Hot on the heels of the release of the trailer comes the unveiling of a brand spanking new poster for Veronica Mars. Writer/director Rob Thomas included the poster in an email to his Kickstarter backers along with an update on what’s happening with the film.
Veronica Mars will be debuting at SXSW Film 2014 and even though very few people have seen it, the action comedy has already won an award. Variety named it the Breakthrough Movie of 2014 and Thomas, Kristen Bell, and Ryan Hansen made the trek to Vegas to accept the award. According to his Kickstarter update, Thomas expected Bell to give the acceptance speech; however, Bell apparently believed Thomas was going to talk. As Thomas wrote: “We were not the most prepared duo at the festivities.” He also admitted that Veronica Mars won because of the way it came about – through donations via Kickstarter – and he’s grateful for all of the support of fans.
The much-anticipated film adaptation opens in theaters on March 14, 2014.
While Hemsworth most likely won’t be nominated for either Thor: The Dark World or Rush, his Rush co-star Daniel Bruhl could earn a Supporting Actor nomination. Hemsworth’s feature film credits also include Star Trek, A Perfect Getaway, Thor, The Cabin in the Woods, The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Red Dawn. He recently completed work on Cyber and is currently filming In the Heart of the Sea with Cillian Murphy and Ben Whishaw.
The 2014 Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 2, 2014, live on ABC.
Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Homeland: “Big Man in Tehran”
Terry Kelley, A.C.E.
House of Cards: “Chapter 1”
Kirk Baxter, A.C.E.
BEST EDITED MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE FOR TELEVISION:
American Horror Story: Asylum: “The Name Game”
Stewart Schill, A.C.E.
Behind the Candelabra
Mary Ann Bernard
Phil Spector
Barbara Tulliver, A.C.E.
BEST EDITED NON-SCRIPTED SERIES:
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Tokyo
Nick Brigden
Beyond Scared Straight: “The Return of Hustle Man”
Rob Goubeaux, A.C.E., Mark S. Andrew, A.C.E., Paul J. Coyne, A.C.E., Jennifer Nelson, Martin Skibosh, Trevor Campbell
Deadliest Catch: “Mutiny on the Bering Sea”
Josh Earl, A.C.E. Alex Durham, Rob Butler
“How long before you’re ready to date? I saw in your emails you’ve gone through a breakup,” asks Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), an advanced computer operating system. “Well, you’re kind of nosy,” replies Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely writer who purchased Samantha to help him organize his life in the romantic drama Her.
Set in a near future where advanced computer systems are able to handle a person’s every need, Theodore is still pining for his ex-wife, putting off signing the divorce papers even though it’s been a year since they’ve been together. Feeling overwhelmed and incredibly lonely, Theodore purchases a new computer operating system to help him get organized and have someone to talk to.
At first, Samantha – a name the operating system gave to herself – is all business, deleting old and unimportant e-mails, reminding Theodore about meetings and appointments, and handling all his voicemails. But since Samantha is a cognitive system that’s continuously evolving and constantly adapting and becoming more aware of new ideas and emotions, it’s not long before her conversations with Theodore start becoming personal. Soon Theodore finds himself falling for Samantha, and she/it seems to be having feelings for him.
Directed by Spike Jonze (Adaptation, Where the Wild Things Are), Her is a sci-fi, romantic, comedy/drama that has two solid performances but a plot that feels old and tired. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a solid performance as Theodore, a shy, lonely man who misses terribly being in a happy relationship and doesn’t believe he can find true love again. He’s a sad soul who begins to try to reach out to someone, even if it is his computer.
Scarlett Johansson is the best thing about the film as the voice of Samantha, the operating system which at first seems to be just what Theodore needed in his depressing and empty life. But as she/it evolves, she starts to become a jealous and even threatening presence…Hello, Ms. Hal 9000. Johansson brings a wonderfully sexy and cute personality to Samantha and gives the operating system more personality than any of the human roles in the film.
