Disney Bond Offer To Enhance $1.6B

Considering how low interest levels are nowadays, it’s clear to see why Disney is joining individuals of companies searching to promote debt. The business states in the prospectus filed within the SEC it must boost $1B from global notes that mature in 2014 and pay an annual interest rate of .875%, and $600M from global notes due in 2041 that pay 4.125%. The cash will probably be useful for “general corporate reasons,” that might include payment of other debt, and “to fund share repurchases.” Moody’s gave the notes an A2 rating, while Standard & Poor’s and Fitch rated them A. BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank will be the lead underwriters. Disney’s offer follows a $1.85B bond purchase in August, together with a $500M purchase in May.

Why 'Shame' Could 'Legitimize' the NC-17 Rating

Freddie Mercury died 20 years ago today. The Queen singer and songwriter had been secretly battling AIDS for four years, announcing that he had contracted the disease on Nov. 23, 1991, one day before he passed away of AIDS-related bronchopneumonia. He was 45.our editor recommendsLady Gaga's Thanksgiving Special Includes Tony Bennett, Turkey Carving (Video)MTV EMAs: Adam Lambert Performs With Queen (Video)Lady Gaga Not Likely to Replace Freddie Mercury on Queen Tour Known for his wide vocal range and unparalleled showmanship, the Zanzibar-born Mercury (nee Farrokh Bulsara) also wrote many of Queen's biggest hits including the six-minute-long rock opus "Bohemian Rhapsody," sports anthems "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You" and throwback "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." STORY:Elizabeth Taylor Joins Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley on Highest-Earning Dead Celebrities List "Somebody to Love" and "Fat Bottom Girls" both got the Glee treatment this year, but in many ways, Mercury remains nearly as relevant today as his was throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Just ask Katy Perry, who dressed up as the Queen frontman for her 24th birthday party in 2008, or Lady Gaga, who named herself after a Queen song. American Idol glam rocker Adam Lambert has also cited the magnetic entertainer as a major influence, and perhaps to prove it, stepped in for the late singer at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards, performing a medley of Queen hits along with original members Brian May and Roger Taylor. Soon after midnight on Nov. 24, the phrase RIP Freddie Mercury was already trending in the U.S. and worldwide. Of course, what endures, now two decades after his passing, is the music. Queen sold 32 million albums in the U.S., more than half of which were purchased after Mercury's death, while globally, it's estimated that the band has moved some 300 million units. GALLERY: Top 10 Highest Paid Music Artists Currently celebrating the band's 40th anniversary, surviving member Taylor is leading the charge on the Queen Extravaganza contest, which through audition videos submitted on Youtube, aims to put together a Queen tribute tour and guitarist Maycollaborated with Gaga on the MTV Video Music Awardsin August (he recently told NME he finds Gaga "inspiring"). But Mercury's sprit lives along with iconic imagery forever etched in the minds of the early MTV viewers. Here, seven of those moments: "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) The three-act mini-rock opera was No. 1 in the band's native England for nine weeks and also gave Queen its first Top 10 U.S. hit. In later years, it would be sung on Wayne's World and American Idol, but perhaps its most immediate impact came by way of a "promotional film," AKA music video, which accompanied the track and showed the world what a rock star looked like. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (1979) Freddie Mercury was fashion-conscious from the start, regularly wearing bodysuits and sequined accoutrements, sometimes makeup, but for "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," the singer went for a classic leather ensemble that looks like it came straight from Elvis Presley's 1968 special. And no wonder: the song, a No. 1 hit in the U.S., sounded like it was born of that blues-meets-doo wop era. "Flash" (1980) The band made an early foray into film when it was recruited to compose the soundtrack to the movie Flash Gordon. The first and only single, "Flash's Theme," didn't do gangbusters on the charts but it would become a sort of sonic time capsule of an era when multi-layered harmonies and guitar solos ruled. Decades later, Will Ferrell and Jon Heder would skate to the song in Blades of Glory. "Under Pressure" (1981) A jam session the band had with David Bowie at his studio in Montreux, Switzerland turned into the duet "Under Pressure," which featured the now instantly recognizable bass line (sampled by Vanilla Ice in 1990 for his hit "Ice Ice Baby"). It reached the U.S. Top 40 in 1981 and once again topped the charts in the U.K. The music video, however, shows neither artist as both had touring commitments they couldn't shoot around. "I Want to Break Free" (1984) Freddie Mercury and Co. got themselves banned by MTV for the video to "I Want to Break Free," which featured the guys dressed as women in an homage to hit British soap opera Coronation Street. Somehow, the tribute aspect got lost in translation and the network simply saw the clip as a series of scenes featuring Mercury in a leather mini-skirt and fishnet stockings (the moustache, however, remained). The song failed to crack the U.S. Top 40 but its controversial treatment made for an instant talker in the pre-internet age. "Radio Ga Ga" (1984) The inspiration for pop star Lady Gaga's name was one of Queen's later hits, and a modest one at that. Still, it left an impression by using images from Fritz Lang's 1927 science fiction movie Metropolis for the video and offering a commentary on the death of radio in its lyrics. And there was a sense of reflection, too, as the band traveled through a post-nuclear world while lamenting the old days. Live Aid (1985) Performing to 72,000 at London's Wembley stadium and another 1.9 billion watching on television, Queen's 25-minute greatest hits set instantly went down as one of the most monumental live performances in the history of rock music and fixed the spotlight directly on Mercury, who led the massive crowd in clap- and sing-alongs. More importantly, he and his bandmates played a key role in raising the more than £150 million that went towards famine relief as a result of the event. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Lady Gaga's Fashion Forward Style Related Topics Glee Adam Lambert Katy Perry Lady Gaga

