Friday, October 31, 2014

'Grimm' Star Bitsie Tulloch Thinks These 5 Supernatural TV Dramas Are Totally Worth Watching

Entertainment Weekly's Annual Comic-Con Celebration - Arrivals

Moviefone recently sat down with "Grimm" star Bistie Tulloch about what to expect on Season 4 of the thrilling NBC fantasy drama.



In addition to chatting about her hit series, we thought we would enlist her entertainment expertise and find out which fantasy and supernatural TV shows she thinks are worth watching. Bitsie filled us in on her five favorites -- find out her picks below!







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1u2JUHc

via IFTTT

'Nightcrawler' Review: One of the Best Movies of the Year



"Nightcrawler" is a blistering film, a look into the dark underbelly of modern news gathering. With a positively animalistic portrayal by a gaunt Jake Gyllenhaal, this directorial debut by Dan Gilroy packs a powerful punch.



A nocturnal LA noir, the film uses a charismatic anti-hero to both entertain and repel, a balancing act that's far too uncommon in movies these days. An action movie with big ideas behind it, "Nightcrawler" is absolutely one of the best films in an already crowded year of good movies.



What's with Gyllenhaal's appearance?

In order to get the desiccated look (borrowed from the skinny coyotes that roam the countryside around L.A.), Gyllenhaal committed to a diet regime that saw him lose over 20 pounds. Running to set, chewing gum and munching on kale gave him a near deathly look, making his eyes pop out. It's a harrowing transformation, one we've seen before by the likes of Christian Bale and Robert De Niro.



Most importantly, it's perfectly keeping in the style of the film. Gyllenhaal's one of the film's producers, and you can feel an extraordinary level of commitment in almost every scene. What's even more remarkable is that it never feels forced or over-the-top, there's the right attenuation of crazy and charming even as the most dire things are taking place, and this is what gives the movie much of its magic.



Who else is in this thing?

Rene Russo gives one of her best performances, possibly the result of her working on a project that she had great familiarity with given that she's married to the director. The part was written for her, and it brings out all her strengths (and on-screen weaknesses) in ways that are sometimes breathtaking.



Relatively unknown Rizwan Ahmed plays Rick, the protege of Gyllenhaal's character Louis Bloom. As Bloom spouts off half-baked Dale Carnegie-like aphorisms, Rick's along for the ride (literally) as they screech through the empty California streets on the lookout for accidents and other horrors that will make for good local TV.



Bill Paxton plays a rival camera crew, and he's kind of perfect in the film, beautifully cast in a small but pivotal role that's elevated by his presence (much like it was in the recent Tom Cruise starrer "Live/Die Repeat," a.k.a. "Edge of Tomorrow").



So it's about TV?

It's about a journey into the heart of darkness, except instead of heading up a jungle river, Bloom is heading deeper and deeper into the media establishment. The film is bleak without being nihilistic, and its plausibility is perhaps the most horrifying thing about it. Bloom has a code, even a kind of morality, but it's an intensely problematic path he's on, even if it results in ever-increasing benefits to him. This is the underside of profit-driven news organizations, particularly at the local level, and the film tackles head-on some of the truly nefarious things that get passed on as a mix of informative and entertaining.



Yet to its great credit "Nightcrawler" never feels polemical or agenda-driven. The events of the film are laid bare, and its ethical and legal ambivalence are integral to the storyline, prompting serious post-film discussion while entertaining the audience along the way.



I dunno, it sounds kind of weird.

It is weird? It's violent, and dark, and moody. It's also beautiful to watch, challenging to your own perceptions of right and wrong, and is a wonderful showcase for some stellar performances. It's an award-worthy film that's still accessible, that perfect blend between art film and action flick that make critics like me kind of giddy. I've called it a masterpiece, and stand by that claim. It's a rare gem of a film, one that's fierce and frightening and unforgettable.



"Nightcrawler" will crawl under your skin, it'll haunt you for days, and, with any justice, it'll pick up plenty of attention come awards time. This is definitely a film to check out on the big screen; its sumptuous visuals and manic storyline ideal to be experienced with a big audience.



When they talk about not making films like they used to, you can point to "Nightcrawler" and prove them wrong. This is as good a film of this kind as has been seen in decades, and it's one well worth trumpeting about.



"Nightcrawler" is now playing in theatres.







'Nightcrawler' Trailer





from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1wNH1Y9

via IFTTT

The 31 Best Action Movies on Netflix Right Now

best action movies netflixWhen you're in the mood for an action movie, Netflix has plenty to stream. Great, except that so many of their action titles are no-name, forgettable schlock. So we've done some of the heavy lifting by highlighting the best of the best currently available in the genre. Who do you want to see duke it out? Take your pick, from gangsters to gladiators, robots to ninjas, schoolkids to superheroes.



Cue that suiting-up pre-battle montage and start streaming, because here are some of the best action movies Netflix has to offer. (Availability subject to change.)



1. "13 Assassins" (2010) R

From director Takashi Miike ("Audition," "Ichi the Killer") comes this action-packed, samurai spectacular about 13 assassins on a suicide mission. Dig that 45-minute battle scene!



2. "48 Hrs."(1982) R

A cop (Nick Nolte) and a criminal (Eddie Murphy) have 48 hours to round up two cop-killers in this fast-paced action comedy classic.



3. "Assault on Precinct 13" (1976) R

Before John Carpenter gave us "Halloween" and "Escape From New York," he wrote and directed this gritty thriller (loosely based on "Rio Bravo") about cops at a nearly abandoned police precinct besieged by a mob of violent criminals.



4. "The Avengers" (2012) PG-13

The assembling of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America could have gone so wrong, but instead it went oh-so-right. Superhero movies don't get any better than this.



5. "Battle Royale" (2000) R

Long before "The Hunger Games" there was this controversial, ultra-violent Japanese film in which junior high school students are taken to a remote island, fitted with electronic explosive collars, and ordered to fight each other to the death.



6. "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984) R

Detroit cop Alex Foley travels to Beverly Hills to nail the crime czar who killed his friend, leading to, of course, one big shootout.



7. "Big Trouble in Little China" 1986 (PG-13)

One of the greatest team-ups in movie history, Kurt Russell and John Carpenter, are at it again in this supernaturally charged action flick that was sadly under-appreciated when it came out.



8. "Centurion" (2010) R

Neil Marshall ("Dog Soldiers," "The Descent") takes us to the 2nd Century as Romans, led by Michael Fassbender and Dominic West, fight off Pict tribesman, including a mute, deadly tracker (Olga Kurylenko).



9. "The Chinese Connection" (aka "Fist of Fury," "The Iron Hand") (1972) R

If you've only seen Bruce Lee in "Enter the Dragon," you owe it to yourself to watch one of his best action films, where he goes up against drug smugglers to avenge the death of his teacher. Remade with Jet Li as "Fist of Legend."



10. "Clear and Present Danger" (1994) PG-13

Harrison Ford returns as Jack Ryan in this thriller set in Colombia. The ambush scene, in which Ryan must battle his way out of a narrow, enclosed street as assassins rain down gunfire and explosives, is a doozy.



11."Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) PG-13

One of the most beautiful films ever shot and one of the rare martial-arts films with two swoon-worthy love stories. Not to mention the breathtaking fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang.



12. "The Crow" (1994) R

In Brandon Lee's final role (like his father, Bruce Lee, he died far too young), he plays a musician who is murdered and returns from the grave to exact revenge on his killers. Based on the graphic novel.



13. "Dredd" (2012) R

Karl Urban takes over the role of futuristic cop from Sylvester Stallone: He's got to take down a vicious crime boss (Lena Headey) in her fortress-like, inner-city highrise.



