News

In today’s film news roundup, Atlas Literary is born, Emily Tosta is cast in Nicolas Cage’s “Wally’s Wonderland” and Netflix confirms it’s closed a deal for Radha Blank’s “The 40-Year-Old Version.”

Division Launch

Atlas Entertainment is expanding into literary management with the acquisition of HertzbergMedia and launch of Atlas Literary.

Atlas chief Charles Roven and Alex Hertzberg made the announcement Wednesday. Hertzberg will lead the new division as CEO as they focus on literary creators with unique artistic identities and brands.

“Atlas Entertainment has since its inception had the good fortune to manage some of the world’s most talented creative voices both in front of the camera and musically,” Roven said. “These relationships have always enhanced Atlas’ content creation in the motion picture, television and music mediums. We are excited to establish similar relationships in the literary arena. We are thrilled to have Alex, with...

Atlas Entertainment is expanding into literary management with the launch of Atlas Literary following the acquisition of HertzbergMedia.

Alex Hertzberg will lead the new division as CEO as they focus on literary creators with unique artistic identities and brands.

“Atlas Entertainment has since its inception had the good fortune to manage some of the worlds most talented creative voices both in front of the camera and musically. These relationships have always enhanced Atlas’ content creation in the motion picture, television and music mediums. We are excited to establish similar relationships in the literary arena,” said Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven. “We are thrilled to have Alex, with his depth of experience and stellar clients, as our partner in this new venture. This division is the perfect companion to Atlas Entertainment and Atlas Artists and our unified ability to create holistic content”

“Atlas Entertainment and Atlas Artists teams operate with the...

Katherine Fugate has a new agency home. The Army Wives creator and writer behind two of Garry Marshall’s “holiday” movies has signed with Paradigm for representation.

Along with creating the 2007-13 Lifetime drama Army Wives from ABC Studios and the Mark Gordon Company, Fugate also penned several episodes. Her feature writing include Marshall’s star-laden pics New Year’s Eve (2011) and Valentine’s Day (2010), along with the 2004 romantic comedy The Prince & Me. A former member of the WGA board of directors, she also wrote the 2012 Lifetime telepic A Killer Among Us.

Fugate also is a women’s right activist who was worked with Michelle Obama, and she co-founded a group called “First They Came” under the umbrella of Beau Willimon’s Action Group Network. She also often appears on Sirius Xm: Progress Radio.

She continues to be repped by HertzbergMedia and Chad Christopher at Stone Genow.

Welcome to Rumorville! Here you can learn about casting news that’s about to break in Hollywood. These speculations might be only rumors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow the trail all the way to the audition room. “Christy Martin”Amy Schumer is having a moment with her highly-anticipated comedy “I Feel Pretty” opening this weekend. While Schumer has, up to this point, only had a résumé of comedies, she looks to be exploring new paths for the future—namely, drama. She is looking at an appearance in the planned boxing drama biopic “Christy Martin” about the world champion who had to fight through a man’s world to get the success she deserved and found herself fighting for her life. The project will be written and directed by “Valentine’s Day” writer Katherine Fugate, and it will be her directing debut. Because she has no other feature directing credits,...

Exclusive: Amy Schumer, whose highly anticipated comedy I Feel Pretty opens this weekend wide from Stx, is now circling another Voltage Pictures project. Written and to be directed by Katherine Fugate (Valentine’s Day), Christy Martin is a true story about the world champion boxer of the same name who had to fight through a man’s world to gain success and later personally found herself fighting for her life. This would be a decided turn for Schumer as it is a gritty drama — but what a great story — about a woman who never gives up and who keeps going despite every odd against her.

Christy Martin came from little, rose up the ranks of her sport, found success but not true love until later in life. Once she realized who she was personally, she was then brutalized and left for dead by the man she trusted.

The project will be produced by Alix Madigan,...

Exclusive: Actress Jennifer Aspen (October’s Nowhere Girl) will make her executive producing debut with the Hallmark Channel film Love Finds Its Way. The movie, based on an idea by Aspen, is scripted by Katherine Fugate (New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day) and will star Catherine Bell. Shooting is set to begin in spring 2016, with no telecast date yet. It’s a family affair as Aspen and husband David O’Donnell co-star in the Lifetime movie His Secret Family as well as Nowhere…...

Now officially a sort of anthology franchise, Garry Marshall's ensemble holiday movies have just reached episode three. Mother's Day will be the follow-up to Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve, with Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Jason Sudeikis all in negotiations to head up what will undoubtedly be another large cast.Not to be confused with the Mother's Day in which Rebecca De Mornay killed a number of people, this one will, unsurprisingly, tell the intertwining stories of several mothers as the day approaches and they wait for their bunch of daffs. Or whatever. Marshall aside, the film has slightly different DNA to its predecessors. Anya Kochoff-Romano (Monster In Law) and Lily Hollander replace Katherine Fugate as the writers, and while the previous two films came out of New Line, that's not a done deal this time. The "package" is "going out to buyers" shortly.It will,...

