Hugh Hefner, Playboy Ready For Their Next Chapters

First Published: December 30, 2011 1:20 PM EST Credit: WireImage Caption Miss January Anna Sophia Berglund and Hugh Hefner step out at Day 1 of TCM Classic Film Festival 2011 in Los Angeles on April 28, 2011 LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- On the second floor of the Playboy Mansion, beyond the seemingly endless hallway lined with photos of the famous folks who have visited the legendary party playground, is a narrow staircase that leads to a small loft. LOCK DOOR, signed Hef, reads a handmade note tacked to the lofts tiny entrance. Excuse me if I sit? asks Hugh Hefner, ever the gentleman as he leads a reporter into the cramped room that has only one chair. Ive got a bad hip. Here in this modest space is where Hefner keeps a detailed record of his life that spans more than 2,500 volumes and counting a Guinness world record for a personal scrapbook collection. Every Saturday, the 85-year-old founder of Playboy magazine spends a few hours scrapbooking a hobby he began in 1943 with cartoons he drew of himself and his high-school classmates. Those doodles were probably just a way of creating a world of my own to share with my friends, Hefner says, seated amid the archives of his life in yes, his trademark silk pajamas and bathrobe. And in retrospect, in thinking about it, its not a whole lot different than creating the magazine. As the new year begins and Playboy approaches its 60th birthday, Hefner intends to continue working on the magazine, his scrapbooks and a Hollywood movie about his life. Thats alive again, he says of the biopic idea thats been bandied about for decades. Though 2011 wasnt entirely kind to the man or the brand Hefners 24-year-old fiance called off their engagement days before their June wedding and NBCs The Playboy Club was the first fall TV casualty, canceled after just three episodes Hefner is optimistic about whats next, personally and professionally. Retirement is unthinkable to me, he says. The future is bright and very exciting and Im looking forward to playing a part in it. Hef his preferred nickname since his teens has been a media force since he published the first issue of Playboy in 1953 and he remains the figurehead of the empire he created. Although Playboy Enterprises named Scott Flanders its chief executive in 2009, Hefner continues to serve as editor-in-chief of the magazine, choosing the cover models and centerfolds and editing the cartoons, letters and party jokes. Even Hefner is at a loss to explain the enduring appeal of Playboy, which has spawned and outlasted so many imitators, but he speculates that it has to do with the quality of the publication and the fact that we were saying things that were important then and now. The current issue, which features the much-touted nude pictorial of Lindsay Lohan, includes articles about Occupy Wall Street and Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan, along with an excerpt from Elmore Leonards latest novel and, of course, those photo spreads. Its impossible to separate Hefner from the notionof busty young beauties and the whole clothing-optional, lifes-a-party, I-work-in-pajamas thing. But such an image belies a thoughtful man who deeply values his contributions to the social-sexual changes of my time, yet whose orderly persona seems tame compared to the celebrities of todays tabloid scene. A longtime supporter of the First Amendment, Hefner was an early advocate of civil rights and reproductive rights, and hes championed personal liberties in print. Its very clear that Playboy was instrumental in the sexual revolution, he says. We were making a case for the irrational sexual values that we had back then, and making a case for the sexual revolution back in the years immediately before it became a reality, and doing it in a forum that was very influential. In the 1960s, he says, everybody read Playboy. The magazine was at its peak, selling nearly seven million copies a month, and its cutting-edge content of new writers and nude photos and Hefners own editorials against puritanical repression appealed to a college-age audience hungry for change. Hefner was opening the Playboy Club in London in 1966 when he realized the sexual revolution was well under way. The miniskirt had just arrived, sex was in the air and gaming, gambling had just become legal in the clubs, he recalls. I had been writing the Playboy Philosophy for a couple years, and I felt that week in London that I was looking at the future. Thats when Hefner took his practice of the Playboy lifestyle to a new level. He opened more and more Playboy clubs, launched a TV show in Los Angeles and bought a private jet, dubbed the Big Bunny, to shuttle him back and forth from Playboys headquarters in Chicago to the West Coast. He bought five and a half acres in the posh Holmby Hills neighborhood next to Beverly Hills and, as he puts it, jumped into the swimming pool. He was slowed by a stroke in 1985 as well as the conservative values that dominated during the Reagan era. Hefner married his 1989 Playmate of the Year, Kimberly Conrad, in July of that year. Son Marston was born a year later and Cooper was born in 1991. Hefner and Conrad separated in 1998 but remained married until their sons turned 18. They divorced in 2010. Cooper Hefner is now a 20-year-old junior studying film and history at Chapman University in suburban Orange, Calif., and he says he hopes to be part of an effort to restore Playboys appeal to young people. I definitely think there is some rebranding that needs to be done, Cooper Hefner says on a tour of the game house, a little cottage a short walk from the mansion thats home to a pool table and an array of arcade games. I personally dont think, with my generation and people of my age, the brand is as cool as it was in the 60s and 70s. Indeed, Playboys print circulation is now down to 1.5 million and its readership skews older than in its heyday. Although not a major moneymaker, Hugh Hefner insists the magazine remains the heart and soul of the company. Still, the real future of Playboy which Hefner took private in 2011 after 40 years of public ownership is in brand licensing for merchandise and clubs, says CEO Flanders, noting that the one billion dollars-plus the licensing generates annually dwarfs the companys media profits. Cooper Hefner agrees updated Playboy Clubs can play a big part in wooing a more youthful following, but he believes cinema projects such as Playboys new short-film contest and his fathers big-screen biopic can also help lure a younger demographic. The elder Hefner has always loved the movies, calling them my other family. Movies helped solidify his ideas about the painful result of sexual repression. What he saw on screen echoed the hurtful and hypocritical side of puritanical values that he experienced in his own life. I saw the censorship in the movies when the production code came in in 1934 when I was still a kid, and saw the fact that in movies, even sophisticated couples, like in The Thin Man, Nick and Nora Charles slept in twin beds, Hefner says. In other words, married people in movies slept in twin beds, and I related that as a kid to the fact that I didnt get a lot of hugs and kisses in my home. Hefner still screens movies at the mansion three times a week: Classics on Fridays and Saturdays and new films on Sundays. Every year on his April 9 birthday, he runs his favorite film, Casablanca, and guests dress in the fashions of the 1940s. The original playboy isnt bashful about wanting to see his own colorful life on the big screen. Previous attempts at screenplays of his story read as if they were doing a piece on someone whos already gone, Hefner says, offering a rare acknowledgement of his own mortality. But youve got the guy here. There isnt a great mystery. I can point where the bodies are and how to do it. Besides working on a new script for the biopic, Hefner is working on new relationships with 25-year-old Playboy models Shera Bechard and Anna Berglund. He describes himself as essentially a very romantic person. I dont know that I would be best served at married (life), he says. But I do know that I need an ongoing romantic relationship. He also needs to keep working on Playboy, conceding that perhaps the business he built has become the soul mate hes sought throughout his life. It most certainly is the other half of who I am, without question, and it does fulfill me in ways that most work wouldnt for other people, he says. It has provided him with the kind of larger-than-life existence reflected in the photos that fill the hallway near his scrapbooking room. Its kind of like in Casablanca, Ricks Caf. Everybody comes to Ricks. Well everybody comes to Hefs, he says, passing by the pictures. Youll find them from Mick Jagger to Doris Day to Groucho Marx, young and old. Hefner says he was always a dreamer, but his life is beyond anything he ever imagined. Most peoples lives, if they are successful, have a peak and then its a bell-shaped curve, or they have wonderful years and then a slow dissipation. The opposite has been the case here, Hefner notes almost shyly. Im the luckiest guy, from my perspective, the luckiest guy on the planet. If you can do that and make some real difference in the world, its too sweet. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Holiday Movie Playlist: The Most Popular Christmas Movies

The holiday season is nearly here, even though a lot of you available will unquestionably be investing your time and effort roasted chestnuts with an open fire (as well as other happy activity) with the family, there's likely to be down-time. And believe to invest that point compared to watching some classic holiday movies? You will find too many feel-good Christmas movies (in addition to some feel-bad holiday movies) available to select from, so when you are stumped come December 25, don't worry -- the MTV Movies team has put together our all-time favorite holiday movie viewing encounters to create your season vibrant. "Die Hard" Now I've got a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho. These words, written on the dead criminals shirt by NY cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) and uttered through the Grinchiest of movie menaces Hendes Gruber (Alan Rickman), exemplify why Christmas at Nakatomi Plaza is really enjoyable. The initial Die Hard, a vintage action flick which taken the wisecracking talents of Willis around the edge of his mega-fame, is infinitely quotable and merely as enjoyable around the tenth viewing as around the first. -Tami Katzoff "Home Alone" A lot more than two decades after Kevin McCallister sledded lower his staircase and into theaters, "Home Alone" remains among my personal favorite Christmas movies. Starring blond moppet Macaulay Culkin because the left-behind lad, the 1990 romp follows the boy who remained because he safeguards his home from a set of bungling criminals (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), even while effortlessly weaving sincere holiday-ness with amusing hi-jinks. I (and also the Ada) approve. (I most likely should not speak with respect to the ADA, so for legal reasons, please think about this a belief.) -Amy Wilkinson "Love, Really" Can there be anybody who does not love this wonderfully well-received ensemble romantic comedy? The most testosterone-billed of my male buddies get all warm and fuzzy once they bring it up. The main reason it's ideal for the holiday season is apparent: it's set around Christmas, but unlike other films that attempt to take advantage of a previously over-commercialized season with kitschy gimmickry (see "Valentine's" and "New Year's Eve"), "Love Really" is guaranteed as it's central theme is soul mates: The great, unhealthy, the untidy, hard to look at. Plus you can not assemble a much better cast: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Rodrigo Santorro, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln subsequently (pre-"Walking Dead!") and amazing Bill Nighy carrying out the very best new Christmas song ever, "Christmas Encompasses.Inch -Kara Warner "The Christmas Toy" With "The Muppets" in the spotlight, there is no better time for you to revisit this little-seen Jim Henson made-for-TV jewel about several toys who arrived at existence when no a person's searching. No, we are not speaking about "Toy Story" -- "The Christmas Toy" dates the Pixar classic by a number of years, even though I'd stop lacking saying it is a better film, it's certainly the main one I cherish more. Old buddies, dear buddies, Meteora, eww-it's-Mew, Rugby the Tiger (also known as the finest Christmas toy of)... this movie has everything. Hands lower, my personal favorite holiday movie ever. -Josh Wigler "The The almighty from the Rings" Extended Edition It isn't probably the most apparent choice, but stick to me here. In most, the 3 extended models from the "The almighty from the Rings" trilogy clock-in in a butt-mind-numbing 12 hrs. Now, I really like these movies, however when I'm designed to watch them and never feel below par about sinking four hrs on "Return from the King" on the random Saturday? The holiday season provide the perfect mixture of guilt-free sloth and enormous levels of spare time, the perfect movie marathon conditions. Apart from being convenient, the season always jogs my memory of "The The almighty from the Rings," simply because they were guaranteed Gifts every year they arrived on the scene on DVD. So perhaps it is not that strange in the end, jerk. -Kevin P. Sullivan What exactly are your preferred holiday movies? Inform us within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Adam Pascal Returns to Broadway in 'Memphis'

