Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- J.K. Simmons Joins 'Justice League' as Commissioner Gordon
- Zendaya Joins 'Spider-Man' Reboot in Mysterious Key Role
- Johnny Depp Had a Surprise Cameo on 'The Walking Dead' Last Night (Sort of)
- 7 Best DC Movie Villains Ever
- Michel and Sookie Reunion! See 'Gilmore Girls' Revival Star's New Photo
- Now Tom Hiddleston Wants to Be Bond: 'I Would Not Take It Lightly'
- What's New on Netflix, TV, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: March 7-13
- 'Civil War': 25 Things We Learned on the Set From Team Captain America
- Is 'Downton Abbey' Really Over? Here's an Update on Movie and Spinoff Plans
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt Explains 'Sandman' Exit, Neil Gaiman Responds
- Christian Bale: 'I Didn't Quite Nail It' as Batman, But I'm Done
- 'Miss Peregrine' Author Defends Tim Burton's Movie Changes
- Jimmy Kimmel to Host 2016 Emmys: 'I Have a Feeling I'm Going to Be Great'
- 'Fargo': 10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About the Coen Brothers' Classic
- 'The Walking Dead' Season 6, Episode 12 Recap: Who Will Save Your Soul
- How 'Zootopia' Conquered the Box Office
- Weekend Box Office: 'Zootopia' Hops Into the Top Spot, Defeats 'Deadpool'
- Nancy Reagan, Actress and Former First Lady, Dead at 94
| J.K. Simmons Joins 'Justice League' as Commissioner Gordon Posted:  J.K. Simmons is trading in one iconic comic book supporting character for another: After originating the role of newsman J. Jonah Jameson in Marvel's first three "Spider-Man" flicks, Simmons will now play Batman ally Commissioner James Gordon in DC's upcoming "Justice League" film.The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop that the Oscar winner has joined up with the rival comic powerhouse, quashing fans' hopes that he would reprise his Jameson role in Marvel's upcoming threeboot of the "Spider-Man" franchise. But Simmons didn't earn that Oscar for nothing; the chameleonic actor will no doubt shine as Gordon, a key figure in Batman's storyline. The importance of that Batman connection is perhaps one of the reasons why Simmons nabbed the part: He recently co-starred with current Bruce Wayne actor Ben Affleck in the action flick "The Accountant," which is due out this fall. Though no official word has come from either actor, it would make sense if Affleck encouraged Simmons to take the Gordon role if they enjoyed working together before. However he wound up as part of the production, Simmons's presence in the ensemble adds another level of gravitas to the heavily-anticipated epic, which also co-stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, and Ray Fisher. We can't wait to see him in action. "Justice League: Part One" starts production in April. It hits theaters on November 17, 2017. [via: The Hollywood Reporter] Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Zendaya Joins 'Spider-Man' Reboot in Mysterious Key Role Posted:  Marvel and Sony's joint reboot of the "Spider-Man" franchise has cast a mysterious new role, with actress and singer Zendaya joining the ensemble.Deadline reports that Zendaya will play "a key role" in the new Spidey flick, alongside titular star Tom Holland. Just what that role entails remains to be seen, however, since plot details are being kept heavily under wraps. According to Deadline, it's unlikely that the actress will be playing a romantic role (like famous Peter Parker girlfriends Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy); her character's name is believed to be Michelle. Variety has some additional intel, confirming Deadline's report that Zendaya won't be a love interest, and adding that the actress isn't even considered to be a lead in the flick. Instead, Variety says, "She will, however, play a bigger part in future installments." The new "Spider-Man" franchise -- the third iteration of the character to hit the big screen since 2002 -- is going back to Peter Parker's high school days, and will apparently have a John Hughes vibe. Zendaya is no stranger to catering to the teenage crowd, having gotten her start on Disney programs "Shake It Up!" and "K.C. Undercover." The actress has graduated to more adult fare in recent years, including appearances on "Dancing With the Stars" and a guest starring gig on "Black-ish." "Spider-Man" is set to hit theaters on July 7, 2017. [via: Deadline, Variety] Photo credit: Getty Images for FIJI Water This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Johnny Depp Had a Surprise Cameo on 'The Walking Dead' Last Night (Sort of) Posted:  Eagle-eyed "The Walking Dead" fans may have noticed a familiar face on last night's episode of the zombie drama: Johnny Depp. But before you frantically rewind trying to find the actor, you should know that it wasn't actually Depp himself who made an appearance -- just his likeness.The sly cameo came about thanks to longtime "Walking Dead" makeup master and executive producer Greg Nicotero, who also directed last night's installment, "Not Tomorrow Yet." In the scene where Rick, Jesus, and Andy are trying to decide which severed zombie head to pass off as Gregory's, in an effort to gain access to the Saviors's compound, audiences see three heads sitting on the ground; it turns out that the one on the far right is actually based on a mold of Depp's face.  Depp had no idea that he'd be appearing on the episode, though, since the use of his image was more of a coincidence than an ode to (or kiss off of) the idiosyncratic actor. As Nicotero explained to Entertainment Weekly, it was mostly due to some extra props lying around. "I think we had sculpted an emaciated version of a dummy head for something and we used Johnny Depp's head as a basis just for a clay sculpt," the producer told EW. When they needed three dummy heads for the episode, they used a mold of Nicotero's own noggin to fill in for the one ultimately chosen to pass off as Gregory, and used the existing Depp head as another one of the featured options. There's no word yet from Depp on whether or not he approves of the cameo, but apparently Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl, was a fan of Nicotero's work. "Norman kept saying he wanted the heads when we were done shooting," Nicotero told EW. [via: Entertainment Weekly, h/t Uproxx] Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC; AMC/Uproxx This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted:  DC is known for making "dark" and gritty superhero movies. So, it's no surprise that they also serve up some pretty diabolically entertaining villains. These are our seven favorites from DC so far. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Michel and Sookie Reunion! See 'Gilmore Girls' Revival Star's New Photo Posted:  Yes, Yanic Truesdale specifically asked fans not to "read anything into" his new photo with Melissa McCarthy, but please. It's the Internet. It's "Gilmore Girls." It's freakin' Michel and Sookie. We cannot be held responsible for our hope.So we're choosing to read around it. Yanic is returning for Netflix's "Gilmore Girls" revival, but -- last we heard -- Melissa McCarthy was not. Apparently she wasn't asked...? Leaving that one open. We'd love to hear confirmation that she will be part of the show after all, but for now we can just stare at the faces of our old friends: You can see the caption, but the Instagrammers -- God love 'em -- immediately asked what this means, saying the consensus is that Michel needs Sookie. Last month, Yanic shared the first "Gilmore Girls" revival set photo, with Lauren Graham, aka Lorelai. His next photo, after the one with Melissa, was with his barber on set, "who gives 'Michel' [his] weekly buzz." We have officially decided to read into the fact that, one day he was with Melissa/Sookie, and the next day he was back on set. She's close. Too close to ignore, right? Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Now Tom Hiddleston Wants to Be Bond: 'I Would Not Take It Lightly' Posted:
He sounds pretty into it. These guys should just skip the subtlety and shout "CAST ME, DAMMIT!" and start campaigning against each other. Take the gloves off. Seriously, though, this whole Bond thing is turning into quite a packed clown car. Whoever The Powers That Be cast as the next 007 will surely face a lot of criticism, but Daniel Craig did as well. Now is your chance to weigh in: How do you feel about Tom Hiddleston as Bond? Who is your preferred choice? Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| What's New on Netflix, TV, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: March 7-13 Posted:  At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital Only "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" Welcome to the final Hunger Games. You can volunteer as tribute, one more time, when Jennifer Lawrence's last film as Katniss is released on Digital HD March 8. It'll be out on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand March 22. Also, for the first time ever, "The Hunger Games Complete 4-Film Collection" will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on March 22. The Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital include audio commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson; "Pawns No More: Making The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" 8-Part Documentary, "Jet to the Set," and a ton of behind-the-scenes featurettes on visual design, the acting ensemble, costumes, hair and makeup, stunts, and more. If you're a fan, you're covered. "Open Season: Scared Silly" It's the 10th anniversary of "Open Season"! To celebrate, Sony Pictures Animation is sharing the all-new animated movie "Open Season: Scared Silly" March 8 on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD. Boog and Elliot return for this fourth installment, a comedic mystery adventure about a monster in the woods and a crazy plan to scare the fear out of Boog. Extras include all-new featurettes, bloopers, a director's commentary track, and a profile of director David Feiss. Check out this funny exclusive clip with poor Boog playing dress-up to lure out a werewolf:  "Bosch" Season 2 (Amazon Prime) Titus Welliver returns as no-nonsense Det. Harry Bosch when Season 2 premieres on March 11. "Bosch" was actually the first dramatic series to be renewed on Amazon Prime. According to the L.A. Times, Season 2 will draw primarily from Michael Connelly's novel "Trunk Music," but also include elements of "The Last Coyote" and "The Drop." New on DVD and Blu-ray "The Peanuts Movie"  Look out, Red Baron! Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the "Peanuts" gang are ready to come home with you on March 8. The home releases come with a bunch of special features, including six all-new "Snoopy Snippets." And, for a limited time, you can get a Snoopy Flying Ace plush toy with DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD combo pack."In the Heat of the Sea" Ron Howard's survival story, starring Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, and Brendan Gleeson, comes out on disc March 8. There's an ocean of extras with the Blu-ray, including "Whale Tales: Melville's Untold Story," "The Hard Life of a Whaler," "Chase & Pollard: A Man of Means and A Man of Courage," "The Real-Life Sequel To Moby Dick," "Commanding the Heart of the Sea," deleted scenes, extended scenes, and 10 "Captain's Log" entries from Ron Howard. "Victor Frankenstein" It's aliiiiiiive, Harry Potter and X-Men fans! James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe star in this thriller, which is out on DVD and Blu-ray March 8. The home release includes "The Making of Victor Frankenstein," galleries, and the trailer, with the Blu-ray also featuring deleted scenes. "Grease: Live!" They were BORN to hand jive, baby. "Grease: Live!" was a massive hit for Fox and now you can watch Sandy, Danny, and Rizzo at home with the March 8 DVD release. The DVD includes several behind-the-scenes bonus features, including a look at the elaborate efforts behind the live production, and a peek at the actor's transformation into their roles. New on Netflix "Flaked" Season 1  Will Arnett and "Arrested Development" creator Mitch Hurwitz should really be focusing on giving us that new season of "Arrested," but -- in the meantime -- watch Arnett in this new original comedy series they created for Netflix. Eight half-hour episodes are coming out March 11. Here's the synopsis: "Flaked is a dry, slice-of-life comedy about Chip, a celebrated long-time resident of the insular world of Venice, California who falls for the object of his best friend's fascination. Soon the tangled web of half-truths and semi-bullsh-t that underpins his all-important image and sobriety begins to unravel. Will Arnett plays Chip, a man doing his honest best to stay one step ahead of his own lies."Check out the trailer: "Netflix Presents: The Characters": Season 1 Eight up-and-coming comedians each wrote and starred in their own 30-minute shows, which were then packaged for this Netflix original series, which arrives March 11. The featured comedians are Lauren Lapkus, Kate Berlant, Dr. Brown, Paul W. Downs, John Early, Tim Robinson, Natasha Rothwell, and Henry Zebrowski. In less adult-humor news, Netflix is also using March 11 to release the second seasons of two original kids's shows: "Popples" and "Dinotrux." "Shelter" Paul Bettany directed his wife Jennifer Connelly and non-wife Anthony Mackie in this 2015 drama about two homeless people in New York City. This is a story of loss, love, and redemption, and it may feel like heavy lifting at times, but it's trying to build empathy for the more than 50,000 homeless people living on the streets and in shelters of NYC. So check out the film starting March 12. TV Worth Watching "Of Kings and Prophets" (Tuesday on ABC at 10 p.m.)  ABC's new biblical drama looks, at least on the surface, like it wants to be a more religious network version of "Game of Thrones." Will it succeed? Ray Winstone stars as Saul, first king of the Israelites, with Olly Rix as David, the young shepherd who becomes the next king, with Mohammad Bakri as the prophet Samuel. Apparently this is a very sexy telling of the Bible and showrunner Chris Brancato told The Hollywood Reporter that some of the more adult material may be cut for broadcast but live online in episodes on ABC's website. "This story is an Old Testament [one that's] violent [and] sex-drenched," he said. "It's one of the world's first soap operas. ... You will watch a show that is tasteful but that also tells the story you can read if you want to pick up the Bible." He added, "We're trying to tell the story that is in 1 and 2 Samuel, which has plenty of sex and violence on its own."Here's an extended trailer to get you prepared: "The Carmichael Show" (Wednesday on NBC at 10 p.m.) Season 2 of Jerrod Carmichael's sitcom premieres March 9, with back-to-back half-hour episodes following a special two-hour edition of "The Voice." In the first episode Season 2, "Everybody Cheats," Cynthia (Loretta Devine) sees her Reverend with someone who is not his wife, so the family comes together to discuss cheating and consequences. "American Crime" (Wednesday on ABC at 10 p.m.) The powerful second season of "American Crime" ends March 9, so now would be a good time to get yourself caught up, if you haven't already been following this complex, compelling story every week. Season 2 -- starring an A-team led by Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, Lili Taylor, Regina King, Connor Jessup, Hope Davis, and Trevor Jackson -- follows a working class student who accuses several members of a private school's championship basketball team of sexually assaulting him. You want hot-button issues? This season addresses male rape, racism, cyberbullying, homophobia, and anything else you can think of. Why aren't more people talking about it? Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. 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| 'Civil War': 25 Things We Learned on the Set From Team Captain America Posted:  Black Widow vs. Hawkeye. Winter Soldier vs. Black Panther.Those are just two of the kick-punching battles we saw last summer on the set of "Captain America: Civil War," Marvel's third Cap movie that, according to directors Anthony and Joe Russo, will forever change the Marvel Cinematic Universe when it hits theaters this summer. Ever since Kevin Feige first announced the project in the fall of 2014, audiences have been figuratively (and sometimes literally) salivating at the prospect of watching two of their favorite Avengers duke it out and raise the emotional stakes of the franchise. But, why exactly are they fighting? Because of the Superhero Registration Act. It's a policy in reaction to Ultron's whole "Gonna kill Earth by throwing a city at it" plan in "Avengers: Age of Ultron;" something to help hold the heroes of the world accountable when their efforts to save the planet end up hurting it and its citizens.  