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Washington, July 18 (Ians) The US Food and Drug Administration (Fda) on Tuesday approved a drug to prevent Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Rsv) in children aged up to 24 months who remain vulnerable to severe disease.

Developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi, the drug Nirsevimab, sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a monoclonal antibody that can prevent Rsv.

Nirsevimab is administered as a single injection either before or during an infant’s first Rsv season. Toddlers up to two-years-old who remain vulnerable can also receive the shot during their second Rsv season.

“Rsv can cause serious disease in infants and some children and results in a large number of emergency department and physician office visits each year,” said John Farley, Director of the Office of Infectious Diseases in the Fda’s Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a statement.

“Today’s approval addresses the great need for products to help reduce the...

Exclusive: LA’s Dances With Films celebrates 26 Years of storytelling June 22-July 2 at the Tcl Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

The festival will open with the World Premiere of Good Side of Bad, a powerful drama based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Beverly Olevin. Directed by Alethea Root and starring Jules Bruff (Zodiac), Lexi Simonsen (S.W.A.T.), Alex Quijano (High School Musical: The Series), Myles Grier (Lethal Weapon) and Academy Award Nominee Tess Harper, the film depicts a raw and intimate look into what it means to be a family navigating the waters of mental illness. Closing out the festival is Home Free by first time director Aaron Brown, and writer Lenny Barszap, a social impact Trojan horse disguised as a coming-of-age college comedy with a focus on homelessness.

Festival Founders Leslee Scallon, Michael Trent state “Looking toward our next quarter century,...

Alvin Straight is not the twisted David Lynch character audiences expected… he’s a well-adjusted old Iowan with the same kinds of regrets that most people have. Taken from a true story, Alvin can’t drive and hasn’t much money, but he undertakes an eccentric Odyssey that in different circumstances might get him committed. And there’s the rub — his ‘impossible’ 5 mph trek across Iowa becomes a voyage of affirmation. Lynch is no cheater: we may expect bloody disaster but he instead gives us a statement about common decency and goodwill from his own Midwestern roots. This one movie will lower your blood pressure by 10 points.

The Straight Story

Region Free Blu-ray

Viavision [Imprint] 61

1999 / Color / 2:39 widescreen / 112 min. / Street Date August 25, 2021 / Available from / 39.95au

Starring: Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Dan Flannery, Everett McGill, Barbara Robertson, James Cada, Sally Wingert, Kevin P. Farley, John Farley, John Lordan, Russ Reed, Harry Dean Stanton.

Shawnee Smith (the Saw franchise), Dean Winters (30 Rock), Emmy winning actor Chris Elliott, and Oscar nominee Bruce Dern are set to star in Christmas vs The Walters, an indie holiday comedy from Jars Media Group, Sparkd Films, and Novakovic Brothers Films. Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Betsy Beutler (Last Call and Scrubs), Paris Bravo (Bad Therapy), Nate Torrence (She’s Out Of My League), Jack McGee (Moneyball), and Emmy winner Richard Thomas will also lead the ensemble cast.

Directed by Peter D’Amato, the film follows Diane Walters (Smith) who finds herself consumed with the year-long obsession of creating the perfect holiday for her family. While her husband Brian (Winters) gets sent to Texas on business, the expecting mother of two is ordered on bed rest by her eccentric doctor (Elliott) and has only 200 hours to pull it all together. She’s on a mission to make this holiday more...

Faith-based sales agent announces raft of deals.

Pure Flix / Quality Flix sales head Ron Gell has started talks with AFM 2020 Online buyers this week on a slate of rom-coms staring Kristy Swanson, Lee Majors, and Scott Baio.

The sales agency known for working on faith-based titles has also announced a raft of sales on the new films and other titles.

Courting Mom & Dad features Swanson (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Baio, John Farley, Vanessa Angel, and Bailey Baio.

The story centres on three children who seek the help of an eccentric personal injury attorney to delay the divorce of their parents.

Image Source: Getty / George Pimentel The world lost something special when comedian and actor Chris Farley passed away in 1997 at the age of 33. In addition to being a huge part of Saturday Night Live's golden years in the '90s, Chris also starred in classic movies like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. But as bright of a light as he was for other people, Chris battled dark demons in his personal life, including drug and alcohol addiction. A few months before his death, Chris, who had gone to rehab 17 times to try to kick his bad habits, relapsed. "I want to live fast and die young," he told one of his friends. And to the heartbreak of his many fans, that's exactly what happened. RelatedIn Memoriam: 46 Stars We've Lost This Year On Dec. 18, 1997, Chris was found dead in his Chicago apartment from an overdose of cocaine and morphine after...