14. "Face/Off" (1997) R

John Woo's gleefully over-the-top flick (his best American film) has John Travolta and Nicolas Cage literally trading faces. There are shootouts, prison riots, daring escapes, more shootouts and an epic boat chase -- not to mention an action sequence accompanied by "Over the Rainbow."



15. "Gladiator" (2000) R

Russell Crowe is Maximus Decimus Meridius: The general who became a slave who became the most badass gladiator of all time in this glorious, bloody epic.



16. "The Heroic Trio" (1993) R

This Hong Kong offering has not one but three ass-kicking women: Anita Mui as knife-throwing Wonder Woman, Maggie Cheung as the tough-as-nails Thief Catcher and Michelle Yeoh as Invisible Girl, who's forced to steal babies for an evil demon.



17. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (2013) PG-13

One year after the first Hunger Games, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) returns to the arena to face new dangers and a growing threat from the Capitol.



18. "Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster" (2010) R

Martial-arts masters Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung face off in this sequel, with a series of fights in different styles as they try to top the other, leading to a brutal, "King of the Ring" boxing match.



19. "Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2" (2003/2004) R

Uma Thurman is the Bride, brutally taking revenge on the assassins who left her for dead in Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked love letter to the martial arts.



20. "Let the Bullets Fly" (2012) UR

Chow Yun-Fat stars in this period action comedy that became the highest grossing film in China thanks to its eye-popping violence and laughs that need no translation.



21. "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998) R

Guy Ritchie's dazzling film debut, starring Jason Statham and Jason Flemyng as Cockney lads who decide to target a drug dealer to pay off a debt to a ruthless gangster. Mix-ups, double-crosses, hatchet attacks and shootouts galore.



22. "Mad Max" (1979) R

It doesn't feature anything like the grueling truck chase of its sequel, "The Road Warrior," but this raw indie still boasts plenty of "guzzeline," as we see road cop Mel Gibson go from happy family man to the embittered loner of cinema legend.



23. "Man of Tai Chi" (2013) R

For Keanu Reeves's directorial debut about a young martial-arts (Tiger Chen), he turned to the best, bringing in acclaimed fight choreographer from "The Matrix," Yuen Woo Ping.



24. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Pearl" (2003) PG-13

Against all odds, this movie based on the Disneyland attraction was ridiculously good, with Johnny Depp's now career-defining turn as Jack Sparrow and Orlando Bloom showing he's as deft with a sword as he is slinging arrows at Orcs.



25. "Rescue Dawn" (2006) PG-13

Werner Herzog directed this based-on-a-true-story account of a pilot (Christian Bale) shot down in the Vietnam War who makes an incredible escape, trekking through miles of jungle for nearly a month until he was rescued.



26. "Skyfall" (2012) PG-13

Is it the best Bond yet? It's definitely action-packed, featuring not one but two spectacular train sequences and a tense, terrific final standoff with villain Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem).



27. "Supercop" (1992) R

One of Jackie Chan's most popular and well-reviewed movies, featuring a climactic fight aboard a speeding train. You can also stream Chan's "The Legend of Drunken Master."



28. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) R

Robert Patrick is icily perfect as the T-1000 killing machine and the special effects still look great, even 20 years on. And how much do we love Linda Hamilton's upgrade from waitress to buff, kick-ass mercenary? We would kill for her arms!



29. "Tombstone" (1993) R

A sprawling Western with an all-star cast in a satisfying telling of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday (a never-better Val Kilmer) and the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral.



30. "The Untouchables" (1987) R

Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) recruits three incorruptible men to take down the notorious Al Capone (Robert De Niro) in this must-see crime classic.



31. "Valhalla Rising" (2009) NR

Mads Mikkelsen (TV's"Hannibal") is the mute captive One Eye, who is tied to a stake and forced to fight in this ultra-bloody Viking epic from "Drive" director Nicolas Winding Refn.







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1wNDw46

via IFTTT

J.K. Rowling's Halloween Treat? New Harry Potter Stories!



It doesn't matter if you're dressed up as your favorite muggle, witch, or wizard - you're all getting a big Halloween treat in the form of six (!) new stories by original "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling that are appearing exclusively on her sprawling Pottermore website. Yes, this is very exciting indeed.



These stories aren't exactly the most illustrative things (we were secretly hoping for a new adventure about Ron and Hermione's visit to the nearest muggle water park, but, alas, our prayers still went unanswered). Still: if you want to know some detailed backstories about various magical beings, Ministers of Magic, and the like, then please, start feasting. There's a lot to go around here; it could very well take you until trick-or-treating time to get through.



If you don't have the time and want the best bits, Vulture has run down some of the more outwardly magical bits, while, if you want to read the best story of the bunch, a detailed dossier on Ministry of Magic nightmare Dolores Umbridge, you can head on over to USA Today. The Pottermore website is amazing and intricate, especially if you want to know what house you'd eventually be sorted into, but it takes at least two degrees in Defense Against the Dark Arts to navigate the thing. Think of these shortcuts as magical spells, getting you from here to there! Or... it's like taking the fastest Knight Bus around!







from The Moviefone Blog http://news.moviefone.com/2014/10/31/new-harry-potter-stories/

via IFTTT

Fall 2014 TV Guide: November Premiere Dates



October might be over, but there are still plenty of television premieres to mark on your calendar, and November is delivering in a big way! Some of our favorite reality shows are making their triumphant return this month, and there are even a few brand new scripted series to check out. Naturally, Moviefone's rounded up a day-by-day schedule of premieres so you can completely plan your month around television, so check out what's on in November right here, right now!



Note: brand new shows are in bold, and we included previews from a few shows we're especially excited about.



NOVEMBER 2
9/8c Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons (E!)


9/8c Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
10/9c House of DVF (E!)



NOVEMBER 3

9/8c Vanderpump Rules (BRAVO)

10/9c Euros of Hollywood (BRAVO)



NOVEMBER 4
8/7c MasterChef Junior (FOX)



NOVEMBER 5

8/7c The 48th Annual CMA Awards (ABC)

10/9c The Game (BBC)


10/9c Snookie & JWOWW (MTV) *final season*



NOVEMBER 6

9/8c White Collar (USA) *final season*


10/9c Covert Affairs (USA)



NOVEMBER 8

9/8c Hell on Wheels (AMC)



NOVEMBER 9

8/7c The Real Housewives of Atlanta (BRAVO)

9/8c The Newsroom (HBO) *final season*

10/9c The Comeback (HBO)


10:30/9:30c Getting On (HBO)

11:30/10:30c Fashion Queens (BRAVO)





NOVEMBER 15

9/8c The Missing (STARZ)



NOVEMBER 17

10/9c State of Affairs (NBC)




NOVEMBER 18

10/9c Risking It All (TLC)



NOVEMBER 19

9/8c Duck Dynasty (A&E)

10/9c Country Buck$ (A&E)



NOVEMBER 23

8/7c 2014 American Music Awards (ABC)











from The Moviefone Blog http://news.moviefone.com/2014/10/31/fall-2014-tv-guide-november/

via IFTTT

David Cronenberg on 'Maps to the Stars' and Whether or Not It's His Last Movie



Canadian director David Cronenberg never ceases to deliver unpredictable, buzzworthy films.



His latest venture, "Maps to the Stars," is no exception. "Maps" follows a bunch of Hollywoodites who are searching for fame in their own individual ways -- and underneath it all is a (very) dysfunctional family drama.



Moviefone Canada spoke to Cronenberg about this project, and the filmmaker talked openly about choosing specific actors for his movies, why "Maps" has been described as a "fever dream," and whether or not this will be his last film.