Her look is a bit sterile, almost as though the city had gone through a medical cleansing process, and that adds to the bland and unappealing non-personalities in the film, which becomes part of the movie’s problem. None of the characters seem to have any real depth and, thus, are uninteresting and boring. The other big problem with the film is the lack of originality in the plot. This is not the first time on the big screen – or the small – a character falls for/becomes obsessed/dependent on his computer. This has been done before, and it’s just not that interesting to watch Phoenix as Theodore have a weird and unusual relationship with his computer secretary.
Although it is slow and predictable, Her does have a sweetness to the high-tech romance that will have the male audience wishing their computer sounded and acted like Scarlett Johansson in the first half of the film and extremely happy they don’t by the time the credits roll.
GRADE: C
Her is rated R for language, sexual content and brief graphic nudity.
Fox has greenlit Backstrom, giving the crime drama based on the book series by Swedish criminologist Leif G.W. Persson a 13 episode order. Mark Mylod (Entourage) directed the pilot and is on board as executive producer alongside series creator Hart Hanson (Bones), Niclas Salomonsson, and writer Persson.
Filming is expected to begin sometime in early 2014 on the one-hour drama.
The series stars Rainn Wilson (The Office) as Detective Everett Backstrom, an “offensive, irascible detective, as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior. Throughout the series, Backstrom leads his team, the Serious Crimes Unit, as they navigate Portland’s most sensitive cases.”
“Hart Hanson and Rainn Wilson are the perfect combination of creative vision and on-screen talent to bring this one-of-a-kind character and story like Backstrom to FOX,” said Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “I’ve been in business with Hart for a long time, and not only does he have a rare gift for infusing darker themes with relatable humor, he’s one of the best showrunners out there today. Together with Rainn – who absolutely nails this role and makes it a classic FOX character – I think we’ve got something really special here.”
“There are so few creators out there with the genuine ability to mix great procedural storytelling with humor, and Hart Hanson is one of those guys. Getting another show on the air with him has been a top priority of this company,” stated Twentieth Century Fox Television Chairmen and CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden. “And getting the amazing Rainn Wilson in the title role was quite simply a coup. His ‘Backstrom’ fits perfectly into FOX’s long history of dramas centered around a bigger-than-life iconic character.”
“Naturally, all of us who worked on Backstrom thought it was too promising a series to die unseen and Dana and Gary were relentless in their support of the project,” added Hanson. “Imagine our delight to find that Kevin Reilly and his team at FOX agreed enough to pick it up and give us a good home. Thanks FOX!”
And Rainn Wilson commented on his commitment to another TV series, saying he couldn’t be more thrilled than to tackle the role of Detective Everett Backstrom.
“For an actor, it’s rare to get a crack at a role of such intelligence, humor and complexity. He’s a delightfully disheveled misanthrope with a twisted, brilliant mind and a heart of barbed wire. Truly the role of a lifetime,” said Wilson. “Hart Hanson is an incredible writer and showrunner and I couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with him. Last but not least, FOX is the PERFECT home for this fun and disturbed piece of entertainment. They are passionate about the show and I’m ecstatic to be working with Kevin Reilly again (he launched The Office on NBC and fought tooth-and-nail for us to stay on the air, let’s not forget) and to be on the same network as my frenemy, Mindy Kaling.”
Details on the Pilot: “In the pilot episode, after the apparent suicide of a Senator’s son is ruled a homicide, the Portland Police Bureau’s Serious Crime Unit, led by Detective Backstrom (Wilson) must solve the case. Following the team’s arrival on the scene, forensics expert Sergeant Peter Niedermayer (Kristoffer Polaha) verifies that the death was indeed a homicide. This starts the trail for Backstrom and his team: Detective Nicole Gravely, Detective Sergeant John Almond (Dennis Haysbert), uniformed officer Frank Moto (Page Kennedy) and the tech-savvy Nadia Paquet (Beatrice Rosen).
Together, they must follow leads while trying to maintain a low profile in this highly scrutinized case.
