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People Seeing Top-Secret J.D. Salinger Documentary Need To Sign Nondisclosure Agreements To Stay Quiet About Film

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salinger movie

The Weinstein Company wants to make sure nothing gets out about its upcoming documentary  on "Catcher in the Rye" author J.D. Salinger.

TWC has launched a campaign for "Salinger" called Uncover The Mystery But Don’t Spoil The Secrets."

The film, directed by Shane Salerno, has been in production for more than nine years and is supposed to show a bunch of never-before-seen "footage, photographs, and biographical information" on the reclusive author.

Weinstein wants information on the film to be kept so tight-lipped that the only people seeing the film are being hand selected and are being asked to sign a nondisclosure agreements.

Normally moviegoers and journalists are asked to keep mum about a movie embargoed until a certain date when seeing a new film regardless, but filmgoers aren't always asked to sign an NDA.  

From the press release: 

Because of the revelatory and confidential nature of the documentary and book, Salerno, TWC and Simon & Schuster are encouraging audiences and industry insiders who see the film and read the book to remain tight-lipped on the secrets they unveils and give others a chance to experience them for themselves. The film has only been allowed to be screened by a hand selected group of press and insiders, and those seeing it before its official release date are being asked to sign nondisclosure agreements. 

This isn't the first time Weinstein Company's co-chairman Harvey Weinstein has tried to keep news about one of his company's future releases secret.  

In the press release, Weinstein says he asked those seeing 1993's "The Crying Game" (a Miramax release) to keep the film's secret prior to release. 

Here's the entire release:

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today their “Uncover The Mystery But Don’t Spoil The Secrets” campaign in support of the upcoming documentary release, director Shane Salerno’s SALINGER. The film, which began production over nine years ago, contains an unprecedented amount of unseen footage, photographs, and biographical information on the notoriously reclusive Catcher in the Rye author. Salerno and David Shields have additionally co-authored a book on Salinger’s life, also called Salinger.

Because of the revelatory and confidential nature of the documentary and book, Salerno, TWC and Simon & Schuster are encouraging audiences and industry insiders who see the film and read the book to remain tight-lipped on the secrets they unveils and give others a chance to experience them for themselves. The film has only been allowed to be screened by a hand selected group of press and insiders, and those seeing it before its official release date are being asked to sign nondisclosure agreements.

“Back in 1993, when Miramax released THE CRYING GAME, we asked journalists and moviegoers not to reveal the film’s secret to their friends,” commented TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “With SALINGER we have a similar situation – the joy of this documentary is discovering information that, until now, has been kept under wraps for decades. I stand with Shane Salerno and Simon & Schuster’s Jonathan Karp in urging audiences and critics alike to let others satisfy their own curiosity about the film and book. ”

Noted Jonathan Karp, President and Publisher at Simon & Schuster: “There are two kinds of people in the world – blabbermouths and confidants,” added Jonathan Karp, President and Publisher of Simon & Schuster. “We ask readers and moviegoers to be our confidants. It’s been said that there are no secrets anymore, but SALINGER is revelatory, and we hope people will have the opportunity to experience jolts of surprise directly from the works, rather than a smartphone or a tablet.”

SALINGER lands in theaters September 6, and Simon & Schuster will publish Salerno and Shields’ book on September 3.

SEE ALSO: 10 annoying lies that movies and TV shows tell you

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Ben Affleck Is The New Batman

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ben affleck

Ben Affleck is the new Batman.

Variety's Justin Kroll broke the news.

Affleck will play Batman in a movie featuring  Batman and Superman. It'll be a sequel to this summer's Superman movie, "Man of Steel."

The movie is due out in July 2015.

"Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder announced there would be a Batman/Superman movie at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.

This isn't Affleck's first superhero role. In 2003, he played Daredevil, a movie that isn't remembered particularly fondly.

Here's what Affleck looked like in that costume:

daredevil

Here's a trailer for that movie:

Affleck replaces Christian Bale.

Hopefully, Affleck won't be as bad of a Batman as George Clooney was.

Here's a picture of George Clooney as Batman. Apparently he keeps a similar picture framed in his office, as a warning not to do movies just for the money.

george clooney batman

SEE ALSO: The two potential titles for the Batman/Superman movie are lame

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The Internet Exploded After Learning Ben Affleck Is Playing The Next Batman

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ben affleck batman

Ben Affleck will play the next Batman. 

Let that sink in.  

Warner Bros. announced that Affleck will take over the role of Gotham's white knight in the "Man of Steel" sequel.

Director Zack Snyder said the following about Affleck in the press release:

“Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne.  I can’t wait to work with him.”

Naturally, the Internet is bursting at the seams at the news — #Batfleck was a trending topic last night.

Any comic book fan is most likely raising their eyebrows at the selection choice. After all, Affleck starred in 2003's lackluster "Daredevil" adaptation that earned $179 million for Fox but was a ratings flop.

Here's what the reactions have been since news broke:

A lot of people weren't happy.

There are a lot of jokes about how Matt Damon should play his sidekick …

... and others about Aquaman. (For any comic fan, Aquaman has become the butt of all jokes in the DC universe.)

At least Batman will have a Boston accent now, right?