There was one very special guest at Sunday's "Saturday Night Live" 40th Anniversary Celebration: The late Phil Hartman's daughter, Birgen Hartman. Now 23, the blonde stunner looked gorgeous in a black gown with nude cutouts. Birgen shared the photo above on her Instagram page before the event, saying she was "Ready to blind America with my paleness." She commented on the pic saying she wouldn't be hitting the stage for the show, but would be in the audience. Hartman, who was tragically killed by his wife Brynn in 1998, was remembered throughout the special on Sunday -- with clips of his most famous moments popping up in the various montages. Video: 10 Can't-Miss Moments from "SNL" Anniversary Special He was also honored during the In Memoriam segment, which was introduced by Bill Murray. We also got a glimpse of the legendary comic's audition for "SNL" during one of the night's best clips.

by Matt Hawkins

Do you know the name John Farley? Probably not, but you may be aware what he's known for: he's that guy who sued Subway because their footlong subs are actually only eleven inches. Anyhow, what is he up to these days? Why, suing GameStop of course.

So, what he's beef with them? According to Kotaku, Farley, who hails from Marlton, New Jersey, is part of a suit that includes two other plaintiffs and they are all targeting GameStop. Because money that should have been theoretically saved when purchasing used copies of games were instead reallocated on online passes and other forms of Dlc.

According to the lawsuit, it all stems from when Farley picked up a used copy of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit in 2011: "When Farley attempted to play his game online with other players, he discovered he could not do so and was forced...

Paranormal Movie is looking to scare the shit out of you. Literally. Will it succeed? We'll find out soon enough as the flick is headed to home video via Image Entertainment. Read on for the latest.

From the Press Release

In the spirit of great parody films like Scary Movie, Not Another Teen Movie, and Dance Flick, Image Entertainment (a subsidiary of Rlj Entertainment) brings you Paranormal Movie on DVD and Digital Download April 9th. This movie takes you inside the twisted and outrageous mind of Kevin Farley (An American Carol) as he directs the celluloid potshots aimed squarely at the world-famous Paranormal Activity franchise. The film co-stars Carly Craig (The Three Stooges), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Maria Menounos (Tropic Thunder), and William Katt (The Greatest American Hero). Paranormal Movie will be available on DVD for an Srp of $27.97.

Life for Larry (Farley) has always been a little weird,...

With the success of the Paranormal Activity movies, it's a given that there will be numerous copycats and spoofs. Enter Paranormal Movie, a comedy that looks to follow you straight into the toilet.

Cinema Management Group is currently in talks with buyers about Paranormal Movie, a "found footage" parody that satirizes the tropes of “found footage” horror films. Directed by and starring Kevin Farley (Dirty Work), the film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2013.

Paranormal Movie tells the story of Larry, a bumbling and inept man-child who has spent his entire life documenting everything he does in front of a video camera. Now that he and his new girlfriend have moved into a house plagued with strange occurrences, Larry is determined to capture the poltergeist on tape and rid the home of its supernatural infestation.

In addition to Kevin Farley, Paranormal Movie...

Nickelodeon Scene from “The Legend of Korra.”

The lead characters show a romantic side in “The Spirit of Competition,” the newest episode of “The Legend of Korra.”

The Fire Ferrets are advancing in the tournament and are working well together as a unit. But will love get in the way of teamwork?

Korra has feelings for Mako but doesn’t really know how or if she should express them. She consults the children and wife of her airbending master, Tenzin,...

Nickelodeon Scene from “The Legend of Korra.”

Increasingly, Korra’s situation is becoming morally murky–after all, heroes are typically expected to be supporting populist revolutions, not trying to suppress them. In the latest episode of “The Legend of Korra,” the young Avatar is recruited to join a task force created by the ambitious Councilman Tarrlok that’s charged with putting down the equalist rebellion. To the relief and surprise of her mentor Tenzin, she at first refuses to join,...