Steve Rogers is against the Act. Tony Stark makes himself the public face of it. Fist-powered disagreements ensue. But the filmmakers promise that the only thing more impactful than the body blows our Avengers deliver are the emotional wounds they inflict -- which cut even deeper."[These movies] only work, the cool fights and action scenes, they only work if you care about the characters," Joe Russo said during a break from shooting a portion of the aforementioned fight, which takes place on the tarmac of a German airport. Here, Team Cap (above) assembles before engaging Team Iron Man in a battle that the Russos described as their version of a comic book's "splash page" -- a colorful two-page spread used to usually depict an epic action-y event. Expect "Civil War" to have many of these moments, according to the members of Team Cap that we spoke with on set in Atlanta. To kick off the premiere of six new "Team Cap" posters, and the first part of our set visit coverage, Moviefone sat down with Chris Evans (Cap), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and the Russos to discuss the MCU's biggest movie yet. Here are 25 things we learned, as broken down by key players on Steve Rogers' team. Anthony Mackie  1. Falcon serves as the "in" for the audience. "[Falcon is] being used strategically to ask the audience's questions," Mackie revealed, adding that Falcon illustrates this in ways similar to the scene in "Ultron" where Hawkeye pulls Scarlet Witch aside in the middle of the final battle. "He says 'Look, we're adults. I'm wearing a suit. I have arrows. I'm not cool, but we have to go out here and fight.'""So [in this movie] when Scarlet Witch is all (does rave hands) I'm like, 'You saw that? Right. Just making sure you saw that.' Scarlet Witch and her crazy rave baby technique and Ant-Man and him riding an ant. Alright, cool. That's what he does -- he shrinks and rides ants." 2. Speaking of Ant-Man, as seen in the film's trailer, Scott Lang becomes a member of Team Cap. And we saw him in action (well, just running with Team Cap toward a confrontation with Team Iron Man). We also saw Paul Rudd shooting a sequence that indicates Ant-Man gets his own "giant" (hint!) moment during the fight -- something we only glimpsed before being whisked away by on-set publicity. 3. Falcon's addition to the Avengers' roster at the end of "Ultron" is something "Civil War" will address, says Mackie: "The idea of him becoming an Avenger is pretty cool. He's pretty excited about it. We definitely get an element of that in the film." Mackie also stressed that the Russos have a "very specific" vision for Falcon's storyline and "how he feels about Steve and the rest of The Avengers."  4. Mackie is also excited about his character's new Avengers status, which he didn't become aware of until the premiere of "Ultron." "By the end of the movie," Mackie said, "I turn around and [Cap says] 'Avengers Assemble!' I'm like, 'Holy sh**! I'm an Avenger!' So I turn around to everybody with me and they were like, 'Dude! You're a f***in' Avenger!' That's the story of my Marvel life."5. The Avengers' costumes, including Falcon's, get an upgrade courtesy of Tony Stark. And when it comes to Tony, according to Mackie, Falcon has a unique opinion about the billionaire-playboy-philanthropist. "I don't know why everybody thinks Tony's cool, and Tony thinks he's really cool, but Falcon just thinks he's a nerd. And not like a cool millennium nerd." In addition to Falcon reacting to, and interacting more, with Stark, fans can expect to see Falcon assess Vision as well. "He is by far the easiest person to make fun of," Mackie says of Stark and Ultron's creation. "Vision is definitely my one guy because he's easy to make fun of." 6. Mackie also revealed that Falcon's costume is less cool on set than it looks on the big screen. That's because his character's wings are added later with CG. "They have these little wings [I wear on set], like these little three-foot wings. It's whatever. I'm happy about it. I'm happy to be an Avenger!" Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely  7. As Tony and Steve battle it out, the writers revealed that Vision is primed to struggle with what it is to be human. As he was created to be a perfect being, now working with very flawed people, Markus said audiences can expect Vision to "have problems with the modern world." But the writers don't want him to deal with these problems in a cliched way. Rather, they want to address it similarly to how they dealt with Cap being a man "out of time" in the last film."In the same way that, in 'Winter Soldier,' we didn't want Steve to have trouble with iPhones and tight jeans, you know, like, 'what is this modern world?'" McFeely said. "But we wanted him to have problems with the modern world, right. We also don't want to do, with Vision, [in robot voice] 'How do I become a human?' So we're trying to be really elegant about this guy, who was one day old at the end of 'Ultron' adjusting to life." 8. And yes, fans, the relationship Vision and Scarlet Vision have in the comics will be addressed somewhat in "Civil War." "We play with it," Markus revealed. "It is kind of fascinating. But he's got the stone in his head that I think Strucker used to give [Witch] her powers. So it's all sort of, 'These things are getting really weird.' So there's fun toys to play with there."  9. Another dynamic the writers are playing with here is Black Widow's relationship with both Stark and Rogers. As seen in the Super Bowl spot, Black Widow is on Team Iron Man -- but it's not easy for her."It's difficult," according to Markus, "because she's not trained to take sides. She's trained to be a duplicitous double-agent and have loyalties for sale. Obviously, she's well on her way to not being that person, but it's still... standing up next to someone and taking a side and going 'No I believe in this' is counter to her nature. So it's in a way almost toughest for her than anybody to go, 'This is my side and I'm sticking to it.'" 10. In terms of "choosing sides," the writers hope audiences walk away from the movie as divided as the heroes in it. "We want people walking out of this movie going, 'Tony's right," McFeely said. "And half the other people going, 'Steve's right.' That would be a dream if we got 49-51 split. Because the question is a legitimate one. Do they need oversight or not? Steve, at one point, he says in the movie, what if these people send us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there's a place we need to go, and they wont send us? It's an excellent argument." 11. In terms of locations, "Civil War" is an international affair. Markus revealed that the movie takes place "all over the world," in more locales than any previous Marvel film. He also teased we will visit at least one place from Captain America's past that we have seen before. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo  12. When it comes to sheer scale, Marvel has outdone themselves here."This is much, much bigger than 'Winter Soldier,' Joe said. "I think it's probably bigger than anything they've done to date. Just scale of character, without question." His brother Anthony adds: "It's also very complex on that level because, again, while these characters have had conflicts before, this movie takes it to an entirely different level. The movie is very challenging, but very exciting to us on that level." 13. That splash panel fight mentioned above? It runs 15 minutes, and is the first IMAX sequence the directors shot for the film. And yes, you will want to see in glorious, brainsplodey IMAX. 14. That sequence also marks the first salvo of the war between heroes, according to the Russos. And while the teams are divided here, the Russos teased that the line-ups aren't permanent. "The movie kind of evolves," Anthony said. "There's a moment in the movie where this [line-up] is the division." 