REVIEW: An Unassuming Monster Works His Gruesome Magic in Compelling Snowtown Murders

With his round, bearded face and gentle voice, John Bunting (Daniel Henshall) is an unassuming monster - it takes a while to spot the terrible danger within him. In Justin Kurzel'sThe Snowtown Murders, based on an actual series of gruesome crimes that took place in South Australia in the mid '90s, he's the deceptive mastermind behind a string of serial killings, the leader of a group initially, at least in their own heads, bound together by a desire to enact vigilante justice. The Snowtown Murders is the latest and bleakest in a string of Australian crime films showing flashes ofvirtuosotalent, and has more than a little in common withDavid Michd's 2010 hit Animal Kingdom, including a near-feral group of characters and a teenage boy whose eyes are the windows through which we see terrible things. ButJamie Vlassakis (Lucas Pittaway) isn't just a witness, he's an eventual participant, andThe Snowtown Murdersbuilds into a multipronged horror effort in which the torture and murder on-screen are matched by the psychologically convincing disintegration of a previously sympathetic protagonist. Snowtown, which is located betweenAdelaide and Perth, is portrayed in the film as a shabby suburb, its downtrodden ugliness in contrast to the giant sky and empty landscapes outside that the camera occasionally pulls back to appreciate.Elizabeth (Louise Harris) is dating a guy who lives across the way, and leaves her boys, including Jamie, in his care. He uses theopportunityto take photos of them in their underwear, a request to which they acquiesce with a defeated air that becomes the film's overarching sentiment. He's out on bail in a day. Later, another character is raped by someone in his own family: He struggles, but eventually surrenders, lying still like the runt of a litter being forced to submit, the camera observing dispassionately from a distance as it happens.The residents of Snowtown seem to have accepted victimhood as their due, which is why John's arrival is so initially welcome - he's willing to fight back, even if it's against the law, and he's charismatic and funny and able to manipulate the welling rage just underneath the benumbed expressions of his followers. John inveigles his wayinto Elizabeth's life romantically, and works a different sort of seduction onJamie, whose hunger for a father figure is almost a physical manifestation. Signs that something's not quite right with John surface slowly - he chops up kangaroos to toss on the doorstep ofElizabeth's pedophilic ex, and later pressures Jamie into shooting his dog as proof of his ability to stand up for himself. The Snowtown Murdersinternalizes the themes about dominance and survival thatAnimal Kingdom has to make explicit - the only way to see John's serial killing team is as a predatory pack over which he holds complete sway, their actions motivated by self-importance, by a need to belong, by fear and, eventually, enjoyment. John initially cloaks his actions as justice, primarily against molesters of children - the neighborhood enjoys gathering around a table to smoke and drink and talk about what they'd do to anyone they caught messing with their offspring, the imagining of violence a dizzying pleasure."It's not fucking mean if you kick the shit out of some diseased prick," John points out. "He fucking deserves it. It's an Australian fucking tradition." But the killings expand from pedophiles to anyone John deems unworthy - the obese, the drug-addicted, the weak, the unmissable, and John brings Jamie into the fold, forcing the knowledge of what's happening onto him, certain he'll participate. ("I'm only looking after you, mate," he tells the boy after revealing to him that he's murdered one of his friends.) One of the film's best, most difficult scenes finds Jamie watching as someone is chained to the bathtub, walking away, returning to see him get tortured, and going outside to sit as kids ride by on bikes. There's nothing physically holding him there, but he can't and won't intervene or run for help, and so instead he gives in, buying into the illusion of power in what's really just more powerlessness. The intentional unpleasantness of The Snowtown Murdersisn't just due to its violence, but its harsh assessment of human nature, of how its characters' unhappiness grows though they continue on the path they've chosen, too forceless to remedy the situation. The film is unflinching, but doesn't sensationalize its content, which makes it all the more disturbing. In the blue-tinged world it portrays - wood-paneled roomsfilled with cigarette smoke, decrepit couches on lawns and porches, a land of dead ends - it's the dreadful normalizing of its crimes that's haunting, the way they go undiscussed even as they grow and pull in everyone around, either as victim, victimizer or accomplice, helpless in the face of a soft-spoken psychopath. Follow Alison Willmore on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Spirit Awards: Weinstein Company Near-Sweep: The Artist, Michelle Williams, Jean Dujardin, Michel Hazanavicius, Guillaume Schiffman

