Friday, March 9, 2012

Sons of Anarchy: 7 Things to Look Forward to in Season 5

Jeffrey Ross Comedy Central has ordered a new series calledThe Burn, starring comedian Jeffrey Ross, the network announced Wednesday.You probably know Ross as the ruthless leader of Comedy Central's infamous celebrity roasts, but now the so-called Roastmaster General is expanding his scope. In the weekly show, which is set to premiere this summer, Ross will take on (and presumably annihilate) the week's hot topics and current events with the help of fellow comics. Check out the rest of today's news"Thank you Comedy Central," Ross said in a statement. "My mission is clear. To rip the world a new a--hole one crack at a time. I can't wait to get started."The network also announced the pick-up of two other original series: Review with Forrest MacNeil, a starring Eastbound & Down's Andrew Daly, and Nathan For You, starring writer-comedian, Nathan Fielder. Both half-hour comedies are slated to premiere in 2013.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Margin Call Producer Joe Jenckes Joins Benaroya Pictures As Mind Of Production

March 7, 2012 (La, CA)Joe Jenckes, a producer in the award-winning and considerably acclaimed financial thriller MARGIN CALL, has grew to become part of Benaroya Pictures becasue it is Mind of Production. Jenckes, who had previously been became a member of with MARGIN CALL author-director J.C. Chandor for ten years, was one of the early supporters in the film, and through the road of production he developed ties with Michael Benaroya, Boss of Benaroya Pictures. He'll work carefully with Benaroya on all approaching projects ongoing to maneuver forward, becoming executive producer round the companys approaching production KILL YOUR DARLINGS starring Daniel Radcliffe, Elizabeth Olsen, Dane DeHaan, and Jack Huston. The film is presently in pre-production in NY City, with principal photography set to commence March 19. Jenckes is at NY controlling prep regarding Benaroya. Getting seen Joe’s good results one of the primary supporters of J.C. Chandor and ‘Margin Call’, we anticipate his ongoing good reputation for finding quality films, mentioned Benaroya. He'll be an excellent on-set presence with this particular future projects after we take part in additional productions.” Benaroya Pictures romantic mystery What starring Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, and Ben Barnes recently opened up within the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by CBS Films, who'll release it later this year. The companys financial thriller MARGIN CALL was recently nominated with an Academy Award to find the best Original Script and won the most effective First Feature Award within the recent Independent Spirit Honours.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Killer Joe Can get NC-17 Prone To Appeal Rating

EXCLUSIVE: Another movie is becoming an NC-17. Killer Joe, the Billy Friedkin-directed adaptation in the Tracy Letts play got an NC-17 rating. That's one of the primary releases by LD Entertainment, the completely new distribution company started by Mickey Liddell and run by David Dinerstein. They'll appeal the rating plus it’s unusual Letts might be the Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning playwright of August: Osage County.That certain can be a garish, sexy black comedy that stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Gina Gerson and Thomas Haden Chapel plus it’s slated for just about any summer season release. The pic opened up at Venice and consists of been referred to as Tennessee Williams meets Quentin Tarantino. It carried out Toronto, where it absolutely was acquired by LD, and may makes its US premiere at SXSW. It’s racy and violent, but LD thinks it’s an R film. “We uses good efforts to overturn this decision,” Dinerstein mentioned. “We uphold our filmmakers and turn faithful for his or her visions.” Stay up-to-date.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Time Warner Boss Rob Bewkes: TV And Movie Industries Need To Fix If Needed