15. Much like "Three Days of the Condor" inspired the directors on "Winter Soldier," they turned to other films to help them create the "psychological drama" underlining "Civil War." Those films include: "Seven" (!?), "Fargo," "The Godfather," and some De Palma. 16. The directors are very impressed and satisfied with Chadwick Boseman's take on Black Panther.  "He brings real gravitas to the role," Joe said. The scene we saw being filmed was the first day that the character appeared on set in costume. And when the actor came out on set, according to Joe, "there were some comic book fans here who were just tearing up. It's a real moment for people to see this character for the first time on screen."Joe added that Boseman is "playing the character with a real intensity and a real grace. He's got a movement style that he brought because he has a background in martial arts and it's fascinating. He moves like none of the other characters in the universe. We really distinguished him." 17. Of all the characters appearing in this film -- and there are a lot -- Black Widow and Black Panther proved the most challenging (and interesting) for the directing duo. "We made some strong choices with Natasha in this movie, and it's a tricky arc that she has to play in the film," Joe said. Anthony added that the challenges with Black Panther center on him "entering the movie as an outsider, and there's a lot of conflict surrounding him in the film. There's a lot of tension around that, it's great dramatic tension. It works great on a story level, but it's intense." 18. One character they remained very tight-lipped about was the inclusion of Spider-Man. Arguably the worst kept secret in Hollywood is that the new Spidey will make his first appearance in the MCU courtesy of "Civil War." But when asked how that will happen, or whose side Peter Parker will be on, the directors dodged it with a smile. 19. They had no problem, however, revealing that Black Widow and Scarlet Witch share a scene together. In fact, their scene together opens the movie. 20. The Russos also dropped something Vision fans will be very happy to see: Vision will appear in civilian attire. Joe said that figuring out that aspect of the character "was a fun conversation because he sort of projects his own clothing so it's an interpretation of his personality. He's rather dashing. It looks really good." Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan  21. While the relationship between Cap and Iron Man drives the film's core conflict, it's the dynamic between best friends Cap and Bucky that serves as the film's beating heart, according to Evans."This is a huge relationship. This is a huge piece of [Cap's] history, it's a huge piece of his struggle, just the guilt that he must have [over losing Bucky]. So there's plenty to play with." 22. The last time we saw Bucky, he was inside Cap's museum -- staring at his own section of it. So where do we find Bucky when "Civil War" starts? The actors (shocker) wouldn't say. But Stan did tease this: "Whatever notions you had about that post-credits scene, where you see him in the museum, and obviously he's staring at himself -- whatever ideas you got from that scene, keep thinking about those and go with your own thoughts on that." Um, okay. Thanks. Good talk, bud. 23. Of all the Avengers Evans' character shares screentime with, the actor revealed his favorite: Black Widow. Fans can expect their relationship in "Winter Soldier" to grow even as they initially find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. "I've grown to really like my scenes with Scarlett," Evans said. "Something about that relationship, because I don't think it drifts into a romantic place. I think it's a place where we each just need somebody. She's kinda been a loner for a long time and probably avoided friendships for professional purposes. And I had no friends because I was frozen. And now it's like a really nice brother and sister bond. There's some nice scenes in this one."  24. When asked how the rest of the Avengers respond to Cap's need to find Bucky, considering he was working as an assassin for HYDRA, Evans answered: "They sympathize. Cap's done nothing but give himself to this group, so I think they understand the value of what it means to Steve to find him. And especially after [Hawkeye's] been brainwashed, [Black Widow's] been misled, we've all had our share of being taken advantage of, so I don't think they hold [Bucky] completely responsible for some of his actions.25. Evans is very excited about how the movie pairs off certain members for battle, promising that the Russos have created action scenes that rival the exceptional set pieces seen in "Winter Soldier." "These fights are not gonna be boring," Evans promised. "The way the Russos shot it, It just felt good. I think they're gonna outdo themselves on this one. There will be a lot of team combats." You can see all those not-boring fights for yourself when "Civil War" hits theaters May 6. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Is 'Downton Abbey' Really Over? Here's an Update on Movie and Spinoff Plans Posted:  Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess may have gotten the last word on "Downton Abbey" as a series, but we don't really have to say farewell, do we?  Oh, good! Thankfully, hope lives on that we may revisit the Crawleys and company in a movie and/or spinoff series. Creator and executive producer Julian Fellowes and executive producer Gareth Neame shared plans with Variety in a story posted after last night's series finale. The finale had happy endings all around, including for poor put-upon Edith, who ended up getting married and outranking everyone in the family. As Neame put it, "Mary hates that her sister has trumped her. The rest of the family thinks it's quite amusing and well deserved. It's really interesting to imagine what Edith's future might be. Maybe we'll see that if there's a movie." Yes, a movie! It's not just wishful thinking to imagine Downton on the big screen, although IF it does happen, it won't happen anytime soon.  Fellowes told Variety, "I'm completely up for a movie. There are various considerations, which of the cast would be available. That would be a big thing. If we couldn't get enough of them to do it, it wouldn't really work. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm completely up for it." Neame added, "There may be [a movie] but still there's nothing to confirm at the moment. These are all conversations we are having. Julian and I haven't shied away from saying we would like to do it. The cast would be up for doing it. But it's a whole new thing to put together. It's a whole new beast. It's a whole way off were it to happen." But if the cast are up for it, that's a good sign, even if it may be a few years away.Variety also asked, more hypothetically it seems, which characters they'd focus on if they did a spinoff.  Fellowes answered, "I think Carson and Mrs. Hughes running a B&B hotel, I could see that. I think you could do Branson and Henry running the car business and building it up and having all the saga of cars in the '20s." Here's what Neame suggested: "I would come back in the 1960s and Master George would now be the Earl of Grantham. He'd have no staff, maybe two, and he'd be trying to run the estate. He might have turned it into a theme park type thing. Or I would do a half-hour show with Carson and Mrs. Hughes, when they've gotten their own property and he's making her cook him dinner every night. I loved those scenes!"Well, from here, we're giving green lights to all of those ideas. The Carson/Hughes one could be like a sitcom, and following Master George in the '60s would be fascinating and worthy of its own dramatic series. Go for it, "Masterpiece" team! Would you watch a "Downton" movie and/or spinoff, or do you think they should let the story end on that happy note? Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Joseph Gordon-Levitt Explains 'Sandman' Exit, Neil Gaiman Responds Posted:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt had put so much into the adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman" comics -- as a producer, but also would-be star and director -- that when he unexpectedly left the project a few days ago, he felt compelled to issue a lengthy explanation on Facebook.We first heard about this particular project in 2013, so it has been in the works for a while. A new writer, Eric Heisserer, was just announced on March 4. But apparently that was part of the overall creative clash, because the very next day, JG-L announced his own departure:
So don't blame Neil Gaiman if you're upset about this, and stay tuned for whatever may or may not happen next on the movie front. Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Christian Bale: 'I Didn't Quite Nail It' as Batman, But I'm Done Posted:  Christian Bale is passing the Batman torch to Ben Affleck, and it sounds like he has a few regrets from his time in the role. In a talk with Yahoo Movies, Bale took a wistful tone, like he was looking back on a relationship where he just wasn't good enough for his partner -- that partner being Heath Ledger."I didn't quite manage what I hoped I would through the trilogy," Bale told Yahoo. "[Director] Chris [Nolan]; did, but my own sense of self is like, 'I didn't quite nail it.'" What did he want to achieve? Bale explained, "Batman, he's this very, very dark, messed-up character. I found when I put on the suit I went, 'I just feel like a bloody idiot if I don't use this as a means to kind of [show] his true, monstrous self that he allows to come out in that moment. Let's do that.'" However, Heath Ledger's performance as Joker in "The Dark Knight," was so good it was a shock to Bale's system and gave him second-thoughts about his own choices. "Heath turned up and just kind of completely ruined all my plans. Because I went, 'He's so much more interesting than me and what I'm doing.'"  Bless him, but yes. Anyone who was around before "The Dark Knight" came out probably recalls the skepticism when Ledger was cast as the Joker, figuring he would be stuck in the shadow of Jack Nicholson's most recent cinematic portrayal. But no. Ledger created something breathtaking and new and won a posthumous Oscar for his efforts. (Jared Leto is the next Joker, and has faced his share of skepticism for his own reasons.) Now Ben Affleck is taking on the role of Batman, and you were definitely around for all the fanboy angst when his name was announced as Bale's follow-up.For the record, despite perhaps feeling some regrets, Bale said he has no plans to return to the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. "That's enough. Enough's enough. We did our bit. It's done. I've got nothing else to offer." Don't beat yourself up, man. You definitely made your mark in a positive way, even if that voice... never mind. You were more than enough for us, and we thank you for your service to Gotham. Watch the video to hear it from Bale: Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Miss Peregrine' Author Defends Tim Burton's Movie Changes Posted:  "All will be well," author Ransom Riggs promises worried fans of his novel "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." The book is turning into a movie, courtesy of director Tim Burton, who seems like the perfect choice for the fantastical story. However, when the first photos from the film were released by Entertainment Weekly and Empire Magazine, fans couldn't help noticing some major changes.For example, why is Emma (Ella Purnell) shown wearing lead shoes?
Head to EW and Empire for more photos, including great shots of Eva Green as the title character, and Dame Judi Dench as Miss Avocet. The movie is scheduled to open September 30. Are you disappointed about the changes, or will you stay in wait-and-see mode? Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Jimmy Kimmel to Host 2016 Emmys: 'I Have a Feeling I'm Going to Be Great' Posted:  Start drafting those Emmy-related Mean Tweets for Jimmy Kimmel, the late night host may need them to close out the summer of 2016. ABC just announced that Kimmel will be hosting the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be broadcast Sunday, September 18 from 8 to 11 p.m. EDT/PDT on ABC. The Emmy nominations will be announced on Thursday, July 14, so this is also a call to action to start pushing your favorite TV stars and shows for consideration.Kimmel previously hosted the 64th Emmys in 2012. Andy Samberg hosted the Emmys last year, taking over from Seth Meyers in 2014, and Neil Patrick Harris in 2013. Before Kimmel's first time as host, Jane Lynch was host in 2011, with Jimmy Fallon as host in 2010, and NPH was host again in 2009. They did all of the reality hosts in 2008. It was Ryan Seacrest in 2007, and Conan O'Brien in 2006, and Ellen DeGeneres in 2005, with Garry Shandling getting the job in 2004. You can point out the similarities on your own. "I am excited to be hosting the Emmys again," Kimmel said in a statement. "I have a feeling I'm going to be great." How Trump of him! He also revealed the news early Monday morning on Twitter:
Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement, "Jimmy Kimmel is the consummate showman. With Kimmel at the helm, expect to be at the edge of your seat for a bigger, bolder, and better-than-ever Emmy event." In other news, the Academy announced that the Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take place over two nights, Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11, at the Microsoft Theater. Are you glad that Kimmel will be hosting again? Do you think he'll find a way to bring that long-running Matt Damon gag onto the Emmys show? Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Fargo': 10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About the Coen Brothers' Classic Posted:  Has it really been 20 years since the release of "Fargo?" Yah, you betcha.The snowbound crime comedy-drama, released March 8, 1996, marked the first mainstream smash for Joel and Ethan Coen. It also gave Frances McDormand and William H. Macy their signature roles, spawned the acclaimed FX drama series, and sparked a brief fad that had everyone talking with exaggerated Minne-soh-ta accents. Still, two decades after the film's debut, there's still a lot of confusion about what in "Fargo" was truth, what was fiction, and what was an elaborate in-joke. Here, then, are the far-fetched facts behind the film.  1. The opening title card claims the movie is based on a true story, but in fact, it's almost completely fictional. There was, however, a real-life crime with some superficial similarities. The victim was Helle Crafts, a Connecticut woman who disappeared in 1986. Her husband was ultimately convicted of her murder; investigators determined that he'd used a wood chipper to destroy her remains.2. Macy was initially considered for a minor role in "Fargo," but he so desperately wanted the lead role of kidnap-plot instigator Jerry Lundegaard that he flew to New York to crash the auditions and told the Coens, "I'm afraid you're going to screw up your movie and cast someone else in this role." Then the former veterinary student threatened to shoot Ethan's dog if they didn't cast him.  3. McDormand became a mom shortly before filming began -- after a decade of marriage, she and Joel adopted a baby they named Pedro -- but her massive pregnancy bump in "Fargo" was a prosthetic, filled with birdseed. McDormand did research by meeting with an actual pregnant cop from the Twin Cities. "In St. Paul, I met Officer Nancy, who was seven months pregnant and still working," McDormand recalled at the time. "She was on the vice squad doing search and seizure. She was going to go into the office and do a desk job in the middle of her eighth month, but until then, she was still out there doing it."4. If you watch the closing credits, you'll see that "Victim in Field" was played by someone whose name looks suspiciously like Prince's logo, back when he was using the glyph and calling himself "the Artist Formerly Known as Prince." But that corpse wasn't the Minneapolis music legend; rather it was "Fargo" storyboard artist J. Todd Anderson. Explained Ethan, "The storyboard artist formerly known as J. Todd Anderson decided he no longer wanted to go by that name."  5. Distributor Gramercy drummed up interest among critics with a promotional gift: a snow globe encasing a diorama of the wood chipper scene, complete with bloody red flakes that would scatter when you shook the globe. By the way, the Fargo, N.D. visitor's center claims to have the wood chipper from the film on