NY (AP) Adam Pascal thought about being in "Memphis" lengthy before he ever saw "Memphis," which sounds just a little crazy."It is just insane at first glance,Inch the 41-year-old actor states, laughing. "A realistic look at it's that I am a Broadway leading guy and you will find very couple of Broadway leading guy roles. I understood that which was a reveal that I'd have the ability to accomplish.InchHe was right: Pascal, an experienced of "Rent," ''Aida" and "Cabaret," has ended up in to the role of Huey Calhoun within the Tony Award-winning musical, overtaking from Chad Kimball."I am built to get this done. It's type of what I am best doing," he states. "I am physically made to get it done. I am psychologically made to get it done. For reasons uknown, I've the best teams of abilities to create doing musicals something which I truly, really like to do.InchThe musical, compiled by playwright Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, keyboardist using the band Bon Jovi, is occur nineteen fifties Memphis and traces the burgeoning romance between Huey, an R&B-obsessed whitened DJ, along with a black singer performed by Montego Glover.Pascal contacted the producers for "Memphis" two summer season ago about arriving and lastly got the role at the end of October when Kimball made a decision to leave. Yesterday his audition, he saw the show the very first time.InchHow much of an incredibly enjoyable surprise I'd after i finally did begin to see the show and loved it. Again, I did not care basically loved it or otherwise. I needed this task. I understood it had been suitable for me," he states. "But, getting seen the show, it had been an enormous sigh of relief."Christopher Ashley, the artistic director from the La Jolla Playhouse in California who directed "Memphis," states Pascal was among the first names he and also the creative team considered once they discovered changing Kimball."There isn't that lots of people who I believe their talents, their vocal chops as well as their adventurousness can fill this part completely up. This can be a very hard part," states Ashley. "He's on stage constantly for just two 1/2 hrs. He's eight tunes of their own it is challenging, really ruling role."Among the most difficult challenges may be the energy tune "Memphis Lives Within MeInch that Pascal calls "among the best tunes ever written for theater." The song demands an excellent-high note be struck in the very finish and Pascal states he will get available online for about 50 % of time. "It does not always serve any purpose apart from my very own ego," he states.Pascal found fame alongside Anthony Rapp, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs within the original cast of "Rent." He came from the role of Roger, the Helps-infected singer terrified of falling for each other and gained a Tony Award nomination for his performance.Younger crowd came from the role of Radames in Disney's "Aida" by Elton John and Tim Grain, called the last MC within the Mike Mendes-Take advantage of Marshall manufacture of "Cabaret." Fortunate having a youthful face along with a strong voice, Pascal states he's attracted to a myriad of musicals but is renowned for rock-inflected ones."I certainly don't wish to be pigeonholed as 'the Broadway rock guy.' I type of am, and that is OK. But it is really my job being an actor along with a artist to create people my capabilities beyond that. And That I really think this can be a role that can help do this,Inch he states.Pascal reprised his role as Roger within the Chris Columbus-directed film of "Rent" and was cast alongside Jack Black as Theo, charge singer of No Vacancy, in "School of Rock."Although he initially attempted to distance themself from "Rent" within the years after showing up within the musical, Pascal has be prepared for its role in the career. He's even attended begin to see the new off-Broadway production."To become associated with something which has inspired a lot of people, which has moved a lot of people, which has touched a lot of people you will find worse items to link to," he states. "I owe my whole career to 'Rent,' to that particular incredible springboard it gave in my experience.InchPascal is really a music performer too and it has released three solo records. He works his music on tour, playing a vertical bass and guitar having a piano player along with a drummer. He's, obviously, added tunes from "Rent.""The first couple of years, I wouldn't have touched everything from the show. I Quickly kind of found the realization that I am spiting in the audience. It isn't for my very own ego. The crowd really wants to listen to it, so that they should listen to it.Inch1 factor he hopes a crowd will hear eventually is his stage adaptation of "Operation: Mindcrime," an idea album launched in 1988 through the heavy metal and rock band Queensryche, whom Pascal, a longtime fan, calls "the intellectual, thinking man's metal band."The album follows a disillusioned guy because he becomes associated with an innovative group being an assassin and Pascal has become permission in the band to try and transform it into a musical. He really wants to expand it he states a lot of it might need to be "defanged" and make up a story-driven musical."I believe I am wise enough to understand who the crowd is perfect for this. And it is not Queensryche fans. That needs to be obvious," he states. "The crowd needs to function as the people who are visiting 'Memphis' and also to 'Wicked.'"Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

'The Dark Dark night Rises' IMAX Prologue: What Did Bane Just Say?

If you have used the web today, the odds are good you read a minumum of one report concerning the 'Dark Dark night Rises' IMAX prologue screening that happened in La on Thursday evening. (Moviefone and also the NY press corp might find what Nolan needs to offer once the footage screens in Manhattan on Monday.) To quote 'Almost Famous': it's all regulated happening! With news that the new trailer might come soon, and also the IMAX prologue premiering for everybody near an IMAX theater on 12 ,. 16, the once far-away threequel now appears within grasp. Meaning some backlash can begin. Like, what the heck expires with Bane's voice? "Tom Hardy's sinister portrayal [of Bane] stands out through," authored Comics Alliance after screening the footage, "however it was hard to understand a number of Bane's dialogue within this sequence. It appears likely that you will see many parody videos forthcoming." That opinion was echoed by many people other La journalists who reached begin to see the prologue. "'Dark Dark night Rises' 6 minute opening in IMAX teaches you another Nolan moment nothing you've seen prior placed on film," authored David Belgium. "Boo-yah. (But tend to use subtitles.)" "Just saw 'The Dark Dark night Rises' prologue. It had been great but primary critique is going to be it's difficult to understand Bane with the mask," Variety reporter Shaun Sneider added on Twitter. 'Dark Dark night Rises' fans may remember hearing a snippet of Hardy's Bane voice-over the summer time, when video from the Christopher Nolan Batman shoot from Heinz Area in Pittsburgh leaked online. For the reason that clip, Sturdy affected a higher-pitched whine that made him seem just like a cartoon villain. Authored Peter Sciretta at Slashfilm, "Among the large complaints among participants was it was confusing what Bane was saying. You may already know, the smoothness wears a mask, and the voice is synthesized and muffled in ways that is sometimes tough to hear within the score." Based on Came McWeeny at HitFix, however, possibly the Bane voice being hard to understand is what Nolan wants. "I'll state that this mixture around the sequence we had tonight can use some fine-tuning because as i believe Nolan's goal is to really make it confusing everything Bane states, it felt like I only acquired about 10% of the items he stated, including an emphatic "The Fireplace Increases!" at some point.Inch Not too Bane's vocalizations reduced the footage nearly everybody who saw the 'Dark Dark night Rises' prologue appears to possess leave with ideas similar to eyeballs popping from heads. Return to Moviefone in a few days for the detailed report 'The Dark Dark night Rises' prologue runs before IMAX tests of 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' beginning on 12 ,. 16. [Photo: Warner Bros.] 'The Dark Dark night Increases' Hits NY See All Moviefone Art galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

USA Network Pushes Back 'Common Law' Premiere

"The Lucky One" With New Year's Eve hitting theaters this weekend, the trailer for Zac Efron's romantic drama The Lucky One has debuted on the web.our editor recommendsZac Efron's 'The Lucky One' to Hit Theaters on August 24, 2012Zac Efron Reveals How Tom Cruise Taught Him to Ride Motorcycle (Video)'New Year's Eve' Stars Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron Celebrate at Film's Premiere Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, The Lucky One is everything you'd expect it to be. No stranger to heartbreak and inner turmoil having starred in last year's Charlie St. Cloud (also based on a book), Efron plays Logan, a Marine, who finds a photograph of a woman named Beth (Mercy's Taylor Schilling) while doing his tour in Iraq. "I just found it, like I was meant to," Efron says of the glimmering photo amid all the rubble in voiceover. And appropriately enough, on the back of Beth's photo, a simple message: "Keep safe. X." Of course, she's hesitant to move forward with any type of relationship, but eventually succumbs to his advances -- with the help of her mother (Blythe Danner) of course. Sparks is known for his melodramatic dialogue in his novels and bittersweet endings, so will tragedy strike? In one moment in the trailer, Efron and Schilling (whose character has a young child and an unloving partner) find themselves fighting against their urges. "You don't know what I'm dealing with." "I do know that you deserve better than this." The question is:Warner Bros.' The Lucky One, directed by Scott Hicks, hits U.S. theaters April 20, 2012. Watch the trailer below: PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Hollywood's A-List Redefined Zac Efron

