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Steven Spielberg 'Jurassic Park' Photo Receives Backlash After Going Viral


Steven Spielberg

When a 22 year-old behind the scenes photograph of 'Jurassic Park' emerged online, many people thought it was real.

It seems some Facebook users can't take a joke!

Jay Branscomb, a user of the social media site, wanted to amuse his 6,300 followers with a funny shot of director Steven Spielberg posing with a dinosaur used in the film series.

Continue reading: Steven Spielberg 'Jurassic Park' Photo Receives Backlash After Going Viral

'Extant' Premiere: Gearing Up For Halle Berry's Space Adventure


Halle Berry Steven Spielberg Goran Visnjic

Ready for Extant? The new science fiction series promises to shake up your expectations of the possibilities of a TV drama and take us on a wild ride into space. Halle Berry lead the new show, which is set to premiere on CBS and Amazon Prime to audiences worldwide this week.

Halle Berry Extant
Halle Berry Is Pregnant With What Could Be An Alien Baby In 'Extant.'

The plot follows Molly Woods (Berry), who returns from space pregnant with what could be an alien baby in the first episode, after an inexplicable encounter with her ex-lover Marcus (Sergio Harford). As a result, questions abound even from the series' first few scenes, pulling the viewer in tight.

Continue reading: 'Extant' Premiere: Gearing Up For Halle Berry's Space Adventure

‘Earth To Echo’ Released, But Is This Family-Friendly Alien Adventure Worth Watching?


Ella Wahlestedt Steven Spielberg Teo Halm

Heading to the movies this weekend? Many of you will be and, if film forecasts are correct, plenty of you will be headed to see Dave Green's new feel-good family sci-fi adventure, Earth To Echo. A three-way cross between E.T., The Goonies and Super 8, Earth To Echo looks set to become a modern science fiction classic. A string of positive reviews won't exactly hurt either.

Tuck (Astro), Munch (Reese Hartwig) and Alex (Teo Halm) are three best friends who are faced with the arrival of a huge construction project that is splitting up their neighbourhood. As one final adventure together, the boys decide to investigate the strange coded messages and maps they keep getting on their cell phones.

After cracking the code, the boys stumble across an adorable unearthly creature who seems to possess the power to construct objects with its mind. They decide to name the incredible alien Echo and decide to help it get back to its home against all odds.

Continue reading: ‘Earth To Echo’ Released, But Is This Family-Friendly Alien Adventure Worth Watching?

Has Amazon Secured The 'Next Big Thing' With 'Extant' Starring Halle Berry?


Halle Berry Steven Spielberg

As the battle for the content streaming crown rages on, Netflix currently sit atop the hill with a smug grin on their face. But Amazon is slowly but surely chipping away at the Cali-based service, firstly by offering delivery, books plus streaming for a similar price, then by claiming the monumental scalp that is HBO, and now Extant, the Halle Berry sci-fi drama produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and CBS studios.

Amazon Prime Instant

Described as “a bold and thrilling new series,” Extant stars Berry as an astronaut trying to reconnect with her family after a year in space. Chris Bird, Amazon's Instant Video film and TV strategy director added: "Having such a highly anticipated and star-studded show premiere exclusively on Prime Instant Video is a perfect example of our ongoing commitment to bringing the very best in movie and TV entertainment to our customers in the UK."

Continue reading: Has Amazon Secured The 'Next Big Thing' With 'Extant' Starring Halle Berry?

Hype Machine Nearly Explodes As Coen Brothers Join Steven Spielberg And Tom Hanks


Coen Brothers Steven Spielberg Tom Hanks

The combination of The Coen Brothers, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks combining on what is being described as a cold war thriller has the potential to break every website on earth through sheer anticipation and ‘will this be the best thing ever’ articles. Luckily for some, we’re here to remind you of things like ‘The Monuments Men’ and ‘The Counsellor. Now breath.

The Coen BrothersThe Coen Brothers at last year's Cannes Film Festival

So here’s what we know so far: Joel and Ethan Coen are on board to pen a draft script telling the story of James Donovan - an attorney who became heavily involved in the Cold by negotiating the release of downed U-2 spy plane pilot Gary Powers with the KGB. This is all according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Continue reading: Hype Machine Nearly Explodes As Coen Brothers Join Steven Spielberg And Tom Hanks

Liam Neeson, James Cromwell Favourites For Spielberg's 'The BFG'


Steven Spielberg James Cromwell Liam Neeson

Oscar nominees Liam Neeson and James Cromwell are the early favourites to land the lead role in Steven Spielberg's The BFG. Towering Hollywood star Neeson is available at 6/1 with Paddy Power, while Cromwell - a character actor of the highest quality - is the frontrunner at 2/1.

James CromwellWill James Cromwell Play The BFG?

Elsewhere, the UK's very own Stephen Merchant is in with a shout at 10/1, while Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams is at 20/1. David Hasselhoff could resurrect his acting career and is a 50/1 shot - which would be ridiculous - while Premier League football Peter Crouch is 250/1.

Continue reading: Liam Neeson, James Cromwell Favourites For Spielberg's 'The BFG'

Atari's 'E.T' Game Found In New Mexico Landfill, Proving Conspiracy Theories


Steven Spielberg

Jesus. So it was true. Atari made a game so bad, that they decided to bury all physical evidence of it in a landfill site in New Mexico, and just hope that nobody found it. Somebody found it. 700,000 cartridges under a thick layer of concrete, buried because they couldn't recapture the magic of Steven Speilberg's iconic sci-fi movie. 

E.TThe E.T game legend has come true. Well, it was always true. 

The elaborate cover-up had been rumored, with gaming communities suggesting what we now know to be the truth for decades. But the sheer extent to which Atari went to in order to cover up their mistake – a game so bad they’d rather bury their oversupplied stock in the desert than face the music – is quite astounding. 

Continue reading: Atari's 'E.T' Game Found In New Mexico Landfill, Proving Conspiracy Theories

Steven Spielberg Taking On Roald Dhal Classic: The BFG


Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg will add to his repertoire of family favourites when he adapts Roald Dahl’s The BFG for the big screen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the legendary director will team up with his E.T scribe, Melissa Mathison for Dreamworks.

Steven SpielbergSteven Spielberg at Cannes Film Festival

The book, which like most of Dahl’s books was illustrated by Quentin Blake, follows a little girl called Sophia who is taken by a giant to his home in Giant Country. Sophie, who was named after Dahl’s own granddaughter, is becomes friends with the giant, who is 24 feet tall, and whose primary occupation is to distribute good dreams to children. 

Continue reading: Steven Spielberg Taking On Roald Dhal Classic: The BFG

Tom Hanks + Steven Spielberg = One Potentially Incredible Cold War Thriller


Tom Hanks Steven Spielberg

Tom Hanks has become attached to a forthcoming cold war thriller from DreamWorks and The Weinstein Company, with Steven Spielberg considering stepping into the director's chair. The Oscar winner will take the lead in the untitled project, written by Matt Charman and produced by Marc Platt, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Tom HanksTom Hanks May Team Up With Steven Spielberg Again

The movie tells the true story of James Donovan, an attorney who was thrust into the center of the Cold War when he negotiated the release of the downed U-2 spy plane pilot Gary Powers. 

Continue reading: Tom Hanks + Steven Spielberg = One Potentially Incredible Cold War Thriller

The Goonies Sequel Could Bring Back Villain, And Corey Feldman


Corey Feldman Steven Spielberg Robert Davi Richard Donner

The Goonies sequel could welcome back the opera-signing villain Jake Fratelli after the actor who played him, Robert Davi, said he was thrilled that Richard Donner is going to shoot the follow-up and wants to be a part of it. Davi told TMZ that he'd love to help Donner write the script to the sequel and has already mapped out the role of his character. 

The Goonies

Because of Jake's love for opera, Robert explained that his character would now have a successful career performing the Great American Songbook with his brother Francis as his crooked manager. One Eyed Willie's ship has been tracked down using sonar technology, but the treasure trove is no longer board. Of course, Jake and Francis have a key piece of evidence that they've held onto for 30 years...evidence that will lead them to the gold. It actually sounds pretty good, right?

Continue reading: The Goonies Sequel Could Bring Back Villain, And Corey Feldman

Corey Feldman Echoes Richard Donner: 'The Goonies' Sequel Is "Close" To Becoming A Reality


Corey Feldman Josh Brolin Richard Donner Steven Spielberg Martha Plimpton Kerri Green Chris Columbus

Director Richard Donner unofficially confirmed he was working on a sequel to the hit 1985 children's classic, The Goonies, on Saturday (5th April). Although rumors have circulated for years, he stated the project was being seriously considered but gave little indication as to a release date or further details.

Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman has told fans all he knows about The Goonies 2.

Read more: The Goonies Director, Richard Donner, Unofficially Confirms A Sequel Is In The Works.

Continue reading: Corey Feldman Echoes Richard Donner: 'The Goonies' Sequel Is "Close" To Becoming A Reality

Steven Spielberg Surpasses Oprah On Forbes List Of The Most Influential Celebrities


Steven Spielberg

Forbes has just released its annual 'The Most Influential Celebrities' list.

With a field filled of broadcast personalities, award winning film directors and media moguls, it was clear that this year's winner wasn't going to be a gossip site's favourite, aka Kim Kardashian or Miley Cyrus.

The No.1 spot is awarded to famed director Steven Spielberg, he overtakes last year's winner, Oprah Winfrey, who now falls into second place.

Continue reading: Steven Spielberg Surpasses Oprah On Forbes List Of The Most Influential Celebrities

Jane Campion To Take Up Head Judge Spot At This Year's Cannes


Jane Campion Steven Spielberg Nicole Kidman Cannes Film Festival

This year’s Cannes Film Festival – which will take place between 14-25 May – will see Jane Campion preside over judging responsibilities.

Campion is best known for The Piano, a film that saw her win the Palme d'Or at the French film festival in 1993. She was the first female winner, and remains the only one to this day. The film also won her a best screenplay award at The Oscars.

Jane CampionJane Campion's consierable reputation has seen her take the head judge spot at Cannes 2014

Continue reading: Jane Campion To Take Up Head Judge Spot At This Year's Cannes

Disney Secures Full Rights To 'Indiana Jones' - Future Movies Could Be On Their Way


Harrison Ford George Lucas Steven Spielberg INDIANA JONES Disney

In a move that has terrified fans the world over, Disney have acquired the full rights to the INDIANA JONES movies series, meaning they are now free to film future Indie titles as and when they please. According to Deadline, Walt Disney Studios and Paramount Pictures came to an agreement on Friday, 6 December, that secures marketing and distribution privileges for the Indiana Jones franchise.

Harrison Ford
Will Harrison Ford be appearing in another adventure?

The deal between the two picture houses comes a year after Disney took their first steps towards securing the rights to the Indiana Jones series, when the company purchased Lucasfilms in a multi-billion-dollar deal last October. The new deal gives Disney marketing and distribution rights to any future Indie films and also means that Lucasfilm retains the ownership rights to all the Indiana Jones films. Essentially, the deal means that Disney are now the sole owners of the Indiana Jones movie franchise and have full authority to do whatever they please with it.

Continue reading: Disney Secures Full Rights To 'Indiana Jones' - Future Movies Could Be On Their Way

Milius Review


Very Good

A biography of iconic filmmaker John Milius, this engaging documentary features some of the biggest stars of all time talking about their friend who changed the movies forever. And he's got such a huge presence that we love listening to his stories almost as much as we've loved watching his films over the decades. This movie also explores his controversial image as a right-wing gun lover, but the salient fact is that his friends and colleagues clearly love him dearly.

John Milius has always been a man's man. His asthma prevented him from joining the military, so he instead went to film school in the 1960s with a group that included Lucas, Spielberg, Coppola and Scorsese. And these young turks were exactly what cinema needed as the studio system ended. Milius' uncredited screenplay for Dirty Harry got him work as a writer and director, and his crowning achievement remains the screenplay for Apocalypse Now. He's also proud of his passion project Big Wednesday, an iconic surfing film that vanished without a trace when the studio abandoned it. But everything changed with Red Dawn, the teen fantasy that gave him his pro-gun reputation as a pariah. He's been less busy since, but is still working on his long-gestating epic about Genghis Khan, even though he has spent the past few years recovering from a debilitating stroke.

Like Milius himself, this is a beefy, jovial movie that zips along at a fast pace, observing telling details everywhere without any real criticism. Milius calls himself a "zen anarchist" rather than a conservative, and it's fascinating to see his life-loving personality emerge in the clips. Meanwhile, we see all of the iconic lines he's written and cinema-changing moments he's had a hand in, from writing Robert Shaw's amazing USS Indianapolis speech in Jaws to teaching Arnold Schwarzenegger how to hold a sword for Conan.

Continue reading: Milius Review

The Dinos Are Back: 'Jurassic World' Will Hit Theatres June 2015


Steven Spielberg Richard Attenborough Jeff Goldblum Jurassic Park

Jurassic World will bring back dinosaurs to the big screen as the guys behind Jurassic Park have come back for a fourth time to release the exciting follow-up to 2001's Jurassic Park 3. The film has been given the official release date of June 12, 2015.

Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg will be returning to produce the film

As the Hollywood Reporter initially reported, Steven Spielberg, who produced and directed the first two films of the dino-resurrecting film, will be returning to only produce this time, alongside Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley. Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) has been handed the reins to direct and will be working from a script drafted by Derek Connolly and re-worked on by himself.

Continue reading: The Dinos Are Back: 'Jurassic World' Will Hit Theatres June 2015

'Under The Dome' Debuts On UK TV After US Success: Are Critics Won Over?


Stephen King Dean Norris Steven Spielberg

Under The Dome, the premise is simple: the residents of small American town Chester's Mill find themselves separated from the rest of the world by a giant physical barrier, known as 'the dome.' No one knows why the mysterious, semi-permeable dome has appeared but the Chester's Mill denizens must find a way to maintain order, survive, and ultimately escape.

Under The Dome Poster

The show is based on master horror writer Stephen King's 2009 novel of the same name and the author also wrote the first episode of the CBS series. Set for 8 episodes, the series is billed as the "mini-series of the summer" and has been widely praised by US critics, having been one of the six series chosen for the 'Critics' Choice Television Award for Most Exciting New Series,' and attracting a whopping nearly 18 million viewers to its pilot episode on 24th June.

Continue reading: 'Under The Dome' Debuts On UK TV After US Success: Are Critics Won Over?

CBS Wins Bidding War For Steven Spielberg's Astronaut Series 'Extant'


Steven Spielberg Stephen King

Steven Spielberg's futuristic thriller Extant - a serialized drama - has been picked up by CBS Television Studios for next summer. Spielberg, Greg Walker and Mickey Fisher, who penned the script, will executive producer alongside Brooklyn Weaver, Justin Falvey and Darryl Drank.

The series follows a female astronaut trying to reconnect with her family after returning a year in outer space. Her experiences lead to events that ultimately change the course of human history.

"Extant is a very original concept with layers of humanity, mystery and surprise that reveal itself throughout the script," said CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler, "Our partnership with Amblin for Under the Dome showed that viewers respond to high-quality event programming in the summer. We look forward to building on that with Extant and offering CBS audiences another high-concept, unique event for summer television."

Continue reading: CBS Wins Bidding War For Steven Spielberg's Astronaut Series 'Extant'

New Steven Spielberg Series, 'Extant,' Green-Lit By CBS


Steven Spielberg Stephen King

Steven Spielberg's newest television project, Under The Dome, is proving to be the latest success for CBS in it's late night programming. In a bid to capitalise on this current run of success, the TV company have decided to double up on Spielberg and have agreed a deal with the Oscar-winning filmmaker to air his next project; Extant.

Steven Spielberg
Spielberg will be at the heart of the new series

On Wednesday (7 August), the joint project from Spielberg's Amblin Television and CBS Television Studios was green-lit by studio execs. and work began on the futuristic drama-thriller. The Hollywood Reporter has since revealed that the series will be penned by Spielberg, Greg Walker and Mickey Fisher, and that it will be a future-set family drama and thriller about a returning female astronaut trying to reconnect with her family after spending a year outside the Earth's atmosphere. This is more than just a family-reconnection series though, as our female protagonist has experienced things in space that will ultimately alter the course of human history.

Continue reading: New Steven Spielberg Series, 'Extant,' Green-Lit By CBS

E.T Is The Nation’s Favourite Film - Thanks, Spielberg


Steven Spielberg Clark Gable

If three decades of quoting “E.T phone home” didn’t hint to you that E.T was the nation’s favourite film, then the official poll will have to do it.

Nostalgic voters have been thinking back to their childhoods and have decided that the 1982 Steven Spielberg epic is the best film… ever, really.

It beat out Bambi – obviously – The Goonies, The Lion King and Toy Story – a list that makes us want to heat up some popcorn and regress. E.T was a smash in the early-eighties, but has continued to rake in the cash, taking a worldwide total of $435m (£283m) and that’s not even accounting for inflation – that includes people spending $2 on a cinema ticket!

Continue reading: E.T Is The Nation’s Favourite Film - Thanks, Spielberg

Ben Stiller's 'The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty' Looks Crazy, Bizarre, Awesome [Trailer]


Ben Stiller Kristen Wiig Adam Scott Steven Spielberg Ron Howard Sean Penn Patton Oswalt

Ben Stiller stars in the highly-anticipated adaptation of James Thurber's 1939 short story The Secret of Life of Walter Mitty, with the first official trailer rolling out online on Tuesday.

Stiller stars as Mitty, the mild-mannered LIFE magazine employee who escapes the monotony of office life through his epic daydreams.

Stiller also directs the movie, which has been plagued by budget problems though is finally set for release this Christmas. From the trailer, this looks to be a genuinely ambitious piece of cinema and should be well worth a watch.

Continue reading: Ben Stiller's 'The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty' Looks Crazy, Bizarre, Awesome [Trailer]

Hammer-Wielding Josh Brolin Wants Revenge In Spike Lee's 'Oldboy' [Trailer]


Josh Brolin Spike Lee Steven Spielberg Will Smith Mark Protosevich Samuel L Jackson Elizabeth Olsen Sharlto Copley

The first red-band trailer for Spike Lee's remake of Park Chan-wook's classic and disturbing movie Oldboy has rolled out online, featuring all the hammer-centric bloody revenge of the original. Josh Brolin plays a man abducted and held in captivity for 20 years before being mysteriously set free by his captor.

OldboyThe Poster for the American remake of Oldboy, starring Josh Brolin

Though many fans of the original remain wary of Lee's remake, the movie - written by I Am Legend scribe Mark Protosevich - is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Park's cult film - which makes up part of the director's Vengeance Trilogy - features one particularly unsettling scene, though it's unclear whether Spike Lee has retained it. Bloggers who saw an early screening in April said the remake maintains the shocking key plot twist, according to The Guardian.

Continue reading: Hammer-Wielding Josh Brolin Wants Revenge In Spike Lee's 'Oldboy' [Trailer]

Barry Manilow & Neil Diamond Win Hearts In A Glittering July Fourth DC Performance


Barry Manilow Neil Diamond John Williams Steven Spielberg

In a display of unrivalled patriotism, timeless icons Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond graced Washington DC's National Mall to help celebrate Independence Day, performing in front of thousands of fans and TV viewers.

Barry Manilow
Singer Barry Manilow Gives A Sideways Look.

The audience were also treated to acclaimed composer John Williams conducting scores from Steven Spielberg's Lincoln movie, with a special video introduction from the director himself and the National Symphony Orchestra lending their unique talents, according to Billboard.

Continue reading: Barry Manilow & Neil Diamond Win Hearts In A Glittering July Fourth DC Performance

Oprah Winfrey Rules Over A Female Dominated Forbes 100 Most Influential List


Oprah Winfrey Lady GaGa Steven Spielberg Beyonce Knowles Madonna Bon Jovi Taylor Swift Roger Federer Justin Bieber Ellen Degeneres

Forbes have just released their 100 Most Influential Entertainers list and Oprah has made a comeback as No. 1. True, it might not be a real comeback, considering that she only dropped to No. 2 in the past two years, but this is Oprah Winfrey we’re talking about – the woman never does anything halfway, comebacks included. According to Forbes, Winfrey has had an $88 million drop in earnings between June of last year and June 2013. However, the chart makes it clear that other factors, besides earnings are also taken into consideration when creating the list.

Oprah Winfrey, Harvard
This year Winfrey returnes to her rightful place. 

