Is It OK to NOT Love 'The Muppets'?

I liked 'The Muppets.' I didn't love 'The Muppets.' I still laughed enough to consider it money well spent, but the movie had serious script problems that got in the way of it being a truly great comeback. I don't think I'm saying anything especially mean-spirited, so why does it feel like I'm uttering unforgivable heresy? People love the Muppets; they have generations of fans who are ecstatic that these characters are back on the big screen in a prominent way. But if you're one of the people who thought the big-screen comeback was less than perfect, you have to duck and cover. We're not allowed to do anything less than love 'The Muppets,' and if we're just going to be so negative, we shouldn't say anything at all. So what exactly were my problems with 'The Muppets'? (SPOILERS) I thought the movie spent more time telling us that the Muppets used to be funny rather than just showing them be funny. I don't think Jason Segel is a flawless screenwriter, and perhaps his sentimentality got in the way of crafting a story the Muppets needed in order to make them relevant to a generation unfamiliar with them; at times the movie feels like a fawning love-letter to how 'The Muppet Show' used to make Segal feel when he was a little kid. It's a busy script. The movie tries to address the conflicts of: brothers Gary and Walter growing up and growing apart, Gary moving his relationship forward with his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams), Walter finding a place in this world where he can blossom, the Muppets coming back together after a break-up and saving their old theater. It doesn't spend enough time addressing each conflict at any given time; 'The Muppets' bounces around, leaving problems unaddressed for long periods, but apparently that's OK because it's the Muppets and remember how they made you feel when you were eight years old? It (unintentionally) coasts on this idea that your wistful nostalgia for the Muppets is enough to make you care about them now. I better understand Frank Oz's complaints about the script not being true to the characters; you can make a movie that asks, "What would happen if the Muppets all turned into jaded cynics who grew apart from each other?" It just turns out that the answer is kind of boring for long periods of time and straining to find a joke. And for the record, it doesn't make Frank Oz a "sourpuss," it makes him the guy who is able to comment on the new corporately-owned direction of a creative project that he gave thirty years of his life to. Watch the trailer for 'The Muppets' I sat in an audience packed with kids and they grew restless for huge chunks of the first hour; they didn't grow up with 'The Muppet Show' and they didn't have this connection their parents had to it. They just wanted to see the cute, colorful talking animals do funny things, and it really doesn't happen until the last third of the movie when they finally put on another Muppets revue. That telethon segment is a blast, and there were other funny jokes during the course of the movie (I really liked 80s Robot), but "made me laugh" and "excellent movie" are not synonymous. My concern, though, is that anyone who publicly offers criticisms of 'The Muppets' -- and other beloved properties -- gets labeled a grouch, a cynic, impossible to please, or -- my personal favorite -- as an over-thinker. This world doesn't address any theoretical problems the movie might have; it attacks the critic and ignores the criticisms. This is a growing problem with movie fans and the conversation about movies. Let's all just admit there's no original ideas left in Hollywood; every movie is based off a pre-existing franchise: a comic book, an old cartoon, a book series, a video game, a toy, an amusement park ride or it's a sequel, a prequel or a reboot to something we already saw and liked. These franchises all come with built-in fanbases, and those fanbases support the product no matter what -- because when they discovered those characters, it really meant something to their personal development. When a dissenter comes along and offers his or her objective thoughts on the flaws of this new movie version of those characters you love, the fans take it as a personal attack. And since the Internet has given everyone a chance to sound off and instantly get validated with a friend's "like" or "upvote" or "retweet," we don't ever have to get into debates defending the things we love anymore. All we need to do is find other people who already agreed with us. Another joy of the Internet: thanks to its anonymity, you can personally attack anyone who didn't see the movie with the exact same perspective as yours. If this is the way pop culture is going, what's the point anymore? You have your thing, I'll have my thing, we'll never share. No one new will discover it because we're afraid to be confronted with flaws in this thing that means so much to us. So we'll only share it with other people exactly like us who have a slavish devotion to it -- rather than new or young audiences finding their own unique joy in it. And it will wither away when our generation dies because new kids won't understand that "thing" we loved so much when we were their age. Way to totally understand Jim Henson's message! 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VIDEO: Idol Alums Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina Botch Lip-Synching, the nation's Anthem

Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina Thanksgiving wasn't an excellent day to become a Season 10 The American Idol Show finalist.Champion Scotty McCreery began from the bad day having a major blunder in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, where he ended up being to perform his song "The Problem With Women" on the top of the float. Well, he's more challenge with lip-synching (all entertainers lip-sync in the parade), missing his signal for the beginning of the song. His voice blared in the loudspeakers, but his lips did not move.Take a look at photos from American IdolLater in the Eco-friendly Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game, runner-up Lauren Alaina drawn a Christina Aguilera and screwed in the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner." Throughout the road, "What so happily we praised in the twilight's last gleaming," she stopped midway through and started again with "last gleaming."Alaina possessed as much as the problem on Twitter, writing: "Thanks everybody for that kind words. However I screwed up. I am gonna spend the relaxation during the day being grateful for those my benefits."McCreery, however, made no reference to his blooper.Watch both performances below:

John Malone's Liberty Media Mulls Growing Its Stake in Sirius XM (Report)

By Georg Szalai NY - John Malone's Liberty Media thinks about the problem about growing its stake in satellite radio firm Sirius XM Radio in the year, the NY Publish reported. After saving the business within the fringe of personal personal bankruptcy a couple of yrs ago, Liberty gets early-stage discussions about adding to the forty percent stake in Sirius, the paper mentioned stating an origin near the situation. Reps for companies didn't return messages seeking comment, it mentioned. The other day, Liberty Boss Greg Maffei and chairman John Malone saved their options on Sirius open. Before an investor day on Thursday, they introduced a mixture of monitoring stocks Liberty Starz and Liberty Capital. Experts mentioned this might permit the organization to spin off its stake in Sirius and possibly merge it into Sirius. Maffei also layed out the strong performance and possible upside in Sirius, signaling that Liberty could alternatively increase its acquisition of Sirius. The Publish layed out that Liberty could increase its Sirius stake to 49.9 %, but you will discover tax implications together with other disadvantages. After March though, these complaints disappear. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects John Malone Liberty Media Sirius XM Radio

'Breaking Dawn' Night time Grosses: $30.25 Million

Keep surprises away here. The night time box office amounts have been in for 'Breaking Beginning, Part I,' and they're huge. The 'Twilight' follow up netted $30.25 million in night time ticket sales, beating the franchise record of $$ 30 million, held by 'Eclipse' (the general 'Twilight' three-day weekend record is 'New Moon,' with $142.8 million). Current estimations place the total 'Breaking Dawn' weekend receipts at $148 million. That's a great deal of dough -- even though it would not be enough to interrupt the 'Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows Part II.' By using three dimensional and IMAX, the ultimate 'Harry Potter' film opened up having a record $168.66 million in This summer. You hear that Twi-hards? You won't want to lose to Potter, would you? [via Deadline] RELATED: What have you think about 'Breaking Dawn'? RELATED: Is 'Breaking Beginning Part I' Right for Your Child? 'Breaking Beginning' Premiere Preview: Photos of Past 'Twilight' Red-colored Carpets 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere (2010)'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere (2010)'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere (2010)'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere (2010)'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere in Rome (2010)'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere (2010)'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere (2009)'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere (2009)'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere (2009)'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' After Party (2009)'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere (2009)'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' After Party (2009)'Twilight' Premiere (2008)'Twilight' Premiere (2008)'Twilight' Premiere (2008) See All Moviefone Art galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

