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Tag: Film

  • Cote de Pablo Stars in First Post-NCIS Role

    Cote de Pablo broke the hearts of countless NCIS fans when she left the show this past fall. Featured in the short clip above talking about her future with NCIS–on her very first day of the show, in fact–she anticipated learning a lot during her time there. Now the beloved actress has moved on to the film world. She is sure to leave her mark in this film about Chilean miners.

    The 33 is the story of the 2010 rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners who spent 69 days underground in the Copiapo gold and copper mine. Cote de Pablo will play the wife of one of the trapped miners. The film will also star Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Lopez, Juliette Binoche and Rodrigo Santoro. It is presently in production in both Colombia and Chile. Cote is from Chile and her mother still resides there. The film no doubt tugs at her heartstrings which will, of course, serve to enhance her role even further.

    This film clip shows the actual rescue of the first of the Chilean miners following more than three months in captivity underneath the earth.

    Cote de Pablo played the role of NCIS’s Special Agent Ziva David. The last few episodes left fans on the edges of their seats, waiting to see if she would become romantically involved with Michael Weatherly’s NCIS character, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. Her last appearance on NCIS was a bit disappointing, but fans are clinging to a very slight shred of hope that she might one day return to the show.

    It will definitely be fun to watch Cote on the big screen with the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas. Will she become a famous movie star and leave behind even the most remote thoughts of ever returning to NCIS? Or might this simply be a case of Cote de Pablo trying her hand at something brand new–a feat everyone should lay claim to at many points during their lives?

    Image via Wikimedia

  • Point Break Remake to Star Gerald Butler as Bodhi

    At the end of Point Break, undercover FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) finally finds Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) after he escaped from the police. Utah screams through the pouring rain, “I’ve been to every city in Mexico. I came across an unclaimed piece of meat in Baja, turned out to be Rosie. I guessed he picked a knife fight with somebody better. Found one of your passports to Sumatra, I missed you by about a week at Fiji. But, I knew you wouldn’t miss the fifty year storm, Bodhi.”

    Bodhi convinces Utah to let him go, in order to grab one more wave before he’s hauled off to prison. Bodhi then surfs off into the monster storm with killer waves. The other cops yell at Utah, “You let him go.” Utah replies, “No I didn’t.”

    We see Bodhi hug the curl of a wave much too large for any human to survive. We assume that he will perish in its sheer massiveness. But the question still remains – could Bodhi have possibly survived? Your personal answer probably depends on whether you’re an extreme optimist or not.

    Now, audiences will get a chance to see Bodhi again in a remake of Point Break. This time it will be with Scottish actor Gerald Butler in the Patrick Swayze role. There is no word yet on who will play Utah. The 1991 hit film directed by Oscar winner Katheryn Bigelow centered upon a group of surfers/bank robbers who wore ex-president masks during their bank raids. Former college quarterback and rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah infiltrates the surfer gang, except there’s one thing. Utah doesn’t know how to surf. Doesn’t matter, Bodhi takes the guy under his wing and a historical movie bromance begins.

    Now that Butler has been cast, production for the remake is set for this summer. It will be directed by Ericson Core of Fast & Furious fame, with a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer. The major difference in the remake will be that the film will take place within the world of international extreme sports, instead of surfing. However, the basic storyline will remain the same, an undercover FBI agent will work his way into a crime ring that is led by an extreme-sports aficionado named Bodhi.

    Some diehard Point Break fans are not happy about the idea of a remake or of Butler stepping into Swayze’s shoes.

    Tell us what you think. Does Hollywood really need to remake Point Break?

    Image via Twitter

  • Anna Paquin Plays Rogue Mom in “Free Ride”

    Before their final “True Blood” season, Anna Paquin and her costar (real-life husband) Stephen Moyer have teamed up for a different sort of project. Their new film, “Free Ride”, is the first time the two have collaborated on a feature and it is the first project they have released from their production company, Casm Films.

    For this drama, 31-year-old Paquin portrays a protagonist called Christina – a single mom who escapes with her two daughters from an abusive relationship and ultimately takes extreme measures to make ends meet. Set in 1970’s Florida, the movie follows the main character who takes a perilous financial out provided by her friend (Drea de Matteo) when she goes from mansion cleaning to marijuana smuggling.

    In a CBS interview, Paquin says of the character, “Christina is unconventionally trying to be a good mother,” adding, “She’s just this incredible survivor.”

    “She didn’t feel what she was doing was specifically awful for her children,” Moyer agreed while adding, “She was just trying to provide.”

    Many actors make it their duty to get emotionally involved with a fictional character for the sake of a better performance. However, Moyer and Paquin had a legitimate reason to empathize with the Christina character here; this isn’t an artificial tale.

    Based on actual experiences, the story stems from the life of the film’s screenwriter and director, Shana Betz. As the account comes from a retrospective of her childhood, 8-year-old actress Ava Acres fills the role of a young Betz, while Paquin plays her mom.

    (image)

    In an interview with Examiner, Betz recalled, “When mom went to jail, I was 11 and went to live with my grandmother. Up until that, my mom continued partying.” She went on to say, “She wasn’t running drugs anymore but she still drank and took hard drugs.”

    Despite a youth spent watching her mother take hard drugs, Betz was able to somehow emerge gracefully – without resentments or the need for therapy. Thus, what’s most compelling here is the story behind the story: a woman who transformed her negative childhood experience into art.

    “Free Ride” opens today, Jan. 10. as a limited release.