And while it is unknown exactly what those factors are – marketability, social media presence and entrepreneurial decisions are thought to be among them – Winfrey’s handling of the nosedive her OWN network took in the last two years, as well as her management of the rest of her media empire, including O Magazine, a network on Sirius XM and shows by protégés like Dr Phil means that she once again fits the bill. Winfrey made $77 million last year, down significantly from $165 million for the same period last year. That’s still a lot of money though, even for the entertainment industry, and the media empress is set to increase said profits in the coming year, as her newly rebuilt OWN network is predicted to begin turning a profit by the end of 2013. This year, OWN has undergone a complete overhaul, cutting out unprofitable project and replacing them with original programming, created by Winfrey herself with the help of Tyler Perry – another Forbes 100 staple.

Continue reading: Oprah Winfrey Rules Over A Female Dominated Forbes 100 Most Influential List

Mellody Hobson Marries George Lucas, But Which Legend Played Live?


Mellody Hobson George Lucas Van Morrison Steven Spielberg Janelle Monae Francis Ford Coppola Harrison Ford Carrie Fisher Mark Hamill

Mellody Hobson has married her long-time partner - Star Wars director George Lucas - at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. The ceremony went ahead on Saturday afternoon (June 29, 2013), with former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley giving away the bride and George's son Jett serving as the best man. The director and producer's daughters Amanda and Katie served as bridesmaids, according to the movie mogul's spokesperson.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison played live at the reception, with the soulful Janelle Monae also playing a set. Steven Spielberg was also in attendance and director Francis Ford Coppola read a poem by Maya Angelou. That's some guest-list. 

Lucas became engaged to DreamWorks Animation chair Hobson, 43, in January. She is also head of the Chicago-based investment management firm Ariel Investments and chairman of Ariel Mutual Funds. Oh, and she's a director at Estee Lauder, Groupon and Starbucks as well as a regular contributor at CBS - in other words, she's a big player. A huge player. It will be her first marriage, though the second for Lucas, 68.

Continue reading: Mellody Hobson Marries George Lucas, But Which Legend Played Live?

Netflix To Launch In Netherlands: Its 41st Country!


Steven Spielberg Mandy Moore Ricky Gervais Seth Meyers

Netflix is to launch in the Netherlands in late 2013. The streaming giant is currently available in 40 countries worldwide and provides a range of film and television shows on demand. It is the biggest internet television channel with 36 million users, according to their website. 

Fees for subscription are relatively low especially in comparison with other commercial television channels such as Sky and Virgin. Dutch users, as in the 40 countries where it is currently available, will be able to stream videos from their computer, tablet, mobile, television or any device which has internet connection.

The company has expanded dramatically since it was established in 2009. In doing so Netflix has been able to finance a number of independent projects including their critically acclaimed (and hugely popular) dramas such as House of Cards and Arrested Development

Continue reading: Netflix To Launch In Netherlands: Its 41st Country!

Steven Spielberg On The Future Of The Film Industry: An 'Implosion Is Due'


Steven Spielberg George Lucas Eli Roth

Steven Spielberg talks about the difficulties of showing anything other than big budget, mainstream films in the cinema. He was addressing film students at the opening of the University of South California's School of Cinematic Arts building and warned that an 'implosion' within the film industry is due owing to difficulties with finance.

Spielberg warned USC students it is highly likely that a few big budget films would, within a short period, flop which would alter the industry forever. Spielberg's argument is that studios, fearful of loss, are only willing to make films which will ensure a large profit margin. He commented on how finance fixated the film industry has become claiming 'a studio would rather invest $250m in one film for a real shot at the brass ring than make a whole bunch of really interesting, deeply personal - and even maybe historical - projects'.

Spielberg also warns that the viewing public may have to foot the bill for big budget films. He uses Iron Man 3 and Lincoln as examples whereby cinema-goers would pay more than double ($25) than those seeing Lincoln ($7). This is in proportion with what they cost to make. Production costs for Lincoln were around $65 million whereas Iron Man's came in around $200 million. 

Continue reading: Steven Spielberg On The Future Of The Film Industry: An 'Implosion Is Due'

'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Joe Francis Has A Sex Tape. It's Out There.


JOE FRANCIS Steven Spielberg VH1

JOE FRANCIS, the founder of 'Girls Gone Wild' is threatening criminal and civil action if a sex-tape of himself and girlfriend Abbey Wilson appears online. The video was saved on an iPad belonging to his girlfriend that was stolen at LAX airport a few weeks ago. It is said to be professional quality, reports TMZ.com.

"I'm a connoisseur of pornography," Francis said. "I'm Steven Spielberg when it comes to this." On a serious note, the tycoon - recently convicted of assault and false imprisonment - says he is confident the police will arrest the thief and is adamant he will take the matter further. His lawyer David Houston said, "It is not only unfortunate, but it is a crime. As such, this office will take all necessary steps to determine who in fact has done this and who is attempting to distribute the video," adding that they've already contacted the authorities and issued a stern warning to the culprit, "When we catch you, we will see that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of both the criminal and civil laws."

Francis and girlfriend Wilson are set to appear on a new VH1 reality show 'Couple's Therapy,' debuting on June 12. On speculation that the tape could be a stunt, Francis said "We will never sign a release. You will never see this tape. This is not a publicity stunt," Francis said. "I just want my property returned to me and for this criminal to be arrested and prosecuted."

Continue reading: 'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Joe Francis Has A Sex Tape. It's Out There.

Eva Longoria's Wardrobe Malfunction Draws Laughs At Cannes Film Festival


Eva Longoria Nicole Kidman Steven Spielberg Ang Lee Emma Watson Cara Delevingne Zoe Saldana

Eva Longoria suffered a wardrobe malfunction at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday (May 18, 2013) though managed to have a pretty good laugh about the whole thing. The former Desperate Housewives actress stepped onto the red-carpet for the premiere of Jimmy P. Psychotherapy of a Plains Indians and accidentally flashed too much skin for waiting fans and photographers.

The 38-year-old had tugged up the bottom of her sea foam green Atelier Versace gown in order to avoid tripping while climbing the stairs of the theater. Unfortunately for Longoria, she was sans underwear and exposed her bottom half. The embarrassed actress quickly noticed mistake and pulled herself together to pose for photographs. She laughed off the incident the following night, "Here's my dress for tonight!" she wrote, alongside a photo of herself in a black gown. "No wardrobe malfunctions tonight!"

Eva LongoriaEva Longoria
Everything Seemed To Be Going Swimmingly For Eva Longoria At Cannes, Until She Reached The Dreaded Stairs

Continue reading: Eva Longoria's Wardrobe Malfunction Draws Laughs At Cannes Film Festival

Coen Brother’s Inside Llewyn Davis - The ‘Best So Far At Cannes’?


Ethan Coen Coen Brothers Christoph Waltz Steven Spielberg Cannes Film Festival

Joel and Ethan Coen, who go by the collective pseudonym of The Coen Brothers, seem to have struck gold with their latest film, Inside Llewyn Davis, which is emerging as a front-runner for the Palm D’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Described by The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw as "best so far at Cannes," the new Coen Brother’s flick caused quite a stir when it debuted at the prestigious film festival. “Cannes audiences just heard a clean, hard crack: the sound of the Coen brothers hitting one out of the park,” read Bradshaw's review. “Their new film is brilliantly written, terrifically acted, superbly designed and shot; it's a sweet, sad, funny picture about the lost world of folk music which effortlessly immerses us in the period.” The Atlantic go as far as to say Llewyn is “Fargo good,” adding in their review: “Their new movie ranks with their very best (Fargo, No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man) in its nearly pitch-perfect balance of biting satirical humour and deep reserves of feeling."

Continue reading: Coen Brother’s Inside Llewyn Davis - The ‘Best So Far At Cannes’?

'The Great Gatsby' Opening Cannes Doesn't Seem Like Such A Good Idea Anymore


Cannes Film Festival Steven Spielberg Leonardo Dicaprio Michael Douglas Coen Brothers James Gray Joaquin Phoenix Alexander Payne

The 2013 Cannes Film Festival will open on Wednesday (May 15, 2013) with Baz Luhrmann's 3-D version of The Great Gatsby, a throwback to the roaring twenties adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic book of the same name. The announcement caused unrest earlier in the year given that Gatsby would already have been released in the U.S by the time Cannes came round (it was released last week) though there's a couple of other things to worry about.

The Great Gatsby opened in the United States to fairly lacklustre reviews, dampening the buzz surrounding the start of the 12 day Cannes Film Festival. The critics have already seen it. The critics didn't like it very much. "This dreadful film even derogates the artistry of Fitzgerald, who wrote "The Great Gatsby" while living on Long Island and in Europe," said the Wall Street Journal. It holds a score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Nevertheless, champagne bottles will be popped, deals will be made and Harvey Weinstein will be wandering around deciding which movie to snap up as his next Oscar winner at this year's festival. Stars expected to attend include Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Ryan Gosling, Emma Watson and the legendary Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachan. "This is the hardest 10 days of the year for me. There are always three or four movies that are exceptional and you have to find them so it is a detective job," said Tom Bernard, co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics.

Continue reading: 'The Great Gatsby' Opening Cannes Doesn't Seem Like Such A Good Idea Anymore

Is Colin Trevorrow's 'Jurassic Park 4' Facing Extinction?


Jurassic Park Steven Spielberg

Aw, just when Jurassic Park 4 was shaping up to be something potentially interesting, it's been chopped down. As you'll know by now, the movie was left in the capable hands of Safety Not Guaranteed director Colin Trevorrow with a June 13, 2014 release date announced, however, that always seemed ambitious. There was no cast in place, lots of CGI to develop and no filming locations confirmed.

Now, according to Deadline.com, Trevorrow will have plenty more time to work on the movie given Universal have delayed the film's release "in coordination with the filmmakers." It's a little worrying that there's been no later release date announced but the speculation suggests the project definitely isn't dead. The Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit tweeted that after receiving the first draft two days ago, Universal were presented with a film "way more epic and ambitious than they were prepared for."

Universal don't need us to tell them to stay way clear of summer 2015, given The Avengers 2, Star Wars Episode VII and the new Fantastic Four movie all pencilled in for those couple of months. Add a potential Justice League movie to that mix and Jurassic Park 4 finishes behind all four movies. It almost always spells disaster when movies are pushed back though with Trevorrow still at the helm, there could be something to stick with here.

Continue reading: Is Colin Trevorrow's 'Jurassic Park 4' Facing Extinction?

Spielberg And Bradley Cooper's 'American Sniper' Has Oscars Written All Over It


Steven Spielberg Bradley Cooper

Steven Spielberg's new movie American Sniper - based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle - will star Bradley Cooper in the lead role. Kyle, an expert marksman who wrote American Sniper: The Autobiography Of The Most Lethal Sniper In U.S. Military History, was recently gunned down by a discharged vet at a Texas shooting range. Cooper optioned the book himself and Spielberg clearly sees it as a strong enough project for which to get behind the camera.

The movie chronicles Kyle's journey from rodeo cowboy to SEAL chief with the highest number of sniper kills in U.S. military history. The book spent 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and 13 weeks at No.1. Cooper - whose production company 22nd & Indiana Pictures sealed the rights a year ago - appears to be onto a good thing. Obviously, with Spielberg at the helm the film immediately takes on added significance, though Cooper himself has risen to become one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood following his career best Oscar nominated role in Silver Linings Playbook. However, the most significant thing that American Sniper has in its favour in terms of awards potential is that it's very American and very military based. The Academy is a sucker for heavily patriotic stories - see Argo and The Hurt Locker - and should the team behind the movie get the remainder of the cast right, it could be a big player indeed.

The book has been adapted by Jason Hall (Paranoia) who will also serve as executive producer with Spielberg and Cooper.

Continue reading: Spielberg And Bradley Cooper's 'American Sniper' Has Oscars Written All Over It

Spielberg To Direct Bradley Cooper As 'The Most Lethal Sniper In History'


Steven Spielberg Bradley Cooper

Fresh from the success of Lincoln, Steven Spielberg has already decided whose life story he'll bring to the screen next; the former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle who gained recognition from his country for his exploits during the Second Iraqi War. Bradley Cooper has been chosen to star as Kyle in the film, which is based on an adaptation of Kyle's bestselling American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.

Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper will play the lethal Kyle.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news, also detailing that Cooper and Spielberg will be producing the film too, alongside Andrew Lazar (Get Smart) and Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon). Jason Hall (Spread) wrote the script. In a recent interview on NPR’s Fresh Air, Cooper said Kyle’s story “really needs to be told, and it’s also relevant on two fronts: gun control and the need to address the many soldiers who are coming back with PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder).”

Continue reading: Spielberg To Direct Bradley Cooper As 'The Most Lethal Sniper In History'

Video - Rebel Wilson, Robin Wright And Steven Spielberg At The 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Part 1


Among arrivals at the 2013 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton were 'Pitch Perfect' star Rebel Wilson with her sister Liberty, 'House of Cards' star Robin Wright, Oscar winning movie director Steven Spielberg and the Grammy winning John Legend.

Continue: Video - Rebel Wilson, Robin Wright And Steven Spielberg At The 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Part 1

Steven Spielberg's 'Schindler's List' Arrives On Blu-Ray: The Greatest Movie Ever?


Steven Spielberg

It's easy to ignore Steven Spielberg's movies when musing on the greatest film projects of all time. He makes great, family films, often amongst the best of their generation, though there's always something a little more hard-hitting, a little edgier than Spielberg. There is however one film in the director's oeuvre that is unarguably one of the greatest of all time - Schindler's List.

The movie - available this week on Blu-Ray - followed the true story of German businessman Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, who sees an opportunity to make money from the Nazis' rise to power. Mr Schindler starts a company to make cookware and utensils, using bribes to win military contacts. He staffs his factory with Jews though when all of Krakow's Jewsish men, women and children are assigned to the Plaszow Forced Labor Camp - headed by Commander Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) - Schindler comes to realise his factory is the only thing preventing his staff from being shipped to the death camps. He begins demanding more workers and bribing Nazi leaders to keep Jews on his employee list, losing his entire fortune and saving 1,100 people from likely death.

