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National Board of Review Names ‘A Most Violent Year’ 2014’s Best Film

National Board of Review Names Best Films of 2014
Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in ‘A Most Violent Year’ (Photo Credit: A24 Films)

The National Board of Review has announced its list of the best films and performances of 2014, with A Most Violent Year earning the title of the Best Film of the Year. A Most Violent Year‘s star Oscar Isaac was also recognized for his performance as was Jessica Chastain for her supporting role in the dramatic film set in New York in the early ’80s.

A Most Violent Year is an exhilarating crime drama with a compelling story, outstanding performances, and an elegant cinematic style,” said Annie Schulhof, NBR President. “J.C. Chandor has given us a new and provocative perspective on the American Dream.”

This year’s winners were chosen from a field of over 270 films. Winners will be honored at NBR’s January 6, 2015 gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

National Board of Review 2014 Winners:

Best Film: A Most Violent Year
Best Director: Clint Eastwood – American Sniper
Best Actor (TIE): Oscar Isaac – A Most Violent Year; Michael Keaton – Birdman
Best Actress: Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton – Birdman
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year
Best Original Screenplay: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller – The Lego Movie
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson – Inherent Vice
Best Animated Feature: How to Train Your Dragon 2

Breakthrough Performance: Jack O’Connell – Starred Up & Unbroken
Best Directorial Debut: Gillian Robespierre – Obvious Child
Best Foreign Language Film: Wild Tales
Best Documentary: Life Itself
William K. Everson Film History Award: Scott Eyman
Best Ensemble: Fury
Spotlight Award: Chris Rock for writing, directing, and starring in – Top Five
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Rosewater
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Selma


Top Films
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
Fury
Gone Girl
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Lego Movie
Nightcrawler
Unbroken

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Force Majeure
Gett: The Trial of Vivian Amsalem
Leviathan
Two Days, One Night
We Are the Best!

Top 5 Documentaries
Art and Craft
Jodorowsky’s Dune
Keep On Keepin’ On
The Kill Team
Last Days in Vietnam

 

Top 10 Independent Films
Blue Ruin
Locke
A Most Wanted Man
Mr. Turner
Obvious Child
The Skeleton Twins
Snowpiercer
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Starred Up
Still Alice

Ray Romano and Olivia Wilde Set to Star in HBO’s Rock ‘n Roll Series

Olivia Wilde to Star in HBO Rock n Roll Series
Olivia Wilde (Photo by Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)

It doesn’t have a title, but it does have a series order from HBO. The untitled rock ‘n roll project from executive producers Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger will shoot in New York and is set to star Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano, Juno Temple, Andrew Dice Clay, Ato Essandoh, Max Casella, James Jagger, Jack Quaid, Birgitte Sorenson, PJ Byrne, J.C. MacKenzie, Bo Dietl, Armen Garo, Robert Funaro, and Joe Caniano.

HBO’s offered up this synopsis of the hour-long drama: “Set in 1970s New York, the series will explore the drug-and-sex-fueled music business as punk and disco were breaking out, all through the eyes of a record executive trying to resurrect his label and find the next new sound.”

In addition to Scorsese and Jagger, the untitled series will be executive produced by Terence Winter, Rick Yorn, Victoria Pearman, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, and writer George Mastras. Winter is also the showrunner/writer and Scorsese is on board to direct the pilot.

Here’s the details on who will be playing which roles, courtesy of HBO:

Bobby Cannavale as Richie Finestra, the founder and president of a top-tier record label (American Century Records) with a great ear for discovering talent, who undergoes a crisis of character when confronted with a life-altering decision.

Olivia Wilde as Devon Finestra, Richie’s wife, a former actress/model who lived a Bohemian life in 1960s New York. Richie’s crisis causes strain on their family and propels her to re-immerse in her former lifestyle.


Ray Romano as Zak Yankovich, one of Richie’s partners, the tough and savvy Head of Promotions of American Century with decades of experience dating back to the dark, mob-infested days of the recording business.

Juno Temple as Jamie Vine, an ambitious assistant in the A&R Department of American Century. She uses her keen abilities to manipulate people and blend into the various subcultures of the New York music underground in order to break through the glass ceiling and get ahead at the record label.

Andrew “Dice” Clay as Frank “Buck” Rogers, the cocaine-fueled owner of a chain of radio stations.

Ato Essandoh as Lester Grimes, a former singer and ex-colleague of Richie Finestra.