    Images via Youtube

  • ‘Gone With the Wind’ Actress Passes Away at 98

    Alicia Rhett, one of the oldest surviving cast members of the iconic screen epic ‘Gone With the Wind,’ passed away Friday in Charleston, South Carolina.

    According to Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community spokesperson Kimberly Farfone Borts, Rhett died quietly of natural causes at
    around 5 p.m., while surrounded by family and friends. She was 98.

    Long-time Charleston resident Rhett was born in Savannah, and was the great-granddaughter of U.S. Sen. Robert Rhett, also known as the “Father of Secession,” for his flashy anti-Union positions. Rhett was acting in local theatre in Charleston when a talent scout spotted her for ‘Gone With the Wind,’ the 1939 epic based on Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

    Below is the ‘Gone With the Wind’ 1939 trailer:

    ‘Gone with the Wind’ is an American epic historical romance film that was produced by David O. Selznick, set in the 19th-century American South during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. The film concerns the dealings of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), and her romantic pursuit of Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) who is married to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland). O’Hara marries three times while pining over Wilkes, with her most intriguing husband being Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).

    Butler, explaining to O’hara how it is:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POenCW8qqWI

    Alicia Rhett was cast as India Wilkes, sister of Ashley Wilkes. After the success of ‘Gone With the Wind,’ Rhett became a bit of a celebrity, but returned to Charleston, instead of pursuing a career in Hollywood. Rhett was known as a talented artist, and had works shown at the South Carolina state library and in many plantations in the region.

    Rhett never married and lead a quiet life, and was involved in local arts programs. She is also remembered for her sketches of fellow ‘Gone With the Wind’ cast members.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Mary-Louise Parker Fights for Troubled Son in “Jamesy Boy”

    In a sneak-peek clip of Mary-Louise Parker’s upcoming-featured film,” Jamesy Boy,” it shows a mother who fights to keep her gang-related son in school.  

    Based on a true story about James Burns, portrayed by Spencer Lofranco, the film illustrates the let downs a young 14-year-old teen experienced by the school system.

    The clip, however, shows a prelude to the administration’s admission rejection.

    “Miss Burns, let me be frank with you. We have some concerns. We’ve read your son’s record and we’re not convinced that our school is the right place for a student with his particular history,” said the admissions officer to Parker’s character in reference to her son. (image)

    The officer then goes on to elaborate on her son’s unstable violent behavior and list of convictions. She unashamedly admits that the school is afraid that Burns would be a danger to other students.

    Burns ends up joining a street gang, which eventually leads to his incarceration in a maximum-security prison. However, his relationship with a convicted murderer mentors him in changing his life around. (image)

    Throughout the movie, you can expect to see “…an education system resisting the wayward, failing a mother, and pushing a young person further into despair.” Other costars include James Woods, Taissa Farmiga, Taboo of Black Eyed Peas and Ving Rhames.

    Directed by Trevor White, “Jamesy Boy” is set to release on Demand January 3 and premier in theaters January 17.

    Image via Youtube, JoBlo.com

  • What If Famous Directors Tackled Christmas Morning?

    If you’ve ever taken a film criticism class, you’re familiar with the Auteur Theory. At its core, it states that films are a manifestation of the director (or “auteur”) and his/her creative vision, and despite all of the other things that go into the making of a film, the director is the primary “auteur.” You know, a Tarantino film is a Tarantino film – you just know it when you see it.

    As a film lover, this videos makes me so happy. Part of the joy of movies is celebrating famous filmmakers’ stylistic peculiarities, and if you get a kick out of Fourgrounds Media’s The Auteurs of Christmas – well, good. That means that you’ve watched enough important films to get the jokes.

    Bonus points for the Von Trier segment. That was f’ing perfect.

    Image via Fourgroundsmediainc, YouTube and h/t to Digg

  • Shia LaBeouf Could Face Legal Action Over Plagiarism

    Shia LaBeouf recently got himself into some trouble over a short film that he made. He debuted a short film called Howardcantor.com online, and it was quickly revealed that he had borrowed the same idea for a film that had already been used without giving credit.

    While it seems like something that most people learn in middle or high school, Shia LaBeouf seems to have overlooked the ethics of borrowing another person’s idea somehow. As a result, he could be facing legal trouble. He copied the story from a 2007 graphic novella called Justin M. Damiano by Daniel Clowes.

    Daniel Clowes is currently exploring his legal options, as the new story by Shia LaBeouf seems to reflect the original almost exactly.

    The short was taken down shortly after its release, and following that, he went on Twitter to address the claims of plagiarism. As if that wasn’t enough, some people that saw his apology even claim that he had plagiarized that from the internet, giving the same excuse of why Picasso had copied.

    The short film, which was debuted online by LaBeouf on Monday, tells the story of an anguished online film critic, and he is played by comedian Jim Gaffigan. The film began its circulation in the festival circuit hitting festivals such as Cannes in 2012, but did not officially reach the public until it was posted online this week, gaining the attention of Daniel Clowes.

    Shia LaBeouf did mention that the work was his inspiration, and he is embarrassed that he forgot to give credit in a rant on Twitter. However, Reynolds said that he has still failed to reach out to Clowes and personally apologize for what he did.

    Image via Twitter

  • Netflix Releases Trailer For Original Mitt Romney Documentary ‘Mitt’

    Last week, Netflix announced its latest original documentary Mitt. The film follows former presidential candidate Mitt Romney along the campaign trail, providing what Netflix describes as “an intimate, rarely seen, behind-the-scenes look at a candidate running for the presidency.”