The film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 7, including Best Picture and Best Director for Spielberg. The critics were emphatic in their praise, with the New Yorker saying, "Few American movies since the silent era have had anything approaching this picture's narrative boldness, visual audacity, and emotional directness."

Continue reading: Steven Spielberg's 'Schindler's List' Arrives On Blu-Ray: The Greatest Movie Ever?

The Oscars Shock Winners And Losers: How Argo Beat Lincoln To Best Picture


Ben Affleck Daniel Day Lewis Steven Spielberg Academy Of Motion Pictures And Sciences

Very rarely has it been so clear that Oscar nominations and wins are a delicately calculated game of accumulated points and numbers, as the Academy panel want to keep everyone on side. While it comes as something of a shock for Argo to beat Lincoln to the Best Film of the year, if we look at the numbers, it all adds up.

Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Ben Affleck

Good company: Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Ben Affleck

Continue reading: The Oscars Shock Winners And Losers: How Argo Beat Lincoln To Best Picture

Oscars 2013: Ang Lee Beats Steven Spielberg To Best Director


Ang Lee Steven Spielberg Academy Of Motion Pictures And Sciences

Is this a shock? It kind of is. Ang Lee has taken the Best Director Oscar for Life of Pi, ahead of Steven Spielberg for Lincoln, who was the hot favorite to win the award.

Not to worry, Speilberg, you’ll bag best film, everyone knows it. But this was Ang Lee’s day, and he delivered his speech with the eloquence and grace that he’s become known for. “Thank you so much. Thank you movie god,” he said, looking up to the sky and receiving a titter of laughter from a knowing crowd. “I really need to share this with everyone who worked with me on Life of Pi. I want to thank you for believing the story and sharing this incredible journey. I need to thanks Yann Martell for writing this incredible, inspiring book.” This award was perhaps distorted by the fact were both Ben Affleck and Quentin Tarantino both, inexplicably, missed out on nominations, effectively making the Academy voter’s decisions a whole lot easier.

Suraj Sharma and Ang Lee at Directors Guild Of America

Continue reading: Oscars 2013: Ang Lee Beats Steven Spielberg To Best Director

Argo And Lincoln – Two Oscars Favourites With Historical And Contextual Inaccuracies


Daniel Day Lewis Ben Affleck Steven Spielberg Academy Of Motion Pictures And Sciences

Anyone bothered to check The Oscars 2013 news today – the day before the ceremony – has seen both Argo and Lincoln. We have, and we loved them both. But there’s an air of controversy surrounding both stories, which are dramatizations of real life events.

As is the case with all ‘based on a true story’ films, there are scenes in which a certain amount of embellishment adds to the drama or tension. This is certainly true of the (SPOILER) last scenes in Argo, where the team escape Iran with police cars chasing the plane. This didn’t happen; they entered the airport at around 5am, when it was quiet, and enjoyed a peaceful passage onto the plane. That wouldn’t be a very exciting film, though, would it?

Daniel Day Lewis at British Academy Film AwardsSteven Spielberg at Writers Guild Awards

Continue reading: Argo And Lincoln – Two Oscars Favourites With Historical And Contextual Inaccuracies

Alternate Oscars: Paul Thomas Anderson Wins! Leonardo Di Caprio Wins! Daniel Craig Wins!


Leonardo Dicaprio Paul Thomas Anderson Marion Cotillard Maggie Smith Daniel Craig Sam Mendes Steven Spielberg

Imagine for a minute an alternate Academy Awards. An Oscars ceremony that decided against rewarding biopics, inaccurate thrillers and lightweight sort-of-indie flicks mainly directed by David O'Russell. This Sunday (February 24, 2013), a rather predictable bunch of nominees will take their seats at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Daniel Day-Lewis will take home Best Actor, Spielberg will probably add to his collection of Best Director gongs, hell, maybe grumps himself Tommy Lee Jones will snatch a prize. It begs the question: is this really a collection of the very best performances and movies of the year? We present to you our alternate Academy Awards - who missed out on a nomination, though wouldn't have looked out of place with the golden statuette in their hand?

Skyfall castThe Skyfall Cast At The Premiere In 2012

Continue reading: Alternate Oscars: Paul Thomas Anderson Wins! Leonardo Di Caprio Wins! Daniel Craig Wins!

Stephen King Adaptation 'Under The Dome' Will Star Twilight's Rachelle Lefevre


Rachelle Lefevre Stephen King Steven Spielberg Dean Norris Aisha Hinds Mike Vogel

Rachelle Lefevre will be joining the new CBS sci-fi drama Under the Dome, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Twilight star is pegged to play the role of Julia, an investigative reporter who has recently moved to Chetser’s Mill, from Chicago. Once there, she and the rest of Chester’s Mill’s inhabitants, finds herself dealing with the “post apocalyptic conditions” that arise when a “strange dome” encapsulates the entire town.

With the show based on Stephen King’s popular novel, Julia is the editor of the town’s local paper and her curiosity is sparked by the news that multiple deliveries of propane gas had been made to a local warehouse. The appearance of the dome has her confused, though the disappearance of her husband – the local doctor – has her even more concerned. The drama is due to be produced by CBS Television studios and was taken straight to series, in association with Steven Spielberg’s own Amblin Television. Working as executive producers on the show will be Neal Baer, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Stacey Snider and Brian K Vaughan. The premiere episode of the series will also feature Lost’s Jack Bender as executive producer.

The cast will also include Dean Norris (Breaking Bad), Mike Vogel (Pan Am) and Aisha Hinds (True Blood). Her casting in Under the Dome marks a return to CBS for Lefevre, who previously worked with them on A Gifted Man. The show is scheduled to premiere on June 24, 2013. 

Continue reading: Stephen King Adaptation 'Under The Dome' Will Star Twilight's Rachelle Lefevre

Maureen Dowd Tells Spielberg To 'Fix' Flawed Oscar Nominated Lincoln


Steven Spielberg Daniel Day Lewis Ben Affleck

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd rips into Lincoln director Steven Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner in her latest article for what she deems a blatant historical fabrication in their epic drama, which is tipped to scoop Oscars at the Academy Awards on Sunday (February 24, 2013). The movie shows two Connecticut legislators voting against the Emancipation Proclamation when in fact they voted for it.

In her article - which has been swirling around industry sites for a couple of days - Dowd suggests, "I'm a princess-and-the-pea on this issue, but I think Spielberg should refilm the scene or dub in "Illinois" for "Connecticut" before he sends out his DVDs and leaves students everywhere thinking the Nutmeg State is nutty." It's difficult to understand why Spielberg changed the facts in the movie, though the answer may lie in the reality that it was two Democrats who opposed the freeing of the slaves (not, as the movie shows, one Republican and one Democrat). Did Spielberg and Kushner make the change to pander to the generally liberal leaning world of Hollywood? Perhaps not, though it seems a strange amendment anyway. 