Netflix Shares Face A Difficult Market Among Questions Regarding $400M Refinancing

At the begining of buying and selling Netflix shares are lower about 3.3% from yesterday’s $74.47 close– and teasing with the potential of ending your day ata new 52-week low.Traders continue to be attempting to make feeling of last evening’sannouncement it struck two deals to boost $400M having a warningthat it needs a internet reduction in 2012, a big change from the previous guidance of “several quarters” of deficits. The organization decided to sell $200M in keeping stock, at $70 a share, to accounts handled by T. Rowe Cost Affiliates additionally to theDollar200M convertible notes offer to Technology Crossover Endeavors. Using the deals “we have increased our balance sheet and remain centered on growing our streaming monthly subscriptions and coming back to global profitability after our launch from the U.K. in 2012,” CFO David Wells stated. But several experts state that they’re pessimistic: Caris & Co’s David Burns decreased his cost target to $59 from $77 since Netflix “is delivering the rhetorical signal towards the Street the results of its Q3 pr nightmare haven't turned customer defections, a minimum of not soon.” Lazard Capital Marketplaces’ Barton Crockett states his earnings forecast is under review adding that the organization’s “recent good reputation for quick outlook changes indicates reason to become skeptical.” Janney Capital Marketplaces’ Tony Wible questions Netflix’s decision to boost capital soon after it spent 100s of huge amount of money to repurchase its shares. That “reinforces our view that (Netflix) has been purchasing stock to counterbalance the dilution from the large issuance of equity to the management team, that has strongly offered the stock with lots of options listed as low at $1.50 per share.” Susquehanna Financial Group’s Vasily Karasyov states that experts’ earnings predictions “will need to come lower.”But Credit Suisse’s John Blackledge would be a lonely bull, stating that the refinancing “strengthens (Netflix’s) balance sheet and enhances its financial versatility”although itprobably won’t be usedto finance additional content deals.

L.A. story for Likely producer

NY-based indie film producer Likely Story is expanding with Head of Production and Development Stefanie Azpiazu relocating to open a Los Angeles office. Company announced the move Monday. Azpiazu has been with Likely Story since its inception in 2006, previously working with Likely Story Founder Anthony Bregman at This Is That and Good Machine. ''With the number of projects and filmmakers based on the West Coast growing, there is a definite demand for a team to be based in Los Angeles,'' Bregman said. Likely Story's producing Charlie Kaufman's new film ''Frank or Francis,'' which shoots in February; Bennett Miller's ''Foxcatcher,'' which is aimed for the fall of 2012, as well as new projects by Nicole Holofcener, Jesse Peretz, Lawrence Kasdan. Keith Bunin, Chris Milk and Ann Peacock Likely Story produced Stephen Frears latest film ''Lay the Favorite,'' Peretz' ''Our Idiot Brother,'' Kasdan's ''Darlining Companion'' and Julian Farino's ''The Oranges.'' Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Miss Piggy's Oscar-Worthy Fozzie Bear Impression (VIDEO)

.post-content img {display:none;} There's Miss Piggy the actress, Miss Piggy the singer, and even Miss Piggy the French Vogue editor. But Miss Piggy the impersonator? Everyone's favorite diva has always claimed to be the best at everything, but doing impressions of her fellow Muppets has never been in the cards -- until now. During Moviefone's Muppets Unscripted session, Piggy did an Oscar-worthy impersonation of two of the most popular Muppets around: Fozzie Bear and Animal. Even Kermit was stunned by this hidden talent (one that Piggy will likely be bragging about now that it's out in the open). Check back Monday for more from Moviefone's Muppets Unscripted session. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Justice

