Can 'Moneyball' Overcome Baseball's Oscar Slump?

Columbia TriStar This year's Oscar game has barely begun. You are able to say we're still within the top the initial. However the new the new sony's Moneyball has turned up in theaters after its effective premiere within the Toronto Worldwide Film Festival, the play-by-play commentary has began. Is Moneyball, through which Kaira Pitt plays Billy Beane, gm in the Concord Athletics, an honours player? Adapting Michael Lewis' best-selling nonfiction book, director Bennett Burns and screenwriters Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin steer an experienced course using a thicket of baseball lore to dramatize how Beane beat the probabilities and deep-pocketed teams like the NY Yankees through the use of record analysis to identify and wager on underrated players. When sounds dry, it isn't. Pitt enables go of his golden boy image -- Burns's camera zeroes in on every weary line on his face -- becoming an underdog to redefine the means by which the sport is carried out. Attention will probably be paid out. TORONTO REVIEW: Moneyball But what of prospects for your film itself? After catching a pre-opening screening, Honours Daily blogger Sasha Stone tweeted up bad weather: "Is really a major Oscar player In my opinion. First film I've seen that could win," she predicted, though conceding, "Extended strategy to use still." Critic Leonard Maltin wasn't as sure, cautioning, "Moneyball is straightforward to admire, just a little harder to love.In . PHOTOS: 'Moneyball' Premiere in Concord Turning up so at the beginning of the summer season, the film faces hurdles. It'll be judged not only by its critical reception (it's registered a rousing 94 percent approval rating on RottenTomatoes.com so far) but furthermore its commercial success. Its opening weekend of $19.5 million was solid while not as robust as individuals of a year ago's Sorkin talkfest, The Social Media, which bowed with $22.4 million. Plus, just like a fact-based story, it might be selected apart by sports fans because Jonah Hill's statistician can be a heavily fictionalized character and several key A's players are overlooked. EXCLUSIVE: New Study Shows Kaira Pitt's 'Moneyball' Creating Major Buzz Online Nevertheless the finest obstacle Moneyball faces is the fact Hollywood never proven much Oscar passion for the sport. It didn't begin by doing this: The Pride in the Yankees, starring Gary Cooper as NY slugger Lou Gehrig fighting the problem that could be named after him, will be a formidable contender. It acquired 11 noms but lost its 1942 best picture bid for the war-designed Mrs. Miniver. Other biopics emerged to softball softball bat: Jimmy Stewart carried out White-colored Sox pitcher Monty Stratton inside the Stratton Story William Bendix and, later, John Goodman starred as Yankees legend Babe Ruth. In Academy terms, they barely handled to get at first base. Q&A: 'Moneyball' Author Michael Lewis on Oscar Hopes, Coping With Kaira Pitt and also the New 'Liar's Poker' Script Meanwhile, boxing movies were purchasing the gold. Wallace Beery (The Champion), Robert P Niro (Raging Bull) and Hilary Swank (Big Baby) won acting trophies for fight movies. Rocky and Baby even got the most effective picture prize. If boxing movies have a benefit, it's since they're frequently tales of sweaty personal redemption. They connect to audiences because everything action inside the ring is immediate and visceral with techniques most baseball movies aren't. Like the sport itself, plenty of baseball movies are abstract and cerebral. Natural carried out as being a fable about losing American innocence. Section of Dreams will be a fantasy about pursuing one's bliss. Onscreen, baseball becomes a metaphor -- something Moneyball clearly values within the final reel. However when any movie can break the baseball slump, it's Moneyball because, as Lewis themselves sees it, "It's not only a baseball picture." Kaira Pitt Jonah Hill Aaron Sorkin Moneyball

BBC America tries Latam drama

BBC Worldwide is creating its first commissioned drama in Latin America, "Los Sonicos," via its exclusive partnership with Argentine indie GP Media. The 12-parter is shooting in Buenos Aires and may debut March. 9 on co-producer Canal 9, which commissioned the program. Created by GB Media, drama tracks a famous '60s rock-band referred to as Los Sonicos (The Sonics) whose nights of debauchery showed up in a rapid finish when charming frontman Carlos Kloster (Mario Alarcon) falls in to a coma carrying out a vehicle accident. Kloster energizes 43 years later to discover a drastically changed world. Resides in Buenos Aires since 2008, BBC Worldwide's Latin America content and production unit remains co-developing a slew of unscripted BBC formats with GP Media, which includes a 35% stake. "You want to transfer to drama production," mentioned Gareth Williams, senior V . p . of content and production, Brazilian. BBC Worldwide might be the exclusive distributor for GP Media originated from formats. So far they have co-produced reality skeins "Vital Signs," good BBC's "Make My Figure Youthful,Inch for Chile's Mega TV "Finest Mexican," inspired with the BBC's "Finest Britain," for your History Funnel, Mexico and "Animania" (Animal Showtime), a comedy undertake BBC footage of animals which are shipped voices, for Argentina's Canal 7. "Los Sonicos" is a type of various formats BBC Worldwide will give you the Latin American market in Cannes within the Mipcom TV sales mart, which starts on Monday. Incorporated within this are detective comedy skein "Babylon" and "Summer season Nights," which follows the romantic entanglements of teens using a gamut of social media, Skype, text texting and speak to. This Past Year, BBC Worldwide produced another partnership in South usa with indie producer Mixer, which has exclusive rights to BBC formats. BBC Worldwide Content and Production can be a global production business with wholly possessed production offices in NY, L.A., Paris and Mumbai. Furthermore, it really works a network of production companies, with clothes in Perfume, Toronto, Moscow, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

A-Listers Including Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway Lining Up to Record Audiobooks

Audible.com is going Hollywood, enlisting a roster of A-list stars to record a new line of audiobooks drawn from famous works of literature.our editor recommendsKate Winslet Praised by Richard Branson for Pulling His Mother From FireNicole Kidman Replaced by Angelina Jolie as Original 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' Actress: Report'Dark Knight Rises': Anne Hathaway's Catwoman Outfit, Bane's Orb (Photo) Kate Winslet, whose reading of Emile Zola's Therese Raquin was the first audiobook in the new series to be recorded, said of the experience: "You use a different part of your brain and it keeps your creative juices flowing. It is challenging, and it's a heckof a lot of fun as well. As a listener, being able to tune out and be taken into anotherworld, an atmosphere, an environment that is being created entirely for you by somebodyelse's voice is really a wonderful, magical thing." Other stars who've signed up to read great books include Nicole Kidman, who won an Oscar for playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours and who will be reading Woolf's To the Lighthouse; Anne Hathaway, who is lending her voice to L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; and Dustin Hoffman, who will read Jerzy Kosinski's Being There. The first of the new productions will be released early next year by Audible.com, which invented and commercialized the first digital audio player in 1997. This year, the company said, downloads by Audible members are up more than 40% year-over-year, with individual members downloading an average of more than 18 books over the course of a year. Other actors slated to perform in the new series and the books they will read areKim Basinger (The Awakening by Kate Chopin); Annette Bening (Mrs. Dalloway byWoolf); Jennifer Connelly (The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles); Colin Firth (The End of the Affair by Graham Greene); Samuel L. Jackson (A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes); Meg Ryan (The Human Comedy by William Saroyan); Susan Sarandon (The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers); and Naomi Watts (Summer by Edith Wharton). Related Topics Anne Hathaway Dustin Hoffman Kate Winslet Nicole Kidman

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Luther

Shot within the U.K. by BBC America and BBC Prods. Executive producers, Phillippa Giles producer, Katie Swinden line producer, Leila Kirkpatrick connect producer, Idris Elba director, Mike Burns author, Neil Mix.John Luther - Idris Elba Alice Morgan - Ruth Wilson Martin Schenk - Dermot Crowley Justin Ripley - Warren Brown Erin Grey - Nikki Amulko-Bird Mark North - Paul McGann Baba - Pam Ferris Caroline Johnson - Kierston Wareing No-one can accuse "Luther" -- the engrossing six-part series that (posted like a miniseries) gained star Idris Elba an Emmy nomination -- of getting lost its edge. Indeed, this gritty British crime drama, coming back inside a four-part format, happens as near to David Fincher's "Seven" as anything on television, using its troubled detective matching wits against psychotic murders whose sprees are preposterously random yet nonetheless engrossing. Whilst not as engaging since it's first flight, "Luther" remains an eminently watchable addition towards the U.K.'s treasure-chest of noir-ant crime. Of course, the brand new season advances back to procedural matters rather abruptly, because of the tumultuous occasions that happened before. Furthermore, Luther's relationship having a cold-blooded killer who grew to become intrigued with him, Alice (Ruth Wilson), recedes an excessive amount of in to the background. To put it simply, Wilson is really unnervingly good within the role, you want there is much more of her. Still, Luther is rapidly reinstated like a London homicide detective assigned with fixing the grisliest of crimes, this time around dealing with a few different cases that every spill over into a set of episodes. The very first killer commits horrible killings putting on a hideous mask, as the other leaves homicidal choices towards the role of the dice -- and consists of a twist so improbable, it is a good wager nobody might find it coming. Gleam ongoing "B" plot by which Luther attempts to assist the daughter of the lady whose husband he assisted set aside, which places him incompatible with a few particularly nasty mob figures, triggering an very tense bet on cat and mouse. While the thought of crimefighter-dogged-by-personal devils hardly smacks of quality, the first kind "The Wire" star so is the owner of the smoothness as allow it their own spin. Barring that, though, author Neil Cross' method of the crime yarns is really visceral and harsh it's not hard to be attracted in strictly on that much cla. BBC America is featuring the series included in a designed hour named "Dramaville," which started this summer time using the period series "The Hour." With "Luther" developing its heels, the channel's fast creating that little bit of property like a neighborhood really worth going to.Camera, Giulio Biccari production designer, Paul Mix editor, Tania Reddin music, Paul Englishby casting, Andy Morgan. 60 MIN. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com