Speakeasy saw an early screening of “The Avengers” this week, and we’re set to attend the Tribeca Film Festival premiere this weekend. We’re not going to review the film–we’ll leave that task to the Journal’s more-than capable Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Joe Morgenstern–but we can give you a preview of what to expect. Prepare yourself to see lots of stuff blown up. Get ready to see legions of superheroes fight each other for various...

Muscle & Fitness The Hulk on the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine

The May 2012 edition of Muscle & Fitness magazine has a superpowered coverboy: the Hulk.

The coverline blares “Get huge like the Hulk with our real-life routine!”

Speakeasy has some news for weightlifters and fitness enthusiasts: lift all you want, you won’t get a strong as the Hulk.

You want to know why? Because the Hulk is a comic book character.

We get the fact that “The Avengers” movie is...

Beth Dubber/Fox Santana (Naya Rivera, L) and Brittany (Heather Morris, R) perform in the “Dance With Somebody” episode of “Glee.”

On tonight’s episode of “Glee,” the cast pays tribute to Whitney Houston.

The show has covered Houston’s songs before–in February, Mercedes (actress Amber Riley) performed Houston’s signature song “I Will Always Love You”–but the new episode, titled “Dance with Somebody,” is an all-Whitney affair. The numbers include Brittany and Santana’s rendition of “I...

Greek mythology is an inspiration for many big-screen productions at present.

These include Immortals; Clash of the Titans and its imminent sequel Wrath of the Titans; and Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief, also getting a follow-up in the form of Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

Now it's a case of Greek mirth as the gods of the ancient world are given a humorous twist in The Whole Banana.

Brothers Kevin P. Farley­­ (Joe Dirt, The Waterboy) and John Farley (Jack and Jill, Get Smart) - both pictured above in 2008's Blonde and Blonder - have been announced as signing on to the romantic comedy in as-yet-unspecified roles.

They join a cast including Resident Evil star Sienna Guillory, Kristy Swanson, Kevin Sorbo, Dominique Swain, Stelio Savante, Clint Howard and Jeffrey Vincent Parise.

Matthew Perry (Friends, The Whole Nine Yards) and Dean Cain (Lois & Clarke: The New Adventures of Superman, Five Days...

Kevin and John Farley have joined the cast of the upcoming romantic comedy ‘The Whole Banana.’ They join previously announced cast members Sienna Guillory, Kristy Swanson, Kevin Sorbo, Dominique Swain, Stelio Savante, Clint Howard and Jeffrey Vincent Parise. Matthew Perry and Dean Cain also have large cameo roles in the indie film, which will shoot on location in Los Angeles. In the Stephen Wallis-directed movie, a Greek god, played by Kevin Sorbo, helps a struggling artist, portrayed by Swanson, with her dismal love life. Swain plays Swanson’s best friend, while Savante portrays her long suffer husband. Perry has been cast as Apollo, the brother of Sorbo’s Hermes character. Howard and [ Read More ]...

Kevin Farley­­ (Joe Dirt, The Waterboy) and John Farley (Jack and Jill, Get Smart) have joined Sienna Guillory, Kristy Swanson, Kevin Sorbo, Dominique Swain, Stelio Savante, Clint Howard & Jeffrey Vincent Parise in the cast of the romantic comedy, The Whole Banana. Matthew Perry (Friends, The Whole Nine Yards) & Dean Cain (Lois & Clarke, Five Days Of War) will also play large cameo roles. The indie has been shooting on location in Los Angeles (Latest Photo Stills Attached).  In The Whole Banana, A Greek god (Kevin Sorbo) helps a struggling artist (Kristy Swanson) with her lagging love life. Dominique Swain plays Swanson.s best friend and confidant and Stelio Savante portrays Swain.s long suffering husband.  Matthew Perry will play Apollo, brother to Sorbo.s Hermes. Clint Howard (The Dilemma, How The Grinch Stole Christmas) and Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil) play Fran.s fellow nicotine anonymous addicts. Brought to the screen by Magik Shoppe Pictures,...

Getty Images George Clooney arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

The 84th annual Academy Awards with host Billy Crystal are being held tonight and Speakeasy is live-blogging the show. We have reporters in the audience, in the press room and at the parties getting the latest on all the events of the night. Stars on hand for the show include George Clooney, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Penelope Ann Miller and Christopher Plummer. Top films in contention include “The Help,...

Disney Channel A scene from the “Wizards of Waverly Place” series finale.

