MUMBAI: Imax has declared that Paranormal Activity 4 would be released on its screens in North America from 18 October.
The deal with Paramount Pictures will put the fourth installment of the studio‘s supernatural thriller franchise in around 300 Imax digital theatres in the region with the film‘s simultaneous wide release.
Paranormal Activity 4, which is directed by Paranormal 3 helmers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, will be super-sized by Imax for the big screen release.
The latest Paranormal Activity installment takes place five years after the second film, which ended with Katie kidnapping baby Hunter.
Category: International
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Imax to release Paranormal Activity 4 on 18 October
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Mila Kunis named sexiest woman in the world
Mumbai: Actress Mila Kunis, who broke into films in 2008 with Forgetting Sarah Marshall, in which she played Rachel Jansen, has been named the sexiest woman alive by Esquire Magazine.
Kunis grabbed the title from last year‘s winner Rihanna. “If I wanted to charm the pants off you, I could. I think that if I bought into the hype, I would lose all sight of who I am, and so much of who I am is what my parents went through and instilled in me. And I never want to lose that. Ever. Because I would be so disappointed if I didn‘t make them proud,” she said in a statement.
Kunis‘ performance as Lily in Black Swan gained her worldwide accolades including receiving the Premio Marcello Mastroianni for best young actor or actress at the 67th Venice International Film Festival and nominations for a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress and a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role.
Kunis has been making headlines for her high-profile, PDA-packed romance with her ‘70s show co-star Ashton Kutcher. -
Emily Blunt to play Ms Marvel in The Avengers 2
MUMBAI: Emily Blunt, known for her role in Devil Wears Prada, will reportedly play the role of Ms Marvel in The Avengers 2.
The 29-year old actress is competing with fellow British actress Ruth Wilson to get the role in the follow-up to the blockbuster movie that starred Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr and Scarlett Johansson, it is understood.
The character originally came into ‘Marvel Super Heroes‘ in 1968 as US Air Force officer Carol Susan Jane Danvers, and came out with superpowers after being caught in an explosion with Captain Marvel.
The film is due to roll next year.
It may be remembered that Avengers Assemble was one of the highest grossing films in history. -
Silver Linings Playbook bags Hamptons Intl film fest award
MUMBAI: Silver Linings Playbook, the opening film of the Mumbai Film Festival, claimed the Baume & Mercier Audience Award at the 20th annual Hamptons International Film Festival while Janet Tobias‘ No Place on Earth, a documentary about caves in the Ukraine that sheltered Jews during World War II, took the documentary audience award.
The festival, which runs till today announced its awards on Sunday night at a ceremony hosted by Alan Cumming in East Hampton‘s Guild Hall.
Umat Dag‘s Kuma and Cate Shortland‘s Lore tied for the Golden Starfish narrative feature award. The Golden Starfish Award for best documentary went to Colombianos, directed by Tora M?rtens.
Lore and its cinematographer Adam Arkapaw also took home the Kodak Award for cinematography in the narrative category.
The narrative jury awarded a special jury prize for performance to Carlos Vallarino for La Demora, directed by Rodrigo Pla.
The documentary feature jury awarded a special jury prize for Inspiration to Jason Becker Is Not Dead, directed by Jesse Vile.
The Golden Starfish Award for best short was given to The Curse, directed by Fyzal Boulifa.
This year‘s documentary feature jury comprised of film critic Thelma Adams and filmmakers Chris Hegedus and Susan Lacy. The narrative jury included film critic Joshua Rothkopf and producers Rachael Horovitz and Trudie Styler. -
Overseas box office takes a hit with Taken 2 making $55.2 mn from 50 markets
MUMBAI: The foreign theatrical circuit got a surprise at the weekend as Taken 2 released in 50 overseas markets, generated an estimated $55.2 million.
The sequel to 2008‘s kidnapping thriller, Taken 2 roped in $39.2 million from 28 offshore territories handled by Twentieth Century Fox and an estimated $16 million from 22 markets handled by Luc Besson‘s EuropaCorp, the film‘s co-producer.
The action title reprises Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and Famke Janssens as co-stars. It began its international run last round in South Korea and currently stands as Fox‘s biggest release of the year in that market with a total of $13.8 million.
