Jonah Hill's 'Serious Acting Moment' in 'The Sitter' Didn't Increase the risk for Movie

Just before the release of 'Moneyball,' press shops were dedicated to a few things: Kaira Pitt's performance as Concord A's gm Billy Beane, and Jonah Hill's turn just like a semi-serious actor. No star desires to be typecast, that will help you understand Jonah's fascination with attempting to maneuver outdoors the teenage comedy genre that made him famous. Sadly, serious acting isn't necessarily needed -- specifically when you're developing a raunchy R-rated comedy. Inside an interview while using NY Occasions, Hill recalls taking things a touch too seriously while shooting scene for his approaching movie 'The Sitter.' It absolutely was stated to become a comic exchange between Mr. Hill... and Bruce Altman, the actor playing his absentee father who'll not help his boy among a particularly wayward evening of substitute caregiving. Nevertheless the scene needed an all of a sudden poignant turn as Mr. Hill revealed upon an tough to depend on parent who hadn't already been through it for him, and who had abandoned him and also the mother to start a completely new family. As Mr. Hill later mentioned from the scene, 'It felt really tough and raw and honest and difficult to check out in an ideal way.A To ensure that because he and also the 'Sitter' director, David Gordon Eco-friendly, found agree, it did not have business getting an antic, R-rated Jonah Hill comedy. Cutting this scene within the movie (especially after watching the film's trailer) makes total sense. Hopefully, it'll finish around the DVD outtakes. For the time being, you will have to watch out for '21 Jump Street' and 'Neighborhood Watch' to find out Jonah get serious. Oh, wait, people are comedies, too. Possibly something further later on then, an activity that even Hill doesn't find out about? 'The Sitter' hits theaters 12 ,. 9. [via NYT] [Photo: WireImage] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

New York Film Critics Circle Awards Preview: 'The Descendants,' Jean Dujardin and Meryl Streep Predicted to Win

By Tom O'Neil, GoldDerby.com Don't be surprised if some crazy award winners emerge from the voting powwow of the NY Film Critics Circle on Tuesday morning. According a poll of award experts conducted by Gold Derby, these will be the winners: 'The Descendants' (Best Picture), Jean Dujardin (Best Actor in 'The Artist') and Meryl Streep (Best Actress in 'The Iron Lady'), Albert Brooks (Best Supporting Actor in 'Drive') and Jessica Chastain (Best Supporting Actress in 'The Help,' 'Tree of Life' and 'Take Shelter'). However, the critics' circle is notorious for spawning voter clashes that result in wacky honorees. It all has to do with the archaic voting procedure. Each critic ranks favorites by assigning three (top choice), two and one point to each, and the winner must appear on a majority of ballots. As a result, voting in each category often spans many ballots, rival camps form and victory can only be claimed by a compromise candidate. 'Milk' won Best Picture of 2009, for example, only when warriors for 'Rachel Getting Married,' 'Happy-Go-Lucky' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' surrendered and accepted a compromise. No critics entering the 2002 voting conclave planned to pick the quirky 'Mulholland Drive,' but it emerged as the default choice when they couldn't decide among 'In the Bedroom,' 'Gosford Park' and 'Shrek' after many frustrating ballot clashes. In addition to 'The Descendants,' the other movies with strong NYFCC support this year are 'Tree of Life' and 'The Artist,' but don't be surprised if 'Moneyball' or 'Midnight in Paris' emerges as the fallback choice. The ultimate winner matters a lot because the Gotham critics have had a strong influence on the Oscars through time. Over the past 76 years, they were the first to hail eventual Academy Award Best Pictures 28 times. It's clear that the NY Film Critics' Circle played a key role in the eventual Oscar victories of such films as 'The Lost Weekend' (1946), 'Marty' (1956), 'Tom Jones' (1964), 'In the Heat of the Night' (1968), 'The Deer Hunter' (1979), 'Ordinary People' (1981), 'Terms of Endearment' (1984) and 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1992). But the agreement rate hasn't been too impressive recently. Only five times in the past 20 years has the same film won Best Picture in NY and on Oscar night. Last year 'The Social Network' swept all of the key critics' awards, but Hollywood didn't seem to care. David Fincher's Facebook movie was usurped by 'The King's Speech' at the industry awards bestowed by the guilds and the motion picture academy. Nonetheless, the circle has played a starring role in spotlighting many actors who went on to win Oscars. Actors like Forest Whitaker ('Last King of Scotland,' 2006), Geoffrey Rush ('Shine,' 1996) and Marcia Gay Harden ('Pollock,' 2000) probably owe their Academy Award victories in large part to early wins within the circle. Check out the Gold Derby expert picks for the NYFCC winners by clicking here. [Photo: Fox Searchlight] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Former Idol Lauren Alaina Flubs National Anthem At Lions/Packers Game: I Screwed Up