Alec Baldwin: Flight Attendant Reamed Me For Playing Words With Buddies

First Released: December 6, 2011 6:32 PM EST Credit: WireImage La, Calif. -- Caption Alec Baldwin attends this year's NY Philharmonic Orchestra Spring Gala Benefit Performance of Stephen Sondheims Company at Lincoln subsequently Center in NY City, on April 7, 2011Alec Baldwins passion for the most popular video game Words With Buddies seems to possess triggered the actor a small travel problem at Poor on Tuesday. Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W Buddies in the end sitting in the gate, not moving. #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt, the actor Tweeted on Tuesday mid-day, following reviews the actor had an impromptu change of planes following an on-board incident. Then another number of Tweets, #theresalwaysunited and But, oddly, 30 Rock plays inflight on American. It's not known when the 30 Rock star was taken off his original flight or maybe he left under your own accord, but actor made an appearance to possess exercised the smartphone snafu. Now around the 3 oclock American flight. The flight family and friends already look..wiser, Alec put in another Tweet. It seems the actor may be done using American Air carriers. #theresalwaysunited Last flight w American. Where upon the market Catholic school gym instructors in the nineteen fifties find jobs as flight family and friends, he added. A repetition from American Air carriers told Access Hollywood, Were sorry but because of privacy concerns regarding our clients, we dont discuss something which might or might possibly not have happened. A repetition in the FAA told Access they'd no details about the incident. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

IFC Films Acquires Jane Fonda Drama 'Peace, Love & Misunderstanding'

IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Peace, Love & Misunderstanding, directed by Bruce Beresford(Tender Mercies). The film had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.our editor recommendsBruce Beresford to Direct Frank Lloyd Wright Biopic 'Taliesin' (Exclusive)Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding: Toronto Review Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener, Kyle MacLachlan, Elizabeth Olsen, Chace Crawford, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Rosanna Arquette and Nat Wolff star in the story of a divorced woman (Keener) who impulsively takes her two children (Olsen, Wolff) to Woodstock, NY, to reconnect with their estranged, eccentric grandmother (Fonda).Christina Mengert and Joseph Muszynski wrote the screenplay. FILM REVIEW: Peace, Love & Misunderstanding BCDF Pictures' Brice Dal Farra, Claude Dal Farra, Lauren Munsch and Jonathan Burkhart produced the project; Mengert and Muszynski are executive producers. "We fell in love with this film in Toronto and couldn't be more excited to be working with one of the world's greatest filmmakers, Bruce Beresford, and his amazing cast," said IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring. "Peace, Love & Misunderstandingwill delight audiences across the country who will be elated to see Jane Fonda give her best and juiciest performance in decades." IFC Films exec Arianna Bocco negotiated the deal with CAA on behalf of the filmmakers. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Toronto Film Festival: 13 Films to Know Catherine Keener Jane Fonda Jeffrey Dean Morgan Elizabeth Olsen Peace, Love & Misunderstanding

'Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo' Producer Restrictions New Yorker Critic From Future Tests for Breaking Review Embargo

Baldur Bragason/Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Corporation. Producer Scott Rudin has banned NYer critic David Denby from tests of his future movies since the NYer is breaking a 12 ,. 13 embargo on reviews of David Fincher's The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo by posting an evaluation in the new problem, which will hit newstands and also the publication's iPad application on Monday.our editor recommendsTrent Reznor Releases Six Free Tracks From 'Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo' Soundtrack'Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo' Designer Trish Summerville Plans a Mikael Blomkvist Men's clothing Line (Exclusive)FEINBERG FORECAST: 'War Equine,' 'Extremely Noisy,' 'Dragon Tattoo,' 'Iron Lady' and 'Blood and Honey' Remain Question MarksNoomi Rapace versus. Rooney Mara: Will the actual Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo Please Operate?Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace to Star in 'Dragon Tattoo' Director's Revenge Thriller'Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo': New Poster Launched (PHOTO)David Fincher: Scarlett Johansson Too Sexy for 'Girl With Dragon Tattoo' Within an e-mail exchange with Denby, released at Indiewire.com, Rudin authored, "You've very badly broken the film using this method, and that i couldn't in good conscience invite you to view another movie of mine again." PHOTOS: 10 Greatest Book-to-Giant Screen Adaptations from the Last two-and-a-half decades Denby and fellow people from the NY Film Experts Circle saw the film early, on November. 28, since it was meeting to election for that year's best films November. 29. (The experts' group really postponed its meeting, initially looking for November. 28, with a day to be able to screen the film before they deliberated.) The audience find the early voting date the very first time this season to ensure that they will be the initial honours group to announce those who win. The new sony Pictures Entertainment executive vice president movies publicity Andre Caracoalso sent a stinging memo Sunday demeaning Denby(see entire e-mail below) to experts so that they can keep up with the embargo. "Ought to be principle, the NYer's breach violates a trust and undermines something made to help journalists get the job done and serve their visitors," Caraco authored. "We've been speaking directly using the NYer relating to this matter and be prepared to take measures to make sure this type of breach doesn't happen again." Denby's move also came critique using their company people from the NYFCC, particularly since Denby had lobbied from the group's taking an earlier election, which, ironically, brought towards the early screening of Fincher's movie. "The new sony was very explicit about us not running anything early," NYFCC leader John Anderson toldThe Hollywood Reporter. "The screening was particularly for the consideration as NYFCC voters, and unless of course David were built with a different conversation than I, he decided to exactly the same factor the relaxation people did. There might be mitigating factors, however i don't know for certain that there have been, and don't ok now what they may have been. We follow embargoes constantly.Inch VIDEO: 'Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo' Extended Trailer Launched "The NYFCC continues to be excoriated in certain quarters," stated Anderson, "for allegedly attempting to be 'first' this season (authors have consistently overlooked another reasons I've provided). However it's precisely a desperation to become first that's further complicating the connection between movie galleries and experts, journalists and also the relaxation from the legitimate media. Getting what you are able call a gentleman's agreement about whenever we write our reviews is almost not a moral compromise. And That I can understand a business wanting control button over its product. Frankly, we now have no to see movies early we obtain to do this like a courtesy. And possibly the entire process ought to be eliminated -- if everybody needed to visit the theater to determine everything, it might level the playing area, with no one would need to 'play ball' to be able to maintain their access." Denby's review, that is largely positive, starts, "You are able to't take your vision off Rooney Mara because the well known Lisbeth Salandar, within the American movie version of Stieg Larsson's The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo." Also it concludes, "This can be a bleak but enchanting bit of filmmaking it provides a glancing, chilled look at a global by which brief moments of loyalty flicker between repeated functions of denial." In the email exchange with Rudin, Denby described the choice to break the embargo around the movie, which opens 12 ,. 21, by saying there have been two many important films opening in the finish of the season for that NYer to accomodate all of them. It might have needed to run them as either short reviews or hold back until The month of january to cope with them at more length. "It wasn't my intention to interrupt the embargo, and that i never might have tried it with an adverse review. Consider I loved the film, we came unwillingly to the choice to opt for early publication," the critic authored. "I am sorry for that breach from the embargo. It won't happen again. But it was a unique situation triggered by year-finish madness." VIDEOS: 'Dragon Tattoo's' Christopher Plummer in THR's Honours Season Stars Roundtable Rudin responded that Denby's explanations were "disingenuous" and "nonsense." He added, "You'll now cause The many other reviews to operate per month prior to the discharge of the film, which is really a deeply destructive factor to possess done." Inside the NYFCC, Denby continues to be charged with being sporadic for racing to write the very first Tattoo review. He was one of the loudest voices advocating his fellow experts to not election on those who win early. "What's essential about being first?" he required within the following "huffy" e-mail March. 25: Dear NYFCC Member: We apologize for that huffy tone of the items follows (and trust us, we're feeling duly guilty that people didn't attend the company meeting), but this really is too essential for us to disregard. We're unhappy using the Circle's decision to election on November 28. We believe it's potentially a significant mistake, and therefore are unlikely to election whatsoever if November 28 continues to be date. You will find multiple causes of this dissent. To begin with, it's very unlikely that virtually all of the Christmas movies is going to be proven prior to the meeting. We understand the whole premise of the super-early voting date is the fact that because the galleries show their films towards the National Board of Review, they'll accept demonstrate to them to us too. However the people from the NBR aren't working experts. In the galleries' perspective, there's much less politics involved with showing the films early for them. The majority of the December movies might be done now, but that doesn't imply that marketing divisions and producers and company directors (who make these choices, not publicists) will let us discover their whereabouts early. And here's the crux from the problem. Let's state that the overwhelming most of the galleries plan to exhibit their films prior to us. Let's suppose there's just one holdout - say, the studio delivering "The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo." May be the NY Film Experts Circle really likely to election for the best Picture of the season without seeing the brand new David Fincher film? (Please don't squawk should you don't occur to like Fincher, or Swedish-set art thrillers it's just a good example.) Voting with no chance to determine that certain film - or other movie you may title - will be a serious breach from the Circle's integrity. It might violate the concept that we work from an amount playing area. Don't forget, too, the meeting, as scheduled, comes immediately after the Christmas (a reduced week when, typically, next to nothing will get tested), which you will find plenty of movies opening at the end of November that people all suffer from. The jam-up could be unworkable. Shall we be really likely to have the ability to see, and absorb, the 25 to 30 honours-season movies opening in December through the finish from the third week in November? Is Steven Spielberg really likely to let's see "The War Equine," that is opening on Christmas day, five days before opening? It appears seriously doubtful. Even when virtually all of the releases are proven to us, more compact, less heralded films drop into circulation at the begining of and mid December, and that we will have to consider individuals too for possible honours. It might be a travesty in our history, that is wealthy with independent and idiosyncratic votes, as we permitted individuals movies to drop out of consideration. One more point: Even when we're capable of seeing my way through November, a lot of us, who choose for you to use fresh impressions, will have to see individuals movies again later to be able to review them. Major inconvenience. But what we should're really wondering is: Why do essential to become first? Why do important whatsoever? Who cares once the National Board of Review announces its options? They aren't experts, by trumping them, we're taking them more seriously than they must be taken. And putting it crassly, so how exactly does being first benefit us like a group? Our names aren't listed in news reports articles or even the blurbs running using the advertisements announcing honours. As we hurry in to the honours-season madness, aren't we just reinforcing its destructive impact on release agendas, by which half the interesting movies of the season are held for that final days? Aren't we putting ourselves on a single level because the publicists and also the Harvey Weinsteins who are attempting to game the honours, joining the factor that people normally deplore? If all of the movies, by some miracle, are proven before November 28, and that we can easily see them, only then do we will election. But otherwise, we'll have a pass this season and election again once the group involves its senses. Here's The new sony's 12 ,. 4 Dragon Tattoo e-mail: Dear Friend, All who attended tests from the Girl Using The Dragon Tattoo agreed on paper to withhold reviews until nearer to the date from the film's worldwide release date. Sadly, your co-workers, David Denby from the NYer, has made the decision to interrupt his agreement and can run his review on Monday, December fifth. This embargo breach is totally unacceptable. By permitting experts to determine films early, at different occasions, embargo dates level the playing area and enable reviews to operate inside the films' primary release window, when audiences are most interested. Ought to be principle, the NYer's breach violates a trust and undermines something made to help journalists get the job done and serve their visitors. We've been speaking directly using the NYer relating to this matter and be prepared to take measures to make sure this type of breach doesn't happen again. Meanwhile, we now have every aim of maintaining the embargo in position and you want to help remind you that reviews might not be released just before December thirteenth. We urge all who've been because of the chance to determine The Lady Using The Dragon Tattoo to recognition the obligations decided to like a condition of getting early use of the film. Thanks ahead of time for the cooperation. Sincerely, Andre Caraco Executive V . P ., Film Publicity The new sony Pictures Entertainment PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Greatest Book-to-Giant Screen Adaptations from the Last two-and-a-half decades Rooney Mara Difficulties David Fincher The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo

'Harry Potter' Plus Much More: The Most Effective Trailers Of 2011

FROM MTV MOVIES: Time, like the theatrical run of "Your Highness," has disappeared quickly this year. It's tough to consider it absolutely was almost 12 several days ago that individuals were settling into our seats to check out Nicolas Cage's "Season in the Witch." That didn't exercise perfectly. And therefore, since the MTV Movies team begins our think in the film year that was 2011, we're reminded that time matters. We don't cash from this we ought to put it to use properly. This is why we're beginning our quantity of best-of tales with movie trailers people neat little packages of footage that inform us inside a few minutes' time when the full movie will most likely be useful. Picking our 20 favorite trailers will be a tough call just consider those that didn't ensure it is, like "The Avengers," "The Astounding Spider-Guy," "Captain America: The Initial Avenger" and "Breaking Beginning - Part 1." Ultimately, though, we selected the trailers that actually associated with us some because the start of the growing season plus more recent ones that have been sure to haunt us into next season. Continue reading through for that picks for your 20 best movie trailers of 2011. See the full story at MTV Movies!

Producer Dan Halsted Inks First-Look Development Deal With Fox TV Studios (Exclusive)

Jojo Whilden/ Lionsgate Lionsgate has been sued by a consulting firm that alleges it is owed money for services provided to help its slate of films garner Academy Award nominations. The work is said to have resulted in an Oscar nod for Nicole Kidman in the best actress category for Rabbit Hole, and the firm says it is entitled to $61,500 plus interest.our editor recommendsNicole Kidman, Director Philip Noyce Set for 'My Wild Life' (AFM 2011) PHOTOS: 2011 Oscars Red Carpet The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this month by CBB Consulting, which says it was contracted in August 2010 to provide logistical services in advance of awards season. Per the agreement, CBB was to get $12,000 per month from August until the Academy Awards telecast in late February. The agreement provided a right to terminate with five days written notice. On November 1 2010, Lionsgate allegedly informed CBB of its intention to terminate. According to the complaint, the explanation given was "financial reasons." (At the time, the studio was battling investor Carl Icahn for control of the company.) PHOTOS: 2011 Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon However, CBB says that no written notice was given and that the reasons cited weren't permissible in the opt-out provision, which stated that the parties were allowed to cancel in the event of "any change in business form, management or organization or any other occurrences materially frustrates this intent." CBB now claims it is owed $42,000 for unpaid services. In addition, the firm claims $12,000 more damages as a promised fee for handing over an updated draft of an Academy members mailing list. Finally, CBB says it's due $7,500 as a promised bonus for Kidman's nomination. According to the agreement, CBB was to get $5,000 for an Oscar nomination (which Kidman got) and $2,500 for any Guild nomination (Kidman got a Screen Actors Guild nod as well). PHOTOS: Top 10 SAG Awards Red Carpet Looks We've reached out to Lionsgate for comment and will update with a response. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 2011 Oscars Red Carpet Nicole Kidman Oscars Rabbit Hole

New 'Diary from the Wimpy Kid' Book Beats Steve Jobs' Sales Record

The Diary from the Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, the sixth book inside the popular kids series by Rob Kinney, offered greater than millions of copies since its debut on November. 15, according to author Abrams. The initial week sales were 25 percent before book five, The Diary from the Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, which first demonstrated on November 9, 2011.our editor recommendsInside 'Diary from the Wimpy Kid's' $500 Million Franchise Jobs Bio Scores Finest Debut of year PHOTOS: 14 Christmas Roadtrip Reads The Ugly Truth ongoing money than 3.3 million copies using the holidays, finding yourself since the best-selling book of year. The strong debut of Cabin Fever signifies it could sell around 4 million copies by December 31, likely also finding yourself since the year's top-selling book. At 6 000 0000 copies, the initial printing for Cabin Fever might be the greatest for nearly any book this season, beating Jobs' biography, which offered greater than 379,000 copies within the first six occasions of in the marketplace and Chris Paolini's Inheritance, which drenched 489,500 combined book digital and audio sales on its first day's availability. STORY:Inside 'Diary from the Wimpy Kid's' $500 Million Franchise "Sales for Diary from the Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever inside the first week have exceeded our anticipation. We're thrilled the brand new book has first demonstrated so strongly. Once again, the fans have spoken, and Rob Kinney's series has broken all sales records- in kids' books and adult-for your year," mentioned Michael Jacobs, leader and Boss of Abrams. PHOTOS: 10 Finest Book-to-Silver Screen Adaptations in the Latter-and-a-half decades The Wimpy Kid franchise remains the vendor inside the hot youthful adult segment in the book market. This Season, the series offered 11.5 million hardcover books to displace Twilight since the best selling YA series. Lifetime sales for your series exceed 50 million copies. The Two live-action Wimpy Kid movies-2010's Diary from the Wimpy Kid as well as the 2011 follow-up Diary from the Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules-make greater than $145 million worldwide. Another movie, Diary from the Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, is scheduled being released on August 3, 2011. PHOTOS: How a Posting World Covered Jobs' Dying The Wimpy Kid series concentrates on the misadventures of Greg Hefley, the titular wimpy kid, a typical 13-year-old boy who's nervous around women, fights along with his older brother, and can enter into issue with his nearest friend Rowley. Author Rob Kinney likens Greg with a middle-school version of Ray David: well-intentioned but always getting into danger for saying aloud another people are planning. Cabin Fever finds Greg snowed in in your house carrying out a surprise blizzard. He hates being alone conscious of his family, but waiting for him when school starts again is punishment for just about any prank he did not commit. Related Subjects Jobs Diary from the Wimpy Kid

'Beauty and also the Beast' three dimensional Trailer: Technology as Old as Time (VIDEO)

.publish-content img The 26th factor you did not learn about 'Beauty and also the Beast'? The way it looks in 3d. For individuals wondering, allow Disney to ask you to definitely its next large rerelease: 'Beauty and also the Animal three dimensional,' which hits theaters on Jan. 13, 2012 -- better referred to as frozen tundra of The month of january studio dumps. Will 'Beauty and also the Animal 3D' make just as much money as 'The Lion King three dimensional,' which gained $93 million in September? Probably! While there's something quaint concerning the animation in 'Beauty and also the Beast' -- it appears a little flat and a little stodgy, particularly when compared using the sharp options that come with Flynn Driver from 'Tangled,' who appears in the finish to advertise the following 'Tangled' video clip -- who cares?! It's 'Beauty and also the Beast'! An account as old as time! Angela Lansbury! You will be Disney's guest for that one once again. [via Yahoo!] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Rupert Murdoch Was Asked for by Parents of Wiped out Schoolgirl to 'Put Things Right' at News Corp. Over Phone-Hacking