Updated With Corrected Membership Figures: TV writer and producer Shawn Ryan was the top vote-getter in the WGA West’s board election, which saw a turnout of 22.4% of the guild’s members casting ballots. Ryan, creator and showrunner of The Shield and The Chicago Code, got more votes than all of the incumbents in the race, with his name appearing on nearly 67% of the 1,835 ballots cast. The guild has more than 21,000 members, according to its latest filing with the Department of Labor. The guild said there were about 8,200 members eligible to vote.

All five incumbents — Chip Johannessen, Scott Alexander, Michael Oates Palmer, Katherine Fugate and Marjorie David — won re-election to two-year terms on the board. Fugate finished second in the voting, with her name appearing on 1,124 ballots (61.3%), followed by Johannessen (1,071, 58.4%); Alexander (965, 52.6%); Aaron Mendelsohn (964, 52.5%); David (952, 51.9%); Palmer (817, 44.5%); Jonathan Fernandez (722, 39.3%); and Peter Lefcourt, who was elected to a one-year term (648, 35.3%), filling the vacancy...

Mystery Creative has been working professionally in film, TV and videogames for 30 years. He's seen a million faces and rocked at least 25% of them. He's been attending Sdcc almost as long as he's been working in the entertainment biz. This is a love/hate diary of his adventures in the belly of the beast, circa 2014. Do not expect panel reports, Hall H exclusives, or any of that shit. This is what it's like to be a working professional at Sdcc. Drunken warts and all. Behind the pleasant interview quotes. Behind the facade and pretense. Expect profanity ahead...He's part of the #MysteriousHollywood posse, and his twitter feed can be found at @mysterycr8tve on the Twitter where he swears even more.

Sunday, July 27th

6:15am

I awaken. Stumble to the bathroom. Throw up for a solid 10 minutes while The Girl sleeps, blissfully dreaming of capes and tights and superpowers.

The WGA West has issued its final list of 18 candidates, including five incumbents, who will be competing for eight seats on the its board of directors in the September election. Incumbents Chip Johannessen, Scott Alexander, Michael Oates Palmer, Katherine Fugate and Marjorie David will square off against challengers Shawn Ryan, Chris Derrick, Cynthia Riddle, Peter Lefcourt, Shernold Edwards, Peter Murrieta, Doug Atchison, Stan Chervin, Jonathan Fernandez, Courtney Ellinger, Mark Amato, Aaron Mendelsohn, and Aaron Fullerton. The guild will host its annual Candidates Night forum, where members can grill the candidates, on September 3 at the guild’s La headquarters. Ballots […]...

Lifetime has cancelled Army Wives, their long-running drama, after seven seasons. While there won't be an eighth season, the cable channel has plans for a two-hour retrospective special with castmembers which will air in early 2014.

Army Wives follows the lives of a diverse group of women living with their spouses and families on an active Army post. Created by Katherine Fugate, the series has starred Catherine Bell, Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Wendy Davis, Brigid Brannagh, Kelli Williams, Brian McNamara, Sterling K. Brown, Brooke Shields, Ashanti, Torrey DeVitto, Elle McLemore, Jesse McCartney, Terry Serpico, Drew Fuller, Alyssa Diaz, J.J. Soria, Joshua Henry and Burgess Jenkins.

Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lifetime, said, “There is no denying how special Army Wives has been to both Lifetime and the television landscape. By taking on a very relevant and timely issue, it has brilliantly...

The Los Angeles-based Writers Guild of America, West has selected its 2012 board of directors, the labor union announced Friday. The eight elected officials -- Chip Johannessen, Katherine Fugate, Michael Oates Palmer, John Aboud, Scott Alexander, David A. Goodman, Marjorie David, Kathy Kiernan -- will serve a two-year term, effective immediately. Related: Writers Guild Awards Set for Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 More than 1,200 Guild members voted. In other Guild news: By popular vote in New York on Thursday, the Writers Guild of America, East selected seven new freelance council members -- John Auerbach,...