Moviefone Canada: John Cusack has described this movie as a "fever dream" -- a description I've always really liked. What are your thoughts on that, in terms of this film?

David Cronenberg: I think that's a better description than saying "satire," because it's easy to just say "satire" and move on. Bruce [Wagner] and I always object to that, because I think the meaning of the word has been diluted over the years. These days, anything nasty and somewhat funny is called a satire. ["Maps"], we thought, was much too realistic. Bruce has even said that every conversation in the movie, he's heard.



And yet, there's a sense in which life in Hollywood is a fever dream. Everybody is in a state of high-temperature anxiety, so in that way, I think it's an accurate appraisal. It doesn't mean that it's dreamlike in the sense of not being realistic. I know that John [Cusack] has said to me that he was Benjie. He was a child star and went through that kind of stuff. People automatically assume we modelled the character after Justin Bieber, but Bruce wrote this before Justin was even born, so no, it's not about Justin Bieber. [Laughs]



A lot of the humour in the film is undercut by a deep sadness ... you seem to isolate your characters in the frame. No one is paired.

That's exactly true. The humour comes from within ... it's the absurdity of the human condition that's the source of the humour, not some sort of self-parody, eye-winking kind of humour. Julianne Moore noticed what I was doing. She said, "You're isolating us all. We're all in our own little bubbles. I like the security of the frame on me."



It's a subtle way of suggesting that, even though these people are speaking to each other, they're not really communicating with each other. There are very few two-shots, and I think only one over-the-shoulder shot. Most audiences won't notice that, but they'll feel it -- that no two actors really occupy the same space.



The dialogue is so spot-on it's almost scary.

Exactly. Bruce has a really wonderful ear for that, he's living it. He was raised in Hollywood. I have enough experience to know the veracity of it, to know that it's not fantasy and satire. It's like a docu-drama.



You've cast Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in multiple movies now. Do you have an affinity for these specific actors? Or is it just coincidence?

You know, it's fun! First of all, though you might love an actor, you don't do him or her a favour by miscasting them. I didn't have a role for Viggo [Mortensen] in "Cosmopolis," so as much as I would want to work with Viggo, there was no point in fitting him in. On the other hand, it's exciting if you can get an actor who you love to work with -- like Viggo as Sigmund Freud in "A Dangerous Method" -- and it's kind of unexpected.



So you have someone you love working with, have confidence in, have a really good flow with them already so you don't have to establish that, and the fun is putting them into a role that's really demanding and something different for them. I know Sarah and Rob are very fearless in their own ways. Rob didn't want to play the star and have the movie be all about him -- and he said he'd love to play a role in an ensemble piece. I said to him, "This role [in "Maps"] is it."



Rob mentioned something about you not making any more movies. Is that true?

I tempt fate and the devil by saying things like, "'Cosmopolis' will be my last movie." I don't know why I say things like that, I just do. I had lots of fun doing "Maps," I had a lot of energy. Sometimes I think I'll stop making movies and just write novels, but then my accountant says no. [Laughs] Where I find myself right now: I don't make rules for myself. If some project came along that was wonderful, I don't have a rule that says I'm not making any more movies.



But it would have to be something really great, something very seductive. I'm just keeping my options open. What I'm not saying is, "I think I'll write another original screenplay." I haven't done that for a long time. You can spend two years writing a screenplay and then never get it made. I don't close any doors, but I like to shock people by saying I'm finished with movie-making.



"Maps to the Stars" opens in theatres on October 31.







'Maps to the Stars' Trailer





from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1yMs9e9

via IFTTT

Daniel Radcliffe Facts: 17 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About the 'Horns' Star

Daniel Radcliffe FactsEver since becoming a wizard at the age of 12, Daniel Radcliffe has been an international star.



Seemingly tailor-made for the role of Harry Potter, the young actor went from complete unknown to superstar overnight -- and he'd barely hit puberty. Since his days in the blockbuster franchise, Radcliffe has starred on Broadway and in indie movies, earning critical acclaim and shedding his child star image along the way. This fall, the (still) young actor stars in the devilish "Horns."



From "The Simpsons" to his connection to Charles Dickens, here are 17 things you probably don't know about Daniel Radcliffe.



1. Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born July 23, 1989 in West London, England to Marcia Gresham Jacobson and Alan George Radcliffe.



2. His mother is a casting agent born in South Africa and raised in Essex, England. His father is a literary agent from County Down, Northern Ireland.



3. Both of Radcliffe's parents acted as children.



4. Radcliffe expressed an interest in acting when he was only five years old.



5. At 10 years old, the young actor made his screen debut in the BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens's "David Copperfield" (1999), playing the titular character as a young boy.



6. The performance led to getting cast in the "Harry Potter" series. Chris Columbus, the director of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (2001), saw Radcliffe in "David Copperfield" and insisted the actor audition. Even J.K. Rowling added, "I don't think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry."



7. Radcliffe's parents were reluctant to let him audition because the contract required shooting all seven films in Los Angeles. They even turned down the offer!



8. Radcliffe ultimately signed up to play Harry Potter, though, after Warner Bros. offered a revised two-movie contract with filming in the UK.



9. After the success of "Harry Potter," Radcliffe became the youngest non-royal to have his portrait displayed in London's prestigious National Portrait Gallery. He was just 14 years old.



10. Before "Harry Potter" kicked off, however, the actor made his film debut in "The Tailor of Panama" (2001).



11. His next non-Potter film? 2007's period-piece "December Boys," which starred Radcliffe as an orphan vying for the attention of a family. In the six years between "The Tailor of Panama" and "December Boys," Radcliffe starred in five "Harry Potter" movies.



12. After the first "Harry Potter" was released, some of Radcliffe's classmates would make fun of the actor, though Radcliffe never took it personally. Eventually, due to his busy schedule, he stopped going to school and was educated on set by tutors.



13. Since his "Harry Potter" days, Radcliffe has worked consistently on screen and on the stage. In 2013, he won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as the lead in Martin McDonagh's "The Cripple of Inishmaan."



14. That same year, he portrayed American poet Allen Ginsberg in "Kill Your Darlings." He met his current girlfriend, Erin Darke, on the set of the film.



15. Radcliffe has also published poetry under the pen name Jacob Gershon. Jacob is his middle name, while Gershon is the Yiddish version of his mother's maiden name.



16. Radcliffe suffers from a form of developmental coordination disorder, which inhibits his motor skills. He admits that sometimes the disorder gets so bad that he is unable to tie his shoes.



17. Bonus Fact: Radcliffe voiced a character on "The Simpsons" in 2010. The actor guest starred as Edmund in "Treehouse of Horror XXI."



[Sources: Wikipedia, IMDb]







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/10FyYD7

via IFTTT

Can Neil Patrick Harris Resurrect the Variety Show?

2014 Tony Awards - Show

No doubt the news that NBC is hiring Neil Patrick Harris to host a variety show was greeted by everyone under 35 with the response, "What's a variety show?"



Long ago, when there were only three channels and programmers crafted series that were meant to have universal appeal, the variety show was a TV staple. Shows blending music, comedy, dance, drama, juggling, puppetry, ventriloquism, and anything else you could think of were the networks' way of providing something for everyone. If you didn't like an act, wait five minutes, and something more to your taste would come along.



What's more, you didn't have to have any particular talent to host a variety show. Sure, a lot of hosts of 1970s variety shows were musicians -- Dean Martin, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Sonny and Cher, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Donny and Marie Osmond. Some of them could even tell jokes. And then there was Ed Sullivan, a man who had a stiff on-camera presence and no discernible talent except for the ability to spot talent in others, and yet, throughout the 1950s and '60s, he was the undisputed king of the variety show.