our editor recommendsNews Corp. Spied on Phone Hacking Lawyers in addition to their Children Tried to locate Proof of Affair Murdochs' Relationship Heading down hill After Phone Hacking Scandal (Report)Why what is the news Corp. Scandal Will have a Silver LiningRelated Subjects•Rupert Murdoch LONDON - Boband Sally Dowler, the oldsters of wiped out schoolgirl Milly Dowler, asked for Rupert Murdochto use phone-hacking as "an chance" to clean in the manner his newspapers operated, after they met what is the news Corp. boss within this summer time. Speaking within the Leveson Inquiry on Monday, Milly Dowler's parents mentioned they'd met with Rupert Murdoch following a particulars in the phone-hacking happen to be released in, a concept that eventually increase the risk for closure in the 168-year-old newspaper. "It absolutely was a very tense meeting," mentioned Sally Dowler, going onto add, "he [Rupert Murdoch] was very sincere." Giving evidence in the packed courtroom within the Royal Courts of Justice london, Sally Dowler mentioned their daughter Gemmahad implored what is the news Corp. leader to produce right the newspaper practices which were uncovered as so wrong. "As my daughter Gemma mentioned to Mr Murdoch - 'use this becoming an opportunity to place things right afterwards, involve some decent standards and stay with them.'" Her husband Bob also called on News Worldwide to look for the gravity from the products it attempted wrong. "You may hope News Worldwide together with other media methods would look very carefully at how they procure particulars about tales." Milly Dowler's phone voicemail message message happen to be jeopardized by News around the world investigator Glenn Mulcairein the occasions following a 13-year-old was reported missing in 2002. Mulcaire removed numerous messages round the teen's phone - giving her family false expect some time they had been alive. Sally Dowler told the Leveson Inquiry how excited she'd become when she'd had the chance to go away an email on her behalf account daughter's phone, the implication that was that Milly herself had removed messages to go away room on her behalf account voicemail message message service. "She's acquiring her voice mails Bob, she's alive, she's alive," she told the Inquiry. The Dowlers also give cases of occasions they thought suggested their very own phones happen to be utilized with the investigator. The Dowlers came out greatly composed through the 30-minute evidence session, but Sally Dowler's voice came out to destroy when she retold the moment they believed that her daughter was alive. The Dowlers would be the initial in the extended kind of witnesses prone to testify this in regards to the impact of phone hacking and media invasion inside their lives, with Hugh Grantexpected later on Monday. Lately the Dowler family agreed a $3.3 million compensation settlement with News Worldwide on the phone-hacking, the finest such payout inside the U.K. so far, getting an additional $1.6 000 0000 donation from News Worldwide to numerous charitable groups nominated with the Dowler family. Related Subjects Rupert Murdoch Worldwide News Corp. Phone Hacking Scandal

ROLL CALL: Snookis Cat Litter Beauty Regime Revealed!

First Released: November 17, 2011 3:57 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium Caption Nicole Snooki Polizzi attends it signing on her new book Confessions Of The Guidette at Barnes & Noble Glendale Americana in Glendale, Calif. on November 15, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Meow!: Jersey Shoreline cherub Nicole Snooki Polizzi has gone out providing her knowledge around the world once more, this time around shes offering up beauty advice that may build your cat just a little confused. The truth star stopped by Conan last evening, where she told the talk show host that they uses cat litter included in her skincare regime. Some exfoliates have rocks inside them also it makes the skin really smooth, and kitty is a great substitute, she stated. I havent started whatsoever yet! Take a look at more with Snooki such as the star clearing individuals annoying going lesbian gossips HERE! Bradleys True Loves: Most sexy Guy Alive 2011 Bradley Coopers sex life is definitely a hot subject, but People discloses that his two true loves dont exactly run having a Hollywood pack. Meet Bradleys Samson and Charlotte now HERE! Most sexy Guy Alive Backlash!: Not everybody is satisfied about Bradley Cooper getting named Most sexy Guy Alive 2011. Actually, heres 63 explanations why many thought Ryan Gosling must have nabbed the coveted title. More Real Average women Drama!: Could this year from the Real Average women of Beverly Hillsides have any more drama-filled!? It seems Kim Richards new guy Ken Blumenfeld comes with an arrest past, Radar On the internet is confirming. Take a look at Kens mug shot after being arrested last year for any Drunk driving, HERE! This cant make sister Kyle Richards (who had been reduced to tears after she found that her sister was dating him about this days episode) happy. -By Jesse Spero Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Connie Britton Switches into Choosing

Connie Britton American Horror Story's Connie Britton has adopted an infant boy.Britton came back home from Ethiopia the other day with 9-month-old Eyob following a three-year process of adoption, People reviews.Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton preview American Horror Story's approaching scares"I'm saying thanks to my lucky stars every single day,Inch states the 44-year-old actress.Before her role around the Forex horror drama American Horror Story, Britton performed Tami Taylor in Friday Evening Lights.

'Wizard of Oz' Munchkin Karl Slover Dies at 93

DUBLIN, Ga. - Karl Slover, one of the last which makes it through stars who carried out Munchkins inside the 1939 classic film, The Wizard of Oz, has died. He was 93.our editor recommends'Wizard of Oz' Slip-ons Prone to Fetch no less than $2 million at AuctionWarner Bros. Wins Key Legal Ruling Affecting All 'Wizard of Oz' Remakes (Exclusive)Can Warner Bros. Stop Others By Utilizing 'Wizard of Oz' Figures?Related Subjects•Obituaries Some-ft-5 Slover died of cardiopulmonary arrest Tuesday mid-day in the central Georgia hospital, mentioned Laurens County Deputy Coroner Nathan Stanley. According to pals, as recently as a week ago, Slover came out at occasions inside the suburban Chicago area. Slover was most broadly noted for getting involved in charge trumpeter inside the Munchkins' band but furthermore had roles just like a townsman and soldier inside the film, mentioned John Fricke, author of the century of Oz and five other books round the movie which is star, Judy Garland. Slover was one of the tiniest male Munchkins inside the movie. Extended after Slover outdated, he ongoing to appear across the country at festivals and occasions connected using the film. He was among seven Munchkins within the 2007 unveiling from the star round the Hollywood Walk of Fame devoted for the little folks the film. Only three remain in the 124 diminutive stars who carried out the beloved Munchkins. "He's a geniune growing older," Fricke mentioned. "In the 124 little people, he's one of the handful who arrived at love this specific latter-day fame, to own people know who he was and be capable of pick him in the crowd inside the movie." Slover might be the to start the three trumpeters to herald the Munchkin mayor when he makes his entrance. Slover happen to be cast to see the second trumpeter but switched when another actor got stage fright throughout filming, mentioned longtime friend Allen Pease, the co-founding father of the first sort Munchkinland Market Days outdoors Chesterton, Ind. "Karl didn't know very well what stage fright meant," he mentioned. Slover was produced Karl Kosiczky using what is just about the Czech Republic which he was really the only child in the household being dwarf sized. "In people naive days, his father attempted witch physician remedies to produce him grow," Fricke mentioned. "Knowing Karl and also the overcome his early existence, you'll be able to't help but celebrate the man at any time similar to this.In . He was hidden outdoors, immersed in heated oil until his skin blistered after which it installed on a stretching machine inside a hospital, all inside the try to cause him to increase height. Eventually he was provided by his father at 9 with a traveling show in Europe, Fricke mentioned. Slover ongoing to complete into his late 20s, when he gone after the united states . States, changed his title and came out in circuses incorporated inside a vaudeville group known to as Singer Midgets. The crowd's 30 artists increased being the nucleus in the Munchkins. He was paid out $50 each week for your movie and told pals that Garland's dog inside the movie, Toto, made more earnings. The which makes it through Munchkin stars found new decades of fans inside the late eighties after they began making looks across the country. "It wasn't prior to the Munchkins started making their looks in 1989 all of them found realize how potent the film grew to become and ongoing to become,Inch Fricke mentioned. "He was wonderfully articulate about his recollections, he'd anecdotes to discuss.Inch Related Subjects Obituaries The Wizard of Oz

Blake Shelton Shocked By CMA Win

First Released: November 10, 2011 12:04 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert attend the 45th annual CMA Honours in the Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, on November 9, 2011Lightning struck two times for country celebrity Blake Shelton on Wednesday evening because the New Bands Association presented the recognition from the Male Singer of the season award around the Voice mentor for any second year consecutively a task he never likely to achieve. I'm beyond shocked! As shocked when i was this past year, at the back of the mind you believe this past year anyways Maybe Ill win this because Im the underdog-- people in the market have a pity party for me personally in the end these years, Blake told Access Hollywood backstage in the show in Nashville on Wednesday. It happened. Which means this year I figured, Well, theyre not likely to play that card again! The award was given to an ecstatic Blake by gorgeous superstar (and Nashville native) Reese Witherspoon, making the win much more surreal for that open singer. When Reese known as my title, particularly with her standing there, it had been like something from the movie. It was. Its crazy, he stated. I told somebody earlier, After I awaken each morning, its likely to seem like this [award] is really under my sheets. Nevertheless its not really Im still likely to be that looking forward to winning this! And Blake wasnt the only real large champion within the Shelton house his wife, country celebrity Miranda Lambert, required home her second Female Singer of the season award, an recognition that shocked both of them. Miranda came and she or he sitting lower alongside me and goes, Is crazy? Have you pay somebody or something like that? Time passes, No. I have no idea things to say, Blake chuckled. Being CMAs male singer of the season once is sufficient to make everything worthwhile. To become that two times is pay attention to me, Im without words. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Starz orders more 'Spartacus'

Starz does not have intentions of slowing down lower lower its "Spartacus" franchise. Pay cabler has bought a completely new but as-yet-untitled "Spartacus" season. Production will begin in Nz early next season. The first "Spartacus: Blood stream and Sand" opened up within the month of the month of january 2010. The second season will be a six-episode prequel, "Spartacus: Gods in the Arena," which first demonstrated early this year. Season three -- titled "Spartacus: Vengeance" -- is positioned to debut Jan. 27. Andy Whitfield toplined "Blood stream and Sand," nevertheless the actor died in September of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Liam McIntyre assumes the title role of Spartacus in "Vengeance." Starz is presently airing its original series "Boss," starring Kelsey Grammer just like a modifying Chicago mayor. Ratings are actually disappointing. Make the most of Tapert, Steven S. DeKnight, Mike Raimi and Joshua Donen professional produce "Vengeance." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