First Released: November 24, 2011 3:32 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Lauren Alaina works the nation's Anthem prior to the Eco-friendly Bay Packers undertake the Detroit Lions throughout the Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Area, Detroit, November 24, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- She carried out live before a tv audience of millions week in and week on Season 10 of yankee Idol, but in the Detroit Lions/Eco-friendly Bay Packers game on Thanksgiving, Lauren Alainas nerves got the very best of her as she flubbed the nation's Anthem. Unlike Christina Aguilera, who, finally years Super Bowl really sang the incorrect lyrics towards the Star-Spangled Banner, but stored singing, on Thursday, Lauren completely went quiet for around five seconds in the center of the song. What so happily we praised, with the twi she trailed off into silence. John Baumgartner, who plays Kevin Malone on NBC comedy Work, was one of the numerous fans who caught Laurens singing snafu and Tweeted about this, rapidly moving her title right into a top ten Twitter trending subject. Oh Lauren Alaina Poor you. Poor poor you. he authored. Lauren could jump in at risk, Whose broad stripes and vibrant stars and, having a smile on her behalf face, finished towards the delight from the patrons within the offered-out stadium, who cheered noisally. FOXs Joe Buck, the television announcer for the overall game, summed up best, saying, Its about the way you finish. On Thursday mid-day, Lauren required possession on her flub in reaction to some Tweet of encouragement from fellow Idol alum, Kellie Pickler. HEY Toy! YOU HANDLED YOURSELF Just Like A Professional! SEND THE BULLIES MY WAY & ILL TELL EM What To Do, Kellie Tweeted. many thanks, Lauren responded. I am not a robot. I've No excuses. I screwed up. Guess what happens can ya do. A Minimum Of didnt fall lower again. Thanks everybody for that kind words, she added just a little later. However I screwed up. Im gonna spend the relaxation during the day being grateful for those my benefits. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Astro Ready For His X Factor Comeback

First Launched: November 22, 2011 4:18 PM EST Credit: FOX Caption Astro and Steve Manley round the X Factor on November 17, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Teenage rapper Astro returns for the X Factor stage on Tuesday, just one week after he was saved from elimination. And after an advisory session along with his mentor, L.A. Reid, and fellow judge Simon Cowell, the teen promises hes coming back strong. These provided great advice, Astro told Access Hollywood on Monday. They just described to keep my thoughts up and Im gonna use that with the relaxation in the competition. The other day around the program, Astro nearly didnt perform for your idol idol judges election, following a 15-year-old had his confidence knocked by his bottom 2 positioning. Many were wondering what show host Steve Manley whispered for the youthful guy while he was getting booed having a boisterous audience, and critiqued with the idol idol judges, but Astro mentioned he am inside the moment, the memory of Steves words escapes him. I dont really remember. I didn't mind inside the moment. I used to be just dedicated to, Am I coping with or else? he told Access. The teen phenom states hes grown within the experience plus it even accomplished good success his Twitter follower count. I'm that is better. Its strange because like following a incident happened after my Muhammad Ali moment on stage my fans elevated by 20,000. And Im getting like 1,000 fans every day and Im getting great advice in the my supporters. Im excited, he mentioned. Astro mentioned hell perform on Tuesday along with his fans in your head. This song Im undertaking now's dedicated to people people my Astronauts, Team Astro and mainly stylish-hop [fans], he mentioned. The X Factor airs at 8/7 C on FOX. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Weekend Box Office: 'Breaking Dawn' Breaks Big, While 'Happy Feet Two' Stumbles