    Netflix has just released a trailer for the film:

    As the trailer notes, “For 6 years, one filmmaker had exclusive access to Mitt Romney.”

    That filmmaker would be Greg Whitely (“New York Doll,” “Resolved”). Seth Gordon (“Undefeated,” “The King of Kong”) serves as executive producer.

    “Greg Whiteley’s Mitt provides viewers a surprising level of access into a fascinating world,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary and Comedy. “This rare inside look at Mitt Romney and his family as he runs for president showcases a unique kind of storytelling, one which takes the viewer well beyond the politics. We are thrilled to be providing our viewers with this one-of-a-kind film from such a talented filmmaker.”

    Mitt will hit Netflix on January 24th, according to the trailer (the original press release said January 25th).

  • Shia LaBeouf Addresses Plagiarism Claims on Twitter

    The one thing no writer wants to be accused of is plagiarism, and that is exactly what has landed Shia LaBeouf in hot water this week. LaBeouf’s short film Howard Cantour was released online yesterday, and it wasn’t long before the plagiarism claims started rolling in. After people said that LaBeouf’s film ripped off Daniel Clowes’ comic Justin M. Damiano, the Howard Cantour video was pulled from public access. LaBeouf has since apologized for his oversight on Twitter and says he “f***ed up.”

    Howard Cantour was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, but was only released for public viewing on Monday. The short film, like Justin M. Damiano, is about the power a critic holds over one’s career. According to Buzzfeed, not only was LaBeouf’s story similar to Clowes’, it also took direct quotes from the comic.

    For example, LaBeouf’s film opens with the same narration as Clowes’ comic: “A critic is a warrior, and each of us on the battlefield have the means to glorify or demolish (whether a film, a career, or an entire philosophy) by influencing perception in ways that if heartfelt and truthful, can have far-reaching repercussions.”

    Clowes says that he was “shocked” after viewing Howard Cantour. “The first I ever heard of the film was this morning when someone sent me a link. I’ve never spoken to or met Mr. LaBeouf,” Clowes said. “I’ve never even seen one of his films that I can recall–and I was shocked, to say the least, when I saw that he took the script and even many of the visuals from a very personal story I did six or seven years ago and passed it off as his own work. I actually can’t imagine what was going through his mind.”

    According to Shia LaBeouf, he simply forgot to credit Clowes for inspiring his work. Check out LaBeouf’s Twitter apology below.

    Do you buy Shia LaBeouf’s story that he was “inspired” by Clowes’ work and didn’t copy it? Add your comments below.

    Image via YouTube

  • James Cameron Taking ‘Avatar’ Sequels to New Zealand

    Director James Cameron has confirmed that three sequels to his ‘Avatar’ blockbuster will be produced in New Zealand, beginning in 2015. New Zealand, the Polynesian country where Peter Jackson filmed his ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Hobbit’ trilogies, has agreed to a 25% rebate for the production, in a joint venture with Twentieth Century Fox and Cameron’s own Lightstorm Entertainment.

    Cameron made the announcement in the New Zealand capital of Wellington, alongside producer Jon Landau and Prime Minister John Key. Cameron declined to disclose an exact budget for the impending trilogy, but expects that the production will be kept under $1 billion. Lightstorm and Twentieth Century Fox will spend at least $413 million in New Zealand on the movies.

    “It’s quite a thrill to be officially saying that we’re bringing the Avatar films to New Zealand,” Cameron said during the press conderence. “We had such a wonderful experience here making the first film.” Prime Minister Key added, “It’s a day of great celebration. It’s a great Christmas present for those involved in making world class movies.”

    Check out some related ‘Avatar’ intrigue:

    Academy Award-winning director Cameron, also a part-time explorer of the Mariana Trench, said that he has commenced writing the scripts for the new films, and plans to shoot them in 3-D, with some of the sequences being captured in 48 frames per second.

    Cameron said he hopes to shoot all three films in tandem over a nine month period, with the aim being the release of the first sequel in time for Christmas 2016, with the following sequels coming in late 2017 and late 2018. Prime Minister Key stated that the ‘Avatar’ production will revitalize the New Zealand film industry, after it saw a decline when the ‘Hobbit’ trilogy wrapped production.

    In related ‘Hobbit’ news, TT games has recently announced LEGO The Hobbit for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, 3DS and PC.

    Here’s the trailer:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Tom Laughlin, Star Of “Billy Jack,” Dies At Age 82

    Another silver screen legend has passed away. Tom Laughlin, the star of the groundbreaking film Billy Jack, has died. The well-known actor died Thursday at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California.

    His daughter, Teresa Laughlin said that the cause of death was due to complications from pneumonia. He was 82 when he died.

    Tom Laughlin’s hit film Billy Jack was released in 1971 after a long struggle to get the film made on a low budget, and went on to become a big hit. He wrote, directed, and produced the film, in addition to starring in the title role, in a way that was not done at the time.

    His wife was also a part of his film-making process, and he created Billy Jack with his wife and collaborator, Delores Taylor.

