‘L.A. TIMES’ TO INSTITUTE PAYWALL IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2012 No one reads this rag now, but now by not reading we’ll save money. Nice. PODCAST WITH ‘RISE OF THE APES’ SCREENWRITERS The married screenwriting team of Rick Jaffa and
JENNIFER ANISTON NAMED SEXIEST WOMAN OF ALL TIME Nothing against Aniston, who gets better looking every year, but… ever? Here are the Top 100. No Angie Dickinson. Indefensible. In no particular order, my top picks: Ann-Margret, Tina Turner, Barbara Stanwyck,
PIRATES DOWNLOAD FLOPS, IGNORE HITS If Hollywood despised child rapists and terrorists as much as they do the 99%-ers who steal from movies and music from the 1%, the world would be a much better place. PAGING ARMOND WHITE: ‘GROWN
BOX OFFICE ANALYSIS The post-Thanksgiving weekend is usually one of the worst of the year, and this was no exception. There were no big new releases, so it’s all about how the previously released held on. 1. Twilight Saga: Breaking
I may be a movie critic by trade, but I still love me some television. Yet this week I ordered a new Blu-ray player capable of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu Plus to my flat-screen set. It’s the first
TEN MEMORABLE NON-COMEDIC PERFORMANCES BY COMEDIANS Jon Stewart? Really? Pretty spotty list (“Southland Tales?”), but credit is owed for at least grabbing one film pre-1980 film, Jackie Gleason’s truly memorable turn in “The Hustler.” My votes go to (in no
In this week’s episode of the HomeVideodrome podcast, Hunter reviews “Hugo“, “Bridesmaids“, and “Horrible Bosses“, and we also dwell on Werner Herzog’s awesome voice, because hey, there weren’t too many releases one could give a damn about this week. So
BOX OFFICE ANALYSIS: The box office slump hit pretty hard over the holiday weekend. While retail sales everywhere else skyrocketed to record numbers, Hollywood took a 12% hit when compared to this time last year. It’s going to be difficult
It seems only right that Blu-ray disks fit so snugly in most Christmas stockings. This holiday season is the perfect time to give family and friends a new Blu-ray title or two. The Blu-ray format is finally catching on with
‘MODERN WARFARE 3′ MAKES $775 MILLION IN 5 DAYS, BLOWS AWAY ALL RECORDS Is this why Hollywood makes movies that recreate the experience of what it’s like to watch someone else play a video game? DEMI MOORE TURNS TO MADONNA
Kyle Smith Wonders if ‘J. Edgar’ Is the Disappointment of the Year Kyle and I may share a similar political philosophy but we rarely agree on films. I sense we might agree on this one: …but as “J.Edgar” sits at
Big Media Earnings Set To ‘Decelerate Sharply’ In 2013 As TV Becomes A Zero-Sum Game 1. Digital platforms (like streaming) are hurting broadcast and cable networks: As costs rise, TV producers can’t expect to keep generating more cash from licensing
Starz Looks For A Premium Streaming Service To Replace Netflix If memory serves, Netflix offered Starz $300 million. Who is big enough in the streaming world to afford a better deal? Hulu, I guess. According to the story, though, Starz
Remember that line in Tombstone? Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) said, “You called down the thunder. Well now you got it!” It may be of some benefit for the Tehran regime to Netflix that Western action/drama because the world, as they
UNINTENTIONALLY FUNNY LINE OF THE DAY MTV: The world is still reeling from the news that Kim Kardashian has decided to end her 72-day-long marriage to Kris Humphries. The entertainment media got taken in a big way with this marriage
BOX OFFICE ANALYSIS IMDB: Blame the unseasonably snowy weather in the East. Blame the World Series. Blame Halloween parties. Blame the economy. Box office analysts were doing a little of each to explain the lousy weekend that saw blah openings
WOW: WARNER BROS. STOPS GIVING NEW TITLES TO BLOCKBUSTER Studios are getting desperate: According to The Financial Times, Warner Bros has stopped supplying discs of its latest releases to Blockbuster after the rental chain refused to agree to a 28-day
WHOA: SPIELBERG RIPS ‘CRYSTAL SKULL’ Is it just me or did Empire bury the lead here: And Crystal Skull? “I’m very happy with the movie. I always have been… I sympathise with people who didn’t like the MacGuffin because I
We have often discussed the incredible peril Network Neutrality poses when placed in the hands of government — it’s the incredible economic and First Amendment damage that can (and will) be done by the federal Leviathan once it gets its
You don’t need a critic or video store geek to tell you to watch ‘The Shining’ this time of year. It’s practically required viewing for horror buffs. The same holds true for ‘Halloween,’ The Exorcist’ and ‘Psycho.’ If you haven’t
If you’re any fan of Alexander Dumas’ novel ‘The Three Musketeers,’ save yourself the aneurism and pass on its latest screen incarnation. (Warning: There will be spoilers) The new ‘Musketeers’ opens with a prologue where the famous Three – Athos
CONFIRMED: ‘DARK KNIGHT RISES’ PROLOGUE TO PLAY BEFORE IMAX ‘MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE’ Truly a piece of genius marketing. Expect more of this. I’m well aware I’m calling this idea a success before the results are in, but it’s a no-brainer. LINDSAY
DIXIE CHICKS’ VH1 STORYTELLERS AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 29 What are Dixie Chicks again? All I seem to remember are three mouthy narcissists who were so desperate for attention they posed nude on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and then had a
JAVIER BARDEM IS BOND 23’S VILLAIN This is good news. Bardem is a larger-than-life presence on the screen and Bond could use some larger-than-lifeness — especially if all that larger-than-lifeness is filmed on a tripod. GENE HACKMAN TO COME OUT
Netflix Stock Hits 52-Week Low After It Cancels DVD-Streaming Split That’s because Qwikster’s not the problem; it’s just a symptom of Netflix’s ongoing stupidity. Allowing people to opt out of the by-mail service and keep the streaming is the problem.