The month of the month of january Manley and Nicolas Cage in 'Justice.' A Momentum Pictures (in U.K.) relieve an Endgame Entertainment Co. presentation in colaboration with Aura Film Partnership and Fierce Entertainment from the Endgame Entertainment, Material Pictures and Ram Bergman production. (Worldwide sales: FilmNation, La.) Produced by James D. Stern, Ram Bergman, Tobey Maguire. Executive producers, Douglas E. Hansen, Jenno Topping, Julie Goldstein, Christopher Petzel. Co-producers, Dork Pomier, Lucas Cruz. Directed by Roger Donaldson. Script, Robert Tannen, Yuri Zeltser, in the story by Tannen, Todd Hickey.Will Gerard - Nicolas Cage Laura Gerard - The month of the month of january Manley Simon - Guy Pearce Jimmy - Harold Perrineau Trudy - Jennifer Contractor Lt. Durgan - Xander Berkeley Alan Marsh - Jason Davis Scar - IronE Singleton Cancer - Wayne Pere Det. Eco-friendly - Marcus Lyle Brown Sideburns - Dikran Tulaine Det. Rudeski - Joe ChrestNearly couple of years after cameras folded in New Orleans on "The Hungry Rabbit Jumps," the Nicolas Cage-starring vigilante thriller, now retitled "Justice," has started striking theaters in Europe and Hong Kong. It's not worth the wait: This unconvincing, workmanlike genre piece reps a considerable dip in quality for director Roger Donaldson after his 2008 heist pic "The Lending Company Job." With no release date yet for your U.S., where its title is "Seeking Justice," ancillary reps the pic's best chance for modest recoupment. Located in Blighty as counterprogramming to "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1," the pic acquired just 183,000 ($293,000) from 244 cinemas within the initial few days, showing a fast exit from theaters. Inside the recent "The Next 72 Hrs,Inch audiences rooted for Russell Crowe's British teacher to obtain an unlikely expertise and bust his wife from prison. "Justice" attempts the same trick, casting Cage as nice-guy British teacher Will Gerard, easily dressed in corduroy pants and spectacles. When his music artist wife, Laura (The month of the month of january Manley), is very raped, Will feels their very own powerlessness. Enter shaven-headed, sharp-suited Simon (Guy Pearce), who offers street justice for your crime in exchange for the following favor of vaguely modest proportions. The rapist is going to be summarily carried out. Simon is like his word when he later asks Will to complete some routine surveillance around the guy he claims can be a child molester. Nevertheless the stakes rise when he demands that will murder the suspect in mind. In the contrived passage, Will finds themselves recommended like a factor inside the dying from the local newspaper reporter, held for police interrogation after which it freed having a rogue cop when he unveils his understanding in the vigilante network's code phrase, "The hungry rabbit jumps." Clearly, it calculates he was very best in custody of the children from the children. Despite a couple-part climax, beginning getting a monster truck rally within the New Orleans Superdome, then moving for the abandoned New Orleans Center retail complex, "Justice" lacks the consistent thrills that could allow the audience to indulge its numerous implausibilities. In another questionable choice of roles, Cage is unpersuasive becoming an inner-city schoolteacher, an element that delivers him little leeway to research the loopier shades that have been displayed so entertainingly in "Bad Lieutenant: The avenue for call New Orleans" and "Kick-Ass." As Will's friend and friend, gifted thesp Harold Perrineau isn't given much to make use of, and Pearce (drafted near the shoot start date) doesn't appear sensible in the shadowy Simon character, whose motivation remains obscure, partly because the p.o.v. remains almost exclusively while using protag. One particularly troubling area of the film is its ambivalent perspective on vigilante action, disapproving really its corrupt execution than its essence. Lenser David Tattersall uses compact camera models to capture an authentic flavor of publish-Katrina New Orleans, but such verisimilitude seems wasted round the script credited to Robert Tannen and Yuri Zeltser (working in the story by Tannen and cinematographer Todd Hickey), though due to the extended amount of publish-production, what resemblance the finished film bears for his or her original conception is anyone's guess. Inclusion of moments within the city's newspaper, police department plus an urban secondary school signifies an ambition to supply texture and flavor like "The Wire," clearly an positive goal.Camera (color, wide-screen, HD), David Tattersall editor, Jay Cassidy music, J. Peter Robinson music supervisor, John Houlihan production designer, Dennis Washington art director, Kelly Curley set decorator, Alice Baker costume designer, Caroline Eselin Schaffer appear (Dolby Digital), Pawel Wdowczak supervisory appear editor, Trevor Jolly re-recording mixer, Leslie Shatz effects coordinator, David K. Nami visual effects managers, Dick Edwards, Christopher Bremble visual effects, Invisible Effects, Modern Videofilm, Base-Foreign exchange stunt coordinator, Andy Cheng assistant director, Jonathan McGarry second unit director, Cheng second unit camera, John Peters casting, Mary Vernieu, Venus Kanani. Examined at Courthouse Doubletree Hotel, London, November. 2, 2011. Running time: 105 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