The WGA West and WGA East released the results of their board and council elections Friday. In the West, eight members were elected to the board of directors: Chip Johannessen, Katherine Fugate, Michael Oates Palmer, John Aboud, Scott Alexander, David A. Goodman, Marjorie David and Kathy Kiernan. In the East, there were ten seats open on the guild’s council, which is the equivalent of the WGA West’s board. Elected as Freelance members on the Council were: John Auerbach (i), Walter Bernstein (i), Terry George (i), Jenny Lumet, Gina Ginfofriddo (i), Lara Shapiro and Richard Vetere. Elected as Staff members on

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Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) has announced the final results of its 2012 Wgaw Board of Directors election. The following eight members were elected to the Wgaw’s Board of Directors: Chip Johannessen, Katherine Fugate, Michael Oates Palmer, John Aboud, Scott Alexander, David A. Goodman, Marjorie David, Kathy Kiernan. Numerical Results For Successful Candidates Chip Johannessen (870, 10.8%), Katherine Fugate (840, 10.5%), Michael Oates Palmer (790, 9.9%), John Aboud (723, 9.0%), Scott Alexander (684, 8.5%), David A. Goodman (651, 8.1%), Marjorie David (650, 8.1%), Kathy Kiernan (585, 7.3%). The Board members will serve a two-year term, effective immediately. Other Candidates: David Shore (563, 7.0%), Alexander Cary (437, 5.4%), Meg LeFauve (393, 4.9%), Jordan Mechner (273, 3.4%), Barbara Turner (246, 3.1%), Eric Small (153, 1.9%), Terrence Coli (151, 1.9%). A total of 1,320 valid ballots were cast. Each ballot contained up to eight votes. Percentages are based on total number of votes cast. The ballot count was supervised by Robbin Johnson of Pacific Election Services, Inc., an independent firm .

The Writers Guild of America, West on Monday announced the final slate of candidates for its 2012 board of directors election. Fifteen candidates are nominated to run for eight open seats on the board: Meg LeFauve, Marjorie David, David Shore, Terrence Coli, John Aboud, Eric Small, Jordan Mechner, Barbara Turner, Michael Oates Palmer, Scott Alexander, Alexander Cary, David A. Goodman, Katherine Fugate, Kathy Kiernan and Chip Johannessen.  Also read: Wgaw Announces Initial List of Board of Directors Candidates Shore, Goodman, Fugate and Kiernan are incumbents. Previously announced candidates Patrick Sean Smith and Zoanne...

Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) has announced the final slate of candidates for the 2012 Board of Directors election. There are 15 candidates nominated to run for eight open seats on the Wgaw’s Board of Directors, as follows: Meg LeFauve, Marjorie David, David Shore (incumbent), Terrence Coli, John Aboud, Eric Small, Jordan Mechner, Barbara Turner, Michael Oates Palmer, Scott Alexander, Alexander Cary, David A. Goodman (inc.), Katherine Fugate (inc.), Kathy Kiernan (inc.), Chip Johannessen. (Previously announced Board candidates Patrick Sean Smith and Zoanne Clack withdrew their candidacies.) The Wgaw will host its annual “Candidates Night” town hall forum, where Guild members may meet Bod candidates and get answers to their questions, on Wednesday, September 5, at Wgaw headquarters in Los Angeles. Guild members will receive candidate, non-candidate, and rebuttal statements, if any, with their ballots prior to the election. Candidates may also mail additional campaign materials at their own expense.

The Writers Guild of America, West's Nominating Committee has announced its initial list of candidates for the 2012 Board of Directors election. There are 17 candidates nominated to run for eight open seats on the Wgaw's board of directors: Meg LeFauve, Marjorie David, Patrick Sean Smith, David Shore, Terrence Coli, John Aboud, Eric Small, Jordan Mechner, Zoanne Clack, Barbara Turner, Michael Oates Palmer, Scott Alexander, Alexander Cary, David A. Goodman, Katherine Fugate, Kathy Kiernan, Chip Johannessen. Shore, Goodman, Fugate and Kiernan are incumbents. Also read: 'The Descendants,' 'Midnight in Paris' Are Tops With Writers...

The guild has unveiled a first list of 17 candidates to run for eight open spots on the Wgaw’s Board of Directors. The deadline for submitting nominees by petition is July 23, and the guild will hosts its annual “Candidates Night” town hall forum for candidates September 5 at WGA headquarters in La. Final election ballots will be counted on September 21. Here are the candidates named today: Meg LeFauve, Marjorie David, Patrick Sean Smith, David Shore (inc.), Terrence Coli, John Aboud, Eric Small, Jordan Mechner, Zoanne Clack, Barbara Turner, Michael Oates Palmer, Scott Alexander, Alexander Cary, David A. Goodman (inc.), Katherine Fugate (inc.), Kathy Kiernan (inc.), Chip Johannessen.

Chicago – By now, you’re surely aware of the general hatred for Garry Marshall’s horrendous ensemble romantic comedy “New Year’s Eve.” HollywoodChicago.com said ““New Year’s Eve” is so garish and manipulative that it doesn’t really qualify as a film – it’s a product, no more an actual movie than a Hallmark card is a piece of poetry.” The New York Post called it “A soul-sucking monument to Hollywood greed and saccharine holiday culture.” And The Philadelphia Inquirer called it “more of a clown car than it is a movie.” As if that’s not warning enough, even the Blu-ray can’t appeal to the few fans of this dreadful flick (which notched a 7% on Rotten Tomatoes on its way to half the gross of “Valentine’s Day”).

Blu-ray Rating: 1.0/5.0

So why bother writing about it? Because it’s the kind of movie that, especially near Mother’s Day,...

Did you enjoy the Garry Marshall movie Valentine.s Day? If so, you will like New Year.s Eve. Directed by Marshall and written by Katherine Fugate (who wrote the screenplay for Valentine's Day), the film supports a huge cast of Hollywood big names including Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofía Vergara, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abigail Breslin, Josh Duhamel, Hilary Swank, Ludacris, and Ryan Seacrest. It also features appearances from John Lithgow, Hector Elizondo, Cherry Jones, Penny Marshall, Larry Miller, Jack McGee, Yeardley Smith, Joey McIntyre, James Belushi, Common, Carla Gugino, Til Schweiger, Seth Meyers, Sarah Paulson, Alyssa Milano, and Cary Elwes. Like Valentine.s Day,...

Not that it will stop Adam Sandler from continuing to make increasingly shitacular movies, but it is kind of nice to finally see his cinematic abominations get recognized for the truly awful pieces of filmmaking they are.

Yesterday, appropriately on April Fool's Day, the Razzies handed out their statues for the best of the worst, and "Jack And Jill" swept the ceremony winning an award in every category. It was the first time in the history of Razzies that the feat was accomplished. So, congratulations Sandler, Dennis Dugan (who also won for "directing" "Just Go With It"), Al Pacino, Katie Holmes and everyone else -- you are now a part of a movie that will forever go down as one of the worst in movie history....until "Grown Ups 2."

Anyway, take a look below at the categories and see the hall of shame in all its glory. [24 Frames]

Worst Picture...

A round of applause is deserved for Adam Sandler and Dennis Dugan. After breaking the Razzie nomination record, they have now set another milestone with their Jack & Jill winning every single category, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished its 32-year history. The ceremonies occurred last night and one can see the winners below, in which Sandler received both worst actor and actress, an accomplishment I don’t see repeating any time soon. Well, until the inevitable Jack & Jill 2.

Worst Picture

Bucky Larson:Born To Be A Star

Jack & Jill

New Year’S Eve

Transformers:Dark Of The Moon

Twilight Saga:Breaking Dawn Part I

Worst Actor

Russell Brand – Arthur

Nicolas Cage – Drive Angry 3-D, Season Of The Witch and Trespass

Taylor Lautner – Abduction and Twilight S.B.D. Part I

Adam Sandler – Jack & Jill and Just Go With It

Nick Swardson -Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star...

We were all a bit disappointed when the Razzie Awards moved away from the Oscars to end up on April Fool’s day but fortunately the awards have now been held and just as we thought, Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill has swept the board picking up awards in all 10 categories which include Worst Actor, worst Actress, Worst Film, Worst Director and Worst screenplay. I’ve placed the full list below for your viewing pleasure!

Love these awards because they’re always completely bonkers! Roll on 2013!

Worst Picture

Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star Jack & Jill New Year’S Eve Transformers: Dark Of The Moon Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I

Worst Actor

Russell Brand, Arthur Nicolas Cage, Drive Angry 3D, Season Of The Witch and Trespass Taylor Lautner, Abduction and Breaking Dawn Adam Sandler, Jack & Jill and Just Go With It Nick Swardson, Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star...

"Jack & Jill," starring Adam Sandler as both Jack And Jill, sets a new record by becoming the first film in the 32-year history of the Razzies to win every single category. The Razzies, of course, is the anti-Oscars meant to "honor" the worst movies of the year.

Here's the complete list of nominees and "winners" of the 2012 Golden Raspberry Awards aka the Razzies:

Worst Picture

Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star

Columbia Pictures / Happy Madison Productions

*** Jack & Jill

Columbia Pictures / Happy Madison Productions

New Year's Eve

Warner Bros / New Line Cinema

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

Paramount Pictures / Hasbro

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I

Summit Entertainment

Worst Actor

Russell Brand

Arthur

Nicolas Cage

Drive Angry 3-D, Season Of The Witch and Trespass

Taylor Lautner

Abduction and Twilight S.B.D. Part I

*** Adam Sandler

Jack & Jill and Just Go With It

Nick Swardson

Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star...

Us comic outdoes Eddie Murphy's 2007 record with 11 nods for awards recognising year's worst performances

A day after the Oscars claimed to highlight 2011's best movies, Adam Sandler has received a record-breaking 11 nominations for the annual Razzie awards, which aim to recognise the year's poorest performances in film.