TV News Blankets Verdict As Conrad Murray Charged

Television news moved into Dr. Conrad Murray mode soon after 11 today after it had been introduced that the verdict have been arrived at within the involuntary wrongful death trial within the dying of Michael Jackson. Using the news the jury’s verdict is going to be read at 1 PM PT, the feeding craze commenced: In your area in La, NBC/4, KTLA/5, ABC/7, KCAL/9and Fox/11 allcut live towards the L.A. Criminal Courthouse downtown to pay for the breaking story, as did CNN, HLN and truTV with pictures, speculation and interviews using the multitudes collected while watching courthouse. The systems all prepared to both stoke the suspense and capture the tensionof as soon as. Particularly, CBS/2 didn’t break from the Youthful And Also The Restless, nor did KCOP/13 from the regular programming (including reruns of I Really Like Lucy and Bewitched). And oddly enough, FoxNews and MSNBC covered the breaking story as part of their bigger newscasts and never solely. Murray is charged with leading to Jackson’s dying after giving an overdose from the drug propofol, recommended to deal with Jackson’s insomnia. The approaching verdict culminates a days-lengthy trial and 2 times of jury deliberations. If charged, Murray might be sentenced to 4 years imprisonment. MORE

Thursday highs for Eye's 'Bang'

Fox, with good performances from ''The X Factor'' and the season premiere of ''Bones,'' prevailed among young adults on Thursday, but CBS was close behind and led in other categories behind the best Thursday scores to date for ''The Big Bang Theory'' and a strong showing by ''The Mentalist.'' According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, ''The X Factor'' results show averaged a 3.6 rating/10 share in adults 18-49 and 11.3 million viewers overall in the 8 o'clock hour, rising from a 3.3 in the demo at 8 p.m. to a 4.0 at 8:30. It was followed by the season premiere of ''Bones'' (3.3/8 in 18-49, 10.0 million viewers overall), which had its best opener in three years and placed a close second to ABC's ''Grey's Anatomy'' for the hour's 18-49 lead. For the night, Fox led in 18-49 for a seventh straight Thursday to start the season. CBS, which led in adults 25-54 and total viewers, opened very strong with ''The Big Bang Theory'' (5.1/15 in 18-49, 15.5 million viewers overall), which matched or set records for a Thursday episode in the 8 o'clock half-hour, rising more than 10% from last week when it faced the World Series and ruling as the night's No. 1 program. It was followed by ''Rules of Engagement'' (3.7/10 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall), also up week to week and second to ''X Factor'' in 18-49. Despite the presence of crime drama competition for the first time (Fox's ''Bones''), ''Person of Interest'' held steady at 9 (2.7/7 in 18-49, 11.7 million viewers overall), and ''The Mentalist'' led its hour (2.9/8 in 18-49, 13.5 million viewers overall), rising about 15% week to week for its best demo delivery since April. ABC opened meekly with ''Charlie's Angels'' (1.2/3 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) before surging at 9 p.m. with ''Grey's Anatomy'' (3.5/9 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall), which was down slightly week to week but won its hour in 18-49 and remained the night's top drama in the category. And closing out the night, ''Private Practice'' (2.6/7 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) was up week to week to place second. NBC remained fourth, but ''Community'' (1.7/5 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall), ''Parks and Recreation'' (2.0/6 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) and ''The Office'' (3.1/8 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) were all up from last week opposite the World Series. Rookie comedy ''Whitney'' (2.1/5 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) was in line with its performance of last week, while 10 p.m. drama ''Prime Suspect'' edged up (1.2/3 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) but remained well behind its broadcast rivals and was probably in a tight battle with corporate cousin USA's season premiere of ''Burn Notice.'' CW's ''The Vampire Diaries'' (1.5/4 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall) and ''The Secret Circle'' (0.9/2 in 18-49, 2.3 million viewers overall) were flat week to week, with the former matching its season highs and topping the 18-49 scores of two Big Four dramas on the night (ABC's ''Charlie's Angels'' and NBC's ''Prime Suspect''). Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 3.4/9; CBS, 3.3/9; ABC, 2.4/6; NBC, 1.9/5; Univision, 1.3/4; CW, 1.2/3; In total viewers: CBS, 12.9 million; Fox, 10.6 million; ABC, 7.1 million; NBC, 4.5 million; Univision, 3.1 million; CW, 2.8 million. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

Ray Liotta on The Son of No One, Working with Al Pacino, and Eating Brains in Hannibal

A quick scan of Ray Liotta’s filmography indicates that the 56-year-old actor has played tons of officers, captains and detectives. He sticks to that milieu in The Son of No One, a Sundance-debuted thriller about a young cop (Channing Tatum) who is assigned to protect the rough Queens neighborhood where he grew up. As Captain Marion Mathers, Liotta works authoritatively alongside a veteran detective (Al Pacino), even after an anonymous source reveals new information about unsolved murders and a potential police cover-up. Movieline phoned Liotta to talk about the new movie, memories of Goodfellas and traumatizing moviegoers in Hannibal. You’ve played a lot of hard-bitten, gritty roles over the years. Does that get easier as time goes on? By gritty do you mean — like a maniac? That too. That kind of gritty? In a sense it gets easier. You hold on so tight when you first get started, and when I started my career, I’d never even been in a fight before. I remember always trying to hold on to it — keeping [the mania] in my head. But then you learn that just driving the work gets you so angry. You don’t have to hold onto it. You can trust yourself, that it is going to be there, that you’re going to react the way you’re supposed to react if you do your homework. It takes a while before you start trusting yourself, I have found. Channing Tatum is considerably less maniacal on screen. Was it fun to prod him and wind him up during scenes? Yeah. Channing’s really good. The good thing about him is he’s really simple — and I don’t mean like a simple person. The way he acts is very simple. He keeps it closer to the vest than some of the characters I play. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen the movie, but even when he’s getting a little wound up — though do we do push his buttons towards the end there — it’s always fun playing that way. Nothing was more fun than being with Pacino. That was really a dream. I’ve been lucky to work with a lot of really, really good actors like Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Anthony Hopkins, De Niro and Pacino was always somebody on my list. He was just great. I loved it. Pacino plays a captain and you play a detective. Did it trip you out to play alongside Pacino as a contemporary in your first movie with him? No, because I get more excited. Even when I did Goodfellas, I was more excited than tripped out. The first week of rehearsal for Goodfellas, you see Bob [De Niro] and Joe [Pesci] working it out and figuring it through. Some suggestions work, some don’t. So you really see behind the curtain, if you will. We’re used to seeing the actors on screen all worked out with lighting and music, but when you’re doing it, some takes work, some don’t, sometimes they drop a line, sometimes they don’t. By this time when I worked with Al, I was used to seeing that. It’s a human being who’s just an actor. They work it out like everybody else. The better the actor, the more they experiment and try and don’t hang on. With Al, since he’s so theater-oriented, he likes long takes. With some actors, they just want a minute or two. They can’t even sustain it for that long. With Al, we sustained it as long as we could. Plus, he’s just a great guy. So it seems like you enjoy taking advantage of the unique acting opportunities within the medium of film. What other actors work that way? Robert Duvall is like that. Very present and in the moment. Joe Pesci. One of the best experiences I had was with Tom Hulce in a movie called Dominic and Eugene. There’ve been a few I’ve worked with who manipulate a lot, and they play around. It’s more “movie acting” as opposed to experiencing something between acting and cut. You’ve worked very consistently. How do you stay motivated? Mostly the past few years I’ve been doing supporting parts in high-profile movies. So there’s that. I’m only working one to two to three weeks on a movie. The better the movie, the less they pay — unless you’re really at a certain level. Sometimes you’ll do things, to be honest, just to make a living. Those are really challenging. I mean, I approach the material the same no matter what it is, no matter what the part. But sometimes, some directors don’t know their ass from their elbow. That is frustrating. Did you take pleasure in traumatizing people with the brain-eating scene in Hannibal? [Laughs.] It traumatized me too! I knew when I got it, I said — with Ridley Scott directing — I knew it was going to be realistic. I remember when it first opened, I was working in Toronto and I was hearing about people walking out or getting sick. A couple people fainted? It’s always good to have an impact. Do you find that many of your older movies have a second life? For instance, I seem to hear about Something Wild more often now. It has quirky cachet. Yeah. No question. Not only is it people who saw it in the theater to begin with, but younger audiences see them too. Their parents or friends turn them on to the movies. That’s especially true for Goodfellas and Field of Dreams — as young as 12 years old, even now. Which means that parents are being a little lax. Do you want to do more comedy? Swear to God, I think Heartbreakers is hilarious. It’s not something that people really think of me for, but I have a really sweet movie called Snowmen that opened this week in limited release. I have a son with cancer and I’m trying to pay the bills, and I sell used cars and do these crazy commercials — so there’s a lot of humor in that, though it’s really heartfelt. I was really disappointed that it didn’t get better distribution, but hopefully it’ll do better in video. Lastly, we do a feature at Movieline called ‘My Favorite Scene.’ What’s your favorite movie scene ever? For some reason when you said that, On the Waterfront popped into my head. I love the scene when Brando first talks to Eva Marie Saint. When she drops the glove and picks it up, and they’re talking for the first time. I loved that scene. Very well done. Do you think Brando is still influential? I think to the generation before mine, more so than for Al or me. I don’t know how it is for people now, but him, James Dean, Montgomery Clift — it was that naturalistic way of doing things as opposed to what they were doing in the ’30s and ’40s. Although when you think about it, Spencer Tracy was doing the same thing. He didn’t get as much credit for it. Henry Fonda? A lot of those guys were really simple. But with Brando, it’s about the rebellion. When you play a bad, edgy guy, it just stands out in people’s mind. I know actors who’ve done both, and 90 percent of the time people bring up the movies where they’re just edgy. I don’t know why that is, but they do.

Was Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Marriage A Sham?

