John Hawkes Stars in 'The Playroom' - Photo Courtesy of Freestyle ReleasingFreestyle Releasing has snatched up distribution rights to the dramatic film The Playroom starring John Hawkes (The Sessions) and Molly Parker. Julia Dyer (Late Bloomers) directed the movie which had its premiere at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.
Commenting on the acquisition, Susan Jackson, President of Freestyle, stated: “Julia Dyer has created a beautiful time machine back to the 70s. The film is a bird’s eye view of a tumultuous period told from the perspective of children.”
Freestyle’s set a February 8, 2013 theatrical and VOD/DVD release date.
The Plot:
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world. Maggie (newcomer Olivia Harris) is a vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts as big sister and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings. Upstairs in the attic she tells them fantastical stories, but only to mask what is happening downstairs. As her hard-drinking parents, Martin and Donna (Hawkes and Parker), entertain guests, Maggie grapples with their flawed choices and is thrust into a world she might not be ready for.
Pixar’s re-releasing Monsters, Inc. in theaters on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 – in 3D – and in support of the upcoming release, and of the holiday season, the studio’s released this holiday card featuring the animated characters.
The Plot:
Monsters, Inc., one of Disney•Pixar’s most beloved and visually imaginative feature films ever, returns to the big screen to delight a whole new generation of audiences and fans alike, this time in stunning 3D. The now-classic Academy Award®-winning animated comedy adventure Monsters, Inc. is set in Monstropolis, a thriving company town where monsters of all shapes and sizes reside. Lovable Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) and his wisecracking best friend Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory. The main power source in the monster world is the collected screams of human children—and at Monsters, Inc., an elite team of scarers is responsible for gathering those precious natural resources. Believed by monsters to be toxic, children are strictly forbidden from entering Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo (voiced by Mary Gibbs) accidentally follows Sulley back into his world, he finds his career in jeopardy and his life in utter chaos. So pals Mike and Sulley plot to rectify the mistake and return Boo to her home. But when the trio encounters an unexpected series of complications, they become embroiled in a cover-up catapulting them into a mystery beyond their wildest dreams.
Did you know the word bagel is Olde English for “butthole bread?” Well, it does sort of make sense. That ‘fact’ as well as other equally ludicrous “true” bits of trivia are delivered by Jimmy Fallon and Ewan McGregor’s floating heads.
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL AND NICK CANNON TO HOST CARTOON NETWORK'S HALL OF GAME AWARDS. (PRNewsFoto/Cartoon Network)
The first 10 categories and nominees have been announced for the third annual Hall of Game awards. Hosted by Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Cannon, the sports awards show will air on several Cartoon Network and Turner Broadcasting platforms in February 2013.
And in announcing the first nominees, Cartoon Network also announced voting is now open online for the Hall of Game awards at HallofGame.com.
Hall of Game Nominees:
Most Awesome Mascot
Kansas City Chiefs “KC Wolf” (NFL)
St. Louis Blues “Louie” (NHL)
San Francisco Giants “Lou Seal” (MLB)
Denver Nuggets “Rocky” (NBA)
Alti-Dude
(Top alternative sports high flyer)
Kelly Clark (Snowboarding)
Nyjah Huston (Skateboarding)
Kelly Slater (Surfing)
Shaun White (Snowboarding)
That’s How I Roll
(The award for the most stylish athlete.)
Jonny Gomes, Oakland A’s (MLB)
Brett Keisel, Pittsburg Steelers (NFL)
Ryan Lochte, Team USA (Swimming)
Serena Williams, WTA (Tennis)
He’s Got Game
(The award for the best male athlete.)
Usain Bolt (Track)
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (MLB)
Arian Foster, Houston Texans (NFL)
LeBron James, Miami Heat (NBA)
She’s Got Game
(The award for the best female athlete.)
Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever (WNBA)
Gabby Douglas, Team USA (Gymnastics)
Alex Morgan, Team USA (Soccer)
Serena Williams, WTA (Tennis)
Dynamic Duo
(The award for the best teammates.)
Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)
Eli Manning & Victor Cruz, New York Giants (NFL)
Michael Phelps & Ryan Lochte, Team USA (Swimming)
Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh, Team USA (Volleyball)
Gnarliest Newcomer
(The award for the top rookie.)
Missy Franklin, Team USA (Swimming)
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (NFL)
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
We Got Game
(The award for the best team.)
Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Miami Heat (NBA)
San Francisco Giants (MLB)
US Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team
Super Siblings
(The award for best related athletes.)
Pau & Marc Gasol (NBA)
Peyton & Eli Manning (NFL)
Eric, Marc, Jordan & Jared Staal (NHL)
Venus & Serena Williams (WTA)
Best Foes Forever
(Award for the greatest rivals.)
Rory McIlroy vs. Tiger Woods (PGA)
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
Jimmie Johnson vs. Brad Keselowski (NASCAR)
Duke vs. University of North Carolina (NCAA)
For the first time, Project Runway is mixing things up by teaming up the contestants. Season 11 of the Lifetime series debuts on January 24, 2013 with 16 designers featured in a special “Teams Edition” of the popular reality competition series. The designer teams will have to work together on every challenge “while ensuring their own garments stand out on the runway.”
