Christopher McDonald
Hollywood character actor Christopher McDonald at first specialized in playing uptight and slightly vexing young urban professionals. When the material demanded it, McDonald occasionally heightened th...
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02/14/1955
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‘Happy Endings’ Casting Scoop: There Is a Third Kerkovich Sister — EXCLUSIVE
February 12, 2013 1:20pm ESTIf you love Happy Endings then you’re going to be absolutely overjoyed by this news: There is a third Kerkovich sister! Yes, that's right: Hollywood.com can exclusively report that Jane (Eliza Coupe) and Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) have an older sister, and we'll meet her later this year in the Season 3 finale. Hollywood.com recently sat down Happy Endings creator David Caspe, and after ooh-ing and aah-ing over the show’s consistently amahzing storylines, we got down to the goods: When are we going to meet more of the Happy Endings gang’s extended family? Between Megan Mullally, Damon Wayans Sr., and Christopher McDonald, the quirky show has cast some of comedy’s best and brightest to play the parents of our sensational sextet. RELATED: 'Happy Endings' Double Recap: Who Got Engaged?! “We’ve talked a little bit about maybe meeting Alex and Jane’s older sister. We haven’t really made a decision or figured out who would do it,” Caspe shared. Since our initial chat with the creator, we have confirmed with the powers that be at Happy Endings that the show is indeed searching for the third Kerkovich sister. Not only will this be the first time meeting another of the gang's siblings, it'll also be the very first time fans will have heard of a third sister. “We’ve talked about it, but we have not mentioned it before on the show,” Caspe said. One thing we know for sure is this actress will have some very high heels to fill in this year’s finale — remember last season’s perfection known as Mandonna? Of the new family member, Caspe revealed, “She out Janes Jane, and when she’s in town she turns Jane into Alex.” Yikes! So who has what it takes to be the oldest sister in this meat-loving Serbian family? We’re glad you asked! Check out the top five ladies we think could be a perfect addition to the Kerkovich clan in our Happy Endings dreamcast! RELATED: 'Happy Endings' Recap: The Kickball Episode Finally Arrives! 1. Anna Camp: Sure she’s a little on the young side, but for those of you who’ve witnessed the insta-classic Pitch Perfect, we know that no one can play a perfectionist quite like Camp. We’ve seen this actress portray an uptight pastor’s wife in True Blood, and watched her shine as the kind-hearted yet very opinionated best friend in The Mindy Project. Basically she’s had the personality of a Kerkovich for years now, she’s just never been on Happy Endings. 2. Malin Akerman: We’ve seen this actress in multiple hilarious roles, so we already know that she’s got the comedic chops to keep up with the Happy Endings crew. Plus she was most recently seen on another ABC fave, Suburgatory, so you know the network already has her on speed-dial. 3. Christina Applegate: Now that Applegate has decided to leave Up All Night, we imagine that her schedule is wide open. It’s obvious that multi-cam is not her thing, so she should come to Happy Endings so see what life is like when you don’t have to worry about babies and such. Mix a little bit of Reagan Brinkley‘s Type A personality and Kelly Bundy’s ditziness and we’ve got the formula for the perfect Kerkovich. RELATED: 'Happy Endings' Recap: Friendship... It Will Kill Us All 4. Elizabeth Banks: Who wouldn’t want to have this actress as your sister? Banks is the epitome of a likeable blonde, something that Jane and Alex have perfected over the past three seasons. Plus now that 30 Rock is over (RIP Liz Lemon), we need an excuse to get Banks back on the small screen before she's whisked away to the Capitol yet again. 5. Lisa Kudrow: It wouldn’t be a dream casting unless we added the queen of quirky blondes into the mix. It's easy to list her past work and all the reasons why she'd be wonderful, but all we really have to say is it’s Lisa Freakin’ Kudrow! The woman can do no wrong. Who do you think has what it takes to be the third Kerkovich sister on Happy Endings? Cast your vote in the comments below! Follow Leanne on Twitter @LeanneAguilera [Photo Credit: Danny Feld/ABC, FamyFlynet (3), FayesVision/Wenn, Wenn] From Our Partners: 40 Hottest Celeb Twitpics of the Month (Vh1) 'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit Issue: A Visual History (Celebuzz)
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'Boardwalk Empire' Season 3 Premiere: Jimmy, We Miss You Already
September 16, 2012 7:35pm ESTThat Bobby Cannavale was so much nicer on Will & Grace. When the last season of Boardwalk Empire closed out with a bullet to the head of Jimmy Darmody — the character whom many considered to be the backbone of the HBO series — fans felt more or less unconvinced that the show could carry on with the same weight or emotional investment it had managed through its first two years on air. Season 2 especially lent its primary focus to Jimmy, shifting away from Nucky for entire episodes to lend development and examination to Michael Pitt’s tortured war veteran, absent father and husband, criminal protégée to the Atlantic County treasurer, and incestuous son to Gretchen Mol’s Gillian Darmody. Boardwalk seemed like Jimmy’s show, where it had begun under the premise that it was Nucky’s alone. The mentality behind this strategy — shifting gears only to drop Jimmy in the end of the season, thus reverting back to Nucky as the central antihero — was perplexing. The aftermath does seem to bear evidence to its birth from this confusion. Nucky’s story kicks off, on the eve of 1923, with Steve Buscemi’s master crook conducting business — with partners Munya “Manny” Horvitz (William Forsythe), Mickey Doyle (Paul Sparks), and right-hand-man Owen Sleater (Charlie Cox, now a cast regular — and instituting a new procedure for the distribution of alcohol. Nucky will sell exclusively to Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), a fact that disappoints the likes of George Remus (Glenn Fleshler), et al, but particularly enrages season newcomer Gyp Rosetti (Cannavale). We meet Rosetti in the episode’s introductory scene. Automotive complications land him roadside, taking a favor from a passing dog owner with a case of oil in his car. An innocuous remark from the good Samaritan sends Rosetti into enough of a rage to bash the man’s head in with a crowbar; later on, this rage (albeit not exacted) is apparent in Rosetti’s conversation with Nucky about the latter’s decision to cut off his distribution of alcohol. Nucky’s decision is sparked by the advice of his politician “friend” Harry Daugherty (Christopher McDonald), who wants Nucky to be more careful lest he find himself (and his allies — Daugherty included) the subject of a news story for illicit business. Thus, Nucky tidies up his act to the point of dealing only with Rothstein. But obviously, Rosetti was not introduced into this series to be the kind of guy who takes news like this calmly. So what’s the angle here? A rougher, more unpredictable enemy? That seems to be the sell: Rosetti’s actions are meant to shock us, to suggest that he’s the exception to this organized game. As if most of Nucky’s would-be assailants so far have maintained spotless records of calculation or professionalism. Detective Van Alden (Michael Shannon) is a venerable psychopath. Al Capone (Stephen Graham) is a childlike hothead. We’re reminded of the latter in this very episode. This show has never had its deficit of unbalanced foes, so what makes Rosetti so compelling or unique that he should be able to lead the peril (for Nucky) in Season 3? And if he isn’t meant to do so, then who or what is? I suppose Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) might provide Nucky with a fair share of enmity, although of a different sort. In the premiere, we see a refresh of her feministic values — she celebrates female pilot Carrie Duncan’s pioneering of the breakdown of gender barriers, and looks toward the institution of a program for the hospital (of which she and Nucky are benefactors) that would help teach pregnant women about prenatal care. Her ambitions get in the way of Nucky’s business; this disparity in interests will undoubtedly escalate toward the crumbling of their marriage this season. Nucky is already seen enjoying extramarital encounters. The question is, how significant will the destruction of Nucky’s and Margaret’s relationship become? Will she also pose a threat to his career? Will his love for and investment in her children become the real issue for Buscemi’s character? Or will he prove entirely heartless and risk or discard everything in the name of success and glory? The memory of the fallen Darmodys is more present over in an Atlantic City brothel run by Gillian, although it is not Jimmy’s mother who is holding onto the spirit of her son or his wife Angela (Aleksa Palladino, who was murdered by Horvitz last season) — it’s Richard Harrow (Jack Huston), the series’ breakout character with a hopeless devotion to both deceased parties (Angela especially). While Gillian is bent on erasing all recollection of Jimmy and Angela in the mind of their son Tommy — her son now, as far as she’s concerned — Richard makes it a point to teach young Tommy about his beautiful, golden-hearted mother... until Gillian catches an earful and demands ever-so-manipulatively that he keep his mouth shut. “Look to the future,” she suggests. He’s not really into that. Instead, he heads out for the night and shoots Manny Horvitz dead right in the man’s doorway. As interesting a character as Richard is, it seems unpromising to think that Huston will be shafted alongside young Tommy this season. The murder of Manny might suggest that Richard will be out on the warpath of revenge, maybe hunting down the likes of Eli Thompson (Shea Whigham), Mickey, and Nucky himself. Of course, then the show would really be over, so we shouldn’t actually expect that. Meanwhile, over in Illinois, Al Capone is still a hot-blooded gangster, but another old friend has turned over a new leaf: Van Alden, who is now going by alter ego George Mueller, working as a door-to-door salesman, and living in a cramped apartment with an unhappy Sigrid (Christiane Seideil) and his daughter Abigail. But Van Alden is pulled back into the game by chance, when he happens upon a run-in between Capone and Irish gangster Dean O’Banion (Arron Shiver). Helping O’Banion out of a jam with an improvised performance as the man’s hired gun, Van Alden earns the crook’s favor and a job offer. He might be getting his first full-fledged step onto the criminal side of the prohibition deal… and perhaps might see his first shine of financial fortune since we met him. Of the stories introduced in the premiere, Van Alden’s is the most interesting, if only to see where the depths of his psycho character will fall next. The man has no discernible sense of reality. His staunch appreciation of right and wrong cannot be defined, as he is so far gone from a sane mind that any viewer would be hard pressed to identify what he deems appropriate. All this, delivered expertly by Shannon, makes for an undoubtedly exciting story to come this year. Unfortunately, Nucky’s case does not hold the same luster. Sure, Cannavale might be a fun addition to the series. But is he really anything new? Just another egomaniacal crook with his finger perpetually on the trigger? Jimmy’s absence is palpable in this premiere, as you can’t forge the kind of relationship that he and Nucky had between any other two characters on this show. Their mutual broken-hearted hatred, sorrow, distrust, sense of betrayal, it was the show’s lifeblood. And now all we have is another angry mobster who wants his rum. Hopefully, Van Alden’s adventures to come are strong enough to carry both stories. Maybe with a little help from Richard? Episode Body Count: 4 Season Body Count: 4 [Photo Credit: HBO] More: 'Boardwalk Empire': A Deep Dive 'Saturday Night Live' Recap: Seth MacFarlane Gets Laughs, and the Boys Take Over 'The X Factor' Premiere Part 2: You Can't Be Pretty And Talented
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Catching Up With 'SYTYCD' Alums: Where Are They Now?
