• Land of the Lost, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Star Trek, Year One are among the summer movies that debuted teaser ads during last night's Super Bowl.
• Lionsgate is in talks to purchase Summit Entertainment. Getting ready for a Saw/Twilight crossover...
• Liam Neeson took the top spot at the weekend box office with Taken. Sorry, Paul Blart, but no one messes with Liam Neeson. Or his daughter.
• Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel is joining the cast of M. Night Shaymalan's adaptation of the anime series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
• Martin Scorsese is looking to make Silence with Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro his next film. The story involves Jesuit priests who face violence and persecution in Japan. Will it be The Last Temptation of Christ meets The Departed?
• SXSW has unveiled their 2009 film schedule. The line-up includes comedies (I Love You Man), documentaries, and, of course, plenty of "mumblecore" films.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
BIZ
Biggest January ever for Hollywood
Seeking some happy endings, consumers weary of the recession
hand
Record $1 Billion January Box Office -- But Don't Tell SAG!
from Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily by Nikki Finke
Usually, my email is over-flowing with news of box office
records no matter how obscure. But the compliant
Some showbiz firms hold on in tough times
from MSNBC.com: Movies
Despite the tough economic times, some in
From the NFL to playing in Hollywood
Once, football veterans were all over TV and films, bringing their hard-hitting images with them. It's a lot quieter presence nowadays.
Imax chief bullish despite recession
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) -- The
Lionsgate to Buy Summit Entertainment?
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
Sharon
Waxman is reporting that Summit Entertainment is in negotiations to merge with
Lionsgate. According to the report, Lionsgate would pay
A Former MTV Executive Will Lead Oprah Network
from NYT > Television by By BRIAN STELTER
Christina Norman, a 17-year veteran of MTV Networks, will be chief executive of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
New SAG committee meets Tuesday
from Variety.com
Business News: John McGuire serves as chief negotiator --
The Screen Actors Guild is headed for another momentous week in the wake
of the firing of national exec director Doug Allen and replacing its
negotiating committee on Jan. 26.
Bizzers re-thinking career choices
Peter Bart: Sherry Lansing leads career change pack -- We've
all heard the legends, or at least their vague outlines: The
FILM FESTIVALS
2009 SXSW Film Festival Announces Complete Line-Up
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com
(slashfilm.com)
South By Southwest Film Festival has announced the complete line-up of films
for the 2009 festival which takes place March 13th to 21st in Austin, Texas.
Spike Lee doc makes cut on SXSW lineup
from Hollywood Reporter by By Jay A. Fernandez
Spike Lee, Sebastian Gutierrez, Kathryn Bigelow and Greg
Mottola will be representin' at this year's South by Southwest film festival in
'Poppy' picks up Santa Barbara fest award
from Hollywood Reporter by By Gregg Kilday
Benjamin Ross' "Poppy Shakespeare" was named the winner of the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema at the 24th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
FILM
'Taken'
Captures Super Bowl Weekend
from Box Office Mojo - Top Stories by by Brandon Gray
Taken grabbed an estimated $24.6 million to lead a solid Super Bowl weekend box office, though most of the Oscar-nominated pictures fizzled...
Minor bump for 'Milk,' 'Reader'
Film News: Box office boost limited for best pic nominees --
While sustaining their target auds, Oscar best-pic contenders "Milk"
and "The Reader" did not gain B.O. momentum as they expanded
nationwide over the weekend.
'Valkyrie' repeats atop overseas boxoffice
from Hollywood Reporter by By Frank Segers
"Valkyrie," which stars Tom Cruise as a rebellious Nazi officer, has emerged as the No. 1 title on the international circuit for a second consecutive weekend, taking in an estimated $18.6 million.
Video:
Clive Owen Talks 'The International'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Clive talks about the timeliness of this movie with the economic crash that is being experienced around the world. Plus, why does he have the reputation of being so prepared when he gets on set?
Video:
Naomi Watts Talks 'The International'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
What was Naomi's favorite part about working with Clive Owen on their new thriller, "The International"? Plus, because Naomi had just had a baby, did she find it more challenging to do the film?
