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

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'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

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.

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

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

'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