Sarah Barnett, General Manager and EVP of Sundance Channel had this to say: “Top of the Lake is an emotional exploration into the depths of the human spirit. We are thrilled to collaborate with visionary Jane Campion and embark on another scripted project featuring top talent and engaging original storytelling.”
Jane Campion stated, “I am in love with the intense beauty of southern most New Zealand and am excited to be setting a story in this end of the world paradise. To be able to tell the story over six hours gives myself and my brilliant team a chance to make something truly absorbing and memorable.”
The Plot:
Top of the Lake is a powerful and haunting mystery about the search for happiness in a paradise where honest work is hard to find. Set in the
remote mountains of New Zealand, the story follows the disappearance of a five months pregnant 12-year-old named Tui who was last seen standing chest deep in a frozen lake. In this classic mythic struggle, investigating detective, Robin Griffin (Moss), must lose herself in order to find the missing girl. During the investigation, she collides with Matt Mitcham (Mullan), Tui’s father, a local drug lord, and G.J (Hunter), a guru at a local women’s camp. Robin will find this the case that tests her limits and sends her on a journey of self-discovery.
Source: Sundance Channel – November 4, 2011
Jane Campion, Elisabeth Moss and Holly Hunter Team Up for Top of the Lake
Tribeca Film Ready for Sleepless Night
Tribeca Film has acquired the French thriller, Sleepless Night, from director Frédéric Jardin and starring Tomer Sisley, Joey Starr, Julien Boisselier, Serge Riaboukine, Laurent Stocker and Birol Ünel. Jardin co-wrote the script with Nicolas Saada, and Olivier Douyère. The thriller world premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in 2012.
“Sleepless Night is a thriller that is executed with such style and panache that it transcends the limits of the genre. The pace is exhilarating and the action is nonstop in this ingeniously plotted and thoroughly entertaining adventure,” stated Geoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises. “We’re delighted to be collaborating with the filmmakers to bring this film to wider audiences.”
Warner Bros Pictures has recently picked up the English-language remake rights.
The Plot:
Sleepless Night tells the story of Vincent, a respected and dedicated police officer, or so it seems. After stealing a massive bag of cocaine from drug dealers that work for Marciano, a powerful mob boss/nightclub owner, Vincent quickly finds himself trapped in a situation that no parent would envy- his son has been kidnapped with the promise of being executed if he doesn’t immediately deliver the bag back to its rightful owner. As Vincent heads to the nightclub in the outskirts of Paris to trade the drugs for his son, he soon gets caught in an intense, claustrophobic cat-and-mouse game that quickly spirals into madness as the tables are constantly turned multiple times throughout the evening. The night to come might not only be the longest but also the last one of his life… and his young son’s as well.
“I am thrilled and honored to work with Tribeca for the North American release of Sleepless Night,” Jardin said. “It’s a superb opportunity for my film.”
Source: Tribeca Film – November 4, 2011
Wanderlust Trailer with Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston
So Paul Rudd’s starring turn in Our Idiot Brother didn’t exactly prove he’s a powerhouse at the box office, but with that comedy he didn’t have Jennifer Aniston by his side. However in Universal Pictures’ 2012 R-rated comedy, Wanderlust, he has Aniston and a nudist colony – which means there’s potential for naked bodies – for support. Will it fare any better in theaters? We have to wait until February 24, 2012 to find out.
The Plot:
George (Rudd) and Linda (Aniston) are an overextended, stressed out Manhattan couple. After George is downsized out of his job, they find themselves with only one option: to move in with George’s awful brother in Atlanta.
On the way there, George and Linda stumble upon Elysium, an idyllic community populated by colorful characters who embrace a different way of looking at things. Money? It can’t buy happiness. Careers? Who needs them? Clothes? Only if you want them.
Is Elysium the fresh start George and Linda need? Or will the change of perspective cause more problems than it solves?
Justin Bieber Addresses the Paternity Suit
On October 31, 2011, a 20-year-old woman named Mariah Yeater filed a paternity suit in San Diego County claiming Justin Bieber is the father of her baby boy born July 6, 2011. Yeater’s suit says she and the singer had sex in a bathroom backstage after an October 25, 2010 concert at Staples Center. In her suit, Yeater’s asking for child support, the cost of attorney’s fees, and other expenses.
Bieber fervently denies not only having sex with Yeater but even knowing who she is.
On November 2nd, Bieber posted a note about the paternity suit to his followers on Twitter:
“So Im going to ignore the rumors…and focus on what is real. an opportunity to help by doing what i love. Judge me on the music! Love yall!”