The variety show died a slow, painful death in the late 1970s, as tastes fractured and networks started chasing niche demographics instead of broad ones. In fact, the network that contributed most to the format's demise is the one trying to revive it now: NBC. "Saturday Night Live" started out on that network in 1975 as a variety show but quickly abandoned its stand-up comics, multiple musical acts, and prehistoric Muppets for the now-familiar format of a single guest host and single musical act alongside the sketch comedy offerings from the regular cast. In 1977, a variety show hosted by Richard Pryor proved too controversial for NBC, which yanked the show after a few episodes. By 1980, when NBC launched the short-lived "Pink Lady and Jeff" (hosted by comic Jeff Altman and a female Japanese duo that spoke little English), it was clear that variety was dead.



Since then, the closest thing we've had to variety is amateur talent competition shows, from "Solid Gold" and "Star Search" in the '80s to "America's Got Talent" today. And even the most popular talent shows, like "American Idol" and "The Voice," draw only a fraction of the number of viewers that the 1960s and '70s variety shows did.



The problem, then, is not Harris, whose old-school song-and-dance talents are universally recognized. Rather, it's with the idea that one show can still please everybody. There's no such thing as consensus entertainment anymore, and long gone are the days when Sullivan could get teens to sit still through Topo Gigio and Señor Wences while they waited for the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Today, there are too many other options clamoring for our attention, and the moment one act on a variety show bores us, we'll click to one of 500 other channels or stream a movie or play a video game.



It's easy to see why the networks would want such a show to work. Other than sports events and awards shows, there's little that attracts a truly mass audience anymore. But recent efforts to revive the variety format haven't been promising. Recent one-shot attempts by stars as funny and talented as Rosie O'Donnell and Maya Rudolph, both on NBC, failed to make a splash.



Even NBC seems to realize how risky a venture this is, as they've given Harris a commitment for only 10 episodes. The network seems to recognize that hiring a star of Harris' caliber, along with all the other talent they'll need to make each episode work -- and a franchise fee of $2.5 million per episode to production company ITV -- could be an expensive gamble, one that costs as much as launching a new scripted series.



Still, if anyone can make this work, it's Harris, who's knocked 'em dead as an Emmy and Tony Awards emcee and is about to take on the Oscars. Plus, he's expressed enthusiasm for the idea of hosting a variety show in the past. The fact that he's actually eager for such a challenge should help enormously.



And NBC, apparently having learned from past mistakes, may be the right network to revive the variety show. It already has "America's Got Talent" and "Saturday Night Live," plus the variety-ish "The Voice" and the live primetime musicals like last year's "The Sound of Music" and the upcoming "Peter Pan." As NBC head of alternative television Paul Teledgy told Vulture, "We have a natural affinity for this type of show. It's in our DNA."



Whether it's in the audience's DNA is another matter.







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/10FyY66

via IFTTT

Watch Sofia Coppola's Insanely Charming Holiday Gap Ads (VIDEO)



If it's someone you would peg with getting the assignment to direct a quartet of heartwarming holiday ads, chances are your mind wouldn't immediately leap to Sofia Coppola, the Coppola daughter responsible for such wonderful (if somewhat gloomy) films as "Lost in Translation," "The Virgin Suicides," and, most recently, "The Bling Ring." But, defying convention, Coppola has authored four spots for the mall staple (seriously - if the Gap ever goes out of business, will there even be malls anymore?) and they are all super charming and wonderful.



The ads are only tangentially holiday-related (those sweaters), the best of which features a little kid lip-syncing to an old chestnut. It perfectly figures into the new ad campaign, which is, "You don't have to get him/her/them, to get him/her/them Gap." Coppola, of course, follows in the footsteps of fellow American auteur David Fincher, who helmed a series of moody black-and-white pieces earlier this fall.



Coppola is currently hard at work on a big screen adaptation of classic fairy tale "The Little Mermaid." Hopefully she'll cast the lip-syncing kid in a major role.







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1wkviCv

via IFTTT

Best of Late Night TV: Gordon Ramsay's Pet Pigs and Chris Rock's Top Halloween Costumes (VIDEO)

If you're like us and value your sleep, you probably nodded off into your Ambien dreamland before the party started on post-prime time TV. Don't worry; we've got you covered. Here's the best of what happened last night on late night.



Let's kick things off with Chris Rock, who made a surprise appearance on "The Tonight Show" to list the top five Halloween costumes of the year, including but not limited to slutty Uber driver and slutty pumpkin spice latte!



Gordon Ramsay also had some face-time with Jimmy Fallon, and chatted about the pigs he raised in his back yard. That is correct, he raised pet pigs to make bacon (...), and he started crying when he tried to kill them.





We couldn't be more excited about seeing Allison Williams in the live production of "Peter Pan" (it's going to be amazing), and her dad, Brian Williams, gave David Letterman some scoop about her performance on "Late Show."





Zooey Deschanel swung by "Late Night" to talk about all the famous visitors who have showed up on the set of her show -- including Kobe Bryant! Who's apparently a huge "New Girl" fan...who knew?



Finally, Jake Gyllenhaal showed up on "Conan" to talk about his terrible childhood halloween costumes -- including being an Ocean Spray cranberry juice box and an Oreo cookie, both of which involved white spandex, of course.







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/10EyXPF

via IFTTT

Thursday, October 30, 2014

'Horns' Review: 10 Things You Should Know About Daniel Radcliffe's Devilish New Movie

Horns ReviewThis year, the cinematic landscape is suffering from a staggering lack of scary movie product. Instead of the usual "Paranormal Activity" installment, we've got a limp haunted board-game movie in "Ouija" and a tenth anniversary re-release of the first "Saw" movie (a film that inspired countless sequels, another staple of Halloween that has evaporated by thinly mixed fake blood). But fear not! There is one late-entry scary movie, opening on Halloween day no less -- French filmmaker Alexandre Aja's "Horns."



Based on a novel by Joe Hill (whose daddy, it should be noted, is Stephen King), "Horns" stars Daniel Radcliffe as a man who, after a night of hard drinking, wakes up to find a pair of devilish knobs poking out from his forehead. What's more -- those horns cause people around him to confess their deepest fears, something which should be especially helpful since he is trying desperately to figure out who murdered the love of his life (Juno Temple).



But is "Horns" a trick or a treat? And is it worth going out of your way for, when you could just stay at home and fall into a deep, sugar-induced coma while shoving handful after handful of candy cord into your gaping maw? Read our "Horns" review to find out!



1. This Is a Very Different Daniel Radcliffe

If you only know Radcliffe from his role as the Boy Who Lived in the eight "Harry Potter" adventures, then "Horns" should be a very rude awakening for you. As Ig Parrish, Radcliffe totally transforms -- everything from his bad attitude to his American accent comes across flawlessly. It's a terrific performance, one that becomes more profoundly unhinged as the movie rolls along and his demonic powers start to get amplified. You've kind of got to see it to believe it. If you were wondering if Radcliffe could make a mature jump to riskier material, then this is your answer.



2. There Is Definitely A Very Stephen King Vibe

While the movie is set in the Pacific Northwest, the movie still feels very much like the work of Hill's dad. There's the small, wooded town full of secrets, the supernatural resting right alongside the mundane, prolonged flashbacks to childhood trauma and, of course, the flashes of extreme violence. This isn't a knock; Stephen King is probably the closest my generation is going to get to Mark Twain, but you just can't help but draw those parallels.



3. It's Two Hours Long...

Unlike most horror haunts, "Horns" is a full two hours long. Just know this going in, especially if you are trying to cram in a showing in-between other Halloween activities. But that's OK, because "Horns" has a lot more on its mind than how much gore it can splatter on the screen.