Some are willing to give the actor a chance. 

Forbes' contributor and Batfan Mark Hughes makes the case for Ben Affleck.

And then there were celebrity reactions:

Simpsons' writer Tim Long had a great response.

And naturally there's already a Ben Affleck Batman Twitter account.

batman ben affleck

SEE ALSO: The two potential names for the Batman/Superman movie are lame

AND: Why Warner Bros. had to pick Ben Affleck to play the Caped Crusader

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Why Warner Bros. Had To Pick Ben Affleck To Play Batman

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superman batman crossover

Ben Affleck is Batman.

For the fans of the Dark Knight, comic books, movies, superheroes, or entertainment in general, it's all anyone is talking about

Memories of Affleck's portrayal of 2003's "Daredevil" have been fiercely flying around the Internet, leaving many fans worried and confused.

How could a guy who so poorly played a superhero the last time around be chosen for one of the biggest and most-loved superhero roles out there?

Consider that after stomaching George Clooney as Batman and odd nippled leather suits, Batfans finally had the envisionment of the hero they wanted with Christian Bale. The new dynamic duo was not Batman and Robin, but Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan (plus David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan).

No longer. Affleck and Snyder are in, Christian Bale and Nolan are out. For fans, Affleck as Batman might not immediately seem the best choice. 

But as a business decision, Warner Brother's casting Affleck is a no brainer. They had to do it.

Here's why.

1. Warner Brothers needs a new powerhouse star after losing Legendary Pictures

Affleck is that star. He acts. He directs. He brings in the money. Since 2010, Ben Affleck has brought "The Town" (also Legendary) and Oscar winner "Argo" to screen for WB.

So earlier this summer, when Warner Bros. lost its huge distributor partner Legendary Pictures to Universal Pictures, some major decisions had to get made.

Top execs are likely hyper aware of the two Warner Bros. big money-makers (other than the "Lord of the Rings" franchise which will end after 2014) which were deals with Legendary Pictures and a certain actor and director by the name of Ben Affleck.

Over the past eight years, Legendary Pictures has delivered a list of successful films including the Batman trilogy, "300,""The Hangover" series, "42," and "Inception," four of which were Christopher Nolan films.

Christopher Nolan is gone. It's not impossible, but highly unlikely Nolan will carry on with the "Justice League" film. Zack Snyder is clearly at the helm now with writer David S. Goyer, and Goyer has always been the heart driving the stories behind these films.  

2. Legendary giving up Batman Vs. Superman needed a strong response

batman superman logoSince the split, Legendary and WB have been dividing up future films.

While movies "Pacific Rim" and "Godzilla" will be staying with Warner Bros, "Seventh Son" starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore will be heading to Universal.   

The most interesting tidbit from the divorce is that Legendary gave up its "Man of Steel" sequel in order to keep its name on Christopher Nolan's upcoming "Interstellar" project.   

It appears that "Interstellar" is more important to Legendary than a Batman / Superman film, which is worrying for Batfans.

Warner Brothers likely had to attach as big of a name as possible to the Batman vs. Superman mashup to keep worries about franchise direction from hurting the film's and series' prospects. Since Affleck brings a few Oscars and top films into the mix, that certainly helps. 

3. Affleck is a proven talent who has worked for the company

ben affleck batmanWorking relationships matter. In Affleck, Warner Bros. turned to someone it has a really good working relationship and track record with. That happens to be "Argo" director Affleck.

Affleck's been previously attached to Batman. His name was also rumored to originally direct the "Justice League" film as early as last year.

Grabbing Affleck seems like a safe bet for Warner Bros. as opposed to taking a risk with other actors as the Caped Crusder. 

The man has a huge resume of both acting and directing. He's got star power. He could move into a larger role in the new direction in the future, and he's a safe pick considering his relationship with Warner Brothers. 

If all of these reasons translate into a great or good movie/franchise remains to be seen. Batfans, stay tuned. 

SEE ALSO: The Internet's response to Batfleck

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Russian Soldiers Simply Rock This Rendition Of Adele's 'Skyfall'

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There are more than a few ironies here: singing Russian soldiers, Russian soldiers singing a James Bond theme, it being one of the best we've heard in a while.

These guys totally rock it.

From The Telegraph:

Led by a soloist who looked barely old enough to be in uniform, the soldiers gave such a stirring rendition of the song that by the end the presenters were swaying to the music and a female presenter confessed that the women in production crew had been sent into palpitations by the dashing “hussars.”

Founded in 1928, Russia’s military choir is better known for military classics like Katjusha, which tells the tale of a military wife yearning for her husband at the front.

 

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14 Actors Who Played Batman Before Ben Affleck

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Batman Robin Burt Ward Adam West

After weeks of speculation over who would replace Christian Bale as Warner Bros.' next Batman, the studio announced that Ben Affleck -- Academy Award-winning director, producer and star of "Argo" -- would be the 15th actor to don the cape in the upcoming "Man of Steel" sequel. Take a look back at the 14 other actors who have portrayed the caped crusader in film and television.

