In this video courtesy of Paramount Pictures, Chloe Grace Moretz talks about Hugo‘s storyline, her character, shooting in 3D, her character’s relationship with Hugo, and the appeal of the role. Moretz also discusses working with Oscar winning director Martin Scorsese and what audiences can expect from Hugo.
Official Synopsis:Hugo tells the story of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. With the help of an eccentric girl, he searches for the answer to a mystery linking the father he recently lost, the ill-tempered toy shop owner living below him and a heart shaped lock, seemingly without a key.
The PG-rated film opens in theaters on November 23, 2011.
Official Synopsis: This holiday season, acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) directs an amazing and true story about a single dad who decides his family needs a fresh start, so he and his two children move to the most unlikely of places: a zoo. With the help of an eclectic staff, and with many misadventures along the way, the family works to return the dilapidated zoo to its former wonder and glory.
[tabs style=”default” title=”‘We Bought a Zoo’ Resources”] [tab title=”Cast”]
Matt Damon
Scarlett Johansson
Thomas Haden Church
Elle Fanning
Patrick Fugit
John Michael Higgins
Colin Ford
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[tab title=”Trailer”]Click to View the Trailer[/tab] [tab title=”Photos and Poster”]Click to View the Photo Gallery[/tab] [/tabs]
Although former Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb hasn’t publicly confirmed the rumors he’s suffering from liver cancer, the ailing 61 year old musician has just issued a statement to his fans thanking them for their thoughts and prayers.
Robin Gibb’s statement:
“I wish to thank my family, friends and fans and the many thousands of
people who do not know me but have enjoyed Bee Gees music and have wished me
well. I am very touched by your love, kindness and support. This concern
from people all over the world has demonstrated the depth of feeling and
love that the Bee Gees have achieved over the years. It is humbling and I
take your prayers and good wishes for my health very seriously.
I have been very unwell and am now on the road to recovery, and your prayers and wishes
are a great tonic to me. I believe because of you I will get well and my
deepest love goes out to you all.
Take a look at what’s up on the ninth episode of the 2011 season of Dexter: “Dexter receives help from an unexpected source while hunting the Doomsday Killers and staying one step ahead of Homicide; Debra discovers something new about herself in therapy.”
Storage Wars is a reality show that follows husband and wife auctioneer team Dan and Laura Dotson. When storage units go unpaid, they’re put up for auction. The main people on this show are the ones who make a living going from auction to auction buying units and then turning around and selling the items in that unit. The Storage Wars regulars include: Dave “The Mogul” Hester, the guy you love to hate. He owns several resale stores and isn’t afraid to flaunt his money around to let his presence be known, and to let people know he’s there to buy a lot of units and make a lot of money. Darrell “The Gambler” Sheets makes his living selling items at the swap meet. Barry “The Collector” Weiss doesn’t do this to make money; he likes to find things that can go into his collection. Jarrod “The Young Gun” Schulz and Brandi Passante are “a couple that do the auctions together and own a thrift store.”
I must admit as a person who used to work at a storage facility, I was not interested in this show whatsoever. I know personally that most of the time people buy nothing but junk. However, one day I noticed a marathon of the show was on so I decided to give it a try – and I was hooked. I was happy to see when the bidders do buy “junky units” they show that, which rings true as the units all can’t be winners. Oh, and who could forget all the bickering? Mostly it’s everyone bickering with Dave because he’s so arrogant and he thinks he owns the storage world. Berry Weiss is the oldest and maybe the funniest member of the group, with his one-liners and wacky antics. For one episode he even brought to psychics with him.
With season three just starting, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s ahead for these bidders.
Regis Philbin’s old seat next to Kelly Ripa will be filled by a string of celebrity guest co-hosts on LIVE! with Kelly, and ABC’s just revealed who will be tackling the job in the coming weeks. Per ABC, Josh Groban, Jonah Hill and Derek Hough have signed up to be Kelly’s co-hosts.
Hough is set for Monday, December 5, followed by Jonah Hill on December 6 and Josh Groban December 7-9.
More on Derek Hough [Courtesy of ABC]:
Derek Hough is the only three-time champion in franchise history of the hit ABC show Dancing with the Stars. Best known for his innovation and daring choreography on the show, his work has brought him three Emmy nominations and inquiries from the film and music world regarding his dance knowledge and ability. A multi-talented entertainer, Hough recently took off a season from Dancing with the Stars to film his first feature film starring role for director Duane Adler and producer Robert Cort in Cobu 3D: New York Nights. Acting opposite Korean pop sensation BoA, Cobu tells the story of star-crossed dancers in New York who find themselves at the center of a bitter rivalry between their brothers’ underground dance clubs.