The Pete Holmes Show (Photo Credit: Tyler Golden / TBS)Photo Credit: Tyler Golden / TBSComedian Pete Holmes will be back hosting The Pete Holmes Show on TBS for at least 13 more weeks. The network’s ordered up additional episodes which will kick off on February 24, 2014 and run Monday through Thursday nights at midnight.
Conan O’Brien’s Conaco produces the series which tapes live in front of a studio audience and features sketches, live comedy, and video pieces.
“The first 28 episodes were a joy to make, and I’m so thrilled we get to keep going,” said Pete. “We have so much more we want to do, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to make great comedy, continue to evolve the show and really push the limits of potty language and tasteful male nudity. I can’t wait!”
During its initial run in 2013, The Pete Holmes Show was averaging nearly half a million viewers.
The cast of this film adaptation of the critically acclaimed play also includes Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, Denis O’Hare, Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock, and BD Wong. Ryan Murphy, Dante Di Loreto, Jason Blum, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner executive produce with Ruffalo co-executive producing.
The Origin of The Normal Heart [Courtesy of HBO]:
“In 1981, writer Larry Kramer hosted a gathering of six gay men and their friends to discuss the ‘gay cancer,’ and to talk about fundraising for research. This informal meeting in Kramer’s home would lead to the formation of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), one of the first advocacy groups for HIV prevention and care. Kramer’s play debuted at New York’s Public Theatre in 1985 and was revived in Los Angeles and London, and off-Broadway. The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor and Best Featured Actress.”
The Plot:
Ruffalo portrays Ned Weeks, who witnesses first-hand a mysterious disease that has begun to claim the lives of many in his gay community and starts to seek answers. Matt Bomer plays Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover. Taylor Kitsch plays Bruce Niles, a closeted investment banker who becomes a prominent AIDS activist. Jim Parsons plays gay activist Tommy Boatwright, reprising his role from the 2011 Broadway revival. Roberts plays physician Dr. Emma Brookner, a survivor of childhood polio who treats several of the earliest victims of HIV-AIDS.
Alfred Molina plays Ned’s older brother, Ben, who is a successful attorney. Joe Mantello plays Mickey Marcus, who is an instrumental member of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis. Jonathan Groff plays Craig, Bruce’s lover, an early victim of HIV-AIDS. Denis O’Hare portrays Hiram Keebler, Mayor Koch’s gay aide. Stephen Spinella plays Sanford, one of Dr. Brookner’s first patients. Corey Stoll portrays presidential senior advisor John Bower. Finn Wittrock plays Albert, a male model. BD Wong portrays Buzzy, a nurse who works with Dr. Brookner.
The latest video from That Awkward Moment focuses on that specific moment in time when you wonder, “So…where is this going?” Hitting theaters on January 31, 2014, That Awkward Moment features Zac Efron, Michael B Jordan, and Miles Teller as three best buddies trying to figure out if they’re actually in “relationships” with the women they’re seeing.
Written and directed by Tom Gormican, That Awkward Moment cast also features Imogen Poots and Jessica Lucas.
Jon Favreau’s independent film Chef will be making its world premiere at the 2014 South By Southwest Film Festival. Chef has also earned the honor of being the festival’s Opening Night Film.
Favreau not only wrote and directed the comedy but also stars in the film alongside Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert Downey Jr. Per the official announcement, Chef finds Favreau playing Carl, “a chef who loses his job and decides to launch a food truck business while attempting to reunite his estranged family.”
And the much-anticipated film adaptation of the TV series Veronica Mars is set to have its world premiere at the festival. Written and directed by Rob Thomas, and co-written by Diane Ruggiero, Veronica Mars has Kristen Bell reprising her starring role from the TV series. The plot: “Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown, an ex-boyfriend with baggage, and an unraveling murder mystery.” In addition to Bell, the cast includes Jason Dohring, Krysten Ritter, Francis Capra, Percy Daggs III, Ryan Hansen, Gaby Hoffman, Chris Lowell, Tina Majorino, and Jerry O’Connell.