Lewis G. Wilson: The first actor to play the Dark Knight in Columbia Pictures' 15-episode TV series, "Batman." As the United States had just entered the second World War, Batman’s nemesis was a Japanese spy called Dr. Daka, whose plan was to take over the U.S. through a group of American traitors. Wilson died in 2000.



Robert Lowery: In 1949, Lowery took over for Wilson in the sequel series, "Batman and Robin." Fun fact: he grew up on Wayne Avenue in Kansas City pursuing Hollywood stardom. He died in 1971.



Adam West: For an entire generation, West is Batman, thanks to his turn on the iconic TV series that ran from 1966 to 1968 and spawned a film. West’s halting delivery and campy earnestness are a far cry from today’s Dark Knight, but his Bruce Wayne stands as one of the most beloved portrayals.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

People Are Hardcore Petitioning Ben Affleck As The New Batman

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Some people aren't happy with the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman and they want everyone to know.

Since Warner Bros. released the news, multiple petitions have sprung up online asking for Affleck to be ousted as the new Caped Crusader.

The most popular appears to be one on Change.org simply asking Warner Bros. the studio to "remove Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the Superman/Batman movie."

The petition has reached 9,000.

change petition

The best petition we've seen — which has since been removed — was one on WhiteHouse.gov asking for Obama to make it illegal for anyone besides Christian Bale to portray Batman for the next 200 years.

Most people holding a grudge are recalling Ben Affleck's last stint as blind superhero Daredevil.

daredevil batman reaction affleck

Before we pile on, let's remember Affleck has done more since "Gigli" and "Daredevil."

Some of his more recent successes:

"Argo" (2012, director and actor): $232.3 million
"The Town" (2010, director, writer, and actor): $154 million
"Gone Baby Gone" (2007, director, writer): $34.6 million

SEE ALSO: Why Warner Bros. had to pick Affleck to play Batman

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Everyone Was Also Furious With The Initial Casting Of Heath Ledger As The Joker

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Warner Bros. is receiving a lot of flak through social media and petitions for its casting choice of Ben Affleck as the next Batman

We get it. 

He's not Christian Bale. He's not Christopher Nolan's Batman.

He's not the actor who brought in nearly $2.5 billion in ticket sales for Warner Bros over the course of three films.

However, people's irate reactions to Warner Bros. choice for the next Caped Crusader sound awfully familiar.

Remember when Heath Ledger was first cast as Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker for Christopher Nolan's 2008 "The Dark Knight" sequel?the dark knight jokerThe Internet hated that decision.

After Jack Nicholson played the iconic role in 1989, no one seemed good enough to take on the role of the Clown Prince of Crime.

Ledger then immersed himself so extremely into the role, locking himself in his hotel room for weeks on end, according to his father. 

The result was by far the best performance of the Joker. 

Before the film's 2008 release, Ledger died at 28 from an accidental prescription drug overdose 

The actor went on to posthumously win a bittersweet Academy Award for his role as a chaos-creating, captivating Joker, the first for which any superhero film has ever received an award for its acting.

Last year, GeekTyrant compiled a bunch of Internet reactions to Ledger's casting decision as Batman's main arch-nemesis The Joker.  

Here's a sample of reactions: 

"I am NOT seeing this movie if he is in it. There are over a million better choices." 

"Heath Ledger? A joker? I don't think so." 

"And now begins the second downfall of the Batman series … the film after this will probably introduce Robin … then Batgirl!" 

"Probably thé worst casting of all time." 

"Yeah great, Jokeback Mountain." 

Here's one more 

"He's not exactly comic-book material, and he has to fill the impossible-to-fill shoes of Jack Nicholson, who will always be the guy most associated with The Joker." 

Even Nicholson himself told MTV in late 2007 that he was furious not only over Ledger's casting but that he was never reached for the 2008 sequel. 

Batfans, we hear you, but let's not rush to judgment.

SEE ALSO: Why Warner Bros. picked Ben Affleck to play Batman

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The First Trailer For 'Divergent,' The Film Expected To Be The Next 'Hunger Games'

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The first trailer for highly-anticipated film "Divergent" aired during MTV's "Video Music Awards."

Starring Shailene Woodley, the film is based on the best-selling series by Veronica Roth about a future dystopia where people are split up into five factions.

The film is heavily being touted as the next "Hunger Games" and also stars Kate Winslet, Theo James, Miles Teller, Ashley Judd, and Zoe Kravitz.

"Divergent" comes to theaters March 21, 2014.

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An 'Arrested Development' Movie Is In The Works

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arrested development

The Bluth family may be coming to the big screen. 

After "Arrested Development" made a May return to the small screen on Netflix after a seven-year hiatus, creator Mitch Hurwitz tells Rolling Stone that he's working on a film right now. 

"I can't get into much more detail because I don't want to scare anybody off," says Hurwitz. "I don't want to be presumptuous about it. I don't own the property outright – it's a 20th Century Fox property. But everybody seems really into it and really eager to make a movie." 

The film isn't officially a go yet; however, Hurwitz tells Rolling Stone his plan is to make a movie and then another season of the show. 

SEE ALSO: Netflix is trying to get one more season of "Arrested Development"

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Cool Animated Alternate Endings To 'Iron Man 3' Show How The Film Could Have Been Different

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The "Iron Man 3" DVD and Blu-ray won't be released until September 24, but features from the film are already hitting the web.