4. ... And a Very Full Two Hours

"Horns" is also a lot of movie. There are at least a half-dozen subplots, the aforementioned flashbacks to Ig's childhood, and at least part of the movie is set in a dreamy, ethereal netherworld (one that is thankfully inhabited by Juno Temple, who, true to form, is very naked). On both a narrative and thematic level, there's a whole lot to chew on, gleefully mixing the sublime and the perverse.



5. There's a Nifty 'Twin Peaks' Reference

Not going to explicitly say what it is. But keep your eyes open for a very familiar-looking diner waitress.



6. The Supporting Cast Is Terrific

If it was just Radcliffe, taking risks all by his lonesome, it might not have been as satisfying a watch. But "Horns" is stacked with a terrific supporting cast, including Max Minghella as his best friend, Joe Anderson as his brother (how great is Joe Anderson?), Juno Temple as the murdered girlfriend, James Remar (!) and Kathleen Quinlan as Ig's parents, and even a small cameo by David Morse (who is no stranger to Stephen King adaptations). The great thing about these performers, too, is that they're able to play so many different things -- sure, there's their character who everyone sees and then there's the imp that the horns unleash, too...



7. It's Very Funny

There are some super-intense things about "Horns," but the movie is also punctuated with moments of amazing levity. Sometimes the movie even plays like an outrageous, R-rated comedy; something along the lines of a horror-themed "Hangover" (or something along those lines). It's rare for a chiller to also leave us in stitches, but "Horns" does just that.



8. The Soundtrack Is Aces

If rock'n'roll really is the devil's music, then "Horns" has tapped into that wonderfully. The soundtrack to "Horns" is pretty on the nose (yes, that's Marilyn Manson's cover of "Personal Jesus," and no, we're not sure how long it's been since you've heard it), but it works really, really well. This is not a genre defined by its subtlety, and it shouldn't start with "Horns." (The score, too, by Phoenix collaborator Rob, is also totally aces.) Just hope you go to a theater that turns the sound system all the way up.



9. Marketing for the Movie Has Been Misleading

Some of the people who were going to see the film during Fantastic Fest (and just attending screenings in the weeks leading up to the release), noted that the trailers and such for the film had painted it in a much more genteel light. In fact, with its emphasis on the star-crossed lovers and Pacific Northwest setting, it came across as a Young Adult adaptation, more "Twilight" than true horror. This couldn't be further from the truth. While the movie does have a deep, surprisingly resonant emotional center, this is far ruder, cruder, and more adult than the weepy vampire saga.



10. The Climax is Bonkers

If you've never seen one of Alexandre Aja's movies, then we feel sorry for you, because he's one of the best genre filmmakers working today. Ever since making a splash with "Haute Tension" back in France, he has turned in the most consistently entertaining and endearing features in this or any genre (his most recent film was "Piranha 3D," a film that laid the groundwork for "Spring Breakers" in a big, big way). And his genius is assured by "Horns," a movie that climaxes in one of the best, most bonkers set pieces we've seen in horror in quite some time. Just know, if you're watching "Horns" and thinking that it is lacking in Aja's trademark black humor and general nastiness... It's coming... And when he decides to bring the pain, you'll definitely feel it.







from The Moviefone Blog http://news.moviefone.com/2014/10/30/horns-review/

via IFTTT

Man Dressed as Teletubby Arrested After Breaking into Friend's Home, Stealing Chinese Food

Teletubbies - Lets Dance - Photocall

Today in Weird News: A man dressed as a Teletubby -- yes, one of the kinda-creepy children's show characters -- is facing criminal charges after he broke into a friend's home last weekend and stole Chinese food.



The Express-Times reports that 20-year-old Terez S. Owens Jr. has been charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after local police in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania say he broke into a friend's house around 2 a.m. last Sunday, with the seemingly sole intent of pilfering takeout food from the fridge.



The kicker? Owens was dressed as Laa-Laa, the yellow Teletubby from the popular children's TV show "Teletubbies," at the time of the alleged break-in. Police caught up with him, still in costume, not long after the incident.



"Police said he went into the victims' refrigerator and dumped Chinese food into a 'man purse' before leaving," The Express-Times reports. "A door was damaged during the incident, police said."



While the victims initially declined to press charges against Owens -- and his no doubt ruined "man purse" -- their landlord thought differently. After assessing the damage, residents met with a detective on Wednesday, and the charges were filed.



Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio summed it up best with his remarks about the bizarre incident.



"Not that many Teletubbies get arrested," DiLuzio told The Express-Times. "You can't make it up."



[via: Lehigh Valley Live]



Photo credit: Getty Images







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1zkcKVs

via IFTTT

Attention, Loki Lovers: Tom Hiddleston to Star in AMC Miniseries with Hugh Laurie

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-THEATRE-AWARDS

British actor Tom Hiddleston is set to make his live-action American television debut in a new miniseries based on a John le Carré novel.



Hiddleston, who charmed Marvel movie lovers as the villainous Loki in "The Avengers" and "Thor," will star in AMC's "The Night Manager," alongside fellow Brit Hugh Laurie. The twisty plot description, per The Hollywood Reporter:

Night Manager follows Jonathan Pine, a British soldier turned luxurious hotel night auditor. Pine crosses paths with a French-Arab woman named Sophie with ties to Richard Onslow Roper, an English black marketeer who specializes in weapons. The woman provides Pine with incriminating documents, which he forwards to a friend in British intelligence. After Sophie winds up dead, Pine works with intelligence operatives and goes undercover as part of a sting against Roper to avenge Sophie's death.





While Laurie is well-known to American TV audiences thanks to his titular starring role on long-running Fox series "House," Hiddleston has only recently appeared on U.S. television in voiceover parts, guesting on "Robot Chicken" and "Family Guy." This new miniseries offers a meatier small screen role than he's previously tackled.



"The Night Manager" will most likely run for either six or eight installments. No word yet on when the AMC project will begin production, or when the series is expected to make it on the air.



[via: The Hollywood Reporter]



Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1vlN2sY

via IFTTT

8 New TV Shows You Should Definitely Be Watching



The fall TV season is in full swing and now that we've got to sample all the new shows, it's time to finally narrow down our picks for the best of the best.



Which fresh programming is worth watching and how many episodes do you have to watch to catch up? Check out our handy guide to eight new shows you should definitely be tuning into.



"Transparent"



Jill Solloway's moving story about a family coming to terms with their father as he transitions into living life as a woman is unlike anything on TV (ahem -- your computer) today. It's heartbreaking and funny and will have you hooked from the start. Amazon has totally won us over with this one.

When's it on?: Currently steaming on Amazon

Episodes to catch up: 10

WATCH NOW



"Jane the Virgin"



A 23-year-old virgin suddenly finds herself pregnant after being inseminated accidentally by her gynecologist. Sure, the premise seems a little wacky, but the winning combination of breakout lead Gina Rodriguez and smart, fun writing makes this telenovela comedy a truly unexpected gem.

When's it on?: Monday, 9 p.m. on The CW

Episodes to catch up on: 3

WATCH NOW



"The Flash"



Comic book fans won't be disappointed with CW's action-packed adaptation of "The Flash." Complex characters, heart, and romance will satisfy viewers who aren't at all familiar with the DC story.

When's it on: Tuesday, 8 p.m. on The CW

Episodes to catch up on: 4

WATCH NOW



"Black-ish"



This unique family comedy might just be the funniest new sitcom of the season. Anthony Anderson stars as an upper middle class ad exec struggling to keep his kids connected to their cultural identity.