The Final Gladiators

A Jigsaw production, in colaboration with Northern Lights Hockey, Locomotion Pictures. (Worldwide sales: Submarine, NY.) Created by Alex Gibney, Jim Podhoretz, Ray Weitzman. Executive producers, Craig Reese, Jesse "Dee" Rizzo, Michael Messner, George Gund, Robert J. Brooks. Co-executive producers, Harry J. Kenney, Tom Goebel, Thomas Kopf. Directed by Alex Gibney. Compiled by Ray Weitzman, Jim Podhoretz, Alex Gibney.With: Chris Nilan, Tony Twist, Bob Probert, Marty McSorley, Jesse Brashear, Paul Shantz, Henry Nilan, Leslie Nilan, Kim McCarthy, Craig Janney, Guy Carbonneau, Bob Gainey, Todd Ewen, Red-colored Fisher, Serge Savard, Jimmy Vessey.Alternately brutal and elegant, as is appropriate for its subject, Alex Gibney's professional-hockey docu "The Final Gladiators" sports a slew of archival goon-fight footage and it has an indelibly articulate central estimate recuperating enforcer Chris "Knuckles" Nilan. Alas, the filmmaker's choice to achieve the former Montreal Canadiens champion share ice time with several contempo gamers produces a pic that has a tendency to cut from Nilan just when it must be skating set for a closer inspection. Nonetheless, Gibney's "Gladiators" remains entertaining and lighting, a pic using the muscle gain smallscreen goals while pushing competing jock paperwork in to the boards. Besides filling the requirement for a clear, crisp documentary in regards to a broadly misinterpreted game, the hyper-prolific Gibney has been doing a bang-up job of detailing the physical and mental ravages of professional sportsmanship. Nilan, a local Bostonian who performed for that Bruins late in the NHL career, opens his battered hands for Gibney's inspection, and the heart too. Speaking candidly of his outbursts, his professional fall from sophistication, and the struggles with substance addiction, the ball player who drenched some 3,000 penalty-box minutes in 13 years, through a large number of surgical procedures, seems permanently hardened but going to achieve redemption. At first glance, this may appear a unique work for Gibney, whose docus -- including "Taxi towards the Negative SideInch and "Enron: The Wisest Men within the roomInch -- have generally preferred political subjects. But "The Final Gladiators" proves well suited for permitting Gibney to understand more about his subsidiary curiosity about maleness operating in the extremes of what's socially allowable. While Nilan was worshipped by rabid fans for generously giving expression for their less savory dreams, the enforcer's aggression eventually moved beyond the approved area of play, taking its toll on Nilan and numerous individuals around him. Between vintage hockey clips and glimpses from the player trash-speaking his way via a 2010 "old-timers' game," Nilan recounts his run-inches using the law and altercations with co-workers, such as the arch-enemy coach whom he half-accidentally gave eight stitches within the mind. The challenging guy tears up when talking about some subjects -- including his father, an old Eco-friendly Beret who developed in him an earlier need to fight, and also the Canadiens' 1986 Stanley Cup win, the peak of his career. Myriad other speaking heads, from sports bloggers to Nilan's former teammates, enable Gibney to grow his film's focus beyond Nilan towards the now-reduced culture of hockey enforcing -- a zoom-back strategy that work well except once the docu unnecessarily interrupts the Nilan narrative with intermittent small-portraits of lesser gamers for example Paul Shantz, Tommy Twist and Jesse Brashear. The pic's flow suffers too from an excess of pithy intertitles, even though editing within each segment -- including comic-relief clips in the immortal "Slap Shot" -- is both brisk and incisive. The visual texture of clips from decades-old games is naturally splotchy, however the pic's tech package causes it to be in to the internet anyway, with classic-rock tunes and David Kahne's score adding drama towards the real-existence action.Camera (color, DV), Laurent Beauchemin, Geoffory Beauchemin, Mark Berger, Benjamin Bloodwell, Stephen Chung, Body Estus, Lyle Morgan, Christopher Romeike Alex Margineanu, Ray Lecain editor, Jim Podhoretz music, David Kahne music supervisor, John McCullough seem, Ryan M. Cost re-recording mixer, Tony Volante. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Real to Reel), Sept. 9, 2011. Running time: 96 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Talent Signings: Toni Braxton to ICM, More

Toni Braxton, a six-time Grammy champion and actress, has signed with ICM. Braxton's acting credits include Broadway's Beauty and also the Animal and Aida. In 2008, she taken part on ABC's Dwts. Braxton has launched five albums and offered a lot more than 40 million records worldwide. She's handled by Baumgarten Management and Productions and also the Collective.our editor recommendsTALENT SIGNINGS ROUND-UP: Hailee Steinfeld Employs a Manager New Customers at CAA, UTA, ICM, Paradigm, APATALENT SIGNINGS ROUND-UP: Neal McDonough to Paradigm New Customers at WME, ICM, UTA, APA'American Idol' finalist signs record deal STORY: Talent Signings: New Customers at WME, ICM, APA, Paradigm Josh Elliott, anchor on ABC'sGood Morning America, has signed with CAA. Just before joining Hello America this spring, Elliott co-moored ESPN's SportsCenter. High cliff Dorfman, who co-authored Warrior, has signed with Apostle Management. Dorfman's writing credits include Cinemax's Entourage, Fox's Beverly Hillsides, 90210, and also the WB's7th Paradise. He's also symbolized by Paradigm and lawyer Gang Tyre Ramer & Brown. Email: Daniel.Burns@THR.com Twitter: @DanielNMiller Related Subjects ICM

Theron Heads For Metropolitan areas Of Refuge

In foretells star and produceIt feels as though it has been a basic few years for Charlize Theron, but her busy 2012 potentially just received more busy. Deadline are confirming that Theron is within foretells join Metropolitan areas of Refuge as both star and producer. Particulars concerning the project are frustratingly thin, however the official line to date is the fact that it is a crime thriller by which Theron would play an investigator introduced directly into solve a brutal murder and kidnapping by which things aren't the things they appear? Therefore the victim wasn't kidnapped and is not dead?The only real other informtion that's presently available would be that the film writer is a Brandon Willer, whose insufficient an account around the IMDb indicates he's a novice going to get his large break. It appears to become an authentic script, meaning it is not in line with the books by Tom Piazza or Michael Helm, or around the song by Nick Cave, by which you'll kneel in the ft of the lady from the street and also the gutters will run with bloodstream, and also the grave will spew you out of trouble, and also the bloodstream will not clean off. Awesome as that might be. Whatever, whether it happens, Metropolitan areas of Refuge will nestle alongside Prometheus and Snow Whitened and also the Huntsman in Theron's 2012 diary. The needed-finished Youthful Adult, that is already obtaining strong notices and Oscar whispers for Theron, has gone out within the United kingdom on Feb 10.

Happy 61st Birthday, Bill Murray! What's His Most Underrated Moment?

Though I like arguing on behalf of underrated performers (Melanie Griffith, for example), sometimes it’s more fun to commemorate our indisputably great actors. Bill Murray is the ne plus ultra of deadpan comic delivery — salty as the Dead Sea, dry as Death Valley, and great in almost everything. He’s 61 today, which means it’s our duty to shine light upon his more underrated moments in movies. What’s your pick? I can’t limit myself to just one, so here are two that immediately sprang to mind: In Tootsie, Murray delivers great, bastardly rants. Jessica Lange should give about a 1/4 of that Oscar to him. In Get Low, a cute but inconsequential movie from last year where Murray plays an old-timey funeral parlor director, he bemoans the lack of fresh corpses in town. It’s fun to hear him reference Chicago in a familiar way here, too. Second City forever! What are your picks, dear readers? Feel free to wow me with your Kingpin comprehension.

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TIFF Fashion: Best-Fitted Stars Shine round the Red-colored-colored Carpet

The a-list develops with every edition in the Toronto Worldwide Film Festival, which year the celebs were walking in fashion. George Clooney, Evan Rachel Wood and Keira Knightley were among people who donned impressive designer threads. This is a roundup of the greatest-fitted stars at TIFF 2011. TIFF 2011: Best Fitted Jessica StamGeorge ClooneyJuliette LewisAbbie CornishRyan GoslingKeira KnightleyJonah HillElizabeth OlsenEvan Rachel WoodAnna Faris See All Moviefone Galleries »

'Law & Order' Creator Dick Wolf Talks Casting

Boy from the advertising executive, Dick Wolf began his career writing ads and creating them. He moved on into TV crime dramas, writing for "Hill Street Blues" and "Miami Vice," and ongoing to create the "Law & Order" franchise that now spans the planet. Within the original "Law & Order" with Jerry Orbach, S Epatha Merkerson, and Mike Waterston, Wolf developed "Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit," with Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, the short-were living "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" with Bebe Neuwirth and Kirk Acevedo, and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" with Vincent D'Onofrio. When the original "Law & Order" stopped the atmosphere after 20 seasons, "Law & Order: LA" starring Alfred Molina, Skeet Ulrich and Terrence Howard transformed it for just about any season. Twenty-couple of years following a original series first demonstrated, its spin-off "Law & Order: SVU" as well as the worldwide versions including "Law & Order: Uk" still thrive. His work has won him two Emmy Honours, additionally to some Grammy for "When you're Strange," a documentary concerning the Entrance doors. Wolf has attempted the casting process at first of his career, as well as the Casting Society of America is adoring him getting a 2011 Career Achievement Artios Award.Just like a producer and creator, how involved are you currently presently inside the casting process? Dick Wolf: I am very involved with most principal casting for my shows. Sometimes cautiously with [casting director] Lynn Kressel and her team, together with the network and studio professionals. I consider principal casting being extremely important. The right casting can perform or die a show.What can you anticipate from stars within the audition? Besides coming prepared and knowing their lines, exist alternative activities they need to do? Wolf: I'd like stars to understand the level of smoothness they are playing also to show some depth inside their reading through through, as well as to become ready.If you do casting calls, are you currently presently set with something in your thoughts or are you currently presently open to someone completely the choice from the products you'd in your thoughts? Wolf: I keep an objective balance when casting, and if you have been factors inside the decision. Sometimes it's physical appearancedo you believe this individual might be the smoothness. We very often can look at people more frequently than once, or we are feeling the actor might have been nervous or else one hundred percent, which we give them another shot. And so the short answer, is we are as open as you can. Sometimes the person you least expect [to] is one which nails the audition.Do stars cross your path as your shows give them the opportunity to complete things they normally wouldn'tfor example, Martin Short and Jennifer Love Hewitt? Can you create roles particularly on the account? Wolf: We very often have stars playing against type. "SVU" includes a inclination to draw in incredible guest talent because the roles are very intense. And we have been very lucky: For six years back to back, "SVU" has won the Outstanding Guest Actress in the Drama Series Emmy. Too for lots of people stars, they were certainly playing against type.Does your advertising background influence your casting options? Wolf: My advertising background will be a terrific foundation, plus it provided an opportunity to cast pressurized. For those who have a person looking over your shoulder, you need to deliver an actress who is able to perform just how a customer wants. When you are casting a tv series, you need that perfect fit, too.The Casting Society of America will recognition its own when the 27th Annual Artios Honours for excellence in casting are presented on Sept. 26. The honours will probably be held at the same time within the Beverly Hilton in La at District 36 in NY City.