Okay, we all knew that 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' was going to be huge; the only real suspense was: would it be record-breaking huge? (Early answer: Apparently not.) The bigger shockers were the failure of 'Happy Feet Two' to open anywhere near the heights of its smash predecessor, and the stunning success (for a glum indie Oscar hopeful playing on a handful of screens) of George Clooney's 'The Descendants.' 'Breaking Dawn' did break the franchise's own record for its opening midnight screening, which earned $30.25 million in the wee hours of Friday morning (edging out the $30 million benchmark set by 'Eclipse'). And its total take Friday of $72 million was the third largest single-day gross ever, behind the franchise's own 'New Moon' ($72.7 million) and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 ($91 million). Still, numbers like that should have resulted in a weekend total of about $148 million. Instead, distributor Summit is estimating an opening at $139.5 million. That's short of the $142.8 million franchise record set two installments ago by 'New Moon.' It's possible that word-of-mouth on this one isn't as strong as expected. (At this writing, Moviefone's own informal survey finds 'Breaking Dawn' viewers either exuberantly enthusiastic or bitterly disappointed, with raves outnumbering pans about 2-to-1.) It's also possible that some parents and kids took the PG-13 rating seriously and stayed away, given that this installment is much more frank, disturbing, and gory than the first three movies when it comes to topics of sex, pregnancy, and childbirth. Now, $139.5 million is hardly a disappointment, especially when added to overseas grosses for a worldwide debut totaling $283.5 million. Nonetheless, with several big holiday movies opening in the next couple of weeks, 'Breaking Dawn' isn't positioned as well as it could be for the sharp dropoff likely to come over the Thanksgiving holiday. By the way, Taylor Lautner's thriller 'Abduction' has earned an estimated $27.6 million to date, grossing about as much over nine weeks as 'Breaking Dawn' did by the time Lautner first took his shirt off during Friday's first screening. No one expected the dancing penguins of 'Happy Feet Two' to be any kind of competition for first place, but many pundits did expect it to compete favorably with the original, which debuted at $41.5 million five years ago. After all, this one had much of the same cast, similarly striking Antarctic visuals, and 3D surcharges going for it. On the minus side, five years is a long time between sequels for a family movie; many kids who adored the flightless fowl back then have graduated to the relatively chaste vampires and werewolves of 'Twilight.' Also, the penguin craze has cooled since 'March of the Penguins' and 'Happy Feet' ruled the box office. Reviews weren't as strong this time out. Finally, the sequel faced stiff competition not just from 'Breaking Dawn,' but also from fellow family toon 'Puss in Boots,' still holding its own after four weeks in theaters. As a result, 'Happy Feet Two' had to settle for a second-place debut estimated at $22.0 million, about half the opening take that the original enjoyed. Last week's winner, 'Immortals,' faced a steep drop, as action epics tend to do on their second weekends. It lost 62 percent of last week's business and took third place with an estimated $12.3 million. (You wouldn't think the macho 'Immortals' and the estrogen-heavy 'Breaking Dawn' would be competing for the same audience, but the guys who dragged their dates to see the gruesome Greek epic last week probably returned the favor this week for the similarly bloody birth of Bella's baby.) In 10 days, 'Immortals' has grossed $53.0 million. Adam Sandler movies also typically lose half their business the second week; so it was with 'Jack and Jill,' which declined 52 percent dropped to fourth place on estimated earnings of $12.0 million. In two weeks, the comedy has taken in $41.0 million. In its fourth week, 'Puss in Boots' came in fifth with an estimated $10.7 million, down 57 percent from last weekend. In four weeks, the 'Shrek' spinoff has earned $122.3 million. Clooney's 'The Descendants' managed to crack the top 10 even though it's a heavy-themed grown-up movie playing on just 29 screens. It earned an estimated $1.2 million over the weekend, which means an enormous $42,150 per venue. Add that to its earnings since its solid early opening on Wednesday, and you have a total take of $1.3 million. 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' - Trailer No. 2 The full top 10: 1. 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1,' $139.5 million (4,061 screens), new release 2. 'Happy Feet Two,' $22.0 million (3,606), new release 3. 'Immortals,' $12.3 million (3,120), $53.0 million total 4. 'Jack and Jill,' $12.0 million (3,438), $41.0 million 5. 'Puss in Boots,' $10.7 million (3,415), $122.3 million 6. 'Tower Heist,' $7.0 million (2.942), $53.4 million 7. 'J. Edgar,' $5.9 million (1,947), $20.7 million 8. 'A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas,' $2.9 million (1,808), $28.3 million 9. 'In Time,' $1.7 million (1,367), $33.4 million 10. 'The Descendants,' $1.2 million (29), $1.3 million [Photos: Summit, Warner Bros., Fox Searchlight] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman

'Game of Thrones' star to experience 'Arthur' for WB

HaringtonAfter playing the bastard Jon Snow on HBO's "Bet on Thrones," Package Harington looks prepared to display his sword-carrying abilities all over again, as Warner Bros. has drawn on him for that role of King Arthur in "Arthur and Lancelot." An agenda continues to be exercised, but when that's resolved, Harington should have the ability to jump in to the role and start shooting at the begining of 2012. Joel Kinniman has already been in position to experience Lancelot with David Dobkin aboard to create and direct. Plot particulars are vague, despite the fact that Dobkin is famous more for his comedies like "The Marriage Crashers" and "The Modification-Up," associates this pic could be more within the vein of "Braveheart"-style action. Dobkin will even produce with Charles Roven. A start date continues to be looking for early 2012. Warner Bros. and Dobkin happen to be working hard trying to find their two leads, holding chem tests going back month to locate their right duo. Kinniman and Harington were stated to become the first front-runners for roles, even though Kinniman's test was sufficiently good to have an early offer, Harington needed to re-test for that role. Harington eventually outperform the kind of Mike Claflin and the "Bet on Thrones" co-star Richard Maddon. Harington is presently filmming the 2nd season of "Bet on Thrones." Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Judge Orders Press From Hugh Grants or loans Ex & Baby