9 Milestones in the Evolution of Robin Williams

In this weekend’s Happy Feet Two, Robin Williams voices Ramn, a South American penguin lothario, and Lovelace, a deep-voiced love guru. So how did a self-described quiet child from Chicago transform himself into one of Hollywood’s most energetic Academy Award winners and skilled impressionists, who pulls double duty in Warner Bros.’s latest animated feature? You can always trace a direct line through a few important roles to illustrate what led to an actor’s current success. As such, let’s look at nine pivotal performances that track the evolution of Robin Williams. Mork & Mindy (1978) After graduating from Juilliard, Williams moved to Los Angeles where he honed his stand-up routine on the west coast comedy circuit and auditioned for television roles. One such guest part on Happy Days — as Mork, an alien from the planet Ork who helps abduct the Fonz — was such a hit with the show’s creator Gary Marshall that Marshall created a sci-fi sitcom for Williams’s character. Mork & Mindy proved to be the breakthrough project that made Robins a recognizable name and earned him a Golden Globe in 1979. Popeye (1980) Halfway through the four-season run of Mork & Mindy, Williams made his big screen debut as the titular character in Robert Altman’s adaptation of Popeye. (Yes, a live-action musical adaptation of Popeye in which Robin Williams squints and sings “I am what I am” with inflated forearms exists.) Williams reportedly won the role after Dustin Hoffman dropped out. In spite of a respectable effort to bring life to a two-dimensional comic character with a lopsided smile and an obsession with spinach, Popeye earned mixed reviews. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) Following one small success (The World According to Garp) and a trio of forgettable titles (The Best of Times, Club Paradise and Seize the Day), Williams established himself as a legitimate dramatic actor and a box office draw with Barry Levinson’s Vietnam war comedy-drama. As Armed Forces Radio Service DJ Adrian Cronauer, Williams was able to use his trademark rapid-fire monologue style and improvise extensively. Thanks in part to Levinson’s direction (which carefully pulled Williams out of his stand-up shell) and the well-formed script, Williams was able to shed his fast-talking persona for a fully-fleshed character by the end of the film. Good Morning, Vietnam earned Williams his first Academy Award nomination. Aladdin (1992) After solidifying himself as one of Hollywood’s most underestimated dramatic actors in Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King, Williams established his talent as a voice actor in Aladdin. Animator Eric Goldberg was reportedly so determined to get the actor on board as the Genie that he animated the Genie doing some of Williams’s stand-up routines. The actor was so impressed that he signed onto the project, even agreeing to participate for scale pay as long as his voice was not used for merchandising and his character took up less than 25% of the film’s promotional materials. When the studio reneged on some contractual stipulations that Williams had tried to enforce, the actor stopped supporting the project and refused to work with Disney again — until years later, after chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg had been fired. In addition to being a milestone for the actor, Aladdin proved to be a landmark for animated films in general as it was the first title to be advertised on the strength of its voice actors.

Ough Gervais On Returning As Golden Globes Host: Its Certainly The Best Time

Right after his questionable second turn as host in the Golden Globes last The month of the month of january, Ough Gervais introduced he shouldn’t and wouldn’t check it out again. Now he's carrying it out, mainly to “shut up all people fucking idiots who mentioned that we’d 't be requested back,” he written on his blog. And also the third stint will “definitely” be his last. Roughly according to him. Here's Gervais’ publish: So that it seems like I’m hosting The Golden Globes for just about any third and definitely final time. It absolutely was a hard decision in truth. There has been benefits and disadvantages. I loved carrying it out, however was worried that we couldn’t enhance a year ago. I’m in LA anyway after i’m beginning Existence’s Short on Cinemax. However didn’t want the Globes to overshadow the series. I understood lots of people might be uncomfortable with me at night being host. (It had been an expert incidentally.) What really expected the quantity making me say yes, was the fact it could shut up all people fucking idiots who mentioned that we’d 't be requested back. Is the wrong reason to behave? ' '. In my opinion it's. Now here’s the main one factor. The outrage I triggered was clearly, of course, totally from proportion for the a couple of a few things i mentioned. I don’t think anybody had any to become upset nonetheless they were. This year I’m can make sure their offence is completely justified. The most effective factor relating to this is writing the gags. I like writing one card inserts. Specifically once they can’t be applied inside a other context. It offers them a distinctive weight towards the evening if you know what happens I'm speaking about.

Perry's wager on themselves takes proper care of handsomely

'Meet the Browns''Madea's Family Reunion''Tyler Perry's House of Payne'Tyler Perry's empire began with one particular play, "I Realize That I've been Changed." The legit production needed him six many his existence savings, two occasions, to stage.Little did he know how apt that title was. Today, Perry's empire is staggering: 10 movies (just like a director), three Tv shows, one best-selling book, a 200,000-sq.-feet. studio complex outdoors Atlanta together with a continuing stream of live stage plays."Tyler accomplishes more daily in comparison to relaxation people could desire to accomplish in the lifetime," states Mike Paseornek, leader of motion picture development and production for Lionsgate, Perry's production and distribution partner.That bottomless work ethic introduced Perry from Forbes' report on Hollywood's finest producing males, consuming $130 million between May 2010 and may 2011 and beating the type of Jerry Bruckheimer, Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio.Perry written "I Realize That I've been Changed" after hearing The famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey condition that to produce things lower was cathartic. The youthful Perry started keeping a journal, and people early documents -- produced from an abusive and impoverished childhood -- eventually emerged just like a musical.Perry first tried to stage his show in Atlanta in 1992, but nobody came. His investment property, he shut lower production but wasn't frustrated. He spent the next six years dwelling in hotels in addition to over sleeping his vehicle to scrape together $12,000 take another shot."It definitely is been by doing this personally,In . states Perry. "I've always wager on myself."When Perry restaged the play in Atlanta in 1998, it absolutely was a smash. Soon, Perry was touring his shows nationwide, selling out theaters and connecting up along with his audience."I've been happening tour for any very long time and am doing my research in people moments," Perry states. "I realize my audience."Lionsgate believed that research would pay back and initially invested $1.25 million in Perry, states Boss Jon Feltheimer."In the financial perspective, I understood the danger was fairly minimal," states Feltheimer.It absolutely was a wise investment. According to Lionsgate, Perry's films have with one another acquired $1 billion in revenue when including worldwide box office, DVD sales together with other ancillary earnings.Round the same time period that "Diary from the Mad Black Lady" was premiering in 2005, Perry was concentrating on a TV sitcom with Chuck Lorre, professional producer of "two and a half Males," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Mike and Molly.""I'd do a number of these different figures and recognized the notes as well as the control the systems had over the thing that was happening," states Perry. "I mentioned 'I won't do this,A and came back to Atlanta."States Joe Drake, Lionsgate's co-COO and film group leader: "If Tyler finds themselves in occasions where he doesn't believe something works, no logic within the mind states he should continue lower that road. Every time Tyler has wager on themselves, it's labored for him."William Morris agent Mark Itkin paired Perry with hungry distribution entrepreneurs Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein. The pair had started their unique company, Debmar-Mercury, and effectively offered Comedy Central's "South Park" into broadcast distribution. (Debmar-Mercury can be a subsidiary of Lionsgate, which acquired the business within this summer time 2006, partly due to Debmar-Mercury's relationship with Perry.)Marcus and Bernstein told Perry they might persuade Tv producers to check on 10 cases of his sitcom, "Tyler Perry's House of Payne.""Be it popular, they'll purchase it,Inch Marcus told Perry, who made the decision to invest their very own money to produce the episodes.The summer season 2006 launch will be a major success."In each and every market, the show was up 60% to 70% over its previous time period,In . states Bernstein. "It was not just an anomaly in Atlanta, it absolutely was every market."That performance caught an unforeseen eye: Turner's Steve Koonin, who was simply searching for an African-American sitcom."Test actually was the breakthrough idea," states Koonin. "We went it on WTBS, Turner's local station in Atlanta, plus it was the finest-rated program on our air, and many nights no. 1 on all TV. We felt when we are in a position to generate people kinds of ratings in the top-10 market, it might be a great wager for cable."Although Perry, Marcus and Bernstein had initially designed to produce "House of Payne" for firstrun broadcast distribution, The very best spinner's handled to obtain financially apparent it wanted the show. Marcus and Bernstein cut a deal for top spinner's to obtain 100 cases of "House of Payne." This can be a large upfront commitment, it allowed The very best spinner's to cover a more compact amount for your show laptop or computer typically may need to come with an original sitcom.Marcus and Bernstein then offered the show to broadcast stations to premiere in off-internet distribution twelve several weeks later. Overall, the very first cycle of "House of Payne" is thought being worth $200 million, including cable and broadcast license costs and barter advertising sales."House of Payne" opened up around the best spinner's in 2007, and instantly increased being ad-supported cable's top sitcom ever. Within the initial few telecasts, the series averaged 5.6 000 0000 audiences and two.9 million inside the adult 18-49 demo.The very best spinner's, really, recently bought 42 more episodes, which will bring the whole number to 264, making the show a lengthy-running African-American sitcom in TV history.Searching to repeat "Payne," the cabler went forward with "Fulfill the Browns," which Debmar-Mercury offered employing the same model. Again, the show will be a ratings standout.This November, The very best spinner's will premiere its third Tyler Perry-produced skein, "For Better or Worse," based on his films "Why Did I Acquired Married?" and "Why Did I Acquired Married Too?" When the show sort out the very first 10-episode free trial offer, Perry will probably be on races on another 90 cases of his third television series.All who know him say Perry's success is impressive, but he's still just getting started.States Lionsgate's Paseornek: "He's the quickest study I've come across. We now have only began to determine what Tyler Perry would bring for the entertainment industry."Tyler Perry's 'House of Payne' 200th Episode:'Payne' yields pleasure for Perry, The very best spinner's Perry's wager on themselves takes proper care of handsomely Charitable organization no rarity Pipeline full for Mr. 'Deeds' Areu is suitable-hands guy inside Perry's empire 'Payne' cast reflects on top recollections Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

REVIEW: Clint Eastwood Tries to Humanize an Ambitious, Dangerous Pipsqueak in J. Edgar