And on The Today Show on November 4th, Bieber talked to Matt Lauer about his new Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe, and about Yeater’s paternity suit:
He followed that up with a shout-out to Today on Twitter:
“@todayshow thanks for letting me set the record straight. what is real are my fans…this album…and this charity work. see u guys the 23rd”
On a lighter note, Bieber’s new holiday album is helping those in need. Bieber’s kicked off the holiday season with the Believe Charity Drive, donating a portion of the proceeds from his Under the Mistletoe album to charity. He’s also urging his fans to contribute to seven specific charities in hopes of bringing in millions of dollars to those non-profits.
“I am launching the Believe Charity Drive because I know firsthand that if you believe in your dreams, everything is possible,” Bieber explained in the press release. “I am kicking off the campaign with my holiday album, Under the Mistletoe. With every album you purchase, I will give a portion of the proceeds to charity. The Believe Charity Drive directly benefits charities that are making a difference in the world. You can go to www.justinbiebermusic.com and donate as little as one dollar, or even donate your time, because everything will make a difference. Please join me in our quest to raise millions of dollars by the release of my new 2012 album, Believe. I know that with your help we can make a change.”
The seven charities suggested by Justin Bieber are:
– Pencils of Promise
– Project Medishare for Haiti
– City of Hope
– Make-A-Wish Foundation®
– Boys & Girls Clubs of America
– Musicians On Call
– GRAMMY Foundation®
Dexter Season 6 Episode 6 Preview
The action and drama are really heating up with the sixth episode of this season of Dexter. In fact, so much is going on you almost need a scorecard to keep track of who’s doing what to whom.
Here’s the synopsis of Episode 6:
“Dexter is caught up in a very personal case that awakens the needs of his Dark Passenger; Debra feels overwhelmed by her new Lieutenant duties, made all the more complicated when she finds out Quinn slept with a witness in the Doomsday case.”
Watch the preview video:
‘Mr Warmth’ clip:
18 Animated Films Submitted for Oscar Consideration
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has received a total of 18 submissions in the Animated Feature Film category for the 2012 Oscars. The films submitted for consideration are:
Alois Nebel
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Gnomeo & Juliet
Happy Feet Two
Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil
Kung Fu Panda 2
Mars Needs Moms
Puss in Boots
Rango
Rio
The Smurfs
Winnie the Pooh
Wrinkles
These films are also eligible for Best Picture and the other Oscar categories. The 84th Academy Awards nominees will be revealed on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The Oscars will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – November 4, 2011
A Very Gaga Thanksgiving Arrives on November 24th
According to ABC, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving will provide an intimate look at the singer’s private life as well as performances of her songs in front of her friends and family. Katic Couric is also involved in the show, with the two doing a Q&A at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Manhattan. “Gaga also opens up about her relationships with family and friends and shares heartfelt stories from her past, as well as what her life is like now living in the public eye,” per ABC.
And Chef Art Smith will be preparing a deep-fried turkey and waffles feast for Gaga and her guests.
“We all know Lady Gaga is a phenomenon,” stated Couric. “This is a chance to see more of who she is beneath the wild costumes and staged musical numbers… Lady Gaga as a high school student still bruised by being excluded from the party, Lady Gaga as a devoted daughter and caring sister, Lady Gaga as a 25-year-old woman embracing fame and fortune that seemed to come overnight. She will impress you, delight you and surprise you.”
More on Lady Gaga [Courtesy of ABC]:
Lady Gaga came to prominence following the release of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008), which included “Just Dance,” “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance,” and sold over 15 million copies worldwide. She is known for her outré sense of style as a recording artist, in fashion, in performance and in her music videos. Her contributions to the music industry have garnered numerous accolades, including 5 Grammy Awards among 12 nominations, 2 Guinness World Records, a record setting 13 MTV Video Music Award nominations, and the estimated sale of 23 million albums and 64 million singles worldwide. Billboard named her both the 2010 Artist of the Year and the top selling artist of 2010, ranking her as the 73rd Artist of the 2000s decade. Her third studio album, Born This Way, broke the iTunes record for fastest rise to No. 1 on release day. The singles from the album, including “Born This Way,” “Judas,” “The Edge of Glory” and “You and I,” have sold a combined total of more than 8 million copies in the U.S. alone. Gaga was named Forbes’ Most Powerful Woman in the World 2011 and was included in Time‘s annual The 2010 Time 100 list of most influential people in the world. With over 1.9 billion combined views of all her videos online, Lady Gaga is one of the biggest living people on Facebook with over 44 million ‘likes,’ and is no.1 on Twitter with over 15 million followers. She is the only artist in the digital era to top the 5 million sales mark with her first two hits.