July 04, 2012 6:02am ESTWatching reality show competitions are a little bit like falling in love. At first, the initial attraction is purely based on what you see, but as time goes on, you become more and more invested in the relationship, and do everything you can (be it voting or never-ending praying) to keep your all-time favorites in your life and on your TV screens. Whether it be American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, or So You Think You Can Dance, we've all loved and lost in one form or another. And now that SYTYCD is in the midst of its ninth season, we here at Hollywood.com thought it would be fun to check in on our past favorite dancing alums and see what they've been up to since leaving the show. From earning law degrees to becoming full-out dance instructors, these former contestants have gone on to accomplish quite a bit since we last saw them. Here's what we were able to find out after a whole lot of stalking some very extensive research. Name: Chelsie Hightower Season: 4 Where She Is Now: Chelsie is currently a Dancing With the Stars professional. She choreographs all the dance routines for her celebrity dance partners, which have consisted of Jake Pavelka, Michael Bolton, and most recently, Roshon Fegan. Photo credit: Fox Name: Dmitry Chaplin Season: 2 Where He Is Now: Dmitry went on to become a Dancing With the Stars professional who has been partnered with the singer Mya and supermodel Petra Nemcova. Though he hasn't participated as a permanent DWTS partner in the past few seasons, he continues to appear in guest performances throughout the show. He is also a member of the DWTS Live in Las Vegas cast that performs at the Tropicana Theater. Photo credit: Fox Name: Lacey Schwimmer Season: 3 Where She Is Now: Lacey is also a regular dancer and former dance pro on Dancing With the Stars. Currently, Lacey is also a cast member of the DWTS Live in Las Vegas show, showing fan-favorite dances from past seasons. Photo credit: Fox Name: Kupono Aweau Season: 5 Where He Is Now: Not only did Kupono dance alongside Madonna at the Super Bowl Halftime show this year, but he was also featured in her "Girls Gone Wild" music video. Currently, Kupono is traveling all over the world as a dance member in Madonna's MDNA Tour 2012. Photo credit: Fox Name: Kamilah Barrett Season: 1 Where She Is Now: Kamilah has since created her very own dance style called Heel Hop, which she now goes around teaching to the world. Heel Hop is a dance style inspired by hip-hop, modern, salsa, and ballroom dance styles. Kamilah's Heel Hop is based in LA, but she is hosting classes in the DC Area this summer. Photo credit: Fox Next: See who has their own clothing line.Name: Jordan Casanova Season: 8 Where She Is Now: Jordan currently has a clothing line site called KARflash.com, which sells dancewear clothes at great prices for both dance groups and individuals, allowing her to add modeling into her growing repertoire. She also continues to pursue and fulfill her dream of dancing by taking classes and performing in several different dance events like participating on The Voice or Napa Valley's Broadway Playhouse production of Cabaret. Photo credit: Fox Name: Sandra Colton Season: 1 Where She Is Now: Sandra is now the Editor-in-Chief at a publishing company called Dance Track Magazine. She's also released a book called BOOK ME! which is about how to become a successful working dancer in Hollywood. Photo credit: Fox Name: Faina Savich Season: 3 Where She Is Now: Faina is currently a Judicial Intern at the New York State Supreme Court and is expected to graduate from Fordham Law School in 2014. However, she still makes sure to keep dancing in her life and is a dance instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Center. She is also a regular dancer at McDonald Selznick Associates. Photo credit: Fox Name: Ashlé Dawson Season: 1 Where She Is Now: Ashle is now working in New York City as a guest faculty member at the well-known Broadway Dance Center — New York's most prestigious dance school. She is also the proud director of "Ashlé & Co.", a pre-professional dance company based in New Jersey. Photo credit: Fox Name: Courtney Galiano Season: 4 Where She Is Now: Courtney revealed in April of this year that she's been diagnosed with MS, however she continues to dance professionally even to this day and has participated in a few episodes of Glee. She will also be shown in Stand Up Guys starring Al Pacino and Christopher Walken in 2013. Since her diagnosis, Courtney has funneled a portion of the registration fees for her dance workshop "The Beat" into a foundation that she and her brother have created called "Beat MS." Photo credit: Fox Name: Mark Kanemura Season: 4 Where He Is Now: Mark is now one of Lady Gaga's professional male back up dancers. He is currently touring with the superstar singer on her Born This Way Ball tour. Let's all take a moment to be jealous. Photo credit: Fox Names: Evan Kasprzak, Thayne Jasperson, Jess LeProtto, and Alex Wong Seasons: 5, 4, 8, and 7 Where The Are Now: Though these four former contestants were from completely different seasons on the show, they're all currently working together as part of the ensemble for the new Broadway musical Newsies, which also happened to win several Tony Awards this year. So, in a way, I guess you could say they're all Tony Award-winners now. Not a bad thing to be able to add onto their already impressive resumes. Photo credit: Fox Name: Melissa Sandvig Season: 5 Where She Is Now: Melissa is currently a freelance dancer, performing with companies such as the Sacramento Ballet, the Helios Dance Theater, and the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet. She is also a certified Pilates instructor and a ballet teacher at the Long Beach Ballet. And if that wasn't enough on her plate already, Melissa additionally goes on tour with the Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention as a ballet teacher. Photo credit: Fox Name: Benji Schwimmer Season: 2 Where He Is Now: Benji, brother of DWTS pro and former SYTYCD contestant Lacey Schwimmer, is the founder of his band called "The Weekend Forecast" who have an album out on iTunes called "Sun, Doubt & Scenic Routes." He also continues to be a dancer and choreographer in his spare time. Photo credit: Fox Name: Victor Smalley Season: 6 Where He Is Now: Victor is now one of the main dance instructors on the popular reality show Dance Moms Miami, which goes behind the scenes at the Miami-based Stars Dance Studio. Photo credit: Fox Next: Find out who's having a Wicked good time.Name: Ben Susak Season: 2 Where He Is Now: Since his time in the spotlight on So You Think You Can Dance, Ben has set his sights to the Broadway theater and currently plays the character Chistery in the San Diego production of Wicked: The Musical. Photo credit: Fox Name: Will Wingfield Season: 4 Where He Is Now: Will is now the President of a creative and artistic design company called The Mete Fizikel, which specializes in Dance 4 Film, Theater, Live Stage Performance, TV Commercial Work, and Artistic Development. Photo credit: Fox Name: Alexie Agdeppa Season: 7 Where She Is Now: Currently, Alexie is traveling all over the United States, teaching on dance conventions and offering master classes at private studios and events including Dance RAW and Showstoppers Dance Convention. She also teaches Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary-modern, Jazz Funk, and Hip-hop at Dellos Dance and Performing Arts Academy. Aside from teaching, Alexie continues to audition and book dance/acting jobs while taking a master class at the Howard Fine Acting Studio. Photo credit: Fox Name: Jamie Bayard Season: 4 Where He Is Now: Though he continues to be a dance coach and performer, Jamie is also an International Dance Department Professor at Orange County High School of the Arts. Additionally, Jamie offers coaching for dancers of all levels at a dance company called JB Dance. Photo credit: Fox Name: Billy Bell Season: 7 Where He Is Now: Billy is a member and founder of the Lunge Dance Collective — a project-based dance company that was created to expose young artists to each other and create a stronger network for them to help start their careers. Photo credit: Fox Name: Ryan "Ryanimay" Conferido Season: 1 Where He Is Now: Ryan is a member of the dance group Quest Crew. He was also recently part of LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," "Champagne Showers," and "Sexy And I Know It." But Ryan's talents extend further than just dancing — he's also an amateur hairstylist. In fact, the crew has coined him the official hair designer of the group as he often cuts and styles all of their hair. Photo credit: Fox Name: Hokuto "Hok" Konishi Season: 3 Where He Is Now: Along with Ryan, Hokuto is also a lead member of the dance troupe Quest Crew, who won the third season of America's Best Dance Crew. Photo credit: Fox Names: Ashleigh Di Lello and Ryan Di Lello Season: 6 Where They Are Now: Married dance couple Ashleigh and Ryan are currently exceptional choreographers whose routines have been used by Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, and several other professional dance/theater companies from all over. Though Ashleigh is currently recovering from hip surgery, Ryan was recently in What To Expect When You're Expecting and is currently dancing in DWTS Live in Las Vegas. They remain happily married even to this day. Photo credit: Fox Name: Natalie Fotopoulos Season: 2 Where She Is Now: Much like many other SYTYCD contestants, Natalie has opted to turn her attention toward theater and is currently a member of the cast of the Broadway Musical "Wicked" on their U.S. Tour. Photo credit: Fox Name: Allan Frias Season: 1 Where He Is Now: Allan is currently a Hip Hop teacher at the Dance Mission Theater, which just so happens to be the home of his group Mind Over Matter that performs all over the Bay Area. Allan also directs the Junior Jam youth performance program at the Golden State Warriors. Photo credit: Fox Next: See who performed in the on-screen adaption of Rock of Ages.Name: Susie Garcia Season: 4 Where She Is Now: Besides continuing to dance for live audiences, Susie has also managed to dabble in film, including the major motion picture production of Rock of Ages, where she plays one of the dancers. Additionally, she is the owner of the Show Stopper Dance Studio. Photo credit: Fox Name: Jason Glover Season: 5 Where He Is Now: Preferring to keep his dance talents mostly in the theater realm, Jason is now currently a member of the Festival Ballet Theatre company. Photo credit: Fox Name: Neil Haskell Season: 3 Where He Is Now: Neil has most recently been on a United States tour as a cast member of Bring It On: The Musical, a production inspired by the Kirsten Dunst comedy of the same name. Photo credit: Fox Name: Donyelle Jones Season: 2 Where She Is Now: Donyelle continues to keep dance and music a part of her every day life by teaching hip hop classes at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood. Photo credit: Fox Name: Kourtni Lind Season: 4 Where She Is Now: Like many other former So You Think You Can Dance contestants, Kourtni has decided to take her dance talents to the Great White Way and is currently an ensemble member of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. Photo credit: Fox Names: Nick Lazzarini and Travis Wall Seasons: 1 and 2 Where They Are Now: Nick and Travis both belong to a contemporary dance company called Shaping Sound, which Travis himself created. They, along with 24 other talented dancers, have put on two very successful shows in L.A. and are also stars of the Oxygen network's All the Right Moves, — a reality docu-series premiering this summer that follows Nick, Travis, and others as they launch the company and live together in Hollywood. Photo credit: Fox Name: Sasha Mallory Season: 8 Where She Is Now: Sasha's incredible dance moves eventually caught the eye of none other than the Queen of Pop herself: Madonna, who nabbed Sasha as one of her very own back up dancers. Sasha has also previously danced for the likes of Adam Lambert and Rihanna. Photo credit: Fox Name: Janette Manrara Season: 5 Where She Is Now: Janette has been keeping herself very busy with her professional dancing career and is currently touring in Sydney Australia with the ballroom dancing extravaganza team called Burn the Floor. Photo credit: Fox Name: Ashlee Nino Season: 2 Where She Is Now: Ashlee just got back from a South America tour with Selena Gomez and is also the newest member of the all girl Romones Tribute Band called "The Ramonas." Photo credit: Fox Name: Ricky Palomino Season: 3 Where He Is Now: Ricky has made it his mission to pass on his knowledge and joy of a dance to others and is now the Artistic Director at the Poetry In Motion Dance Company in Minneapolis, Minn. It's a professional, youth and adult training facility designed to help dancers make their way into the professional dance industry. Photo credit: Fox Name: Kherington Payne Season: 4 Where She Is Now: Kherington is currently participating in Cabaret at the Napa Valley Opera House. She is also involved in the interactive web series called Dance Showdown, in which famous YouTube personalities are paired together with professional dancers to compete against other teams. Kherington made her film debut in 2009, playing Alice Ellerton in the reinvention of Fame. Photo credit: Fox Follow Kelly on Twitter @KellyBean0415 SYTYCD Alum
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Hugh Jackman, James Corden & Once triumph at Tony Awards