display, and tourists can pose for pictures with the prop and a mannequin leg sticking out of it.6. The movie cost a reported $7 million to make. It earned back $61 million worldwide, making it the Coens' biggest hit at the time.  7. At the 1997 Oscars (above), McDormand won Best Actress, while the Coen brothers won Best Original Screenplay. Also nominated were Macy (for Best Supporting Actor), cinematographer Roger Deakins, Ethan (for Best Picture, as producer), Joel (for directing), and editor Roderick Jaynes. Since Jaynes was a pseudonym for the writer/director/producer brothers themselves, the Coens wanted to have their "Miller's Crossing" star, Albert Finney, accept the award for Jaynes. The point became moot when Jaynes didn't win.8. In 2001, a woman from Tokyo named Takako Konishi was found dead in a field near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. She had apparently gone there to commit suicide after traveling to Minneapolis, where her ex-lover lived, but a colorful rumor was spread that she had come to the region, believing that "Fargo" was a true story, to search for the ransom-money briefcase buried in the snow by Steve Buscemi's character. This urban legend inspired the 2003 documentary "This Is a True Story" and the 2014 movie drama "Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter."  9. In 1997, 17 years before the FX series debuted, there was an early, failed attempt to launch a "Fargo" TV spinoff. Edie Falco was cast as Marge, while Bruce Bohne reprised his movie role as Officer Lou. Kathy Bates, who had lived with Joel and Frances in the 1980s before "Misery" made her famous, directed the pilot episode for the proposed series.10. Despite the title "Fargo," almost all of the movie takes place in Minnesota and was shot on location there. So why call it "Fargo?" Said Ethan, "We just felt [the town of] 'Brainerd' was not cool enough." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'The Walking Dead' Season 6, Episode 12 Recap: Who Will Save Your Soul Posted:  For a show focused so prominently death (it's right there in the title, after all), "The Walking Dead" does have a knack for sowing seeds of happiness. Whether or not all those seeds actually blossom is another matter, but for a few brief moments every season, all seems well. That was no doubt the point of the sunny opening montage of this week's installment, "Not Tomorrow Yet," which featured a glimpse into Carol's daily life in Alexandria, soundtracked by a jaunty folk tune (another cleverly-employed musical moment in a season swimming with them).Followed by banjos and xylophones, Carol scours the pantry for cookie supplies (and those trusty water chestnuts), hunts for acorns in the woods, kills a walker, washes the blood off in the shower, raids her closet full of sensible floral button-downs and pastel cardigans, and crafts the best cookies she can, which she cheerfully passes out to the townsfolk. Children run past, gleefully clutching their Tupperware, as housewives smile in surprise and appreciation. Carol even gets some flirting in with Tobin, making the line "I foraged a lot of acorns" sound sexier than it has any right to be. (Though there's no question about the double-entendre in Carol then imploring Tobin to "just put it in your mouth, jerk" when he balks at the confection's pink color. Insert a beets/beats joke here.) It's all so light and frothy and fun – and then Rick's crew rolls back into town from Hilltop, the music abruptly stops, and things get back to normal. Of course. This is "The Walking Dead," after all, and what is this show really about other than the slow, agonizing march toward yet another bitter battle for survival? Unlike past showdowns, though, that battle immediately kicks into overdrive this week, as Rick presents his proposal to take on the Saviors, formulates a plan with Hilltop allies Andy and Jesus, and actually carries out said plan, all within a day's time. After the agonizing planning process to infiltrate the hospital back in season five, this week's accelerated action seemed too good to be true. And as Rick and co. soon realized, it most certainly was. From the moment they rolled up to the Saviors' settlement – which appears to be housed inside an old television station, complete with giant satellite dishes and winding, windowless corridors – something seemed fishy. Only two nighttime guards for a group so large its own ranks don't know all their fellow members? And speaking of those sprawling ranks, why weren't they all inside? The body count from the Alexandrians' attack surely couldn't have numbered more than a few dozen; perhaps the rest of the Saviors were hiding in the secret underground Harley-Davidson dealership from which the group gets its never-ending supply of bikes? We'll have to wait until next week to find out where everyone else is, though based on the sketchy details from the female voice on the other end of a fallen Savior's walkie, they aren't exactly eager to reveal themselves to the Alexandrians just yet. And since they're planning on using a captured Carol and Maggie as bargaining chips, they certainly have the upper hand in the negotiation process. Confrontation may be something that Rick can confidently brag about, as he did last week, but as we've seen before, his people skills could use some work. Zombies and being a hothead: Both things that can bite you in the ass in the apocalypse. Speaking of Rick's penchant for terrible first impressions, he's already skating on thin ice with Hilltopper-turned-ally Andy. Last week, when they first met, he killed Andy's friend in front of him, while Daryl broke Andy's hand. This week, Rick suggests serving up Gregory's head to Negan as a way to gain access to the Saviors' compound. For a brief moment, I thought that meant that Rick was actually going to cut off Gregory's head, but alas, he decides to use a random walker as a decoy instead. As they're choosing between three bearded severed heads, Jesus and Andy note that the zombie's nose isn't quite right. Rick then dutifully picks up the selection and punches it a bit, telling Andy to claim that "Gregory" broke his hand, so he fought back, messing up the face. An appalled Andy just stares at Rick, prompting yet another impatient "What?" reaction from the constable. "The Saviors, they're scary," Andy replies. "But those pricks got nothing on you." Truth. As for those "scary" Saviors: So far, I am not impressed. I've already explained how I found the group that ambushed Daryl, Sasha, and Abraham to be laughable. And this week, when we meet the duo guarding the Saviors' camp, their biggest scare tactic is using swear words to communicate that they're bad guys. Calling someone an a—hole, s—tbrain, and needle-d—k doesn't make you a menace; it makes you 14. And that bearded dude whistling "Happy Birthday" – what was that about? It wasn't creepy (as I'm sure was intended) so much as baffling. Surely the writers can't be serious with this. (And I'll call them Shirley whenever I want, thanks.) I hope the outdated royalties they paid for that song were worth it. What was well-handled, however, was Glenn's turmoil over finally killing another human being. This was the first time he'd done so in the show's history, and much has been made about his holdout status over the years. It was used as an excuse for why he couldn't kill Nicholas, despite every sign strenuously pointing at him to do so, and why it was especially poignant that Nicholas was the person who got him "killed" (except LOL JK not really) earlier this season. So the fact that it actually happened tonight was big, and I'm glad he was able to discuss it beforehand with Heath, someone who'd also never taken another non-zombified life. They both said they were "lucky" to avoid it before, and I found it very in-character for Glenn to initially shoulder that burden for Heath when they're faced with two sleeping Saviors. Glenn weeps for what he's losing as he takes another's life; viewers must surely have felt some remorse, too, knowing that the last pure soul left on "The Walking Dead" has officially been tainted. It's important, though, that Glenn and Heath quickly move past their devastation, and switch over to survival mode, finding the arsenal and mowing down the Saviors that surround the door. There's