Taken 2 opened No. 1 in at least a dozen foreign territories including the U.K. ($12.1 million including previews at 807 sites), Australia ($8.2 million at 365 locales, Fox‘s biggest market opening of 2012) and Mexico ($2.55 million at 761 situations). In France via EuropaCorp, it took the No. 1 spot by generating $8.4 million at some 480 spots.
The film opens this week in another eight markets via Fox including Italy and Greece. EuropaCorp will open the picture in Germany.
Looper, last week‘s No. 1 foreign title, opened over the weekend in six markets – Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania and Denmark. The No. 6 Germany bow generated an estimated $1.25 million (including previews) from some 329 locations. In Austria, the film opened No. 5, grossing an estimated $85,000 from 29 sites while the film‘s Denmark bow elicited $131,000, according to Filmnation Entertainment, which is handling Looper‘s foreign distribution.
The time-traveling thriller directed and written by Rian Johnson‘s and – Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis grossed an estimated $2.7 million in its second round in the U.K. sufficient enough for a No. 2 market ranking. It finished at the 4th spot in its second Australia round when it registered an estimated $1.8 million at 217 situations.
After 18 frames on the foreign circuit, DreamWorks Animation‘s Madagascar 3: Europe‘s Most Wanted continues to move on generating $23.3 million over the weekend at 2,453 locations in 29 markets. A No. 1 opening in Germany accounted for the higher gross this round, contributing $15.4 million from 740 venues. -
First film on killing of Osama to me aired on 4 November
MUMBAI: The first film, depicting the raid by US special forces to kill the world‘s most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden, will hit the American television airways on 4 November, 48 hours before the presidential polls.
Titled Seal Team Six, the film made by National Geographic Channel is all set for opening on 4 November, more than a month before the theatrical release of the much-awaited film by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow Zero Dark Thirty.
The film is directed by John Stockwell and produced by Nicolas Chartier and Weinstein. It stars Cam Gigandet, Anson Mount, Freddy Rodriquez and Xzibit.“We wanted to be first to bring this story to viewers,” National Geographic Channels president Howard T Owens thas been quoted to have said. Owens, however said that the decision to debut the film days before the election wasn‘t motivated by politics.
Notwithstanding his comments, co-producer of the film Harvey Weinstein is a prominent fundraiser for President Barack Obama, whose election team has made the killing of Bin Laden his major re-election plank. -
Johnny Depp injured his back shooting The Lone Ranger
MUMBAI: Here‘s some bad news for scores of fans of Johnny Depp.
The 49-year-old actor has injured his back while shooting for The Lone Ranger.
The actor was left writhing in pain on two occasions during action scenes for the Western film in which he plays Native American Tonto opposite Armie Hammer, who plays the title character. The actor has now realised that he can‘t do many of his own stunts and needs to rely more on a double.
Besides the back pain, the actor has also been struggling with insomnia on the sets.Butth e director Gore Verbinski and the crew have been sympathetic to the sleep problems the Hollywood star has been experiencing and have adjusted shooting schedules for him.
Said a source in a quoted text, “Johnny is also struggling with sleep problems so the crew has had to adjust to the face that he can‘t shoot all night. He needs at least six hours of shut eye. This movie has really kicked his butt. He‘s so happy it‘s wrapping up and has joked that his body wouldn‘t be able to take another month of it.” -
Travolta, Olivia Newton John team up again
MUMBAI: Artiste of Grease, the musical made in 1978, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are all set to recreate the Grease magic by getting together for a festive album out in time for Christmas.
Their chemistry in the now legendary 1978 film made them worldwide stars and their duet You‘re The One That I Want became the best-selling duet in history. The idea to get together and record from songs came from the memory of the success of that song, it is reported.
“From the moment we decided to do this, magic happened. Everyone we contacted agreed to do it,” said Travolta in a statement. “It just fell into place. With our busy schedules, I don‘t know how we got it done. John and I have always been connected. That‘s never gone away. When we‘re together, we have a good laugh and feel bonded to one another. We‘ve been through some amazing experiences together,” avered Newton-John.
The disc will also contain guest appearances of Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, James Taylor, Kenny G, Cliff Richard and jazz legend Chick Corea.