ZACH along with other Theaters Make Austin a Magnet for Talent

Austin, the main city town of the Lone Star Condition, has plenty going for this. Kiplinger magazine rated it number 1 on its "Best Metropolitan areas 2010" list, and also the city is third on CNNMoney.com's roster of "America's Most Recession-Proof Metropolitan areas."Clearly, Austin does something right. It's lengthy been based on its music scene, that is the way it grew to become the place to find the most popular and growing South by Southwest festival. But Austin has emerged as not only basics for music. Actually, it is a mecca for theatrical and visual arts too. What exactly helps make the city this type of bastion of creative energy?"In the past, you are able to blame the College of Texas," states Robert Faires, senior arts editor from the Austin Chronicle. "Because the 1880s, it has been drawing creative types from all around the statemost who felt like lonely outsiders within their small hometownsto this place in the middle of Texas. All of them uncover each other here and start to have interaction, and so the creativeness just starts breeding. Since it is so fulfilling on their behalf artistically here, they decide to not leave.""We are a blue oasis inside a red-colored condition," echoes Dork Steakley, the creating artistic director of Austin theater ZACH in excess of two decades. "People, even political figures, range from conservative areas of the condition to become their true selves. This is an unbelievably desirable spot to live."If there's anybody that has his finger on Austin's artistic pulse, it's Steakley, that has shepherded ZACH to the position because the linchpin from the Austin arts scene. Founded in 1933 because the Austin Social Theatre, ZACH (re-named in 1968 for Zachary Scott, the Austin-born actor most widely known for that Hollywood classic "Mildred Pierce") may be the longest-running theater in Texas and something of 10 original resident theater companies within the U . s . States. Steakley credits Austin's music scene for that dialogue ZACH produces between artist and audience. "We are a very participatory people," he described. "We are a visceral people. We talk to the entertainers onstage we are accustomed to that provide-and-consume nightclubs. Which will bleed over in to the the areas from the carrying out arts."Building about this, Steakley decides to produce visceral works that break lower obstacles. Shows have incorporated a bilingual manufacture of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "Jesus Celebrity" entitled "Jesucristo Superestrella," a jazz-R&B adaptation of Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" occur Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, and "Keepin' It Strange," a Steakley-composed paean to Austin itself.Younger crowd sights ZACH being an incubator for artists. The theater nurtured the Anna Deavere Cruz solo piece "Allow Me To Lower Easy" and provided the area for Suzan-Lori Parks to extensively rewrite her drama "It of Sophistication." The released version of "Sophistication" originates from the job done at ZACH."ZACH catches the vibe of Austin in many waysthrough music, humor, politics, storytelling," states award-winning playwright Steven Dietz, who shows within the graduate playwriting division in the College of Texas and it has directed such productions as "Doubt" and the own play "Becky's New Vehicle" at ZACH. Dietz has composed an adaptation of "La Ronde" entitled "360 (round dance)" to become carried out in the venue. "I do not think it is the job of the theater to make an effort to differ than other theaters but to strive to be real to itself. And ZACHwith Dave's leadershipmanages to achieve that.InchElisbeth Challener, controlling director of ZACH, also credits the friendliness of Austinites for creating a difficult reference to the theater. "People worry here," Challener states. "There is no veneer of Southern hospitalityit's real. People request whether they can help, they'll give recommendations of products to determine, after which they'll follow-up." Challener sights ZACH like a meeting tent for audiences and prides herself around the closeness that happens through the performance space. She also highlights the significance of staging both musicals and plays, because the two types of entertainment are equally highly relevant to audiences. An element of the Community Challener and Steakley wax as with excitement concerning the entire Austin artistic scene because they do regarding their own venue. They think that ZACH includes a responsibility towards the city and examine themselves included in the greater community.Such thought has governed the Topfer Theatre Campaign, a landmark redesign by which ZACH will reopen in 2012 with a brand new home around the banks of Lady Bird Lake which will incorporate a 420-chair theater. Created by Andersson-Smart Designers (that also designed Austin's W Hotel and also the Austin City Limits Live in the Moody Theater), the theater's Karen Kuykendall Stage is going to be three . 