A few alternate scenes to the film including different endings have popped up on YouTube.

The animated sequences are from artist Federico D'Alessandro who is the animatics supervisor and storyboard artist on Marvel films including "Iron Man 3,""The Avengers," and the upcoming "Thor: The Dark World."

Check them out below:

[h/t Playlist]

SEE ALSO: Why Warner Bros. had to pick Ben Affleck to play Batman

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Fandango Buys Promotional Reward Service Quantum

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fandango president paul yanoverTicket seller Fandango has purchased promotional service Quantum Rewards.

The company announced the acquisition Wednesday making it number one in movie ticket promotions.

The purchase also gives Fandango the rights to Quantum's lucrative Hollywood Movie Money currency — gift certificates for tickets — which will help the company expand its promotions for free and discounted tickets. 

“We look forward to working with the Quantum team to build on Hollywood Movie Money’s momentum and help drive even more movie fans into theaters,"  said Paul Yanover, President of Fandango, in a statement.

Since last summer, the company has seen more than a 75% increase in mobile ticket sales. Mobile currently makes up 44% of Fandango's sales. 

Fandango has not disclosed how much it spent to acquire Quantum. 

Here's the full release.

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Matt Damon Says He Won't Play Robin In Batman/Superman Movie

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Last week, the entertainment news world was rocked when Ben Affleck was announced to play the next Batman 

While Batfleck sparked a heavy Twitter backlash and multiple online petitions, many were quick to joke that long-time pal Matt Damon would be cast as Robin. 

Rest assured it doesn't look like that's happening … yet. 

While promoting his latest film, sci-fi thriller "Elysium" abroad, Damon told The Times of India he has no plans to reunite the dynamic duo.

"I am a little older than Ben. I never saw Robin as older than Batman," says Damon. "Somebody sent me a picture actually (of his face photoshopped on Robin's body and Ben's on Batman's). It was really funny. But it's safe to say I won't be Robin." 

While Damon says he won't play the boy wonder, another rumor going around is that he's up for the role of Aquaman or Martian Manhunter in an upcoming Warner Bros. film tied to the DC universe. 

And for all the naysayers bringing on the Batfleck hate? Damon thinks Affleck will do a great job taking the mantle of the bat from Christian Bale. 

 "It will be terrific. I know there are a lot of people grousing on the internet," says Damon. "I just think it's kind of funny. You know, he's not playing King Lear. It's Batman! Certainly within his skill set. If anybody saw Argo or The Town, and all the work he's been doing lately, it's way more nuanced and interesting and way more difficult than Batman! Batman just sits there with his cowl over his head and whispers in a kinda gruff voice at people. Bruce Wayne is the more challenging part of the role, and Ben will be great at that." 

The Batman / Superman film is scheduled for a July 17 release and begins filming early next year.

SEE ALSO: Why Warner Bros. had to pick Ben Affleck to play Batman

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Forget Ben Affleck — Here Are 9 Other Actors Who Could Have Easily Played Batman

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ben affleck batman

The Internet went insane over the casting choice of Ben Affleck as Batman in the upcoming "Man of Steel" sequel. 

Since Warner Bros. announced Affleck would be Gotham's new Dark Knight, many have expressed outrage through petitions and social media.

After all, it's difficult to imagine Affleck do dark and broody after his performance in "Daredevil."

The hashtag #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck quickly became popular suggesting both serious and ridiculous suggestions to replace the actor.

Warner Bros. never would have gone with an unknown as Batman. It needed a big A-list actor to take on the role of DC's most popular superhero.

Regardless, we've still put together a list of a few other actors who could definitely play the part.

Have your own casting choices? Add them below.

Ryan Gosling

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gosling was in the running to don the cape and cowl; however, the "Drive" actor says he doesn't do sequels.

"The Notebook" aside, not only is he one of the hottest actors out there right now, but he also has equal appeal with women and men. If Ryan Gosling was Bruce Wayne, every girl would have wanted to see that movie. 

If you've seen "Drive" or "Gangster Squad" Gosling can give a chillingly haunting performance as well. His ability to effortlessly transform from devilish heartthrob to menacing protector won us over. 

At 32, he may have been a little too young for the 40-ish Warner Bros. was going for.



Michael Fassbender

The idea wouldn't have been difficult to imagine.

Fassbender has worked with Snyder before in "300" and has quickly become a household name after "Prometheus" and "Inglourious Basterds." The only problem is that the "X-Men" gang have a hold on him.



Josh Brolin

The actor was reportedly also up for the role. It's not difficult to see why after his roles in "True Grit,""No Country for Old Men," and "Gangster Squad."

Brolin would have delivered a dark, grittier Wayne to the big screen.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Obama Teared Up Watching 'The Butler'

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lee daniels the butler

"Lee Daniels' The Butler" has swept the box office for two weekends in a row, earning $53 million at theaters.

The film has caught the attention of many, including the Commander-in-Chief who counts himself among audience members most impressed by the Weinstein Company's historical drama.

"I did tear up," President Obama told the Tom Joyner Morning Show during an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

The film is inspired by the life of Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served during eight presidential administrations. The film stars Forrest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Terrence Howard, Alan Rickman, and Jane Fonda.

Obama said his favorite parts were Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s jokes — which he "can’t repeat on the air"— and performances by the movie's stars.

lee daniels the butler

"All of the acting was terrific, and I thought Forrest Whitaker was wonderful," Obama said. "And Oprah, my girl, she can act."

Winfrey received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for "The Color Purple" in 1985.

When asked about getting teary-eyed, Obama said:

"I teared up just thinking about not just the butlers who have worked here in the White House, but an entire generation of people who were talented and skilled, but because of Jim Crow, because of discrimination, there was only so far they could go.  And yet, with dignity and tenacity, they got up and worked every single day, and put up with a whole lot of mess because they hoped for something better for their kids."

The President acknowledged the current butlers, who eased the First Family's transition into the White House:

"I will tell you that the butlers who are now here in the White House, when we first arrived, when Michelle and the girls just — first arrived, they could not have been kinder to us and warmer to us.  And part of it, I suspect, is they look at Malia and Sasha and they say, well, this looks like my grandbaby, or this looks like my daughter.  And I think for them to have a sense that we’ve come that far was a powerful moment for them, and certainly a powerful moment for us.  We love them to death.  They look after us just wonderfully."

No word if the President saw "We're The Millers."

SEE ALSO: Moviegoers Accuse Regal Cinema Of Racial Profiling At 'The Butler' Screening

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'The Great Gatsby' DVD And Blu-Ray Includes An Alternate Ending That Would Have Made The Film Even Longer

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leonardo dicaprio great gatsby

"The Great Gatsby" is out on DVD and Blu-ray and included in the special features of the 2-disc special edition is an alternate ending to the film. 

(Don't get too excited. Gatsby doesn't live.) 

Rather, director Baz Luhrmann originally had the film continue well after Gatsby passed away.

"I shot a lot of scenes after Gatsby's death," says Luhrmann in a featurette. "And it was a very painful process of progressively letting them all go, because at first, I put them all in." 

The film continues with the fallout from Gatsby's death. Scenes cut from the end include one between Tom (Joel Edgington) and Nick (Tobey McGuire), another where Gatsby's father visits Jay in his coffin, and lastly a scene where Jordan (Elizabeth Debicki) and Nick bid say goodbye over the phone. 

Luhrmann said the scenes — especially the one with the father — were in the film for a very long time.

At 143 minutes, "The Great Gatsby" is already nearly a 2 and a half hour movie, it's not difficult to see why the scenes were cut. However, the director says he took them out one by one after realizing they took away from the point of the story.

"What I found as I played the film to my colleagues, to my co-collaborators ... that the more we focused after Gatsby's death just down to the relationship between Nick and Gatsby, the more you realize that that's actually what the film is about, even more than the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. It's about Nick trying to work out why this person that everyone looks upon so ... who everyone discards as such immoral trash is the most hopeful human being he has ever met, and is ever likely to meet again."

Luhrmann also said the scenes with the father reiterated information the viewer had already learned about the young Jay Gatz early in the film.

The alternate, extended ending is one of many features on the disc.  

Watching the special features, the viewer gets an innate sense of how hands on Director Baz Luhrmann was with every single detail from the set research, to music, to clothing in the film.   

Here's what's inside the Blu-ray and 2-disc special edition:

The Greatness of Gatsby 

Details how director Baz Luhrmann came up with the idea to film "The Great Gatsby" on an 8-day train ride aboard the trans-siberian railroad and the extensive research that went into making the film. 

"I remember thinking to myself, 'That is almost perfect cinema structure.'" He wanted to solve the problem of telling the internal story of Nick Carraway. 

"Within and Without" with Tobey Maguire 

During the filming of "Moulin Rouge," Luhrmann says a tradition was started where one of the actors would report from the set. Maguire brought a camera along to capture the scene on set. 

The Swinging Sounds of Gatsby 

"You don't see a Baz Luhrman film and not go get the soundtrack," says Leonardo DiCaprio in the featurette. "They're like one and the same. " 

If you you're a fan of Baz, you know he's not only passionate about his filmmaking, but also the music in his films. This segment goes inside how closely Luhrmann worked with musicians Jay-Z, Lana del Rey and more to create a modern-day score reminiscent of the Jazz age. 

The Jazz Age 

Nearly 20 minutes highlighting the history of the era when "The Great Gatsby" took place. Mini-biography on what life was like for author F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

Razzle Dazzle: The Fashion of the '20s 

How Production and Costume designer Catherine Martin worked together with partners from Tiffany, Prada, and Brooks Brothers to bring the look and feel of the '20s to the big screen. 

Fitzgerald's Visual Poetry 

Luhrmann explains his use of visual text from the novel on screen during the film. 

Gatsby Revealed 

Consists of five scenes from the film for which Luhrmann provides commentary including the first time Daisy and Gatsby meet along with how the Plaza Hotel was re-imagined. 

Deleted Scenes

Other than the alternate ending, Luhrmann introduces two other deleted scenes, one between Nick and Jordan and another where Gatsby says the iconic line "Her voice is full of money." 