Sandler's haul is more than double the previous individual record of five nods held by Eddie Murphy for his 2007 film Norbit, a fairly staggering indictment. Most of the nominations are for the Us comic's film Jack and Jill, in which he plays a successful advertising executive whose irritating twin sister arrives for Thanksgiving. The comedy, which itself has 12 nods, will duke it out with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, which has eight nominations. Sandler himself is up for both worst actor and worst actress, worst screenplay and worst ensemble for Jack and Jill. With his production company Happy Madison having released...

The 32nd annual Razzie Awards nominations have been announced celebrating 2011's worst achievements in film. Leading the pack with most nomination is Adam Sandler who earned a record breaking eleven nominations! These included his involvement with films such as Jack and Jill, Bucky Larson, and Just Go With It. I'm not really surprised by this, and I imagine it's not a surprise for him as well. The guy knows he's making crap movies.

This year's Razzie Awards will handed out on April 1st, 2012. The only film I've seen on this list is Transformers: Dark of the Moon. That being said, the worst movie that I did see last year was Tree of Life, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

What was the worst movie that you went out and saw last year?

Worst Picture

Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star Jack & Jill New Year’S...

So, change of plans for the the Razzies this year... they will be announcing the winners on April Fool's Day, instead of the day before the Oscars. Hilariously fitting, right? In order to continue riding the wave of Oscar press coverage, however, they decided to unveil their nominees over the weekend. I think you can probably guess most of the films that are nominated before you even read the list, but for the sake of convenience, here is a basic summary. The four most obvious targets this year are Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1, Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star and Jack & Jill, with a little bit of New Year's Eve, The Hangover: Part II and Martin Lawrence sprinkled throughout. I'm not sure how Arthur really deserves to be in here, but I digress. The big news is that Adam Sandler has...

Standing as the complete antithesis of the likes of the Academy Awards in the annual award season, the Golden Raspberry Awards, also known as the Razzies, have announced the list of nominations for their 32nd ceremony, decreeing the worst in film in 2011.

I don’t especially love the sentiment of the Razzies myself, and think it’s pretty mean to single out films in this way, but I’m sure that none of the nominees pay much, if any, attention to them, given that the nominees are often films that have done pretty successfully commercially, if not critically.

This year, Adam Sandler has a record-breaking 11 nominations, topping Eddie Murphy’s 5 nominations with Norbit a few years back. And for the first time in the thirty-two years of Razzie history, the five nominees in the Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Ensemble are all the same.

Here’s...

With the best in film being awarded tonight (well, at least by a small section of old white men), it is looking to be a relatively predictable ceremony. On the other side of things, the Razzies are celebrating the absolute worst in cinema as their 2012 nominations have been revealed. Aside from the terrifying box-office, Adam Sandler is getting some well-deserved recognition.

After his involvement with Just Go With It, Jack and Jill and Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star, he has racked up a record-setting 11 nominations. I certainly can’t argue with the rest of them (especially hatred for Trespass), but surprised to see no consideration for Zack Snyder‘s Sucker Punch. Check out all the nominations below.

Worst Picture

Bucky Larson:Born To Be A Star

Jack & Jill

New Year’S Eve

Transformers:Dark Of The Moon

Twilight Saga:Breaking Dawn Part I

Worst Actor

Russell Brand – Arthur

Nicolas Cage – Drive Angry 3-D,...

Usually held one day before the Academy Awards, this year the Razzies are changing the game a bit, choosing instead to unveil their nominations this weekend, with the ceremony to take place on April 1st -- that's right, April Fools Day. So who earned the distinction in 2011 of the best at being the worst? Adam Sandler.

Breaking the previously record held by Eddie Murphy, Sandler earned 11 Razzie nominations in all for the Worst Achievements In Film in the past year ("Jack & Jill" earned a total of 12 nods). Starring in two movies -- "Just Go With It" and pulling double duty in "Jack & Jill" -- in addition to producing "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," the Razzie folks had plenty to choose from in what was a banner year for Sandler mediocrity. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" brought up the rear with seven nominations each.

On Oscar eve, Adam Sandler received some berry bad news -- all the three movies released by his Happy Madison Productions dominated the list of contenders for the 32nd Annual Razzie Awards!

Sandler beat Eddie Murphy's record for the most nominations by an individual in a single year! As either an actor, writer, and/or producer on "Jack & Jill," "Bucky Larson," and "Just Go With It," the star received 11 Razzie nominations and thereby crowned with the Worst Achievements in Film in 2011.

