Wizard of Lies, the new HBO movie about criminal finance guru Bernie Madoff, is moving forward with Barry Levinson set to direct, according to the report at Deadline. Robert De Niro will star as Madoff, where Michelle Pfeiffer will play his wife, Ruth.
Joining De Niro and Pfeiffer will be Alessandro Nivola (American Hustle, Face/Off) as Mark Madoff, Bernie’s son who committed suicide following Madoff’s indictment.
Wizard of Lies will be based on the novel by Diana Henriques which, according to the Deadline report, is “a look behind the scenes at Bernie Madoff’s massive Ponzi scheme, how it was perpetrated on the public and the trail of destruction it left in its wake, both for the victims and Madoff’s family.“
There are no details regarding the debut of Wizard of Lies on HBO, but expect it to hit some time in 2016.
Today, Instagram announced that – in addition to square posts – you can now share photos and videos in both portrait and landscape orientation on their platform. With this update, Instagram users can upload widescreen video which will be more cinematic than ever.
This morning, @StarWars released an exclusive look at their upcoming film, The Force Awakens, using Instagram’s new landscape orientation. As part of this collaboration, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the very first video content to be showcased in this new format for the Instagram community.
We have our first look at Michael Fassbender in costume for the upcoming adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.
Yahoo! has released an image of Fassy in full garb as Callum Lynch, check it out here:
At least we know they have nailed the look of Lynch. Here is the official synopsis for Assassin’s Creed as well, for anyone unfamiliar with the game:
Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.
Assassin’s Creed has a supreme opportunity here, to be the first legitimate film – dare I say art house action film – based on a video game. Marion Cotillard joins Michael Fassbender in the film, directed by Justin Kurzel. Kurzel just wrapped production on the upcoming Macbeth adaptation, also starring the two actors.
To this point, admirable, even watchable, video-game adaptations are practically nonexistent.
August 27, 2015 – The sixteenth installment of “Live In The Vineyard,” taking place November 5-8, is shaping up to be the best yet with the announcement today that some of the biggest names in music right now including Adam Lambert, Leona Lewis, James Bay, A Great Big World and Gavin James will be performing at the nightly concerts held at the Uptown Theatre. They will join previously announced artists Rob Thomas, Barenaked Ladies, Nick Fradiani, Michael Franti, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and for KING & COUNTRY as the star-studded line-up set to take place amidst the lush scenery of boutique wineries in Napa Valley, California. Also set to perform, at what has become one of the nation’s most exclusive and sought after events, are Wynonna & The Big Noise and American Authors, who will both perform during private VIP events. Fans can check out more information about “Live In The Vineyard” and enter for a chance to attend the private festival at liveinthevineyard.com.
“Live In The Vineyard” (LITV) is a private festival that happens twice a year in April and November. To date LITV has hosted exquisite food tastings by renowned and celebrated chefs, pourings by some of the most revered vintners, and a series of intimate performances by some of the biggest and emerging names in music. Tickets for LITV are only available through special radio station promotions featured on liveinthevineyard.com that include Sirius/XM The Pulse, On-Air with Ryan Seacrest, iHeart Radio, On with Mario Lopez, and roughly 250 local participating stations. Tickets are also available through exclusive sweepstakes and offerings from LITV’s partnerships with Aloft Hotels, National Car Rental Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sutter Home, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois, among others. What sets LITV apart from the typical festival is the exclusivity and the intimacy of the events, which are created specifically for each festival and are never duplicated.