First Launched: November 1, 2011 7:24 PM EDT Credit: Getty Premium Caption Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian show on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno at NBC Art galleries in Burbank, Calif. on October 4, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries met just one this past year and were only married for 72 days, but was the Basketball star Kims first pick being her groom and was their relationship orchestrated? Access Hollywood sitting lower while using Dailys La Bureau Chief Richard Manley who mentioned Kris was cast becoming Kims husband and wasn't her first choice. It had been possible TV marriage meaning its unreal, Manley mentioned. In my opinion they became a member of together for your reasons of making money, making ratings and making programming as well as the season was over and therefore was the marriage. According to Manley, Kris wasnt even Kims first selection for her leading guy. She went and searched for out an Basketball player to type of star over the following season of her show, he ongoing. Danilo Gallinari will be a very handsome Italian player for your NY Knicks, now hes round the Colorado Nuggets, but she assaulted him first which he wasnt interested after which it [Kim] selected Kris Humphries. But was Kris alert to this program alleged by Manley? The big question for you is whether Kris Humphries really understood just what the plan was or whether he was the unwitting adult, Manley ongoing. In my opinion he figured it eventually because allegedly he began asking for demands and allegedly he asked for a rise from E!. And lately, he hired a publicist but however naive and innocent relocating, he wasn't any more naive and innocent within the finish. POLL: You Think Kim & Kris Marriage Was Soul Mates Or All For Your Cameras? Follow The Link to election! Manley speculates the couples lucrative money train stopped due to the Basketball entrepreneurs acquiring the players out once they negotiate a completely new contract. Once they had the Basketball lockout, he was out of the blue chilling out the house. He was disturbing her activities plus it was not ever stated to become by doing this, Manley mentioned. Once the Basketball was playing now, he'd be playing the Nj Nets 82 scheduled games. Despite Johnsons claims, counselor Stacy Kaiser who came out on Tuesdays Access Hollywood Live does not sign up for the notion that the couples relationship was orchestrated. I dont really believe thats the problem, she mentioned. To start with, there is a lot of emotion behind what's been happening together. Theres been a great deal anger and sadness and bitterness which is my belief that you just cant fake that. On Tuesday, E! also released a disagreement slamming looks at the relationship was manufactured. Any insinuation that E! and producers orchestrated Kims wedding is completely false, E! mentioned in the statement to get into. The Kardashians have legitimately were living their endures camera for just about any very very long time and Kims wedding is probably the many real-existence occasions the household has distributed to audiences, from Masons birth to coping with their fathers dying to Khloe and Lamars wedding. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Mark Wahlberg-Russell Crowe's 'Broken City' to Hit Theaters Jan. 18, 2013

Twentieth Century Fox has closed its deal to acquire Allen Hughes' Broken City--starring Russell Crowe, Mark Whalberg and Catherine Zeta-Jones--and will release the film on Jan. 18, 2013.our editor recommendsRussell Crowe Joins Mark Wahlberg in 'Broken City' VIDEO: Mark Wahlberg Plays a Father on a Mission in 'Contraband' Trailer Financed by Emmett/Furla films, the $60 million pic tells the story of an ex-cop (Whalberg) who is hired by the mayor of NY City (Crowe) to follow the politican's wife (Zeta-Jones). After the detective confirms the mayor's fears that his wife is cheating on him, the wife's paramour turns up dead and a larger scandal begins to surface. Whalberg, Hughes, Randall Emmett, George Furla and Stephen Levinson are producing. STORY: Mark and Donnie Wahlberg Opening Restaurant Called Wahlburgers January 2013 may be two years away, but the Jan. 18-21 weekend, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, is already crowded. Broken City will go up against Lionsgate's Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer The Last Stand and Summit Entertainment's Louis Leterrier thriller Now You See Me, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo. Steven Soderbergh's Channing Tatum-Alex Pettyfer starrer Magic Mike also got a release date on Thursday, with Warner Bros. announcing it will open the film--about exotic male dancers--on June 29, 2012. The project is based on the real-life experiences of Tatum, who stripped for nearly a year when he was 18 to make ends meet. STORY: 'Breaking Bad' Actress Betsy Brandt Joins Stripper Pic 'Magic Mike' (Exclusive) Tatum, who is also producing, will appear as the film's titular character--a mentor to the dancer played by Pettyfer. The film also stars Betsy Brandt. Also producing are Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs and Reid Carolin. Related Topics Mark Wahlberg Russell Crowe

Why the 'Heinous' Experience of Going to Movie Theaters Could Kill the Film Industry

You probably don't know Bob Lefsetz, but if you depended on the decimated music business to make a living, you sure would. His free e-newsletter, The Lefsetz Letter, is required reading for label executives, A&R guys, managers, publicists, bookers, and -- oh yeah, musicians, most of whom are being forced to learn economic self-reliance now that they've been abandoned/liberated by the traditional major-label system. Day in and day out, Lefsetz preaches a simple message for surviving the digital revolution: be true to your art, give the people what they want, and let the money sort itself out. And now he's turning his attention to the movie business. There's a simple reason Hollywood has only recently begun to grapple with the kind of challenges that have been shredding the music business for a decade now: file size. Even in this current climate of technological revolution, movies take forever to download, even legally, and require a ton of space to store. For now, at least, DVDs (and enhanced cousins Blu-rays) still feel less preposterous than CDs do. It also means that -- unless you've got the patience of a monk and the hardware of a hacker -- you're probably not inclined to spend 36 hours on BitTorrent waiting for 'Fast Five' to download. But we know that digital transfers and storage get easier every day. That's a temporary respite, not a solution. And the same goes for theatrical gimmicks like 3D and IMAX. While it's true that music artists have learned to rely on live performances (and merchandise tables) for income, since you can't download a live interaction, Hollywood may be at a disadvantage on this score. Sure, movies look better on the big screen, but it's still the same movie, which means that the theater really has to slay the living room in terms of amenities, comfort, and sheer enjoyability. Does it? Take it away, Bob: Going to the movie theatre is a heinous experience. Forget the lack of focus and the sticky floors, what I hate most about the theatres is the other patrons. Who talk and text and think they're in their living rooms. Hell, that's why I want to stay home. If you're a teen and you want to neck, if you want to get out of your parents' purview, I get it. Or if you're a couple with young children. But most of us have first rate exhibition systems in our homes. We'd rather see the movies at home. But this doesn't comport with the interests of the studios and theatres, so what do most people do? STEAL THE MOVIES! And the music business taught us that this cannot be stopped. You can play Whac-A-Mole, you can piss off your customers, but you cannot win. Here at Moviefone HQ, we've been banging this drum pretty hard lately. That's because we think it's important. Last Thursday, we compiled your Top 5 reasons for not going to the movies. Now we want to know: What can theater owners do to improve the experience, and get you back to the movies? [Photo: Alamy] 5 Reasons Why You Aren't Going to the Movies See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

'Harry Potter' Dvd disks to completely disappear 12 ,. 29

Warner Bros. is putting the "Harry Potter" franchise in the vault. The studio intends to stop creating and shipping Dvd disks and Blu-sun rays of all the "Harry Potter" films to merchants 12 ,. 29 to encourage customers to snatch in the dvds before they are no more available. In 2001, Disney started making homevid releases of their popular game titles, especially animated classics like "Snow Whitened and also the Seven Dwarfs," "Bambi," "Fantasia" and "The Lion King," readily available for a restricted period of time, before putting the flicks "in the vault" for quite some time until their next re-release on disc. Disney's vaulted films are not available to buy or rent from legitimate merchants. "Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition," "Snow Whitened and also the Seven Dwarfs: Gemstone Edition" and "Fantasia/Fantasia 2000: Exclusive EditionInch were put in the vault this season after in regards to a year or even more in shops. The process was the homevid same as re-delivering the flicks in theaters in short runs. The dvds WB will shelve include "Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" and "Harry Potter: The Entire 8-Film Collection," both out November. 11. The "Harry Potter" franchise has made a lot more than $12.1 billion for WB since 2001. Which includes $7 billion in the global B.O. for Warner Bros. Pictures and $5.1 billion for Warner Bros. Home Theatre Group and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The series has been awarded with a Variety Home Theatre Hall of Fame on 12 ,. 5, which makes it the very first franchise ever awarded with a Hall of Fame because of its record-setting sales and inventive innovation. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Jake Kasdan on Bad Teacher, New Girl and the Secret to His Sexy Car Wash Scene

