Archive for January, 2008

Equity Media's RTN Adds Two Media General Affiliates

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 29, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Retro Television Network (RTN), which is owned and distributed by Equity Media Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:EMDA), announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Media General to bring RTN programming to Mobile, AL/Pensacola, FL and Columbus, GA. The new affiliates will launch in the second quarter of this year on a digital stream of WKRG, the CBS affiliate in Mobile/Pensacola, and WRBL, the CBS affiliate in Columbus.

Fanboy Bites: Young Kirk Cast, New ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ and Noyce Dumps Earhart

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

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The Sundance Flu, The Sundance Cold, The Sundance Fever ... how about The Sundance I Feel Like Complete Sh*t ...

Looks like J.J. Abrams does plan to go all Wonder Years for his Star Trek flick! Coming Soon reports that 11-year-old (about to be 12) Jimmy Bennett has landed a role as Young Kirk in Abrams' upcoming Star Trek film, due out at Christmas. Bennett has played a little kid in films like Hostage, Firewall, Poseidon and Evan Almighty. A young Spock will also be featured, leading this writer to believe both characters will appear in the film and talk about how much they "like, like" Winnie Cooper. Fingers crossed.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed (what was already previously reported) that New Line is in talks with Platinum Dunes to re-launch the franchise that helped secure their name as one of the big players in town, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Dunes partners Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form will produce, and a writer will be hired once the strike comes to an end. Since it's a full-out re-do, expect Robert Englund to not play Freddy Krueger, though we imagine he'll still have a role in the film (perhaps as part of Freddy's family). God bless the guy they get to fill his shoes; he'll have to convince tons of hardcore fans that he's the real deal. Dunes and New Line are also prepping a re-launch of the Friday the 13th franchise, with Marcus Nispel directing.

And finally, though it's not really a fanboy film (but I needed one more thing to throw in here, so cut me some slack), Moviehole reports that director Phillip Noyce has officially dropped out of that planned Amelia Earhart biopic starring Hilary Swank. MH spoke with Noyce, who gave the following reason for his departure: "I had worked on Amelia for 5 months from July to end of December 2007, finding all the locations and extensively storyboarding the flying sequences - When it didn't appear that the film was going ahead, I had to make a painful decision to move on and returned to a project that had long fascinated me... Mary Queen of Scots. Scarlett Johansson will play Mary in a film to be shot on location in Scotland, England and Ireland during 2008." Apparently Swank is still attached to the film, which we all thought was moving ahead as planned (script issues, maybe), so we'll keep you updated and let you know what happens.

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Williams Puts Films on Hold to Mourn Ledger’s Death

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

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In my opinion, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams were both coming into their own when Ledger passed away early last week. The day before Ledger's death, I had a chance to watch Williams absolutely kill in the Sundance flick Incendiary -- her greatest performance yet, in my opinion. Both actors (who were married engaged, but separated) were approaching super-stardom, however we're now left to track the future career of only one. And regarding her future career, People reports that Michelle Williams will put all her films on hold for an undetermined amount of time while she grieves the loss of Ledger.

The actress had just finished shooting her last scene for the film Mammuth in Sweden when she heard the bad news, and now production on Blue Valentine, her next flick, has been postponed (it was supposed to begin shooting on February 25). The film stars Williams and Ryan Gosling as a couple struggling with their marriage. A source close to the production told People, "We will hold off until she is ready. The production is in the process of sorting it out in respect to her. We're hoping she will still come back and do the film and are happy to wait. The film is tailor made for those two so of course we would want to wait. You can't get much better than them." We'll be sure to keep you updated; in the meantime, keep an eye out for Incendiary -- the gal is a powerhouse in that film.

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F1-X Makes Pit Stop at Dubai Grand Racing

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 29, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Those that have a craving for fast cars, eXuberance, adventure, eXcitment, and thrills are getting ready to soon leave behind their favourite video-console games and head off to eXperience the real thing! The 2009 launch of F1-X in MotorCity was announced at the Dubai Autodrome with much flair in the presence of thousands of spectators and media.

Classmates.com 2008 Romance Poll Results Revealed for Valentine's Day; Over 90 Percent of Respondents Thought About or Want to be Contacted by Past Loves

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
RENTON, Wash., Jan. 29, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Valentine's Day is fast approaching along with thoughts of current romance, but also past loves. Classmates.com (www.classmates.com), a leading online social networking service, polled its community of more than 40 million members and found that more than 90% of respondents either thought of their first love or high school sweetheart in the last year or would like to be contacted by an old flame.

POLL: Has Quentin Tarantino Crossed the Line?

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

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For those who don't know, Quentin Tarantino was floating around Sundance last week, mainly to promote the film Hell Ride (which he produced). Cinematical spotted him a few times in our hotel bar, but that was about it. We drank in our corner, he drank in his corner and the world was a safe and happy place. Others, however, actually approached the guy for either a pic or to say what's up. I know one fellow blogger who asked Tarantino for a photo outside the Hell Ride premiere, only to have the guy flat out reject him as if he were asking for a million dollars and a lap dance. Then, not long after hearing that story, this video clip popped up on YouTube.

