppola