Daily Variety back issues from January 2009:
Holding strong: big B.O. for year-end pix.
Jan 02, 2009; ... The holiday box office has turned into a cash cow for a diverse litter of titles, guaranteeing that ticket sales for 2008 will match or exceed last year's record-breaking haul of $9.62 billion. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Twentieth Century Fox's breakout holiday hit ...
Downloads, concerts hit high note.
Jan 02, 2009; ... A depressed holiday season pushed the recorded music industry deeper into its continued slump as sales of albums--CDs and downloads combined--hit only 428.4 million, a 14% drop from 2007. It's even more staggering when compared with 2005 numbers, when 618.9 million units were ...
SAG's feeling internal heat.(Screen Actors Guild)
Jan 02, 2009; ... The Screen Actors Guild is starting 2009 with a civil war raging over a possible strike. SAG's moderate wing plans to replace the guild's negotiating committee--and possibly fire national exec director Doug Allen--in hopes of breaking the contract stalemate with the majors. ...
Cable war ends.
Jan 02, 2009; ... After escalating quickly into a public war of words, the contract battle between Time Warner Cable and Viacom ended quietly in the wee hours of New Year's Day with a deal that averted the threatened blackout of MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and 16 other Viacom-owned channels. ...
Pics for posterity: 25 titles entering National Film Registry.
Jan 02, 2009; ... "The Asphalt Jungle," "Sergeant York," "In Cold Blood," "The Pawn broker," "Deliverance" and "The Terminator" are among the 25 films selected in 2008 by the Library of Congress for inclusion in its National Film Registry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The registry is ...
A 'Fearless' finale to '08.(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... Taylor Swift's "Fearless" held on to the No. 1 slot for a fourth nonconsecutive week, selling 262,000 copies in the week ended Sunday, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Albums by Bey once and Britney Spears were clearly popular stocking ...
Myriad eyes fright 'Night'.(The Night Projectionist)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Myriad Pictures is reteaming with comicbook publisher Studio 407 to bring the horror series "The Night Projectionist" to the bigscreen. "Projectionist" marks the second title produced under Studio 407's first-look deal with Myriad--the first ...
'Phantom' sequel chatter heats up.(The Phantom of the Opera)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Andrew Lloyd Webber is talking up his long-gestating sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera," telling the London press he's hoping for a late-2009 preem for three productions bowing simultaneously on Broadway, on the West End and in an Asian market such as ...
'Basterds' set for summer.
Jan 02, 2009; ... The Weinstein Co. and Universal Pictures have set a date for Quentin Tarantino's World War II epic "Inglourious Basterds." The Brad Pitt starrer will open domestically on Aug. 21, with TWC handling distribution Stateside. ...
Hugh bids 'Cleo' adieu.(Hugh Jackman )(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... Hugh Jackman has removed himself from discussions to star with Catherine Zeta-Jones in "Cleo," a 3-D live action musical which Steven Soderbergh will direct as his next project. No deal had been signed as the ambitious $30 million project is completing its financing, but ...
Jay Karnes.(Tenpercenteries)
Jan 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thesp Jay Karnes ("The Shield") has signed with Innovative. Karnes recently ...
Jon Collin Barclay.(Tenpercenteries)
Jan 02, 2009; ... Actor Jon Collin Barclay has signed with National Lampoon Talent Group ....
Damian Kindler.(Tenpercenteries)
Jan 02, 2009; ... H2F Entertainment has inked Damian Kindler. Kindler created and exec produces ...
Tess of the D'Urbervilles.(Television program review)
Jan 02, 2009; ... (Two-part movie; PBS, Sun. Jan. 4, 11, 9 p.m.) Filmed in the U.K. by BBC/WGBH Boston. Executive producers, Kate Harwood, Rebecca Eaton; producer, David Snodin; director, David Blair; writer, David Nieholls, based on the novel by Thomas Hardy; camera, Wojciech Szepel; production ...
Game Show in My Head.(Television program review)
Jan 02, 2009; ... (Series; CBS, Sat. Jan. 3, 8 p.m.) Produced by Hat Trick Prods. and Katalyst Films in association with fox21. Executive producers, Jimmy Mulville, Leon Wilde, Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke, Michael Binkow; supervising producer, Evelyn Warfel; music, Tony Phillips; ...
IFC hosting 'Che'.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)(Independent Film Channel)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... A little under a month after unspooling the uncut "Che," distrib IFC will bring the trimmed-down, two-part version of Stephen Soderbergh's epic biopic to its Gotham theater on Jan. 9. The first half, "Che: The Argentine," will open wide the same day. The IFC Center's winter ...
Film Society of Lincoln Center.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
Jan 02, 2009 ... Film Society of Lincoln Center will mark the 20th anniversary of the death of New York Film Festival co-founder Richard Roud with a double bill of his favorite pies. Jean-Marie Straub and Daniele Huillet's "The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach" and ...
The Screening Room.
Jan 02, 2009 ... <Pre> The Screening Room The Screening Room runs Tuesdays and Fridays. Send schedules to jeffrey.sneider@variety.com. Screenings are open to Academy and guild members. For a complete list of screenings in all cities, visit Variety.com/screenings New York Australia (Fox) ...
The Clone Returns Home.
Jan 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (KURON WA KOKYO WO MEZASU) (Japan) An Agung, Kassai, Homare, Sakura foods, Tocyu-kikaku, Bangup, Furie production. (International sales: Agung, Tokyo.) Produced by Kiyoshi Inoue, Rie Yamamoto. Executive producer, Wim Wenders ....
Burma VJ.
Jan 02, 2009; ... (Docu--Denmark) A Magic Hour Films production, in association with WG Film, Mediamente, Kamoli Films, with participation of SVT, DR TV, Channel 4, NRK, Danish Film Institute, Danida. (International sales: First Hand Films, Zurich.) Produced by Lise Lense-Moller. ...
New producers primp 'Hair' revival.(Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel have teamed with the Public Theater to act as co-lead producers of the upcoming Broadway revival of "Hair"--replacing Elizabeth I. McCann as the lead commercial producer on the project. McCann, who worked with the Public last season on the ...
Archival legit goes online.(American Theater Wing and Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... The American Theater Wing has partnered with the legit helmers' union, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, to make archival audio and video material available online for streaming and download. Conversations between creatives fostered by the Stage Directors and ...
S.F. theater needs major magic streak.
Jan 02, 2009; ... San Francisco's Magic Theater has joined the list of regional theaters hit by economic woes, with the org declaring it must raise $350,000 by Jan. 9 to stay open. The 42-year-old institution, already engaged in a staff shutdown, carries an accumulated debt of $600,000, and also ...
Filming in the future.(Film Production Chart)
Jan 02, 2009 ... PRODUCTION CHART KEY Abbreviations: EXP, Executive producer; PROD-Producer; COP-Co-producer; DIR-Director; AD-First assistant director; 2DIR-Second-unit director; SCR-Screenwriter; OP-Cinematographer; ED-Editor; PD-Production designer; ART-Art director; SET-Set decorator; ...
Filming in the U.S.(Film Production Chart)
Jan 02, 2009 ... THE BLACK ROCK EXP, Kevin Epps; PROD-DIR, Epps; P, Sparkie Brown. Mastamind Prods. (323-666-5458) 7/6, San Francisco, CA. THE CARD Will Edwards, Henry Clarke, Numa Brelet, Barbara Stewart, Robert Watts, Kerry Ann Loomis EXP, First Earth ...
Filming in Gotham.(Film Production Chart)
Jan 02, 2009 ... ANYTHING Sarah Brossa, Peter Brossa PROD, Tressa Sanders; DIR-CAST, Sanders. Still Guerrilla Films/High Contrast Media (813-413-5392) 12/6, New York. FIVE GOOD YEARS Kris Black, Shoshanna Stern PROD, Kris Black, Hutson Miller, Bruce ...
Room for next boom: those raging bulls and easy riders make way for another generation.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: DIRECTORS ROUNDUP)
Jan 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sharp divides are never as easy to pinpoint in Hollywood, although Peter Biskind made a pretty good case in his book "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls." Now that clique of 1970s helmers no longer dominates the kudos sweepstakes, though Jonathan Demme and Clint ...
Diane Paulus on Darren Aronofsky's 'The Wrestler'.(DIRECTORS ON DIRECTORS: Broadway's best tip their hats to 2008's most notable filmmakers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009 ... I have been fascinated by the world of professional wrestling for years. I believe that when theater in the 20th century is studied from the vantage point of 500 years from now, professional wrestling--and in particular, the heyday of 1980s wrestling--will emerge as one of the most ...
Daniel Sullivan on John Patrick Shanley's 'Doubt'.(DIRECTORS ON DIRECTORS: Broadway's best tip their hats to 2008's most notable filmmakers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009 ... My wife and I had a dinner party recently and one of the subjects that came up was "Doubt," the movie. I was fascinated that the same questions these people had after the play opened were still in the air after seeing the film: Is the priest guilty? What's the evidence? What's the evidence ...
Thomas Kail on Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire'.(DIRECTORS ON DIRECTORS: Broadway's best tip their hats to 2008's most notable filmmakers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In his latest film, "Slumdog Millionaire," Danny Boyle breathes life into the fiercely irrepressible hero Jamal and the kaleidoscopic beauty of Mumbai with a pulsing vitality. He creates a dazzling tapestry through his trust of the skilled co-director ...
Phyllida Lloyd on Alexander Sokurov's 'Alexandra'.(DIRECTORS ON DIRECTORS: Broadway's best tip their hats to 2008's most notable filmmakers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009 ... A Russian woman visits her soldier grandson in war-ravaged Chechnya. She shuffles about the camp with a kind of perplexed authority, meeting soldiers, chatting to her grandson and tottering off for some shopping in the nearby Chechen market. She could easily be an American woman in Iraq ....
Terry Kinney on Mike Leigh's 'Happy-Go-Lucky'.(DIRECTORS ON DIRECTORS: Broadway's best tip their hats to 2008's most notable filmmakers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009 ... Mike Leigh's films speak to theater lovers. He rehearses the actors for a long time, and he works with an ensemble of actors, which is something I care about. But my favorite thing about Leigh is that he makes movies that play more like life and less like movies. His images are always in ...
Ian Rickson on James Marsh's 'Man on Wire'.(DIRECTORS ON DIRECTORS: Broadway's best tip their hats to 2008's most notable filmmakers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I loved "Man on Wire." It transfixed me. I watched it with Kristin Scott Thomas at the Sunshine Cinema while we were previewing "The Seagull" on Broadway, and it was an ideal cultural escape. The director, James Marsh, found a seamless way of sewing ...
Bartlett Sher on Gus Van Sant's 'Milk'.(DIRECTORS ON DIRECTORS: Broadway's best tip their hats to 2008's most notable filmmakers)(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2009; ... I must admit in advance that I am quite biased on the subject of "Milk," having grown up in San Francisco in the 1960s and 1970s. We were all huge supporters of Harvey (my parents voted for him) and we knew the Moscone family. So by the time I got to the end of this film, I actually had to ...
Judging plays on the silver screen: no special treatment for stage-to-film work.(ADAPTED)
Jan 02, 2009; ... Hollywood has a long tradition of adapting plays and musicals for the screen. Critics whose job it is to assess such films say they give efforts like "Frost/Nixon," "Doubt" and "Mamma Mia!" no special consideration just because they originated on the stage. "Film is an eclectic ...
A chance for lighter far: separation can help musicals and comedies.(LAUGHING MATTERS: FUNNY ACTORS GET RESPECT)
Jan 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Of all the Golden Globes categories, best motion picture--musical or comedy may be the hardest to get a bead on. For starters, it yokes together two distinct categories while segregating them from drama. Yet the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., ...
Crix comment: a sampling of lively opinions on some of this year's key Golden Globes noms.(V PLUS: GLOBES CRIX' PICKS)
Jan 02, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BEST MOTION PICTURE DRAMA 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' "Lyrical, original, misshapen and deeply felt, this is one flawed beauty of a movie." --David Ansen, Newsweek 'Frost/Nixon' "Director ...
U.K. honors showbiz folk.
Jan 02, 2009; ... Rock singer Robert Plant, jazz musician Courtney Pine, film producer Jeremy Thomas and actor Michael Sheen have been honored by the U.K. government. Plant, the former frontman of Led Zeppelin, saxophonist Pine and Thomas, whose credits include "The Last Emperor" and "Sexy ...
FCC commish Tate ankles org post.
Jan 02, 2009; ... FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tare is exiting the regulatory org after three years, but outgoing FCC chairman Kevin Martin is keeping mum on his plans after president-elect Barack Obama takes office next month. Martin's term as a commissioner runs through 2011. He'll be ...