5 occasions bigger than ZACH's current Kleberg Stage. Challener sights ZACH like a community gathering space, and every factor of the development props up mindset. The brand new lobby will disregard the Austin skyline, and audience people is going to be urged to remain for drinks in the bar following the show, once the stars will join them."I'm not sure that you have a theater in Austin which has a much deeper resolve for community," Faires states, "and a lot of that's driven by Steakley. He makes work with Austin, and the productions possess the spirit from the city pulsing through them. Younger crowd includes a company of a few of the sharpest and funniest comedy stars around.Inch Most of the stars who use ZACH match Faires' passion. "ZACH has produced this type of tremendous feeling of family both inside and outdoors from the organization," states actor Martin Burke, that has made an appearance in lots of ZACH productions and is visible this year inside a revival of "The Laramie Project," David Sedaris' "The Santaland Journals," and "Fully Committed." "We're so thoroughly associated with one another, to the audiences, the performances transcend mere presentation and entertainment," continues Burke. "All of us continue an outing, and our way of life expand due to it." Other approaching ZACH productions this year include Tony those who win "Spring Awakening," "God of Carnage," and "Alongside Normal." The organization conducts open casting calls in central Texas for those shows as well as holds calls in NY City to cast specific parts, with a mixture of Equity and non-Equity entertainers in many productions. Both "Awakening" and "Carnage" include stars found through NY casting calls."ZACH couldn't appear in every other city," states Barbara Chisholm, chosen best actress within the Austin Chronicle's "Better of Austin 2011" poll. Chisholm, who's married to Faires, seconds Burke's contention the theater's success is dependent a good deal on audience engagement. "ZACH audiences lean forward they do not relax with arms folded. Since the spaces are intimate, audiences feel acutely their participation using the art around the stage. Going to artists discuss this communal aspect constantly.InchInchThe creative energy never stops flowing in Austin, and artists will always be trying new things, that we love," Faires describes. "It is not that individuals here don't love the classics, but they are much interested in making something original. I am always knocked by the quantity of new theater being produced hereone from every four plays created in Austin was either written in your area or commissioned with a company. And there is a greatly collaborative spirit one of the artists, a friendliness and feeling of support which makes Austin feel greatly just like a creative community [rather] than simply an aggressive little scene."Mechanicals and Cranks ZACH is just one of many carrying out arts shops in Austin. The Rude Mechanicals re-create historic productions in the last half-century the present offering is really a restaging of Mabou Mines' 1974 work "The B. Beaver Animation." Faires describes the organization to be "as brave and committed and funny a troupe of theater makers while you could aspire to meet." Its original production "The Technique Gun" would be a hit in the Humana Festival of recent American Plays in the Stars Theatre of Louisville, in Louisville, Ky., and performed Off-Broadway, and you will find plans for any tour of Australia. Crank Collective offers satirical musical comedies having a live band, typically by having an unconventional theme. This winter saw "Drone," a musical about two aircraft pilots finding romance when they control surveillance aircraft close to the Texas border the development received a 2011 Austin Experts Table Award nomination for the best musical. The approaching show, "Antarctica," focuses on a descendant of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton who mounts a musical on the cruiseship. John Cecil, a part of Crank Collective, values the fusion of music and theater in Austin. "The 'music' a part of musical theater is fairly exciting, since you will find plenty of music artists available here and thinking about new projects," he states. Faires also cites the experimental group Rubber Repertory as not only a company to look at but additionally a different one that fosters a rapport between stage and audience. "Rubber Repertory is much like the theatrical same as an art microbrewery, making these amazingly original implies that create a person experience for every audience member without compromising the communal character from the theatrical experience," he states. "They are to date outdoors this area that you simply can't quite remember exactly what the box appeared as if.InchInchCreative cachet in Austin appears to become based this is not on fame or success but on the type of dogged fearlessness, a boundary-busting, authority-questioning aesthetic that values freshness and shrewdness over familiarity and luxury,Inch Dietz states. The city's creatively taking care of spirit shows no manifestation of preventing in the near future. Possibly Chisholm states it best: "There's possibility up we breathe and also the tacos we eat."

Robbins, Brody join Chinese famine pic

Tim Robbins and Adrien Brody have grew to become an associate from the cast of director Feng Xiaogang's as-yet-untitled story in the deadly famine in central China in 1942 through the war against Japan. Reps for your thesps confirmed the castings Tuesday. Huayi Brothers and sisters, Feng's production partner, has built that no title remains searching for the pic, that is based on author Liu Zhenyun's novel "Remembering 1942." Feng introduced the project in April with expects to start shooting this be lured with a 2012 release. Zhenyun's novel particulars an individuals crisis that developed consequently from the drought as well as the government's distraction while using war against Japan's trying out armies. The story is occur central China's Henan province, south of Beijing, where Liu was elevated. Liu written "Cell Phone," which Feng based his 2003 film. Feng has become China's best director with "Aftershock," "If You are the primary one,Inch and "If You are the primary one 2." Robbins was last noticed in "Eco-friendly Lantern." Brody is at "Evening amount of time in Paris." Robbins is repped by UTA. Brody is repped by Paradigm. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Like Crazys Felicity Manley Is Warren Beattys Selection For Howard Hughes Film

EXCLUSIVE: Carrying out a extended search, Warren Beatty has selected Constantly star Felicity Manley to see the feminine lead inside the untitled film about reclusive industrialist Howard Hughes. The film remains mobilizing its financing, with New Regency in place just like a co-financier after Vital dropped out. Still, Beatty has began casting, which he met with a lot of youthful stars before identifying on Manley. Her breakthrough showed up the Drake Doremus-directed Constantly, that's been progressively relocating release through Vital Vantage. The film was acquired by Vital and Indian Paintbrush if the opened up within the Sundance Film Festival to high acclaim last The month of the month of january. Manley may have a young lady who evolves rapport with Hughes’s youthful driver and confidante, before she falls deeply deeply in love with Hughes. Beatty, who’ll direct and who written the script, may have Hughes. He’s loss options for your youthful male lead, which i’ve heard names different from Justin Timberlake to Alden Ehrenreich. Also inside the mix for roles are Annette Bening, and potentially Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin and Owen Wilson. The film, which Beatty remains concentrating on for any very long time, is predicted to start production sometime next season. CAA-repped Manley recently completed another movie directed by Constantly‘s Doremus. It shot last summer season, which is presently untitled.

Harvey Weinstein Going Allah the Way For The Artist

“How am I going to market a black-and-white silent movie? I’m praying. I’m going to church and to synagogue. And if that doesn’t work, I’m going Buddhist. And if that doesn’t work, I’m going Islam. Saturdays and Sundays are very busy in the Weinstein household.” [NYM]

U.S. Ad Spending Trends Down for Third Quarter (Report)

NY - Following recent reductions in 2012 U.S. advertising spending forecasts from Wall Street analysts (amid a still-weak economy, preliminary data for the first two months of the third quarter shows that ad spending could have actually declined in that quarter, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Journal said that data from Kantar Media shows that ad spending in July and August combined fell about 1.5 percent. In the second quarter, ad revenue rose 2.9 percent, and the first-quarter gain came in at 4.4 percent. That growth momentum was already down from the 6.5 percent increase reported for 2010. "If you plot year over year growth on a month basis, the trend line is inching downwards through the end of the third quarter," Kantar's senior vp of research Jon Swallen told the Journal. The company is set to release its third-quarter data only after Thanksgiving. During the latest quarterly earnings report season for Hollywood conglomerates, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said momentum in the scatter market for ad sales has seen a "slight softening." For 2012, analysts generally project ad growth thanks in part to the Summer Olympics in London and the U.S. presidential election. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics CBS Corporation

Andy Rooney's Boy Takes note of the Eccentric, Doting Side from the Late '60 Minutes' Commentator