June 11, 2012 5:00am ESTHugh Jackman had a very special night at the Tony Awards on Sunday (10Jun12) - his actress wife Deborra-Lee Furness surprised him with the Special Tony Award for his work onstage. The Australian actor jetted to his adopted New York City for the prizegiving during a break in the filming of Les Miserables in Europe and was left speechless when his partner strutted out onstage to honour her "special man" with one of the night's big trophies. Furness admitted she was thrilled to have her husband back after four months of filming on location, but she joked, "There's nothing more romantic after not seeing your husband for four months than to have our first night back together on a Broadway stage with 12 million people watching." The actor stepped up onstage and told the audience, "She's (Furness) never kept a secret her entire life. (She said), 'I'm just off to the loo (restroom),' and I was like, 'OK, see you in a bit!'" Jackman ended his acceptance speech by urging his "incredible" wife to share the spotlight with him and told her, "I love you with all my heart. I know how much you hate public speaking; this is probably the greatest thing you've ever done for me. Really. It means the world to me." He wasn't the only actor paying a heartfelt tribute to his partner at the Tonys - British comedian James Corden singled out his girlfriend Julia Carey for a special mention during his Best Actor acceptance speech. He said, "My girlfriend, Julia, gave birth to our son, like, five days before we started rehearsals and she's my baby momma and I can't wait to marry her. "I would not be holding this if it wasn't for her. She made me say 'us' instead of 'I' and 'we' instead of 'me' and I love her." Elsewhere, it was a huge night for the stage musical adaptation of hit movie Once, which picked up eight of its 10 nominations, including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for star Steve Kazee. Peter & the Starcatcher was another big hit at the Tonys, claiming four awards, while Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, Newsies, and Nice Work if you Can Get It picked up two gongs apiece. The list of winners is: Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play - Judith Light (Other Desert Cities) Best Orchestrations - Martin Lowe (Once) Best Choreography - Christopher Gattelli (Newsies) Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical - Michael McGraw (Nice Work if You Can Get It) Best Book of a Musical - Enda Walsh (Once) Best Sound Design of a Play - Darron L West (Peter & the Starcatcher) Best Sound Design of a Musical - Clive Goodwin (Once) Best Direction of a Musical - John Tiffany (Once) Best Direction of a Play - Mike Nichols (Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman) Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play - Christian Borle (Peter & the Starcatcher) Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical - Judy Kaye (Nice Work if You Can Get It) Best Costume Design of a Play - Paloma Young (Peter & the Starcatcher) Best Costume Design of a Musical - Gregg Barnes (Follies) Best Original Score - Alan Menken & Jack Feldman (Newsies) Best Revival of a Play - Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Best Scenic Design of a Play - Donyale Werle (Peter & the Starcatcher) Best Scenic Design of a Musical - Bob Crowley (Once) Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Natasha Katz (Once) Best Play - Clybourne Park Best Revival of a Musical - The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical - Steve Kazee (Once) Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play - James Corden (One Man, Two Guvnors) Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play - Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur) Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical - Audra McDonald (The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess) Best Musical - Once Lifetime Achievement Award - Emanuel Azenberg Regional Theatre Award - The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C. Isabelle Stevenson Award - Bernadette Peters Special Tony Award - Hugh Jackman
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Tonys 2012: The Winners
June 10, 2012 3:37pm ESTWhile not as mainstream or easily accessible as the Hollywood film scene and its awards show The Oscars, The Tonys, the entertainment industry's annual celebration of all things Broadway, may be just as important as its big screen counterpart. Maybe even more so — a Tony win can lead to recognition in puts the spotlight on a show, actor or creative behind-the-scenes contributor. Suddenly, their theatrical endeavor is mainstream, and so is everything they do after. The Tonys is a career making show — the Academy Awards can't always say the same. Tonight's show could kickstart a number of careers. Find out who the winners are by keeping up with this page all night! The Tonys begin tonight, June 10, at 8 EST on CBS. The winners appear in bold: Best Play Claybourne Park Other Desert Cities Peter and the Starcatcher Venus in Fur Best Musical Leap of Faith Newsies Nice Work If You Can Get It Once Best Book of a Musical Lysistra Jones, Douglas Carter Beane Newsies, Harvey Fierstein Nice Work If You Can Get It, Joe DiPietro Once, Enda Walsh Best Original Score Bonnie & Clyde, Music: Frank Wildhorn, Lyrics: Don Black Newsies, Music: Alan Menken, Lyrics: Jack Feldman One Man, Two Guvnors, Music & Lyrics: Grant Olding Peter and the Starcatcher, Music: Wayne Barker, Lyrics: Rick Elice Best Revival of a Play Death of a Salesman Gore Vidal's The Best Man Master Class Wit Best Revival of a Musical Evita Follies The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Jesus Christ Superstar Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors Philip Seymour Hoffman, Death of a Salesman James Earl Jones, Gore Vidal's The Best Man Frank Langella, Man and Boy John Lithgow, The Columnist Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur Trcie Bennett, End of the Rainbow Stockard Channing, Other Desert Cities Linda Lavin, The Lyons Cynthia Nixon, Wit Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Danny Burstein, Follies Jeremy Jordan, Newsies Steve Kazee, Once Norm Lewis, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Rob Raines, Follies Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Jam Maxwell, Follies Audra McDonald, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Cristin MIlloti, Once Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It Laura Osnes Bonnie & Clyde Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Tom Edden, One Man, Two Guvnors Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher Michael Cumpsty, End of the Rainbow Andrew Garfield, Death of a Salesman Jeremy Shamos, Clybourne Park Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Spencer Kayden, Don't Dress for Dinner Celia Keenan-Bolger, Peter and the Starcatcher Judith Light, Other Desert Cities Linda Emond, Death of a Salesman Condola Rashad, Stick Fly Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Phillip Boykin, em>The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Michael Cerveris, Evita Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It David Alan Grier, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Josh Young Jesus Christ Superstar Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Jayne Houdyshell, Follies Jessie Mueller, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Elizabeth A. Davis, Once Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It Da'Vine Joy Randoplh Ghost the Musical Best Direction of a Play Nicholas Hytner, One Man, Two Guvnors Mike Nichols, Death of a Salesman Pam MacKinnon, Clybourne Park Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher Best Direction of a Musical Diane Paulus, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Jeff Calhoun, Newsies Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It John Tiffany, Once Best Choreography Rob Ashford, Evita Christopher Gattelli, Newsies Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It Steven Hoggett, Once Best Orchestrations William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Danny Troob, Newsies Bill Elliot, Nice Work If You Can Get It Martin Lowe, Once Best Scenic Design of a Play Daniel Ostling, Claybourne Park John lee Beatty, Other Desert Cities Donyale Werle, Peter and the Starcatcher Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors Best Scenic Design of a Musical Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll, Ghost the Musical Tobin Ost and Sven Ortel, Newsies George Tsypin, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Bob Crowley, Once Best Costume Design of a Play Paul Tazewell, A Streetcar Named Desire Don't Dress for Dinner, William Ivey Long Paloma Young, Peter and the Starcatcher Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors Best Costume Design of a Musical ESosa, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Gregg Barnes, Follies Eiko Ishioka, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Martin Pakledinaz, Nice Work If You Can Get It Best Lighting Design of a Play Peter Kaczorowski, The Road to Mecca Kenneth Posner, Other Desert Cities Jeff Croiter, Peter and the Starcatcher Brian MacDevitt, Death of a Salesman Best Lighting Design of a Musical Christopher Akerlind, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Natasha Katz, Follies Natasha Katz, Once Hugh Vanstone, Ghost the Musical Best Sound Design of a Play Paul Arditti, One Man, Two Guvnors Gareth Owen, End of the Rainbow Darron L. West, Peter and the Starcatcher Scott Lehrer, Death of a Salesman Best Sound Design of a Musical Acme Sound Partners, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Kai Harada, Follies Clive Goodwin, Once Brian Ronan, Nice Work If You Can Get It ="font-style:> More: 'Once', Philip Seymour Hoffman, Andrew Garfield Earn 2012 Tony Nods 'Once' the Musical: Can an Indie Hit Make a Broadway Smash?
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'Once', Philip Seymour Hoffman, Andrew Garfield Earn 2012 Tony Nods
May 01, 2012 6:07am ESTIt was a great big morning for the Great White Way: The nominations for the 66th Annual Tony Awards were announced on Tuesday with the adapted musical Once leading the pack with 11 nominations. Broadway vets Kristin Chenoweth and Jim Parsons read the names of the nominees, which included some of their fellow Hollywood elite like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield, who earned nominations for their work in the harrowing play Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. (Cynthia Nixon, James Earl Jones, John Lithgow, Frank Langella, Stockard Channing, and Mike Nichols are among the other notable nominees this year.) Though Once, the stage interpretation of the beloved 2007 indie breakout, is out in front with 11 nominations (including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Choreography, and nods for its two leads Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti) The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Nice Work If You Can Get It follow closely with 10 each. While it was no surprised that surefire things like the hit musicals Newsies and Follies earned Tony nods (8 each, to be exact) there were a few snubs and shockers. Most notable was the lack of a nomination for Evita star Ricky Martin in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (the show itself surprisingly only earned three nods total) and Samuel L. Jackson for his turn as Martin Luther King Jr. in the play The Mountaintop. But, perhaps the biggest surprise of the morning was that the troubled-from-the-start production Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark received two Tony nominations. Here's the full list of nominees and recipients, including Hugh Jackman, who will be given the Special Tony Award: Best Musical Leap of Faith Newsies Nice Work If You Can Get It Once Best Play Clybourne Park Other Desert Cities Peter and the Starcatcher Venus in Fur Best Revival of a Play Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Gore Vidal’s The Best Man Master Class Wit Best Revival of a Musical Evita Follies The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Jesus Christ Superstar Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play James Corden - One Man, Two Guvnors Philip Seymour Hoffman - Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman James Earl Jones - Gore Vidal’s The Best Man Frank Langella - Man and Boy John Lithgow - The Columnist Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Nina Arianda - Venus in Fur Tracie Bennett - End of the Rainbow Stockard Channing - Other Desert Cities Linda Lavin - The Lyons Cynthia Nixon - Wit Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Danny Burstein - Follies Jeremy Jordan - Newsies Steve Kazee - Once Norm Lewis - The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Ron Raines - Follies Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Jan Maxwell - Follies Audra McDonald - The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Cristin Milioti - Once Kelli O’Hara - Nice Work If You Can Get It Laura Osnes - Bonnie & Clyde Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher Michael Cumpsty, End of the Rainbow Tom Edden, One Man, Two Guvnors Andrew Garfield, Death of a Salesman Jeremy Shamos, Clybourne Park Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Linda Emond, Death of a Salesman Spencer Kayden, Don’t Dress for Dinner Cella Keenan-Bolger, Peter and the Starcatcher Judith Light, Other Desert Cities Condola Rashad, Stick Fly Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Phillip Boykin, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Michael Cerveris, Evita David Allen Grier, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It Josh Young, Jesus Christ Superstar Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Elizabeth A. Davis, Once Jayne Houdyshell, Follies Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It Jesse Mueller, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost Best Direction of a Play Nicholas Hytner, One Man, Two Guvnors Pam MacKinnon, Clybourne Park Mike Nichols, Death of a Salesman Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher Best Direction of a Musical Jeff Calhoun, Newsies Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It Diane Paulus, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess John Tiffany, Once Best Book of a Musical Lysistrata Jones Newsies Nice Work If You Can Get It Once Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Bonnie & Clyde Newsies One Man, Two Guvnors Peter and the Starcatcher Best Choreography Rob Ashford, Evita Christopher Gattelli, Newsies Steven Hoggett, Once Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It Best Scenic Design of a Play John Lee Beatty, Other Desert Cities Daniel Ostling, Clybourne Park Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors Donyale Werle, Peter and the Starcatcher Best Scenic Design of a Musical Bob Crowley, Once Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll, Ghost the Musical Tobin Ost and Sven Ortel, Newsies George Tsypin, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark Best Costume Design of a Play William Ivey Long, Don’t Dress for Dinner Paul Tazewell, A Streetcar Named Desire Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors Paloma Young, Peter and the Starcatcher Best Costume Design of a Musical Gregg Barnes, Follies ESosa, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Eiko Ishioka, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark Martin Pakledinaz, Nice Work If You Can Get It Best Lighting Design of a Play Jeff Croiter, Peter and the Starcatcher Peter Kaczorowski, The Road to Mecca Brian MacDevitt, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Kenneth Posner, Other Desert Cities Best Lighting Design of a Musical Christopher Akerlind, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Natasha Katz, Follies Natasha Katz, Once Hugh Vanstone, Ghost the Musical Best Sound Design of a Play Paul Arditti, One Man, Two Guvnors Scott Lehrer, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Gareth Owen, End of the Rainbow Darron L. West, Peter and the Starcatcher Best Sound Design of a Musical Acme Sound Partners, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Clive Goodwin, Once Kai Harada, Follies Brian Ronan, Nice Work If You Can Get It Best Orchestrations William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Bill Elliott, Nice Work If You Can Get It Martin Lowe, Once Danny Troob, Newsies Isabelle Stevenson Award Bernadette Peters Special Tony Award Actors’ Equity Association Hugh Jackman Neil Patrick Harris who tweeted, "Tony nominations. The biggest day in the world for a very small faction of people" will host the show for the third time in his career. The 66th Annual Tony Awards will air live from the Beacon Theater in New York City on CBS on June 10 at 8 PM ET. Which shows and stars were you glad to see get Tony nominations? Who got snubbed? Sound off in the comments section below, Broadway babies! More: Neil Patrick Harris To Host The 2012 Tony Awards Hugh Jackman To Receive Honorary Tony Award Once the Musical: Can an Indie Hit Become a Broadway Smash?