The series finale of “Wizards of Waverly Place” will air tonight in a special show entitled “Who Will Be the Family Wizard?” Only one Russo will get to keep their magical powers. Will it be Alex (played by Selena Gomez), Justin (David Henrie), or Max (Jake T. Austin)? Or will some combination of the three stay magical?

Speakeasy is live blogging the show. You can leave your thoughts in the comments.

Brooks Brothers Sometimes, it is easy being green.

Why is Brooks Brothers dressing Kermit the Frog? What really goes on behind the scenes at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show? And how are Penn State students reacting to Joe Paterno’s ouster? A look at the most interesting posts from the Wall Street Journal blogs.

Brooks Brothers Outfits Kermit the Frog: Brooks Brothers will be launching an in-store and online marketing campaign linked to Disney’s new Muppets film,...

WSJ

Do you want 500,000 frequent-flier miles for free? In the age of Occupy Wall Street, how will the rich spend the holiday season? And how is it possible that someone can buy a $43 million house and not live there? A look at the most fascinating stories from the Wall Street Journal blogs.

Miles for Nothing and Your Trips for Free: Do you want 500,000 frequent-flier miles for free? It can be done, fairly easily. Hard-core frequent-flier junkies are churning credit card...

Bloomberg News

Why is the International Monetary Fund a little more worried about China? Why is Michael Emerson a “Person of Interest”? And why won’t some Indian cabinet ministers invest in the Indian stock market? A look at the most interesting posts from the Wall Street Journal blogs.

Imf a Little More Worried About China: While the International Monetary Fund forecasts torrid 9.5% Gdp growth this year in China, the Imf is clearly getting a little more worried that China...

HollywoodNews.com: Ever since becoming a Hollywood commentator on “Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update, David Spade has always been embraced by audiences for his biting sense of humor.

It’s a character that has resonated throughout his career: Being the sassy guy in such sitcoms as NBC’s “Just Shoot Me” and CBS’ “Rules of Engagement.”

Spade continues to shine in the comedy “Hollywood & Wine” making its World Premiere at the Hollywood Film Festival on Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m at the Hollywood ArcLight Theater. Buy tickets here.

Kevin Farley and John Farley keep their wits about them as a bunch of mafia hitmen in “Hollywood & Wine”

Similar to Adam Sandler’s “Grown Ups,” “Hollywood & Wine” assembles an all-star cast of “SNL” alums including Chris Kattan, Norm MacDonald, Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz. Chazz Palminteri, Pamela Anderson, Vivica A. Fox and Jeremy London also headline.

The comedy which follows a burgeoning actress,...

Getty Images Alicia Keys is a featured performer on tonight’s “Idol Gives Back” charity episode of “American Idol” on Fox.

Tonight’s “American Idol” is a special charity concert episode featuring Alicia Keys, Elton John, Carrie Underwood, Mary J. Blige, Black Eyed Peas, and other music stars.

Net proceeds from downloads of the performances from the show sold on iTunes will be donated to “Idol Gives Back,” which raises awareness and funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities.

The charity episode will air on Fox between 8 p.m. Et and 10 p.m. Et. Speakeasy will be live-blogging it the entire time. Feel free to stop by and share your thoughts on the show in the comments.

7:55 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald

There are a handful of conspiracy theorists out there who are asking why the recap clip of Crystal Bowersox didn't show her blubbering at the end.

New York based Rotten Apple Productions has announced 15 Till Midnight as their next project, following up on the recently completed The Gate of Fallen Angels . Actor Brandon Slagle ( Kinky Killers ) will topline the cast of the sci-fi/horror pic, as well as co-direct (along with exec producer Dave Meyers) from a script written by Slagle. Casting is scheduled to begin in January 2010 for a tentative April shoot on location in portions of Manhattan and Queens. Industrial/Speedcore musician ScreamerClauz has been tapped to contribute original music for the feature with special effects duties being handled by John Farley ( Blitzkrieg: Escape from Stalag 69 ). Below you can find the synopsis for 15 Till Midnight , as well as two Internet teaser posters. Synopsis: Lukas Reyes...

The siblings of the late comedian Chris Farley are heading to Pittsburgh for "Hollywood and Wine", a satire that will feature many of Farley's friends and colleagues from "Saturday Night Live".

The project is the first of a six-picture deal between indie outfits Smithfield Street Prods. & Studios and Proud Mary Entertainment, which hope to shoot movies predominantly in what they call "Hollywood North East". The slate will take advantage of Pennsylvania's 25% film tax incentive.