Max Casella as Julius “Julie” Silver, nurturing yet with an explosive temper, and the Head of A&R of American Century, who struggles to stay hip and relevant in the young man’s game of the rock ‘n’ roll business.

James Jagger as Kip Stevens, lead singer of Nasty Bits, an early punk-rock band.

Jack Quaid as Clark Morelle, a young A&R executive at American Century who struggles for a foothold in the competitive environment of the A&R team.

Birgitte Sorenson as Ingrid, a Danish actress favored by Andy Warhol and close friend of Richie Finestra’s wife, Devon.

P.J. Byrne as Scott Levitt, Head of Legal for American Century Records.

J.C. MacKenzie as Skip Fontaine, Richie’s partner and Head of Sales for American Century Records.

Bo Dietl as Joe Corso, a thuggish “independent promotion man” who may or may not have ties to organized crime.

Armen Garo as Corrado Galasso, a New York mob boss.

Robert Funaro as Tony Del Greco, chief enforcer for a New York mob boss.

Joe Caniano as Leo, Richie’s longtime chauffeur and confidante.

-By Rebecca Murray

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The Documentary Oscar Race Narrows to 15 Films

15 Documentaries Advance in 2015 Oscar Race
Poster for ‘Citizenfour’

The 2015 Oscars race is now between 15 documentaries as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just announced the films still being considered for nomination. Of the 134 films that qualified and were submitted, 15 have now advanced in the voting process.

Preliminary voting determined the 15 films advancing, and five of these films will ultimately be nominated.

Listed in alphabetical order:


“Art and Craft,” Purple Parrot Films
“The Case against 8,” Day in Court
“Citizen Koch,” Elsewhere Films
“CitizenFour,” Praxis Films
“Finding Vivian Maier,” Ravine Pictures
“The Internet’s Own Boy,” Luminant Media
“Jodorowsky’s Dune,” City Film
“Keep On Keepin’ On,” Absolute Clay Productions
“The Kill Team,” f/8 filmworks
“Last Days in Vietnam,” Moxie Firecracker Films
“Life Itself,” Kartemquin Films and Film Rites
“The Overnighters,” Mile End Films West
“The Salt of the Earth,” Decia Films
“Tales of the Grim Sleeper,” Lafayette Film
“Virunga,” Grain Media

Nominees will be announced on January 15, 2015. The 87th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.

-By Rebecca Murray

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‘Terminator Genisys’ Reveals a Motion Poster

Terminator Genisys New Motion Poster
Logo for ‘Terminator Genisys’

With the official first trailer for Paramount Pictures’ Terminator Genisys just days away from hitting the internet, the studio’s released a motion poster for the upcoming reboot of the sci-fi film franchise. Terminator Genisys will open in theaters on July 1, 2015 and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, Matt Smith, Byung-Hun Lee, and JK Simmons.

Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World) directs from a script by Laeta Kalogridis (Avatar) and Patrick Lussier (Drive Angry).

‘Sons of Anarchy’ Season Seven Episode 12 Preview

Can you believe there are only two episodes left of FX’s Sons of Anarchy? Like it or not, it’s true and these final episodes will reveal the fate of the SoA characters we’ve become attached to over the course of seven seasons. Will Gemma pay with her life for murdering Tara? Will Juice (Theo Rossi) die in prison as Jax (Charlie Hunnam) has indicated he will? And will any more members of SAMCRO not make it through to the final credits? If I had my way, the answers would be yes, no, and no…but series creator Kurt Sutter likely has other plans.

Episode 12 of season seven airs on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT and is titled “Red Rose.” The basic plot: “With tensions mounting and truths finally revealed, Jax must make the ultimate decision.”

Mariah Carey and The Rockettes Help Celebrate Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Mariah Carey Performs on Christmas in Rockefeller Center
2013’s Christmas Tree (Photo by: David Giesbrecht / NBC)

Mariah Carey’s been tapped to kick off NBC’s annual holiday Christmas in Rockefeller Center special by performing “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Carey, Prince Royce, Darius Rucker, and the Rockettes have been added to the list of performers helping to celebrate the holidays during the December 3, 2014 Christmas special.

Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Natalie Morales from The Today Show will host the winter special. Confirmed performers include Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper featuring Billy Porter, Seth MacFarlane featuring Sara Bareilles, Idina Menzel, Pentatonix, LeAnn Rimes, and Trisha Yearwood.