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Once leads Tony Awards with 11 nominations
May 01, 2012 5:45am ESTThe popular show has garnered nods across the board including the coveted Best Musical category at the 66th annual prizegiving, which honours the best on Broadway. Once will go up against Leap of Faith, Newsies and Nice Work If You Can Get It for the top prize. Meanwhile Clybourne Park, Other Desert Cities, Peter and the Starcatcher and Venus in Fur will all compete for the Best Play accolade. Hollywood star Phillip Seymour Hoffman is nominated in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his part in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and he'll go head-to-head with John Lithgow (The Columnist), Frank Langella (Man and Boy), James Earl Jones (Gore Vidal's The Best Man) and James Corden (One Man, Two Guvnors) for the honour. Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon is up for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play title for her turn in Wit but she'll face stiff competition from Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur), Tracie Bennett (End of the Rainbow), Stockard Channing (Other Desert Cities) and Linda Lavin (The Lyons). Also landing mentions were new Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield for his feature role in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and David Alan Grier for his part in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. The winners will be unveiled at the prizegiving ceremony, hosted by funnyman Neil Patrick Harris, on 10 June (12) at The Beacon Theatre in New York City. The main list of nominees is as follows: Best Play: Clybourne Park Other Desert Cities Peter and the Starcatcher Venus in Fur Best Musical: Leap of Faith Newsies Nice Work If You Can Get It Once Best Book of a Musical: Lysistrata Jones - Douglas Carter Beane Newsies - Harvey Fierstein Nice Work if You Can Get It - Joe Dipietro Once - Enda Walsh Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre: Bonnie & Clyde - Frank Wildhorn and Don Black Newsies - Alan Menken and Jack Feldman One Man, Two Guvnors - Grant Olding Peter and the Starcatcher - Wayne Barker and Rick Elice Best Revival of a Play: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Gore Vidal's The Best Man Master Class Wit Best Revival of a Musical: Evita Follies The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Jesus Christ Superstar Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: James Corden - One Man, Two Guvnors Philip Seymour Hoffman - Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman James Earl Jones - Gore Vidal's The Best Man Frank Langella - Man and Boy John Lithgow - The Columnist Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Nina Arianda - Venus in Fur Tracie Bennett - End of the Rainbow Stockard Channing - Other Desert Cities Linda Lavin - The Lyons Cynthia Nixon - Wit Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Danny Burstein - Follies Jeremy Jordan - Newsies Steve Kazee - Once Norm Lewis - The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Ron Raines - Follies Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Jan Maxwell - Follies Audra McDonald - The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Cristin Milioti - Once Kelli O'Hara - Nice Work If You Can Get It Laura Osnes - Bonnie & Clyde Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Christian Borle - Peter and the Starcatcher Michael Cumpsty - End of the Rainbow Tom Edden - One Man, Two Guvnors Andrew Garfield - Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Jeremy Shamos - Clybourne Park Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Linda Emond - Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Spencer Kayden - Don't Dress for Dinner Celia Keenan-Bolger - Peter and the Starcatcher Judith Light - Other Desert Cities Condola Rashad - Stick Fly Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Phillip Boykin - The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Michael Cerveris - Evita David Alan Grier -The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Michael McGrath - Nice Work If You Can Get It Josh Young - Jesus Christ Superstar Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Elizabeth A. Davis - Once Jayne Houdyshell - Follies Judy Kaye - Nice Work if You Can Get It Jessie Mueller - On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Da'Vine Joy Randolph - Ghost the Musical Best Direction of a Play: One Man, Two Guvnors - Nicholas Hytner Clybourne Park - Pam MacKinnon Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman - Mike Nichols Peter and the Starcatcher - Roger Rees and Alex Timbers Best Direction of a Musical: Newsies - Jeff Calhoun Nice Work If You Can Get It - Kathleen Marshall The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess - Diane Paulus Once - John Tiffany Best Choreography: Evita - Rob Ashford Newsies - Christopher Gattelli Once - Steven Hoggett Nice Work If You Can Get It - Kathleen Marshall Best Orchestrations: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess - William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke Nice Work If You Can Get It - Bill Elliott Once - Martin Lowe Newsies - Danny Troob.
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Running legend True found dead
April 04, 2012 7:15am ESTThe athlete went missing last week (begs27Mar12) after going for a 12-mile (19.3 kilometre) jog in Gila National Forest and on Saturday (31Mar12) a search and rescue team discovered his body beside a small stream. A cause of death is not yet known as officials are waiting to perform an autopsy. New Mexico State Police Lieutenant Robert McDonald tells ABCNews.com, "The body was released to the office of the medical investigator who will conduct an autopsy. From what everybody was told, they didn't find anything out of the ordinary whatsoever where he was found. No signs of blunt trauma or anything like that." True first rose to fame as the subject of Christopher McDougall's best-selling novel, Born to Run, which focused on how he lived among a desert-dwelling tribe in the Copper Canyons of Mexico. Maggie Gyllenhaal's actor husband Peter Sarsgaard has recently signed on to bring the book to life as a big screen adaptation.
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SXSW 2012: '21 Jump Street,' 'Cabin in the Woods' Lead the Fest's Full Slate
February 01, 2012 9:59am ESTIf Sundance is the studious valedictorian of film festivals, than South by Southwest is the party animal younger broth—who's just as smart (if not more) as his stuffy sibling. Held in Austin, Texas every March, SXSW is a rootin' tootin' celebration of cinema, hosting big Hollywood premieres, the best of the best from Sundance and plenty of off-beat indies primed and ready for discovery. Some of the year's best films premiere at the festival—need I remind you of Kill List—and most make their way to release, making SXSW a festival to keep your eye on. The line-up for this year's fest has been officially release, and sports highly anticipated movies like Jonah Hill's 21 Jump Street and Cabin in the Woods, the long-awaited meta-horror from Lost/Cloverfield writer Drew Goddard and producer Joss Whedon, the premiere of Judd Apatow's new TV show Girls (written and starring Lena Dunham) and new projects from acclaimed directors like William Friedkin (The Exorcist), Kevin McDonald (Last King of Scotland), Will Ferrell, Jay Chandrasekhar of Broken Lizard and the Duplass Brothers (Cyrus). Check out the films below and let us know which ones you want to hear more about! HEADLINERS Big names, big talent: Headliners bring star power to SXSW, featuring red carpet premieres and gala film events with some major and rising names in cinema. Films screening in Headliners are: 21 Jump Street Directed by: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, Screenplay by: Michael Bacall, Story by: Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill Police officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) get sent back to high school as undercover cops in the action-comedy 21 Jump Street. Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, with Ice Cube (World Premiere) BIG EASY EXPRESS Director: Emmett Malloy Emmett Malloy’s latest film invites us aboard a train ride unlike any other with Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show. (World Premiere) The Cabin in the Woods Director: Drew Goddard, Screenwriters: Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes The Cabin in the Woods, a mind-blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out. Cast: Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Anna Hutchison, Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford (World Premiere) Decoding Deepak Director: Gotham Chopra Filmmaker Gotham Chopra spends a year on the road decoding his father and spiritual icon Deepak Chopra. (World Premiere) Girls Director/Screenwriter: Lena Dunham Created by and starring Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture), the HBO show is a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their early 20s. Cast: Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver (World Premiere) The Hunter (Australia) Director: Daniel Nettheim, Screenplay by: Alice Addison, Novel by: Julia Leigh, Original Adaptation by: Wain Fimeri A mercenary is dispatched from Europe to the Tasmanian wilderness by a mysterious biotech company to search for the last surviving Tasmanian tiger. Cast: Willem Dafoe, Frances O'Connor, Sam Neill (U.S. Premiere) Killer Joe Director: William Friedkin, Screenwriter: Tracy Letts A garish, Southwestern tale - a violent black comedy about a desperate Texas debtor (Hirsch) who plots to kill his mother with help of his family (Haden Church, Gershon). They hire a crazy Dallas cop who moonlights as a contract killer (McConaughey) to do the job, but Killer Joe asks for their teenage daughter (Temple) as a retainer. The film is based on Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts' (August: Osage County) award winning play. Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Gina Gershon, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church (U.S. Premiere) MARLEY (UK / USA) Director: Kevin Macdonald The definitive life story of Bob Marley - musician, revolutionary, legend - from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. Directed by Academy-Award-Winner Kevin Macdonald. (North American Premiere) NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are: Booster Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted. Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail (World Premiere) Eden Director: Megan Griffiths, Screenwriters: Richard B. Phillips, Megan Griffiths, Story by: Richard B. Phillips & Chong Kim A young Korean-American girl, abducted and forced into prostitution by domestic human traffickers, joins forces with her captors in a desperate plea to survive. Cast: Jamie Chung, Matt O'Leary, Beau Bridges, Jeanine Monterroza, Scott Mechlowicz (World Premiere) Gayby Director/Screenwriter: Jonathan Lisecki Jenn and Matt, best friends since college who are now in their thirties, decide to have a child together, the old-fashioned way - even though Matt is gay and Jenn is straight. Cast: Jenn Harris, Matthew Wilkas, Mike Doyle, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Jack Ferver (World Premiere) Gimme the Loot Director/Screenwriter: Adam Leon When Malcolm and Sofia’s latest graffiti masterpiece is buffed by a rival gang, these two determined Bronx teens must hustle, steal, and scheme to get spectacular revenge and become the biggest writers in the City. Cast: Tashiana Washington, Ty Hickson, Meeko, Zoe Lescaze, Sam Soghor (World Premiere) Los Chidos (Germany / Mexico / USA) Director/Screenwriter: Omar Rodriguez Lopez The Gonzales family tries hard to hold on to their beautiful Latino traditions of misogyny and homophobia when a tall, white, industrialist stranger appears, challenging their place in the exploitative food chain. Cast: Kim Stodel, María De Jesús Canales Ramírez, Manuel Ramos, Cecillia Gutiérrez, (World Premiere) Pilgrim Song Director: Martha Stephens, Screenwriters: Martha Stephens, Karrie Crouse A pink-slipped music teacher ponders his stalled relationship and place in the world during an arduous trek across Kentucky’s Sheltowee Trace Trail. Cast: Timothy Morton, Bryan Marshall, Karrie Crouse, Harrison Cole, Michael Abbott Jr. (World Premiere) Starlet Director: Sean Baker, Screenwriters: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch The film explores the unlikely friendship between 21-year-old Jane (Dree Hemingway), and 85 year-old Sadie (Besedka Johnson), two women whose worlds collide in California's San Fernando Valley. Cast: Dree Hemingway, Besedka Johnson, Stella Maeve, James Ransone, Karren Karagulian (World Premiere) The Taiwan Oyster Director: Mark Jarrett, Screenwriters: Mark Jarrett, Jordan Heimer, Mitchell Jarrett Two Ex-Pat Kindergarten teachers in Taiwan embark on a quixotic odyssey to bury a fellow countryman. Cast: Billy Harvey, Jeff Palmiotti, Leonora Lim (World Premiere)NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT High profile narrative features receiving their World, North American or U.S. Premieres at SXSW. Films screening in