Additional SXSW Film 2014 Premieres:
Break Point (World Premiere / SXsports screening)
Director: Jay Karas, Screenwriters: Gene Hong & Jeremy Sisto
Two estranged brothers reunite to make an improbable run at a grand slam tennis tournament. The mismatched pair, with some unlikely help from a precocious 11-year-old boy, re-discover their game and their brotherhood.
Cast: Jeremy Sisto, David Walton, Joshua Rush, J.K. Simmons, Amy Smart
Creep (World Premiere)
Director: Patrick Brice, Screenwriter: Patrick Brice & Mark Duplass
When a videographer answers a Craigslist ad for a one-day job in the outer-exurbs, he finds his client is not at all what he initially seems.
Cast: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice
COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey
Director: Brannon Braga
As with the legendary original series, FOX’s new COSMOS is the saga of how we discovered the laws of nature and found our coordinates in space and time. The series is hosted by renowned astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and brings to life never-before-told stories of the heroic quest for knowledge, transporting viewers to new worlds and across the universe for a vision of the cosmos on the grandest — and the smallest — scale. Executive Produced by Ann Druyan, Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga and Mitchell Cannold.
Doc of the Dead (World Premiere)
Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
The definitive zombie culture documentary, from the makers of The People vs. George Lucas. Doc of the Dead traces the rise and evolution of the zombie genre, its influence on pop culture, and investigates the possibility of an actual zombie outbreak.
Leave the World Behind (World Premiere)
Director: Christian Larson
A documentary following the final tour of the hugely successful band Swedish House Mafia. The film depicts the EDM scene at its peak as well as telling a story of friendship and success. (United Kingdom)
The cast of 'Are You The One' (Photo Courtesy of MTV)MTV’s going to be doing some matchmaking with the new series Are You the One? debuting on January 21, 2014 at 11pm ET/PT. The network describes the new series as a social experiment about modern love in which 10 men and 10 women will be put through an intense matchmaking process using a special “dating algorithm” that helps figure out compatibility.
“Our millennial audience has no trouble dating or hooking up but making a deeper commitment is more challenging for them,” said Susanne Daniels, President of Programming, MTV. “Are you the One? will provide clues to the contestants to help them find their perfect match. There’s unexpected emotional twists as they find it trickier than they imagined to break apart in the name and the game of finding true love.”
The Are You the One? Plot:
MTV will conduct a social experiment on modern love with the new series Are You the One? – helping 10 women and 10 men find their perfect match. These hopeful romantics participated in a rigorous matchmaking process using a unique dating algorithm created to help quantify compatibility. The result? Recommended matches for the 20 singles with the goal of meeting the perfect partner. Using this technology, 10 ideal pairs have been identified and will ultimately come face-to-face with their true match – the catch is that the results were kept a secret from the singles. Throughout the course of the season, each of the potential lovers must uncover the mystery of their “soul mates” identity.
Are You the One? will select 10 single women and 10 single men who have had no luck in finding lasting love and will first conduct a thorough assessment, using a team of professional matchmakers, psychologists, and the participant’s family, friends and exes, to determine their other half. The process will include in-depth interviews, questionnaires and compatibility testing to achieve the ultimate results. Produced on the picturesque island of Kauai, Hawaii, the 20 singles chosen will live together knowing that their perfect match may be in the room right next to them. Viewers will be able to follow the ups and downs as each person gets potentially one step closer to finding romantic bliss, and their reactions can be as surprising as their choices.
In addition to getting to know one another socially, the 20 singles will undergo weekly tests of physical attraction, personality traits, relationship history assessments and more. During the quest to pick their match, the singles discover that following their heart might feel right, but if the data does not make a match they have to start their search over, leaving budding relationships behind causing tension and despair. At the end of each week, the 20 potential lovers will scramble to find who they believe is their perfect match. If all 10 couples match up with their pre-determined partners within 10 attempts, they will share the largest cash reward MTV has ever offered and more importantly, will walk away with a prized romance.
Stumble It! 
Jon Favreau’s independent film Chef will be making its world premiere at the 