It shows Tarantino exiting a Starbucks in Park City, while some dude points a camera in his face. Right off the bat, Tarantino is edgy; asking continuously what this whole camera thing is all about. Yet, it appears the guy attempts to answer, only Tarantino won't let him. Instead, the Pulp Fiction director shoves the guy, threatens to fight and then both get all tough with one another -- like those days back in the schoolyard when each kid would wait for the other to throw the first punch. Now I'm on the fence as to whether Tarantino is in the right here. It does take awhile for the guy to even attempt to pony up his reason for being there, but Tarantino doesn't give him much breathing room. Plus, it's Sundance -- these guys aren't in the middle of nowhere. If you're a big celebrity, you have to understand folks will be interested in photographing you during the festival, be it at a party, a premiere or outside a Starbucks. But what do you think?

View Poll

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Crazy Sean Young Ejected from DGA Awards Show

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

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You remember Sean Young, right? The actress who commandeered Cinematical's cameras back at ComicCon 2007 to tell us of her big plans to return to the "A-list?" Her other greatest hits include stalking James Woods, being fired from the role of Tess Trueheart in Dick Tracy and mounting a public media campaign in 1992 to secure the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns. Well, now she's got a new one to add to the collection: according to a number of sources, including Variety, the actress was forcefully ejected from Saturday night's Director's Guild Awards ceremony for loudly heckling Julian Schnabel during his award acceptance speech. On the way out, she tried to clock one of the security guards for good measure. Variety's report is a little short on the details, but thankfully Defamer.com also had a source on the inside and gives a much more colorful account of the goings-on. Before the main episode with Schnabel, they report, Young got off to a rollicking start by "screaming in French" at Marion Cotillard, breaking into song and yelling at a video montage of Michael Clayton.

When Schnabel finally made it to the stage, that's when all hell broke loose. Young yelled at Schnabel throughout his speech, urging him to "get on with it" and "move it on" finally prompting Schnabel to yell back that she should have another drink. She then made a big show of putting on her fur coat and apparently walked in circles around her chair before security came over and "grabbed her arm and yanked her through the tables to the side door and tossed her out." Say what you want about Sean, she was still pretty good in Blade Runner. They can't take that away from her!

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Baby Mama – Trailer 1

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
  Baby Mama - Trailer 1
In a comedy that brings together some of today’s sharpest talent, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler team with writer/director Michael McCullers and producers Lorne Michaels and John Goldwyn to tell the story of two women, one apartment and the nine months that will change their lives: Baby Mama. Successful and single businesswoman Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey) has long put her career ahead of a personal life. Now 37, she’s finally determined to have a kid on her own. But her plan is thrown a curve ball after she discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant. Undaunted, the driven Kate allows South Philly working girl Angie Ostrowiski (Amy Poehler) to become her unlikely surrogate. Simple enough… After learning from the steely head (Sigourney Weaver) of their surrogacy center that Angie is pregnant, Kate goes into precision nesting mode: reading childcare books, baby-proofing the apartment and researching top pre-schools. But the executive’s well-organized strategy is turned upside down when her Baby Mama shows up at her doorstep with no place to live. An unstoppable force meets an immovable object as structured Kate tries to turn vibrant Angie into the perfect expectant mom. In a comic battle of wills, they will struggle their way through preparation for the baby’s arrival. And in the middle of this tug-of-war, they’ll discover two kinds of family: the one you’re born to and the one you make.
Directed by: Michael McCullers
Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Romany Malco

Bonneville – Trailer

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
  Bonneville - Trailer
Jessica Lange, Joan Allen and Kathy Bates hit the road in BONNEVILLE, a story about three friends who ”come of age” for a second time on a trip across the great American West. Faced with the decision of a lifetime, Arvilla Holden (Lange) loads up her 1966 Bonneville convertible and, with her friends (Allen, Bates) in tow, sets out from Pocatello, Idaho en route to Santa Barbara. As they detour to spots like Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas, it doesn’t take long for the women to realize Arvilla has something unexpected in store. But what none of them realize is that what began as a simple trip will end up becoming a chance to rediscover themselves, their friendship, the importance of promises - and of letting go. Also starring Tom Skerritt and Christine Baranski, BONNEVILLE unites three of the most acclaimed actresses of our time in a story that celebrates fun, adventure and living life to the fullest.
Directed by: Christopher Rowley
Starring: Jessica Lange, Joan Allen, Kathy Bates

Meet the Browns – Trailer 1

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
  Meet the Browns - Trailer 1
A funny, moving romantic drama about the power of love and family, Lionsgate’s TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS marks another winning portrayal of life by writer/director/actor Tyler Perry (DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN, MADEA’S FAMILY REUNION) and features a return to the big screen by Madea, the indomitable, law-breaking, fun-loving grandma. A single mother living in inner city Chicago, Brenda has been struggling for years to make ends meet and keep her three kids off the street. But when she’s laid off with no warning, she starts losing hope for the first time – until a letter arrives announcing the death of a father she’s never met. Desperate for any kind of help, Brenda takes her family to Georgia for the funeral. But nothing could have prepared her for the Browns, her father’s fun-loving, crass Southern clan. In a small-town world full of long afternoons and country fairs, Brenda struggles to get to know the family she never knew existed…and finds a brand new romance that just might change her life. Based on the popular stage production of the same name, TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS is a charming story about the joys of family, and the possibility of second chances. TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS was produced, written and directed by Tyler Perry, and produced by Reuben Cannon.
Directed by: Tyler Perry
Starring: Angela Bassett, Rick Fox, Margaret Avery, Frankie Faison, Jenifer Lewis