As Lily Tomlin’s Ernestine once said, “There’s nothing like a Hoover when you’re dealing with dirt.” Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar could use more dirt: This is a sensitive, sympathetic portrait of a scummy little man, an earnest attempt to map the contours and contradictions of a complicated son-of-a-bitch. But it’s all too earnest, to the point of serving, unwittingly or otherwise, as an apologia. Even Eastwood’s attempt at a poignant Hoover death scene fails to hit the mark: I for one would want to stick the guy with a pin to make sure he was really dead. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. J. Edgar, which flips between two roughly defined eras, the 1930s and the 1960s through the mid-1970s, shows us how the ambitious and wily, if initially rather shy and awkward, John Edgar Hoover became one of the most feared men in America. Leonardo DiCaprio wears his usual old-man baby face for one half of the picture and a mask of moderately effective age makeup for the other. His performance is dutiful and respectful and meticulously managed, which is exactly what’s wrong with it. Even though DiCaprio was a child actor — a wonderful one — he never really had a youth on-screen. Directors like Martin Scorsese saw what was astonishing about him and immediately began grooming him for greatness in pictures like Gangs of NY and The Aviator. Now, he can never be casual — it’s a luxury he was never able to afford — and Eastwood has done him no favors by locking him into yet another hall-of-fame role. It’s a testament to DiCaprio’s precision and sensitivity that we feel as much for his J. Edgar as we do. But seeing DiCaprio encased in a mask of soft, saggy jowls — in these scenes, he uses his buttery-sonorous vocal tone and piercing blue-green eyes, effectively if a bit desperately, to do much of the work — is still dispiriting. If this is what “greatness,” in a movie or in a performance, has to mean, I’d prefer a more intimate puniness, particularly when it comes to portraying a character like J. Edgar Hoover. J. Edgar was written by Dustin Lance Black, who also wrote the 2008 Milk, and it represents a noble attempt to dovetail Hoover’s professional “accomplishments” with his personal life. The picture hits all the significant markers: Hoover’s intense relationship with his domineering mother (played by an imperious Judi Dench), his early, pipsqueaky ambitions and his eventual rise to become the head of the F.B.I., his roles (both the imagined and the real ones) in bringing down Depression-era criminals like John Dillinger and Machine Gun Kelly, and his frustrating, and frustrated, search for the kidnapper and killer of the Lindbergh baby, Bruno Hauptmann. Later, after more or less crowning himself King of United States Intel, he bullies the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt (crowing hypocritically over his discovery that she was having an affair with a woman), Martin Luther King (whom he viewed as an enemy of democracy, or the American Way, or something) and Robert F. Kennedy (played by Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice, a Boston-area native who finally gets to use the local accent that Massachusetts actors work so hard to shed). But in between all that, Hoover had a tortured, complicated personal life, which J. Edgar takes great pains to show. Early on, in the 1930s, Hoover shows an interest in a typing-pool cutie, Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts), who, being a strong, independent woman — and perhaps sensing a bad risk in the personal-relationship department — refuses his initial marriage proposal and instead becomes his secretary, sticking with him until and beyond the end of his life. (Watts has a great, ’30s-style face, as already evidenced by King Kong; in her age makeup, she’s a dead ringer for the present-day Hanna Schygulla, which is maybe not such a bad thing.) Even more significant is Hoover’s relationship, both professional and personal, with his longtime colleague Clyde Tolson. The movie outlines, quite believably, how Hoover’s attraction to Tolson first manifested itself as intense nervousness and a desire to dominate. Tolson is unfazed. One of the first things he does is take Hoover to be fitted for some custom-made suits — sort of like a Depression-era Rachel Zoe — and before long, the two are confidants, though they of course have to hide the personal nature of their relationship behind closed doors. Hammer does make a coolly winsome Tolson. (Note to Hammer: Bambi called — he wants his eyelashes back.) And in the movie’s most effective and most piercing scene, Hoover and Tolson beat the crap out of each other in a hotel room, tussling out of frustration and, it seems, the rawest and most visceral kind of love. (Hoover and Tolson also sport some pretty smashing bathrobes in this sequence, courtesy of Eastwood’s frequent costume designer Deborah Hopper.) In general, it’s hard not to feel sympathy for a closeted gay man in the days before Stonewall — unless he’s J. Edgar Hoover. Eastwood, Black and DiCaprio are all dancing as fast as they can in their efforts to humanize Hoover. But all you see is the dancing, and while it’s nice that the picture is honest enough to show how creepy, duplicitous, manipulative and power-mad Hoover was, there are too many places where the only suitable soundtrack would be the tiniest violins in the world. We’re supposed to feel something as we watch the still-youthful J. Edgar mourning the death of his mother. (Grief-stricken, he dons one of her old dresses as a piano tinkles poignantly in the background, a moment of psychoanalysis that’s about as insightful as the forensic psychiatrist’s diagnosis in Psycho.) But the terrible thing about life is that mothers die: Good people and scoundrels alike have to deal with that reality. Grieving over our dead parents, as well as being gay or straight or bi, are the things that make us definably human. So why does J. Edgar Hoover — a man who retooled basic civil liberties to his own liking, setting precedents that will never be undone — deserve any special pleading? In the past few years, Eastwood has given us a terrific, brazenly liberal-minded movie about what it means to be an American today (Gran Torino) and a rousing, if somewhat oversimplified, picture about how Nelson Mandela helped heal a nation with football (Invictus). He also gave us a plodding, overserious period picture in Changeling. J. Edgar is more of the same, but because it attempts to shoulder such a large historical burden, it’s an even bigger failure. J. Edgar is a handsome-looking film in a Smithsonian Institution kind of way, featuring all the right desk lamps, the proper period-specific typewriters, the silk pocket squares folded just so. And cinematographer (and frequent Eastwood collaborator) Tom Stern gives the whole thing a satiny, pewter-toned glow. But for all its exterior grandness, J. Edgar is still just tinny and overreaching. This is an overgrown movie about a dwarf among men. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy: Our Prime School Years