Heidi Klum’s hosting and judging the competition along with Marie Claire’s Marie Claire’s Fashion Director Nina Garcia and featured judge, award-winning fashion designer Zac Posen. Guest judges will include Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Emmy Rossum, Kristin Davis, Jordana Brewster, and designer Rachel Roy. And Tim Gunn’s back as a mentor to the designers.
Season 11’s winner will receive “$100,000 from L’Oréal Paris to start his/her own line, a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a 2013 Lexus GS 350, a $50,000 technology suite by HP and Intel to create his/her own vision and run his/her business and the opportunity to design and sell an exclusive collection at Lord & Taylor. The model paired with the winner of Project Runway will also appear in the designer’s Marie Claire editorial feature and receive $25,000 from L’Oréal Paris EverStyle.”
Sean Hayes at the premiere of 'The Three Stooges' - Photo by Richard ChavezNBC’s ready to play games with Hollywood Game Night, ordering up episodes of the new hour-long game show from actor/producer Sean Hayes. The series is based on Hayes’ real-life ‘game nights’ and will feature contestants mingling with celebs.
Announcing the series order, Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment, stated: “We are proud to be in business with Sean Hayes, who creatively brings so many good ideas such as this new game show romp that will be raucous and entertaining. Our audience will feel as if they are part of the party as we pull back the curtain on how today’s Hollywood stars play at home while our contestants can earn big money.”
The Details:
Two contestants in each episode will be transported from their everyday lives into a once-in-a-lifetime night of fun and celebration as they step beyond the velvet rope and rub shoulders with the celebrity crowd. Part Hollywood club and part casual game night, the series promises viewers a fresh look into the lives of the rich and famous.
At the end, one of the two contestants will walk away with a cash prize and a night of stories and memories for friends and family back home. Featuring well-known names from the world of television, film, sports and politics, among other entities, this isn’t a typical game show — it’s a peek behind the curtain of the Hollywood scene and a chance to hang out for a night with a group of your favorite celebrities.
Anne Hathaway uses one of Samuel L Jackson’s favorite cuss words early on in the video – so it’s definitely not safe for work – but this sad-off between Hathaway from Les Miserables and Jackson representing Django Unchained is one of FunnyOrDie’s better 2012 offerings. While sort of wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Jackson and Hathaway compete to try and prove their own movie – each releasing on Christmas Day – is actually the saddest.
Best line: “Nothing says Christmas like slaves and whores”
Brian Van Holt, Ian Gomez, Christa Miller, Courteney Cox, Busy Philipps, Josh Hopkins and Dan Byrd star in ‘Cougar Town’ (Photo Credit: James White)
Tippi Hedren, best known for her outstanding performances in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Marnie, will be heading to Cougar Town for a guest starring appearance.
According to TBS, Hedren will play a pivotal role in the season four finale.
The details: “The cul de sac crew scheme to capture Tippi Hedren to cheer up Jules’ dad, Chick. From harassing a tour guide to stalking Tippi’s home, the crew will stop at nothing for Chick to have a glass of champagne with one of his favorite stars.”
The TBS comedy series will kick off season #4 on January 8, 2013 at 10pm. Series regulars include Courteney Cox, Christa Miller, Ian Gomez, Josh Hopkins, Busy Philipps, and Dan Byrd.
Anthony Hopkins in 'Hitchcock' - Photo By Suzanne Tenner2012 was a great year for senior actors. According to AARP, this year’s films did a good job of including older actors in starring roles and in releasing films aimed at more mature audiences. Even the Golden Globes recognized the trend, with nominations going to Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Richard Gere, Denzel Washington, Bill Murray, Sally Field, and Judi Dench. Celebrating this new trend, the AARP has announced their picks for this year’s best movies for grownups.
AARP’s Top Ten Movies For Grownups for 2012
· Argo
· Amour
· Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
· Hitchcock
· Les Miserables
· Lincoln
· Quartet
· The Sessions
· Silver Linings Playbook
· Zero Dark Thirty
Says Bill Newcott, host of AARP’s weekly Movies for Grownups radio show: “This year was an especially good year for grownup movies thanks to outstanding work not only from Hollywood legends, but from extraordinary newcomers, as well.”
Rebel Wilson and Chris Colfer in “Struck by Lighting” distributed by Tribeca Film. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film.Tribeca Film will be offering movie fans a special one night only interactive Q&A screening of Struck by Lightning. The event will take place on January 6, 2013 in select theaters and will offer audiences the chance to watch the high school comedy days before its theatrical release. Following the screening, co-writer and star Chris Colfer (Glee) will also be participating in a special live Q&A and interactive webcast.
Struck by Lightning, directed by Brian Dannelly (Saved!), debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. The cast also includes Allison Janney, Polly Bergen, Rebel Wilson, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Hyland and Angela Kinsey.
The Plot:
High school senior Carson Phillips (Colfer) was destined for bigger things than his close-minded small town could ever offer. He was on a path to greatness, but destiny had a different plan when he was suddenly killed by a bolt of lightning in his school parking lot.
Demonstrating that life is what happens while you’re busy planning your future, Carson recounts the last few weeks of his life via witty, insightful flashbacks, including a blackmail scheme targeting the popular kids in school that he concocts with his best friend (Wilson), and a home life that includes a mother (Janney) who’s more interested in the bottle than her son’s future and an estranged father (Mulroney) who suddenly appears with a pregnant fiancée (Hendricks).