Sandler's abysmal cross-dressing fantasy comedy, "Jack & Jill" received 12 nods including Worst Picture. Sandler was nominated for Worst Actor for "Jack & Jill" and "Just Go With It." The actor was also nominated for Worst Actress for his role as Jill, Jack's twin sister.

Katie Holmes received a Worst Supporting Actress nod for the movie, as well as Oscar winner, Al Pacino, for gasp (!), playing himself!

Other Worst Picture contenders were "Bucky Larson,...

(Note: Updated with Saturday images and info starting on page 3, Sunday images and info starting on page 5.)

It seems the Warrior Princess will never die (good news to those of us who still haven't gotten over the series finale). This was supposed to be the last year the Annual Xena: Warrior Princess Convention would be held, but fan outcry caused its organizers to relent, and it's official: there will be a Xena Con 2013. After that, who knows?

Stars Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle) are appearing this weekend, along with fan favorites Hudson Leick (Callisto), Adrienne Wilkinson (Eve/Livia), writer/producer Steven Sears, writer Katherine Fugate (Army Wives, Valentine's Day, The Prince and Me), Claire Stansfield (Alti), Jacqueline Kim (Lao Ma), Brittney Powell (Brunhilda), and more. AfterEllen.com photographer KT Jorgensen is wielding her cameras on our behalf, as she has for the last four years (All images used with permission.

New poster for We Need to Talk About Kevin is eerie, effective. Probably one of the freakiest, and at the same time, powerful posters I've ever seen, the new We Need to Talk About Kevin addition features a baby with tiny horns, and a spiked tail, in the womb of his mother Eva (played by Tilda Swinton). We gave this a perfect score of 5/5 in our review last month, be sure to read the review. This is now the 10th poster for the film. Oscilloscope Laboratories distributes the thriller/drama which opens on January 27th, and is helmed by Lynne Ramsay, from the script by Katherine Fugate based on the best-selling novel of the same name. We Need to Talk About Kevin is a suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller which explores the factious relationship between a mother and her evil son. Tilda Swinton, in a bracing, tour-de-force performance, plays the mother,...

New poster for We Need to Talk About Kevin is eerie, effective. Probably one of the freakiest, and at the same time, powerful posters I've ever seen, the new We Need to Talk About Kevin addition features a baby with tiny horns, and a spiked tail, in the womb of his mother Eva (played by Tilda Swinton). We gave this a perfect score of 5/5 in our review last month, be sure to read the review. This is now the 10th poster for the film. Oscilloscope Laboratories distributes the thriller/drama which opens on January 27th, and is helmed by Lynne Ramsay, from the script by Katherine Fugate based on the best-selling novel of the same name. We Need to Talk About Kevin is a suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller which explores the factious relationship between a mother and her evil son. Tilda Swinton, in a bracing, tour-de-force performance, plays the mother,...

New poster for We Need to Talk About Kevin is eerie, effective. Probably one of the freakiest, and at the same time, powerful posters I've ever seen, the new We Need to Talk About Kevin addition features a baby with tiny horns, and a spiked tail, in the womb of his mother Eva (played by Tilda Swinton). We gave this a perfect score of 5/5 in our review last month, be sure to read the review. This is now the 10th poster for the film. Oscilloscope Laboratories distributes the thriller/drama which opens on January 27th, and is helmed by Lynne Ramsay, from the script by Katherine Fugate based on the best-selling novel of the same name. We Need to Talk About Kevin is a suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller which explores the factious relationship between a mother and her evil son. Tilda Swinton, in a bracing, tour-de-force performance, plays the mother,...

See? It wasn’t us this time. No, instead the Garry Marshall/Katherine Fugate team went from the stunningly high $56.2m (Valentine’s Day opening weekend) to the surprisingly mediocre $13.7m for New Year’s Eve. Hey, maybe American audiences are starting to shape and choose the better films with their dollars. Or maybe it just didn’t appeal to the right demographic. There’s only so much Ashton Kutcher the chick flick crowd can even endure. Now that he’s on Two and a Half Men on a weekly basis, they don’t need to go to the cineplexes to get their Kutcher fix. So, there you have it. Blame Two and a Half Men for New Year’s Eve disappointing. Not much can be said as an excuse for The Sitter. Maybe David Gordon Green should go back to his more dramatic days. After the $9.3m Your Highness pulled in its opening weekend and now...

Directed by Gary Marshall, the man behind Pretty Woman and Valentines Day, and starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood, New Year's Eve is exactly what you'd expect it to be. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, really depends on you. Based on the same formula that proved a hit with Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve tells the story of a group of New Yorkers dealing with the pressures of the titular day. Like Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve's main draw is it cast, with Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Zac Effron, Hilary Swank and Jessica Biel all involved. However, with a cast that most directors would kill for, we still see the usual workaholic mother, the self centred bachelor and another host of romcom archetypes. Cliches aren't always a bad thing, it's just a shame with a cast this varied and talented, that director Marshal...