All songs will be Christmas staples barring one called I Think You Might Like It written by Jay Farrar, who incidentally, wrote the pair‘s famous hit.
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Zach Galifianakis to play cameo in third sequel of Hangover
MUMBAI: American stand-up comedian, actor and pianist Zach Galifianakis has sparked rumours that singer Cheryl Cole will make a cameo in the third sequel of Hangover. The 43-year old Galifianakis is known for his role of Alan Garner in the comedy movie franchise that also starred Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha.
I have heard the rumours about her (Cole) making a cameo and there seems to be something to them. But I don‘t know if anything‘s signed yet,” Galifianakis has been quoted to have said.
The movie franchise, that began with Hangover in 2009, was followed up by by “The Hangover Part II” in 2011. All three films have been directed by Todd Phillips.
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MGM co-chairman, co-CEO Roger Birnbaum steps down
MUMBAI: Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have announced that Birnbaum will transition to an exclusive producer role at the US studio MGM while Barber will become the sole chairman, CEO. Birnbaum will remain in his current offices in MGM‘s executive suite and will produce and develop new projects exclusively for the company.
The announcement marks a return to hands-on producing for Birnbaum. He will first serve as executive producer and oversee production of the José Padilha reboot of the 1980s classic ROBOCOP, which started principal photography on September 15. Other upcoming projects he plans to produce include films based on ‘Deathwish‘, ‘War Games‘ and ‘Magnificnet Seven‘.
Birnbaum said, “Gary and I decided, 2 years ago, to accept the challenge of joining MGM and restoring the company to its rightful place in the industry. I am very proud of where MGM is today. I have been in the film business a long time, and my greatest passion has always been producing. Now is the time for me to return to what I love to do the most…producing films. And the fact that I will be producing for MGM, with Gary, my partner and friend will be very gratifying.”
Barber said, “I respect Roger‘s decision to return to his passion of ‘hands on‘ producing, and we are thrilled he has chosen to stay at MGM on an exclusive basis. We have been partners for almost 15 years and we have shared many successes together and I look forward to many more. I have the utmost confidence in Roger‘s ability to produce many of our key upcoming productions, and I could not be happier that we will continue to work together.”
MGM Holdings lead director Ann Mather said, “The Board is very pleased with the performance of the company under Gary and Roger. We want to thank Roger and look forward to him producing upcoming MGM films and have full confidence in Gary continuing to lead the company with the talented management team in place.”
Barber and Birnbaum were appointed MGM co-chairman, CEO‘s in December 2010 as the company emerged from bankruptcy. Since that time, they have secured a distribution and co-financing partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which includes such films as ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo‘, ‘21 Jump Street‘ and the upcoming 23rd James Bond adventure ‘Skyfall‘. They solidified a partnership with Warner Brothers/New Line Cinema on the upcoming ‘The Hobbit‘ trilogy, beginning this December with ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘. Additionally, MGM is partnered with Paramount Pictures on several upcoming films including ‘GI Joe: Retaliation‘ and ‘Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters‘.
Barber‘s and Birnbaum‘s reinvigorated MGM is also currently in production on the ‘Robocop‘ re-boot (along with partner Sony), scheduled for release in August 2013 and the recently wrapped ‘Carrie‘ (with Sony‘s Screen Gems) due March 2013. In April 2011, Barber and Birnbaum renewed MGM‘s worldwide home entertainment distribution pact with Fox Home Entertainment, extending the agreement through 2016.
Since the company emerged from bankruptcy, it has created new TV content including an original scripted television series, ‘Vikings‘, which MGM has developed and will distribute with History Channel, as well as new programming from MGM‘s classic catalogue, including the drama series ‘Teen Wolf‘ with MTV and is in development on the upcoming re-imagined unscripted series ‘Fame‘ partnering with Nigel Lythgoe. Additionally, the company has also announced distribution and output deals to broadcast MGM‘s new films, television series and library assets with companies worldwide.
Barber and Birnbaum will continue their long-term partnership at Spyglass Entertainment, a company they founded together in 1998, and which produced films like ‘The Sixth Sense‘. While no longer producing films through Spyglass, they continue to own the library assets of the company together.