Hough performed in London’s West End, where he starred as the male lead in the critically acclaimed stage version of Footloose, was one of the featured dancers on the Dancing with the Stars tour and a choreographer on the BBC (UK) hit show, Dance X. Joining Ripa and Hough on December 5 will be actors Jeffrey Donovan and Elizabeth Olsen, and Chef Paula Deen.
More on Jonah Hill [Courtesy of ABC]:
Jonah Hill rose to fame after his breakout role in the hit comedy Superbad. Since then, Hill has starred in various comedies for Apatow Productions while successfully segueing into dramatic roles, as most recently seen in the critically acclaimed drama Moneyball, in which he stars opposite Brad Pitt. Hill will next be seen in the R-rated comedy The Sitter for FOX, which he also executive-produced. He is currently in production on Neighborhood Watch, a comedy written by the same team behind Superbad, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, which also stars Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn. Hill also currently serves as the voice and co-creator of the breakout animated series Allen Gregory on FOX.
LIVE’s December 6 guest lineup includes actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Emily Van Camp, and Chef Richard Blais.
More on Josh Groban [Courtesy of ABC]:
Josh Groban, an internationally renowned performer who has sold more than 25 million albums and DVDs worldwide, has thrilled a legion of devoted fans with his flawless baritone and extraordinary stage presence. Groban has 5 platinum or multi-platinum albums and ranks as Billboard’s 14th top-selling artist of the 2000s, with more than 20 million units sold in the U.S. alone. Over the years, Groban has shown his lighter side by appearing in various late-night television sketches (Jimmy Kimmel’s hilarious video spoofs “I’m F***ing Ben Affleck” and “Josh Groban sings Kanye West Tweets”), Late Show with David Letterman (Top Ten Rejected Josh Groban Songs), as well as singing a comic medley of well-known TV theme songs at the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
Groban has been featured on The Simpsons, performed on Adult Swim’s Tim and Eric Awesome Show, “Great Job!,” and made two guest-starring appearances on Fox’s hit show Glee. He also appeared in Crazy, Stupid, Love, a motion picture comedy starring Steve Carell, Julianne Moore and Emma Stone, and on television as Andy Bernard’s brother on The Office.
From December 7-9, Ripa and Groban will welcome actor Zac Efron, singer Neil Diamond, Chef Anne Burrell, actresses Charlize Theron and Abigail Breslin, Chef Michael Symon, and singer Cody Simpson.
The dramatic biopic tells the story of big wave surfer Jay Moriarty, a legendary figure in the world of surfing who died at the age of 22. The film stars Jonny Weston as Moriarty and Gerard Butler as his mentor, Frosty Hesson.
The Plot:
“Of Men and Mavericks is a true story based on Santa Cruz surf phenom Jay Moriarity and his quest to ride the mythic Northern California break known as Mavericks where winter swells bring in treacherous waves the size of five story buildings. Moriarity trained for more than a year under the tutelage of mentor Rick ‘Frosty’ Hesson, and in the process the two forged a unique relationship, ultimately transforming both of their lives. Jay’s story remains an inspiration to surfers and non-surfers around the globe, who’ve coined the phrase, ‘Live like Jay.’”
Being young is all about fighting against the establishment and living life with the shortsightedness only youth can provide. It also means finding a way to cope with increasingly difficult emotions and realities. One movement born from that social cauldron was Punk Rock. Bands like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols ignited a generation. The music was loud, the lyrics were forceful, and the culture it created gave kids who felt like they were on the fringe somewhere to belong.
1981’s The Decline of Western Civilization captured this so well at the time and to this day remains a completely relevant documentary of the highest order. To no great surprise, it’s even featured a few times in a look at what’s happened to Punk Rock in the 30 years since The Other F Word.
At one point in time, everyone in that scene was living fast and not worrying about what would happen the next day, let alone the next week, month, or year. However, life has a way of throwing a wrench into one’s expectations. And although many of the seminal figures of the scene are still touring and stirring up the youth, they’ve also got kids of their own to contend with when not on stage.
Family/Fatherhood is the F word alluded to in the title, and the documentary takes a look at the logistics of balancing home with the road, as well as interviews many prominent members of the music scene as to what becoming fathers has meant to them. The main focus is on former Pennywise lead singer Jim Lindberg. Spending 200+ days touring doesn’t leave a lot of time to see his daughters grow up, with the wear and tear of that separation beginning to take its toll.
Director Andrea Blaugrund Nevins does a nice job of layering Lindberg’s tale with interviews of other musicians, giving the project the feel of covering the major elements of the scene. Perhaps most poignant are the stories of Everclear’s Art Alexakis and Flea (although best known as the bassist for The Red Hot Chili Peppers, he was also in the punk band Fear). Each comes from different angles but may have some of the more sensitive audience members looking to dab their eyes with a tissue. Scattered about are the stories of many other Punk musicians and even Tony Hawk (the skateboarding subculture grew hand-in-hand with the music).