When's it on: Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. on ABC

Episodes to catch up on: 6

WATCH NOW



"How to Get Away With Murder"



Shonda Rhimes has done it again with this Viola Davis legal series. It's thrilling, super sexy, and is the perfect icing on the "Grey's Anatomy" / "Scandal" Thursday night drama cake.

When's it on: Thursday, 10 p.m. on ABC

Episodes to catch up on: 5

WATCH NOW



"Marry Me"



Ken Marino and Casey Wilson are chock-full of chemistry and comedy in this cute rom-sitcom about an engaged couple preparing for matrimony.

When's it on: Tuesday, 9 p.m. on NBC

Episodes to catch up on: 3

WATCH NOW



"The Affair"



Showtime's provocative portrayal of the psychological and emotional aftermath of two extramarital is affairs is a absolutely steamy must-watch.

When's it on: Sunday, 10 p.m. on Showtime. Find out where to watch the premiere for free here.

Episodes to catch up on: 3

WATCH NOW



"Constantine"



Another DC comic book adaptation, you ask? Yes, but this is one features a quick-witted demon hunter with a dark past, played by the charming Matt Ryan.

When's it on?: Friday, 10 p.m. on NBC

Episodes to catch up on: 1

WATCH NOW







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1zk5Qj4

via IFTTT

Benedict Cumberbatch's Hypothetical Sherlock Sex Scene Is Too Hot for TV

Golden Globe Nominations

Ladies (and gents) who love Benedict Cumberbatch, you may need to sit down for this: The actor has just given an extremely detailed description of how he thinks his BBC "Sherlock" character would have sex, and it's so steamy, it may cause some lightheadedness.



In an interview with Elle UK, the conversation with Cumberbatch drifted to what the virginal Sherlock would be like in bed, should he ever give it up to a lucky lady. While the magazine thought that the overly-analytic detective would be "a lousy lay," the actor disagreed, and launched into a hypothetical version of what a night of passion with the character might entail.



First, Cumberbatch said, Sherlock would test out the "durability" of any prophylactic he planned to use during the act, and take vitamins and get a good night sleep ahead of time. After some more prep -- including grooming -- things would get crazy.



"And then I would be devastating," Cumberbatch said of Sherlock's skills in the sack. He continued:

I'd know exactly how to please a woman, I'd know exactly where to put my fingers, where to put my tongue, where to put my - his I should say - his fingers, his tongue. Think about violinists, think about what they can do with their fingers. And I'd know exactly how to get that person into it, and get pleasure out of making that person feel pleasure to the point that I probably wouldn't even have to enter... But when I did it would be explosive.





So there you have it. Now excuse us, we're going to need a minute or two -- or three or thirty -- to recover from that vivid description.



[via: Elle UK, h/t The Hollywood Reporter]



Photo credit: Associated Press







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1zOfxaE

via IFTTT

'True Detective' Season 2 Adds Kelly Reilly, Abigail Spencer, Leven Rambin



Four more actors have reportedly been added to the "True Detective" season two cast, with Kelly Reilly ("Black Box," "Flight"), Abigail Spencer ("Suits," "Rectify"), Leven Rambin ("The Hunger Games," "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters"), and Michael Irby ("Almost Human") poised to join the ensemble.



Deadline reports that Reilly is finalizing a deal to play a regular role on the HBO series, while Spencer, Rambin, and Irby are up for recurring roles.



The report also notes that both Reilly and Spencer were on the short list to nab the female lead, which has reportedly been offered to Rachel McAdams. Both women reportedly impressed creator Nic Pizzolatto, who cast them in other roles after meeting with them for McAdams's part.



According to Deadline, the casting breakdown for the new foursome is as follows:

Reilly would play the self-possessed Morgan. Irby is poised to play McAdams' partner, now named Elvis. Rambin would likely play Sophia, a beauty with a history of drug problems, while Spencer is in line to portray Alicia, the survivor of a sexual attack.





Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell, and Taylor Kitsch also star. The second season of "True Detective" is set to air on HBO sometime next year.



[via: Deadline]



Photo credit: Getty Images







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1E6AUmj

via IFTTT

Mitch Hurwitz Is Cutting Chronological Version of 'Arrested Development' Season 4

Premiere Of Netflix's

The fourth season of "Arrested Development" was a mixed bag, mostly because scheduling issues made it almost impossible for the entire cast to film many scenes together. Creator Mitch Hurwitz worked around that problem by devoting entire episodes to single characters -- even using green screen effects when necessary -- but the season still felt disjointed.



Now, Hurwitz is working on a sort-of solution: He's re-editing the season to tell the story in chronological order. The writer-director revealed his plans in an interview with the YouTube channel Pretentious Film Majors.



"Right now, I'm cutting a version of season four that tells it kind of chronologically," Hurwitz said, while also mentioning that scheduling difficulties were a large issue while planning out the storyline.



In a commenting thread, Pretentious Film Majors also noted that Hurwitz said he was inspired to do the re-cut in part "to try and get the studio more interested in Season 5."



While there's no clear timeframe for that next season, we're glad that Hurwitz listened to criticism and is attempting to address it head-on. More "Arrested Development" was never a bad thing, but this re-edit could be a great thing. Here's hoping it can find its way to fans' eyeballs -- and not just Netflix's -- someday.



[via: Pretentious Film Majors, h/t Uproxx]



Photo credit: Getty Images







from The Moviefone Blog http://news.moviefone.com/2014/10/30/mitch-hurwitz-chronological-arrested-development-season-four/

via IFTTT

Julianne Moore on 'Maps to the Stars' and Channelling Her Inner Diva (VIDEO)





Julianne Moore, 'Maps to the Stars' Interview



There's a reason Julianne Moore won the Best Actress honours at the Cannes Film Festival: her performance in "Maps to the Stars" is jaw-droppingly on-point.



Moore plays Havana -- the daughter of a deceased Hollywood acting legend -- who's searching for her own major breakthrough. She's entitled, bitchy, and utterly clueless about how she comes off. "Maps" is worth seeing solely for Moore's monologues.



Moviefone Canada spoke with Moore at the Toronto Film Festival, where she candidly discussed the inspiration for her character, working with David Cronenberg and Mia Wasikowska, and whether or not Havana stuck with her.



(Watch video interview, above.)







from The Moviefone Blog http://news.moviefone.ca/2014/10/30/julianne-moore-maps-to-the-stars-interview/

via IFTTT

HBO Gave (Most of) the 'Game of Thrones' Cast a Huge Raise

Warner Bros. At Comic-Con International 2014

"Game of Thrones" is one of the most buzzed-about shows in years, and HBO is rewarding the cast of its uber-popular fantasy drama with huge raises -- for most of the actors, anyway.



According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network has just wrapped up "extensive renegotiation" of the contracts of its cast members that will extend through a seventh season of the show. While contracts were originally set to run only through the sixth season, THR writes that in exchange for that extension, "HBO has ponied up huge raises for seasons 5, 6 and the potential season 7 that will make the cast members among the highest paid on cable TV."



"Thrones" has so far only been renewed through season six, though a seventh is highly likely, considering the show's ratings success.



With those raises come some stipulations, though, and HBO has put in place a tiered payment system that rewards more prominent actors on the show with bigger paychecks. THR explains:

The "A" tier - which includes actors Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) - is paid at the highest level. The "A" tier actors are said to have renegotiated their deals in tandem.



The so-called "B" tier - which is said to include co-stars Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and others - is paid on a lower scale but is said to be scoring raises as well in exchange for season 7 options. A lower tier of regular actors will receive much smaller pay increases, according to sources.