New Year’s Eve Review

As if Valentine's Day wasn't bad enough, director Gary Marshall and screenwriter Katherine Fugate have brought us New Year's Eve, their latest attempt to rip-off Love Actually. Here's a hint, guys, that movie isn't called "Christmas" for a reason. This movie is such a dud, it's hard to tell where to start. If you're not familiar with this type of movie, it's basically a series of holiday-themed vignettes, that all somehow connect to each other.

Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...

On Saturday, Alamo Kids Club is playing Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas on Saturday. It's free, but first come first seated so get there early.

Tuesday night is the night of Something For Everyone Who Likes Watching Movies. Austin Public Library's Polish Film Series is showing Borys Lankosz' The Reverse (Rewers) at the Howson Branch, and over at Twin Oaks Branch you can see Kung Fu Panda 2 (why yes that is a 2011 title). You can find out more about these films on the Apl website. Austin Film Society members (and those who are lucky enough to get tickets for the remaining seats) can see Two for the Road starring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney.

Movies We've Seen:

Project Nim -- Afs Selects returns with an encore limited engagement of James Marsh's Oscar-shortlisted documentary about a chimpanzee raised as a human. I found the occasional re-enactments melodramatic and diminishing.

Here’s something sort of bizarre – director Garry Marshall and writer Katherine Fugate‘s latest star-crammed desecration of random, non-religious holidays is not monumentally or irremediably terrible. It is also not good, but it’s certainly better than its predecessor, the rancid Valentine’s Day (though that’s not saying much). New Year’s Eve is not so much a film as a gimmick – tons of stars! lots of plots! all kind of connected! just one day! – and such a gimmick can yield some unexpectedly positive results just as often as it can ending up being simply terrible entertainment not worthy of being called cinema. New Year’s Eve is not so much a film as a two-hour piece of wish fulfillment for the sort of people who read Us Weekly on, well, a weekly basis. Unlike Valentine’s Day, its very existence is not offensive, but it’s bloated and kind of boring and really, just...

Physics class is all about learning formulas to apply to solve problems, and repeating them. Writer Katherine Fugate teams with formula pro Garry Marshall to do just that with the romantic comedy New Year's Eve, opening this week.

The feel-good comedrama follows the same formula as last year's chick-flick Valentine's Day. Step One: Pick a holiday. Step Two: Gather together as many stars as possible who owe you favors and pair them up in little stories loosely related to each other. Step Three: Profit. Expect to see more of these each year around Thanksgiving Day, St. Patrick's Day, Flag Day ... as long as there are holidays left to exploit.

New Year's Eve was a crowd pleaser, which is of course like saying "People like french fries." They're not any good for anybody, but we still eat them up. In spite of myself, I did find I enjoyed the film somewhat.

Chicago – “New Year’s Eve” is so garish and manipulative that it doesn’t really qualify as a film – it’s a product, no more an actual movie than a Hallmark card is a piece of poetry. It is corporate junk at its worst, so shallow that it’s almost remarkably thin, as if director Garry Marshall were trying to win a contest for lack of subtlety. Even the typical tropes of the genre can’t be successfully accomplished in that the bare minimum of romantic energy isn’t even achieved in half of its dozen or so subplots. A few less loathsome characters than “Valentine’s Day” make it a notch better but only because it’s so boring it’s not as easy to get infuriated.

Rating: 1.0/5.0

Even more cluttered with characters than the last Marshall holiday movie, “New Year’s Eve” does have a couple of subplots...

You have to worry when a film’s musical medley finale is far more entertaining than what you’ve just sat through. Another snag for the filmmakers of the equally disappointing Valentine’s Day last year is their biggest star, Robert De Niro, is woefully miscast in the sombre role, when his true comedic talent is apparent in the end sing-song.

You’ve guessed it: it’s nearly ball-dropping time in Times Square, New York City, and a bunch of characters have all sorts of New Year’s resolutions to make and keep, all to do with some form of love: forgiveness, compassion, opening their hearts to a different point of view etc. We follow the 24 hours before the ‘greatest reset button in life’, New Year’s Eve and the big countdown.

Director Garry Marshall and writer Katherine Fugate haven’t learnt their lesson from last time, it seems – or...

Critics complain of the movie's crowded cast and 'half-dozen trivial subplots.'

By Kevin P. Sullivan

Lea Michele in "New Year's Eve"

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

How many stars does it take to make a successful romantic comedy? Whatever the right answer may be, the reviews for "New Year's Eve" indicate that two dozen is probably too many.