International superstar Adam Lambert, who will headline Friday night’s concert at the Uptown Theatre, is a Billboard chart topping, multi-award winning, multi-platinum-selling-singer-songwriter and performer. Best known for his soaring voice and theatrical flair, the pop singer has performed in front of sold out crowds worldwide -both as a solo artist and with legendary rock group Queen. His work, which includes his debut “For Your Entertainment,” and sophomore album “Trespassing,” have garnered a number of music awards and nominations. His latest, titled “The Original High,” was released June 16th on Warner Bros Records, debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, and has since received critical praise from outlets including Rolling Stone, who applauded the album’s “big hooks” and “over the top energy” and praised Adam’s “impressive vocal range over radio-friendly deep house beats.” Also performing Friday night at Uptown Theatre is critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Leona Lewis, the best-selling artist ever to emerge from The X Factor. Her debut album , Spirit, went 10x platinum in the United Kingdom and 4x platinum in the United States while its lead single, “Bleeding Love,” spent seven weeks at number-one and made history when she became the first British female solo artist to top the US Billboard 200 album chart in more than 20 years. Lewis has sold 20 million records worldwide and is a seven-time Brit Award and three-time Grammy Award nominee. Lewis is will release her fifth studio album I AM September 11th with the lead single “Thunder” already winning over fans and media alike. Rounding out Friday night’s concert lineup is Gavin James, who is already on his way to becoming one of 2015’s international crossover-stories. James’ distinct vocals and impassioned delivery have earned him a rapturous following overseas, and now, his impressive touring stints this year alongside Sam Smith, Tori Kelly and Kodaline have accelerated his fast-growing fan base. His newest single, “Bitter Pill,” made an impression out of the gate, when Zane Lowe premiered the soaring ballad his first week on air at Beats 1 Radio. The pop-laden single offers a glimpse into James’ anticipated forthcoming debut full-length on Capitol Records, following his Book Of Love EP released earlier this year to critical acclaim.
Saturday night’s line-up at Uptown Theatre has added Ian Axel and Chad King who make up the GRAMMY Award winning duo A Great Big World and are best known for their hit single “Say Something,” a duet collaboration with Christina Aguilera, will perform at Uptown Theatre Saturday Night. Now on Epic Records A Great Big World just released their single “Hold Each Other” featuring Futuristic that is gaining great momentum and excitement. The single is from their forthcoming highly anticipated second studio album. Also set to perform Saturday is Republic Records singer-songwriter-guitarist James Bay who released his U.S. debut album Chaos and the Calm this year, which debuted at #1 in over 20 countries. James Bay is the winner of the coveted BRITS “Critics Choice” Award (past recipients have included, Jessie J, Adele, Florence & The Machine and more) and he is currently nominated for an MTV VMA Music Award for “Artist To Watch.” His single “Hold Back The River” has already been certified Platinum in the UK and his current hit “Let It Go” continues to storm up the charts.
In true “Live In The Vineyard” fashion there will be incredible small breakout events held exclusively for VIPs which will include performances by big name artists as well as emerging artists. Set to perform at a VIP event are five-time GRAMMY Award winning artist, American music icon and New York Times best-selling author, Wynonna Judd, who first gained fame as part of one of the most successful musical duos of all time, The Judds. On top of that amazing feat, she also holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA in excess of 30 million units sold for albums released throughout her illustrious 31-year career. Continuing to explore new musical ground, Wynonna and her band The Big Noise are set to release their new studio album–produced by Wynonna’s husband and drummer of The Big Noise, Cactus Moser–in early 2016 on Curb Records. Wynonna recently opened up to Rolling Stone Country about the direction of the new music, describing it as “vintage yet modern.” It’s the latest in a string of hit albums that started with her quintuple platinum 1992 solo debut, Wynonna. Four-piece alt-rock outfit based in Brooklyn, American Authors, will kick off LITV with a private opening reception event for VIP attendees on November 5th. The group burst onto the scene last year with their debut album Oh, What A Life on Island Records and their smash singles “Best Day of My Life” and “Believer.” The group, who are currently on tour, recently released their single “Go Big or Go Home.”
“Live In The Vineyard” was created by Bobbii Jacobs and Claire Parr, who together share over 40 years of experience in the music industry, and has grown into a well-known and sought-after ticket. The festival, available only to sweepstakes winners and special invited guests, marries peoples’ access to recording artists, top tier wine makers, and world-renowned chefs during a “once-in-a-lifetime” four day event. To date LITV has hosted performances by Sarah McLachlan, James Blunt, Christina Perri, Fun., New Kids on the Block, Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz, Jason Derulo, Zac Brown Band, Natasha Bedingfield, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Melissa Etheridge, David Gray, Hunter Hayes, Fitz And The Tantrums, Jason Mraz, among others.
For those of you who don’t know, Seth Rollins won the United States championship from John Cena this past Sunday at SummerSlam with help from Jon Stewart. The victory made Seth Rollins the WWE champion and United States champion.
Does that look familiar? Even if you haven’t watched wrestling in twenty years that should make you feel as if you’re looking in the past.
While Seth Rollins won the match, as the entire Barclays Center was losing it’s mind, I realized why I don’t like the current WWE title. I actually felt like the US title, maybe due to John Cena, had more clout to it. Holding a belt with a flag on it or the globe has more weight than a corporate symbol.
All the belt has on it is the WWE logo.
You are just the champion of the WWE, what about the rest of the world where wrestling takes place on each continent? It can be said that it is similar to winning an NBA title, where the idea that you are also the best in the world is insinuated; not good enough.
Calling it “The WWE World Heavyweight Championship” is not good enough.
The world needs to be on that belt.
It’s not even a question that people like the classic WWF title more than the current style. Having the globe presented prominently on the belt adds a level of achievement that simply can not be matched by having just the WWE logo with diamonds in it.
That’s why I think now would be a perfect time to bring back the old title. Have Raw open with Triple H in the ring and he is going to make up for what happened with Sting last week. He tells Seth that he reached a height that hasn’t been seen in a long time and he wants to give him a gift. The gift would of course be the old school WWF circle belt.
Seth Rollins would carry this belt instead of the current WWE title going into his match with Sting at Night of Champions.
The idea of Night of Champions closing with Sting holding the WWF title from 1998, when he was the man in WCW and it seemed like he never would set foot in a WWE ring, would be an incredible sight to see.
And for only $9.99 on the WWE Network! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
What do you think is going to happen at Night of Champions? Sound off below!
This January, Robert Zemeckis and Brad Pitt will begin filming what is being called a “World War II romantic thriller,” with no set release date at this point. This will be Zemeckis’ next project after his drama The Walk hits theaters this fall. Personally, I am hoping this is ready for the 2016 Awards season.
The project from Robert Zemeckis has been announced for some time now, with Pitt attached opposite Marion Cotillard. The two will play assassins who fall into a romance with one another while on a mission in Casablanca during WWII. Steven Knight, who penned Tom Hardy’s minimalist drama Locke, is writing the screenplay, and had this to say:
“It starts shooting in January… It’s based on a story that was told to me personally when I was about 21 years old. It’s set in Britain during the war and [is] the story of a relationship that involves espionage.”
“It’s more of a drama. It’s more of a story and a love story, but with surprising elements to it.”
“This is a very odd story. I was in Texas working as a dishwasher and doing all sorts of weird things. I was going out with an English girl at the time and her auntie lived in Texas, and she got talking about her brother who had been in the S.O.E., the British Secret Service if you like, and she told me this story that just stayed with me. I’ve always known it would be a film, and now it’s gonna be the ultimate. I can’t believe the cast we’ve got, I can’t believe the director we’ve got, it’s just a dream.”
This project looks incredibly intriguing. Robert Zemeckis is one of the more underrated, emotional filmmakers of his generation, especially now that he has decided to shy away from the motion-capture animation films (Beowulf, A Christmas Carol, The Polar Express) to tell human stories again. With Pitt and Cotillard on board in the lead roles, the untitled thriller has wonderful potential.
The first horror film arrived on the scene in the 1890s and movie goers have enjoyed the scary ride for 125 years with no stop in sight. But, who has scared you the most?
Here is my take on the top 10 best horror villains of all time. You might not agree with list or the order, but you CANNOT deny the worthiness of those who made the cut. They are all scary in their own way, and will creep you out to the core.