While we'd argue that Arya Stark deserves a place among the "A" tier, we still think this is a smart move by HBO. Keeping your actors happy -- and on the show, at least until their untimely death at a wedding -- and sharing some of the money they've helped you earn is always a good choice.



"Game of Thrones" is currently shooting its fifth season, which is set to debut on the network sometime early next year.



[via: The Hollywood Reporter]



Photo credit: Getty Images







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/13lYYo0

via IFTTT

Stanley Kubrick Exhibition: Filmmaker Artifacts Make Stop in Toronto



Stanley Kubrick, the popular exhibition that celebrates the creative process of one of cinema's most enigmatic and essential artists, makes its Canadian premiere at TIFF Bell Lightbox from October 31, 2014 -- January 25, 2015.



Re-designed for Toronto audiences (and featuring an exclusive 15-minute collection of Kubrick clips, curated by TIFF Director of Programmes Jesse Wente), it draws on extensive archives from Kubrick's home and workplace and features rare photographs and letters, original props and costumes, screenplays, production materials, and cameras from his almost 50-year career. Stanley Kubrick is TIFF's largest exhibition to date, with almost 1,000 artifacts.



Jan Harlan, Kubrick's long-time producer and brother-in-law, and Christiane Kubrick, Kubrick's widow after 47 years of marriage, were on-hand to kick off the exhibition.



Highlights include the 'Starchild' from "2001: A Space Odyssey," the dresses of the ghostly sisters from "The Shining," the 'Born to Kill' helmet of Private Joker from "Full Metal Jacket," the authentic model of the 'War Room' in "Dr. Strangelove"; and the Moonwatcher costume, worn by Dan Richter in "2001: A Space Odyssey," among many others.



Check out some photos from the exhibition in the slideshow below.



Stanley Kubrick's Widow on Director's Perfectionism







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1xFLmg9

via IFTTT

Pee-Wee Herman Will Return to the Big Screen in Judd Apatow-Produced Flick (VIDEO)

Paul Reubens Visits

It's been rumored for a few years now, but Paul Reubens made it semi-official last night: Pee-Wee Herman will return to the big screen for a new flick, and Judd Apatow is producing.



Reubens spilled the beans during an appearance on "The Tonight Show" Wednesday, answering a query from host Jimmy Fallon about whether or not Pee-Wee fans would see the character in a film again.



"There is going to be one," Reubens confirmed of the new flick, adding that there is a "huge announcement" forthcoming in the next week that will provide the official word on the project.



Reubens also confirmed that Judd Apatow would be producing the flick -- a rumor that's been floating around for a while -- and said that production was very close to getting underway.



"We hired a director -- I can't say [who] yet," the actor told Fallon, adding that filming is scheduled to start in February.



For fans of "Pee-Wee's Playhouse," and the character's big screen exploits in "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure," this should be welcome news. Stay tuned for more details about who will helm the project.



[via: The Tonight Show, h/t Defamer]



Photo credit: Jamie McCarthy/NBC via Getty Images







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1tlitXA

via IFTTT

You Haven't Seen 'Gone Girl' Until You've Seen It Reenacted By Kittens (Video)



It's no secret that David Fincher's "Gone Girl" is one of our favorite movies. It's a sleek, taut thriller that is gorgeously photographed, psychologically complex, and asks deeper questions about the nature of marriage, contemporary gender roles, and the media's vampire-like thirst for blood. But one thing that the movie was desperately missing was kittens. Sure, there was a cat. But no kittens. Thankfully, the Internet has heard our prayers and responded accordingly.



This trailer, by the Pet Collective, dubbed the "Gone Girl (Cute Kitten Version)" is pretty self-explanatory - it runs through some of the more memorable moments from the film, throws in a lot of super-obvious puns, and comes out on the other side unscathed. Our favorite part is when the kitten-version of Detective Boney asks the kitten-version of Ben Affleck about his massive credit card debt and Kittenfleck responds with, "I don't have a general understanding of currency."



Just watch it already.











from The Moviefone Blog http://news.moviefone.com/2014/10/30/gone-girl-kittens/

via IFTTT

Check Out the Trailer For 'Ex Machina,' Next Year's Coolest Sci-Fi Movie (VIDEO)



If you're a fan of the sci-fi genre, then 2014 has been something of a blessing. There has been a glut of top shelf sci-fi movies released this year, from the Tom Cruise intergalactic war movie "Edge of Tomorrow," to the thoughtful eeriness of "Under the Skin," to the creepy body-snatching of "Honeymoon," to the wonderful socio-political commentary of "Snowpiercer" to the balls-out fun of "Guardians of the Galaxy." All of these movies are magic. And they call came out this year. Thankfully, it looks like this winning streak is going to continue into 2015, with the first trailer for Alex Garland's "Ex Machina" already blowing our minds.



Garland, if you're unfamiliar with his work, was once a cerebral novelist whose cult book "The Beach" was adapted by Danny Boyle and Leonardo DiCaprio. That chance encounter with Boyle, though, started a second wind to his career, with Garland writing two terrific movies for Boyle - the zombie re-imagining "28 Days Later" and the sorely underrated space movie "Sunshine." After his time with Boyle, Garland worked with Mark Romanek on the acclaimed adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go" and penned the more-fun-than-anything "Dredd." Now Garland is back, with his directorial debut, and it looks awesome.



As explained in the trailer, "Ex Machina" concerns a wealthy but reclusive "search engine CEO" (hmm) played by Oscar Isaac, who invites a contest winner (Domhnall Gleeson) to his estate to engage in a test for his new artificial intelligence creation, Eva (the painfully adorable Alicia Vikander from "A Royal Affair"). Things, somewhat predictably, go pretty wrong and by the looks of the trailer, are totally trippy indeed. And yes - this is your first chase to see two "Star Wars: Episode VII" actors together!



Other reasons that "Ex Machina" should be one of your most anticipated movies of the new year: the robot was designed by noted British comic book artist and illustrator Jock and the score was composed by Geoff Barrow from defining British trip hop act Portishead. I want this now.



The movie is out in England in January but doesn't hit the states until April 10th, which, given its American distributor (A24) means that it is going to premiere at South by Southwest or I'll eat my hat.







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1tU6CRD

via IFTTT

Jake Gyllenhaal on 'Nightcrawler' and That Intense Mirror Punch



This role has "Oscar" written all over it: prolific actor Jake Gyllenhaal has taken on another intense part, this time as nighttime video producer Louis Bloom in "Nightcrawler." In more plain language, he's an ambulance chaser, trying to get the most salacious, bloody stories on camera before anyone else so he can sell the footage to news stations.



Sounds grim, doesn't it? Moviefone Canada caught up with Gyllenhaal at the Toronto Film Festival to pick his brain about Bloom, his relationship with director Dan Gilroy, and whether or not that mirror punch in the trailer was planned.



Moviefone Canada: A nighttime video production freelancer. Such a random character, but a poignant one.

Jake Gyllenhaal: I did a lot of research in that world. To me, it's so much about how we've created this person, how he's really our creation. All day, people have given him different names - "creepy," "sociopath," names like that ... the reason I wanted to do the movie is so I could explore a part of myself, a piece of myself that is like this guy. Dan [Gilroy, the director] puts forth this character so we can all face some piece of ourselves that's fascinated with tragedy.



Your working relationship with Dan was great, right?

He was a fearless collaborator. The ideas came, and he would say no to a lot of them, but he knew when something good came up. I memorized the whole movie like a play, because I knew we were shooting in 25 days, and if I wasn't agile with those soliloquies, we were going to be f**ked. When we were on a set-up, I asked Dan if I could do the monologues into camera; in different locations, he would point the camera at me and I'd do the speeches into the camera. Later on, he would cut them together and used them to market the movie - you can see it in a few of the trailers. Dan encouraged [those kinds of suggestions] all the time.