This story first made an appearance within the November. 18 problem from the Hollywood Reporter magazine. Andy Rooney shipped his first an hour commentary on This summer 2, 1978, railing from the media tradition of tallying highway deaths throughout holiday weekends. But Rooney, who died November. 4 at 92 of complications following surgery, labored at CBS for pretty much six decades and spent 3 decades of his career behind your camera. He always considered themself a author first. Rooney was raised in Albany, N.Y., was drafted in to the Military in 1941 and won a Bronze Star for his confirming under fire in the Fight of Saint-Lo. Here, former ABC News correspondent John Rooney takes note of his father. Twelve months, around the evening before Halloween, my dad arranged his four children in the kitchen area, handed us each an incomplete bar of cleaning soap, and stated, "Escape and cleaning soap some home windows." PHOTOS AND VIDEO: 5 Andy Rooney Rants He thought as being a kid ought to be fun along with a little reckless. We resided in a tiny town in Connecticut with a lot of hillsides where he trained us how you can ride an adaptable Flyer lower roads hard-full of snow. It didn't appear to trouble him that people needed to dodge cars while doing the work. He required us winter camping, with no tent. We made an igloo from snow and visited sleep inside before the weather warmed, rain fell also it began to melt. I woke in the center of the evening to determine him standing within the fire, attempting to dry our wet clothes. We'd a lengthy toboggan he betrothed having a rope towards the bumper from the family station wagon and pulled all of us over town inside a snow storm. He drove together with his mind the window searching back at us, and that we'd shout, "Faster, faster!!" VIDEO: ླྀ Minutes' Pays Tribute to Andy Rooney: 'America's Favorite Grouch-in-Chief' He provided my first pocketknife and trained me using a energy saw. He stated, "It doesn't appear right, however it's safer whenever your fingers are nearer to the edge." We'd a volunteer fire department, and each time a horn discontinued lower in the fire station, he packed all of us within the vehicle and drove us anywhere to look at somebody's house burn lower. He felt it had been a social duty. My dad would be a guy of his occasions. He didn't hug you or let you know, "I really like you." He didn't inform us i was wonderful. But when you needed to wake up at 6 a.m. they are driving 300 miles, he'd wake up at 5 thus making you fresh popovers before you decide to left. John Rooney is just one of Andy Rooney's four children and the only boy. His sister Emily hosts Greater Boston, a PBS public matters program. Related Subjects an hour Andy Rooney

FEINBERG FORECAST: 'Coriolanus,' 'J. Edgar,' 'Hugo,' 'Into the Abyss,' 'Lady' Move Publish-AFI