Narrative Spotlight are: The Babymakers Director: Jay Chandrasekhar, Screenwriters: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow Unable to impregnate his wife, Tommy and friends rob a sperm bank - to get Tommy's long-ago donated sperm back. The crazy plan goes hilariously awry and shows how far a couple will go to create a new life. Cast: Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn, Kevin Heffernan, Wood Harris, Nat Faxon (World Premiere) Crazy Eyes Director: Adam Sherman, Screenwriters: Adam Sherman, Dave Reeves & Rachel Hardisty Just another story about love. Cast: Lukas Haas, Madeline Zima, Jake Busey, Tania Raymonde, Regine Nehy (World Premiere) Do-Deca-Pentathalon Director/Screenwriter: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass Two brothers compete in their own private 25-event Olympics. Cast: Mark Kelly, Steve Zissis, Elton LeBlanc (World Premiere) Fat Kid Rules The World Director: Matthew Lillard, Screenwriters: Michael M.B. Galvin, Peter Speakman Troy, a depressed overweight teenager, gets sucked into the punk rock world by Marcus, a charming street musician. But when Troy discovers Marcus’ drug addiction, he suddenly must figure out the true boundaries of friendship. Cast: Jacob Wysocki, Matt O'Leary, Billy Campbell, Lilli Simmons, Dylan Arnold (World Premiere) frankie go boom Director/Screenwriter: Jordan Roberts a flick by bruce about his little brother frank who's a crybaby fuck who shouldn't do lame-ass embarrassing shit if he dozn't want people 2 see it Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Chris O'Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Perlman, Chris Noth (World Premiere) Hunky Dory (UK) Director: Marc Evans, Screenwriter: Laurence Coriat From the producer of Billy Elliot comes this funny, coming of age film featuring songs from artists such as David Bowie, Lou Reed, The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Dusty Springfield and Electric Light Orchestra. Cast: Minnie Driver, Aneurin Barnard, Danielle Branch, Robert Pugh, Haydn Gwynne (North American Premiere) In Our Nature Director/Screenwriter: Brian Savelson Taking place over a single weekend, an estranged father and son accidentally end up in the same country house with their two girlfriends. Cast: Zach Gilford, Jena Malone, John Slattery, Gabrielle Union (World Premiere) Keyhole (Canada) Director: Guy Maddin, Screenwriters: Guy Maddin, George Toles I'm only a ghost... but a ghost isn't nothing. Cast: Isabella Rossellini, Jason Patric, Udo Kier, Kevin McDonald, Tattiawna Jones (U.S. Premiere) See Girl Run Director/Screenwriter: Nate Meyer What happens when a 30-something woman allows life's "what ifs" to overwhelm her appreciation for what life actually is. Disregarding her current obligations, she digs into her romantic past in hopes of invigorating her present. Cast: Robin Tunney, Adam Scott, Jeremy Strong, William Sadler, Josh Hamilton (World Premiere) Small Apartments Director: Jonas Åkerlund, Screenwriter: Chris Millis When Franklin Franklin accidentally kills his landlord, he must hide the body; but, the wisdom of his beloved brother and the quirks of his neighbors, force him on a journey where a fortune awaits him. Cast: Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, James Caan, Johnny Knoxville, Juno Temple (World Premiere) Somebody Up There Likes Me Director/Screenwriter: Bob Byington Time flies for everyone: Thirty-five years in the life of Max, his best friend Sal, and a woman they both adore. A deadpan fable about time sneaking up on and swerving right around us. Cast: Keith Poulson, Nick Offerman, Jess Weixler, Stephanie Hunt, Kevin Corrigan (World Premiere) DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION This year’s 8 films were selected from 845 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Documentary Feature Competition are: Bay of All Saints Director: Annie Eastman As the last of the notorious water slums is demolished in Bahia, Brazil, will three single mothers face homelessness or rally for a better life? (World Premiere) Beware of Mr. Baker Director: Jay Bulger Ginger Baker is the original rock ‘n roll madman junkie drummer superstar who everyone thought was dead but somehow survived 50+ years of heroin abuse, disastrous experiments and 5 marriages on 4 continents. (World Premiere) The Central Park Effect Director: Jeffrey Kimball The film reveals the extraordinary array of wild birds who grace Manhattan’s celebrated patch of green, and the equally colorful, full-of-attitude New Yorkers who schedule their lives around the rhythms of migration. (World Premiere) Jeff Director: Chris James Thompson A documentary about the people around Jeffrey Dahmer during the 1991 summer of his arrest for the murder of 17 people in Milwaukee. (World Premiere) Seeking Asian Female Director: Debbie Lum When an American man with "yellow fever" meets a Chinese woman half his age online, documenting their attempt to build a marriage from scratch reveals hilarious and troubling complications for the couple and the filmmaker. (World Premiere) The Sheik and I Director: Caveh Zahedi Commissioned by a Middle Eastern Biennial to make a film on the theme of "art as a subversive act," independent filmmaker Caveh Zahedi (I am a Sex Addict) is threatened with a fatwa. (World Premiere) The Source Directors: Jodi Wille, Maria Demopoulos The Source Family was a radical experiment in '70s utopian living. Their popular restaurant, rock band, and beautiful women made them the darlings of Hollywood; but their outsider ideals led to their dramatic undoing. (World Premiere) Welcome To The Machine Director: Avi Zev Weider Upon fathering triplets, filmmaker Avi Zev Weider explores the nature of technology, seeking answers about what it means to be human. (World Premiere) DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT Shining a light on new documentary features receiving their World, North American or U.S. Premieres at SXSW. Films screening in Documentary Spotlight are: $ELLEBRITY Director: Kevin Mazur Renowned celebrity photographer, Kevin Mazur, gives us an all access pass to the life behind the velvet rope and in front of the camera. Candid, revealing and bold interviews with Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Elton John and more, take us inside the blurred lines of privacy, pliable journalism, celebrity, fame and what it feels like to be consumed. (World Premiere) America's Parking Lot Director: Jonny Mars Pull up a front row seat as two die-hard fans of 'America's Team' spend their last season with the Dallas Cowboys at historic Texas Stadium, and scramble to preserve their place in America’s Parking Lot. (World Premiere) The Announcement Director: Nelson George On Thursday, November 7, 1991, Earvin “Magic” Johnson made the stunning announcement that he was HIV-positive and would be retiring from basketball immediately. The Announcement gets to the core of Magic’s incredible personal journey. (World Premiere) Beauty Is Embarrassing Director: Neil Berkeley A funny, irreverent and inspirational look into the life and times of one of America's most important artists, Wayne White. (World Premiere) Brooklyn Castle Director: Katie Dellamaggiore Amidst financial crises and unprecedented public school budget cuts, Brooklyn Castle takes an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs facing members of a junior high school’s champion chess team. (World Premiere) Code of the West Director: Rebecca Richman Cohen Frames a high stakes showdown in the halls of the Montana State Legislature. The future of medical marijuana is at stake. (World Premiere) Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes Director: M. Slinger A true document of the art and culture of glass pipe-making. It is the first film to ever bring to light this invisible sub-culture in a comprehensive and well-informed format. (World Premiere) Girl Model Directors: A. Sabin, David Redmon Young Russian girls join a modeling agency to seek work in Japan, but get caught up in an unregulated system that reveals an unseemly side of the fashion industry. (U.S. Premiere) Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters Director: Ben Shapiro Acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson’s 10-year quest to create a series of haunting, surreal, and stunningly elaborate portraits of small-town American life — filmed with unprecedented access as he makes perfect renderings of a disturbing, imperfect world. (World Premiere) Just Like Being There Director: Scout Shannon Through the eyes of Daniel Danger, Jay Ryan, and the gig poster community, Just Like Being There focuses on poster artists, the music they commemorate, MONDO film posters, fans, bloggers, galleries, collectors and everything in between. (World Premiere) Scarlet Road (Australia) Director: Catherine Scott The film follows the extraordinary work of Australian sex worker, Rachel Wotton. Impassioned about freedom of sexual expression and the rights of sex workers, she specializes in a long over-looked clientele - people with disability. (North American Premiere) Trash Dance Director: Andrew Garrison A choreographer finds beauty and grace in garbage trucks, and against the odds, rallies reluctant city trash collectors to perform an extraordinary dance spectacle. On an abandoned airport runway, two dozen sanitation workers -- and their trucks -- inspire an audience of thousands. (World Premiere) Waiting For Lightning Director: Jacob Rosenberg From the producers of Step into Liquid, comes the story of visionary skateboarder Danny Way, who jumped China’s Great Wall and created a new movement in sport. (World Premiere) Wikileaks: Secrets & Lies (UK) Director: Patrick Forbes The in-depth story of Wikileaks told by all the key players. Sulphurous, personal and moving, it documents history in the making at the lawless frontier of new technology and mainstream media. (North American Premiere) WONDER WOMEN! The Untold Story of American Superheroines Director: Kristy Guevara-Flanagan This documentary examines the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman and introduces audiences to a dynamic group of real life superheroes who continue to fight the good fight both on and off the screen. (World Premiere) EMERGING VISIONS Audacious, risk-taking artists in the new cinema landscape that demonstrate raw innovation and creativity in documentary and narrative filmmaking. Films screening in Emerging Visions are: Black Pond (UK) Directors: Tom Kingsley, Will Sharpe, Screenwriter: Will Sharpe An ordinary family is accused of murder when a stranger dies at their dinner table. Stars BAFTA-winner Chris Langham and British Comedy Award Winner Simon Amstell. Cast: Chris Langham, Simon Amstell, Amanda Hadingue, Colin Hurley, Will Sharpe (North American Premiere) Dollhouse (Ireland) Director/Screenwriter: Kirsten Sheridan Five street teens break into a house in a rich Dublin suburb for a night of partying. But games are twisted into something more emotional and ultimately out of control through a series of surprising revelations. Cast: Seana Kerslake, Johnny Ward, Kate Stanley Brennan, Shane Curry, Ciaran McCabe (North American Premiere) Eating Alabama Director: Andrew Beck Grace A quest to eat locally becomes a meditation on community, the South and sustainability. Eating Alabama is a story about why food matters. (World Premiere) Electrick Children Director/Screenwriter: Rebecca Thomas Rachel, a 15-year-old fundamentalist Mormon, believes she's had an immaculate conception by listening to rock and roll. She flees to Las Vegas to escape an arranged marriage, seeking answers to her mysterious pregnancy. Cast: Julia Garner, Rory Culkin, Liam Aiken, Billy Zane (North American Premiere) Extracted Director/Screenwriter: Nir Paniry A scientist is trapped in the memories of a criminal and must solve a crime in order to get back home to his family. Cast: Sasha Roiz, Dominic Bogart, Jenny Mollen, Nick Jameson, Brad Culver (World Premiere) Francine (Canada / USA) Director/Screenwriter: Brian M. Cassidy, Melanie Shatzky Academy-Award-winner, Melissa Leo, plays Francine, a woman struggling to find her place in a downtrodden lakeside town after leaving behind a life in prison. Cast: Melissa Leo, Keith Leonard, Victoria Charkut (North American Premiere) Funeral Kings Director/Screenwriter: Kevin Mcmanus, Matthew Mcmanus For three 14-year-old boys at St. Mark's Middle School, it's always a good day for a funeral. Cast: Dylan Hartigan, Alex Maizus, Jordan Puzzo, Charles Odei, Kevin Corrigan (World Premiere) Hard Labor (Brazil) Director/Screenwriter: Juliana Rojas, Marco Dutra Helena prepares to open her own business: a neighborhood grocery store. She hires a maid. But when her husband Octavio is suddenly fired from his job, Helena is left to support the family alone. Cast: Helena Albergaria, Marat Descartes, Naloana Lima, Marina Flores (U.S. Premiere) La Camioneta - The Journey of One American School Bus Director: Mark Kendall On a 3,000-mile adventure across the borders between the Americas, La Camioneta follows the journey of one out-of-service American school bus as it is repaired, repainted and resurrected into a Guatemalan camioneta. (World Premiere) The Last Fall Director/Screenwriter: Matthew A. Cherry An NFL journeyman struggles to deal with life's