Source: ABC – November 3, 2011
Harold and Kumar: Yuletide Jamz
Totally inappropriate and totally R-rated, Harold and Kumar stars Kal Penn and John Cho sing the holiday classics but with their own Harold & Kumar twists. Don’t watch this Funny or Die video at work…you’ve been warned:
Harold and Kumar’s Yuletide Jamz:
‘A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas’ Movie Review
As a child, watching Jaws 3D on the big screen pretty much nixed any idea of becoming a marine biologist. This had nothing to do with Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett, Jr., or Lea Thompson. And although it was polarized 3D – not anaglyph, which requires red/(green, blue, or cyan) glasses – only certain scenes really utilized the effect (and scarred at least one child into a lifelong fear of the ocean).
Why am I talking about a 28-year-old film’s three-dimensional gimmick? Well, because I was reminded of the experience after watching A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. Of course, this time there is no shark (or Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett, Jr., or Lea Thompson), however, the use of the technology echoed the same basic principles: Find certain elements to punch up in 3D but don’t worry about creating true depth of field for the entire film.
Early on, director Todd Strauss-Schulson (whose previous credits read like a string of nonsense words and anyone familiar with more than two of his efforts would scare me) focuses on the pot smoke. As Kumar (Kal Penn) gets high with a mall Santa (Patton Oswalt), a combination of actual smoke and digital smoke is wafted in the audience’s general direction. Then, some protesters chuck eggs at Harold (John Cho) and his assistant (Bobby Lee) – this is the best 3D of the film … and lasts 90 seconds. Later on, some careless driving will shoot a few of those water-filled barriers you see marking construction zones into the camera, and every now and then something else technically qualifies as 3D.
Now, I realize anyone familiar with my take on 3D knows I generally see it as a cash grab and only a handful of films in this latest resurgence of the craze merit spending the extra cash. And I’m not saying you should definitely avoid seeing this film with a set of polarized 3D lenses (should there even be 2D versions in theaters). If you’re a big fan of the series and have been eagerly awaiting this installment, you might as well experience it as the filmmakers intended. However, if you’re like me and found Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay a far better value at home than in-theater, you may want to take the same approach here.
Sure, there’s something about seeing a Harold & Kumar film in an audience full of stoners, but that’s only going to happen in the first day or two of wide release. If you’re not going to be a part of that experience, waiting to watch it in the comfort of your own home with whatever refreshments you deem necessary is a better value. This is partially due to certain restrictions in state or Federal law but also because like the second installment in the franchise, the movie is uneven.
Think of this Christmas tale as a roller coaster – with a few good loops and turns but a lot of transitional elements to get you to the next set-up. Sure, bringing in Danny Trejo as Harold’s father-in-law is unmitigated awesomeness. And anyone who isn’t waiting with bated breath for NPH’s appearance can’t possibly be a fan of the series (or life). Also, if I have to explain NPH, just move along, this is not the film you’re looking for.
But aside from those elements, the attempt to deliver a Christmas miracle by bringing Harold & Kumar back together after their friendship drifted apart since we last saw them creates a schism in the type of film being presented. It’s part raunchy, drug-filled comedy and a part feel-good holiday movie. There is a way to do both (Bad Santa) but sadly the overall result with A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is a generally entertaining production that hits as often as it misses. What made the first film so much fun was watching these two stoners run amok while high out of their minds, and far too much of this film sees the pair stone-cold sober. And that’s no way to enjoy the holidays.
GRADE: C+
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas hits theaters on November 4, 2011 and is rated R for strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence.
Robert Englund Set to Star in ‘Lake Placid: The Final Chapter’
Robert Englund, who will forever be known by everyone as Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street films, has signed up to star in Syfy’s original movie Lake Placid: The Final Chapter. Also attached in starring roles in the horror film are Elisabeth Rohm and Yancy Butler.
According to the Syfy press release, “Englund will play Jim Bickerman, a poacher looking to score a big break on hides and eggs from these rare crocs. In Lake Placid: The Final Chapter, which will co-star Elisabeth Rohm (Law and Order) and Yancy Butler (Kick-Ass), attempts to contain the giant crocs of Black Lake fail, and now it’s up to the new Sheriff (Rohm) to stop the latest rampage.”
Filming is currently underway in Bulgaria with Don Michael Paul at the helm. Lake Placid: The Final Chapter will air in 2012.
Trending