Vital BEST PICTURE Management The Artist (The Weinstein Company, 11/23, TBA, trailer) The Descendants (Fox Searchlight, 11/23, R, trailer) War Equine (Disney, 12/25, PG-13, trailer) Very Noisy and extremely Close (Warner Siblings, 12/25, TBA, trailer) The Assistance (Disney, 8/12, PG-13, trailer) Moneyball (Columbia, 9/23, TBA, trailer) Night time in Paris (The new sony Pictures Classics, 5/20, PG-13, trailer) J. Edgar (Warner Siblings, 11/11, R, trailer) The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo (The new sony, 12/21, TBA, trailer) Shame (Fox Searchlight, 12/2, NC-17, trailer) Major Risks The Ides of March (The new sony, 10/14, TBA, trailer) Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Focus Features, 12/9, TBA, trailer) The Tree of Existence (Fox Searchlight, 5/27, PG-13, trailer) The Iron Lady (The Weinstein Company, 12/30, TBA, teaser) The Adventures of Tintin (Vital, 12/21, TBA, trailer) Hugo (Vital, 11/23, TBA, trailer) Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2 (Warner Siblings, 7/15, PG-13, trailer) Options 50/50 (Summit, 9/30, R, trailer) Drive (FilmDistrict, 9/16, R, trailer) Youthful Adult (Vital, 12/9, TBA, trailer) My Week With Marilyn (The Weinstein Company, 11/23, R, trailer) We Purchased a Zoo (twentieth century Fox, 12/23, TBA, trailer) Within the Land of Bloodstream and Honey (FilmDistrict, 12/23, R, trailer) Carnage (The new sony Pictures Classics, 12/16, R, trailer) Super 8 (Vital, 6/10, PG-13, trailer)our editor recommendsFirst Impression: Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo''J. Edgar': Exactly what the Experts Are SayingMeryl Streep Movie 'The Iron Lady' to spread out 12 ,. 30Ralph Fiennes Discloses Backstory on His Title, Finest Performances and Directorial Debut, 'Coriolanus' (Video) BEST DIRECTOR Management Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) Alexander Payne (The Descendants) Steven Spielberg (War Equine) Stephen Daldry (Very Noisy and extremely Close) Woodsy Allen (Night time in Paris) Major Risks Tate Taylor (The Assistance) Bennett Burns (Moneyball) Clint Eastwood (J. Edgar) David Fincher (The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo) Steve McQueen (Shame) George Clooney (The Ides of March) Terrence Malick (The Tree of Existence) Tomas Alfredson (Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) Steven Spielberg (The Adventures of Tintin) Options Martin Scorsese (Hugo) Jason Reitman (Youthful Adult) Roman Polanski (Carnage) Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) Phyllida Lloyd (The Iron Lady) Jonathan Levine (50/50) Cameron Crowe (We Purchased a Zoo) Julia Roberts (Within the Land of Bloodstream and Honey) David Yates (Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2) BEST ACTOR Management Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) Kaira Pitt (Moneyball) George Clooney (The Descendants) Jean Dujardin (The Artist) Michael Fassbender (Shame) Major Risks Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March) Ryan Gosling (Drive) Woodsy Harrelson (Rampart) Gary Oldman (Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) Rob Fiennes (Coriolanus) Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) Frederick Gordon-Levitt (50/50) Difficulties (The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo) Options Thomas Horn (Very Noisy and extremely Close) Paul Giamatti (Mutually Beneficial) Owen Wilson (Night time in Paris) Demian Bichir (A Much Better Existence) Jeremy Irvine (War Equine) Michael Fassbender (A Harmful Method) Anton Yelchin (Constantly) Matt Damon (We Purchased a Zoo) BEST ACTRESS Management Viola Davis (The Assistance) Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) Rooney Mara (The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo) Major Risks Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) Keira Knightley (A Harmful Method) Charlize Theron (Youthful Adult) Michelle Yeoh (The Woman) Felicity Johnson (Constantly) Tilda Swinton (We have to Discuss Kevin) Options Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre) Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia) Rachel Weisz (The Whistleblower) Adepero Oduye (Pariah) Vera Farmiga (Greater Ground) Ellen Barkin (Another Happy Day) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Management Christopher Plummer (Beginners) Max von Sydow (Very Noisy and extremely Close) Armie Hammer (J. Edgar) Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady) Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn) Major Risks John Hawkes (Martha Marcy May Marlene) Tom Hanks (Very Noisy and extremely Close) Albert Brooks (Drive) Jonah Hill (Moneyball) Patton Oswalt (Youthful Adult) Kaira Pitt (The Tree of Existence) Options Christoph Waltz (Carnage) John C. Reilly (Carnage) Nick Nolte (Warrior) George Clooney (The Ides of March) Jeffrey Wright (Very Noisy and extremely Close) Viggo Mortensen (A Harmful Method) Andy Serkis (Rise from the Planet from the Apes) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Management Berenice Bejo (The Artist) Octavia Spencer (The Assistance) Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) Jessica Chastain (The Assistance) Carey Mulligan (Shame) Major Risks Evan Rachel Wood (The Ides of March) Vanessa Redgrave (Coriolanus) Sandra Bullock (Very Noisy and extremely Close) Judy Greer (The Descendants) Marion Cotillard (Night time in Paris) Emily Watson (War Equine) Jesse McTeer (Albert Nobbs) Options Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Existence) Judi Dench (J. Edgar) Naomi W (J. Edgar) Jodie Promote (Carnage) Kate Winslet (Carnage) Scarlett Johansson (We Purchased a Zoo) BEST Modified Script Management Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash (The Descendants) Richard Curtis, Lee Hall (War Equine) Eric Roth (Very Noisy and extremely Close) Tate Taylor (The Assistance) Stan Chervin, Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian (Moneyball) Major Risks Steven Zaillian (The Lady using the Dragon Tattoo) George Clooney, Grant Heslov (The Ides of March) Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan (Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) Roman Polanski (Carnage) Hossein Amini (Drive) Options Pedro Almodovar (Your Skin My Home Is) Christopher Hampton (A Harmful Method) Cameron Crowe, Aline Brosh McKenna (We Purchased a Zoo) James Ellroy, Oren Moverman (Rampart) John Logan (Coriolanus) BEST ORIGINAL Script Management Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) Woodsy Allen (Night time in Paris) Dustin Lance Black (J. 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'Modern Warfare 3' Ad Recruits Jonah Hill, Mike Worthington