Hits and myths of acting honors: many iconic thesps never earned an Academy Award.(V PLUS: AWARDS SEASON FOCUS: THE ACTOR AND THE ACTRESS )
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No one ever promised that the Academy would be just, let alone fair. This year, Frank Langella (who will be 71 by Oscar night) is said by some to have a better chance with "Frost/Nixon" just because last year's "Starting Out in the Evening" was ...
Streep sets new mark: acknowledged for 'Doubt' and 'Mamma Mia!,' the actress passes Lemmon as most nominated thesp in Globes history.(Golden Globes)(Meryl Streep and Jack Lemmon)
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Golden Globes have often been touted as a precursor to Oscar, and that's true--but only to a point. It's only because the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. nominates 15 actors and 15 actresses (five each for lead in both drama and ...
Out on their own: all 10 nominated thesps in top actor/actress categories are vying for their first SAG Award as a lead performer.(SAG Awards)( Screen Actors Guild )
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yanks and virgins dominate the Screen Actors Guild nominations in the two lead actor categories. Let's begin, however, with the more intriguing topic of all those first-timers. Despite such high-voltage marquee names as Angelina ...
Costly pix, strong mix: Spirit noms continue recent trend of giving due to films that normally would be too pricey to be called independent.(Indie Spirit Awards)
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ever since 1996, when "Jerry Maguire" stood alone as the single studio film up for best picture, the Academy has had no shame celebrating its independents. Naturally, the shift that began that year has resulted in a certain amount of overlap with Film ...
Crix assess wide pix mix: 'Happy' Hawkins finds herself the adoration of scribes while many choose Cruz as Woody's 'Barcelona' belle.(Critics' Awards)(Sally Hawkins of Happy-Go-Lucky, Penelope Cruz and Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As Hollywood inches through yet another Oscar season, various critics groups across the nation have begun the annual tradition of handing out their year-end superlatives in terms of top acting perfs. Reviewers in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, ...
Rookies register with awards voters: while the 'Slumdog' folks and other new faces are enjoying their sudden attention, the real prize is the fame that will bring future roles.(STAR SIGHTINGS: LOVING THE LIMELIGHT)
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dev Patel, the young actor who plays the lead in "Slumdog Millionaire," recalls a recent ride on the London Underground the day after he won most-promising newcomer at the BAFTA Awards. "I was just sitting there, like a normal person," he says ...
Holiday pack stays strong.(box office sales)
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Twentieth Century Fox's Owen Wilson-Jennifer Aniston starrer "Marley and Me" remained best in show at the weekend box office, fetching a winning gross of $24 million from 3,505 runs for a cume of $106.5 million in only 11 days. "Marley" led an ...
B.O. on power trip: studios show off in boffo year.
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The record-breaking 2008 domestic box office proves Hollywood isn't as dependent on by-the-book franchises as everyone feared. The '08 B.O. will also be remembered for prospering even as the economy collapsed. Ticket sales for the year--Jan. 2, ...
Biz finds o'seas ease.
Jan 05, 2009; ... Despite a global economy in freefall, Hollywood majors still saw 2008 foreign grosses rise 4% and set a new record of $9.9 billion. Amid a worldwide recession, the gain underlines the durability of the international biz. The six Hollywood distribs (Disney, Fox, Paramount, Sony, ...
Eye shines brightly in downer 2008.
Jan 05, 2009; ... When it comes to momentum heading into the new year, the Eye has it--and it's pretty much alone. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One year after the writers strike disrupted development and production cycles, the broadcast networks don't seem to have recovered as a group ....
Damages.
Jan 05, 2009 ... The second season of FX's drama is missing some of the good vs. evil component ...
Fall leaders.
Jan 05, 2009 ... <Pre> Fall leaders How the networks fared in reaching the 18-49 demo in primetime during the fourth quarter: Top broadcasters% change Rating/share vs. 2007 [CBS] 3.2/9...
Why movies don't fit into Rupe's rap.
Jan 05, 2009; ... WHEN THE CONGLOMS FIRST SEIZED CONTROL OF the major movie studios some years ago, the financial gurus told us how beneficial this would be. The new "parents" would exercise discipline over their unruly children, while also bringing infusions of capital. All this sounded fine, ...
'Bashir' charms crix: Nat'l Society also fetes 'Happy-Go-Lucky'.