It's likely that Lincoln will miss out on many of the major honors at the Academy Awards this weekend, though Spielberg could still walk away with Best Director. His leading man Daniel Day-Lewis should win Best Actor, though it appears Ben Affleck's Argo is now leading the race for Best Picture. The Iranian-embassy drama has also attracted criticism for its historical inaccuracies.

Lincoln's Historical Accuracy The Main Focus Ahead Of The Oscars


Steven Spielberg

The historical accuracy of Lincoln – Steven Spielberg’s Oscar nominated political biopic – has been brought back to the fore by a fresh article in The New York Times.

"I’m a princess-and-the-pea on this issue, but I think Spielberg should refilm the scene or dub in 'Illinois' for 'Connecticut' before he sends out his DVDs and leaves students everywhere thinking the Nutmeg State is nutty," Maureen Dowd of the NYT wrote. She went on to talk about her pet peeve, which is “filmmakers who make up facts in stories about real people to add 'drama,' rather than just writing the real facts better. It makes viewers think that realism is just another style in art, so that no movie, no matter how realistic it looks, is believable."

Time is running out for Spielberg to adhere to Joe Courtney’s deadline. You see, Courtney, U.S. Representative for Connecticut's 2nd congressional district, was upset with what he perceived to be historical inaccuracies in Lincoln. “How could congressmen from Connecticut — a state that supported President Lincoln and lost thousands of her sons fighting against slavery on the Union side of the Civil War — have been on the wrong side of history?” he wrote. He then pleaded with Spielberg to address these problems before the Oscars, in which Lincoln is nominated for 12 awards, including best picture. He also requested that the scene be amended for DVD release.

Daniel Day-Lewis Saves The Day: Where Did It All Go Wrong For 'Lincoln'?


Daniel Day Lewis Hugh Jackman Steven Spielberg Ben Affleck

Ahead of the BAFTA's in London on Sunday evening, there were quiet murmurings of a huge upset. Could Daniel Day-Lewis really be beaten in the category of Best Actor? In his home country? Rumours that Les Miserables was going to wipe the floor with the competition led to speculation that Hugh Jackman would usurp Day-Lewis and take the top acting gong. In the end, it was the Best Actress category that threw up the evening's biggest shock - Emmanuelle Riva winning for Amour, over Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain.

Late last year, Steven Spielberg's historical epic Lincoln was the MASSIVE favourite to win Best Picture at the Oscars on February 24, 2013. Daniel Day-Lewis was the frontrunner for Best Actor, Sally Field was the strong favourite for Best Actress and Tommy Lee Jones was way ahead of the competition for Best Supporting Actor. Only two of those favourites remain, with Field almost certain to lose out to Lawrence or Chastain and Lincoln itself now the outsider for Best Picture, behind the strongly fancied Argo.

It seems the Academy did Steven Spielberg a massive favour by snubbing Ben Affleck in the category of Best Director. The multi-Oscar winner is likely to scoop the award, though will a couple of gongs seem like a hollow victory should Argo win the major prize?

Rotten Tomatoes' Films Of The Year Announced: Oscar Favourite Argo Lands The Top Spot


Ben Affleck Steven Spielberg Daniel Day Lewis

It seems early, but Rotton Tomatoes have announced their films of the year! Of course it's for 2012. But you knew that. Anyway, given that RT score films based on a wide average of reviews, it's the best place to go for the lowdown on all things cinema, apart from Contact Music, of course. Here are the Golden Tomatoes of 2012. 

Topping the list is Argo with 96% on their review meter - that's pretty darn high. The Ben Affleck-directed thriller, with a dark, comedic splice has recently overtaken Lincoln as favourite to win best picture at The Oscars. Second is Looper, which has managed to find itself amongst the top films this year despite being generally snubbed for the big awards. Third, and perhaps surprisingly is Marvel's The Avengers, which scored 92%. 

Joss Whedon's sci-fi comic book epic has been popular amongst the super-geeks and film snobs alike for it's all out entertainment value. Everyone's favourite spy James Bond scored a 4th place spot, and with people claiming Skyfall to be the best bond ever made, it's not hard to see why 007 finished that high. 

Continue reading: Rotten Tomatoes' Films Of The Year Announced: Oscar Favourite Argo Lands The Top Spot

How Ben Affleck's 'Argo' Ambushed The Oscars Race For 'Best Picture'


Ben Affleck Steven Spielberg Daniel Day Lewis Quvenzhane Wallis

Anyone keeping a close eye on the betting for the race for Best Picture at the Oscars will know it's been judged as wide-open for months. Last summer, the magical-drama Beasts of the Southern Wild was the bookies favourite following heavy praise at the film festivals and a buzz surrounding the performance of 9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis'. The young actress has since snagged a nomination for Best Actress, though the movie looks unlikely to win the ultimate prize on February 24, 2013.

Upon its release, Les Miserables was fancied for the Oscar, though it may have to settle for a sole acting prize for Anne Hathaway. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln has always been in the mix - a classic Oscars movie with a career best performance from Academy favourite Daniel Day-Lewis. Spielberg's epic strengthened in the market following the Oscars snubbing of Ben Affleck for Best Director. Why would they reward a movie without even acknowledging the efforts of its director? According to the Hollywood Reporter, only one film in the past 80 years has won the Best Picture Oscar without also receiving a best director nod.  It makes little sense, though Affleck's Iranian hostage drama has emerged as the odds-on favourite to win Best Picture in Los Angeles next month. On January 10, it beat Lincoln to Best Picture at the Critics' Choice Awards, winning Best Picture at the Golden Globe awards three days later. This past weekend, it won the PGA and SAG top prizes for Best Theatrical Motion Picture and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In almost all cases, Lincoln was expected to win. 

Ben Affleck, ArgoBen Affleck Was Snubbed For Best Director At The Oscars, Though Argo Remains A Hot Favorite

Continue reading: How Ben Affleck's 'Argo' Ambushed The Oscars Race For 'Best Picture'

Lincoln Finds Unexpected Ally In Lord Mandelson


Daniel Day Lewis Steven Spielberg

With one of the world most sough-after actors in the lead role and one of Hollywood's all-time great directors at the helm, you'd doubt that Lincoln would need much more help in pushing for a larger audience. However a recently uploaded video featuring British politician Lord Mandelson promoting the film is aiming to do just that, and as you'd expect, the video is pretty damn strange.

The Oscar-nominated biopic about 19th-century Republican President, Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis), might have all the Oscar nominations it could possibly want, but that doesn't mean it has the audience pull that the studio behind the film desire and as such, Lord Mandelson's endorsement might be just what 20th Century Fox need to kick start the audience influx in Europe. In the video, the former Labour MP, nicknamed The Prince of Darkness, pays tribute to  Lincoln's "pragmatism," comparing one of America's greatest presidents to himself and his efforts towards making Labour electable in the mid-1990s. Something tells us this isn't going to work at all.