    The film told the story of an ex-Green Beret who defends a progressive school against the racists of a conservative Western community. It became a hit for those involved in the counterculture. It became a favorite for those in the anti-war movement due to its message, and the character of Billy Jack was half-white, half Native American, and a Vietnam veteran who had come to hate war.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqXvqaBw_iA

    While Billy Jack was his most famous film, Tom Laughlin also appeared in The Big Sleep, The Delinquents, South Pacific, and several others. Billy Jack also spawned several sequels including Billy Jack Goes To Washington, a remake of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

    In addition to being a filmmaker, like his Billy Jack character, he was an opponent of nuclear energy, and a longtime advocate for Native Americans. He also formed a bond with Marlon Brando, a fellow actor-activist.

    Hollywood also lost another legendary actor over the weekend, when the news was announced today of the death of Peter O’Toole, an actor most known for Lawrence Of Arabia.

    Laughlin was in his mid-30’s when he created the film. It initially flopped at the box office, but has become an inspiration for independent filmmakers in the way Tom Laughlin was able to get it made. Recently, he had written books, and had attempted to make another Billy Jack movie.

    While he attempted and failed to make another film in relation to Billy Jack, there would be the interest, but then something would always happen. His daughter talked about the situation, and stated “One of the prime reasons that he couldn’t get a deal was his failing health and, I think, his inability to come to terms with that. In his mind’s eye, he remained Billy Jack.”

    Tom Laughlin will always be remembered for his role in Billy Jack, and will be missed by all who loved his classic film, and as a member of Hollywood.

    Image via Youtube

  • Julia Roberts Talks New Movie ‘August: Osage County’

    Spotting Julia Roberts at a red carpet event is something that does not happen frequently these days — some may argue that is almost as rare as spotting Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Fortunately for fans, the talented actress did appear at the New York premiere for August: Osage County where she stood next to her costar Dermot Mulroney. Seeing the two talented performers together is reminiscent of their previous film together, My Best Friend’s Wedding.

    Julia Roberts was recently interviewed by E! News where she spoke about the unique nuances that distinguish family members. “Well, it’s great because you are able to see the rhythms of people, and John Wells, our director, really wanted us to kind of imitate each other in that family way. Where like, my sister and I, we don’t look alike. But as soon as we start telling stories, we look like the same person. So he wanted that sense in our movie, which I think was really important, so the more time we spent together and watched each other, it would become second nature,” Roberts said.

    August: Osage County is based on a play by Tracy Letts that centers around the interactions of an Oklahoma family during a funeral. The play has received the following honors: the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as the Tony Award for Best Play. In addition to Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney, the film stars Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Abigail Breslin, Ewan McGregor, and the ever-talented Meryl Streep.

    In an interview with HuffPost Entertainment, 48-year-old Letts said that he always wanted the play to be turned into a movie. “I always wanted to see it turned into a film, and I wanted to be the one who worked on it. You feel like you can preserve a bit more of the original intention of the thing if you’re the guy who is doing it,” he said.

    [Image Via NDN]

  • It’s A ‘Sopranos’ Kind Of Week On Netflix

    It’s A ‘Sopranos’ Kind Of Week On Netflix

    As you know, content comes and goes on Netflix. Each week, we’re bringing you a list of titles that you’ll be able to stream in the U.S. in the coming days.

    I’m sorry to say that Netflix isn’t adding The Sopranos to its streaming catalog, but fans will see some familiar faces. For one, Lilyhammer (starring Steven Van Zandt) is back with its second season. Also, on Saturday, Not Fade Away will be available. This comes from Sopranos creator David Chase, and features James Gandolfini in one of his final roles.

    Of course, if you really want to watch some Sopranos, Netflix does have the entire season available via DVD.

    Oh, and Netflix is also running an ad featuring the voice of Lorraine Bracco:

    Here’s what’s coming to Netflix…

    Available on 12/13:

    Lilyhammer: Season 2

    After testifying against the Mafia, ex-gangster Frank Tagliano enters witness protection and asks to be sent to Norway. Despite the peaceful surroundings, it’s not long before Frank strays from the straight and narrow. Season 2 coming in December.

    Available on 12/14:

    Lost Girl: Season 3

    After discovering she’s a succubus who sustains herself by feeding on the sexual energy of humans, seductive Bo sets out on a journey to understand herself and her kind — and to help people she encounters on her travels.

    Not Fade Away (2012)

    John Magaro, James Gandolfini, Bella Heathcote, Jack Huston, Will Brill, Dominique McElligott

    Inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, three 1960s high-schoolers form a rock band in the New Jersey suburbs. James Gandolfini co-stars in this debut feature from “Sopranos” creator David Chase.

    Available on 12/15:

    American Addict (2013)

    The United States’ appetite for prescription drugs is the focus of this sober documentary, which aims to illuminate a national health crisis. Americans represent just 5 percent of the world population but consume 80 percent of its pharmaceuticals.

    Blood (2012)

    Paul Bettany, Mark Strong, Stephen Graham, Brian Cox, Zoe Tapper, Ben Crompton, Adrian Edmondson

    Living in the shadow of their police chief father, two detective brothers commit the ultimate crime while interrogating a suspect, and the fear of being caught turns their lives into a downward spiral of guilt and paranoia.

    Bounty Killer (2013)

    Matthew Marsden, Kristanna Loken, Christian Pitre, Barak Hardley, Abraham Benrubi, Gary Busey

    It’s been 20 years since corporations took over the world’s governments; in retaliation, a group issues death warrants for all white-collar criminals. From amateur savage to graceful assassin, the bounty killers now compete for body count and cash.

