Friday, October 28, 2011

AFM: Exclusive Media Group Backs Comedy Outrun With Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell And Bradley Cooper

Exclusive Media Group acquired offshore rights to Outrun, a romantic comedy written and co-directed by Dax Shepard. Shepard stars with Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper and Tom Arnold. David Palmer directs with Shepard. Shepard plays an ex getaway driver who breaks the recommendations of Witness Protection to operate a vehicle his girlfriend (Bell) to La so she'll land her dream job. Government physiques and also the former gang (introduced by Cooper) get wise and continue to track him lower. Andrew Panay is creating with Nate Tuck, Kim Waltrip and Jim Casey. Exclusive co-chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East introduced the project to promote throughout AFM. Exclusive Films Worldwide’s Alex Walton will handle sales for your film, which just wrapped. Exclusive most recently completed The Ides of March.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Philip K. Dick Family Sues for 'Adjustment Bureau' Film Royalties

Universal Has got the copyright on Philip K. Dick's short story that grew to become the film The Adjustment Bureau been modified from existence? The late sci-fi author's trust has prosecuted Media Privileges Capital and filmmaker George Nolfi declaring they're declining to pay for roylties in the 2011 film starring Matt Damon simply because they claim the storyline is incorporated in the public domain. The suit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in La, claims Nolfi contacted the estate in 2001 seeking privileges towards the Adjustment Team, Dick's 1953 story about several males who "adjust" the lives of regular people. The estate decided to license the storyline in a "bargain" rate of $25,000 each year, however in exchange, Nolfi stated he'd make "substantial obligations" towards the trust when the movie ever happened. These obligations totalled into the millions dollars when budget and box office bonuses are considered in, based on the suit. Eight years later, Nolfi set the film as a writing and pointing vehicle for themself at Media Privileges Capital with Damon starring and Universal Pictures delivering. But per month following the film was launched in March 2011, Nolfi and MRC allegedly stated they discovered "an problem using the copyright chain of title for Adjustment Team" the accused now claim enables these phones result in the movie without having to pay the trust anything. The suit refers to this as theory absurd: "So, despite getting become their advantages of the bargain, accused aim to deny the trust of their side from the deal," the complaint alleges. The trust claims the filmmaker and MRC capitalized on the need for Dick's title and discussed an offer in good belief, and therefore ought to be needed to repay. "Using heavy-handed means, they aim to 'adjust' contracts joined into sometime ago, 'adjust' determinations made sometime ago through the U.S. Copyright office, as well as 'adjust' history in order to hoard every money rightfully gained through the estate from the guy whose genius inspired what's unquestionably a very effective film," the complaint states. The accused are MRC II Distribution Company, MRC Holdings, Oaktree Entertainment, Nolfi and Michael Hackett. Universal isn't a defendant. The suit alleges reasons for action for breach of contract, money had and received, quantum meruit, illegal enrichment, in addition to declaratory relief regarding copyright privileges and privileges under contract. We've arrived at to Nolfi reps and MRC for comment. Trust lawyer Justin Goldstein also offers launched the next statement: Philip K. Dick's trust and beneficiaries were partners all the means by lending time, support and cooperation throughout the expansion, production, marketing and discharge of "The Adjustment Bureau." Quickly following the movie was launched and also the money began flowing in, the filmmakers and Media Privileges Capital tried to cut the Trust out entirely, and grab every last dollar on their own. To try and justify this greedy move, they're saying that contracts and copyright filings that they, their lawyers, and agents examined and approved -- and that the U.S. Copyright Office fortunate not once but two times -- are actually wrong. With respect to the an incredible number of fans worldwide of the visionary sci-fi author, it genuinely saddens us thatthe matter needed to achieve this time. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni

REVIEW: The Double Chokes on Cold-War Tropes, Gere-Sophistication Mismatch

The Double shows its cards immediately, once the screen fills having a cable news show which a congressman demands “Russia’s back!,” observing the country has reignited its nuclear program, its leader is freely hostile toward the U.S. and contains more covert agents within our edges than in the past. Russia’s back, baby! And such a relief that's, a minimum of when it comes to spy thrillers — things appeared a lot simpler within the Cold War days, if this would be a straightforward case of superpower versus superpower, a great schism of ideology, and all sorts of an actress required to caused by play a theif was affect a highlight as well as an air of stoicism. The Double, which marks the directorial debut of Michael Brandt, a film writer on Wanted and three:10 to Yuma, revels in Iron Curtain kitsch while involving in gruesomely clichd set-ups including sleeper agents, code-named assassin cells along with a weary former CIA agent being attracted from retirement and instructed to partner by having an FBI eager beaver. That CIA representative is Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), who lives alone and makes time to take the periodic neighborhood Little League game. (When he informs mom of among the gamers this because they sit together within the stands, she’s charmed, and doesn’t appear whatsoever like she’s going to determine the sex-offender registry the moment she will get home.) He’s unwillingly summoned into the fold by his former boss (Martin Sheen, who warrants to possess received more to complete), who thinks the current murder of the senator shows the signature of “Cassius” — the title the CIA gave to some top Soviet assassin who had been the only real person in several seven agents never to happen to be caught. There’s been no manifestation of Cassius for a long time, and Paul, who lead the efforts to trap another six murders, demands it’s a copycat situation which his old enemy is dead. Nonetheless, he’s teamed with Ben Geary (Topher Sophistication), an FBI up-and-comer who authored his master’s thesis at Harvard on Paul’s monitoring of Cassius, and who’s convinced the assassin has reemerged. Paul, it's understandable, doesn’t immediately decide to try being combined with this snot-nosed kid. He doesn’t really speak what “snot-nosed kid,” but he is doing bark, “Where had you been once the wall came lower?”, that Ben genially solutions he was watching it in TV rather than mentioning he was likely in elementary school. Gere hasn't been an excessively significant actor, and the initial dislike of Ben and gradual conditioning to him blend right into a general air of bemusement, as though he’s always mildly surprised to locate themself discussing a screen with Sophistication. There’s reason to that particular — Sophistication is sorely miscast here, every kind of authority to become believed with so that as a loving family guy and father of two. I don’t dislike him being an actor, but his vague smarminess undercuts any expertise or likability he’s designed to possess. You don’t want Paul to understand to respect Ben, you would like him to ditch the man and prevent taking his calls. Despite the lack of chemistry between your film’s two leads, The Double does contain some wonderfully over-the-top twists which make no sense but they are very exciting to think about. One early reveal requires the identity from the double agent the title describes, and adds some serious complications towards the mission at hands. The implausibilities put on because the story goes along — the film sandwiches in flashbacks to 1988, by which everybody looks the identical but they are shot via a filter, after which jumps into the current day analysis, by which Paul and Ben interrogate another survivor in the number of assassins, performed by Stephen Moyer. How come Moyer seem like Yakov Smirnoff while Cassius talks perfect American British? How's Paul in a position to identify a normal-searching suede coat as Russian-made in a single glance? Exactly what does the shady informant/dealer of products in the homeland sell he couldn’t placed on display in a niche store — unlicensed Russian cleaning soap operas? Unpasteurized milk products? Should you’re going to obtain the Double tolerable, it’s better to let these and also the a number of other questions that arise slide. Despite commonalities, this film is several steps lower the ladder from Salt and lacks the charisma of the lead like Julia Roberts to drag you past nagging silliness. The Double does run a couple of nicely done setpieces, together with a highlight including a prison breakout and the other moment in flashback that seems to gain access to in the training sequence in Shiri. However the film provides no real deliberation over the complications of existence like a double agent, on national loyalty and sacrifice or perhaps the standard sad assassin angst. The only real emotion it brings about is Cold War nostalgia — in Russia, direct-to-Dvd and blu-ray involves you. Follow Alison Willmore on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Monday, October 24, 2011