First Released: November 18, 2011 9:34 AM EST Credit: Getty Images LONDON, U.K. -- Caption Hugh Grant steps out in the United kingdom premiere of Senna in the Curzon Mayfair working in london on June 1, 2011 An English judge has purchased paparazzi to step back from Hugh Grants or loans ex, Tinglan Hong, who states she's been bothered and hounded since she'd an infant using the actor. High Court justice Michael Tugendhat stated Chinese-born Hong continues to be adopted and captured pics of outdoors her London home and feels that her existence is becoming intolerable. She's needed to cancel visits, including ones on her child. She's frightened they are driving together with her child since the distraction causes it to be unsafe, the judge stated. He stated he'd granted an injunction barring harassment of Hong and her daughter. The injunction was granted a week ago, and Tugendhat layed out his reasons for this on Friday. Grants or loans speaker confirmed earlier this year the actor had lately fathered a young child following a brief fling, and that he and 31-year-old Hong stick to good terms. The judge stated the happy couple did their finest to help keep private the truth that they'd a young child, and don't understand how the data arrived at the general public domain. Grant, who built work playing bumbling British charmers, has turned into a high-profile campaigner against media invasion in to the private lives of celebs. He suspects his mobile phone voicemail messages were intercepted through the tabloid News around the globe, and it has known as for tight regulating this news industry. The 51-year-old star of 4 Wedding ceremonies along with a Funeral and Notting Hill is because of give evidence to some British inquiry on media invasion, triggered through the phone-hacking scandal. Tugendhat stated media curiosity about Hong started prior to the infant was created, and incorporated texts and telephone calls from journalists and anonymous phone callers while she was pregnant. One, in This summer, informed her to inform Hugh Grant to seal the (expletive) up about phone hacking. The judge stated a front-page article within the now-defunct News around the globe in April was headlined Hughs Secret Girl and highlighted with pictures of Hong that she'd not agreed. The content thought on whether she was pregnant, as with fact she was, although within the very initial phases, the judge stated. Tugendhat stated Grant had faced paparazzi outdoors Hongs house earlier this year, asking if there is anything he could do or say to ensure they are leave a brand new and frightened youthful mother in peace. They stated show us the infant. He declined. He requested when they think it is appropriate for grown males to become bothering and frightening a parent and baby for commercial profit. They shrugged and required more pictures. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ough Gervais Promises The 2010 Golden Globes Is Going To Be His Last and many Offensive

Maybe Ough Gervais wasn’t kidding when he tweeted he has stated the Holocaust and pedophilia as Golden Globe monologue material. The polarizing Globes host and comedian has had to his blog to convey his true (R-ranked) intent in hosting this season’s ceremony and also to report that he'll be making visitors much more uncomfortable compared to what they felt this past year. Yikes! Gervais describes that hosting the Globes for that “third and certainly final time” would be a difficult decision but “what really expected the total amount making me say yes, was the truth that it might shut up all individuals fucking idiots who stated which i’d not be asked back. Would be that the wrong reason to behave? ' '. It is.” Now that we understand he isn’t using the high road, allow Gervais to describe which from the lower avenues he intentions of using this The month of january 15. “Now here’s the one thing,” Hollywood’s most beloved/hated insulter starts. “The outrage I triggered was obviously, as always, totally from proportion towards the a few things i stated. I don’t think anybody had any to be upset however they were. This season I’m likely to make certain their offence is totally justified. […] Follow me on Twitter and tell me your favourite targets for that monologue. I’m taking pleasure in it already.” Here you decide to go, Movieliners. Tell me whom you’ll be recommending as monologue targets within the space below. · Week a hundred and 90-four - November 2011 [RickyGervais.com]

Puss In Boots Still Atop US Box Office

Tower Heist forms for secondLooks like the luck in the ogre is continuously in place: Shrek spin-off Puss In Boots attracted off an unpredicted second week atop the u . s . states box office according to studio estimations a couple of days ago, while using animated adventure sliding just 3% to think about $33 million. The film's US total now stands at $75.5 million after just 2 days. From the design of this, DreamWorks Animation features a brand-new franchise emerging.And despite beginning in to start with on Friday, Brett Ratner's latest action comedy Tower Heist couldn't deal with the cat, finally ending the weekend in second place with $25.millions of. Due to the star energy involved, it's not quite the impressive haul as possible. Still, the cash was enough to put it before A Very Harold & Kumar 3d Christmas, which must be pleased with third place with $13 million. That's less money than Harold & Kumar Avoid Guantanamo Bay needed within the opening weekend in 2008.Paranormal Activity 3 wound up to fourth place, adding $8.5 million, throughout Time Slid lower to fifth with $7.7 million.At sixth we uncover Footloose, which made $4.5 million, before Real Steel in seventh, which needed in $3.4 million. The Rum Diary began a quick fall lower the charts, landing at eighth with $2.9 million. The Ides Of March was ninth with $2 million, and Moneyball rounded the very best ten, producing $1.9 million.To avoid handles rotten eggs over statistics, mind to Box Office Mojo.