Jan 05, 2009; ... "Waltz With Bashir" edged "Happy-Go-Lucky" and "Wall-E" to win the 43rd annual best picture prize from the National Society of Film Critics. "Happy-Go-Lucky" was the other big winner, prevailing in four categories. The group's 49 voting members, who rep media outlets ...
Helmer sets Fitzgerald adaptation.
Jan 05, 2009; ... John Curran is set to direct "The Beautiful and the Damned," a Film Department period drama that will star Keira Knightley. Pic begins production in March. Hanna Weg script concerns the turbulent marriage of alcoholic writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and his mercurial wife Zelda ...
Relativity goes Rogue.
Jan 05, 2009; ... After more than two months of negotiations, Relativity Media has closed a deal to buy Rogue Pictures from Universal Pictures for roughly $150 million. Move bolsters Relativity's library, adding some 30 titles, including Rogue's debut pic "Unleashed" and summer horror hit "The ...
Cannes cues Huppert.
Jan 05, 2009; ... French actress Isabelle Huppert will serve as jury president for the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I am very glad and very proud," Huppert said. "I've had a long relationship with Cannes, and this next meeting will definitely seal my love for the ...
Beijing's Broadway: theater plex seeks tuners.(World News)
Jan 05, 2009; ... Move over Broadway--China is looking to become the global destination of choice for musicals. Theatergoers in the Chinese capital are hoping a giant entertainment project that will contain 32 theaters when construction is complete will rival the West End and Broadway, with some ...
Media conglom XFM to unload billboard biz.(World News)
Jan 05, 2009; ... Chinese media conglom Xinhua Finance Media will increase its focus on entertainment and sports, having agreed to the sale of its outdoor advertising biz. XFM, which is based in Beijing and has a share listing on the Nasdaq, said it is selling its Hong Kong-based Convey ...
New 'Doctor' in the house at BBC.(World News)(Doctor Who's Matt Smith)(Brief article)
Jan 05, 2009; ... A rising British thesp is the surprise choice to be the 11th and youngest ever Doctor Who. Matt Smith, 26, will succeed David Tennant as the TV Time Lord when the next full series of the skein bows on U.K. screens in 2010. The casting of Smith, who made his TV debut ...
China busts piracy ring.(World News)
Jan 05, 2009; ... Chinese police say they have busted the world's largest software counterfeiting gang, and courts in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen have sentenced the criminals to jail terms of between one and 6 1/2 years. The 11 pirates were selling fake Microsoft products valued at more ...
Yonkers Joe.(Movie review)
Jan 05, 2009; ... A Magnolia Pictures release of a Go Prods./Trent Othick production. Produced by Trent Othick. Executive producers, John Gaughan, Matt Othick, Phil Ivey, Chazz Palminteri. Co-producers, Fred David, Robert H. Moretti, Illya Trincher. Co-executive producers, Jim Click, Vince Schettler, Bill ...
Largo Winch.(Movie review)
Jan 05, 2009; ... (France) A Pan-Europeenne, Wild Bunch Distribution release of a Pan-Europeenne, Wild Bunch, TF1 Films Prod., Casa Prods. production, in association with Araneo Belgium, Sofica Valor 7, SGAM AI Cinema 1, with participation of Canal Plus, CineCinema. (International sales: Wild ...
'Estate' finds new home in Hartford.(Dividing the Estate)(Brief article)
Jan 05, 2009; ... There's still life in the Lincoln Center Theater presentation of Horton Foote's play "Dividing the Estate." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The production, which closed its limited Broadway run Sunday at the Booth Theater, will be revived at Connecticut's Hartford Stage in ...
Room for differing views: 'Button' lenser acts naturally despite heavy reliance on f/x.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE CINEMATOGRAPHER)
Jan 05, 2009; ... Although "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" represents Claudio Miranda's first gig as d.p. on a David Fincher-directed feature, Miranda had a great deal of experience inside Fincher's digital filmmaking pipeline when he took on the project. He had previously shot commercials ...
Epic 'Australia' tips hat to spectacles in grand tradition of 'Giant' and 'GWTW.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE CINEMATOGRAPHER)
Jan 05, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In "Australia," director Baz Luhrmann pays homage to his homeland in a sweeping period saga that's also a throwback to the spectacles Hollywood used to make but rarely does anymore. "We referenced back to movies like 'Giant' and 'Gone With the Wind' but ...