Creating a stoner movie -- it may sound easy, right? Well, it is not! First, you'll need a wise decision, and you require a, uh... hey, maybe you have, like, checked out your hands? I am talking about, really checked out it. You think there might be a whole world living beneath your finger nail. Oh, sorry: I acquired distracted. Creating a stoner movie! Right! Well, every stoner flick includes a totally unscientific formula that should be adopted so as for this to become effective. So, in recognition of 'A Very Harold and Kumar three dimensional Christmas,' which opens today, Moviefone provides you with a short user guide regarding how to Create a Stoner Movie. You'll need... A pothead that's a lot more stoned and stupid compared to relaxation of his buddies: There's Jim Breuer from 'Half-Baked,' ordering pizza, Funyuns, water, celery and grape jelly Rory Cochran of 'Dazed and Confused,' speaking about how exactly George Washington accustomed to grow their own secret stash within the fields of Mount Vernon. You usually need one stoner who's too stupid for their own good to create the relaxation from the cast seem like Einstein. One psychedelic scene that's totally, 100 % crazy and makes simply no sense whatsoever: There is a scene in each and every drug-related film in which the protagonists finish up stumbling on some totally absurd substance. Then, the strange stuff begins to occur -- rainbows come out of trees, buddies start to look like animated figures, hands become some living, breathing creature that may choke them out at any second. Good quality good examples of the would be the bowling dream sequence in 'The Large Lebowski,' where Shaun Bridges's The Dude pretends he's a bowling ball, and also the bar scene in 'Fear and Loathing in Vegas,' where Johnny Depp's Hunter S. Thompson Raoul Duke imagines he's encircled with a crowd filled with gigantic lizards. The stoner hero who eventually ends up saving your day even though he's, well, stoned: Seth Rogen saving James Franco from the burning barn in 'Pineapple Express' and Ice Cube beating in the neighborhood bully in 'Friday' are two perfect good examples of stoner heroics. It's difficult to feel motivated by anybody who sits around and smokes pot the whole film, but -- ultimately -- they manage can provide relief. A scene such as this: Quotables: Lines that fellow pot people who smoke can quote to one another is mandatory. For instance, 'Up in Smoke' has "Hey guy, am I driving OK?" After which obviously there's Matthew McConaughey in 'Dazed in Wrongly identified as "You have some pot? ... Well, it would be a great deal cooler should you did." These movies might not have resided on whether it were not for that memorable quotes -- it isn't such as the audiences are likely to have the ability to remember anything as complicated being an actual story. An incredible soundtrack: No stoner movie will get by with no awesome soundtrack. An ideal illustration of this really is 'Easy Driver,' with a murderer's row of awesome tunes (Steppenwolf's 'Born to become Wild,' The Band's 'The Weight,' Jimi Hendrix's 'If 6 Was 9,' etc.). A great soundtrack can overcome any plot inadequacies. An existential question: That scene in which a character asks an issue that actually enables you to think. These existential moments is often as jokey because the reason for 'Knocked Up,' when Katherine Heigl first meets Seth Rogen's buddies after discovering she's pregnant. This is when she eventually ends up getting asked about her developing fetus "stealing" her food. References to marijuana: Finally, probably the most apparent factor about this list. 'Up in Smoke,' includes a vehicle scene where Cheech and Chong smoke some pot how big their arm. For some thing recent, let us opt for the primary character in 'Grandma's Boy,' that has a huge bong he attempts to play off like a flower vase. ### So, that's it: the key stoner movie formula. Now, all that you should do is log off the couch, write a script, gather financing, hire some famous stars along with a director. Hm, really, on second thought, that seems like it may be demanding. Before you begin, you might like to take something which will awesome your anxiety... [Photo: Everett Collection] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Here's Why Neil Patrick Harris isn't Gay in 'Harold & Kumar Christmas'

Should you be taken aback if this was introduced that acclaimed director Werner Herzog would take part in the villain within the next Tom Cruise movie, 'One Shot,' you are only some of the one. Obviously, that possible trepidation does not extend the director themself. Stated Herzog to Movieline, the main reason he was hired to begin with was because he's "good." "I am fairly good being an actor if this involves roles of hostile or harmful men, or violent and debased and dysfunctional figures," Herzog told S.T. VanAirsdale. "Not to mention, as this is a large Hollywood film, they've analyzed my performance in other films. So I wasn't involved with any casting I had been just asked." Tight on why he was "asked," Herzog did not make use of any modesty: "Because I am good! The thing is, if this involves an costly film, you cannot fuss making a selection of someone who is actually a filmmaker. If you're bad being an actor, it might really damage the film. So that they apparently required a really critical look -- I am talking about, the director, producer, Tom Cruise -- they required a great take a look at things i am onscreen being an actor." Starring Cruise and Herzog, 'One Shot' -- in the ninth novel in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series -- is within production now. [via Movieline] [Photo: WireImage]