BREAKING… Refresh for latest… SANTA MONICA The Artist won 4 awards and The Weinstein Company swept 5 at today’s 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards.Hosted bySeth Rogen, the 27th annual awards ceremony took placeduring aluncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.The Spirit Awards celebrate artist-driven filmmaking and recognizes the best achievements of todays independent filmmakers. This year the weather was cooperating: sunny and warm as the looky-loos lined up on the sand to snapa picture andgrab a handshake from their favorite stars arriving in afleet of black limos and cars. Seth Rogen opened the show by continuing the Spirit Awards’ long tradition ofprovocative standup,saying: “I have no fucking clue why were in a tent right now. There are previously existing structures where we could have done [the awards].You know you are at a class awars showif they have porto-potty.”… He notes how he’s “hosted a few Seders” before this. I dont know what the opposite of selling out is, but I want that to happen.” He tells the audience, “Im committed to watching all your movies. I made it through the first 5 minutes of every single one of them. Some start out slow, pretty fuckin slow. [He draws that out so its funnier.) ... Rogen lampoons Spirits for giving awards for Tallest Horse, Prettiest Pig"... He calls Spirits "the only awards show that is completely inconsequential. Nothing will come of this, absolutely nothing. It wont help you get paid any more. If anything, it proves youll work for nothing." Of all the four seasons there's no season like awards season. Without awards season we wouldn't know what a horriblle bigot Brett Ratner is." ... "At the Grammys you can beat your girlfriend and they'll ask you to perform. Twice."... Rogen took the piss out of George Clooney and also made fun of The Artist: "Didn't we learn anything from Roberto Bernini?" ... "Michael Fassbender's dick almost got the role of the knob in Albert Nobbs." Rogen went on to compliment his dick... "Great year, I just learned there was another Olsen. The best one. Where were they keeping her?" During the Spirit Awards show, Patricia Clarkson led a toast to the memory of independent film executive Bingham Ray who passed away at the most recent Sundance Film Festival: In January, we lost Bingham Ray. He was an independent film. He was gutsy, ingenious, a little out of focus, heartbreaking, unforgettable, and way too many curse words for PG-13. Please join me in a toast for this man that we loved very much. To Bingham. Thank you, Bingham. Wish you were here. Cheers, thank you. 2012 Film Independent Spirit Award Winners BEST FEATURE The Artist - Producer: Thomas Langmann Langmann onstagetalked about how hard it is getting film financing, thengave special thanks to Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Fremauxand The Weinstein Co's Harvey Weinstein. Backstage, Langmann was at first asked a question in French, drawing howls of protest from the English-speaking press. But the accommodating producer joked, I dont speak French,then immediately translated the question:It's about Harvey Weinstein, what is most important about him. [It is] his weight, he said, to laughter. I mean, hes big. And this is the end of our American career. He went on to praise Weinsteins tenacity in getting the movie made.”He came. He flew. We were totally unknown, and he went to see a movie that was silent and black and white.Our stars were not known here. He thought there was something that made it worth flying to come to see the movie. And he did, and here we are today. I have nothing bad to say. He called having this movie recognizeda tribute to Hollywood cinema,a dream come true. When director Michel Hazanavicius arrivedbackstage to join Langmann and actors James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller, Langmann deferred to the director. This is Mr. Magic, he said. SaidHazanavicius, There is no recipe to build magic, and credited luck and hiring talented people.He joked about the demands of constantly appearing atawards showsthis season. Its not the worst job you can find.People say you are nice guy, you are talented, you have a very charming French accent.And we have the police come to escort us from the airport. That was great! The director said he’s feeling a little stage fright for tomorrows Oscars. I can’t say Im super cool.But today -this is important too. This means a lot because it is a small movie, its not expensive, we did it with small money, and its black and white and silent.” But, with another apparent wink to Weinstein,”Small money, but his money,” the director added. BEST DIRECTOR Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist The Artist filmmakers just landedfrom the French Casar Awards and drovehere with a police escort (your tax dollars at work), according to Hazanavicius in his acceptance speech: “We just arrived from France five minutes ago. We came from the airport with a police escort so it was like a theme from Drive. As for independent film, you’re never really independent because you always need somebody.” BEST SCREENPLAY Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – The Descendants BEST FIRST FEATURE (given to the director and producer) Margin Call – Director: J.C. Chandor; Producers: Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Joe Jenckes, Corey Moosa, Zachary Quinto Chandor said backstage: “There was a tremendous concern inbringing this property to the screen and in shopping this around we could notfind the money to do it.There was trepidation about it.” Chandor noted that Quinto helped get his friends to take roles.”Castingwas always a big moving puzzle.But one by one, it came together.” Quinto said backstage: “The thing that actors respond to is material.When I read the script, it was unequivocally clear that I wanted to get behindthis project.J.C.’s affability, his ability to articulate his point of viewput actors at ease and disarmed them.I think all the credit goes back to J.C.Everyone signed on because of him and his screenplay. I just had to twist somearms.” Quinto said he’sproducing Chandor’s follow-up which is goinginto pre-productionsoon. BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Will Reiser – 50/50 Reiser onstage said he “had to give credit where credit is due — to cancer”. (At 24, Reiser was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Six years later, he got a clean bill of health andwrote afilm comedy based on his cancer experiences.) The best part of winning, Reiser said backstage, was being part of a “prestigious list of names, writers who have been major influences. To be listed amongst those names is really special. I had no idea how much the movie would connect with people, because it was so personal to me and the guys, Seth and Evan.” He was affected by “how it has really touched people and connected with people, especially people who have been affected by cancer who can really relate to it.”He added that winning an Indie award was especially gratifying because in commercial film there “is less and less room for films like these.” And if you thought cancer was funny, Reiser says his next project is a comedy about Alzheimer’s disease based on a vacation he took with his grandmother who was in the early stages of the disease. He and grandma mistakenly ended up at a Jamaican couples resort. “And I lost her,” Reiser said. JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD Given to the writer,directo, and producer of the best feature made for under $500,000 Pariah Writer/Director: Dee Rees; Producer: Nekisa Cooper Rees said onstage: “Anytime we can have two whiskies before noon is alright…” “Pariah is a film about identity,” said director and writer Dee Rees backstage. “It’s a universal concept that everyone can relate to.I only referenced one other film in making this, and it was Paris Is Burning. The filmmakers of that movie thrust you in, exploring their world. We trusted the audience and didn’t want to overexplain.This award is meaningful to me because Cassavetes is one of my favorite directors.” Producer Nekisa Cooper said backstage:”You make a film for a half a million dollars and you’re always a winner.It took a village to make this film –IFP, Sundance Institute, Spike Lee. Our D.P. built lights to try to figure out ways to make shots better.We shot in 18 days, and we had a creative and technical crew. Our production designer transformed a 4-story brownstone into 10 different locations.”Cooper gave this advise towannabe filmmakers: “Find a good producer. Someone who’ll support a good vision around your film.” Presented by Anne Heche who reminded the audience, “There’s no such thing as a small film. Just a cheap film.” BEST FEMALE LEAD Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn Williams said onstage: “I came here to the Spirits for the first time 10 years ago and I wore my own clothesback then, they were not very good, and cut my ownhair,not so good.But I still remember the feeling that in this room, unlike others, that was OK. Because this was a room full of misfits, outlaws, loners, dreamers, mumblers, dropouts, just like me. Thank you for supporting me and welcoming me and making me feel at home in this room and this community. All the way back then, and now, when the only thing that I own that I am wearing is my dignity.” Backstage, Williams said that her friends think, “She’s the Susan Lucci of the Indie Spirit Awards” after not winning for nominated roles in Brokeback Mountain, Land Of Plenty, Wendy And Lucy, and Blue Valentine. About each film, she said, “I’m lucky to work with better and better people.” (She did share an ensemble award for 2008′s Synecdoche, NY.) Aboutportraying Marilyn Monroe, “Sometimes I can’t believe I did this role. I had to remove the fact that shewas an icon and put that out of my mind. I tried to think of her as an ordinary girl, which is how she wanted to be remembered. There wasn’t one pathway to her. The only way for me into her was time, so much time, and letting Marilyn dictate and letting the information about her take shape, rather than me controlling it. The most challenging thing in prepping a role like this is going through whatevermoments you’re facing at the time.” Does Williams feel sexier after playing the bombshell? “No, not really,” Williams deadpanned. BEST MALE LEAD Jean Dujardin – The Artist Dujardin was not here to accept, apparently because the plane carrying The Artist‘s talent and filmmakers coming into Los Angeles from the Cesar Awards in Paris hasn’t yet landed. Penelope Ann Miller accepted for Dujardin. Dujardin’s brother Marc Dujardin was supposed to accept for him but couldn’t be found. (“Perhaps he’s out having a cigarette” the person who came to accept said…) BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Shailene Woodley – The Descendants Woodley said onstage: “To Fox Searchlight, Alexander Payne, and everyone in this film. They taught me to be a better human bein. I know that sounds so cheesy, but it’s true!” Backstage, the young actress who also stars in ABC Family’s The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, said she was shocked to win today over Oscar favorite Octavia Spencer — apparently not realizing that Spencer wasn’t nominated for a Spirit Award because The Help was ineligible. “She is such a nice woman, I definitely didn’t expect it,” Woodley said.”Im so grateful. I dont know if surprise is the right word. I think gratitude says it all.The role transformed me as a human being. I was surrounded by gentle kind grateful souls. Being on the film and experiencing it at 18 was kind of a catalyst for me as I was coming into my own.”As for herSecret Life colleagues, “Everyone is super stoked for me, it’s a beautiful supportive family.” She has no more movies in store and plans to continue to concentrate on the TV show, she said. BEST SUPPORTING MALE Christopher Plummer – Beginners Plummer said onstage: It’s taken me the longest time to realize the Spirit AwArds has nothing to do with booze. Pity really… I raise my glass to the dear Michael Mills who’s given me an extraordinary gift. Also to Ewan McGregor, that scene-stealing swine… Taking the microphone backstage, Plummer joked to a reporter motioning to him “What is it, do you want me to come sit down besides you?!” Despite all the notoriety this season for his role of Hal Fields in The Beginners, Plummer mentioned his role of Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music – something he rarely talks about.”My old persona seems to chase me around every year. Every generation of child has to go through Sound of Music. However, this film Beginners hasn’t been seen by a tremendous amount of people.By winning, I hope it helps this amazing film be seen again. I know it’s on DVD, but hopefully they’ll reissue it.” As far as what’s next, Plummer is going to do an HBOproject. “I’m going to croak any minute, so I have to keep going.” On how Plummer prepared for his Beginners role of an older man who comes out of the closet later in life, Plummer joked, “The whole crew was gay!…Actually, the director wrote a role with so much affection. I took the role because it was so human.”He had plenty of praise for his canine co-star in Beginners. “I think our Cosmo was much more human than Uggie from The Artist. That Uggie is just a trickster.” Later onstage, Goran Visnjic, who played Christopher Plummer’s young lover in Beginners, said: “I never thought I would get to work with the amazing Christopher Plummer, much less make out with him.” BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Guillaume Schiffman – The Artist Schiffman was on that plane carrying The Artist‘s talent and filmmakers coming into Los Angeles from the Cesar Awards in Paris and which hasn’t yet landed. Penelope Ann Miller accepted for him. BEST DOCUMENTARY(given to the director and producer) The Interrupters – Director/Producer: Steve James Producer: Alex Kotlowitz James already received a special distinction trophy for 1994′s Hoop Dreams. He said backstage: “This award means a lot for a film like this because it’s about urban violence in Chicago, and for this film to culminate with an award it means a lot.” The Interrupters tells the story of three community activists inChicago and the violencethat impacted the city. “Wherever you live, there are people trying to deal with this issue. The film was inspired by an article my producer Alex Kotlowitz wrote in The NY Times magazine,” explained James. “As far as being a filmmaker in Chicago, it’s a great place to be. When I went to Sundance, I was always asked if I was from Los Angeles or NY. Chicago is a great filmmaking and documentary community and all the filmmakers are close knit. We pull for each other. It’s the quintessential American city where you can tell every story.” James said he and Koslowitz plan to work together again, with an eye on feature collaborations. BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (given to the director) A Separation(Iran) – Director: Asghar Farhadi Onstage in Farsi, Farhadi said: “These must be independent awards because I’ve never received an award in a tent by the beach…” PIAGET PRODUCERSAWARD (honors emerging producers who,despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, andvision required to produce quality, independent films.Includes $25,000 unrestricted grant.) Sophia Lin – Take Shelter SOMEONE TO WATCHAWARD (recognizestalented filmmakerof singular visionwho hasnot yet received appropriate recognition.Includes$25,000 unrestricted grant) Mark Jackson – Without TRUER THAN FICTIONAWARD(presented to an emergingdirector of non-fiction features who has not yet received significantrecognition.Includes$25,000 unrestricted grant.) Heather Courtney – Where Soldiers Come From ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD(given to one films director, casting director, and its ensemble cast) Margin Call Director: J.C. Chandor; Casting Director: Tiffany Little Canfield,Bernard Telsey; Ensemble Cast: Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, PaulBettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, KevinSpacey, Stanley Tucci Zachary Quinto accepted the award and said onstage. “As an actor in this film, I have great memories. As a producer, every day was abig fucking nightmare. Like having two Oscar winners and their schedules.I will take these lessons less happily with me but with a lot of newknowledge.” (Deadline contributors: Brian Brooks, Anthony D’Alessandro, Diane Haithman)