What makes the documentary work so well is the obvious journey these men have undertaken to be where they are now. Most got into the scene as a result of a fractured home life, often with Dad being the most to blame. To see them now trying to be the fathers they wish they had as children themselves is truly moving and impressive.
Nevins’ approach is very hands-off, allowing the participants’ words and actions to speak for themselves without a lot of leading or overt editing to present some kind of message. It’s exactly what’s needed and The Other F Word provides a heartfelt, often humorous, look into what happens when you grow up fighting The Man – only to become The Man yourself. It’s easily one of the most entertaining documentaries of 2011 and well worth finding in the theater if possible or renting at home once it hits that market.
GRADE: B
RATED: Not Rated by the MPAA (contains strong language).
“It’s the Muppet telethon…Yaaaaaayyyyy!!,” exclaims Kermit the Frog putting on one last show with all his old Muppet friends in their old theatre in an effort to save it from destruction in the comedy movie, The Muppets.
The Muppets have been out of the spotlight for at least 12 years and have all gone their separate ways when the film begins. Even their old rundown studio is now just an attraction for lost, out-of-town tourists looking for the Universal Studios Tour. When two of the biggest Muppet fans of all time – Walter and his older brother, Gary (Jason Segel), along with Mary (Amy Adams) – discover a rich tycoon’s sinister plot to destroy the theatre in order to drill for oil, the horrified fans go on a hunt to find Kermit the Frog in hopes he’ll know what to do.
Once they’re past the electric fence guarding Kermit’s mansion, the three convince the Frog to head out and gather the old gang back together again to put on one last big telethon to raise enough money to buy the theatre back. Time is against them as they travel all over the world from Santa Barbara, Reno, Las Vegas, and even Paris to bring all the Muppets back to Los Angeles, renovate the studio, and find a television network to air their telethon. Plus, the almost impossible task of finding a celebrity guest host.
Funny, sweet, and at times silly, The Muppets is a family comedy/musical that at its very best brings the classic Muppet characters back to the big screen. Although the world around them has changed, the Muppets have not. Kermit is still their upbeat and positive leader always striving to do the right thing. Fozzie Bear is still Kermit’s right-hand man…er…uh…‘bear’ and is still trying to be funny. Rowlf the Dog still plays the piano. The Great Gonzo is still attempting incredibly dangerous and stupid stunts. Sam the Eagle’s still searching for culture, and Miss Piggy is still the loud, karate-chopping, prima donna star of the show.
Voice talents Steve Whitmire and Eric Jacobson, who have taken over for the late Jim Henson and Frank Oz on bringing to life Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Beaker, and many others, do a great job.
Another big plus is the casting of celebrities in cameos throughout the film, just as The Muppet Movie and most of their sequels have done in the past. There are also a few celebrities, who won’t be named here, who appear as themselves.
One of the few problems with this new Muppet adventure is with the humans. Jason Segel, who gets credit for going to Disney to convince them to bring the Muppets out of hiatus and co-writing the script, unfortunately, feels the need to take up too much of the film’s time with a side plot romance between his character Gary and Amy Adams’ Mary. The couple never gets a chance to be alone together because of his needy Muppet brother Walter and trying to help save the theatre just distracts the attention away from the true stars of the film. Hello…the movie’s title is “THE MUPPETS” not “Will Gary and Mary ever have their romantic dinner for Two?!”
Another flaw is with the new songs and production numbers. Unlike The Muppet Movie which had great unforgettable songs such as “Rainbow Connection” and “Movin’ Right Along” to name a few, the songs in this new Muppet musical are completely forgettable – and most of them are sung by Segel and Adams NOT the Muppets.
Charming, heart-felt, and goofy, The Muppets is a family fun adventure for kids as well as adults that should not be missed. “It’s time to cue the music. It’s time to light the lights.” And, it’s time to see the Muppets.
GRADE: B-
The Muppets hit theaters on November 23, 2011 and is rated PG for some mild rude humor.
Karina Smirnoff and J.R. Martinez on 'Dancing With the Stars' - (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR)It all came down to Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian, and J.R. Martinez on season 13 of Dancing With the Stars, but only one celebrity could emerge a winner. And the celeb winner is…J.R. Martinez and his dancing partner, Karina Smirnoff. The win marks Smirnoff’s first on the show in 10 seasons.
Martinez credited his talented partner with his win, telling reporters, “She’s an amazing dancer and she’s obviously very beautiful.” He added, “But I’m here to say she is one hundred million times as beautiful on the inside. She’s really is an amazing person. I’m just so grateful that I was able to be part of the journey to help get her first mirrorball trophy. She deserves it. She should be in the elite category of people who’ve won on this show.”