complexities after his professional career is over at age 25. Cast: Lance Gross, Nicole Beharie, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Harry Lennix, Keith David (World Premiere) Leave Me Like You Found Me Director/Screenwriter: Adele Romanski Big trees, broken hearts. The story of a lovesick couple’s breakup & makeup while camping in the wilds of California. Cast: Megan Boone, David Nordstrom (World Premiere) PAVILION Director/Screenwriter: Tim Sutton Max, a quietly troubled 15-year-old, leaves his lakeside town to live with his father on the sun-blasted fringe of suburban Arizona. What begins in a calm and lush environment ends in a drastic, frayed confusion. Cast: Max Schaffner, Zach Cali, Cody Hamric, Addie Barlett, Aaron Buyea (World Premiere) Sun Don't Shine Director/Screenwriter: Amy Seimetz Two lovers, on the back roads of Florida, do very bad things. Cast: Kate Lyn Sheil, Kentucker Audley, AJ Bowen, Kit Gwinn, Mark Reeb (World Premiere) Sunset Stories Directors: Silas Howard, Ernesto Foronda, Screenwriter: Valerie Stadler When May returns to LA and runs smack into JP, the man she left behind, past and present collide sending them on a twenty-four hour journey in search of what they lost. Cast: Monique Curnen, Sung Kang, Joshua Leonard, Mousa Kraish, Michelle Krusiec (World Premiere) Tchoupitoulas Director: Bill Ross, Turner Ross Three young brothers' immersive journey into the sensory wonders of the New Orleans night. (World Premiere) Thale (Norway) Director/Screenwriter: Aleksander L. Nordaas The film revolves around huldra, a mythical, tailed creature, found by two crime scene cleaners in a concealed cellar. Someone’s been keeping her down here for decades, for reasons soon to surface. Cast: Silje Reinåmo, Jon Sigve Skard, Erlend Nervold, Morten Andresen (North American Premiere) Wildness Director/Screenwriter: Wu Tsang A magical-realist portrait of the Silver Platter, a historic bar in Los Angeles that provides a safe space for Latin/LGBT immigrant and queer art communities to come together in love and conflict. WOLF Director/Screenwriter: Ya'ke Smith A family is shaken to the core when they discover their son has been molested. As they struggle to deal with the betrayal, their son heads towards a total mental collapse. Cast: Irma P. Hall, Mikala Gibson, Jordan Cooper, Shelton Jolivette, Eugene Lee (World Premiere) 24 BEATS PER SECOND Showcasing the sounds, culture and influence of music and musicians, with an emphasis on documentary. Films screening in 24 Beats Per Second are: Amor Cronico (Cuba / USA) Director: Jorge Perugorria Weaving footage of singer Cucu Diamantes’ Cuban tour into a fictional love story. The result is an energetic display of her glamorous and infectious performance style and a fascinating portrait of Cuba today. Cast: Cucu Diamantes, Adela Legra, Liosky Clavero, Andres Levin, Jorge Perugorria (World Premiere) Bad Brains: Band in DC Directors: Mandy Stein, Benjamen Logan How four young men from DC changed music forever. (World Premiere) Charles Bradley: Soul of America Director: Poull Brien The incredible late-in-life rise of 62-year-old aspiring soul singer Charles Bradley, whose debut album rocketed him from a hard life in the projects to Rolling Stone magazine’s top 50 albums of 2011. (World Premiere) Daylight Savings Director: Dave Boyle, Screenwriters: Dave Boyle, Michael Lerman, Joel Clark, Goh Nakamura After a devastating breakup, musician Goh Nakamura hits the road with his irresponsible cousin to pursue a promising rebound with fellow musician Yea-Ming Chen. Cast: Goh Nakamura, Michael Aki, Yea-Ming Chen, Lynn Chen, Ayako Fujitani (World Premiere) Grandma Lo-fi: The Basement Tapes of Sigrídur Níelsdóttir (Iceland / Denmark) Director: Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir At the tender age of 70 she started making music - and then she couldn't stop! A tribute to the Danish/Icelandic artist and late bloomer Sigrídur Níelsdóttir. Paul Williams Still Alive Director: Stephen Kessler A documentary filmmaker tracks down actor/singer/songwriter Paul Williams in an attempt to find out what happened to his idol. (U.S. Premiere) Rock 'N' Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen (UK) Director: Don Letts Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, Yoko Ono, Alice Cooper, Billie Joe Armstrong and others discuss the incredible life and work of the world's foremost rock 'n' roll photographer, Bob Gruen. (North American Premiere) Sunset Strip Director/Screenwriter: Hans Fjellestad The 100-year history of the loudest street on the planet, The Sunset Strip. (World Premiere) Under African Skies Director: Joe Berlinger Paul Simon returns to South Africa to explore the incredible journey of his historic Graceland album, including the political backlash he received for allegedly breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime. Uprising: Hip Hop & The LA Riots Director: Mark Ford 20 years after riots ripped through Los Angeles, Uprising documents how hip hop forecasted – and some say ignited – the worst civil unrest of the 20th century. (World Premiere) SX GLOBAL A diverse panorama of international filmmaking talent, including premieres, interactive documentaries and shorts. Films screening in SX Global are: BIJUKA (India) Director: Ashtar Sayed, Screenwriter: Dr. Mahendra Purohit Inspired by a true event. Scarecrow tells the true story of a young woman who is attempting to escape from an abusive arranged marriage. Cast: Arti Rautela, Amit Purohit (North American Premiere) Crulic - The Path to Beyond (Romania / Poland) Director: Anca Damian The animated documentary feature-length “Crulic – The Path to Beyond” tells the story of the life of Crulic, the 33-year-old Romanian who died in a Polish prison while on hunger strike. Cubaton - El Medico Story (Estonia / Sweden) Director: Daniel Fridell El Medico - a Cuban house doctor who wants to become a cubaton star - is facing a serious choice between serving the state and becoming a popstar. (North American Premiere) Her Master's Voice (UK) Director: Nina Conti Watching someone talk to themselves has never been so interesting. (World Premiere) ITALY LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT (Italy / Germany) Directors: Gustav Hofer, Luca Ragazzi Gustav and Luca, two Italians, have to decide: Should they stay in Italy, or leave it? (North American Premiere) Mustafa's Sweet Dreams (Greece / UK) Director: Angelos Abazoglou Mustafa, a 16-year-old pastry shop apprentice dreams of becoming a famous baklava chef in Istanbul. (North American Premiere) Pompeya (Argentina) Director: Tamae Garateguy, Screenwriters: Tamae Garateguy, Diego A. Fleischer When a film director hires two screenwriters to make a gangster movie, a fiction feast starts: femmes fatales, mobs fighting for the same neighborhood and a limitless hero who defies every movie concept. Cast: José Luciano González, Joel Drut, Chang Sung Kim, Vladimir Yuravel, Miguel Forza de Paul (U.S. Premiere) ¡Vivan las Antipodas! (Germany / The Netherlands / Argentina / Chile) Director: Victor Kossakovsky Haven’t we all wondered at some point what was happening just at this moment beneath our very feet at the other side of the planet? FESTIVAL FAVORITES Acclaimed standouts and selected previous premieres from festivals around the world. Films screening in Festival Favorites are: Beast (Denmark) Director/Screenwriter: Christoffer Boe How long will you go, to hold on to the person you love? Cast: Nicolas Bro, Marijana Jankovic, Nikolaj Lie Kaas The Comedy Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Robert Donne, Colm O'Leary Indifferent even to the prospects of inheriting his father's estate, Swanson (Tim Heidecker), a desensitized, aging Brooklyn hipster, strays into a series of reckless situations that may offer the promise of redemption or the threat of retribution. Cast: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, James Murphy, Kate Lyn-Sheil, Alexia Rassmusen Dreams of a Life (UK / Ireland) Director: Carol Morley An imaginative quest to go beyond the newspaper reports and solve the mystery of who thirty-eight year old Joyce Vincent was and why she lay undiscovered for three years after her death in one of the busiest parts of London. (North American Premiere) God Bless America Director/Screenwriter: Bobcat Goldthwait Loveless, jobless, possibly terminally ill, Frank has had enough of the downward spiral of America. With nothing left to lose, Frank takes his gun and offs the stupidest, cruelest, and most repellent members of society. Cast: Joel Murray, Tara Lynne Barr (U.S. Premiere) The Imposter (UK) Director: Bart Layton In 1994 a 13-year-old disappears without trace in Texas. Three years later he resurfaces in Spain with accounts of a horrifying kidnap. His family is overjoyed – but all is not as it seems. Indie Game: The Movie (Canada) Directors: Lisanne Pajot, James Swirsky With the twenty-first century comes a new breed of artist: the indie game designer. These innovators design and program their distinctly personal games in the hope that they may find connection and success. KID-THING Director/Screenwriter: David Zellner A fever-dream fable about Annie, a rebellious girl devoid of parental guidance or a moral compass. She roams the countryside looking for adventure, and finds it one day in the form of an abandoned well. Cast: Sydney Aguirre, Susan Tyrrell, Nathan Zellner, David Zellner, David Wingo Last Call at the Oasis Director: Jessica Yu A powerful argument for why the global water crisis will be the central issue facing our world this century. Lovely Molly Director: Eduardo Sanchez, Screenwriters: Eduardo Sanchez, Jamie Nash Exploring the parallels between psychosis, addiction and demonic possession, Lovely Molly tells the story of what really happens before the exorcist arrives. Cast: Gretchen Lodge, Johnny Lewis, Alexandra Holden (U.S. Premiere) The Raid (Indonesia) Director/Screenwriter: Gareth Huw Evans Rama and his special forces team fight their way through a rundown apartment block with a mission to remove its owner, a notorious drug lord. Cast: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Doni Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian, Pierre Gruno WE ARE LEGION: The Story of the Hacktivists Director: Brian Knappenberger We Are Legion takes us inside the world of Anonymous, the radical "hacktivist" collective that has redefined civil disobedience for the digital age. SPECIAL EVENTS Live Soundtracks, cult re-issues and much more. Our Special Events section offers unusual, unexpected and unique film event one-offs. Films screening in Special Events are: An Evening With Sacred Bones Records Director: Jacqueline Castel Brooklyn-based record label Sacred Bones presents an evening of original and curated programming of music videos, short films, works in progress, and a rare screening of their first film production, Twelve Dark Noons. (World Premiere) Bernie Director: Richard Linklater, Screenwriters: Richard Linklater, Skip Hollandsworth Based on real-life events, this dark comedy follows Bernie Tiede, his recently deceased friend Marjorie Nugent and District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson who is determined to get to the bottom of the crime. Cast: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman, Richard Robichaux Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me Director: Drew Denicola A feature-length documentary about the massive critical acclaim, dismal commercial failure, and enduring legacy of pop music’s greatest cult phenomenon, Big Star. (Work in Progress) Casa de mi Padre Director: Matt Piedmont, Screenwriter: Andrew Steele Will Ferrell plays a Mexican rancher who must defend his father's home against the country's most infamous drug lord. Cast: Will Ferrell, Gael García Vernal, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Nick Offerman Girl Walk // All Day Director/Screenwriter: Jacob Krupnick A feature-length dance music film that combines freestyle dance with the daily chaos of New York City, set to Girl Talk's recent mashup album, All Day. Cast: Anne Marsen, John Doyle, Daisuke Omiya Re:Generation Director: Amir Bar Lev 5 DJ's Turn the Table on The History of Music. Renga (UK) Directors: Adam Russell, John Sear A ground breaking feature-length show controlled entirely by the audience using laser pointers. It is the first viable example of a standalone interactive experience capable of running in commercial movie theatres. (North American Premiere) The Oyster Princess (1919) with original live score by Bee vs. Moth (Germany) Director: Ernst Lubitsch, Screenriters: Hanns Kraly & Ernst Lubitsch The Oyster Princess is Ernst Lubitsch’s tart 1919 silent comedy that parodies the rich and the spoiled. Austin jazz/rock band Bee vs. Moth performs their original score live with the film for the first time. (World Premiere)
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Review of the Year