And Today For Any Sensitive Message from Tyler Perry About Loss, Mourning, and...

"Ill bare this short and sweet since it is been a tough 12 days for me personally, using what could have been my moms 67th birthday eventually and also the awful news about Whitney the following. I cant even consider it... well discuss that another time, but for the time being Among the finest to be certain youre thinking about visiting the cinemas to determine Good Deeds a few days ago.Inch [TylerPerry.com]

2013 SAG Honours being held on Jan. 27

The Screen Stars Guild Honours has selected Jan. 27 due to its 2013 occasions. The large event will probably be held at its usual venue, the La Shrine Exposition Concentrate on a Sunday. Screen Stars Guild Honours Committee Chair JoBeth Williams made the announcement Thursday. This Year's 18th annual Honours happened on Jan. 29 -- furthermore a Sunday. Next year's show will probably be simulcast survive TNT and also the best spinner's. This Year's simulcast was up 3% this year, getting an overall total audience more than 5.2 million audiences. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

WB, Logan cut loose from 'Samurai' suit

A federal judge has nixed Warner Bros. and scribe John Logan from the suit that stated the script for 2005 pic 'The Last Samurai' was stolen from two authors.A federal court judge has ignored Warner Bros. and film writer John Logan from the suit declaring the script for "The Final Samurai" was lifted in the work of two scribes, Aaron Benay and Matthew Benay.But U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez also ruled Tuesday the Benays' breach of implied-in-fact contract claim against producers Bedford Falls, Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz could proceed,The lawsuit -- that has pulled on for a long time -- is possibly noticably for that sudden appearance this past year of the anonymous letter with three attached e-mails, a document which was delivered to both sides' legal teams and which bolstered the Benays' claims from the extent that producers examined their script. Warner Bros. searched for to prove the new stash of documents would be a hoax, employing a specialist who came to the conclusion that handwriting located on the script pages and Zwick's signature on the fax cover sheet were robotically replicated from documents created throughout discovery. Amongst other things, the expert also discovered that three emails were erroneously placed "Off-shore Standard Time" rather than "Off-shore Daylight Time."Gutierrez declined an attempt to sanction the Benays. ruling that Warner Bros. along with other accused "make an inadequate showing of culpability for Litigants or their counsel to warrant sanctions."He didn't elaborate on one of the most bizarre twists from the situation: The Warner Bros. legal team, brought by Serta Petrocelli, required DNA examples of the Benays for just about any trace that will connect these to the mysterious documents. Their attorney, John Marder, objected that his DNA also was collected without his understanding once the Benays gave their samples. "They were products allegedly provided by the accused as snacks throughout a depositing, while holding the key intent of collecting my DNA unlawfully," Marder authored inside a declaration towards the court recently.Gutierrez granted Warner Bros. and Logan's motion for summary judgment while he came to the conclusion the Benays had unsuccessful to exhibit "privity," or the studio and film writer weren't area of the implied-in-fact contract.The government court initially ignored the situation in 2008, however the Benays become a huge hit towards the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which declined their copyright violation claim but stated their breach of implied-in-fact contract suit could proceed. Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

BET Green-Lights Drama from The Game Creators

Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil BET has given the green light to Single Black Female, a drama from The Game creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, Deadline reports. The project is about the personal and professional life of an Atlanta-based talk show host. The series, written by Brock Akil, is part of the Akils' deal with the network that includes a series and several pilot commitments. Check out more of today's news Brock Akil most recently wrote and Akil directed the remake of the film Sparkle, which will feature Whitney Houston in her final role. It's slated for an August release.

Lionsgate reviews small reduction in Q4

Falling lacking Wall Street estimations, Lionsgate has reported a simplified quarterly lack of $1.7 million, or perhaps a cent a share, because of its third quarter ended 12 ,. 31, in comparison having a $six million loss for that year-ago period. The analyst consensus have been for any profit of 9 cents a share. Lionsgate launched the income report -- its first since its $412.5 million utilized buyout of Summit Entertainment -- following the marketplaces closed Thursday. Shares fell 21 cents to $10.80 in afterhours buying and selling. Shares remain up a lot more than 20% because the Summit deal was introduced Jan. 13. Revenues were $323 million, lower 24% because of Lionsgate delivering no films throughout the quarter in comparison with three around-ago period. Experts had expected revenues in the future in at $359 million. "We'd no wide theatrical releases within the quarter, but we received solid contributions from your other operating divisions and the other strong performance by Epix," stated Boss Jon Feltheimer. The combo of Lionsgate-Summit combo includes Hollywood's greatest independent film galleries, outlined by Summit's "Twilight" franchise and Lionsgate's approaching "The Hunger Games." The offer motivated several experts to enhance their rankings and cost targets. Feltheimer stated the organization was "very excited" concerning the possibilities produced through the Summit deal. "The Feb 11 home theatre discharge of 'Twilight Saga Breaking Beginning 1,' the March 23 theatrical discharge of 'Hunger Games' and also the November 16 theatrical discharge of 'Twilight Saga Breaking Beginning 2' lead a powerful combined slate that people believe will enable us to provide elevated consistency, profitability and cost to the investors," he added. Movie revenue fell 29% to $233.3 million and residential entertainment revenue from both movies and television revenues rejected to $162.9 million with Lionsgate observing the decrease was attributable mainly to the effectiveness of year-ago game titles. Lionsgate's shot entertainment backlog arrived at an archive $607.5 million on 12 ,. 31, the 5th consecutive quarter of elevated backlog. The figure signifies the quantity of future revenue not recorded from contracts for that certification of films and television product General and administrative expenses totalled $35.8 million, basically unchanged in the prior year. Lionsgate stated transaction costs connected using the Summit acquisition and increases in share-based compensation connected using the elevated stock cost offset cutbacks in costs associated with ending its lengthy fight with Carl Icahn as well as an 8% decline in other outlays. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

