Nickelback just announced they’ll be releasing their seventh album, Here and Now, on November 21, 2011. The first two singles – “When We Stand Together” and “Bottoms Up” – will be out on September 26th. Nickelback will be touring in support of the album in 2012, however they haven’t released the dates yet. An announcement on the upcoming tour is expected soon.
Their last album, 2008’s Dark Horse, was certified 3-times platinum and has more than five million digital single sales.
“We’re four people who love making music, the way we like to make it,” said Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger in the press release announcing the album. “We entered the studio this year with a vision, and it all came together. We’re extremely happy with the results, and can’t wait to share them with our fans.”
Roadrunner Records President Jonas Nachsin added, “Through our many years of working with Nickelback, we have always been amazed by the band’s continuing ability to record songs and albums that inspire and thrill millions. After hearing the newest material, we are sure they have done it again, and we are dedicated and eager to promote the band across the globe.”
More on Nickelback [Courtesy of Roadrunner Records]:
Nickelback is one the biggest rock bands in the world having sold almost 50 million albums worldwide. Since their 2001 breakthrough hit song “How You Remind Me,” Nickelback has sent 18 singles rocketing onto various Billboard charts.
Nickelback’s now classic All The Right Reasons insured Nickelback an indelible place in rock history, spending a staggering 112 consecutive weeks in the Top 30 of the Billboard Top 200, certified 8-times platinum in the U.S. and having sold more than 11 million copies worldwide, topping charts in four countries. All The Right Reasons spun off seven multi-format singles and made Nickelback the first band in Nielsen BDS history to send five singles onto the CHR charts. All five of the album’s videos hit No. 1 on VH1’s playlist, while Nickelback has sold more than 12 million single digital downloads and more than 9 million ringtones of the album’s songs. All The Right Reasons won the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and helped the quartet to three Billboard Music Awards in 2006 and a pair of Juno Awards in Canada. And on the road, Nickelback has sold more than 2 million concert tickets over the course of the album cycle.
Source: Roadrunner Records – Sept 8, 2011
Nickelback’s Here and Now Set for Release in November
ADL Reacts to Mel Gibson’s Involvement in a Judah Maccabee Film
Warner Bros has tapped Joe Eszterhas to write and Mel Gibson will produce through his Icon Productions company a film about the life of Judean hero Judah Maccabee, with Gibson also possibly involved as director. In an interview with the Associated Press, Gibson’s publicist said WB is interested in the Oscar winner returning to the director’s chair for the project. “He is the first choice for the studio to direct it, but until there’s a deal in place and a script that’s finished, it will be his choice as to whether to direct it or not,” stated publicist Alan Nierob.
But no matter what his ultimate role is in the project – producer, director, actor – the fact Gibson, who has made anti-Semitic remarks in the past, is associated at all with a film based on the life of Maccabee has sparked controversy. Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Director Abraham H. Foxman issued the following statement in response to the news:
We would have hoped that Warner Bros. could have found someone better than Mel Gibson to direct or perhaps even star in a film on the life of the Jewish historical icon Judah Maccabee. As a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty, Judah Maccabee deserves better. It would be a travesty to have the story of the Maccabees told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people’s religious views.
Not only has Mel Gibson shown outward antagonism toward Jews and Judaism in his public statements and actions, but his previous attempt to bring biblical history to life on the screen was marred by anti-Semitism. Rather than listen to respected religious leaders, both Christian and Jewish, who voiced concerns then about the insensitive elements of his depiction of the last hours and crucifixion of Jesus, Gibson showed contempt for those voices and refused to make changes that might have helped turn his passion of hate into a passion of love.
While we do not argue with Mel Gibson’s right to make this film, we still strongly believe that Warner Bros. should reconsider Gibson’s involvement in this project.
There’s no word yet on when production is expected to begin on the untitled Judah Maccabee biopic.
Michael J Fox and Nike Team Up for Charity
For years Back to the Future fans have been after Nike to make the special ‘futuristic’ sneakers worn by Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) in Back to the Future II, and now the company’s finally done it. Nike has made 1500 pairs of the 2011 NIKE MAG shoes and they’re all to be auctioned off on eBay to benefit The Michael J Fox Foundation.