a time to grieve for your lost innocence, and a time to fight. This was the time to fight, and they chose wisely. Again, it's hard to tell exactly what they were up against, since an unknown number of Saviors are still surrounding them. And what our group has found inside the compound is just as mysterious, too. Glenn and Heath discover a collage of Polaroids depicting gruesome head injuries, leaving faces mutilated beyond recognition. (A nod to spoiler-y things to come.) Aaron kills a guy who has pictures of motorcycles pinned up in his room, proving that this sect worships at the altar of bitchin' rides. And Abe busts open what appears to be a grow room full of weed. (Maybe that explains why they're so hungry for the Hilltoppers' food supply.) Viewers have been promised that Negan and his followers are the biggest bads to ever grace "TWD," and for the sake of plot development, I'm hoping they prove themselves worthy foes in the weeks to come. But I'm fearing that the show, after four weeks of excellent episodes, is now running out of ways to stall introducing the allegedly horrifying aspects of these characters, and I'm starting to believe that everything I've heard about Negan so far is nothing more than what his henchmen have provided: a lot of hot air. For our survivors' sake, I suppose I hope I'm right. But for viewers' sake, I better be wrong. The happy montages are a fun diversion, but this show isn't called "The Walking Dead" for nothing. Other thoughts: - I loved the framing of the scene in the church where Rick is laying out his plan to kill the Saviors, looking every bit like a pastor preaching to his congregation in front of that stained glass window. I appreciated that he gave the Alexandrians an out, and was willing to listen to dissent. Of course, Morgan was the only one to speak up, urging Rick to reconsider because, "Where there's life, there's possibility." To his credit, Rick doesn't immediately tell Morgan to shut up, but says that he thinks it's a mistake to go to the Saviors first and simply ask them to back down. Rick also says he'll ask the rest of the Alexandrians for their input, because he wants it to be a group decision. Deanna would be proud. (Rick also implies that if Morgan can't live with that decision he's going to have to leave, but I suppose we'll deal with that unpleasantness later.) - In the wake of the loss of her chain-smoking friend Shelly in the Wolf attack, Carol has taken up that unhealthy habit, nervously puffing away as she walks the streets of Alexandria alone at night. She meets up with fellow insomniac Tobin, who ends up confessing his feelings for Carol while complimenting her on the way she's been a mother to the Alexandrians, both through her Suzy Homemaker tendencies, but especially through her strength in the face of "the scary stuff." "You're something else to me," he admits, and they share a kiss. "It's not tomorrow yet," Carol says suggestively, implying that they're about to take a cue from Rick and Michonne's book and get it on while they still can. I am totally on boarding with this show becoming "The - Someone who's no longing K-I-S-S-I-N-G: Abe and Rosita, who officially break up this week after Abe realized he's in love with Sasha. Of course, instead of explaining this to Rosita like a mature adult, he tries to pack his bags and run out undetected. Rosita walks in on him and demands an answer, and Abe delivers perhaps the coldest breakup line ever: "When I first met you, I thought you were the last woman on earth. You're not." Harsh, dude. - That tension is immediately broken by an amazing sight gag: Eugene awkwardly standing outside the door, decked out in a "Virginia Is For Lovers" t-shirt and munching on one of Carol's cookies. "You try one of these?" he offers, before a sobbing Rosita slams the door in his face. "They're chewy." - Jesus joins the fight inside the Saviors' complex, saving Glenn and Heath from the last survivor of the gunfight outside the armory. When he first walked up, I thought he was Maggie, until he pulled off his mask. I'm wondering if their resemblance from the nose up (and the confusion it causes) will come back into play later this season. - After the attack, a puzzled Michonne asks Rick, "I wonder which one of them was Negan?" Apparently she doesn't read the trades. - In the show's final moments, we get several scenes of Morgan back in Alexandria...welding something? Is this yet another skill he picked up from the cheesemaker? Or perhaps he's taken Jessie's place as Alexandria's resident metal sculpture artist? He also takes a break to sob, so apparently his project isn't going so well. - The closing musical montage also featured a fitting, moody selection. Seriously, whoever is in charge of the soundtrack deserves a big raise. Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How 'Zootopia' Conquered the Box Office Posted:  This was the weekend that adults came back to the multiplex. And, for the most part, what brought them back was a Disney movie about a city of talking animals."Zootopia," which opened at No. 1 with an estimated $73.7 million, broke a number of records. It was the largest three-day opening ever for the Walt Disney Animation Studios brand, beating "Frozen" (though that film's $67.4 million weekend was diluted a bit from having opened on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving). It's also the fourth-largest March opening weekend in history. Having opened abroad three weeks ago, "Zootopia" is also setting records in various South American and Asian countries; it's earned a total of $158.8 million overseas so far. That the film opened so big in North America surprised no one. It had great reviews (98 percent fresh at Rotten Tomatoes) and great word-of-mouth (A grade CinemaScore). These factored into family audiences packing the multiplex this weekend, but it wasn't just families that came out to see it. According to Disney's exit polls, some 46 percent of the audience was over 25. Granted, a lot of them came with their kids. Still, a full 21 percent of the ticketbuyers were adults on their own. Disney's been especially good at drawing adults to its cartoons over the past quarter century, ever since its animation renaissance began with 1989's "The Little Mermaid." For all its kid-friendly, furry adorableness, "Zootopia" seems even more squarely aimed at adults. The movie's premise is essentially that of a mismatched-buddy-cop comedy, only with sleuth partners who happen to be a rabbit and a fox. Much of the humor comes from animal-themed parodies of the frustrations of adult life, like the slow-moving sloths who run the DMV. And the film is rated PG, which suggests that there may be some material in it that's not perfectly kid-friendly.  Disney also smartly marketed the movie to grown-ups, by attaching trailers to "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." It created a series of posters that were parodies of some of 2015's more grown-up films, including "Straight Outta Compton" and "Mad Max: Fury Road." It also cast Shakira as a slinky pop singer and had her create a typically hip-swiveling song for the film."Zootopia" was especially fortunate, however, in its timing. Besides having the family market to itself, the film was fortunate enough to open opposite some fairly weak adult competition. "London Has Fallen," sequel to the sleeper hit "Olympus Has Fallen," could have been a contender, but critics found it a disappointment (just 25 percent fresh at Rotten Tomatoes), and poor reviews likely kept the older audience away. As a result, the movie opened in second place with an estimated $21.7 million, well below the $30.4 million debut of "Olympus" two years ago. TIna Fey's war comedy "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" was also supposed to attract a grown-up audience. But Fey's not a proven box office draw outside her usual wheelhouse (broad farce), and "WTF" is a semi-serious satire based on recent real-life wartime events. Mixed reviews (60 percent at Rotten Tomatoes) didn't help. Predicted to open between $10 and $12 million, "WTF" premiered instead with a fourth-place finish of $7.6 million.  