New Dredd images arrive

A brand new batch of images have showed up online from 2000AD to advertise new comic-book adaptation, Dredd, and in the looks of these, Karl Urban will make one badass Judge.Occur the dystopian conurbation of Mega City One, the final outpost of civilization on Cursed Earth, Dredd follows the exploits of Judge Dredd, a well known Street Judge given the energy to arrest, try to execute culprits around the place.As you can tell in the new images, Karl Urban gets the Judge's lantern-jawed scowl lower to some tee, and already looks a much better representation from the character than Sly Stallone ever did.Director Pete Travis has additionally guaranteed that Urban will not be getting rid of his helmet at any time in proceedings, a detail that hamstrung Stallone in the tries to capture the character's badass character.Having a script from 4 weeks Later scribe Alex Garland, and Urban being based on co-stars Olivia Thirlby and Lena Headey, we have got high hopes that this may be the project that finally provides the Judge the large-screen outing he warrants. He's what the law states, in the end.

Hot Costly! Nancy Lee Grahn Talks Twitter and Dishes on her behalf account General Hospital Menopause Plot

Nancy Lee Grahn Nancy Lee Grahn is sweating at lot nowadays round the number of General Hospital, which is not due to people cancellation gossips. For the reason that she's going somewhere Susan Lucci never dared - now her character, Alexis, will probably be declared menopause! TV Guide Magazine spoken using the Emmy-winning Grahn in regards to the dreaded "M" word, how she copes with ageism in soaps and why the hell she can't stop tweeting. TV Guide Magazine: Many a daytime diva would refuse to accomplish this menopause story. How you handling it? Grahn: I believe that go on! I used to be known as with towards the producer's office and asked for essentially had an problem by using it. Who am i held kidding? I'm coping with menopause myself. I'm always hot and crabby. I'm tweeting a couple of a few things i don't mean. When someone startles me I scream like I've been stabbed inside the eye getting a knife. I won't enable the warmth started up in your house, so my poor daughter needs to use a parka in your home. [Laughs] Plus, my memory goes. Yesterday, I kid explore, I really could not can remember the word "party" if my existence had depended about it. I used to be, like, "What is can they think of it as when people get together have fun? It starts getting a P." It's terrible! TV Guide Magazine: Yeah, but, does everyone else need to visit this? Grahn: Do they wish to see another mob shootout? Inside the 15 years I've been in GH we have not had many tales told about women in the woman's perspective. In my opinion I am capable of getting this to funny and entertaining and relatable. Besides, it's very timely. TV Guide Magazine: Uh...why would that be? Grahn: Because the soaps may also be coping with menopause! Women either can consider this stage of existence as dying or perhaps an chance to transition into something wonderful, which is what the soaps need to do. To live, they need to change while using occasions. They need to adapt. [Laughs] They might require some damn your body's the body's hormones! TV Guide Magazine: It absolutely was Jill Phelps who gave the eco-friendly light with this menopause plot however she's out as professional producer. Will your brand-new boss, Frank Valentini, stay with it? Or will Alexis produce a miraculous recovery? Grahn: Frank isn't keen on the idea of Alexis getting menopause as they thinks celebrate her too old. If she changed into some dried-up old hag over this, well, that could be very painful to check out. However, you should not have for the. I'd a great romance in solid existence, a really amazing romance, after i started menopause, therefore i realize it is not the conclusion of existence to be sure it. TV Guide Magazine: However Alexis can longer have unplanned babies with insanely inappropriate males! Grahn: Not unless of course obviously you need the newborn to own three heads. [Laughs] Though that could be a cleaning cleaning soap first! TV Guide Magazine: Really, In my opinion they did that on Passions. Speaking about tweeting items you don't mean, what's happening with this particular, toy? You've gone crazy on Twitter! Do we must stage an intervention?Grahn: I'm a artist, a communicator. It's my method PR personally. It's name is survival, because generally the media isn't considering us cleaning cleaning soap stars. TV Guide Magazine: You've blasted everyone from Vera Wang, because she's a cleaning cleaning soap snob who wouldn't make her dresses available to GH, compared to that poor girl who outshine Lexi Ainsworth for your Daytime Emmy a year ago. Grahn: I used to be pissed! I saw people Emmy tapes. There's no contest. That award was Lexi's. It absolutely was such as these were asking, "Who's more appealing, Jennifer Aniston or Phyllis Diller?" Plus they opened up in the envelope as well as the champion was Phyllis Diller! Don't me wrong, I like Phyllis Diller. But, c'mon, let's be genuine here! And my Vera Wang rant was perfectly deserved. It showed up at 100,000 people. How else is someone at all like me likely to accomplish this plenty of? I'm this really is this is not on magazine covers. I have no voice. Twitter is really a place that i can express a few things i think and acquire some response back. [Laughs] It is a place that i can vent in regards to the Kardashians. Which I've very funny and intelligent people responding in my opinion, it is therefore being an ongoing dialogue, a conversation. TV Guide Magazine: Take it easy this might backfire?Grahn: Essentially do articles regarding cleaning cleaning soap stuff, I have to watch what I believe that because I'm an worker of ABC. I am conscious I'm operating a business getting a sizable company. But you'll find other matters where I have very good opinions that have nothing associated with my job, matters that we absolutely can and may discuss. Like when Jet Air f--ked me over, I mentioned so. When Jet Blue was great in my opinion, I mentioned so. I'm not tweeting boring, stupid such things as, "Hey everyone, it's Sunday!" or "Guess what happens? I'm at Local coffee shop!" I aim to tweet something with content, with value, with humor, something that's intriguing, notable and provocative. I'm trying to help keep myself relevant. I have 37,000 fans that might appear minimal but it's a good deal for daytime people. I have no apologies! TV Guide Magazine: Not even when you gave away that major GH plot spoiler by revealing Mike [Kelly Monaco] was pregnant? Didn't you catch hell for the?Grahn: [Laughs] I did so! I've become at risk a couple of occasions. But certainly what went lower there. I never checked out the show in those days which i thought that news have been out. Fans were Twitter-kidding me. They were asking, "How will you experience your character as being a grandmother?" and "Isn't it great that Sam's pregnant?" And i'm, like, "Oh, yes!" not realizing I used to be verifying it. I used to be rightfully punished with the network. It absolutely was an authentic mistake, I swear. I'd 't be that stupid. TV Guide Magazine: Well, I merely gotta request: How will you experience Alexis as being a grandmother? Grahn: I'm really happy, really. It's this kind of cliché to own grandmother issues. Look, I handled it perfectly when the authors out of the blue made a decision that Mike was Alexis' extended-lost daughter, which basically made my character 110 years old. I'm okay from it. Women, and stars especially, have this kind of problem dealing with age and talking about age. There's this kind of stigma still installed on it, and i'm all for helping wipe that out. If only to create aging stylish. If only to create menopause awesome. [Laughs] Only the moment I stop sweating. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Daniel Radcliffe Will not Film More Wizarding Realm Of Harry Potter Rides