The rechargeable shoes are exact replicas of the shoes worn by Fox in the film. According to Nike, the only change from the original design is additional foam support in the ankle and toe box.
“This project is exciting to me because it brings together three very passionate audiences: the Parkinson’s community, sneakerheads and Back to the Future fans,” stated Michael J. Fox in the press release announcing the auction. “With their support we can accelerate our objective of finding a cure for Parkinson’s.”
“We wanted to translate the excitement people have for the ‘greatest shoe never made’ and for the Back to the Future into positive action,” said Mark Parker, Nike CEO, who was on the Back to the Future II set in 1988 when Fox donned the original NIKE MAG shoes. “But the long-term objective is to raise awareness so the Foundation can achieve their goal of eradicating Parkinson’s disease.”
In support of the fundraising effort, the Back to the Future creative team and executive producer Frank Marshall came up with the idea of a lost scene “to honor the original Back to the Future films and characters, capturing Doc Brown’s efforts to make Marty ‘fit in’ during his visit to 2015.” Christopher Lloyd and Donald Fullilove reprise their roles and are joined by Bill Hader and NBA star Kevin Durant in the special lost scene video.
How the Auction Works:
Each day for the duration of the ten-day auction, one hundred and fifty pairs of the 2011 NIKE MAG shoes will be made available via eBay’s Fashion Vault, a differentiated platform for select designer and branded fashion events. The auction began on September 8, 2011 and will end September 18. In addition, the shoes are listed using eBay Giving Works, the company’s innovative online philanthropy program that enables millions of people to easily connect with and donate to organizations they care about. The auction is managed by Auction Cause for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton Warrior Interview Video
Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton star as estranged brothers who battle it out in the Mixed Martial Arts arena in the dramatic film, Warrior. Directed by Gavin O’Connor (Miracle, Pride and Glory), Warrior is much more than a fight film – although the MMA scenes are simply incredible.
In this interview video, Hardy and Edgerton discuss the appeal of starring in Warrior, director O’Connor’s vision for the film, injuries, and getting into shape to step into the MMA arena.
The Plot: An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, (Joel Edgerton) a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family after being suspended from his day job. Even though years have passed, recriminations and betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father.
But when Brendan’s unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.
‘Contagion’ Movie Review
Although it’s not quite flu season, if director Steven Soderbergh has his way, a lot of people are going to think twice about what items they touch and how much Purell they slather on their hands throughout the day.
In his latest film, Contagion, a new virus hops a flight from Hong Kong, has a layover in Chicago, and lands safely in Minneapolis. Thanks to its ability to make new friends along the way, it isn’t long before transit hubs around the world make transmission of the disease easier than a 1 x 1 Rubik’s cube.
The film is a jumble of different viewpoints; ranging from doctors at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta (Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Ehle, Demetri Martin), to government/military officials (Enrico Colantoni, Bryan Cranston), to an epidemiologist from the World Heath Organization sent to Hong Kong (Marion Cotillard), to a freelance online journalist in San Francisco (Jude Law), to a Matt Damon (played by Matt Damon) in Minneapolis.
The story attempts to cover nearly every societal angle surrounding a worldwide epidemic. There are cover-up insinuations, medical procedures, and steps necessary to create a vaccine, consequences of mob mentalities and mass panic, and of course, plenty of intimate human dramas concerning the bevy of big-name actors attached to the project.
Where the film succeeds is in following the health officials as they attempt to identify a patient zero, understand this new virus, and develop a vaccine. It’s a fascinating look into the challenges real-life personnel must face in a world so dependent on speedy global travel, which is great for business but bad for any reasonable chance to quarantine diseases.
However, in attempting to cover much, much, much, MUCH more ground, Soderbergh leaves far too many plot threads dangling in the end. The focus is split into three or four different main sections, depending on how you look at it. There’s Matt Damon’s quest to keep himself and his daughter locked safely away in their home. There’s the entire CDC gang trying to develop a vaccine while also taking time to develop a few personal subplots. There’s Cotillard’s sojourn to Hong Kong to identify the origin of the virus that takes quite a turn, only to be dropped entirely until near the end. And there’s Jude Law blogging his way into notoriety, foregoing journalistic integrity for vanity and greed.