The Candyman makes this list because he must! It is a rare occurrence when a horror film features an African-American character as its lead villain AND it not sound a comedic note a la Tales from the Hood. This terror is real and he will have his pound of flesh. The story centers around the ghost of slave who was chased down, captured, tied to a tree, drenched with honey, and then stung to death by bees while a lynch mob stood by and a laughed and taunted him as he died, all the while chanting, “Candyman.” This character, not unlike the loveable and up-to-no-good Beetlejuice (Beetleguise for you sticklers), can only be conjured by looking in a mirror and saying his name five times. Most people believe he is a legend used to control the masses, but we soon find out that you shouldn’t tempt fate OR his hook! Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candyman…
No one really knows what it is, we only that it scares the bejesus out of you. The Creeper awakens every 23 summers to hunt and feed for 23 days on human bodies, often taking trophies of his victims as a part of his own body (Gina Philips and Justin Long found that out firsthand). The next time you’re thinking about taking a road trip down a lonely country highway, and you see a strange old rusted-out truck moving along the highway, beware of what could be lurking inside the cab. Keep your head down and don’t catch his attention because he just might want to add you as a trophy. Jeepers, creepers…where’d you get those peepers?
To call this “man” sinister is to go mild on his character. A more accurate description would be sadistic. A lone hitchhiker is picked up by a road-weary kid driving a car from Chicago to San Diego. He just needed a little company to pass the time and to keep him awake. He soon realizes that he has made the worst decision of his life and that he will be the next victim in this murderous game of cat and mouse. Rutger Hauer turns in a sinister performance as deadly hitcher. Didn’t your mother ever tell you not talk to stranger AND to NEVER pick-up hitchhikers? You have been warned!
Who knew an inanimate object could be so damned scary? Stephen King, that’s who. The tale of Christine, the possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury (aptly named) that wants to be the only girl in her owner Arnold’s life. This bullied, awkward teen lovingly restores the car to her former glory. While he restores the Fury he gains confidence and a girlfriend to boot, but Christine doesn’t like this and neither does his tormentors who vandalize his car. They should never have done that because now Christine wants revenge and she will have her due. To fully have Arnold to herself, she is not opposed to a little murder. Talk about hell on wheels.
IT can appear to you as a clown, or spider, or whatever waking nightmare you may have lying in the darkest, deepest recesses of your mind. IT can also inhabit the form of your loved ones to ensnare you in it’s trap. One of it’s favorite forms is that of a clown. For you Coulrophobics out there, you know who you are, all I need mention is a clown for your skin to crawl and the willies to set in. Pennywise will strike the fear in you (it doesn’t hurt to have Tim Curry’s creepy melodious voice behind him). This inter-dimensional entity is a waiting to terrorize you. He preys on you loners, so you better go out there and make yourself some friends. Don’t look into IT’s eyes or you will lose your grip on sanity.
The next time you decided to pick up a puzzle box in a foreign land half-way across the world, think again. Some puzzles, like some mysteries, are not meant to be solved. But if you’re feeling adventurous and enjoy torture ad pain for an eternity, give it a whirl. And if you escape eternal damnation, Pinhead and the Cenobites WILL find you and show you the time of your life. Pleasure and pain can be subjective you know. They’ll “tear your soul apart.”
What would happen if you woke up in an old, abandoned, filthy bathroom, chained to the wall with no idea how you got there, a bloody corpse on the floor in front of you, and another man across from you in the same predicament? You then find a cassette tape (yes a cassette tape and for those of you who don’t know what it is, GOOGLE it!) in your pocket that instructs you to kill or be killed. What’s the value of a life? That’s what the puzzle master Jigsaw sought to find out once he set his series of pieces in motion. This villain forces those he controls to participate in self-mutilation and murder just to accomplish his own brand of revenge; and it all comes wrapped up in a creepy mask. This “puzzle man” is more of a puppet master than anything else. What would you do stay alive? How much is your life worth to you?
Friday the 13th used to be another date on the calendar, that was until this killer hacked his way on the screen. Jason Voorhees died from an accidental drowning while at summer camp in his childhood. He emerged from the depths of that lake as a full-grown, machete-toting killing machine. Who knew that below the surface of the beautiful Crystal Lake lies the body and spirit of a boy hell-bent on revenge against all teenagers because their irresponsibility led to his death? Camp counselors and scandalous teenagers everywhere, BEWARE.