I was like, "What if I put my hair up?" And he was like, "Do it! Do it!" [Laughs] And he also liked my facial twitches in "Prisoners" - he kept saying, "It's so cool." He wasn't afraid to encourage me, and he didn't push down ideas because of ego. He's so thoughtful.



That mirror punch that we see in the trailer wasn't planned, was it?

No. There were multiple takes on each scene, where I tried different approaches and tones. We did many different variations of emotions, because you never knew where this guy was going. We couldn't map it out and say "Let's explore this!" since we only had 25 days. It was like that the whole time.



Your character is interesting because you're sort of likable, but also absolutely unlikable.

When Nina [Rene Russo] screams at him in the office, his parent, his God, his ... whatever it is, it's delivering success. So when he can't deliver, it's sadness for him. It's not connected to human interaction, it's connected to this idea. He goes home and smashes the mirror. He doesn't know how to express that thing. So then he goes and sets out to f**k things up.



How do you feel about nightcrawling as a career - like filming death scenes and accidents?

I did a lot of research for "End of Watch," studying police officers on the street and on their beats. There were a number of times where I would see the stringers on the scenes. Their worlds are fascinating - so many scanners in their cars. They have the San Bernadino fire department, the LA fire department, every county on every scanner, and then you're scanning your scanners. They have station points. I thought it was extraordinary. They're searching for the worst possible thing.



"Nightcrawler" opens in theatres on October 31.







Jake Gyllenhaal Sees His 'Nightcrawler' Character as a Coyote





from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/13kNMrQ

via IFTTT

Is the World Ready for the 'Peter Pan Live?' (VIDEO)



Following in the footsteps of last year's so-bad-we-couldn't-possibly-think-about-looking away television event/train wreck "Sound of Music Live," comes "Peter Pan Live," based on the classic musical that you probably performed in middle school. The first teaser has just been unleashed and, whew, is this going to be something.



There's an emphasis on "tease" in this preview, partially because, you know, it's live and all. But you see behind-the-scenes craftspeople getting ready, laying down gaffer's tape, fixing lights and whatnot. And you get a few fleeting glimpses of Peter Pan (played by "Girls" star Allison Williams) and Captain Hook (Christopher Walken, because at this point he's too old to care what he's in anymore). Design-wise, don't expect some radical reinvention - these are pretty classic depictions from either the original J.M. Barrie story, the play, or the classic animated Disney film.



Besides Williams' relative attractiveness making us question our own sexuality in new and unique ways, this looks like it has "potential catastrophe" written all over it. If you want us to live-tweet the show, please tell our bosses (because we really, really want to). The musical airs on December 4th and will probably wind up breaking the Internet (while simultaneously racking up huge ratings).











from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1wIIDlY

via IFTTT

'American Horror Story: Freak Show' Recap, Episode 3: 'Edward Mordrake, Pt. 2'

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW



Although there were some serious let-downs in this week's episode of "American Horror Story: Freak Show," it serves as a reminder of just how far the show runners are willing to push past the boundaries of taste and sanity on basic cable. Of course, the Grand Guignol gore and straight-up weirdness is why most of us watch it, so kudos to everyone involved for making this episode the stuff of nightmares.



Spoilers start here. Let's get this show on the road.



Taking Off the Masks



This week's episode caps off, so to speak, the story of Edward Mordrake (Wes Bentley) and solves the mystery of who he was looking to take with him into the greenish fog. Edward, as directed by the demonic face on the back of his head, continues peppering each of the performers with questions about their deepest secrets and darkest shames, which is a cool narrative device that allows us to get to know everyone a little better. Just as Ethel (Kathy Bates) got her chance to shine in the last episode, so does Twisty himself (John Carroll Lynch) manage to share his truly jaw-dropping secret with encouragement from Mordrake.



Mordrake also manages to get Elsa's story out of her, and it's a doozy. We already knew Elsa's biggest secret, the source of her shame and her drive and her delusion: her missing legs. She presents herself as "a benevolent zookeeper," as Mordrake puts it, even though she's no better than the freaks - if anything, she's worse, because she's a liar and a hypocrite. The real secret is how she lost her legs, which is illustrated with a black-and-white flashback that's like Madonna's "Erotica" video crossed with, I don't know, some terrible VHS tape you find at a garage sale that you want to scrub from your brain. Between Twisty's tale of despair and Elsa's gruesome Weimar shenanigans, this episode lived up to the show's name and then some.



AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW



Legless Suzy (Rose Siggins) and Paul the Illustrated Seal (Mat Fraser) both get a chance to share their stories, which is a welcome change of pace from just using them as the freak show backdrop. Fraser is especially excellent, and I hope we see lots more of him in future episodes. Frankly, it's too bad Fraser wasn't cast as the lead himself.



After a near-death experience at the hands of Twisty and Dandy, Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) and Maggie Esmerelda (Emma Roberts) are hailed as heroes by the police for helping them solve the murder mystery. Then the townspeople gather at Elsa's to thank Jimmy and basically do a meet and greet with the freaks. The episode ends when Maggie Esmerelda's pal Stanley (Denis O'Hare) shows up for a ticket to that night's sold-out show. He introduces himself to Elsa as a talent scout from Hollywood named Richard, so we all know just how well that's gonna go.



This is definitely the kitchen-sink approach that "AHS" prides itself on; nestled alongside lecherous small people, a suicidal clown, and snuff is a truly surreal scene of the local Jupiter residents hanging out and sharing some snacks with Elsa's crew in broad daylight.



Sad Omissions



Although it sucks to say goodbye to one of the scariest clowns in TV history, it was Twisty's time to go. What sucks more is that Patti LaBelle's character Dora meets an untimely death at the hands of, who else, Dandy; it's an absolute waste of the fabulous Ms. LaBelle, and it's obvious and just generally boring. I expected more from the writers. For shame!



That goes double for Angela Bassett. All she does is pop up occasionally and make references to being a "hermaphrodite," as per the terminology of the era. At least in "Coven," she was pitted against Jessica Lange in a great diva-off! As long as she's still alive, I'll retain hope that Desiree Dupree will come into her own in a major way - hopefully without her scummy husband Dell (Michael Chiklis).



Bette and Dot didn't have much to do at all in this episode, but it's clear they'll be up to something quite soon. First, Elsa made them mad by telling them they were no longer the star attraction. Then, Jimmy rolled up on his motorcycle with Maggie and her one very pretty head after being out who knows where all night. Based on the previews for next week's episode, Stanley/Richard has something in mind for the twins, inspired no doubt by the conjoined liver of Chang and Eng they saw back in Philly.



There was no musical number this week. It's probably hard to top Jessica Lange covering Lana Del Rey, but if anyone can do it, "American Horror Story: Freak Show" certainly can.







from The Moviefone Blog http://ift.tt/1sKI1Is

via IFTTT

13 Mistakes From Your Favorite '90s Sitcoms

90s Sitcom MistakesNobody is perfect... not even your favorite '90s sitcoms.



While "Friends" stole our hearts and "Family Guy" had us howling with laughter, between the heartbreak and the side-splitting these classics sitcoms were making a few mistakes. Ever notice the major continuity error in "The Simpsons" opening credits? How about that blown storyline in "Will & Grace"?



In case you missed the mess-ups in your favorite '90s sitcoms, here's a gallery to get you up to speed. As usual, all photos are courtesy of MovieMistakes.com.







from The Moviefone Blog http://news.moviefone.com/2014/10/30/90s-sitcom-misakes/

via IFTTT