The following couple of years will be pretty exciting for fans from the Wizarding Realm of Harry Potter. It had been lately introduced that the new Wizarding World location could be opening in Universal Hollywood within the next couple of years as Universal Orlando grows its current "Potter"-designed area. What's neat concerning the Wizarding World may be the ability for that "Potter" legacy to reside on even while we obtain further and farther away from the culmination from the book and film series'. Regardless of the number of years pass, Harry, Ron and Hermione it's still there, ageless, inviting fans to take adventures together in "Harry Potter and also the Forbidden Journey." Daniel Radcliffe and castmates Emma Watson and Rupert Grint all recorded video particularly for "Forbidden Journey" when they remained as shooting "Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows." It's worth wondering, then, whether Wizarding World's expansion means Serta, Emma and Rupert might don their Hogwarts uniform again within the next couple of years. When MTV News swept up with Radcliffe as they was marketing "The Lady in Black," he stated he does not view it happening in the near future. "To tell the truth, I dont think I'd do this,Inch he stated. "Because, if that will be happening within the next couple of years, I am likely to be investing time within the next couple of years ... working quite hard to create a separation and show people will be able to do other things so It may be detrimental that i can be constantly returning to and returning to." Even when Radcliffe is not interesting in filming further Wizarding World rides, this may be a fascinating chance to possess other -- or new -- cast people are available in and record video for his or her own rides. Luna's Looney Thestral Coaster or McGonagall's Transfiguration Adventure -- two ideas we simply composed -- wouldn't need Radcliffe's participation to visit forward. And, if Universal were to create a Gringotts ride as continues to be thought, they could only use footage from "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" rather than shooting anything new. Radcliife ensured he did not seem ungrateful after acknowledging he'd most likely turn lower the chance to complete more focus on the development of Wizarding World rides. "As I have always stated for you, I seem like I have stated a 1000 occasions, I never wish to turn my back on 'Potter.' It provided everything, and it might be turning my back on 10 amazing many years of love and excitement and getting a lot of fun,Inch Radcliffe stated. "And I am beginning to obtain a tiny bit lengthy within the tooth to become putting on the wizarding school uniform. We have all reached be facing track of that a lot.Inch Fair enough, Serta. We don't wish to visit a gray Harry Potter in the near future -- unless of course it's on "Saturday Evening Live." Are you currently disappointed that Radcliffe wouldn't wish to record more footage for Wizarding World? Inform us within the comments section below or on Twitter!

Relativity, Hasbro partner on 'Stretch'

Relativity Media is partnering with Hasbro to bring Stretch Armstrong to the bigscreen. Announcement came Monday from Relativity co-president Tucker Tooley and Hasbro prexy-CEO Brian Goldner. Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. "Stretch" will open April 11, 2014. The film will be produced by Relativity topper Ryan Kavanaugh, Hasbro's Goldner and Bennett Schneir, senior VP and managing director. Tooley will exec produce. No cast or director has been attached yet. Hasbro's partnered with Paramount on the "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" pics and with Universal on its high-priced "Battleship," opening in April. "We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Hasbro, a company whose global reach and ability to innovate has made them immensely successful in the arena of brand reimagination -- as evidenced by their legacy of creating such franchises as 'Transformers' and 'G.I. Joe,'" said Tooley in a statement. Stretch Armstrong was launched by Hasbro in 1976 and relaunched in the '90s as a toy that can be stretched repeatedly and always returned to his original size. Hasbro had "Stretch Armstrong" in development at U, with Taylor Lautner announced in 2010 to star in the action-figure adaptation that was to be released in March 2012, but that project never came together. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