'Walking Dead' large overseas

The Walking Dead scared up top rankings for Fox The country. "The Walking Dead," which set rankings records if this began its second season on AMC earlier this year, is breaking marks abroad too. "Dead" viewership on Fox Worldwide channels (the show's overseas distrib) broke records in The country and quintupled the very first-season viewership average in Mexico. Overall, the series' second-season preem drawn in certain ten million audiences in 122 nations within the rollout period for that episode, which went from March. 17 to 23, with typically a couple rating over the metered marketplaces. The cream from the grisly crop might be The country: Kantar reviews the March. 17 The spanish language preem from the undead-centric series attracted 432,000 pairs of scrumptious eyeballs, using the huge majority -- 316,000 -- within the 18-49 demo. The show gave the ten-year-old Fox The country its greatest demo amounts ever and drawn in nearly five occasions the typical from the show's rookie season. On Forex within the Uk, the series was no. 2 show from the evening on pay TV within the 18-49 demo overall, 693,000 audiences updated in, with 439,000 of these grown ups under 50. The series arrived first within the demo on Fox in Columbia with 269,950 total audiences and 92,240 in 18-49. Auditel/AGB reviews the Italian preem from the gory drama's second season on Fox drawn in 200,000 total audiences, becoming the greatest-ranked show within the demo all seasons for that network, and putting it at No. 2 across all pay TV for that evening. In Mexico (also on Fox), the series raked in 296,000 audiences, with 157,430 within the 18-49 demo, quintupling audiences from last season. The series received a couple.8 rating and nabbed the very best place within the demo for that evening. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Monday, October 17, 2011

Which 3 Movies Are the Most Pirated Films of All Time?

Earlier this month, Netflix released a list of their ten most-rented movies ever. It was a strange selection that shocked and saddened us — Sandra Bullock’s films The Blind Side and Crash ranked first and second, while the abominable, Jack Nicholson-Morgan Freeman terminal illness buddy comedy The Bucket List finished third. But weep for America’s horrendous taste no more — TorrentFreak has ranked the most pirated titles of all time and they are much more respectable selections. Can you guess what they are? 1. Avatar (2009) - 21 million downloads 2. The Dark Knight (2008) - 19 million downloads 3. Transformers (2007) - 19 million downloads You totally saw that coming right, given the box office popularity of those titles and the demographic of movie pirates? For the complete list of the ten most pirated films, head over to FilmDrunk. Like the top three titles, the rest of the list is not that surprising, save for one alterna-superhero comic book movie that underperformed at the box office. All other ranked films grossed at least $250 million worldwide. The above download estimates were culled from public BitTorrent trackers which chronicles download activity dating back to 2006. [via FilmDrunk]

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

X Factor: Beyonce for everyone as L.A. Reid's Guest Mentor

X Factor, Beyonce and L.A. Reid Beyonce would be the "Only Girl (On the planet)" when she mentors the boys group around the X Factor. The "Umbrella" singer, 23, would be the guest mentor for judge L.A. Reid's group throughout the Judges' Houses round from the competition. Throughout this round, each judge takes their group for their home or perhaps a location of the selecting to utilize the participants on the more intimate level and also to also bring another mentor to assist them to out. Mariah Carey to mentor X Factor performers ... from Simon Cowell's crib? We have spent using their judge and guest mentor, each contestant must then perform to prove why they should be selected for his or her judge's final category. Although it's been reported that Mariah Carey assists as Simon Cowell's guest mentor, another three guest mentors will not be formally revealed until Wednesday's show. The X Factor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on Fox. Cure do you consider ought to be a guest mentor for that participants?

Fall TV Popularity Contest: Do You Want to Keep Last Man Standing Company?

Tim Allen Is Last Man Standing first on your TV Watchlist?Tell us what you thought of the ABC sitcom - and what you think of every new series this season.Are you glad Tim Allen's back on the small screen? Or was his family man act better on Home Improvement? Vote now! And encourage your friends and other fans to vote, too.Vote: Which fall premieres won you over? Which flopped?Check back all fall to see what TVGuide.com users think of your favorite - and least favorite - new shows. And stay tuned to see the final rankings of the season's most liked and disliked debuts.Here's ahandy calendar to help you keep track of premiere dates and when to vote.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Morning Grind: Nora Ephron Attached to Write and Direct Nora Ephron-y Movie