Audiences love 'Paul Blart'; security guards? Nah
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By DERRIK J. LANG
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Much like its goofy titular character, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" has defied expectations. The slapstick comedy, which cost a mere $26 million to produce, is speeding toward the $100 million mark following back-to-back weekends atop the box office....
Real mall cops don't love 'Paul Blart'
from MSNBC.com: Movies
"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" is a hit at the cineplex,
but real shopping-center security guards are less thrilled about the
There's a reason oddsmakers don't think Slumdog Millionaire is an Oscar underdog. It's not. The India-set indie cemented its front-runner status with a win tonight.
'Slumdog' scribes win Scripter Award
from Hollywood Reporter by By Borys Kit
Author Vikas Swarup and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Simon Beaufoy won the 21st USC Scripter Award for Fox Searchlight's "Slumdog Millionaire."
Is Slumdog a Victim, a User...or Citizen Kane?
Move Over, Mickey Rourke's Text Message: On Tuesday, the London Telegrap stirred up the controversy of award season, reporting that two young Mumbai-based Slumdog Millionaire stars "were paid less than many Indian domestic servants," and were "still liv[ing] in grinding poverty."
'Slumdog Millionaire': The love-it or hate-it ending
from Entertainment Weekly's Oscar Watch by Dave Karger
Danny Boyle's win at the Directors Guild Awards over the weekend means Slumdog Millionaire is now only the fourth film to sweep the DGA, PGA, SAG, Golden Globe, and Broadcast Critics prizes. The other three -- American Beauty, Chicago, and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King -- all ended up winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
'Slumdog' Star Dev Patel Joins Jackson Rathbone For 'The Last
Airbender'
from MTV Movies Blog by Elisabeth Rappe
Dev Patel is on his way to becoming a real millionaire. According to Variety, the "Slumdog Millionaire" star has just signed onto M. Night Shyamalan's live-action adaptation of "The Last Airbender." (Shyamalan has dropped "Avatar" from the title in order to avoid confusion with James Cameron's sci-fi film of the same name.) He'll be joined by Twilight's Jackson Rathbone, and newcomers Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, and Jessica Jade Andres.
Italian Writer Files Suit Against Benjamin Button
If Benjamin Button traveled back in time just 15 years,
would he wind up in
Chris Rock, 'Good Hair,' and the rise of black film in the age
of Obama
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Sean Smith
Chris Rock's documentary, Good Hair, won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The film's producer, Nelson George, created this Sundance video diary about his experience at the festival: screening the film to primarily white audiences
'Kung Fu Panda' tops 36th Annie Awards
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The best animated feature of 2008 was "Kung Fu Panda," ASIFA-Hollywood announced at the 36th annual Annie Awards.
Morgan, Swank to co-star in 'Resident'
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Jeffrey Dean Morgan has signed on to reunite with his "P.S. I Love You" co-star Hilary Swank in the New York-set thriller "The Resident."
Cross: 'Arrested' film still a possibility
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
'Angelology' picked up by Sony Pictures
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Sony Pictures Entertainment has purchased the film rights to "Angelology," a novel about destructive angel/human hybrids, industry sources say.
Giamatti comedy acquired by Samuel Goldwyn
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The film studio, Samuel
Goldwyn, now owns the
Mickey Rourke to Gee Up for Broken Horses
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
The Gangster film Broken Horses is to be the American film debut of Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Indian director who certainly likes to plan ahead. His official site lists no less than five films. Yahoo Movies India goes one step further by letting us know Mickey Rourke has signed up for "one of the key roles".
Will Robert Pattinson land lead in Kent State flick 'Ohio'?
from Los Angeles Times - Celebrity News
The rest of the cast is rumored to include other hot male stars Zac Efron and Justin Timberlake.