In Original Internet Shows, Hints of Coming Change

NY (AP) After many years of experimentation, the very best video locations on the internet are all of a sudden flush with original programming: documentaries, reality shows and scripted series.Within the next couple of several weeks, YouTube, Netflix and Hulu will unveil their most ambitious original programming yet an electronic push into a conventional television business which has money, a group of stars along with a bold attitude of reinvention.The lengthy-predicted collision between Internet video and broadcast television is finally arrived.We're not recommending that the standard on the web is near to those of broadcast TV, but it is becoming simple to make a day when it will likely be.And despite the fact that experts wonder if new media can rival a business which has been around for around 70 years, the recording sites have searched for close ties with seasoned professionals. Plus they enjoy the different financial aspects of worldwide Web-based entertainment.In either case, what is happening now is only the first wave."This convergence has become,Inch states documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who produced "The Failure Club," a set about people attempting to perform the things they have always feared, for Yahoo, and "A Day within the Existence," a set recording 24 hrs of someone's existence, for Hulu.He states the standard still varies, but audiences will quickly see talent and production values start to change.On February. 6, Netflix will premiere its first scripted show, "Lilyhammer," by which Steve Van Zandt ("The Sopranos") plays a brand new You are able to mobster in witness protection in Norwegian. Later this season, it will release "House of Cards," a very anticipated adaptation of the British miniseries created by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey. The coming year, it'll debut new instances of the cultish comedy "Arrested Development," which initially broadcast on Fox.Hulu plans a February. 14 premiere for "Battleground," a mock political documentary. The website will later release "Up to date,Inch a six-part documentary by Richard Linklater about "monumentally overlooked monuments of yankee metropolitan areas."Hulu, that has some $ 30 million monthly customers and 1.5 million for its monthly subscription service Hulu Plus, is co-possessed through the parent companies of NBC, Fox and ABC.Yahoo has searched for to take advantage of its enormous search audience of nearly 180 million unique monthly site visitors by drawing audiences to its original programming, together with a slate of ladies-focused shows released last fall and comedy programming planned for Feb. Its first scripted entry is going to be "Electric City," a advanced animated series created by Tom Hanks, who'll also voice a character.YouTube lately released a whole catalog of original programming, investing $100 million around the gradual rollout more than 100 niche-oriented channels.The channels not have the demands of the 24-hour schedule and rather concentrate on short-form, on-demand programming. Partners vary in the Wall Street Journal to World Wrestling Entertainment to Madonna.In the recent electronic devices trade event CES, YouTube's global mind of content predicted that by 2020 about 75 % of channels is going to be sent through the Internet. And video will quickly be 90 percent of traffic."With time, you will notice increasingly more television qualities, television stations distributed on the internet,Inch Robert Kyncl stated. "My way through its due time."Internet delivery enables programming that's "more difficult to fulfill through traditional distribution means...because there exists a global scale," Kyncl added.An internet-based systems can serve niche audiences that might be hard to sustain every other way, and achieve this at less expensive.Youtube . com intends to expand to 100s of Internet channels, just like television went from the couple of systems to a large number of cable channels. In the following couple of years, "much of your interests may have channels on YouTube," Kyncl forecasts.Netflix, which streamed 2 billion hrs of video within the 4th quarter of 2011, has already been operating underneath the assumption that video systems whether streaming or public are converging. Just like Web video is undertaking original programming, TV systems are experimentation with systems for example TV Everywhere, which enables audiences to look at channels web on mobile products."You are able to think about us like a cable-TV network, but we love to to consider we are in the middle,Inch states Reed Hastings, Boss of Netflix. "We're an Internet TV network, after which they will become like us. But it is the same factor, really."Hastings provides a comparison between Netflix and Cinemax: "We're becoming a lot more like them in doing a bit of originals, beginning that journey, and they're becoming a lot more like us in creating an on-demand interface like Cinemax Go," which enables audiences to look at channels web on mobile and tabulate products.Cinemax rejected to comment.Production agendas will be different broadly in the sites, but Netflix plans one notable difference: Its episodes is going to be launched at once.James McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research, states the very fact that Hanks is creating a series for the net shows the way the traditional TV product is "prepared to solve.McQuivey states the disruption in video will "unfold before us just like a slow-mo replay of the accident.""The brand new content will not be just like that which you watch Thursday nights from 9 to 10 p.m., but it is going to get nearer to that quality," he adds. "And it is certainly just like that which you watch on Thursday from three or four within the mid-day or 'life was imple' from 10 to 11."Hulu and Netflix both desire to use original content to lure audiences for their much bigger libraries of older content. For Netflix, that's movies and old TV for Hulu, that's last night's TV and older series. Hulu professionals say any new original series has to become match up with traditional content."If you are ever likely to do anything whatsoever original, it's to face up to that particular,Inch states Andy Forssell, senior v . p . of content at Hulu. "That can not be 'Web video,' it's to become TV quality."Original content remains half the normal commission from the plan for Hulu, which intends to spend $500 million on content in 2012.Erin McPherson, mind of original programming at Yahoo, loves to call Yahoo "the 5th network." Its Yahoo Galleries production house in La produces as much as 30 originals per month, frequently joining up with production companies for example Reveille (NBC's "The Office"). Its original programming attracted a lot more than 26 million unique site visitors in November, based on comScore."It's about time,Inch states McPherson. "We are finally here."Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Mike Coyle The month of january 27, 2012 "Battleground" PHOTO CREDIT Hulu.com NY (AP) After many years of experimentation, the very best video locations on the internet are all of a sudden flush with original programming: documentaries, reality shows and scripted series.Within the next couple of several weeks, YouTube, Netflix and Hulu will unveil their most ambitious original programming yet an electronic push right into a traditional television business which has money, a group of stars along with a bold attitude of reinvention.The lengthy-predicted collision between Internet video and broadcast television is finally arrived.We're not recommending that the standard on the web is near to those of broadcast TV, but it is becoming simple to make a day when it will likely be.And despite the fact that experts wonder if new media can rival a company which has been around for around 70 years, the recording sites have searched for close ties with seasoned professionals. Plus they enjoy the different financial aspects of worldwide Web-based entertainment.In either case, what is happening now is only the first wave."This convergence has become,Inch states documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who produced "The Failure Club," a set about people attempting to perform the things they have always feared, for Yahoo, and "Each Day within the Existence," a set recording 24 hrs of someone's existence, for Hulu.He states the standard still varies, but audiences will quickly see talent and production values start to change.On February. 6, Netflix will premiere its first scripted show, "Lilyhammer," by which Steve Van Zandt ("The Sopranos") plays a NY mobster in witness protection in Norwegian. Later this season, it'll release "House of Cards," a very anticipated adaptation from the British miniseries created by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey. The coming year, it'll debut new instances of the cultish comedy "Arrested Development," which initially broadcast on Fox.Hulu plans a February. 14 premiere for "Battleground," a mock political documentary. The website will later release "Up to date,Inch a six-part documentary by Richard Linklater about "monumentally overlooked monuments of yankee metropolitan areas."Hulu, that has some $ 30 million monthly customers and 1.5 million because of its monthly subscription service Hulu Plus, is co-possessed through the parent companies of NBC, Fox and ABC.Yahoo has searched for to take advantage of its enormous search audience of nearly 180 million unique monthly site visitors by drawing audiences to the original programming, together with a slate of ladies-focused shows released last fall and comedy programming planned for Feb. Its first scripted entry is going to be "Electric City," a advanced animated series created by Tom Hanks, who'll also voice a personality.Youtube . com lately released a whole catalog of original programming, investing $100 million around the gradual rollout in excess of 100 niche-oriented channels.The channels not have the demands of the 24-hour schedule and rather concentrate on short-form, on-demand programming. Partners change from the Wall Street Journal to World Wrestling Entertainment to Madonna.In the recent electronic devices trade event CES, YouTube's global mind of content predicted that by 2020 about 75 % of channels is going to be sent through the Internet. And video will quickly be 90 % of traffic."With time, you will notice increasingly more television qualities, television stations distributed on the internet,Inch Robert Kyncl stated. "My way through its due time."Internet delivery enables programming that's "more difficult to satisfy through traditional distribution means...because there exists a global scale," Kyncl added.An internet-based systems can serve niche audiences that might be hard to sustain every other way, and achieve this at less expensive.Youtube . com intends to expand to 100s of Internet channels, just like television went from the couple of systems to a large number of cable channels. Within the next couple of years, "much of your interests may have channels online,Inch Kyncl forecasts.Netflix, which streamed 2 billion hrs of video within the 4th quarter of 2011, has already been operating underneath the assumption that video systems whether streaming or public are converging. Just like Web video is undertaking original programming, TV systems are experimentation with systems for example TV Everywhere, which enables audiences to look at channels web on mobile products."You are able to think about us like a cable-TV network, but we love to to consider we're in the center," states Reed Hastings, Boss of Netflix. "We're an online TV network, after which they will become like us. But it is exactly the same factor, really."Hastings provides a comparison between Netflix and Cinemax: "We're becoming a lot more like them in doing a bit of originals, beginning that journey, and they're becoming a lot more like us in creating an on-demand interface like Cinemax Go," which enables audiences to look at channels web on mobile and tabulate products.Cinemax rejected to comment.Production agendas will be different broadly in the sites, but Netflix plans one notable difference: Its episodes is going to be launched at the same time.Wayne McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research, states the truth that Hanks is creating a series for the net shows the way the traditional TV product is "prepared to solve.McQuivey states the disruption in video will "unfold before us just like a slow-mo replay of the accident.""The brand new content will not be just like that which you watch Thursday nights from 9 to 10 p.m., but it is going to get nearer to that quality," he adds. "And it is certainly just like that which you watch on Thursday from three or four within the mid-day or 'life was imple' from 10 to 11."Hulu and Netflix both desire to use original content to lure audiences for their much bigger libraries of older content. For Netflix, that's movies and old TV for Hulu, that's last night's TV and older series. Hulu professionals say any new original series needs to be match up with traditional content."If you are ever likely to do anything whatsoever original, it's to endure that," states Andy Forssell, senior v . p . of content at Hulu. "That can not be 'Web video,' it's to become TV quality."Original content remains half the normal commission from the plan for Hulu, which intends to spend $500 million on content in 2012.Erin McPherson, mind of original programming at Yahoo, loves to call Yahoo "the 5th network." Its Yahoo Galleries production house in La produces as much as 30 originals per month, frequently joining up with production companies for example Reveille (NBC's "WorkInch). Its original programming attracted a lot more than 26 million unique site visitors in November, based on comScore."It's about time,Inch states McPherson. "We are finally here."Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Casting Company directors Named for brand new CW, NBC, CBS, ABC Aircraft pilots

Casting Company directors Named for brand new CW, NBC, CBS, ABC Aircraft pilots By Pete Keeley The month of january 23, 2012 CBS's 1987 series "Beauty and also the Animal" Mark Saks will cast the very first NYbased pilot from the 2012 season, CBS's "Elementary," a contemporary undertake the A Virtual Detective mysteries occur NY City.Another modern undertake a vintage, NBC's "Don' Harm," a Jekyll-and-Hyde retelling focusing on a neurosurgeon who evolves an immunity towards the drug he makes use of to help keep his destructive alter ego under control. Liz Dean at Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer is casting this project.Talking about animal mode, The CW's new "Beauty and also the Animal" also signed a casting team, Sari Dark night and Mandy Sherman. This show does not range from Disney version, but is dependant on the eighties series starring Ron Perlman like a lion-guy who lives inside a secret undercover world and falls to have an assistant NY D.A. That demonstrate was really pretty awesome, so here's wishing that one is simply too.An additional pickup in the TV-casting machine that's Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer is NBC's Western drama "Frontier," which focuses on a wagon train that sets from Missouri within the mid 1800s. Eric Dawson will run point on that one.Finally, ABC's comedy pilot "Counter Culture" is going to be cast by Jill Anthony. The pilot, with different book by Candace Taylor, follows three siblings that run a diner in Texas. Clearly, their personas are great fits, plus they agree with everything all time. Wait, no. Scratch that last part.Back Stage wasn't in a position to confirm shooting agendas for the above projects. Casting Company directors Named for brand new CW, NBC, CBS, ABC Aircraft pilots By Pete Keeley The month of january 23, 2012 CBS's 1987 series "Beauty and also the Animal" Mark Saks will cast the very first NYbased pilot from the 2012 season, CBS's "Elementary," a contemporary undertake the A Virtual Detective mysteries occur NY City.Another modern undertake a vintage, NBC's "Don' Harm," a Jekyll-and-Hyde retelling focusing on a neurosurgeon who evolves an immunity towards the drug he makes use of to help keep his destructive alter ego under control. Liz Dean at Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer is casting this project.Talking about animal mode, The CW's new "Beauty and also the Animal" also signed a casting team, Sari Dark night and Mandy Sherman. This show does not range from Disney version, but is dependant on the eighties series starring Ron Perlman like a lion-guy who lives inside a secret undercover world and falls to have an assistant NY D.A. That demonstrate was really pretty awesome, so here's wishing that one is simply too.An additional pickup in the TV-casting machine that's Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer is NBC's Western drama "Frontier," which focuses on a wagon train that sets from Missouri within the mid 1800s. Eric Dawson will run point on that one.Finally, ABC's comedy pilot "Counter Culture" is going to be cast by Jill Anthony. The pilot, with different book by Candace Taylor, follows three siblings that run a diner in Texas. Clearly, their personas are great fits, plus they agree with everything constantly. Wait, no. Scratch that last part.Back Stage wasn't in a position to confirm shooting agendas for any of these projects.