Ten years after working as a director and consulting producer on Freaks and Geeks, the heartwarming television series about a few misunderstood high school troublemakers (and their more wholesome peers), Jake Kasdan found his biggest box office success this summer with Bad Teacher, another project profiling a misunderstood hallway troublemaker. Starring Cameron Diaz as an English teacher more interested in smoking pot and procuring breast implants than molding the the minds of her middle school students, Bad Teacher earned over $200 million worldwide, establishing Kasdan — son of The Big Chill and Accidental Tourist filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan — as a heavyweight comedic director and rounding out a summer known for it’s R-rated, female-led comedies. On the eve of Bad Teacher’s home video release, Kasdan phoned Movieline to reflect on Cameron Diaz’s ability to play a sexy, misanthropic, car-washing schoolteacher, the possibility of a sequel and the similarities between Freaks and Geeks and his new television series, New Girl. It seems dangerous to base a studio comedy on a character as misanthropic as Elizabeth Halsey — doubly so when that character is female. Did you have any doubts about that when signing onto the project? I think that was actually part of the appeal. A lot of what was so funny about the movie to me came from that. She’s just a very unusual kind of female character in a very really unusual female comedy. Danny McBride has been able to build an entire career around those roles but it’s hard to play that kind of character without isolating the audience. What do you think made Cameron right to play this kind of character that initially hates most mankind? Well, there aren’t that many parts quite like that but it is extremely in her wheelhouse. There’s no question. She’s one of the only actresses where you feel like you really want to see her do that. Her relationship with the audience is such that they’ll have a good time watching her behave badly. Did you ever feel like, as the director, you should pull back on some of those Elizabeth-behaving-badly scenes? No. [Laughs] I never felt like we had to pull it back. I had a little bit of a joke [with the car wash scene] — it’s a big showy joke — and I just wanted to get the scene right. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to do it. Of course, Cameron just nailed it. I had nothing to worry about because she got what was funny about it and was the perfect person to do that. There are just not that many people that could do that joke correctly. She’s making fun of it but also making it look sincere from her character’s [point of view]. She’s so committed and beautiful and also ruthless. Was there one sexy car wash scene in movie history that inspired that? Did you look back in the film car wash archives? Well, I figured that it was more that Cameron’s character is almost mimicking the goofy, music video imagery in her head. We shot it that way I think compared to the sexy car washes of the past. I really enjoyed the exchanges between Cameron’s character and her roommate played by Eric Stonestreet, who even an hour into the movie, has no idea what she does for a living. What was the secret to making those exchanges work so well? I thought that was one of the funniest things about the script — that she has this Craigslist kind of roommate that she doesn’t really know. She moves in with him after her break-up and the character was just really funny. Eric was the perfect person to do that and he and Cameron just had great chemistry. Is there any hope for a Bad Teacher sequel? You know, I don’t think so. Probably not. I think her story is probably best left there. Most actors and directors I speak to maintain that they don’t read reviews of their films, which I have a hard time believing. Do you read reviews? A few years ago, I started trying not to. Over the course of it, you end up seeing some — I don’t think it’s necessarily the best way for me to keep track of what I’m doing. Was there one review that made you decide that? Not really. In general, I’ve been treated well by reviews and there are times when I haven’t. The truth is that I’ve come to feel like I’m better off without reading them. I always have a sense of what people are writing about them but I try not to read — especially because there are so many now. It would just be crazy-making. This summer was big for both R-rated comedies and quality female-led comedies. Have you read many comedy scripts lately that attest that this trend will continue the next few years? Well — I think it’s more that people are going to be more open to basing comedies around women, which is a great and very helpful thing. There are a lot of funny women around and the business has not traditionally been terribly informed about it so it would be great if they responded. I find it interesting that you’re creatively involved with New Girl, which stars Zooey Deschanel as this fragile, relentlessly optimistic character — pretty much the polar opposite of Elizabeth Halsey. What appealed to you about Zooey’s character Jess, especially after filming Bad Teacher? They’re really different projects but they are both things that I was drawn to because they are incredibly funny scripts built around hilarious women that I’ve always wanted to work with. Did you expect for New Girl to be embraced the way it has been? No, it’s been a great surprise that people are seeming to like it. We love making it so it’s been really fun. The same way that it seems like a dangerous idea to base a film around a misanthropic character, it also seems dangerous to build a series around a character so relentlessly bubbly. Were you worried about grounding this extremely upbeat, quirky character enough for audiences to connect? There were all kinds of things to worry about in terms of getting the character right and the stories right and getting it really funny. Zooey is pretty fantastic and people love her so we have this enormous advantage in that we have the perfect actress in our show which uses her in this great, fun way. As a director, how do you think you’ve evolved from your days with Freaks and Geeks? Well, I was really young when I was working on Freaks and Geeks. In a lot of ways, that was the experience that informed a lot of what I’ve become and I feel like every experience I have is in some way or another an extension of something that started there. Especially with TV, that was my first experience. I had never worked in television before Freaks and Geeks and New Girl is the first time since that I’ve worked on a series that is actually a series and not just a pilot. There are a lot of similarities actually between them. They have very different subject matter but the approach and storytelling is very similar. Hopefully though, I’ve gotten better since Freaks and Geeks…or at least more experienced.

At HIFF: Emily Browning Talks Controversial Sleeping Beauty and Mishandled Sucker Punch

As noted earlier, Emily Browning was among the squad of young talent to storm this year’s Hamptons International Film Festival. The Australian actress best known for Hollywood efforts Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events and this year’s Sucker Punch dropped by this time around for something completely different: Sleeping Beauty, writer-director Julia Leigh’s disturbing dive into the realm of somnambulistic sex work. Browning stars as Lucy, a disaffected college student scraping by on odd jobs before happening upon a madam (Rachael Blake) who supplies young women for a group of high-class patrons. In the most extreme of their scenarios, Lucy is essentially anesthetized and placed nude in bed, resulting in a succession of outre encounters that have left viewers from Cannes to the Hamptons shocked, appalled, enthralled, breathless, fleeing the theater and/or any number of combinations of each. I sat down with Browning this weekend to learn more about the film, her role, her festival experiences, and the odd conceptual link between Sleeping Beauty and the much less admirably received Sucker Punch. How was your trip into town? It’s such a long flight. I actually came from London, so it’s not too bad. But then I got in and I stood in the customs line for two and a half hours. I had such a nice flight! I slept, it was awesome. Then I got in, and then the line was just mental. And you know how it is when you’re shuffling at such a slow pace? I was a zombie by the time I got in [Friday] night. I was just not on the ball. How did the post-screening Q&A go? I don’t know how it went! I hope it went well, but honestly, I was on another planet. I think I might have been talking a bit of rubbish, but… It’s a polarizing film. What kinds of conversations have you encountered or personally had with people about this since Cannes? I think in terms of people speaking to me personally about it, their reactions have been positive. The guy who was just interviewing me said a reaction that I’ve gotten a lot, which I quite like, which is, “When I first saw it, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know how I felt about it; it made me uncomfortable. But then it stuck with me, and now I really like it.” And I love that reaction. I think that’s great, and that’s what we want. It’s so weird when I do a Q&A, and somebody asks a question and they begin it with, “I loved the film!” I’m like, “You loved it?” That’s kind of a weird response. I know. “Already?” Yeah! I mean , when I first saw it, I was proud of it, and it worked exactly as I wanted it to. But the automatic response “I love it”? I kind of like that people have to think about it. And apparently it’s stuck with people, which is great. It’s all I could ask for. What was your own reaction the first time you saw the film? Well, I was meant to see it for the first time at Cannes. I said to my publicist and others, “I can’t do it. I need to see it before them, because I might pass out.” It was the most nerve-wracking experience. So they gave me a copy, and I watched it in bed with a bottle of vodka by myself because I was so nervous. But I was really happy with it, and it’s so rare for me to feel that about a film. I think so often the things that I’ve done have been muddled with, and I was just really happy — so happy that I watched again the next day, sober. Which was good. But yeah. It made me feel the way I think it’s meant to make people feel, which is uncomfortable and a bit squeamish. It was what I wanted it to be. Then watching it at Cannes was a different experience — with the huge screen, thinking, “Wow, I’m this giant naked person, and there are thousands of people looking at me.” It changes it a bit. So at Cannes I was sweating profusely and gripping onto Julia’s hand and kind of shaking a little bit. In discussing both this film and Sucker Punch, you’ve expressed your interest in the subject of female empowerment. But in both cases there’s objectification and exploitation going on that threatens to bury the message. Surely there must be a clearer way for you to get it across? I have to speak about the two films separately here. Sucker Punch… It’s hard for me to be objective about that film, because I had the best time working on it. I love every single person I worked with; I love Zack [Snyder, the director]. And I loved the script — how it was originally. But I think that message did get muddled a bit in terms of studio rewrites and having to go from an R to a PG-13. I can definitely see people’s complaints about that being a little bit sexist. As I said, it’s so hard to be objective, because I genuinely love that film, Sucker Punch, and being such a part of it. But I do get that. Sleeping Beauty, on the other hand… I think Lucy’s being objectified within the film, but she has what Julia calls a “radical passivity,” which is to say, “I have this understanding of this world where I’m going to be objectified, so instead of raging against that, I am going to see where it takes me. I’m going to turn the other cheek. Do your worst.” So I don’t see the film itself as being sexist in any way. Also, for me personally, as a feminist, I’m pro-sex work. And I believe that a portrayal of that — though she’s not quite a prostitute, but someone who’s in that line of work — I don’t think that’s automatically going to be innately sexist. Does that make sense? Yes. And when I say I’m “pro-sex work,” obviously there are some terrible conditions, and there are obviously horrible circumstances where people are forced into that line of work. But there are also people doing it because they want to do it, and their rights need to be acknowledged. I think that their rights need to be fought for, because that profession in itself — when it’s all done in a way that should be done, and everyone has rights and it’s safe — is a necessary and honorable profession. Drop back by Movieline closer to Sleeping Beauty’s Dec. 2 release date for our complete chat with Emily Browning, featuring more about how to act while asleep, the true cost of literally burning money, the actress’s writing aspirations and how many takes the most disturbing scene of the year required. (HInt: A lot.) And check out the rest of Movieline’s HIFF coverage here. [Top photo: AFP/Getty Images]

Is Act of Valor the Closest Thing to Military Propaganda That You Will See in Theaters?

Have you heard about Act of Valor , the upcoming Navy-approved action film starring actual Navy SEALs as Navy SEALs on a covert mission that is based on actual Navy SEAL missions? The one that totally glamorizes Navy SEAL-dom and resembles, as EW points out, a feature-length Navy SEAL recruitment video? Not yet? Well, you’re in luck, because now there’s a trailer. Act of Valor was directed by Mike McCoy (Hot Wheels: Fearless at the 500) and Scott Waugh, who previously directed the documentary short Navy SWCC. The synopsis, courtesy of Relativity Media: An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty Navy SEALs in a powerful story of contemporary global anti-terrorism. Inspired by true events, the film combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the minute battlefield technology and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure.Act of Valor takes audiences deep into the secretive world of the most elite, highly trained group of warriors in the modern world. When the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plotagainst the U.S., a team of SEALs is dispatched on a worldwide manhunt. As the valiant men of Bandito Platoon race to stop a coordinated attack that couldkill and wound thousands of American civilians, they must balance their commitment to country, team and their families back home.Each time they accomplish their mission, a new piece of intelligence reveals another shocking twist to the deadly terror plot, which stretches from Chechnya to the Philippines and from Ukraine to Somalia. The widening operation sends the SEALs across the globe as they track the terrorist ring to the U.S.-Mexico border, where they engage in an epic firefight with an outcome that has potentially unimaginable consequences for the future of America. You can find Act of Valor in theaters Feb. 17. [via EW]