Kevin Farley, younger brother John Farley and his wife, Jennifer Farley, collaborated with scribe Matt Berman on "Wine", which the older Farley is co-directing with Berman.

Several former "SNL" cast members will appear in the comedy, including Chris Kattan, David Spade, Norm MacDonald, Horatio Sanz and Chris Parnell, according to producers. Also joining the cast are Chazz Palminteri, Vivica Fox, Pamela Anderson, Jeremy London, Nicky Whelan and the two Farley brothers.

"Wine" is about a Hollywood chef and an aspiring actress who embark on a get-rich quick scheme that results in mistaken identify and a run-in with the mob.

This review was written for the theatrical release of "Mr. Woodcock".As "Mr. Woodcock" demonstrates, a great premise can generate a lot of goodwill and almost overcome an uneven script. So too can expert performances, supplied here by Billy Bob Thornton and Seann William Scott as acrimonious competitors. This New Line Cinema release has enough laughs to generate moderate boxoffice business, but it doesn't break past the middling level.

Still, it definitely will touch a nerve with a lot of male viewers. To anyone who wasn't a jock, high school gym class was a special source of dread. This film taps right into those painful memories with its funny opening scene, when the tyrannical gym teacher, Mr. Woodcock (Thornton), runs roughshod over a bunch of uncoordinated geeks. One of them is chubby John Farley, who cowers when Woodcock singles him out for punishment.

Cut to 15 years later, and Farley (now played by Scott) is the author of a best-selling self-help book titled, "Letting Go: Getting Past Your Past." When he returns to his hometown in Nebraska, he is horrified to learn that his mother (Susan Sarandon) is having hot and heavy sex with his nemesis, Mr. Woodcock, and is engaged to marry him. Farley's initial encounters with his old tormentor suggest that Woodcock remains the same soft-spoken sadist, and Farley sets out to sabotage the wedding plans.

Given the nature of comedies about warring rivals, you know where the story is likely to end. It might have been more refreshing had Woodcock remained a monster from start to finish, but at least he doesn't go all soft and squishy. Thornton has been known to ham it up, but this is an understated, masterfully controlled performance. While he's the epitome of cool, Scott's Farley is the one who goes hysterical. Surprisingly, Scott's performance matches Thornton's; their verbal and physical duels keep us chuckling.

Sarandon, on the other hand, has a rather lackluster role that leaves her stranded. But some of the supporting players are vivid. Ethan Supplee is amusing as an old pal of Farley's who is still terrified of Woodcock's bullying. Amy Poehler's role as a bitchy book publicist is one-dimensional, but she brings a lot of flair to the stock jokes. Bill Macy has a juicy cameo as Mr. Woodcock's even more obnoxious father.

Director Craig Gillespie has another movie opening next month that screened this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, "Lars and the Real Girl", which is a somewhat quirkier comedy. The two movies establish him as a promising comedy director.

"Mr. Woodcock" benefits from a few hilarious sight gags. Technical credits are solid, and while the movie runs out of steam as it plods toward its predictable conclusion, at least it's mercifully short. This picture might not be a classic, but it's shrewd enough not to wear out its welcome.

MR. WOODCOCK

New Line Cinema

Avery Pix, Landscape Pictures

Credits:

Director:

Craig Gillespie

Screenwriters: Michael Carnes, Josh Gilbert

Producers: Bob Cooper, David Dobkin

Executive producers: Diana Pokorny, Toby Emmerich, Kent Alterman, Karen Lunder

Director of photography: Tami Reiker

Production designer: Alison Sadler

Music: Theodore Shapiro

Co-producer: Brian Inerfeld

Co-executive producers: Michele Weiss, Keith Goldberg

Costume designer: Wendy Chuck

Editors: Alan Baumgarten, Kevin Tent

Cast:

Mr. Woodcock: Billy Bob Thornton

John Farley: Seann William Scott

Beverly: Susan Sarandon

Maggie: Amy Poehler

Tracy: Melissa Sagemiller

Nedderman: Ethan Suplee

Nedderman's Brother: Jacob Davich

Young Farley: Kyley Baldridge

Young Nedderman: Alec George

Mr. Woodcock's Father: Bill Macy

Running time -- 87 minutes

MPAA rating: PG-13...