MPAA Announces New SEVP Global Policy

Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman/Boss in the Film Association of America, today set the completely new leadership team under his watch, plus a promotion for Michael OLeary to SEVP of Global Policy and Exterior Matters. Dodd also introduced within the former Deputy Chief Of Staff from his U.S. Senate days Lori McGrogan being Senior Consultant For The Chairman. More youthful crowd refurbished the inside PR staff, employing Laura Nichols, now MPAA’s EVP Global Communications. OLeary, within the new role, will supervise all worldwide, federal and condition matters methods around the globe. Furthermore, OLeary will oversee the Associations technology and research efforts. Formerly, OLeary happen to be EVP of Government Matters, responsible for the development as well as the implementation in the MPAAs domestic government policy points of interest and federal and condition legislative and controlling techniques. According to his official bio, OLeary has nearly 2 decades of intellectual property policy and enforcement experience. Before going to use the MPAA, OLeary offered as Deputy Chief for Intellectual Property inside the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Part of the Department of Justice, where he punished and supervised major domestic and worldwide criminal intellectual property research and prosecutions. Dodd mentioned in the statement: The creative communitys voice in Washington will probably be critical inside the several days and years ahead as our leaders debate what will be the best, most cost-efficient ways to produce new jobs and safeguard individuals we've. Weve come up with a senior team, who, in addition to our devoted MPAA global staff, sets our sights on delivering a apparent and simple message: if the involves growing our economy, creating jobs, marketing trade and American innovation, movies matter.” Dodd mentioned OLeary had been an important player within the MPAA, but is going to be coping with a more extended role. That, throughout his tenure, the MPAA effectively introduced efforts in the legislative and controlling arenas, including passage in the Professional-IP Act changes for the Greater Education Act to help combat content robbery on college personal computers and effectively growing concentrate on safeguarding intellectual property within the federal, condition and native level. Lori McGrogan was leading Dodd’s transition team within the MPAA now can help him in proper and extended-term planning, additionally to day-to-day methods in the organization. She offered as Acting Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Dodd, where she provided proper advice and oversaw critical office methods including organizing and press. Before joining Senator Dodds office, she was founder and leader from the effective research and communications speaking to firm. As CFO and EVP of Finance and Administration. David England makes up about your entire day-to-day treatments for every part in the MPAAs finances. He's oversight responsibility inside the MPAAs worldwide infrastructure activities, including facilities, administration, finance and accounting, risk management and understanding technology. Formerly, England spent six years at Simon and Schuster, a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, as SVP/CFO. Right before that, he was EVP/CFO at United states . Vital Network (UPN), a subsidiary of Viacom Corporation. Joan Graves, SVP and Chairman in the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA), first grew to become an associate of CARA in 1988 and assumed her present position as Chairman in 2000. In this capacity, Graves runs the nations voluntary movie rating system, that is open to supply apparent information to oldsters in regards to the content of films simply because they make options in what movies their kids are able to see so when.

Neil Youthful Journeys

A Shakey Pictures, Clinica Estetico production, in colaboration with Sales force Films. (Worldwide sales: WME, La.) Created by Jonathan Demme, Elliot Rabinowitz. Executive producers, Marc Benioff, Bernard Shakey. Co-producer, Shane Bissett. Directed by Jonathan Demme.With: Neil Youthful, Bob Youthful, Ben Youthful.In "Neil Youthful Journeys," there's more towards the picture than you would think -- namely the seem, whose unique digital presentation (at two times the standard sampling rate) brings the titular folk rocker's recorded riffs much nearer to individuals in live show. Otherwise largely redundant, typically well-crafted and entirely welcome, Jonathan Demme's third concert film of Youthful (and also the sixth as a whole) captures the musician's May 2011 solo gig at Toronto's Massey Hall with less editing than before, as is appropriate for the 4-month hurry from production to premiere. Theatrical marketplaces might not treasure another Youthful docu within 5 years, but DVD sales should sing. Split between new and old tunes, not counting funny interstitial moments of Youthful driving towards the show from his home town of Omemee, "Journeys" will get so near to the sixtysomething guitar god he really leaves dribble about the lens, producing a mild dose of motion picture psychedelia. The background music appears even trippier (a minimum of in Toronto presentations), because of ultra-rare 96-kilohertz seem delivery overseen through the audiophilic Young's new Ponotone outfit. No surprise the very first folks introduced within the docu are wire-stringing technicians on Young's "Le Noise" tour.Camera (color, HD), Declan Quinn editor, Glenn Allen. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Mavericks), Sept. 12, 2011. Running time: 87 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Avalon