In the snippet, the former EU Commissioner says: "When I look back at Lincoln's presidency and what he had to struggle through, I see a man who had a great sense of conviction, of moral certitude, [a sense] that he was right  and [that] changes that needed to be made were absolutely necessary for the US at the time," adding, "But he was also somebody who was also prepared to use pragmatic means to arrive at his goal. And recruiting his rivals and adversaries to the cause he was pursuing - giving them a good reason to agree with him rather than to stand aside. This is the art and skill of politics."

Continue reading: Lincoln Finds Unexpected Ally In Lord Mandelson

A Week In Movies: Sundance Buzz For Stoker Trailer, London Critics' Choose Amour, First Look At Tommy Lee Jones In Emperor


Nicole Kidman Matthew Goode Mia Wasikowska Steven Spielberg Daniel Day Lewis Kathryn Bigelow Jessica Chastain Jennifer Lawrence Emmanuelle Riva Tommy Lee Jones Helen Mirren Bruce Willis John Malkovich Catherine Zeta Jones Josh Duhamel Julianne Hough Nicholas Sparks

Stoker Trailer


Updates From Sundance Film Festival And The London Critics' Circle Awards Plus Trailers For, Stoker, Emperor And Red 2

As the Sundance Film Festival continues in Utah, buzz is emerging about the new Nicole Kidman movie Stoker, in which she plays the widowed mother of teen Mia Wasikowska as they deal with the arrival of the unexpectedly sexy Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode). From the director of Old Boy, a new trailer depicts the film as a stylish, warped and very black comedy. It comes to cinemas on March 1st.

Here in Britain, two leading awards contenders open this week. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln stars Daniel Day-Lewis, the front-runner in the Best Actor race. This would be his unprecedented third win in the category. And Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty stars Jessica Chastain, who is currently the favourite for Best Actress, although Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook is giving her some serious competition.

But no one should write off iconic French actress Emmanuelle Riva's astonishing turn in Amour. She won the London Critics' Circle Film Award for Best Actress on Sunday. The London critics also gave Amour their Film of the Year title, and it's up for Best Picture at the Oscars as well.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Sundance Buzz For Stoker Trailer, London Critics' Choose Amour, First Look At Tommy Lee Jones In Emperor

Daniel Day Lewis As Lincoln: Has There Ever Been A Safer Bet For Best Actor?


Daniel Day Lewis Steven Spielberg

As February looms, there is only one thing on the mind of film lovers and industry types alike: The Oscars. When The Academy Awards are doled out  on the 24th, there's perhaps one truly safe bet, and it's Daniel Day Lewis to pick up Best Actor in a Leading Role for his turn as America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln.

He'll be helped along by the emotive storyline; after all, Lincoln is considered an American hero. But, having been nominated for 11 awards, including Best Director, you can garuntee at least 5 awards for the Spielberg Epic. 

Lewis, however, believes the part should have gone to an American actor. He tells the Daily Mirror newspaper, "I was very aware of the responsibility involved as I didn't want to be the person who desecrated the memory of the most loved president America has ever known... It seemed like an outlandish idea to take someone who grew up in south east London and make him President of the United States... I'm not an American citizen so I don't have the right to be president."

Continue reading: Daniel Day Lewis As Lincoln: Has There Ever Been A Safer Bet For Best Actor?

Lincoln Review


Excellent

A historic epic from Steven Spielberg carries a lot of baggage, but he surprises us with a remarkably contained approach to an iconic figure. What's most unexpected is that this is a political drama, not a biopic. It's a long, talky movie about back-room deal-making on a very big issue: ending slavery in America. It also has one of the most intelligent, artful scripts of the past year, plus a remarkably wry central performance.

Daniel Day-Lewis constantly grounds Abraham Lincoln in his earthy humanity, good humour and tenacious desire to do the right thing, no matter what it takes. The film essentially covers just one month in which Lincoln works to outlaw slavery before ending four years of civil war. Secretary of State Seward (Strathairn) reluctantly supports this plan, enlisting three shady negotiators (Spader, Nelson and Hawkes) to convince wavering members of Congress to vote in favour of a constitutional amendment. Meanwhile at home, Lincoln is under pressure from his wife Mary (Field) to keep their oldest son Robert (Gordon-Levitt) off the battlefield.

All of this political wrangling makes the film feel like a 19th century version of The West Wing, and Kushner's script crackles with wit, nuance and passion, clearly echoing today's political debates about issues like gun control and human rights. We find ourselves wishing that our own politicians were this creative about getting the votes they need on important issues. This meaty approach gives the cast terrific dialog to bite into, although Spielberg never lets anyone run riot with scenery-chomping antics. The closest is probably Jones, as the fiery anti-slavery supporter Thaddeus Stevens. He's terrific in this role. And Field shines too in as the spiky Mary. Even if she's about a decade too old for the character, she brings intelligence and emotion to every scene.

Continue reading: Lincoln Review

Steven Spielberg

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Steven Spielberg

Date of birth

18th December, 1946

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Male

Height

1.72


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Steven Spielberg Movies

Ready Player One Trailer

Ready Player One Trailer

It’s the year 2045 and the only way to survive on Earth is to escape...

The Post Trailer

The Post Trailer

At a time when there's so much incertainty in the US political climate, a film...

The BFG Movie Review

The BFG Movie Review

For his adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, Steven Spielberg reunited with screenwriter Melissa Mathison,...

The BFG Extended -  Trailer

The BFG Extended - Trailer

One of Roald Dahl's most popular children's novels The BFG is once again going to...

The BFG Trailer

The BFG Trailer

Sophie and the other girls at Mrs. Clonkers orphanage share a big sleeping dorm and...

The BFG - Teaser Trailer

The BFG - Teaser Trailer

Sophie has spent her life alone. She lives in an orphanage full of girls just...

Bridge of Spies Movie Review

Bridge of Spies Movie Review

Steven Spielberg takes on the Cold War with a stately, sentimental thriller that gurgles along...

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Bridge Of Spies Trailer

Bridge Of Spies Trailer

It's the height of the Cold War and things are getting tense between Russia and...

Bridge Of Spies - International Trailer

Bridge Of Spies - International Trailer

James Donovan is a simple insurance lawyer from Brooklyn, New York whose cases have never...

Bridge Of Spies - US Trailer

Bridge Of Spies - US Trailer

In 1960, the hard work of many good people was tested greatly. The height of...

The Hundred-Foot Journey Movie Review

The Hundred-Foot Journey Movie Review

A relentlessly smiley-glowy tone threatens to undo this film at every turn, but it's just...

Milius Movie Review

Milius Movie Review

A biography of iconic filmmaker John Milius, this engaging documentary features some of the biggest...

Jurassic Park 3D Trailer

Jurassic Park 3D Trailer

When John Hammond of genetic engineering company InGen manages to clone dinosaurs from prehistoric DNA...

Lincoln Movie Review

Lincoln Movie Review

A historic epic from Steven Spielberg carries a lot of baggage, but he surprises us...

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