    Dave Foley: Relatively Well (2013)

    This sidesplitting special follows the comedian’s journey to survive in a world that seems intent on crushing his spirit. Everything’s on the table, from people who don’t believe in science to his misadventures in the romance department

    Drift (2013)

    Xavier Samuel, Myles Pollard, Sam Worthington, Robyn Malcolm, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Aaron Glenane

    In the 1970s, the two Kelly brothers spend their youth searching for the perfect wave and launch a backyard surf business out of their van. Battling big waves, small town conservatism and criminals, the brothers give rise to a global brand.

    Greg Fitzsimmons: Life on Stage (2013)

    Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons returns to his hometown of Tarrytown, N.Y., spinning hilarious tales of what it’s like to share his life with the world. Fitzsimmons also delivers the goods on growing older and more.

    Paradise (2013)

    Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Holly Hunter, Iliza Shlesinger

    After a plane crash leaves her permanently scarred, a sheltered young woman loses her faith and sets off for Las Vegas to experience her wild side. With two unlikely companions, she goes out to see what she’s been missing — and find her true self.

    Punk in Africa (2012)

    When South Africa shook off the grip of apartheid in the 1990s, a wealth of new cultural forms emerged, including an energetic punk rock scene. This documentary vividly recollects both the spirit of the time and the intensity of the music.

    Stranded (2013)

    Christian Slater, Brendan Fehr, Amy Matysio, Michael Therriault

    After being bombarded by a meteor shower, the crew of a lunar space station discovers the meteors harbor alien spores, which replicate and mutate into a shape-shifting predatory life form hell-bent on destroying the astronauts one by one.

    The Citizen (2012)

    Khaled Nabawy, Agnes Bruckner, Rizwan Manji, William Atherton, Cary Elwes, Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad

    Yearning to leave behind a difficult existence in the Middle East, Ibrahim Jarrah wins the green card lottery for a chance to become an American citizen. He arrives the day before the September 11 attacks, which forever change his life.

    Winnie Mandela (2011)

    Jennifer Hudson, Terrence Howard, Elias Koteas, Wendy Crewson, David Dukas, Angelique Pretorius

    South Africa’s Winnie Mandela, one of the most galvanizing public figures in modern history, comes to life in this absorbing biopic. Though it traces Winnie’s whole story, the film hinges on the Apartheid-era imprisonment that would define her image.

    Available on 12/16:

    Say Yes to the Dress: Season 8

    Dreams come true at Manhattan’s famous Kleinfeld Bridal boutique in this TLC reality series, which chronicles the daily retail drama as staff members bust their booties to accommodate clients’ outsized expectations and oversized budgets. Demanding brides, bossy relatives, last-minute weight gains, outlandish requests and catfight-provoking sales guarantee that there’s never a dull moment in this high-stakes salon.

    Available on 12/17:

    Bo Burnham: what. (2013)

    Left brain and right brain duke it out and then belt out a tune in comedian Bo Burnham’s quick and clever one-man show. As intelligent as he is lanky, Burnham cynically pokes at pop entertainment while offering unadulterated showmanship of his own.

    Family Guy: Season 11

    In Seth MacFarlane’s no-holds-barred animated show, buffoonish Peter Griffin and his dysfunctional family — including wife Lois, children Meg, Chris and Stewie, and dog Brian — experience wacky misadventures.

    G-Dog (2012)

    This documentary highlights the work of Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest who created Homeboy Industries — a revolutionary program for at-risk youth which has become the most successful gang intervention program in the U.S

    Newlyweeds (2013)

    Amari Cheatom, Trae Harris, Tone Tank, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Tonya Pinkins, Diane Neal, Adrian Martinez

    Lyle and Nina love each other almost as much as they love smoking pot, and they earn enough between them to maintain a steady flow of buds. But as the days and months drift by in a smoky haze, Nina begins to long for a more stable life

    Of Two Minds (2012)

    Weaving together the stories of several fascinating Americans living with bipolar disorder, this documentary explores their triumphant highs, despairing lows and struggles to survive in a culture that doesn’t always understand them.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image: Not Fade Away (YouTube)

  • Netflix Documentary ‘The Short Game’ Now Available For Streaming

    Netflix Documentary ‘The Short Game’ Now Available For Streaming

    The Short Game, a new documentary Netflix acquired last month, is now available for streaming on the service.

    The film follows the lives of a handful of “the best 7-year old golfers in the world” as they train to compete in the World Championships of Junior Golf. It’s produced by Rafael Marmor, Christopher Leggett, and Josh Greenbaum, and executive produced by Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake, Timm Oberwelland, John Battsek and David Frankel.

    As Netflix indicated that it would earlier this year, we’re really starting to see the company bring more and more original documentaries and stand-up comedy specials to its service. Coming soon is The Square, which Netflix announced just ahead of The Short Game, and it’s already generating Oscar buzz. Netflix’s efforts have already been paying off in awards and nominations.

    This week, Netflix announced yet another upcoming documentary with Mitt, which follows Mitt Romney on the campaign trail for the presidential election.

    Netflix also announced yet another original series this week with BoJack Horseman. This one is animated, and features Arrested Development’s Will Arnett and Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul.

    Friday will see the release of the second season of the series that started it all: Lilyhammer.

    Image: Netflix

  • Netflix Adds Mitt Romney Documentary ‘Mitt’ To Slate Of Originals

    Netflix is rapidly building up its queue of original documentaries, today announcing that it has added Mitt Romney documentary Mitt to its slate.

    Netflix will premiere the documentary on Friday, January 25th.