To adequately examine all of these different aspects, this would normally require a mini-series. However, using 1 hour and 45 minutes, Soderbergh either needed to decide that one or more of the main plots needed to be trimmed or excised completely, or he needed to figure out some better way to succinctly get from A to B. In particular, the Matt Damon storyline seemed far too prominent in the scope of things, but considering the working relationship between director and actor, this doesn’t come as much surprise. There are attempts to fast-forward the timeline via some electronic-music-laden montages, but more often than not, it felt gimmicky rather than organic.
All of the performances are quite good. This actually made things a bit more problematic when it came to unresolved plot points, as characters were memorable enough that it would have been nice to see more things wrapped up. While ambiguity often makes for more interesting post-film discussion, there’s a world of difference between the opportunity to fill in the gaps for one’s self and dropped storylines. This unfortunately felt far more like the latter.
For all of the bashing, the majority of elements in Contagion are done well, and it’s a topic well worth exploring in today’s global marketplace. Sadly, an inconsequential attempt to twist the story in the final minutes, a heartwarming but seemingly forced scene near the end, and far too many plot points within the script keep this from reaching its potential. But if you think it’ll be fun to make yourself paranoid about who and what you touch, go ahead and give the film a shot.
It’s far easier to recommend something like The Andromeda Strain (1971 only) or Outbreak – heck, there’s even a virological component to Rise of the Planet of the Apes and that film has the bonus element of chimpanzees – but they’re your dollars. Spend them wisely.
GRADE: C
Contagion hits theaters on September 9, 2011 and is rated PG-13 for disturbing content and some language.
Details on How to Get a Bleacher Seat at the 2012 Oscars
Starting this coming Monday at 12pm ET/9am PT movie fans will have a shot at obtaining a seat in the bleachers set up along the red carpet at the 2012 Oscars. The Academy will select random bleacher seat winners from among the applications submitted between September 12th and Sunday, September 18th at 12am ET/9pm PT.
In order to apply for a seat, you must fill out an application form available at www.oscars.org/bleachers. According to the Academy, there are only 700 seats available along the red carpet stretched down Hollywood Blvd leading up to the entrance to the Kodak Theatre where the 84th Academy Awards will take place. And after cheering on the well-dressed celebs as they walk down the red carpet, bleacher seat winners will be able to view the Oscars from a nearby location.
The 84th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Here’s a few more details on the application process supplied by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences:
– To be eligible for the random drawing, an individual must complete the application form in its entirety. Applications may only be submitted online; they may not be returned via any other method.
– Applicants may register for themselves and one guest. Duplicate registrations will not be accepted.
– Those whose names are selected in the random drawing will be notified in late September. They will then be required to submit additional information for security purposes prior to final approval. Eligible attendees will receive a confirmation letter in early January with information pertinent to the event.
– Only those individuals who have been pre-approved by the Academy will have access to the bleachers. Those who wait overnight to attempt admittance will not be granted entry.
– The Academy will not be responsible for securing travel and/or hotel accommodations for bleacher fans.
– In previous years, as many as 20,000 fans have applied online for the limited number of red carpet seats.
Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – September 8, 2011
HBO Picks Up Aaron Sorkin Project
HBO has picked up a still-untitled project from Oscar-winner screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) as announced today by the network. The hour-long series centers on “a cable news anchor (Jeff Daniels as ‘Will McAllister’), his new executive producer (Emily Mortimer as ‘MacKenzie’), his newsroom staff and their boss (Sam Waterston as ‘Charlie’). Together they set out on a patriotic and quixotic mission to do the news well in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal entanglements.”
Sorkin’s executive producing along with Scott Rudin and Alan Poul. Greg Mottola (Superbad, Paul) directs the pilot episode.
The cast also includes Alison Pill as Maggie, John Gallagher, Jr. as Jim, Olivia Munn as Sloan, Dev Patel as Neal, and Thomas Sadoski as Don.
Tony Kaye’s Detachment Picked Up by Tribeca Film
Tribeca Film has picked up distribution rights to Tony Kaye’s dramatic movie, Detachment, starring Adrien Brody, Christina Hendricks, James Caan, Marcia Gay Harden, Lucy Liu, Blythe Danner, Tim Blake Nelson, Bryan Cranston, and William Petersen. Tribeca plans to release the film in 2012.