A Fasad and Idyll presentation. (Worldwide sales: Trustnordisk, Hvidovre, Denmark.) Created by Erika Wasserman, Jesper Kurlandsky. Co-producers, Gunnar Carlsson, Jessica Request, Lars Hermann, Lars G. Lindstrom. Directed, compiled by Axel Petersen.With: Johannes Brost, Peter Carlberg, Leonore Ekstrand.Bona-fide scoundrels are rarely a movie's focal point, and also the character in the center of helmer Axel Petersen's splendid debut feature "Avalon," does not quite become qualified as a tough-core villain. Still, the baggy-eyed ex-party boy, ex-felon, club promoter and general reprobate, performed by Johannes Brost, is really a longshot for sympathy, making Petersen's moral juggling act appear even more impressive. The typical distrib obstacles will affect this Swedish-language production, but Petersen is really a talent to look at, and niche houses could do respectable biz having a film that echoes the best of latest Scandinavian art cinema. The 1980s haven't ended for Janne (Brost). True, he's just become free from a court-purchased ankle bracelet (what he did to deserve it is not quite described), however he's gone into partnership with Klas (Peter Carlberg), to spread out a brand new nightclub within the Swedish and surrounding suburbs, known as Avalon (inspired through the Roxy Music hit, that is area of the soundtrack). Klas went with a shady sources for financing, but all is certainly going well- it's tennis week at Bastad and also the clients are arranging. Then Janne and the equally irresponsible sister, Jackie (terrific first-timer Leonore Ekstrand) go consuming and driving, knock lower some scaffold, and kill a Lithuanian immigrant who's been focusing on the rooftop. For many of their first half, "Avalon" is really a dogma film: It's shot under sun light, without melodramatic makes use of in to the story, and there's no music, save for which comes via a vehicle radio or PA system. This tactic changes eventually (and effectively, with the aid of Julian Hruza's score), however the atmosphere produced up to the stage of impact is really as spare as Janne's soul: When he digs the dead youthful guy from underneath the remains, he gives no considered to calling law enforcement -- or even the victim's family, or his girlfriend, who turns up searching for him. Your body is eventually discarded by a couple of Klas' "bankers," who are not only seen expecting their share of profits in the club, but something fee for body removal. Janne is really a fascinating void, a moral bankrupt and damaged beauty: Although broken from many years of alcohol and drugs, he maintains a particular charisma -- the facial lines and from time to time vacant stares not able to totally disguise the handsome guy beneath. Brost, who makes Janne wonderfully debauched and corrupt, also moves just like a guy who's maintained his youth. That image is contagious -- and causes it to be doubly terrible when Janne's world begins to spins unmanageable, and something watches him falling apart from inside. Brost's performance is amazing, and largely internalized: He is ideal when quiet, and thinking, not so deeply and not so profoundly, however in context of how to prevent responsibility. Ekstrand, helmer Petersen's aunt, is really a find, and Carlberg has several startling moments, including one where he returns towards the club and discovers the Lithuanian is dead. Shock is really a cliched emotion in film Carlberg causes it to be fresh. The denouement of "Avalon" is itself rather shocking, but only when the first is expecting reform, rehab or guilt. The pic is really a fascinating and ultimately haunting movie, partially due to the way in which Petersen choreographs his figures, but additionally due to individuals figures themselves. Production values are fine, including some spectacular cinematography by Guys Mansson.Camera (color), Guys Mansson editor, Theis Schmidt music, Julian Hruza production designer: Ellen Oseng costume designer: Denise Ostholm seem (Dolby Digital), Robert Hefter, Lars Wignell. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Discovery), Sept. 13, 2011. Running time: 76 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Toronto 2011: Myriad Picks Up Rob Lowe's 'Knife Fight' for International Sales

Myriad Pictures will handle the international sales of the Rob Lowe political satire Knife Fight.Related Topics•Toronto International Fil... Bill Guttentag directed and co-wrote the pic, which also stars Julie Bowen, Jamie Chung, Carrie-Anne Moss, Eric McCormack and Richard Schiff. The film follows three political candidates running for public office, with Lowe as a hard-ball political crisis manager in the middle of some dirty campaigns, Chung his smart administrative aid, and Bowen a hot shot reporter who sleeps her way to major news stories. Political consultant Chris Lehane, who was a White House advisor to President Bill Clinton and later acted as Al Gore's press secretary. co-wrote the script with Guttentag. Myriad's Kirk D'Amico is hoping to capitalize on 2012 being an election year in the U.S. and was careful to add it can play to both sides of the political spectrum: "Chris' script is especially non-partisan in that it skewers politicians on both sides of the aisle." Myriad plans to create a trailer for the American Film Market in November. The film will be ready to screen for the early 2012 festival season. Related Topics Toronto International Film Festival Julie Bowen Richard Schiff International Rob Lowe

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Toronto: Fox Searchlight Acquires Shame