GoDigital, Adopt pact for pics

Video-on-demand upstart GoDigital on Wednesday announced a pact with Adopt Films that will make the independent distributor's six-to-eight films per year available in roughly 100 million U.S. households.Multi-year deal includes all VOD and electronic sell-through rights, putting NY-based Adopt's slate on all of GoDigital's cable, satellite, IPTV and broadband platforms. First title will be Marie Losier's "The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye," which opens theatrically March 8th.Adopt co-managing executive Jeff Lipsky negotiated the distrib pact with GoDigital's Andy Bohn."GoDigital is enormously incentivized to put our films at the forefront of their expanding company," Lipsky said. "We expect to learn from the best and trust that Andy and his colleagues are poised to maximize our VOD revenues."GoDigital acquired Might Entertainment earlier this month, creating a full-service digital distribution company with a library of over 1000 films. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

NBC's Globes ratings in line with last year

It's tough to get a true read on the ratings for Sunday night's telecast of the Golden Globe Awards on NBC, but early indications are that it will come in a sliver behind last year's solid showing. Football fueled Fox to big numbers for its animated comedies, which included strong sampling for ''Napoleon Dynamite.''Preliminary national estimates from Nielsen for the Globes don't tell the whole story , they include only the 8 p.m. replays in the West and not the live 5 p.m. showings , but NBC's stations averaged a 4.2 rating/10 share in adults 18-49 and 14 million viewers overall from 8 to 11. By comparison, a year ago the kudocast did a 4.4 demo rating and 14.3 million viewers.When more reliable data is available later Monday, it's expected that this year's show, hosted again by Ricky Gervais, will be on par or slightly below last year's averages of a 5.2 rating in 18-49 and 17 million viewers overall. In time zone-adjusted, local-market scores, the Golden Globes did an 11.7 household rating/18 share in the overnights this year , off a tick from last year's 11.8/18.NBC is expected to finish second to Fox in 18-49 for the 8 o'clock hour and first from 9 to 11.At Fox, the conclusion of the NFL playoff game between the NY Giants and Green Bay Packers funneled a massive audience into the net's animated comedies. ''The Simpsons'' averaged roughly a 6.8 rating/16 share in adults 18-49 and 15.7 million viewers overall, and the series premiere of ''Napoleon Dynamite'' followed with a strong 4.6/11 in the demo and 9.5 million viewers. ''Family Guy'' was also well above average at 9 o'clock (4.4/10 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall), and a second ''Napoleon'' at 9:30 did a solid 3.6/8 in 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall.ABC edged past CBS for the night in 18-49, starting slowly with ''America's Funniest Home Videos'' (1.2/3 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall opposite football) before picking up nicely with ''Once Upon a Time'' (3.3/8 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall), which was down about 10% from last week. Also down were 9-11 p.m. dramas ''Desperate Housewives'' (2.7/6 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) and ''Pan Am'' (1.3/3 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall).At CBS, ''60 Minutes'' (1.6/4 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall opposite football) was followed by a nice start to the season for ''Undercover Boss'' (3.0/7 in 18-49, 11.6 million viewers overall), which will be moving to Fridays next month to make room for ''The Amazing Race.'' The net dropped off the rest of the way with original dramas ''The Good Wife'' (1.9/4 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) and ''CSI: Miami'' (1.3/3 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall).Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 8.0/19; NBC, 3.6/9; ABC, 2.1/5; CBS, 2.0/5; Univision, 1.0/2.In total viewers: Fox, 20.2 million; NBC, 12.3 million; CBS, 9.2 million; ABC, 6.7 million; Univision, 2.6 million. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

Nikita Boss on Why Sean Pierce is Naked together with other Spy Jinks

Nikita, Maggie Q Maggie Q once taunted that Dillon Casey's Sean Pierce might be draining lower for Nikita, and also on Friday's episode (8/7c, The CW), who advertise will probably be satisfied. But executive producer Craig Silverstein states there's grounds behind Sean to acquire naked, besides simply pleasing the fans, clearly. Calculates it's connected having a solo mission. "Sean put a tracker on Alex's father's watch. Since Alex has came back at Nikita's house, now Sean is alone who knows where are both,Inch Silverstein notifies TVGuide.com. "He's faced by having an problem, that's, "I appear like I realize where she's with Nikita. But I'd rather not take action like I did so [before], obtaining the entire team with me at night because I am not going Alex to acquire hurt. So he decides to apply themselves." Nikita Scoop: "Naked" Sean Pierce, broken Fingers together with a clean sweep Just like a Navy SEAL, Sean naturally decides to approach within the ocean, Silverstein states. "We didn't intend for him being shirtless and pants-less however, if we asked for our experts, 'What carry out the Navy Shuts placed on underneath the wetsuits?' They were like, 'Nothing.' [So,] once they capture him, they proceed and take diving suit off him." Fortunately, Casey was informed of his impeding naked interrogation scene. "I referred to as Dillon Casey up ahead of time and was like, 'Dude, just suggesting that you will be naked for most of the episode. If you want to begin lifting extra, begin immediately,AInch Silverstein states. "We phone him SEAL Team Six-Pack." Meanwhile, after joining tabs on Nikita (Maggie Q) last episode, Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca) remains reclaimed for the rogue hideout and can work along with her mentor, much like she did in Season 1. "[The partnership] continues for a little,Inch Silverstein states. "I'd like a enjoyable patch for something different involving the two ladies. They're like brothers and sisters sometimes they'll be at odds, but furthermore there is a excellent occasions." Audiences could possibly get more lighthearted moments because the women have a very moment to breathe. "There's an instalment earlier around once we first met Cassandra, and so they were both there but would never know [they] are there concurrently - inside the same country, the party, the whole factor. Now they've build it: 'You are there?A 'Wait, you're there?' It's kind of cute." From Nikita to Chuck: TV's hottest crime mma fighters Birkhoff (Aaron Stanford) is taken away somewhat sterner. "He's like, 'I hate to eliminate you along with your spy jinks, but we've got real work,'" Silverstein states. "[But] there's a pleasant moment between him and Alex. They haven't had time to realize both are on one side now again, from when they were both on one side in Division." Meanwhile, Percy (Xander Berkeley) still cooling his heels in Division jail, but not likely for extended. "He's ready to use, he's getting tired," Silverstein states. "Amanda (Melinda Clarke) begins to know that he's trying to flee at this time around, doesn't observe he'll take action and basically tries to prevent it." Nikita airs on Fridays at 8/7c round the CW