    Mitt

    The film was directed by Greg Whiteley (“New York Doll,” “Resolved”) and executive produced by Seth Gordon (“Undefeated,” “The King of Kong”).

    According to Netflix, Mitt provides ” an intimate, rarely seen, behind-the-scenes look at a candidate running for the presidency,” and follows “Romney’s presidential aspirations beginning Christmas 2006 to his initial run to become the Republican nominee in 2008 and through his Presidential concession speech in 2012.” The description continues, “Given unprecedented access by Mitt and his family, Whiteley travels alongside the campaign through interactions with potential voters, preparations for the debates, personal moments with his family, and concluding with final presidential election night results.”

    “Greg Whiteley’s Mitt provides viewers a surprising level of access into a fascinating world,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary and Comedy. “This rare inside look at Mitt Romney and his family as he runs for president showcases a unique kind of storytelling, one which takes the viewer well beyond the politics. We are thrilled to be providing our viewers with this one-of-a-kind film from such a talented filmmaker.”

    “It feels like a full circle moment to premiere this movie at Sundance,” said Whiteley. “I first met and filmed the Romney family in Park City in 2006 as they gathered to discuss whether Mitt should run for President. Over the next 7 years I couldn’t believe I was filming inside rooms and situations I had no business being in. Now that I’ve finished I couldn’t be more pleased to share this experience with audiences around the world through Netflix.”

    The film will be available to Netflix users in all territories where the service is available. As with The Square, the Mitt will hit Netflix while making its theatrical rounds. It debuts at Sundance on January 17th.

    For Netflix subscribers, Mitt should serve as a nice segue to House of Cards: Season 2, which debuts less than a month later.

    The Short Game, another recently acquired Netflix documentary, makes its debut this week.

    Image: Netflix (PRNewsWire)

  • “Frozen” Freezes “Catching Fire” At The Box Office, Earns Top Spot

    “Frozen” Freezes “Catching Fire” At The Box Office, Earns Top Spot

    Well, step aside Katniss Everdeen. There is a new film at the top of the box office. While opening to a successful opening weekend on Thanksgiving with all the families attending the theater, Frozen was able to do well. However, it did not catch Catching Fire in its first weekend.

    As the crowd attending screenings of Catching Fire died down a bit more this weekend, Frozen was able to claim the top spot at the box office. Frozen is the new film from Disney, and is a musical about a kingdom that has been trapped in eternal winter. Frozen rocketed itself to the top earning $31.6 million over the weekend, and a total of $134.3 million over its first 12 days.

    The film is based on the fairy tale The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderoson. It also has a cast that includes Kristen Bell as the voice of Princess Anna, as well as Jonathan Groff, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad in a musically comedic adventure.

    Catching Fire broke the November record at the box office, and certainly made a big impact upon its release, much like its predecessor The Hunger Games. Of course, as any big film that hits theaters, sales have to come down at some point, allowing for a film like Frozen to rise to the top.

    Newcomers like Out Of The Furnace were unable to compete, as the first weekend of December is often weak at the box office. It is also the time when more films that are likely to be nominated for awards, but are often not hits at the box office are released such as Out Of The Furnace. It tells the story of a veteran coming home from war, starring Casey Affleck and Christian Bale, but is simply unable to compete with the new hit Disney film Frozen.

    Due to the success of the film, the musical’s soundtrack is also doing very well, and opened at No.18 on the Billboard 200. Behind Frozen, Catching Fire finished in second place with $27 million, and Out Of The Furnace only made $5.3 million.

    Frozen will look to continue its success at the box office as the holidays arrive, and with a timely theme of snow and winter, it is likely to continue to be a hit for families.

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  • New Netflix Releases Feature Lady Gaga, Muppets, Nixon, Spider-Man & More

    As you know, content comes and goes on Netflix. Each week, we’re bringing you a list of titles that you’ll be able to stream in the U.S. in the coming days.

    Finally, the release list includes the second season of American Horror Story in addition to another season of Futurama and a new Netflix documentary – The Short Game, which is co-produced by Justin Timberlake.

    Available on 12/06:

    Lady Gaga & The Muppets’ Holiday Spectacular

    Lady Gaga and the Muppets celebrate the holidays with great music and celebrity guest stars, Sir Elton John, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, RuPaul, Kristen Bell, The Muppets and more. Featuring exclusive performances off of her new album, Artpop.

    Zombie Ass: Toilet of the Dead (2011)

    Arisa Nakamura, Mayu Sugano, Asana Mamoru, Yuri Takayama, Kentarô Kishi, Haru Shiina

    A group of teenagers, on a trip to the woods, is attacked by a crowd of zombies. Unfortunately, one of them has an unusual tie to the undead, and one of them holds the key to their escape.

    Available on 12/07:

    American Horror Story: Season 2

    Exploring humankind’s unsettling capacity for evil, this darkly twisted drama plays upon the power of supernatural fears and everyday horrors. Each season brings back familiar faces, but they’re playing different characters in an all-new setting.

    White Collar: Season 4

    Ultra-suave forger and con man Neal Caffrey always dresses impeccably, even when he’s prison-bound after FBI Agent Peter Burke captures him. To avoid jail, Neal signs on to help Peter catch other white-collar thieves but conceals an ulterior motive.

    Available on 12/09:

    Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design: Season 2 (2012)

    He has taken us to the ends of the universe. Now, through physics, philosophical discussion and his own unique scientific perception, professor Stephen Hawking tackles the most personal yet cosmic of questions: Is there a meaning to our lives?