Jonah Hill and Mike Worthington make an unlikely action duo within the new ad for brand new game "Cod: Modern Warfare 3." The live-action commercial for just one of the fall's greatest releases casts Hill as "The Noob" and Worthington as "The Veteran," because the two travel the planet, from NY to Paris and Berlin, and train one another valuable training about war and game titles. Browse the new place here! That needs to function as the best management of a noob I have seen. The ad continues the tagline from an advertisement in the second entry within the series, "There is a soldier in most people.Inch The initial ad incorporated a prepare, just a little girl, Kobe Bryant and Due To Jimmy Kimmel as soldiers taking one another on the battleground. You will find a really special cameo by Dwight Howard, as generation x of noob after Hill makes his keep. Peter Berg of "Friday Evening Lights" and also the approaching "Battleship" directed the place. He's his great amount of expertise with modern warfare since he directed 2007's "The Dominion.Inch "Cod: Modern Warfare 3" hits stores on Tuesday, November 8. What have you think about the brand new "Cod: Modern Warfare 3" ad? Tell us within the comments below as well as on Twitter!

Take advantage of Kardashian Talks On Sister Kims Divorce

First Released: November 1, 2011 9:58 AM EDT Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Take advantage of Kardashian chats with Access Hollywood on October 31, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Take advantage of Kardahian states his household is uniting to aid Kim since her split from Kris Humphries for only 72 times of being married continues to be introduced. Access Hollywood swept up with Take advantage of following Mondays Dwts. My sister and that i and everyone are clearly dealing with a great deal at this time, Take advantage of told Access. Counseled me encouraging of all things she does and were only a very close-knit family, he ongoing. We keep everything private. Just a week ago, Take advantage of addressed gossips that his sister and new brother-in-law were getting relationship worries telling Access, My sister is totally happy, my familys never been more happy, she got married so she ought to be happy. As formerly reported on AccessHollywood.com, a repetition for Kim confirmed the truth star declared divorce on Monday morning. In her own divorce filing, Kim cites irreconcilable variations as the reason behind the divorce and also the date of separation shows up as March. 31, 2011. The truth star is asking that Kris purchase their own lawyer costs which spend perform the same. She also asks a legal court to reject any attempt by Kris to obtain spousal support. At Mondays DWTS, Take advantage of had the support of sister Kourtney, nephew Mason, Scott Disick, and stepfather Bruce Jenner, who have been all within the ballroom entertaining him on. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Battlefield 3' storms sales charts

Ea has snapped up away boasting rights for your year's finest gaming launch since the company's much anticipated ''Battlefield 3'' has offered greater than 5 million models within the first week, which causes it to be the fastest-selling game inside the company's history. The big bow unseats Microsoft's ''Gears of War 3,'' which boasted first week sales of three million copies in September -- but it's likely to end up a short-were living victory. The launch of ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3'' is predicted to produce entertainment industry launch records, since the series has for yesteryear couple of years. The strong sales make the perfect sign for your industry, that's wanting for just about any retail revival this holidays after three years of tepid sales. The figure also puts EA on course to exceed analyst sales anticipation for ''Battlefield 3''. (Wall Street is trying to find the sport to promote between 8-8.5 million copies just before the conclusion of year.) Your competitors for the sport will escalate substantially, however. Beyond ''Modern Warfare 3,'' which launches November. 8, the sport will have to get ready for fight against Sony's ''Uncharted 3'' and Microsoft's ''Halo Anniversary'' -- additionally to recent releases that are showing strong retail legs, including Warner Bros.' ''Batman: Arkham City''. EA has ramped up its marketing machine for the sport, by getting an thought spend of $100 million. Beyond plastering the airwaves and city ads with ads for the sport, the business teamed with Bunim/Murray Productions, designers of ''The Real World'' and ''The Challenge,'' and CBS Interactive division GameSpot to make a web-based reality show around the sport. The wealth of ''Battlefield 3'' isn't likely to affect ''Modern Warfare 3'' sales. That title features a built-in audience and pre-orders in the Activision title have hit record levels for that organization, showing that fans of previous games inside the saga would like to stay with it. Experts estimate the sport will sell 16 million copies this year alone -- with strong sales ongoing into 2012. There's, however, certain to be plenty of mix-pollination -- with ''MW3'' players acquiring a replica of ''Battlefield 3'' to have a look -- a thing that could set the sport up for future growth. More to the stage, the sales amounts will most likely give you the shot of confidence EA must finally convince traders permanently it's switched the corner after a period of under stellar results. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com