AFM 2011: New Regency, A Business Ink Three-Year Deal (Exclusive)

New Regency has signed a brand new three-year output cope with Berlin-based licenser/distributor A Business, that will provide a Company exclusive privileges to New Regency's slate for Russia and also the other CIS areas.our editor recommendsAFM 2011: Summit Signs Output Handles Russia, GermanyAFM 2011: Very Edge Starting Theatrical Distribution DivisionAFM 2011: Possible Moving to Downtown La Sparks Outrage Incorporated within the deal are such game titles as Andrew Niccol's sleeper sci-fi thriller Over Time featuring Justin Timberlake and action comedy Dark night and Day starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Individually, A Business has signed certification handles five separate Russian free-Television channels, including market leader Funnel One, for any package of 105 films from the library. Additionally towards the New Regency game titles, the contracts range from the hotly anticipated Cloud Atlas from company directors Tom Tywker and Andy and Lana Wachowski. A Business is really a co-producer on Atlas, which stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugh Grant and it is presently shooting at Studio Babelsberg in Germany. The Television deals were signed individually with every individual funnel but they are carefully matched permitting 5 Russia systems different runs for individual game titles. The contracts don't range from the first TV run of Cloud Atlas, that your Clients are holding back before the project will get nearer to completion. Related Subjects AFM Worldwide Cloud Atlas AFM 2011 Over Time New Regency Productions

The 'Safe House' Trailer: Denzel Washington can be a Bad House Guest

.publish-content img Quick warning: if you want to become totally spoiler-free heading to the February action film 'Safe House,' you almost certainly desire to stay away from the trailer. Much less what's spoiled is actually surprising -- think 'Man on Fire' coupled with 'Training Day' as well as the Jason Bourne movies -- nevertheless it does appear to stop a few in the film's twists. That likely won't matter, though, once the action can be as balls-out since it seems. The plot: Denzel Washington plays a dangerous rogue CIA agent transfered with a safe house that Ryan Reynolds is watching in Nigeria. Explosions, explosions, explosions. Double crosses. Triple crosses. Badass Denzel! Pretty clever trailer, that's expected since director Daniel Espinosa was responsible for the cult Swedish film 'Snabba Cash.' 'Safe House' hits theaters on Feb. 12, 2012. Watch a clip in HD at Apple. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

CTV orders more 'Saving Hope'

Canuck broadcaster CTV bought 12 one-hour cases of original hospital drama "Saving Hope" as parent Bell Media introduced an professional reshuffle of the production unit on Wednesday. Series is professional produced by Thump Corporation. founder Ilana Frank ("Rookie Blue"), Lesley Harrison and veteran TV helmer David Wellington, who's also the series director. Co-created and put together by Malcolm MacRury and Morwyn Brebner, "Hope" was inspired having a three-part quantity of articles, launched in 2005, by Globe and Mail scribe Ian Brown, who spent eight days in Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. "Hope" stars Michael Shanks ("Stargate Atlantis") as Dr. Harris, chief surgeon from the imaginary Toronto hospital, who is dependant on coma and wanders the wards in spirit form. Erica Durance ("Smallville") stars as his girlfriend and fellow surgeon, and Joel Goran ("The Vampire Journals") might be the new surgeon.An plane pilot was shot this summer season. Unsure yet on when lensing begins. Bell Media is re-striving its production unit, headed by senior V . p . Corrie Coe, to reflect development and production by genre across all Bell characteristics, a general change in the funnel-focused model. Trish Williams is just about the unit's director of drama (shows airing across CTV, Space, Muchmusic and Bravo) Sarah Fowlie is director of comedy (these together with the Comedy Network) and Susan Makela is director of Canadian programming management. Coe is constantly helm Bell's factual and reality series development and production. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com