Time for your Tuesday pop quiz: Will the latest Nora Ephron movie be about a modern "Gotham girl" transported into Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice'? It probably will! Variety reports that Ephron is attached to write and direct 'Lost in Austen,' an adaptation of the BBC miniseries of the same name. 'Bond 23' director Sam Mendes will produce, while Sony will handle release duties. No word on casting yet, but perhaps Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway and/or Amy Adams will want to brush-up their resumes (Mindy Kaling should too, just in case Ephron wants to get adventurous with her casting). [Variety] '50/50' scene-stealer Anna Kendrick, Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, Sam Elliott and Brendan Gleeson are the latest additions to 'The Company You Keep,' Robert Redford's political thriller co-starring Redford, Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, Brit Marling, Julie Christie, Stanley Tucci and Richard Jenkins. Just a few people! [Variety] Remember the story on Friday about 'Dredd' director Pete Travis being fired off the production? Big misunderstanding! "During all stages of the filmmaking, 'Dredd' has been a collaboration between a number of dedicated creative parties. From the outset we decided on an unorthodox collaboration to make the film. This situation has been misinterpreted," Travis and writer Alex Garland said in a statement. "To set the record straight, Pete was not fired and remains a central part of the collaboration, and Alex is not seeking a co-director credit. We are all extremely proud of the film we have made, and respectfully suggest that it is judged on viewing when its released next year." [LAT/24 Frames] Universal signed Vin Diesel and his production company One Race Films to a two-year first-look production deal. Translation: 'Fast and Furious 15'! [Variety] What was once rumor is now closer to fact: Variety reports 'Rock of Ages' star Diego Boneta is in talks to play Adam in 'Paradise Lost.' Camilla Belle is in talks to play Eve in the Alex Proyas-directed adaptation of John Milton's epic poem. [Variety] From our sister site The Boot, "10 Country Singers Who Also Shine on the Silver Screen." Just a guess: No. 1 will totally surprise you. [The Boot] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Monday, October 3, 2011