UPDATE: Fox Searchlight cake toppers Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula have confirmed the purchase ofShame at Toronto. Searchlight’s official release is following the jump. EXCLUSIVE: Within the initial deal from the Toronto Film Festival, Fox Searchlight has acquiredShame, the Steve McQueen-directed NC-17 drama which was the talk of Telluride. Putting in a bid came lower to Searchlight and also the Weinstein Company. The film is stated to showcase an excursion p pressure performance by Michael Fassbender, who plays a brand new Yorker not able to handle his sex existence when his wayward more youthful sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment, and the world spirals unmanageable. Searchlight have been the leader within the putting in a bid. The film is really a provocative purchase for several reasons: It's unabashedly NC-17, features graphic sex moments and nudity — one source stated “think dungeon sex” — and McQueen has final cut and won't change a frame. It will likely be a questionable release for Searchlight, whose parent company has endured lots of scandal recently. Also, the offer requires a late-year release and finest Actor campaign for Fassbender Searchlight will be fighting an offer within the same category for George Clooney within the Alexander Payne-directed The Descendants. Hanway brokered the Shame deal. Here’s Searchlight’s release: TORONTO, Ontario, Canada September 9, 2011 Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula introduced today that the organization has acquired U. S. privileges towards the intimate and provocative drama SHAME. The film is directed by Steve McQueen, compiled by McQueen and Abi Morgan and stars Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. SHAME is really a See-Saw Films production for Film4 and U.K. Film Council and created by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman. Tessa Ross, Robert Walak, Peter Hampden and Tim Haslam are executive producers with Bergen Swanson as co-producer. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales. The film is scheduled to become launched this year. Steve McQueens courageous search for modern lifes extremes is breathtaking. He's crafted an remarkable film that probes a few of the greatest and pitch-dark issues ever described on the watch's screen with amazingly gifted performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, stated Gilula and Utley. Fox Searchlight approached us soon after the screening in Telluride to inform us just how much they loved the film. Their method of marketing and disbursing the film this season was incredibly detailed and impressive. We're excited to become dealing with them on the film that's causing debate along with a strong emotional reaction from audiences, stated Canning and Sherman. This can be a brave statement as well as an important move by Fox Searchlight. I'm happy they came aboard release a Shame within the U.S. It’s great to become using a team that's so enthusiastic about cinema, stated McQueen. Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is really a New Yorker who shuns closeness with females but feeds his desires having a compulsive dependence on sex. When his wayward more youthful sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment stirring reminiscences of the shared painful past, Brandons insular existence spirals unmanageable. The offer was brokered by Fox Searchlights Executive V . P . of Worldwide Purchases Tony Safford, Senior V . P . of economic Matters Megan OBrien, V . P . of Purchases Ray Strache with Thorsten Schumacher and Claire Taylor of HanWay Films with respect to the filmmakers. Fox Searchlight Pictures is really a niche film company that both finances and acquires movies. It features its own marketing and distribution procedures, and it is films are distributed worldwide by Last Century Fox. Fox Searchlight Pictures is really a unit of Fox Shot Entertainment, one of Fox Entertainment Group.

Charlie Sheen Joins Charlie Swan

Joins Roman Coppola's next filmThe insurance companies have most probably signed off onto it, and Charlie Sheen is headed to Hollywood proper after signing onto star in Roman Coppola's A Glimpse Within The Mind Of Charlie Swan III. Jason Schwartzman may also be showing up, although his role has not been introduced. The storyline concentrates on a effective artist whose existence requires a nosedive when his girlfriend leaves him. Apparently he's fame, money and charm , the very first which appears unlikely for many graphic artists, but we'll let go of it. Regardless, Sheen should have the ability to empathise with areas of the script, and that we are only able to applaud any effort he makes to return to track. He's also apparently headed to TV having a planned show according to Anger Management, so he might not be absent from your screens for your lengthy ultimately, despite the fact that whole untidy business captured. Should be the tiger bloodstream.

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Toronto: Fox 2000 Acquires Screen Rights To Novel The Language Of Flowers; Lucy Fisher and Doug Wick To Produce

Fox 2000 Pictures has optioned screen rights to Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s debut novel The Language of Flowers, with the movie to be produced by Lucy Fisher and Doug Wick’s Red Wagon banner. Fox literary consultant Drew Reed championed the project, which Carla Hacken will oversee for the studo; Rachel Shane will oversee for Red Wagon. Diffenbaugh’s novel, a New York Times bestseller and published by Ballantine Books, tells the story of a woman brought up in the foster care system. Communicating through the Victorian art of flower arrangement, she learns to overcome her troubled past, accept love from a flower vendor, and finally reconcile with the only mother she has known. Film rights were represented by Sylvie Rabineau of RWSG and publishing rights by Sally Wofford-Girand of Brick House Literary Agents.

Gillian Anderson Ready for a Third 'X Files' Film

SYDNEY --Gillian Anderson is ready to reprise her iconic role as Dana Scully in a third X Files film.our editor recommendsGillian Anderson film on deck for CinequestGillian Anderson gives birth to a son Speaking after the world premiere in Sydney of Universal's Johnny English Reborn, in which she plays the head of fictional MI7 opposite Rowan Atkinson, Anderson said that there is definite talk of X Files 3. "I hope it will happen, there's talk of it," she told Australian breakfast TV program Sunrise. "I don't know who's writing it but I hear there's something going on," she said. And she indicated that there could be more life in the franchise, saying she wants to do a film spoof of the hit Fox TV series. "I've always wanted to do a spoof of the X Files as a film," she said. "We talked about that for a long time but maybe after three features we could get to do a spoof feature." Related Topics International Asia