Luhrmann reveals he cut the latter from the film because it hinted that Gatsby was disappointed by Daisy when he was about to fight to win her from her husband. 

A trailer for the 1926 adaptation of the film featuring Warner Baxter as Jay Gatsby and Lois Wilson as Daisy Buchanan. 

Watch it below:

Warner Bros. provided us with an exclusive preview from one of the special features. 

SEE ALSO: 11 Things You Don't Know About 'The Great Gatsby'

More 'Gatsby': Before and after images show how much CGI was used in 'The Great Gatsby'

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James Spader Will Play Legendary Villain Ultron In Huge 'Avengers' Sequel

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james spader ultronMarvel just announced James Spader has been cast to play the main villain in "Avengers" sequel, "Age of Ultron." 

Fans will know Ultron is the homicidal robot that has been the main antagonist in the comic series since its 1968 debut. 

Spader is best known for his roles on ABC's "Boston Legal" and "Private Practice" for which he won three Primetime Emmys.

Most recently, Spader appeared  in "Lincoln" and briefly took over on "The Office"after the departure of Steve Carrell.

Spader can handle his own as a cool and collected diabolical villain.

Check out his casting in NBC's fall series "The Blacklist" which has him as a criminal mastermind. Take note of his voice.

"The Avengers: Age of Ultron" is in theaters May 1, 2015. 

Here's the release from Marvel: 

James Spader will face off against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the villain in Marvel’s "Avengers: Age of Ultron," the sequel to 2012’s record-breaking "Marvel’s The Avengers." The Emmy Award-winning actor will play Ultron in the Avengers’ much anticipated return to the big screen from writer/director Joss Whedon. The film comes to theaters on May 1, 2015. 

Spader earned three Emmy Awards for his role as Alan Shore on "Boston Legal" and "The Practice," and will return to television this fall in NBC’s highly anticipated series "The Blacklist." Most recently Spader was seen in the critically-acclaimed film "Lincoln" directed by Steven Spielberg and has previously worked with a long list of accomplished film directors including David Cronenberg, Curtis Hansen, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, Tim Robbins, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone.  David Mamet also directed Spader in the Broadway play Race.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" will bring the Marvel Universe’s biggest heroes together again to face one of their biggest villains, with "Marvel’s The Avengers" director Joss Whedon returning to write and direct the sequel. "Marvel’s The Avengers" was released in 2012 and went on to earn $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the third-largest grossing movie of all time.

Spader is represented by ICM Partners and his lawyer Melanie Cook at Ziffren Brittenham.

SEE ALSO: "Avengers" sequel will not follow 'Age of Ultron' comic book

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Matt Damon Joins Christopher Nolan's Big Space Epic 'Interstellar'

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Matt Damon

This is an interesting turn of events.

Matt Damon is joining Christopher Nolan's next project, anticipated sci-fi thriller "Interstellar."

The news was first reported by The Playlist before being confirmed by Variety.

The film has been in the works for awhile. Originally a Steven Spielberg project, Christopher Nolan was tapped in January to direct the film. It made sense considering his brother Jonathan ("The Dark Knight" trilogy / "Memento") initially wrote a screenplay for the film and the two have a pretty good track record together — "The Dark Knight" trilogy, "Memento,""The Prestige." 

"Interstellar" will also star Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway as space travelers going through a wormhole. Like all Nolan projects, much about the plot is heavily guarded. The Hollywood Reporter has said the film is supposed to involve alternate dimensions and time travel. It kind of sounds like Alfonso Cauron's "Gravity."

Basically, nearly every big studio in Hollywood has some sort of stake in this project. 

The film is cofinanced by Paramount (because of Spielberg's original attachment to the film), Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. 

Legendary Pictures, of course, ended its working relationship with Warner Bros. earlier this year, so now the film will be distributed by Universal. 

The news about Damon's casting is interesting.

His buddy Ben Affleck was just cast as Bruce Wayne and Batman in the "Man of Steel" sequel last week. Naturally, that led many to (jokingly) suggest Damon would be cast as a Robin or perhaps another character in the D.C. Universe.

Damon shot down Robin rumors while promoting "Elysium" overseas, but because of his close affinity with Affleck it's interesting to see him work with Nolan who helped bring the DC Comics universe back to the big screen for Warner Bros. 

The Playlist reports Damon's role will be pretty small, with him filming on set for two weeks out of a total four-month filming schedule.

Maybe we'll see Damon and Nolan — along with Affleck pool their resources with "Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder down the line.  

SEE ALSO: 9 other actors who could have played Batman in the "Man of Steel" sequel

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'Gravity' Reviews Are Calling George Clooney And Sandra Bullock's Space Odyssey The Must-See Event Of The Fall

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gravity sandra bullock

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock arrived in Venice earlier this week to present their space adventure thriller "Gravity" at the 70th Venice Film Festival.

Directed by Academy Award nominated director Alfonso Cuarón ("Children of Men"), "Gravity" dives into the unforgiving realm of deep space. After their shuttle is destroyed during a routine mission, a veteran astronaut (Clooney) and a space-rookie engineer (Bullock) spiral into the unknown, tethered to each other.

