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Amy Pascal Talks Getting ‘Fired,’ Sony Hack and Angelina Jolie Emails in Candid Interview
1 hour ago
Six days after stepping down as co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amy Pascal broke her silence on Wednesday at the Women in the World conference in San Francisco during a candid interview with journalist Tina Brown.
“All the women here are doing incredible things in this world. All I did was get fired,” she said, according to the Recode site.
Among the topics discussed were the hacked email exchanges between herself and producer Scott Rudin, the “The Interview’s” bad reviews, and the pervasive gender gap in Hollywood.
Pascal recounted the moment in November when she realized that her emails at Sony would be exposed.
“I ran this company and I had to worry about everybody who was really scared…People were really scared…But nagging in the back of my mind, I kept calling (the It department) and being like, ‘They don’t have our emails, tell me they don’t have our emails, »
- Dave McNary
Berlin Film Review: ‘Angelica’
1 hour ago
Sigmund Freud would have surely had a field day with writer-director Mitchell Lichtenstein, who has now devoted not one but two movies to women with metaphorical steel traps between their legs. In Lichtenstein’s 2007 debut, “Teeth,” the woman in question was a sexually curious teen suffering from an acute case of vagina dentata. In Lichtenstein’s latest, “Angelica,” the focus is on a wife and mother whose fragile health demands that she abstain from all pleasures of the flesh — a dietary restriction that leads to many strange bumps (and humps) in the night. The result is a looney psychosexual potboiler with one foot in “Masterpiece Theater” finery and the other in outre camp abandon, never fully satisfying on either count, but at least partly redeemed by a finely calibrated star turn from Jena Malone. Lacking the shock scares needed to sate the mainstream horror crowd, the film’s commercial prospects are decidedly limited. »
- Scott Foundas
Berlin Film Review: ‘Eisenstein in Guanajuato’
3 hours ago
Set in Mexico during the “10 days that shook” Russia’s greatest silent filmmaker, “Eisenstein in Guanajuato” marks Peter Greenaway’s raucous attempt to capture his all-time cinema idol at his moment of greatest personal discovery and deepest professional frustration — which, he takes great delight in suggesting, coincided with the loss of his virginity, at age 33, so far from his (still) homophobic homeland. Determined to breathe fresh life into a medium he insists has scarcely evolved in the 90 years since Sergei Eisenstein made “Strike,” Greenaway has wrought an outrageously unconventional and deliriously profane biopic that could take decades to be duly appreciated.
Unspooling like some sort of blasphemous passion play, the film depicts Eisenstein’s symbolic death and subsequent resurrection via an act of gay sex. “Somebody has opened the door to a wet and weepy dirty hurricane,” the Russian gushes not long after his studly Mexican guide, Palomino Canedo (Luis Alberti »
- Peter Debruge
Benghazi Movie Set at Relativity with ‘Fifty Shades’ Producer
5 hours ago
Relativity Media has teamed with producer Dana Brunetti for an untitled movie about two Americans who were killed during the 2012 terrorist attacks on the U.S. Special Mission Compound in Benghazi, Libya.
The studio bought the life rights of CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, the fomer U.S. Navy SEALs who rescued 30 Americans in the attacks at the CIA Annex in Benghazi. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith had been killed a few hours earlier in a separate attack.
Relativity has also acquired the life rights to Woods’ widow Dorothy Woods and Sean Lake, the executor of Doherty’s estate.
“Deepwater Horizon” screenwriter Matthew Sand has been hired to write the script for the Benghazi movie.
Brunetti’s credits include “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Moneyball,” “The Social Network” and “Captain Phillips.”
The Relativity project is the second about the Benghazi attack, »
- Dave McNary
Watch: Henry Cavill Teams Up with Armie Hammer in Trailer for ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’
5 hours ago
It’s back to the Cold War 1960s in Warner Bros.’ first trailer for “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”
The trailer has the look and feel of James Bond movies of that era, partcularly “From Russia with Love.”
Based on the popular 1960s TV series, Henry Cavill stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin and Alicia Vikander as Gaby Teller. Guy Ritchie directs.
Set at the height of the Cold War, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” centers on a CIA agent and Kgb agent being forced two team up on a joint mission to stop an international criminal organization, backed by former Nazis.
“I work better alone,” Cavill intones at one point, to which Hammer responds “I work better alone, too.”
Warner Bros. opens the film on Aug. 14.
»
- Dave McNary
Berlin: ‘Fifty Shades’ Dominates Red Carpet Premiere
5 hours ago
The chilly Berlin Film Festival heated up dramatically Wednesday night with the premiere of Universal’s “Fifty Shades of Grey,” which was warmly received by the fest crowd.
Helmer Sam Taylor-Johnson said she found the books cinematic and interesting, “but it was really important that it was a love story.” She added that one of her favorite days of shooting was when Dakota Johnson as Anastasia ad-libbed a scene in which she drunk dials Christian (Jamie Dornan) from a bar.
Dornan (clean shaven in the film) arrived in full beard and said he feels more comfortable with full facial hair. The actor admitted he wished that he had more than four weeks to prep before filming began. When asked how he felt about showing so much of his body onscreen, he replied, “As human beings we spend a lot of the time naked, so to me it wasn’t a big deal. »
- Kirstin Wilder
Watch: First Trailer for Bradley Cooper-Emma Stone’s ‘Aloha’
6 hours ago
Sony has released the first trailer for “Aloha,” Cameron Crowe’s Hawaii-set romantic comedy, starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams and Bill Murray.
The trailer opts for the serious side of the story, in which Cooper plays a military contractor who reconnects with a long-ago love (portrayed by McAdams) while unexpectedly falling for an Air Force watchdog, played by Stone. Murray plays a billionaire launching a satellite system.
“You’re a workaholic who creates work to avoid real work,” McAdams says in response to Cooper’s character asserting that he can’t remember why they broke up.
“I’m working on that,” he says in response.
John Krasinski, Danny McBride and Alec Baldwin also star.
Crowe directed from his own script and produced with Scott Rudin. Executive producers are Ilona Herzberg, Eli Bush and Ben Waisbren.
The film was formerly called “Deep Tiki” and “Volcano Romance.” Sony opens “Aloha »
- Dave McNary
Will the Lionsgate and Starz Flirtation End in Marriage?
6 hours ago
Shares of Lionsgate and Starz jumped Wednesday in the wake of Lionsgate’s deal with Liberty Media chairman John Malone — signalling that investors are hoping that it’s the start of a beautiful friendship.
The deal gives Lionsgate 14.5% of the voting power in Malone’s Starz in exchange for which Malone gets a 3.43% stake in Lionsgate and a seat on its board, but Wall Street thinks that if the Hollywood studio and the media consolidator like the cut of each other’s gib, the relationship could deepen.
It’s possible that Malone could end up making a play for Lionsgate or the studio behind “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” could try to take control of Starz, a collection of 13 cable channels.
Both possibilities have been speculated about for some time, although analysts caution that the media companies are still just dating.
“I don’t think anything is imminent,” said Hal Vogel, »
- Dave McNary and Brent Lang
‘Fifty Shades of Grey': A Dominatrix Reviews the Sex Scenes
8 hours ago
When E.L. James published her mega-selling 2011 erotic novel “Fifty Shades of Grey,” she introduced bondage to the mainstream with her love story about kinky businessman Christian Grey who seduces a college virgin named Anastasia Steele.
On Friday, Universal Pictures will finally unveil the much-hyped movie adaptation, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The tentpole Valentine’s release has for months generated buzz about the steamy love scenes between its two leads, played by Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.
But how realistic is the sex in “Fifty Shades?” To help answer that question, I took along an expert to an early screening in New York this week. Lena Marquise, who goes by the stage name “Mistress Lady Wednesday,” has worked as a dominatrix for a decade (she charges up to $500 an hour). Here’s what the 29-year-old had to say about the movie.
I noticed you kept laughing during the spanking scenes.
He didn’t really flog her. »
- Ramin Setoodeh
‘Focus’ Tops Weekly Movie Ad Spend
8 hours ago
In this week’s edition of the Variety Movie Commercial Tracker, powered by iSpot.tv, Will Smith’s “Focus” took the top spot on the back of an estimated $10.9 million spent on 1,110 national airings across 48 networks led by Comedy Central and FX.
This debut led a complete reshuffling of the top five. “Jupiter Ascending” rose from fourth to the second slot with an estimated $9.8 million spent on 1,165 national airings across 47 networks led by MTV and Comedy Central. In doing so, it overtook last week’s list-topper, “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” which fell to third on the back of $7.9 million spent for 1,787 national airings across 40 networks led by MTV and VH1.
“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” dipped a spot to No. 4, with $7.7 million spent on 2,522 national airings across 41 networks led by Nick and Teen Nick. Finally, newcomer “Fifty Shades of Grey” debuted on the list at fifth, with $4.8 million »
- iSpot.tv
Billy Bob Thornton and Alfred Molina Join Tina Fey’s Untitled Comedy
8 hours ago
Billy Bob Thornton and Alfred Molina have rounded out the cast of Paramount’s untitled comedy starring Tina Fey and Margot Robbie.
Martin Freeman, Nicholas Braun, Christopher Abbott, Sheila Vand, Stephen Peacocke and Evan Jonigkeit are also on board, with “Crazy Stupid Love” helmers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa directing.
Based on Kim Barker’s memoir “The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the film will recount Barker’s years as a journalist in Afghanistan and Pakistan after arriving in the the region in 2002.
Fey, Lorne Michaels and Ian Bryce are producing from a script by Robert Carlock.
Shooting is currently under way in New Mexico.
Thornton, who recently won a Golden Globe for his role in the FX series “Fargo,” was last seen in Warner Bros.’ “The Judge.” He can be seen next in “Entourage” and “Our Brand Is Crisis” opposite Sandra Bullock.
He is repped »
- Justin Kroll
Why ‘Birdman’ Will Be Mia at the WGA Awards
8 hours ago
The awards season momentum for “Birdman” — which has won the major trophies at the PGA, SAG and DGA ceremonies — is about to be halted temporarily.
When the Writers Guild of America hands out its screenwriting awards Saturday, the Oscar-nominated scripts for “Birdman” and “The Theory of Everything” won’t be named. Both scripts were excluded by the WGA last year when the guild sent out its nominations ballot to members, which included 60 scripts in the original category and 48 in adapted.
The script for “Birdman,” written by director Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo, is up for an Oscar in the original screenwriting category. Anthony McCarten’s script for “The Theory of Everything” is contending for an Oscar in the adapted screenplay contest.
The WGA restrictions on script awards are far more rigorous than those for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, SAG-aftra and the Directors Guild of America. »
- Dave McNary
Oscar Nominee ‘Virunga’ Receives Support From Clintons, Church of England
8 hours ago
In the past few weeks, the Oscar-nominated documentary “Virunga” has received some high-profile support. The film is set in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and focuses on the park rangers who literally risk their lives to protect the park and the mountain gorillas who live there. Threats include rebel groups and the U.K. oil company Soco, which seeks to exploit the park’s natural resources.
On Jan. 31 Bill and Hillary Clinton were surprise guests at a screening in New York attended by Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the film’s executive producers. And Jane Goodall, a U.N. Messenger of Peace, recently saw the film and released a statement saying, “’Virunga’ is a wake-up call. Everyone who cares about the future of the planet must see this movie, and I would like to congratulate those responsible for its birth.”
Perhaps most importantly, “Virunga” is helping to bring about actual change. »
- Variety Staff
Eric Bana to Play King Arthur’s Father in ‘Knights of the Round Table’ (Exclusive)
9 hours ago
Eric Bana is set to play Uther, the father of King Arthur, in Guy Ritchie’s “Knights of the Round Table” for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow.
Charlie Hunnam will play Arthur, with Astrid Berges-Frisbey playing Guinevere. Jude Law is also in talks for the role of the villain.
Ritchie will direct with a script from Joby Harold. Ritchie and Harold are also producing along with Lionel Wigram, Akiva Goldsman and Tory Tunnell.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, though the pic is set to open on July 22, 2016. Niija Kuykendall and Cate Adams are overseeing for the studio.
The studio hopes the film can kick-start another franchise for Warner Bros., with the story to be told over six installments.
For Bana, the role isn’t the biggest, but the studio and Ritchie were always looking for a big name for the part to make a splash for the time he is onscreen, »
- Justin Kroll
‘The Rewrite’s’ Hugh Grant: ‘A Script Must Be Romantic and Comedic’
9 hours ago
After a two-year absence from the bigscreen, Hugh Grant — who got involved in politics following the News of the World phone hacking scandal in 2011, which affected him and dozens of celebrity colleagues — is excited to make a comeback in the romantic comedy “The Rewrite.”
“It’s lovely to be back. I got involved in a big political campaign in Britain, which has devoured my life,” Grant, 54, told Variety at the film’s Cinema Society screening in New York on Tuesday night at the Landmark Sunshine Theater. “I also became a father. I keep having children. I can’t stop,” he quipped.
In “The Rewrite” — which premiered in the U.K. last October and will open in the U.S. on Friday — Grant plays an Oscar-winning Hollywood screenwriter-turned-reluctant professor at a small college, who comes to value self-worth over fame upon meeting a spirited single mom (Marisa Tomei). The movie, also »
- Paul Chi
Box Office: ‘Fifty Shades’ Eyes Valentine’s Day Weekend Record
9 hours ago
“Fifty Shades of Grey” is about to bring sadomasochism into the mainstream when it cracks the whip on what is shaping up to be the biggest Valentine’s Day weekend release in history.
The adaptation of E.L. James’ kinky story about a college student and the brooding billionaire who introduces her to to pleasures of the cuff and the gag will heat up 3,645 North American theaters. It will dominate the competition to the tune of at least $50 million. At least that’s what Universal and Focus Features, the companies behind the erotic romance, are saying. Other analysts and rivals peg the debut in the $70 million-$80 million range.
If that figure holds, it will easily trump “Valentine’s Day,” the ensemble romantic comedy that made $63 million when it debuted in 2010, as the top-grossing Valentine’s weekend release and set a new benchmark for Presidents Day weekend debuts.
It’s hard to »
- Brent Lang
Watch: New ‘Cinderella’ Trailer Shows Off Cate Blanchett as Wicked Stepmother
10 hours ago
Disney has released a new trailer for its live-action “Cinderella,” taking full advantage of Cate Blanchett’s role as the wicked stepmother Lady Tremaine.
The film, starring newcomer Lily James, opens March 13. Richard Madden (“Game of Thrones”) plays Prince Charming, who’s told to forget about Cinderella and marry someone who will help the kingdom.
“You are not free to follow your heart,” he’s told by the Duke, played by Stellan Skarsgard.
As for Blanchett, she even breaks the glass slipper in order to keep Cinderella from Prince Charming.
The cast also includes Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera, Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham Carter. Kenneth Branagh directs.
»
- Dave McNary
Tony Hale Joins ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip’ (Exclusive)
12 hours ago
“Veep” actor Tony Hale has been cast as the villain in the Fox 2000 sequel “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip,” joining Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney.
Walt Becker is directing the live-action/animated hybrid pic. Plot details of film, which followed the continued adventures of the famed singing chipmunk trio, are unknown at this time.
Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Marmen are producing; Karen Rosenfeld exec produces. The pic bows Dec. 23, 2015.
The previous three pics have been big hits for Fox 2000, grossing more than $1 billion worldwide, and hopes are similar for the fourth edition in the franchise.
Hale is set to reprise his role of Gary Walsh on the upcoming season of “Veep,” which premieres April 12 on HBO, and can be seen later this year in Kevin Smith’s “Yoga Hosers.”
Following “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip,” Hale voices a role »
- Justin Kroll
Winston Baker Teams with Variety on Entertainment Finance Forum L.A.
12 hours ago
With the entertainment industry making a revolutionary shift in the way it delivers storytelling, distributes content and markets to specific audiences, there’s a lot of room left for investors to support innovative TV, film and digital endeavors.
At the Entertainment Finance Forum L.A. conference, to be held March 9-11 at the Hollywood Roosevelt, conference producer Winston Baker, in association with Variety, will provide insight for investors and financiers and address challenges, strategies and investment opportunities in entertainment. The conference will offer sessions and workshops on fundraising, marketing, distribution and profitability.
Guest speakers include the Weinstein Co. prexy-coo David Glasser and James Moore, CEO of Vine Alternative Investments Group, which has raised a $500 million fund for TV, film and entertainment investments and has invested in Legendary Pictures, Lakeshore and Alcon.
For information on how to register, visit the event’s website.
Additional speakers include the following:
Ahmed Nassef, Founder and CEO, »
- Lisa Schulz
What’s in the Oscar Nominees’ 2015 Gift Bag? Just $125K in Swag
12 hours ago
Don’t feel bad for the Academy Award nominees who go home empty-handed on Oscar night; none of this year’s best actor/actress, supporting actor/actress and director contenders should be sore losers when they see the contents of their gift bags, valued at more than $125,000.
In addition to the usual smorgasbord of luxury skincare products and high-end accessories associated with these annual goodie bags, this year’s giveaway includes a number of jaw-dropping highlights: a three-night stay at a resort in Tuscany valued at $1,500; a luxury train ride through the Canadian Rockies worth more than $14,500; natural French Mediterranean sea salts worth $1,500; a custom silver necklace inscribed with the latitude and longitude coordinates of the Dolby Theater from Lat & Lo at $150; a “glamping” trip valued at $12,500; a $800 gift certificate for a custom candy and dessert buffet; a $250 Haze vaporizer; a $250 Afterglow vibrator; a Wellness 360 gift pack worth $1,200; a year »
- Marianne Zumberge
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