Time Warner chief shipped an abnormally impassioned address today imploring traders to pressure everyone from pay TV entrepreneurs to Hollywood art galleries to deploy on-demand streaming initiatives including TV Everywhere and UltraViolet home video. “Not enough clients learn about these effective enhancements rather than enough clients request these to at their tips of your fingers,” Bewkes told the Deutsche Bank Media & Telecom Conference. “We have to move substantially faster…You should absolutely demand the businesses that you simply invest get serious and get this opportunity.” He’s most considering television, the organization that comprises about about 80% of your energy Warner’s profits — especially TV Everywhere,which supplies pay TV clients an opportunity to watch shows on mobile items if needed.”The buyer experience today is really spotty.Some entrepreneurs ensure it is easy and simple , others don’t. You understand who they may be and therefore can they.”Specifically, Bewkes wants designers to produce more content available to TV Everywhere. He wantsprograms to become proven on tv sets additionally to pills. He wants Nielsen tofigure out the best way to measure the quantity of audiences on alldigital platforms. Which he wants entrepreneurs making it no problem finding and access programming. “You shouldn’t need to be knocked upside your brain by an iPad to know that clients are demanding wealthy, flexible, intuitive user connects,” according to him. Clients “think they deserve it, and so they do. And so they’re voting utilizing their fingers everyday.” More youthful crowd wants the film industry to develop its online presence. Although home video revenues are lowering, Bewkes states that “the encouraging news is we don’t have a very demand problem.” The problem for your art galleries is always that people are buying less and leasing more, especially from low-cost companies introduced by Redbox and Netflix. According to him that Hollywood shares a couple of from the blame. “It isn't easy to buy a movie digitally to deal with your digital collection also to watch it round the device from the choosing, specifically the tv,” according to him. Consequently, “the industry originates with a crossroads. Everyone knows clients have an interest today, nonetheless they can’t take action while using ease and functionality they've showed up at expect. We must fix might we have to do the repair quickly. Whenever we don’t, we run the particular possibility of habituating clients to rental a lot more realization they might would prefer to own making collections of movies.” That’s also why he desires to accelerate the rollout of the marketplace’s UltraViolet initiative, which helps it be feasible for individuals who buy DVD and Blu-ray dvd disks and to stream the movies. Although a couple of from the early releases are actually hard to access, “we don’t hold the luxury of waiting for a perfect solution.” According to him that clients are employed to seeing products improve as time passes. “We need to start this and acquire everybody including retailers associated with this effort.”

Monday, February 27, 2012

How the Hell Did Paradise Lost 3 Lose the Best Documentary Oscar?

Congratulations to Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin, whose film Undefeated lived up to its title at last night's Academy Awards by taking home the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. Exploring the intersection of class, race and a hard-luck high-school football team, the doc started earning fans a year ago at Sundance South by Southwest - including Harvey Weinstein, who acquired Undefeated on the spot and promptly fast-tracked it for 2012 awards glory. Mission accomplished. The only thing Undefeated didn't do? How about help get three unjustly convicted men - one condemned to die - out of prison? Which brings us to Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, the final installment of Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's nearly 20-year investigation into the grisly murders of three boys in West Memphis, Ark., and the subsequent trials and convictions of three teenagers in the case. Since the first film debuted in 1996 (Paradise Lost 2: Revelations appeared in 2000), the series's illumination of police and judicial misconduct - to say nothing of misplaced allegations of Satanism and other perceived motives - became instrumental in the crusade to free Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin. The "West Memphis 3" quickly developed into a cause clbre among observers from the cultural to legal realms; Metallica contributed music to the films, further boosting their profiles, while defense lawyers and DNA experts raced to find evidence persuasive enough to save Echols from the death chamber and, hopefully, release all three men from behind bars. Of course, as a regular consumer of media, you likely already know these details. Unless, that is, you're a member of the Academy's clinically insane Documentary Branch. In which case you should be ashamed of yourself. Not to take anything away from Undefeated, but... Well, actually, yeah. I would like to take something away from Undefeated: Its Best Documentary Oscar. Not necessarily because of any technical inferiority - it's