What’s creepier than a child molester/child murderer? One that has been hunted down by a lynch mob of angry parents after escaping prosecution for his crimes on a technicality, then trapped in a building and burned alive; then returning as a vengeful ghost who is determined to seek his revenge on the children of those who murdered him by any means necessary. He comes to them while they sleep, clad in his dirty red and green sweater, with a claw made of razor-sharp blades ready to slash them to pieces. And don’t forget the rhyme. “One, two Freddy’s looking for you. Three, four better lock your door. Five, six grab your crucifix. Seven, eight better stay up late. Nine, ten never sleep again.”
Did you know that a Captain Kirk Halloween mask turned inside out could be so scary? John Carpenter and Debra Hill weave the tale of Michael Meyers the one man death machine. He is out to erase his family line and anyone that stands in his path. Meyers started killing when he was a just a boy, starting with his older, bitchier sister, and will never stop until he has wiped out the remainder of his familial line. It would that not even a mental hospital can hold him or stamp out his need to kill. He never utters a sound, never runs, but eventually you will fall victim to his VERY large butcher knife. Promiscuous teenagers on Halloween should be on the look-out for this boogeyman.
After 86 minutes, I was leaving the theater drained. Something didn’t sit right with me. It was as if I had been trapped at party and stuck talking to that one person who just wouldn’t shut up. We all know those types at a party and that’s why we avoid being cornered by them. This may have been what director Noah Baumbach and Gerwig were striving for; I ultimately felt the same about the film. About an hour into the film I was ready to leave the theater.
As always, the gifted Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Frances Ha), who wrote the film with Gerwig, creates a script rich in wit and some genuine insights into well-rounded characters. It seems at times Mistress America plays like a 1930’s screwball comedy combined with the likes of Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild. Lola Kirke (Gone Girl) gives a wonderful performance as Tracy, who arrives as a freshman at Barnard in New York City, and is overwhelmed with everything. Tracy dials up Brooke (Gerwig), who is about to become her stepsister because Tracy’s mom and Brooke’s dad are getting married. The problem with Brooke is she’s not who she appears to be. For all the big plans that centered around a restaurant opening, in reality she’s manic-depressive and narcissistic to the point where she doesn’t listen to anyone. Gerwig is a fantastic actress, but it feels as if she’s overacting here.
At one point, the shots and the production design begin to distract from the overall enjoyment of the film. At times this movie was very stagey, as the characters move from room to room as we go from confrontation to confrontation. This movie seemed about as natural as a kindergarten production of Death of a Salesman. I understand that Baumbach was shooting for a stylized sense of staging in the film, but there comes a point where it’s overcooked. When it goes over the line the movie becomes far from appealing and, quite frankly, avoidable.
The cinematography was mediocre at best, failing to capitalize on the beauty of New York City. Some of the shots were so amateurish that I was pondering whether or not the cinematographer was a prepubescent 12-year old. I do think that pacing of the film contributed to this problem, but that was the director’s decision and thus we know who’s at fault there.
As for the music, it didn’t take away or add anything. I would have liked to see them have some more upbeat energy in the tunes, but what we got was more middle of the road. It was as if with every decision that was made in the movie was done with the idea of being “safe”. Safe works but safe doesn’t equate to quality films.
If anything, Mistress America teaches us that just because something sounds good doesn’t mean you are going to have a fantastic time at the movies.
Fans of Luke Cage should enjoy the official synopsis that has been floated out there regarding Netflix’s new series adaptation. For all intents and purposes this synopsis, first posted at Heroic Hollywood, sounds similar to the character fans know from the comics:
Luke Cage is a former gang member who is framed for a crime. In prison, he volunteers for a medical experiment that goes awry, giving him super strength and bulletproof skin. Using his newfound powers, Cage escapes and becomes a hero for hire. His archenemy is Willy Stryker, a former childhood friend from Harlem. The two committed petty crimes together, and both fell for the same woman, Reva Connors, which led to their eventual falling out. It was Stryker who framed Cage for a drug deal that sent him to prison.
Luke Cage will be the third Marvel series adaptation from Marvel, following Daredevil and Jessica Jones. And we can’t forget about the upcoming appearance of the Punisher, who has popped up in set photos from the new season of Daredevil currently filming.