'G.I. Joe' Super Bowl Ad Kicks Off First Footage -- Watch It
Here
from MTV Movies Blog by Brian Jacks
It's been nearly a year since we brought you the first image
of Channing Tatum in "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra," and
now we have another first...the very first footage from
David Carradine Contemplates 'Kill Bill' Anime Prequel And
Potential Sequels
from Splash Page by Brian Warmoth
It's been six years since David Carradine's voice first introduced Quentin Tarantino's title villain to audiences in "Kill Bill." When the blockbuster pair of films blew up at the box office in 2003 and 2004, the director said his next installment of "Kill Bill" would be 10 years away, but it's also been reported that a potential anime prequel could be in the works.
TV
Super Bowl ratings down from last year's high
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
Go Daddy wins a Super Bowl advertising gamble
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
Station says porn clip interrupts Super Bowl
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
TV Review: NBC scores with Super Bowl
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By DOUGLAS J. ROWE
Nothing succeeds like excess for the network covering the Super Bowl....
Defamer Rates The Super Bowl Movie Spots [Super Bowl]
from Defamer by Seth
In honor of Super Bowl/Puppy Bowl Sunday, we rate the commercials for studio
tentpoles running during the game. Much of this footage debuts in these ads.
And remember: Every 30 seconds cost $3 million.
Lars and the Real Girl director Craig Gillespie's Cars.com
Super Bowl Ad
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
After seeing the Wes Anderson-styled Cars.com television commercial that aired during the Super Bowl, I went on a mad search to try to find out who directed it. Thankfully one of the crew members on the shoot responded to my information request on Twitter (I'm loving twitter and crowdsourcing more and more everyday). Turns out the spot was directed by Lars and the Real Girl director Craig Gillespie, who won a DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials in 2006.
CBS picks up arranged-marriage series
from Hollywood Reporter by By James Hibberd
CBS is treading into potentially controversial reality TV territory again. The network has ordered a new series from the producers of "Top Chef" that puts lovelorn singles into arranged marriages.
from Hollywood Reporter by By Nellie Andreeva
Jerry Bruckheimer, McG and Mark Gordon have landed pilots at
A debate over ABC Family values
from L.A. Times - TV News
Disney says shows like 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' are in sync with many families' reality. Critics say such programs don't belong on a channel with the word 'family' in its name.
from EW.com: Today's Latest Headlines by Michael Slezak
Michael Slezak thinks the show that rocked pop culture with Tina Fey's Sarah Palin needs new Barack Obama
'Project Runway' Season 6 still tied up in court
from L.A. Times - TV News
While lawyers tailor their legal suits, the show's
from mediabistro.com: TVNewser
NBC's Meet the press was the most-watched Sunday morning public affairs program last week, winning in both Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo.
Television Review | 'RuPaul's Drag Race': They Float Like the
Clouds on Air Do, They Enjoy ...
from NYT > Television by By ALESSANDRA STANLEY
"RuPaul's Drag Race" is a new reality competition that explores what it takes to be a drag star today.
MUSIC
McCartney, Killers to play Coachella fest
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
INDIO, Calif., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Organizers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival say they have signed singer Paul McCartney and the Killers to play at the Indio, Calif., event.
Steve Martin is serious about 'The Crow'
The actor-comedian wrote or co-wrote all the songs and enlisted
some heavyweight help for his debut album as a musician.
New Releases, Feb. 3: The Fray, Willie Nelson and Asleep at the
Wheel, Dierks Bentley
from Top Stories from LiveDaily.com
(LiveDaily.com) Plus: Graham Nash [ tickets ], Melinda Doolittle [ tickets ], more... continued
Obama's half brother George popped for pot possession
from Los Angeles Times - Celebrity News
Seems like every president has an embarrassing black sheep brother.
Heath Ledger's family will accept Oscar if late actor wins
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Adam B. Vary
If Heath Ledger wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor on Feb. 22, his family will accept the award on his behalf, Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan told EW.com at the DGA Awards Saturday night.
Man selling 867-5309 number on eBay
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
Torre defends tell-all Yankees book
Los Angeles Dodgers baseball manager Joe Torre's new book about his old club has been burning up best-seller lists even before it hits stores.
Snoop Dogg coaches team to victory
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