Vincenzo Natali Scares Up A Haunter

So what about Neuromancer?Post-Splice, director Vincenzo Natali has been attached to a few potential projects. They've all been literary adaptations, including JG Ballard's High Rise, Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams' Tunnels series, and most excitingly, William Gibson's Neuromancer. Natalis has ticked the box marked "none of the above" for the time being though, since his immediate next film has just been announced as Haunter.Described as a "reverse ghost story", Haunter stems from an original screenplay by Brian King, who also wrote Natali's Cypher in 2002. It seems to have shades of The Others and Beetlejuice, in that it's told from the perspective of the haunter rather than the haunted: in this case a girl called Lisa who's been manifesting in the same house since she met an unfortunate end in 1986. She sees an opportunity for some closure when new girl Olivia moves in.So what's happened to Neuromancer? Immediatey the highest-profile project on Natali's pencilled in future slate, itwas reportedly moving ahead and into pre-production last May, with production proper hoped for in the first quarter of this year. That's now clearly not happening, since Haunter is reportedly shooting in Toronto in March (expect more details in the near future).Fear not, fans of Case and Molly. As of last autumn, Neuromancer was still very much a going concern, with Natali, his producer Jay Firestone, Canada Media Fund's Francesca Accineli, and videogame developer Trevor Fencott presenting a packed-out panel at the Toronto International Film Festival to update on its development and muse on their approach. The whole 75-minute discussion is available on YouTube, and there are helpfully transcribed edited highlights over at The Tyee."It's still ahead of the curve," said Natali of Gibson's visionary novel. "My argument has always been that now is the time to makeNeuromancer, because I believe that had you made this film in 1984 [when the novel was published] it would have been incomprehensible. There's no way, without an extraordinary amount of exposition, that a film audience would have been able to understand some of the concepts in the book which now are actually a part of our daily lives."There's plenty more where that came from, so head over to one of those links to find out why Natali isn't much concerned about the very much Gibson-influenced The Matrix having reached the screen first, and how his vision of cyberspace is neither Matrix nor Tron-like. "This domain you project yourself into, as the cyberjockeys do inNeuromancer, is not necessarily very friendly for human beings," Natali believes. "As wetware, as carbon-based lifeforms, evolution hasn't designed us to go into that kind of virtual environment. So it's a very rough ride and only certain people can do it..."

Access Hollywood Live: Devin Alexanders Greatest Loser Cook book Quality recipes

First Released: The month of january 4, 2012 2:05 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Greatest Loser chef Devin Alexander stopped by Access Hollywood Live to demonstrate some quick & easy kitchen transformation quality recipes for 2012 in the Greatest Loser Quick & Easy Cook book.La, Calif. -- Attempting to eat healthy for that Year? Who is not?!? Greatest Loser chef Devin Alexander stopped by Access Hollywood Live to demonstrate some quick & easy kitchen transformation quality recipes for 2012 in the Greatest Loser Quick & Easy Cook book. Chocolate Blueberry Frozen Treats Don't use excessively ripe bananas whenever you get this to dessert. While individuals are ideal for baked goods like blueberry breads and muffins, its easier to use slightly firm bananas with this recipe (as well as for shakes). Also, observe that the meal can vary slightly with respect to the size the bananas you utilize. If you do not have frozen bananas available, cut fresh ripe bananas into 1 pieces, put them within an airtight container, and freeze not less than one to two hrs. Elements: 2 medium frozen bananas 1 scoop (17 grams) Greatest Loser Natural Chocolate Luxurious Protein Supplement, or 50 calories price of another chocolate protein powder 1 tablespoon all-natural cacao powder Take away the bananas in the freezer and cut into 1 pieces. Add the bananas, protein powder, and cacao powder towards the bowl of the mixer fitted having a cutting up edge. Process until completely smooth, temporarily halting if required to scrape lower the edges from the bowl. Continue processing for one minute longer, or until it's oxygenated and fluffy (take care not to overprocess, or it will start to liquefy). Divide the frozen treats evenly among 2 small dessert bowls. Serve immediately. Makes 2 (heaping 1/2-cup) portions Per serving: 145 calories, 5 g protein, 35 g carbohydrates (22 g sugar), <1 g body fat, trace saturated fats, 10 mg cholesterol, 8 g fiber, 28 mg sodium ********** Smacked-Up Pina Colada Most cocktails contain lots of calories and empty carbohydrates. Here Ive changed calorie-dense coconut crme with light coconut milk, and used frozen pineapple portions and dried egg-whites to thicken that coffee. The frozen pineapple maintains more diet compared to sugar-sweetened pineapple juice typically utilized in a pia colada, and also the egg-whites add about 5 grams of protein. Ultimately, it will save you an astonishing 307 calories, 13 grams of body fat, and 12 grams of saturated fats on the typical same-size pia colada! Elements: 1/2 cup light coconut milk 8 ice 3 cups frozen pineapple portions 2 tbsps 100 % dried egg-whites (I made use of N-El Just Whites), optional 3 tbsps light rum 2 pineapple wedges for garnish (optional) Towards the jar of the blender by having an ice crush setting, add the coconut milk, ice, pineapple portions, egg-whites (if preferred), and rum. Blend on high just before the mixture is smooth. Divide it between 2 chilled Collins glasses or any other tall, thin glasses. Garnish using the pineapple wedges, if preferred, and serve immediately with straws and/or drink umbrellas. Makes 2 portions Per serving (with egg-whites): 219 calories, 6 g protein, 33 g carbohydrates (23 g sugar), 4 g body fat, 3 g saturated fats, mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium Per serving (without egg-whites): 204 calories, 1 g protein, 33 g carbohydrates (23 g sugar), 4 g body fat, 3 g saturated fats, mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 8 mg sodium ********** South from the Border Loaded Yams When Im cooking personally, I prepare this potato with medium salsa, and contains a pleasant kick. You can utilize mild or hot, as most of the participants do. If this involves topping the potato with salsa, commence with 1/3 cup of fresh salsa and drain the liquid from this. It'll likely simply be about 1/4 cup (maybe a little more) ultimately. Observe that the toppings wont fit within the potato--they'll spill out outrageous, which makes it much more decadent to consume! Elements: 1 (8-ounce) yams 4 oz . extra-lean ground poultry 3/4 teaspoon all-natural salt-free fajita or Southwest seasoning Essential olive oil spray (propellant free) 1/3 cup fresh salsa, drained 2 tbsps jarred all-natural roasting eco-friendly salsa 2 tbsps body fat-free Greek yogurt Utilizing a fork, poke the potato 5 occasions on every side and put it inside a microwave-safe bowl or dish. Cover the dish loosely having a paper towel. Microwave it on high for 3 minutes. Carefully switch the potato (it will likely be hot) and continue microwaving for two to four minutes longer, or until cooked and tender. Meanwhile, in a tiny bowl, mix the poultry and seasoning. Place a little nonstick skillet over medium-high warmth. When hot, gently mist it using the essential olive oil spray. Prepare the poultry for three or four minutes, or until no more pink, breaking it into bite-size portions while you do. Cut a dent within the potato that stretches 1 from each finish from the potato and deep enough to spread out the potato completely without performing in two. Place it inside a medium shallow bowl. Stuff the potato using the fresh salsa, then your poultry, then your eco-friendly salsa. Top it using the yogurt. Serve immediately. Makes 1 serving Per serving: 342 calories, 35 g protein, 47 g carbohydrates (13 g sugar), 2 g body fat, trace saturated fats, 45 mg cholesterol, 8 g fiber, 304 mg sodium (All quality recipes courtesy Devin Alexander) Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.