Italian Appeals Court Clears Amanda Knox Of Murder

First Launched: October 3, 2011 4:59 PM EDT Credit: AFP/Getty Images Caption Amanda Knox responds within the announce in the verdict of her appeal trial inside the Meredith Kercher murder, Perugia, Italia, on October 3, 2011PERUGIA, Italia -- An Italian appeals court released Amanda Knoxs murder conviction Monday and bought the youthful American freed after over 3 years jail time for your dying of her British roommate. Knox flattened in tears following a verdict knocking over her 2009 conviction was read out. Her co-defendant, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, also was removed of killing 21-year-old Meredith Kercher in 2007. The Kercher family looked on grimly along with a little dazed since the verdict was read through the judge after 11 several hours of eliberations with the eight-member jury. Outdoors the courthouse, a couple of from the hundreds of experts screamed Shame, shame! Yet inside the frescoed courtroom, Knoxs parents, who've regularly traveled utilizing their home in Dallas to Perugia to visit the 24-year-old within the last four years, hugged their lawyers and cried with pleasure. Weve been waiting for this for four years, mentioned among Sollecitos lawyers, Giulia Bongiorno. The judge upheld Knoxs conviction around the charge of slander for accusing bar owner Diya Patrick Lumumba of undertaking the killing. He set the sentence at three years, meaning for time offered. Knox has existed prison since November. 6, 2007. Prosecutors can appeal the acquittal to Italys finest court. There's unsure late Monday once they planned to get this done. In Dallas, of a dozen Knox supporters were overjoyed they remains taken off the murder conviction. Shes free! which we managed to get happen! they screamed inside a hotel where they seen legal court proceedings on tv. Earlier Monday, Knox tearfully told legal court she did not kill her roommate. Knox frequently paused for breath and fought against against back tears as she spoke in Italian for the eight people in the jury in the packed courtroom, but handled to help keep her composure through the ten-minute address. Ive lost a pal inside the worst, most brutal, most inexplicable way possible, she mentioned in the 2007 murder of Kercher, who shared an apartment with Knox after they were both students in Perugia. Im needing to pay with my existence for items that I didnt do. Knox and Sollecito, Knoxs former boyfriend from Italia, were billed this past year of sexually attacking and killing Kercher, who was simply stabbed to dying in their mattress room. Knox was sentenced to 26 years jail time, Sollecito to 25. They both deny wrongdoing. I never hurt anybody, never throughout my existence, Sollecito mentioned Monday within the own speech for the jury. hundreds of eager experts collected outdoors the courthouse while watching lengthy looked forward to announcement, joining television vans that have been camped out for more than per week. One hundred reporters were being allowed into the undercover courtroom. Experts lined the street inducing the courthouse, capturing since the two vans moving Knox and Sollecito within the prison for the court passed. Kerchers mother, sister together with a brother traveled to Perugia for your verdict. They'd expressed worry over the potential for an acquittal but told reporters as deliberations were showed up they wanted the jury would perform the best factor and not suffer with the medias concentrate on the situation. As extended simply because they decide today based purely round the information at hands and so they dont think about the media hype, In my opinion justice will probably be found, the sufferers sister, Stephanie Kercher, told reporters. She mentioned your family was happy with the first choices. She lamented that Meredith happen to be most forgotten on television circus all over the situation, with news photos more frequently showing Knox and Sollecito than Mez the sufferers nickname. Its difficult to keep her memory alive in the majority of the, she mentioned. Your family, however, mentioned it could know the Knox familys media campaign. They fully trust her innocence. You can't blame them for the, mentioned Lyle Kercher, the sufferers brother. Nonetheless its clearly hard for people. Since the verdict was broadcast live, hundreds of reporters and camera deckie's filled the undercover, frescoed courtroom before Knoxs address, while police outdoors cordoned in the entrance for the tribunal. The trial has intrigued audiences worldwide: Knox and Sollecito happen to be billed of killing Meredith using what the reduced court mentioned had begun just like a drug-fueled sexual assault. Knox was adament Monday that they nothing associated with the murder which Kercher will be a friend who was simply always nice to her. Gesticulating, sometimes gripping her hands together, the American mentioned she's always wanted justice for Kercher. She'd her mattress room alongside mine, she was destroyed inside our own apartment. If I had been there your evening, I'd be dead, Knox mentioned. However I wasn't there. I did not kill. I did not rape. I did not steal. I wasnt there, Knox mentioned. Following a morning court session, Knox was while using prison chapel, playing guitar and singing as she anticipated the verdict, according to an Italian lawmaker who visited her jail time Monday. They're clearly most likely probably the most difficult several hours, Rocco Girlanda, which has headed a deal in Italia intended for Knox, told The Connected Press. Time never seems to feed. Also billed in separate proceedings was Rudy Hermann Guede, just a little-time drug dealer and drifter who spent nearly all his existence in Italia after coming here from his native Ivory Coast. Guede was billed in the separate fast-track procedure and saw his sentence cut to 16 years within the final appeal. Lawyers for Knox and Sollecito believe Guede was the only real killer, nevertheless the prosecution together with an attorney for your Kercher family condition that bruises and inadequacies in defensive wounds on Kerchers body prove that there's several aggressor holding her into submission. Knox mentioned she'd just a passing acquaintance with Guede, who carried out basketball inside a court near to the house, and didnt know his title. Sollecito, who addressed legal court before Knox, told jurors he were not sure Guede whatsoever. Sollecito was anxious while he addressed legal court, shifting while he spoke and stopping to sip water. He mentioned right before the November. 1, 2007 murder will be a happy time for him, he was close to safeguarding his thesis to complete college combined with only met Knox. The weekend Kercher was wiped out was the initial the pair planned to get together in tenderness and cuddles, he mentioned. Within the finish of his 17-minute address, Sollecito needed off a white-colored rubber bracelet imprinted with Free Amanda and Raffaele he mentioned he's been wearing for four years. I haven't taken it well. Many feelings are concentrated in this bracelet, he mentioned. Now If only to pay for homage for the court. The moment to get rid of it's turned up. Copyright 2011 by Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.