This year’s Rockefeller Center tree is an 85-foot-tall Norway Spruce that was grown in Hemlock Township, Penn. According to NBC, it’s about 90 years old and weighs around 13 tons.

‘Parks and Recreation’ Returns for Its Final Season in January

Parks and Recreation Final Season Premiere Date
Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in ‘Parks and Recreation’ (Photo by: Steve Jennings / NBC)

After watching Amy Poehler co-host the Golden Globes with Tina Fey, fans of Poehler will be treated to even more of the funny lady with the premiere of season seven of Parks and Recreation. The final season will debut on January 13, 2015 at 8pm ET/PT with back-to-back episodes. The last season of the half-hour comedy will then air back-to-back episodes on Tuesday nights leading up to the hour-long finale on February 24th.

Season six averaged 3.8 million viewers.

“Mike Schur and Amy Poehler, along with their incredible producers, cast, and crew, have given us one of the great television comedies of all time, and we’re inordinately proud of Parks and Recreation,” said NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt. “In an effort to give it the send-off it deserves, we wanted to ‘eventize’ the final season to maximize the impact of these episodes, which really do take the show to a new level. The highly-anticipated one-hour finale will air behind The Voice in order to lead the largest audience possible into what promises to be a very special hour of television.”


“Critics, viewers and all of us at NBC fell in love with this endearing, funny, heartfelt show and its authentic cast of characters,” stated Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment. “After seven amazing seasons, saying goodbye to the folks of Pawnee will be bittersweet, so we want to give the show and its fans the most impactful final season possible.”

Parks and Recreation’s cast is led by Poehler and features Chris Pratt, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Jim O’Heir and Retta.

-By Rebecca Murray

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First Look: Jason Statham Stars in ‘Wild Card’

Wild Card starring Jason Statham release date and first photo
Jason Statham stars in ‘Wild Card’ (Photo by Lionsgate Films)

Lionsgate’s announced the release date along with the first photo of Jason Statham in Wild Card. Coming to theaters and On Demand on January 30, 2015, Wild Card is based on William Goldman’s novel Heat which Goldman adapted for the screen. Simon West (The Expendables 2) directs and Michael Angarano, Milo Ventimiglia, Anne Heche, Sofia Vergara, and Dominik García-Lorido co-star.

The cast also includes Max Casella, Jason Alexander, Francois Vincentelli, Davenia McFadden, Chris Browning, Matthew Willig, Greice Santo, Hope Davis, and Stanley Tucci.

The Plot:

Nick Wild (Jason Statham) is a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal professional skills and a personal gambling problem. When a friend is beaten by a sadistic thug, Nick strikes back, only to find out the thug is the son of a powerful mob boss. Suddenly Nick is plunged into the criminal underworld, chased by enforcers and wanted by the mob. Having raised the stakes, Nick has one last play to change his fortunes…and this time, it’s all or nothing.


-By Rebecca Murray

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Starz Sets Up ‘Storyville’ with George C. Wolfe

Starz and George C Wolfe Work on Storyville

New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century will spring to life on the small screen as the setting for Starz’ new dramatic series Storyville. Three-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe is writing and directing the series and Colin Callender’s Playground Entertainment is producing.

“We’re glad to be working in partnership again with Colin Callender and Playground Entertainment on this series and with one of Broadway’s most respected producers and directors, George C. Wolfe for the first time. His love and expertise in this particular world will allow us to take viewers back to turn-of-the-century New Orleans during the birth of jazz in the midst of profound corruption,” said Starz Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik.

The Plot:

The project is set in New Orleans during the turn of the 20th century where prostitution was decriminalized and an exceedingly vibrant, hedonistic, celebratory subculture emerged and fueled the birth of jazz.


-By Rebecca Murray

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A Short But Sweet Teaser Trailer Arrives for ‘Outlander’

Unfortunately, the second half of season one of Starz’s epic time-traveling romance Outlander won’t be premiering until April 4, 2015. We still have four very long months to wait, however, Starz is sort of helping Outlander fans be a little less anxious about what’s in store by releasing a very short teaser for the upcoming eight episodes.

The teaser provides a brief look at Claire and Jamie, with Claire letting her new husband know that she never intended to fall in love with him. Even with the release of the teaser, it’s going to be a difficult four-month wait for the return of season one, but hopefully, it’ll be well worth it.

– Interviews with Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe / Tobias Menzies / Graham McTavish and Lotte Verbeek / Diana Gabaldon and Ronald D Moore

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