a fine, inspiring, well-made film - but merely on the qualitative basis of not having saved a man's life or helped liberate the West Memphis 3 through thousands upon thousands of hours of research, interviews, editing and, ultimately, pure storytelling. On the one hand, sure: As Berlinger told Movieline a few weeks ago in our Documentary Nominee roundtable, "[T]here can be no bigger prize than having helped get three innocent men get released from prison after 18 plus years of wrongful imprisonment." On the other hand, fuck that. Let's just be honest: If we're going to reward films like last night's Documentary Short winner Saving Face or recent Doc Feature triumphs like An Inconvenient Truth, The Cove and Inside Job for their honorable activist intent, then what more does Paradise Lost 3 have to do to win over Academy voters? If Berlinger and Sinofsky had freed three dolphins from certain death in Japan, would that have tilted the Oscar scales in their favor? Or maybe filmed a boring-ass slideshow detailing their findings in the case? Al Gore couldn't even stop global warming. These guys exposed one of America's most protracted miscarriages of justice (made all the worse by the fact that prosecutors refuse to reopen the case, thus leaving the murder mystery unsolved) not once, not twice, but three times, establishing the narrative foundation on which the whole campaign to free the West Memphis 3 was built. So what gives? Was this the last indignity to be committed by the Documentary Branch under its previous set of rules - a garish sloughing off of a film funded and broadcast by HBO as opposed to one following the classic theatrical pattern that Academy leadership so cherishes? What a truly fine barometer of quality, except that Undefeated had the same one-week qualifying run that PL3 had, only opening in theaters a week-and-a-half ago. Weinstein and HBO took advantage of the same loophole. Could it have just been the Weinstein factor alone - Harvey being Harvey, pushing his nonfiction wares in his Artist/Iron Lady downtime? Or, as a friend suggested to me this morning in the clearing Oscar smoke, is this just the Doc Branch holding out for the Peter Jackson-produced West of Memphis, a recent Sundance premiere due in theaters at some point in 2012? Jackson is the only figure in this schema with as much (if not more) Academy clout as Weinstein, and it's entirely conceivable that whatever momentum gathered in Undefeated's favor - or, perhaps more accurately, in any direction away from PL3 - began with a quiet, sturdy nudge from New Zealand. It's impossible to say or ever know for sure - unless Weinstein acquires the currently distributor-less West of Memphis, I suppose, in which case even one of those dolphins from The Cove could do the math and know the fix is in. In any case, the whole thing amounts to another black eye for the Academy's Doc branch, a body ostensibly charged with the responsibility of recognizing each year's best achievement in documentary filmmaking but which has so lost the plot regarding the form's boldest, most influential works that it has sunk irretrievably beneath contempt. Like, I get why Banksy's intoxicating, masterful Exit Through the Gift Shop last year couldn't surmount the dry, staid recession expose Inside Job; the branch has always sought to persuade everybody to believe that it is preoccupied with Issues, even as it routinely, criminally snubs the likes of Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) from even being nominated. But that inconsistency aside, here was a chance for the Academy to recognize filmmaking that made as much of a social impact as any Best Documentary Feature winner since perhaps Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt (another documentary originated by HBO, incidentally) claimed the prize 22 years ago. Moreover, it was a crucial opportunity for the Academy to help further mobilize the case for fully exonerating the West Memphis 3, whose release was conditional on an Alford plea that upheld their guilty verdict while leaving them on the equivalent of 10 years' probation. The governor of Arkansas won't pardon them without an alternative conviction, which prosecutors refuse to seek pretty much out of spite. So the saga continues, but whatever. As long as Harvey's happy, right? I can't overstate how frustrated this makes me. If nothing else, the Paradise Lost films taught us how to know a spot a sham when we see one - to stick to the facts and to your values and keep your eyes on the prize. But with the Oscars at this point, who even wants this particular prize? When one of the only Academy Awards categories with any legitimate sociocultural import is turned into the same old irrelevant boy's club where we find shit like Real Steel nominated, what values are we adhering to? For Christ's sake, people: The Transformers trilogy has more Oscars than the Paradise Lost trilogy. CORRECTION: The Transformers films have not in fact won an Oscar. I'm kind of happy to be wrong about this, but still, I regret the error. This is not acceptable. Something must change. I'd hate to think that it begins with me giving up, but that's probably where it's headed. In any case, I'm open to suggestions. Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