The follow-up to last year's successful "Valentine's Day," the star-packed rom-com modeled on "Love Actually," has earned some of the worst reviews of the year, with critics complaining of over-jammed story lines and convenient storytelling.

Check out our roundup of the reviews to help you decide whether to check out "New Year's Eve" this weekend.

The Story

"Elsewhere in the great big city, a wondrous toy, just made for a girl and boy: Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele are stuck in an elevator together. Robert De Niro lies dying in a hospital,...

Critics complain of the movie's crowded cast and 'half-dozen trivial subplots.'

By Kevin P. Sullivan

Lea Michele in "New Year's Eve"

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

How many stars does it take to make a successful romantic comedy? Whatever the right answer may be, the reviews for "New Year's Eve" indicate that two dozen is probably too many.

The follow-up to last year's successful "Valentine's Day," the star-packed rom-com modeled on "Love Actually," has earned some of the worst reviews of the year, with critics complaining of over-jammed story lines and convenient storytelling.

Check out our roundup of the reviews to help you decide whether to check out "New Year's Eve" this weekend.

The Story

"Elsewhere in the great big city, a wondrous toy, just made for a girl and boy: Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele are stuck in an elevator together. Robert De Niro lies dying in a hospital,...

Director: Garry Marshall Writer: Katherine Fugate Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Cary Elwes, Jessica Biel, Seth Meyers, Sarah Paulson, Til Schweiger, Carla Gugino, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofía Vergara, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, James Belushi, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abigail Breslin, Jake T. Austin Valentine's Day was a cruel and bitter reminder that film critics do not wield much influence -- at least in certain realms of cinema -- because even though Valentine's Day is scoring a lowly 18% on Rotten Tomatoes (I rated the film a 2 out of 10) it went on to gross $214,976,776 and New Line Cinema deemed it worthy of a sequel (an extremely loose concept of a sequel at that). What does this say about film criticism and their relationship to film audiences? Not much. People were going to see a film like Valentine's Day no matter what critics said about it, just...

Right, right, turn off the lights,

We're gonna lose our minds tonight,

What's the dealie, yo?

Are you ready? It's New Year's Eve and director Garry Marshall has brought on screenwriting hack Katherine Fugate to pump out another ensemble rom-com centered on a day when "things happen". It's a night for first kisses, the finding of long lost loves, an appreciation for life, quitting jobs, having babies and dealing with death and cancer. Sure, that last bit is a bit of a downer, but don't be a party pooper... It's New Year's Eve, everyone is here, and Toshiba is sponsoring!

Party Crasher,

Penny Snatcher,

Call me up if you want gangsta

Don't be fancy, just get dancey

Why so serious?

Oh P!nk, I hear ya, I just wanna dance, but first we have the plot to talk about and this could take some time... Ready? Let's do it!

First...

New Year's Eve to top box office over The Sitter. New Year's Eve's coming early this year for Warner Bros. Pictures. The Garry Marshall romantic comedy should easily top the charts, with a strong cast of celebrities having their share of screen time. Pic scripted by Katherine Fugate (Valentine's Day, The Prince and Me) debuts in 3,505 theaters Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Carla Gugino, Katherine Heigl and Hilary Swank, among others. The film is set in New York and follows intertwining stories of characters trying to navigate their way through romance in New York City. Despite being mauled by critics, holding a pathetic 4% positive on Rottentomatoes.com (the same as Adam Sandler starrer Jack and Jill), it should end off in number one come weekend estimates time.

New Year's Eve to top box office over The Sitter. New Year's Eve's coming early this year for Warner Bros. Pictures. The Garry Marshall romantic comedy should easily top the charts, with a strong cast of celebrities having their share of screen time. Pic scripted by Katherine Fugate (Valentine's Day, The Prince and Me) debuts in 3,505 theaters Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Carla Gugino, Katherine Heigl and Hilary Swank, among others. The film is set in New York and follows intertwining stories of characters trying to navigate their way through romance in New York City. Despite being mauled by critics, holding a pathetic 4% positive on Rottentomatoes.com (the same as Adam Sandler starrer Jack and Jill), it should end off in number one come weekend estimates time.

New Year's Eve to top box office over The Sitter. New Year's Eve's coming early this year for Warner Bros. Pictures. The Garry Marshall romantic comedy should easily top the charts, with a strong cast of celebrities having their share of screen time. Pic scripted by Katherine Fugate (Valentine's Day, The Prince and Me) debuts in 3,505 theaters Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Carla Gugino, Katherine Heigl and Hilary Swank, among others. The film is set in New York and follows intertwining stories of characters trying to navigate their way through romance in New York City. Despite being mauled by critics, holding a pathetic 4% positive on Rottentomatoes.com (the same as Adam Sandler starrer Jack and Jill), it should end off in number one come weekend estimates time.