And then there's "Deadpool." After three weeks on top of the chart, "Zootopia" ended its reign, knocking the superhero adventure to third place with an estimated $16.4 million. (Don't weep for Wade Wilson; the mouthy Marvel hero has earned $311.2 million to date.) Now, maybe there's not a lot of audience overlap between an R-rated comedy about a raunchy, pansexual superhero and a PG-rated Disney cartoon whose heroine is a chirpy-voiced bunny named Judy Hopps.Still, as the residents of "Zootopia" learn, it's not wise to underestimate Officer Hopps or the power of her perky persistence. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Weekend Box Office: 'Zootopia' Hops Into the Top Spot, Defeats 'Deadpool' Posted:  BY LINDSEY BAHRAP FILM WRITER LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Deadpool's" three-week reign atop the box office has ended thanks to a handful of new openers including "Zootopia" and "London Has Fallen." The top spot went to Disney's "Zootopia" which staged a box office stampede in its first weekend in theaters with an estimated $73.7 million, according to the studio Sunday. It's the fourth highest March opening ever and a best for Disney Animation. In second place, "London Has Fallen," a sequel to the "Die Hard" in the White House "Olympus Has Fallen," earned $21.7 million. "Deadpool" fell to third with $16.4 million, bringing its domestic total to a staggering $311.2 million. The Tina Fey comedy "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot," meanwhile, debuted in fourth with an estimated $7.6 million. The film cost a reported $35 million to produce. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nancy Reagan, Actress and Former First Lady, Dead at 94 Posted:  By Christopher Weber, Associated PressLOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nancy Reagan, the helpmate, backstage adviser and fierce protector of Ronald Reagan in his journey from actor to president - and finally during his 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease - has died. She was 94. The former first lady died Sunday at her home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, assistant Allison Borio told The Associated Press. Her best-known project as first lady was the "Just Say No" campaign to help kids and teens stay off drugs. When she swept into the White House in 1981, the former Hollywood actress partial to designer gowns and pricey china was widely dismissed as a pre-feminist throwback, concerned only with fashion, decorating and entertaining. By the time she moved out eight years later, Mrs. Reagan was fending off accusations that she was a behind-the-scenes "dragon lady" wielding unchecked power over the Reagan administration - and doing it based on astrology to boot. All along she maintained that her only mission was to back her "Ronnie" and strengthen his presidency. Mrs. Reagan carried that charge through the rest of her days. She served as a full-time caretaker as Alzheimer's melted away her husband's memory. After his death in June 2004 she dedicated herself to tending his legacy, especially at his presidential library in California, where he had served as governor. She also championed Alzheimer's patients, raising millions of dollars for research and breaking with fellow conservative Republicans to advocate for stem cell studies. Her dignity and perseverance in these post-White House roles helped smooth over the public's fickle perceptions of the former first lady. The Reagans' mutual devotion over 52 years of marriage was legendary. They were forever holding hands. She watched his political speeches with a look of such steady adoration it was dubbed "the gaze." He called her "Mommy," and penned a lifetime of gushing love notes. She saved these letters, published them as a book, and found them a comfort when he could no longer remember her. In announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 1994, Reagan wrote, "I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience." Ten years later, as his body lay in state in the U.S. Capitol, Mrs. Reagan caressed and gently kissed the flag-draped casket. As the newly arrived first lady, Mrs. Reagan raised more than $800,000 from private donors to redo the White House family quarters and to buy a $200,000 set of china bordered in red, her signature color. She was criticized for financing these pet projects with donations from millionaires who might seek influence with the government, and for accepting gifts and loans of dresses worth thousands of dollars from top designers. Her lavish lifestyle - in the midst of a recession and with her husband's administration cutting spending on the needy - inspired the mocking moniker "Queen Nancy." But her admirers credited Mrs. Reagan with restoring grace and elegance to the White House after the austerity of the Carter years. Her substantial influence within the White House came to light slowly in her husband's second term. Although a feud between the first lady and chief of staff Donald Regan had spilled into the open, the president dismissed reports that it was his wife who got Regan fired. "The idea that she is involved in governmental decisions and so forth and all of this, and being a kind of dragon lady - there is nothing to that," a visibly angry Reagan assured reporters. But Mrs. Reagan herself and other insiders later confirmed her role in rounding up support for Regan's ouster and persuading the president that it had to be done, because of the Iran-Contra scandal that broke under Regan's watch. She delved into policy issues, too. She urged Reagan to finally break his long silence on the AIDS crisis. She nudged him to publicly accept responsibility for the arms-for-hostages scandal. And she worked to buttress those advisers urging him to thaw U.S. relations with the Soviet Union, over the objections of the administration's "evil empire" hawks. Near the end of Reagan's presidency, ex-chief of staff Regan took his revenge with a memoir revealing that the first lady routinely consulted a San Francisco astrologer to guide the president's schedule. Mrs. Reagan, who had a longtime interest in horoscopes, maintained that she used the astrologer's forecasts only in hopes of predicting the safest times for her husband to venture out of the White House after an assassination attempt by John Hinckley just three months into Reagan's presidency. Anne Frances Robbins, nicknamed Nancy, was born on July 6, 1921, in New York City. Her parents separated soon after she was born and her mother, film and stage actress Edith Luckett, went on the road. Nancy was reared by an aunt until 1929, when her mother married Dr. Loyal Davis, a wealthy Chicago neurosurgeon who gave Nancy his name and a socialite's home. She majored in drama at Smith College and found stage work with the help of her mother's connections. In 1949, MGM signed 5-foot-4, doe-eyed brunette Nancy Davis to a movie contract. She was cast mostly as a loyal housewife and mother. She had a key role in "The Next Voice You Hear ...," an unusual drama about a family that hears God's voice on the radio. In "Donovan's Brain," she played the wife of a scientist possessed by disembodied gray matter. She met Ronald Reagan in 1950, when he was president of the Screen Actors Guild and she was seeking help with a problem: Her name had been wrongly included on a published list of suspected communist sympathizers. They discussed it over dinner, and she later wrote that she realized on that first blind date "he was everything that I wanted." They wed two years later, on March 4, 1952. Daughter Patti was born in October of that year and son Ron followed in 1958. Reagan already had a daughter, Maureen, and an adopted son, Michael, from his marriage to actress Jane Wyman. (Later, public spats and breaches with her grown children would become a frequent source of embarrassment for Mrs. Reagan.) She was thrust into the political life when her husband ran for California governor in 1966 and won. She found it a surprisingly rough business. "The movies were custard compared to politics," Mrs. Reagan said. --- This report includes biographical material written by former AP staffers Jeff Wilson and Connie Cass.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
The name's Bond ... Loki Bond? It feels like the Internet spent half of 2015 following rumors of who would/should be the next James Bond, even though 
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