'90s Stars Make a Comeback

Justin Chambers, Elisabeth Shue, Josh Charles Every week, editors Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams satisfy your need for TV scoop. Please send all questionsto mega_scoop@tvguide.com. What's coming up on Grey's Anatomy? - Jesse NATALIE: In this week's episode, everyone but Alex will notice a spark that's developing between him and intern Morgan (Amanda Fuller). "Karev's really oblivious to the fact that everyone's rumoring around the hospital that they're doing it," Fuller tells us. "They're spending so much time together, and they bicker and banter like two kindergarten kids who have a crush on each other, so he begins to realize that everyone may be right about her being into him." I really liked Elisabeth Shue on CSI. But please tell me the show isn't going to try to force her and Ted Danson together. - Kasey ADAM: Sorry, Kasey, but I think it's a safe bet that the duo's early scenes will traffic highly in sexual tension. "Semi-platonic relationships are the fodder of great television," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn says. However, I don't think the duo will ever go much further than flirting. After all, D.B.'s married and Finn's not so great at relationships. "She has been married a number of times and has a real thing for cops," Mendelsohn says. "So she's in the right profession." As Will copes with his suspension on The Good Wife, who will he turn to in his time of need? - Jasmine ADAM: How about his ex? Elizabeth Reaser's Tammy conveniently returns to town because she is involved in a sports-related episode. Once she learns that things have soured between Will and Alicia, what's to stop her from pouncing? Nothing except that Will may already be getting all the support he needs from another lady. "At strange times like this, Kalinda, as cold as she can be, has a certain warmth and affection toward Will that starts popping up again," executive producer Robert King teases. Got any scoop on the Parks and Recreation election? - Dan NATALIE: When Leslie puts her foot in her mouth and calls Bobby Newport's dad Nick a jerk - just moments after he dies -- the election will take a turn for the ugly. Look for Donna to save the day by sacrificing the thing she loves the most. Prepare to grab some tissues! Any update on whether Castle will be touching on the 3XK killer again? - Chase ADAM: The show is definitely keen on revisiting that story line, but it's all about timing. "We're having talks about whether we're bringing him back by the end of this season," executive producer Andrew W. Marlowe says. "But we're still waiting to hear on Season 5. If we get the Season 5 pickup, it's something that we might wait and make more of a meal of next year." Thanks for the scoop on The Walking Dead. What's coming up for Shane? -Eric NATALIE: The tension among Shane, Rick and Lori won't let up, executive producer Glen Mazzara tells us. "Shane has designs on taking leadership of the group," he says. "The Rick-Shane tension will play out and everybody will be put in the middle, including Andrea. That ripples out from just a Rick-Shane-Lori story." Is there hope for Pete and Violet on Private Practice? - Maxine NATALIE: If you think couples therapy is viable, then yes! "They both feel the relationship needs resolution, so Violet suggests that they go into therapy. Pete is reticent about the idea because he feels overanalyzed by Violet anyway," Tim Daly tells us. "He's not yet decided whether or not he can do it, but he hasn't said no." I can't wait to see Bones' Hodgins on The Finder. Will there be any talk about Walter and Brennan? - Marie ADAM: Not really. "Brennan is pregnant, so we'll just leave that as is," Geoff Stults says with a laugh. Although Hodgins will mention his pals back at the Jeffersonian, Stults says the real fun will be seeing Hodgins, who comes to Walter in search of aliens, in full-on UFO geek mode. "There are two different types of paranoia: Hodgins believes in the extraterrestrial; Walter believes in the conspiracy. And they both think the other one's crazy," Stults says. I love the Lucy flashbacks on Alcatraz, but it would be nice to actually see her in the present day. Will that happen soon? - Aaron NATALIE: "I think you might be very happy by the end of the season," Jennifer Johnson promises. Until then, let Parminder Nagra catch an on-set nap or two. So excited for Matthew Gray Gubler to direct another episode of Criminal Minds. How twisted is it? - Kenneth ADAM: Very. The episode features a brother and sister who suffer from delusions passed on to them by their mother. For big brother James (Kyle Gallner), the mother haunts his dreams, telling her son to murder women she calls "the devil's wives." So he does, while lil' sis Lara (Madeline Martin), who carries a physical reminder of mommie dearest's wrath, tags along. What's coming up on Happy Endings? - LoisNATALIE: Jane is switching teams. Get your mind out of the gutter. She's ditching her friends to play for a more successful kickball team. Who can blame her though? Dave is really pretty awful out there. Got any good teases about Nikita? - Haley ADAM: Nikita may soon confront her deadliest foe yet. The show is currently casting for a depraved psychopath who Nikita captured five years ago when he attempted to sell nuclear weapons to a terrorist group. But he'll soon be back on the hunt when Percy offers him a get-out-of-jail free card in exchange for the nukes. Adam's Mega Rave: Sunday's gripping episode of The Walking Dead gives me hope that the slower pace of the first half of the season is over. From the terrifying opening zombie attack to the intense shootout/escape at the bar to Lori's Lady Macbeth plea for Rick to do something about Shane, the characters and story have a renewed momentum. Natalie's Mini Rant: Dear Once Upon a Time: As much as I want Snow White and Prince Charming to reunite, I'm officially sick of all the making up and breaking up. Love, Nat. Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows?E-mail Adam and Natalie at mega_scoop@tvguide.comor drop us a line atTwitter.com/TVGuide (Additional reporting by Joyce Eng and Kate Stanhope)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Jim Caviezel Enters The Tomb

He'll annoy Sly and Arnie...Now that The Tomb is gearing up with Mikael Hafstrom directing, the power combo/hospital buddy duo of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger needed an adversary to fight against. Now it looks like they've found a bad guy in Jim Caviezel.You may recall that the movie has been through a few casting hoops, but has now settled with Sly playing Ray Breslin, the world's top authority on structural security and a man who designs prisons for a living. Things take a turn for the difficult when he's framed for a crime and locked up in one of the facilities he helped make escape-proof. Now he has to go up against his own design, with the help of Schwarzenegger's fellow inmate Church.Producer Mark Canton went on the Matthew Aaron show for a chat (picked up by JoBlo) and revealed that Caviezel has signed on to play the warden of the prison, who will no doubt make plenty of trouble for our muscular heroes.The Tomb should kick off shooting this year, ready for a release in 2013. Caviezel has been spending most of his recent time working on US TV drama Person Of Interest.