The trailer chilled with gravity-defying acrobatics, stunning visual effects, and lots of heavy breathing as the astronauts' oxygen supply — and hope of rescue — diminishes.

Variety praised, "It would be impossible to overestimate the difficulty of what Cuarón and his top-of-the-line crew have pulled off."

But The Independent found the epic space thriller to be "flawed," calling it "a visual triumph even if its storytelling is less than sure-footed."

Here's what else critics are saying:

You feel like you're in space.

gravity posterIndiewire:

The film comes as close as most of us are likely to get to actually being in space (undoubtedly aided by the 3D: this is one film that’s really worth paying the extra bucks for to see in the format, whether the lens is capturing a tiny spinning speck in the distance or debris flying in your face).

HitFix:

When I stood up as the final credit rolled, I don’t mind admitting that I immediately had to sit down again, a Bambi-like wobble coursing through my limbs, as if I'd just re-encountered gravity myself.

It's not your average sci-fi flick.

THR:

Not at all a science fiction film in the conventional sense, Alfonso Cuaron's first feature in seven years has no aliens, space ship battles or dystopian societies, just the intimate spectacle of a man and a woman trying to cope in the most hostile possible environment across a very tight 90 minutes.

life of pi with vfxHowever, many are drawing comparisons to "Life of Pi."

 

TIME:

 

Both ["Gravity" and "Life of Pi"] are thrilling 3-D dramas of survival in a hostile environment, testaments to human grit and groundbreaking technical ingenuity. Both are the rare movies that need to be seen once for the “Wow!” factor and a second time to try figuring out how Cuar‪ón and his technical savants managed to make the impossible seem so cinematically plausible.

THR:

No monsters pop out baring scary teeth, only adverse circumstances of such extremity that they place "Gravity" alongside "Life of Pi" and J.C. Chandor's contemporaneous "All Is Lost" as a survival tale requiring a heroically concentrated form of human resilience.

The narrative's simplicity balances — and is sometimes outdone by — the eye-popping visuals.

Variety:

It falls among that increasingly rare breed of popular entertainments capable of prompting genuine “How did they do that?” reactions from even the most jaded viewers, even as its central premise is so simple and immediately gripping that one might just as readily ask, “Why didn’t anyone do it sooner?”

The Independent:

The one problem with "Gravity" is that the plotting never quite matches its visual imagination. There isn’t the same urgency or plausibility here found in JC Chandor’s recent, similarly themed "All Is Lost" (which featured Robert Redford as a lone sailor whose boat is sinking.) At times, as the astronauts desperately battle fire, tangled parachute strings and malfunctioning machinery, matters risk becoming just a little banal and predictable.

Cuarón's long-awaited return to the silver screen was worth the wait.

Village Voice:

Cuarón, just as Brian De Palma ("Mission to Mars") was, is alive to the empty-full spectacle of space and to the workday poetry of the words astronauts use to describe it.

Variety:

He’s the rare virtuoso capable of steering us through vividly imagined worlds and into deep recesses of human feeling.

Clooney and Bullock are magic on screen.

gravity sandra bullock george clooney

The Telegraph:

[Clooney and Bullock's characters] are not two people you would naturally team up for a life-or-death mission — although Cuarón, who co-wrote the script with his son Jonás, assiduously avoids odd-couple clichés and romance under pressure.

The Atlantic:

The casting of Bullock and Clooney is key to how effective the film is in jangling our nerves; their familiar movie-star faces (visible mostly from underneath their helmets), warm voices, and easy, teasing rapport soothe us in several of Gravity’s harrowing moments, and make things even more disconcerting when their mission devolves into pure terror.

We're reminded why America loves Bullock.

TIME:

Cuar‪ón offered the Ryan part (Bullock) to Angelina Jolie, twice, and then to Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Weisz, Marion Cotillard, Carey Mulligan, Blake Lively, Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Wilde — everybody. When these actresses see what Bullock has been given in the role, and the fiery commitment she gives to it, they should all whisper a sincere, Rick Perry-style “Oops.”

The Telegraph:

Bullock is the undoubted star and is seriously good here, giving Stone an inner steeliness that only the very deepest pangs of despair can unsheathe. "Gravity" teems with images of birth and rebirth, and from the cable that links Bullock’s character umbilically to Clooney’s, to the extraordinary shot of her hanging in an airlock in a state of amniotic suspension, Cuarón makes his heroine’s sex a core part of her heroism.

The ending plays out like an homage to Sigourney Weaver’s character Ripley in "Alien."

But we're not going to spoil it for you.

The consensus: "We have lift off."
Right now, 100% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes say go. 

"Gravity" arrives in theaters October 4.

Watch the gut-wrenching trailer below:

SEE ALSO: New 'Gravity' Trailer Gives A Terrifying Look At The Worst-Case Scenario For Any Astronaut

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'Riddick' Reviews: Vin Diesel Fans Will Be Happy After Waiting Nearly A Decade For The Sequel

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vin diesel riddick

After nearly a decade, Vin Diesel returns as cult favorite Riddick, a convict with the ability to see in the dark, in this weekend's follow-up to the 2004 film "Chronicles of Riddick."