January 01, 2012 4:00am ESTJuly The month of July was overshadowed by the sudden and shocking death of British singer Amy Winehouse. The Back to Black hitmaker was found dead at her home in London at the age of 27 and the news sent the world of showbusiness into mourning. Tributes poured in from both fans and famous friends following the tragedy, and Winehouse's music shot back into the charts. The headlines were also dominated by celebrity divorces as Jennifer Lopez announced her split from husband of seven years, Marc Anthony, the father of her young twins, Max and Emme. Arnold Schwarzenegger's marriage also came to an abrupt end as his wife Maria Shriver filed for divorce following revelations the actor/politician fathered a lovechild with the family's housekeeper. Scarlett Johansson's divorce from Ryan Reynolds was finalised and Patricia Arquette's split from husband Thomas Jane was also made official. In happier news, all eyes were on Monaco as the world geared up for the second royal wedding of the year, following the union of Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in April. In the same month as the British royals flew to Canada to begin their first international tour as a married couple, Prince Albert of Monaco married his fiancee, South African beauty Charlene Wittstock. The couple exchanged vows in two ceremonies in Monte Carlo and the former swimmer became her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco. British supermodel Kate Moss also became a married woman as she wed rocker Jamie Hince in a lavish ceremony in the English countryside, while it was also an exciting month for the Beckham family as former Spice Girls star Victoria, already mother to three boys, gave birth to her first daughter, Harper Seven. There was also baby joy for Hollywood actress Kate Hudson - she welcomed a son called Bingham with her rocker fiance Matt Bellamy. Singer Jewel, actress Selma Blair and former Fugees star Lauryn Hill also became parents. British artist/director Sam Taylor-Wood also hit headlines after she confirmed she was expecting a second baby with her 21-year-old fiance, actor Aaron Johnson, a year after the birth of their daughter. The couple met on the set of their 2009 film Nowhere Boy and became parents together in 2010. July also saw troubled British rocker Pete Doherty granted his freedom after serving less than half of his six-month prison sentence for cocaine possession. Another beleaguered star to walk free from jail was rapper DMX, who served seven months behind bars for a probation violation. However, David Gilmour’s son Charlie found himself on the other side of the prison walls as he was ordered to serve 16 months in jail for his part in the 2010 student riots in London. The Pink Floyd star’s son was charged with violent disorder for causing chaos in the British capital and swinging from a flag on the city’s Cenotaph war memorial. (LR/ZN) August The usual serenity of the summer months was shattered this year when Kate Winslet cheated death in a devastating inferno at Richard Branson's luxury island home, and a string of British stars appealed for calm as widespread rioting broke out in the U.K. Winslet was holidaying at Virgin boss Branson's Necker Island retreat when lightning struck the property, sparking a huge blaze which gutted the home. Her party of 20 miraculously escaped unscathed - and Winslet was later hailed a heroine after it emerged she carried Branson's 90-year-old mother from the property during the drama. As unrest, looting, and arson broke out for several nights in the U.K., showbiz stars including Idris Elba, Natasha Bedingfield and Boy George called for calm, and there was also bad news for Sir Paul McCartney - who learned his phone had been hacked by the tabloid press - and veteran actress Margot Kidder, who was arrested during an environment protest at the White House. Tragedy struck at the Indiana State Fair, when a horrific stage collapse left seven revellers dead and more than 40 injured, actor Rowan Atkinson was treated in hospital after wrecking his rare sports car by crashing it into a tree, and French actor Gerard Depardieu was left red-faced when he was thrown off a plane in Paris, France for urinating in the cabin after he was refused access to the toilet during take-off. It was ladies night at the MTV Video Music Awards as Katy Perry, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga took home two honours each - and Beyonce announced her pregnancy news. And at the Teen Choice Awards, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez were crowned queens of the event when they scooped whopping 11 awards between them. Kings of Leon finally succumbed to their relentless touring schedule and axed their remaining U.S. dates to allow frontman Caleb Followill to recover from "vocal issues and exhaustion", Aerosmith rocker Tom Hamilton and Deep Purple star Jon Lord both announced they were battling cancer, Bono was hospitalised with chest pains, and Norwegian pop band A-ha thrilled fans by announcing they were to reform. In family news, Kiss star Paul Stanley became a father again, and there were also welcome additions for Ethan Hawke, funnywoman Tina Fey, illusionist David Copperfield, Jessica Alba, and Benicio del Toro, who fathered a child with Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly. There were wedding bells for country singer Chely Wright and filmmaker Sofia Coppola, but romance took a plunge for George Michael and Geri Halliwell, who both split from their partners. Also joining the singles club was Arctic Monkeys rocker Alex Turner, who broke up with MTV presenter Alexa Chung after four years together. The showbiz world bid farewell to songwriting legend Jerry Leiber, who died of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 78, Police Academy star Charles 'Bubba' Smith, Bollywood veteran Shammi Kapoor, blues legend David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Warrant rocker Jani Lane, and Motown hitmaker Nickolas Ashford. (ZN/LR) September September was a month rapper T.I. would like to both remember and forget - he completed an 11-month prison sentence for a probation violation only to run into legal trouble again soon after his initial release for conducting illegal business deals on his way to a halfway house. It wasn't a great month for Madonna either - her movie take on the romance between Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII was savaged by critics at the Venice Film Festival, while her ex-husband Guy Ritchie became a dad again. Celine Dion was left shaken up after an intruder was found running a bath at her Montreal, Canada home; Neil Diamond revealed his engagement, and Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial got underway in Los Angeles as prosecutors attempted to prove the medic was responsible for Michael Jackson's death. R.E.M. announced they were splitting after 31 years; My Chemical Romance fired drummer Michael Pedicone after accusing him of stealing from them; Boyzone singer Ronan Keating swam the Irish Sea for Cancer Research in the U.K., and Sir Paul McCartney became a grandfather again and was named the MusiCares Person of the Year - while he also celebrated as his first ballet score debuted in New York. The Amy Winehouse Foundation was launched on what would have been the tragic singer's 28th birthday, and the star's Body & Soul duet with Tony Bennett became a hit, making the 85-year-old crooner the oldest living artist to have a single in America's Hot 100. Eddie Murphy was confirmed as the host for the 2012 Oscars; model Lauren Bush became Lauren Lauren when she exchanged vows with Ralph Lauren's son David; British funnyman David Walliams braved the chills of the River Thames and a stomach bug to complete a charity 140-mile swim in eight days. Actress Evan Rachel Wood lost a tooth during a boozy night out in Paris; Reese Witherspoon was hospitalised after she was hit by a car while out jogging in Santa Monica, California; soul legend Chaka Khan won temporary custody of her granddaughter after claiming the girl's mother was struggling with drug abuse issues, and British The Saturdays singer Una Healy announced she was pregnant. INXS dropped frontman J.D. fortune for a second time and replaced him with Ciaran Gribbin; Austin Powers henchman Joseph Son was sentenced to life behind bars for a Christmas Eve rape in 1990, and George Clooney went public with his new girl, Stacey Kiebler, at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada. Ashton Kutcher had a month of ups and downs - his debut on TV sitcom Two and a Half Men was a big hit as 28 million Americans tuned in, but then came the news that his marriage to Demi Moore was in trouble amid infidelity rumours. Comedienne Wanda Sykes opened up about her breast cancer battle and double mastectomy; Sharon Stone won a restraining order against an obsessed fan and promptly put the home he visited uninvited on the market, and reality TV star and filmmaker Jack Osbourne announced his engagement to actress Lisa Stelly and followed that up with the news he was to become a dad. Third time was not the charm for Clueless star Stacy Dash, who announced her plans to divorce husband number three, Emmanuel Xuereb, and X-Men star James Marsden's wife also joined the divorce club as she filed papers against her husband. Elizabeth Hurley's love life was on the up - she accepted cricket star Shane Warne's wedding proposal just three months after divorcing Arun Nayar. Meanwhile, Elton John launched his new Million Dollar Piano residency in Las Vegas; Smokey Robinson accepted the coveted Ella Award at the Society of Singers Gala, and the month wrapped up with Shania Twain's alleged stalker pleading guilty to harassing the singer in court in Ontario, Canada. Among September's Hollywood weddings, Amy Smart married reality TV star Carter Oosterhouse; Cougar Town co-stars David Rogers and Sally Pressman became man and wife, and model-turned-actress Molly Sims wed in a Napa Valley vineyard in California. There were also nuptials for British filmmaker Michael Winner and DJ/producer Mark Ronson, while R&B singer Keyshia Cole and former Friends star David Schwimmer both renewed vows with their spouses in Hawaii and London, respectively. There was baby news for model Jodie Kidd, who gave birth to a son; actress Mary McCormack, who became a mum for the third time, and January Jones, who welcomed Xander Dane to the world while staying mum about the tot's father. Actors Emily Deschanel, Ana Ortiz, Mike Myers, Danny McBride and Jenna Fischer also became new parents. In the music world, former Spice Girl Melanie Brown gave birth to her third daughter, and country star John Rich and former Pussycat Dolls member Carmit Bachar welcomed babies too. On September's sick list were rocker Scott Weiland and pop stars Katy Perry and Adele, who both scrapped shows due to illness, while Megadeth headbanger Dave Mustaine underwent surgery for a serious neck injury. The month's big winners included movie mogul Tyler Perry, who was named Forbes magazine's Highest Paid Man in Entertainment; actor Michael Fassbender and director Alexander Sokurov, who claimed Best Actor and Best Film honours, respectively, for Shame and Faust at the Venice Film Festival. Gritty TV drama Boardwalk Empire picked up eight Emmy Awards; Calle 13 landed a record 10 Latin Grammy Award nominations, and Happy Days star Henry Winkler picked up an honorary Order of the British Empire medal at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Also winning: P.J. Harvey, who scooped the Mercury Prize in Britain, Arcade Fire, who claimed Canada's Polaris Prize, and U2 and Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who were named GQ magazine's Men of the Year. September's losers included Scarlett Johansson, who was left exposed in a series of leaked naked phone photos; Cameron Diaz, who split from baseball beau Alex Rodriguez, and John Travolta, whose beloved Mercedes-Benz was stolen outside a Jaguar dealership in Santa Monica, while his Swordfish co-star Halle Berry broke her foot while on location in Spain. Meanwhile, we said a sad goodbye to a slew of famous faces, including actors Andy Whitfield and Cliff Robertson; beloved TV stars Mary Fickett and Vesta Williams; actor Jack Garner; French DJ Mehdi Faveris-Essadi; blues great Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith; R&B hitmaker Vesta Williams; gospel icon Jessy Dixon; celebrated British writer/producer David Croft; Happy Gilmore star Frances Bay, and moviemakers David Pressman, Charles Dubin, George Kachar and Paul Hunt. (KL/MT) October October was a big month for celebrity weddings - funnyman Seth Rogen tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Lauren Miller, Twilight star Nikki Reed married singer/songwriter Paul McDonald, and former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Shannen Doherty walked down the aisle for the third time when she exchanged vows with celebrity photographer Kurt Iswarienko. Also hoping to make it third-time lucky was Robin Williams, who wed graphic designer Susan Schneider. Also taking the plunge was Kiss rocker Gene Simmons, who married his girlfriend of 28 years, Shannon Tweed, and Sir Paul McCartney, who exchanged vows with American heiress Nancy Shevell on what would have been his former Beatles bandmate John Lennon’s 71st birthday. And Sex & the City star Mario Cantone made good use of New York's new gay rights bill by solidifying his love for longtime partner Jerry Dixon. A number of other stars announced their intention to wed in October - NCIS: Los Angeles star Eric Christian Olsen proposed to girlfriend Sarah Wright and Trace Cyrus popped the question to Disney actress Brenda Song. And actress Kaley Cuoco was sporting a new sparkler after boyfriend Josh 'Lazie' Resnik got down on bended knee. Also officially off the market were former child star Frankie Muniz, The Devil Wears Prada actor Stanley Tucci, rapper The Game and Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's grown-up little girl Francis Bean Cobain. A number of other celebrities were prepping their homes for babies - movie star Bruce Willis, American footballer Tony Romo, former Dawson's Creek hunk James Van Der Beek, and actress Kaitlin Olson all announced they are expecting little ones, and Jessica Simpson ended months of speculation by announcing she was pregnant. And October's new parents included Ne-Yo, who welcomed a baby boy, model Ali Landry, who gave birth to her second child, actress Spencer Grammer, who became a first time mum, and France's First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who became a mum for the second time when baby Giulia was born. Reality TV star Tori Spelling took home baby number three, as did Jackass funnyman Johnny Knoxville. And Sex & the City beauty Kristin Davis, The Help actress Viola Davis and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation veteran Mariska Hargitay all adopted babies. But it wasn't such a happy month for rapper Rick Ross, who suffered two seizures on his way to a concert, or socialite Kim Kardashian who filed for divorce from husband Kris Humphries after just 72 days of marriage. In other news, Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto announced he was gay and troubled actress Lindsay Lohan had her probation revoked after failing to complete her required community service hours. She also faced a limousine lawsuit for allegedly neglecting to pay a bill, her dad was arrested - twice, and she was served a lawsuit for reportedly attacking a Betty Ford Clinic employee during her stay there last year (10). Meanwhile, the stars came out to show their support for the Occupy Wall Street protests, which were originally launched in New York City in a bid to end corporate greed, and the world mourned the loss of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, British TV and radio personality Sir Jimmy Savile, The Charlie Daniels Band keyboard player Joel 'Taz' Digregorio, former Weezer star Mikey Welsh, veteran British actress Betty Driver, The Miracles guitarist Marv Tarplin, pianist Roger Williams and IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, who died in a horrific car smash at the Indy300. November British bachelor Hugh Grant stunned the world when he announced he had a new love in his life - a baby girl he had fathered during a brief relationship with Chinese model/actress Tinglan Hong. He wasn't the only star to join the celebrity parents' club in November - singer Lily Allen had a reason to Smile again after giving birth to a daughter, her first child with new husband Sam Cooper, while newsman Piers Morgan and his wife Celia Walden also became parents to a little girl. Maggie Gyllenhaal and her husband Peter Sarsgaard announced they were expecting their second child, as did reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian and her partner Scott Disick. Selena Gomez revealed she is set to become a big sister, while Justin Bieber had some unwanted baby news of his own - he found himself at the centre of a paternity scandal following allegations he had impregnated 20-year-old Mariah Yeater following a backstage tryst in Los Angeles last year (10). The Baby hitmaker denied the claim and Yeater subsequently dropped the lawsuit. Lindsay Lohan's troubles hit the headlines again after she was sentenced to serve 30 days behind bars for a probation violation, although she was released after less than five hours due to jail overcrowding. Dr. Conrad Murray was not so lucky - he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter relating to the death of Michael Jackson and sentenced to the maximum of four years behind bars. In other legal matters, country singer Mindy McCready sparked a manhunt after she took her five-year-old son Zander from his father's Florida home without permission; Tim McGraw won a court battle with his record company bosses releasing him from his contract; and TLC star T-Boz declared bankruptcy. Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling became driving forces in the push to improve British press standards following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal earlier this year (11) - the three stars were called to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry and told how they had had their voicemails, emails and other private messages intercepted by private investigators working on behalf of tabloid reporters. The sporting world mourned the death of boxing great Joe Frazier at the age of 67, just days after it was revealed he was battling liver cancer, while the hip-hop industry was rocked by the passing of rap icon Heavy D, who collapsed outside his Los Angeles home and was later declared dead at 44. British moviemaker Ken Russell also passed away, aged 84, and longtime Oscars producer Gil Cates died at 77. Meanwhile, Beatles fans remembered George Harrison on 29 November as fans marked the 10th anniversary of his death. Veteran pop star George Michael was forced to scrap the remainder of his European tour after he was struck down by a serious bout of pneumonia; Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb also spent time in hospital after suffering abdominal pains, and Adele and Keith Urban had a quiet month as they both recovered from vocal cord surgery, while heavy rock fans rejoiced as the original members of Black Sabbath announced they would be reuniting for a new album and tour in 2012. It was ladies' night at the American Music Awards as Taylor Swift and Adele walked away with three honours each, while Lady Gaga reigned over the MTV Europe Music Awards and newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton ruled the Country Music Association Awards by taking home the two top vocalist prizes. November also saw Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher end weeks of speculation about their marriage by calling it quits, while Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles tied the knot and Anne Hathaway began making plans to wed boyfriend Adam Schulman, and former The Hills star Kristin Cavallari and American footballer Jay Cutler became engaged again, months after they broke off their initial plans to marry. And it was a busy month for the film industry - the latest Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn - Part 1, landed the biggest global debut in the film franchise's history, thanks to a massive $284 million (£177.5 million) opening weekend haul; Golden Globes bosses decided to bring back controversial comedian Ricky Gervais to host his third prizegiving in 2012; Billy Crystal stepped in for Eddie Murphy as the host of the 2012 Academy Awards a day after the comic and producer pal Brett Ratner resigned, and the race for the Oscars kicked off with the Gotham Independent Film Awards, where Terrence Malick's Tree of Life and Mike Mills' acclaimed Beginners made history when they became the first films to tie for the Best Feature prize in the ceremony's 21-year history. December The holiday bells were peeling for newlyweds A.J. McLean, actress Judy Greer, reality TV star Jeff Probst and Yeah Yeah Yeahs rocker Karen O, while Sinead O'Connor married an addiction counsellor in Las Vegas only to call off the union 16 days later. There were also splits for actress Debra Messing and Chaz Bono. Britney Spears led the month's bride and grooms-to-be when she accepted former agent Jason Trawick's proposal on his 40th birthday, while Steven Tyler, John Legend, Matthew McConaughey, basketball legend Michael Jordan and Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood all popped the question to their girlfriends - and there was baby news for new dads Robert De Niro, Halle Berry's ex Eric Benet, actor Charlie Day, Westlife star Kian Egan, actress/singer Fantasia Barrino, Essence Atkins and pop star Dev, while actress Alyson Hannigan, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, Kings of Leon star Caleb Followill's supermodel wife Lily Aldridge, Alessandra Ambrosio and Irish singer Andrea Corr announced they were pregnant. There was drama for rapper Tyler, The Creator, who was arrested for alleged acts of vandalism during a show in Hollywood; singer Christina Perri, who was attacked in a car-jacking incident; Barry Manilow, who underwent hip surgery, and Morrissey, whose concert in Puebla, Mexico was evacuated following an earthquake, while Britain's Prince Philip and R&B star Etta James spent Christmas in hospital. Lindsay Lohan bared all for Playboy magazine; Adam Lambert was arrested in Finland following a pre-Christmas bust-up with his boyfriend; rapper The Game halted a gig in Norway to confront a bottle-throwing fan; boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was sentenced to 90 days in jail for a 2010 fight with his ex; a man who leaked an unfinished new Madonna song online was arrested in Spain, and Michael Douglas' incarcerated son Cameron was handed an extra four-and-a-half years behind bars for another drug conviction. And there was yet more drama for Terrence Howard, who requested a restraining order against his wife; model Lauren Scruggs, who lost her hand and an eye in a freak plane propeller accident; Hollywood couple Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, who had to vacate their home after high winds brought a tree crashing into their living room, and pop star Selena Gomez suffered a family tragedy when her mother miscarried. Meanwhile, Jodie Foster's estranged father was jailed for five years after he was found guilty of a property scam; Angelina Jolie was sued by a Croatian journalist who alleged his chronicle of the Bosnian War inspired her directorial debut; Kirsten Dunst won a restraining order against an obsessed French fan; an extra died of a heart attack while shooting The Dark Knight Rises in New York; Goodfellas actor Tony Darrow was sentenced to six months behind bars for arranging a real-life mob beating, and Charlie Sheen had to change his phone number when he accidentally tweeted it to his followers. The month's big winners included singer Melanie Amaro, who became the first U.S. X Factor winner; Julio Iglesias, who was named Spain's best-selling recording artist of all time; Russell Simmons, who was crowned PETA's Person of the Year; Chaka Khan, who won permanent custody of her granddaughter; Lady Gaga, who was hailed the year's highest earning female musician, and Taylor Swift who picked up Billboard magazine's coveted Woman of The Year honour. Also winning in December: Guns N' Roses, the Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who were all announced as the members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2012, and Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who was named Forbes magazine's Most Lucrative Star. Adele dominated the year's end album and singles polls; Jason Newsted reunited with Metallica for their 30th anniversary bash in San Francisco, and Martin Scorsese's first 3D movie Hugo was the surprise Best Film winner at the National Board of Review Awards in America. In other movie news, Transformers: Dark of The Moon was named the year's most mistake-ridden film; Orson Welles' Citizen Kane Oscar sold at auction for $861,000; Drive dominated the Satellite Awards while The Help, The Artist and The Descendants picked up the lion's share of nominations for the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Angelina Jolie's directorial debut, In The Land of Blood and Honey, also picked up Golden Globes nods and she was named the 2012 recipient of the Stanley Kramer Award at the Producer's Guild of America Awards. In music news, Amy Winehouse's posthumous album debuted at number one in Britain; 30 Seconds To Mars broke a concert record at a show in New York - their 309th in a single album cycle, and Gucci Mane was released from prison. Wrapping up the month, Oscar winner Colin Firth was immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds in London; Men's Health magazine bosses crowned Jennifer Aniston the Hottest Woman of All Time; Liz Taylor's diamonds and gems set a new auction record by becoming the most valuable private jewellery collection; LMFAO were forced to abandon a gig in Honduras after a fire broke out at the venue; Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins announced her split from fiance Gethin Jones, and Coldplay rang in 2012 with a $1.6 million gig in Abu Dhabi. And the last month of the year saw the notable deaths of actor Bill McKinney, soul stars Dobie Gray and Howard Tate, M*A*S*H regular Harry Morgan, Clark Gable and Loretta Young's love child Judy Lewis, actress Doe Avedon Siegel, former child star Susan Gordon, country singer Billie Jo Spears, Aussie actor Graham Bown, world leaders Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong-Il, songwriter Ralph MacDonald, Kojak star Dan Frazer, directors Don Sharp and Yoshimitsu Morita, writer Christopher Hitchens and Tarzan's chimp sidekick Cheetah, who died of liver failure, aged 80.