Carl Lund wrote the script with Paper Street Films’ Austin Stark, Benji Kohn, Chris Papavasiliou and Bingo Gubelmann, Kingsgate Films’ Greg Shapiro, and Lund producing. Detachment‘s executive produced by Brody, Peter Sterling and Andre Laport.
The Plot:
Adrien Brody stars as Henry Barthes, an educator with a true talent to connect with his students. Yet Henry has chosen to bury his gift. By spending his days as a substitute teacher, he conveniently avoids any emotional connections by never staying anywhere long enough to form an attachment to either students or colleagues. When a new assignment places him at a public school where a frustrated, burned-out administration has created an apathetic student body, Henry soon becomes a role model to the disaffected youth. In finding an unlikely emotional connection to the students, teachers, and a runaway teen he takes in from the streets, Henry realizes that he’s not alone in his life and death struggle to find beauty in a seemingly vicious and loveless world.
“I was personally drawn to make the movie because I wanted to take the character of Henry Barthes and make him universal, make him all of us, and learn myself from that journey. He is the baton in a relay race, an infinite piece of clay to sculpt, a human being formed out of pain and sent to the masses to teach in the education system. Our purpose in being born is to learn and teach, and to be happy,” Kaye stated in the press release announcing the acquisition. “Looking at the ever changing landscape of film distribution, I think the Tribeca Film team is perfectly positioned to shepherd Detachment into this new exciting era.”
Detachment had its world premiere at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and will screen at the 37th Deauville Festival.
Source: Tribeca Film – September 8, 2011
The Rum Diary Poster Arrives
More on The Rum Diary:
—Photo gallery
—Details and cast list
‘Sting: The Best of 25 Years’ Coming in October
Sting fans: mark October 18th on your 2011 calendar. That’s when Cherrytree/A&M Records/Universal Music Group will release Sting: The Best of 25 Years featuring 12 remastered tracks (including newly unearthed live recordings). According to Universal, the upcoming Best of CD will include previously unreleased live versions of “Message In A Bottle,” “Demolition Man” and “Heavy Cloud No Rain.”
In addition, a box set – Sting: 25 Years – will be hitting stores on September 27th. That set will feature 3 CDs “personally curated by Sting, as well as a DVD, Rough, Raw & Unreleased: Live at Irving Plaza, featuring previously unreleased live concert footage filmed at New York City’s Irving Plaza. The discs are housed in a beautiful, hardcover book containing rare photos, complete lyrics, and newly written commentary by Sting.”
Sting: The Best of 25 Years was produced by Rob Mathes and executive produced by Sting’s manager, Kathryn Schenker.
Sting: The Best of 25 Years (Single Disc – US Version)
1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
2. We’ll Be Together
3. Fragile
4. All This Time
5. If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
6. Fields Of Gold
7. Desert Rose
8. Whenever I Say Your Name
9. Never Coming Home
10. Message In A Bottle (Live)
11. Demolition Man (Live)
12. Heavy Cloud No Rain (Live)
Single Disc – International Version
1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
2. Englishman In New York
3. We’ll Be Together
4. Fragile
5. All This Time
6. If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
7. Fields Of Gold
8. Desert Rose
9. Whenever I Say Your Name
10. Never Coming Home
11. Message In A Bottle (Live)
12. Demolition Man (Live)
13. Heavy Cloud No Rain (Live)
Double Disc – International Version
Disc One:
1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
2. Love Is The Seventh Wave
3. Moon Over Bourbon Street
4. Fortress Around Your Heart
5. Englishman In New York
6. They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)
7. Fragile
8. We’ll Be Together
9. All This Time
10. Mad About You
11. Why Should I Cry For You?
12. The Soul Cages
13. If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
14. Fields Of Gold
15. Seven Days
16. Shape Of My Heart
Disc Two:
1. When We Dance
2. I Was Brought To My Senses
3. You Still Touch Me
4. I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying
5. Desert Rose
6. Brand New Day
7. Send Your Love (Dave Aude Remix)
8. Whenever I Say Your Name
9. Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing)
10. End Of The Game
11. Never Coming Home
12. Russians (Live)
13. Message In A Bottle (Live)
14. Demolition Man (Live)
15. Heavy Cloud No Rain (Live)
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