News Corp Picks Rob Mook To Switch Beryl Prepare As Chief Human Assets Officer

NY, NY November 3, 2011 News Corporation today introduced that Beryl Prepare, News Companies Executive V . P . and Chief Human Assets Officer, will step lower from her position in NY effective November 30, 2011. Ms. Prepare will return to the Asia Off-shoreline region being closer to her family, and may to experience a completely new role becoming an HR proper consultant focusing on business and talent initiatives over the organization. Beryl features curiosity, creativity and endless energy to her work. I have valued her good counsel as well as the progress she's made strengthening our capacity to build up and fasten co-employees, and offer devoted people with great options around the globe. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Boss of News Corporation mentioned. I recognize her decision to go away NY and am delighted she's made the decision to remain in the hands a crucial role inside the organization. Ms. Prepare grew to become an associate of News Corporation just like a journalist after which increased being a workout and human assets executive. She's held leadership positions in News Corporation companies around the globe, including News Limited nationwide, the Fiji Occasions in Fiji, STAR TV in Asia and BSkyB inside the Uk. In 2007, she gone after NY being Chief Human Assets Officer together with an individual in work in the Chairman. Departing comments on her behalf account decision, Ms. Prepare mentioned: My 22 years with News Corporation have given me the privilege to make use of first-rate leadership teams and HR professionals over the organization. It has been an incredible adventure employed in many locations and due to a lot of gifted people. Determining to step away remains difficult, but, after greater than 2 decades on the road, I have to be closer to my family members, also to roll-up my masturbator masturbator sleeves again to use directly having a couple of from the gifted teams inside the worldwide companies. In the related move, News Corporation also introduced that Rob Mook, presently the Companys Senior V . P . of worldwide Compensation, will assume the career of Executive V . P . and Chief Human Assets Officer. Mr. Mook, age 50, grew to become an associate from the organization in March 2010 after two-and-a-half decades just like a consultant, including engagements with AT Kearney to ensure that as someone at Towers Perrin, additionally to HR leadership roles at ACNielsen, Site visitors Digest, DuPont as well as the Interpublic Group. Mr. Mook will account to Chase Carey, Deputy Chairman, Leader and Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation. I am pleased with Jeffs appointment and believe he'll be considered a superb leader, mentioned Chase Carey. I have valued Jeffs counsel and contributions within the short period of time with News Corporation which i anticipate his playing an important role ongoing to maneuver forward. Departing comments on her behalf account successor, Ms. Prepare mentioned: I am thrilled with Jeffs appointment which i anticipate making sure a level transition and supporting him within the new role. He's a gifted leader who'll help News Corporation become an infinitely more effective business around the globe. Ms. Prepare will remain in NY using the finish of year to help the transition. Mr. Mook can be found in News Companies corporate headquarters in NY.

TCM nabs 'Hell on Wheels' in U.K.

LONDON -- Turner Classic Movies has nabbed U.K. TV rights to Endemol USA oater "Hell on Wheels." The show, set in post-Civil War America, was made in collaboration with eOne and Nomadic Pictures for AMC, where it will bow Sunday. Story revolves around a Confederate soldier who sets out to take revenge for the killing of his wife by Union troops. "Hell on Wheels" has also been acquired by the Sundance Channel for Portugal, Spain, Eastern and Central Europe, plus AB Droits in France, Antenna 3 in Spain, TV Norge in Norway and CNBC-e in Turkey. Endemol has European TV rights while eOne owns all home entertainment and digital rights plus TV rights for the rest of the world. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Hugh Jackman: My Boy Thinks Im Useful Just Like A Chick Magnet

First Launched: November 2, 2011 4:49 PM EDT Credit: FilmMagic NY, N.Y. -- Caption Deborra-Lee Furness, boy Maximillian Jackman, daughter Ava Eliot Jackman and Hugh Jackman are observed coming at Laughing Guy Marketplace in Manhattan on October 23, 2011Hugh Jackmans boy, Oscar, is realizing his dear old father is rather useful if the involves improving the pre-teen by helping cover their the ladies. I have heard my boy formerly kind of consult with others in what I really do, particularly women. Hes straight into women, like around 14-year-old women, Hugh told Access Hollywood on Wednesday while he promoted Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, his completely new one-guy show in NY City. He elevated to individuals women at the lake nationwide and theyre inside their bikinis and hes just speaking to individuals women, and Im like, Wow! And Im type of sort overhearing, and hes like, Yeah, my dad plays Wolverine. He comes accumulating which he goes, Youve gotta sign some autographs now! Now! Hugh recounted. My boy will not let me sign autographs for anyone. Hes like, How come they require your autograph? That is time together with you! Tomorrow, not a way! I used to be signing autographs, pictures. I felt very strange. I used to be kind of pimping for my 11-year-old boy. One factor Oscar doesn't find totally awesome is Hughs wearing of skintight gold pants as Hugh reprises his role as Peter Allen, the role he formerly carried out inside the Boy From Oz, and who crops up within the completely new one-guy show. But Hugh, themselves, feels safe inside the tight pants. [I am] on stage, playing that character. Enables be very apparent here. I carried out Peter Allen for just about any year therefore i did 400 performances, Hugh jeered. Im probably to date as the kids are involved a touch too comfortable included. In my opinion my boy finds that part very embarrassing. Hes like, Father. Really? What's this? I do not have it. Hughs new show has according to Broadway League already netted greater than $1.2 million in eight preview performances and hes popular within the box office too with Real Steel, as well as the actor told Access a follow-up influences works. In my opinion they've a preliminary draft for your script, Hugh mentioned. They are fully aware for just about any follow-up, that people think is brilliant so when anyones seen the film, its setup because way. So fingers joined, well have the robots then then back out again. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.