    Available on 12/10:

    Futurama: Season 10

    Pizza boy Philip J. Fry awakens in the 31st century after 1,000 years of cryogenic preservation in this animated series. After he gets a job at an interplanetary delivery service, Fry embarks on ridiculous escapades to make sense of his predicament.

    GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012)

    Emily Dole, Dee Boocher, Angelina Altishin, Jeanne Basone, Dawn Rice, Lorilyn Palmer, Mondo GuerreroVia the rose-tinted memories of the women who lived it, this engaging documentary chronicles the fleeting cultural phenomenon that was “The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling,” a weekly show that elevated its female grapplers to star status in the 1980s

    Our Nixon (2013)

    Nixon himself wasn’t the only one obsessively recording his presidency; three of his top aides were filming it, too, with Super 8 cameras. These home movies — from H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and Dwight Chapin — form the basis of this portrait.

    Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness (2011)

    Discover the man behind the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” in this biography of Sholem Aleichem. Vintage photographs, film clips and interviews with historians reveal Aleichem’s world and how he parlayed turmoil into a new Jewish cultural identity.

    Sightseers (2010)

    Alice Lowe, Eileen Davies, Steve Oram, Seamus O’Neill, Richard Glover, Monica Dolan, Jonathan Aris

    Newly coupled Chris and Tina embark on an RV road trip to take in England’s unique sights and rolling countryside. But as events and people inadvertently raise Chris’s ire, the trip takes a gory wrong turn.

    The Angels’ Share (2012)

    Paul Brannigan, Siobhan Reilly, John Henshaw, Gary Maitland, William Ruane, Jasmin Riggins

    After avoiding jail, Robbie vows to turn his life around for his newborn son. He has a talent for discerning fine whiskeys, and he and his community service cohorts hatch a plan to lift a few expensive bottles to buy themselves a better future.

    The Cleveland Show: Season 4

    Spinning off from Seth MacFarlane’s popular animated series “Family Guy,” Cleveland Brown moves to his hometown of Stoolbend, Virginia, where he marries high school sweetheart, Donna, and the two raise her rowdy kids and his teenager, Cleveland Jr. In addition to stepkids Roberta and Rallo, Cleveland now finds himself interacting with a bunch of offbeat neighbors, including a family of talking bears.

    Ultimate Spider-Man: Season 2

    Peter Parker comes of age in an epic tale that finds him torn between his teenage life and a war between SHIELD and villain Norman Osborn. The series follows 16-year-old Peter as he comes to terms with his origins and new abilities

    Available on 12/12:

    The Short Game (2013)

    Sky Sudberry, Allan Kournikova, Jed Dy, Zamokuhle Nxasana, Alexa Pano, Amari Avery

    Eight grade-school golfers must navigate parents, coaches, and their own pint-sized rivals as they compete in a junior-level championship at the prestigious Pinehurst golf course in North Carolina.

    Prince Avalanche (2013)

    Paul Rudd, Emile Hirsch, Lance LeGault, Joyce Payne, Gina Grande, Lynn Shelton

    While repainting traffic lines along a burnt-out stretch of rural highway, a mismatched pair — straightlaced Alvin and his girlfriend’s harebrained brother, Lance — form an unlikely bond that builds upon their differences.

    Duress (2009)

    Grieving after his wife’s recent suicide, Richard Barnett (Martin Donovan) witnesses a brutal killing by the charismatic Abner Solvie (Sakis Rouvas). The widower’s troubles multiply when Abner forces him to become his criminal protege by threatening to execute Richard’s daughter (Ariel Winter). In order to keep her alive, Richard must behave like his psychotic captor in this tautly suspenseful thriller.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image: YouTube

  • X-Men: Apocalypse Is Coming In 2016

    With all of the excitement and anticipation surrounding the next X-Men sequel, the film’s director has already come out and announced the release of the next film. X-Men: Apocalypse will be third film in the reboot of the X-Men franchise from director Bryan Singer.

    X-Men: Apocalypse is set for a release date of May 27, 2016. The announcement is a big deal for fans, and of course seems like a long time from now for most people. There have not been too many details regarding the film that have been released yet in addition to the release date, and its title.

    Bryan Singer has been active with his Twitter account in the past year updating fans on the new film, X-Men: Days Of Future Past, but his tweet yesterday certainly threw fans for a surprise.

    While the average superhero film watcher would not catch on to any potential plot points, Entertainment Weekly mentions that the big nerds who are familiar with the comics would have recognized that Apocalypse is one of the X-Men’s greatest enemies. Apocalypse was born thousands of years ago and in his years on Earth, he transformed himself into a superpowered cyborg using alien technology. He wants to conquer the world, and in one plot arc, he does, ruling for a couple thousand years.

    X-Men: Days Of Future Past is the next film in the franchise, and is set to be released on May 23, 2014. The trailer for the new film debuted about a month ago, and introduced fans to a whole new set of characters.

    The first film in the reboot of the superhero franchise was X-Men: First Class, and was released in 2011. The film starred all of the hot young stars right now including Jenifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, and several others.

    While no cast or characters have been made available for X-Men: Apocalypse and what generation of the X-Men it will pull from, X-Men: Days Of Future Past will have a Back To The Future type of plot, and show the characters of the original trilogy meeting their younger selves in the past.