The third film in the series from director David Twohy ("The Fugitive"), the new movie follows the gist of the two previous flicks with Riddick deserted on a hostile planet left to fend for himself.

The first two films were never major box-office hits. Instead, over the years, the series gained a cult following. ("Pitch Black" earned $53 million worldwide while the costly $105 million sequel "The Chronicles of Riddick" grossed $115 million in theaters.) 

"The reality is that I always envisioned the 'Riddick' franchise as a continuing mythology, so I always imagined that there would be many other films to follow," Diesel told Spinoff Online. "And yet, I do feel like I answered that growing request from the fans that said, 'Please make another Riddick.'"

After many were unfazed by the 2004 sequel "Chronicles of Riddick," the new movie returns to its roots channeling the first film in the series "Pitch Black."

Currently, "Riddick" is sitting at 59% on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. 

No matter how the movie is being reviewed, it's the perfect time to release the film — Diesel's riding the media wave after this summer's hugely successful "Fast & Furious 6" and the actor hinted at an appearance in a future Marvel movie

It's clear the film is appealing to Diesel's wide fan base. According to a Fandango survey of more than 1,000 "Riddick" ticket-buyers, 89% are fans of the actor while 67% have seen all of his "Fast & Furious" films in theaters.

Here's what you should know before seeing it:

The beginning is great.riddick and dogEmpire Magazine:

"Largely wordless, the segment reminds us that Diesel still has charisma enough to hold our attention when he’s the only human element on screen for 25 minutes, fending off scorpion beasts and taming feral CG wolf-bastards." 

Time Out NY:

"First things first, though—namely a terrific, mostly dialogue-free 20-minute opening during which Riddick acclimates to his new surroundings." 

Variety

"If nothing in 'Riddick' ever quite tops that opening act, when it seems as though the entire movie might be a solo Diesel performance piece, even at its most conventional this is a solid, unpretentious B-movie entertainment of the sort John Carpenter was regularly turning out in the 1980s and ‘90s."

The dialogue isn't fantastic. Note: This happened with another big blockbuster this year ("Fast 6"). It's not the end of the world. You're not heading out to see "Riddick" for dialogue.  

Associated Press (AP) 

‘‘Sloppy’’ is a kind word, actually, for the ridiculously clumsy dialogue in ‘‘Riddick.’’

But, you're here for the gore anyway, right? Right ... 

The Hollywood Reporter (THR):

"Plenty of bone crunching and blood gushing, along with some selective nudity, have boosted the movie’s rating up to an “R,” but lacking the distinctive visual style, robust production design and planet-hopping pace of its predecessor."

... and crude jokes.

L.A. Weekly:

"Instead, we must pan for scraps of pleasure … while trying not to get so riled up by all the rape jokes that we spin around and stab our seatmate ... Nothing says Strong Female Character like a savage babe who spends most of the film getting sexually harassed."

riddick vin dieselDon't expect anything mind-blowing. THR's Justin Lowe says the film doesn't take a lot of risks.

"The latest installment feels tentative even at a flabby 120 minutes, more like a placeholder that barely advances the considerable Riddick mythology. Playing it safe with a script that offers Riddick up as a lone avenging hero, Twohy passes on the opportunity to effectively shade the character’s distinctive dimensionality."

IGN

"It's not to say there isn't entertainment value to be had in this — there are a few cool kills throughout — it's just that we've seen this all before."

Critics can't decide whether they enjoy the CGI planet Riddick inhabits or hate it.

Time Out 

"Watching this see-in-the-dark muscleman brooding against gorgeous otherworldly vistas, all while crafting pointy homemade weapons and befriending a scene-stealing CGI canine (no joke), is a sci-fi aficionado’s delight." 

THR 

 "While 'Chronicles' was a full-blown space opera, the current iteration is beset by unremarkable CGI effects and tethered to limited locations."

Overall, it's fun, campy, and everything that will keep the cult-following of the original film happy, should leave happy. 

AP:

"The bald and beefy Diesel, whose sturdy commercial appeal is proven again and again with the huge success of the ‘‘Fast & Furious’’ franchise, is always fun to watch."  

IGN:

"It's precisely the movie I thought it would be: an overly macho Vin Diesel killing monsters and scumbags. Predictable and pedestrian, sure, but are you not getting exactly what you pay for? This is a Riddick movie not a Harold Pinter drama."

Variety:  

"And where 'Chronicles' overdosed on cartoonish CGI, 'Riddick' returns to the 'Pitch Black' formula of mixing animated elements with practical effects and puppetry, creating a tactile otherworldly environment that ranges from the sets to the props to the creatures (designed by the great Patrick Tatopoulos) themselves."

Overall Consensus: If you're a fan of the series, and Vin Diesel, see it. 

The film clearly knows its audience. We're not worried about its box-office performance this weekend. The film is the fan favorite for the weekend on Fandango — not that that's a great feat. There honestly isn't much else out, unless a poorly reviewed documentary on J.D. Salinger ("Catcher in the Rye" author) sounds appealing. 

Check out a trailer for the film:

SEE ALSO: New 'Gravity' trailer shows how scary it would be to get lost in space

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