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  • Jordana Brewster Remembers Paul Walker, A Big Part Of Her Life

    Jordana Brewster certainly had the opportunity to get to know Paul Walker well through the years of working on the Fast And The Furious films together. She played his love interest, Mia Torreto throughout the series, and his death had a big impact on the actress because of their intimate relationship throughout the films.

    She remembers him as a sweet and loving human being and is very hurt by the loss. Several of Paul Walker’s co-stars in The Fast And The Furious have now taken the time to issue a statement, remembering him as a great man who took great pride as a family man.

    Tyrese Gibson has been seen tearing up at the funeral, and recently Dwayne Johnson spoke of his bond over fatherhood with the late actor.

    Paul Walker died on Sunday, November 30th in a fatal car accident. It has been very hard on the other cast members of the film, and also forced the production of Fast And Furious 7 to shut down as the director and cast members grieve, deciding what to do next with the film.

    Jordana Brewster said that Paul Walker was an enormous part of her life over the past fourteen years, meeting on the set of The Fast and The Furious, which was released in 2001. The two of them had a close relationship over the years, and in a recent interview before his death, Walker even spoke of his co-star saying “I love Jordana; I mean, I had a crush on her. I’ll always have a crush on her.”

    She also spoke of his strong character as a family man when saying “He lived with integrity, humanity and humility and seemed most happy when talking about his daughter, Meadow. I don’t know anyone who lived each moment more fully and loved life more than Paul; making his loss all the more heartbreaking.”

    Brewster discussed the work with charity that Paul Walker did, admiring him for it, saying that the material success that Walker had simply made him want to help others, and that was what made him such a strong person.

    Paul Walker will surely be missed by his friends and family, and particularly Jordana Brewster, who was his love interest throughout a long film franchise. The on-screen love stretched into reality, and the two of them became very close, making it a very hard loss for Brewster.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Emilia Clarke Emerges As Front-runner To Play Sarah Connor

    In yet another Terminator reboot, the casting for Sarah Connor is up for question, and the choices are being quickly narrowed down. Two young actresses, Emilia Clarke and Brie Larson, have emerged as the front-runners for the role.

    After the great amount of success that the first two films received, the ones that followed have been a bit of a disappointment, but only time will tell on whether this film will be able to revive the franchise.

    Emilia Clarke and Brie Larson have both tested for the producers of the film, and it seems that the director may be favoring Emilia Clarke to move forward with the role. She may have the edge, in part, due to the fact that she has worked with the director already on Game Of Thrones.

    Both Clarke and Larson have gained a lot of attention over the past year, and Emilia Clarke especially has become a favorite to fans over the past three seasons of Game Of Thrones, in the role of Daenerys Targaryen. Emilia Clarke just may have what it takes to take one of Hollywood’s most beloved heroines, originally brought to the screen by Linda Hamilton in James Cameron’s classic.

    In addtion to Emilia Clarke, Brie Larson is the other finalist for the role, and the 24-year-old actress has been noticed by several critics in the past year. She will certainly continue to be looked at, and discussed as the awards season quickly approaches, after appearing in three films including Short Term 12, which is likely to give her several award nominations.

    Who do you think should be chosen for the role of Sarah Connor? Should the reboot even be happening? Share your thoughts.

    A reboot of the series is set for a release date of July 2015. However, the completion of the franchise is expected to span at least two films, giving fans even more of the beloved franchise. The film will be presented by Paramount, and directed by Alan Taylor, who recently made Thor: The Dark World. The role of John Connor is waiting to be cast until after Sarah Connor, and Kyle Reese is also set to make an appearance in the film.

    After the downfall of the last couple of Terminator films, it only makes sense that they restart from the beginning, and hope to regain the interest of the fans again. While it is still unclear who will be chosen to go through with the role of Sarah Connor, Emilia Clarke and Brie Larson have both shown strong acting skills, and fans would likely be happy with either of them in the role.

    Emilia Clarke looks to be emerging as the favorite due to her immense success and popularity in Game Of Thrones, and she just may be the perfect fit for a young Sarah Connor.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4UEJzi8ThA

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Lena Headey Will Narrate Audiobook of “Low Down”

    While she was already set to appear in the film adaptation of the book, Lena Headey is now going to be narrating the audiobook version of the memoir, Low Down. The film is set to be released next year, and already has an excellent cast set, including Headey as Sheila Albany.

    The book is a memoir that tells the story from A.J. Albany’s perspective, as the daughter of jazz pianist Joe Albany, detailing what it was like growing up with a musician for a parent. Lena Headey plays the A.J.’s mother, Sheila in what is likely to be a hit film.

    In addition to Lena Headey’s role in the film as her mother, A.J. Albany will be played by Elle Fanning, and her father’s role will be filled by John Hawkes.

    The audio edition of the book was released on Tuesday by Simon and Schuster, and features the British actress’ voice as the narrator.

    Prior to her involvement with the Low Down project, Lena Headey has gained much of her fame from the popular hit HBO show, Game Of Thrones. The 40-year-old actress also played the title role of Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, in addition to several film roles including 300 and The Brothers Grimm.

    First published in 2003, the book tells a true story of what it was like for Amy “A.J.” Albany growing up with a famous jazz pianist for a father.

    Lena Headey has established herself as one of the most desired actresses in the industry due to her Game Of Thrones fame, and will likely show why when she appears in the film version of Low Down. She is a native of Britain, but has certainly won over fans worldwide after three seasons of the show.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons