The Hunger Games Pages

The Hunger Games can be a 2012 National sci-fi measures video focused by Grettle Ross, in line with the new of the brand by Suzanne Collins. The video was generated by Nina Jacobson and also Jon Kilik, by using a screenplay by Ross, Collins, and also Billy Beam. That celebrities Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Age Banking institutions, and also Bob Sutherland. The story plot develops in the dystopian post-apocalyptic upcoming inside united states of Panem, featuring its a new rich metropolis, called the Capitol, enclosed by 12 much less well-off districts. As penalties for any previous rebellion contrary to the authorities, your Capitol began the Hunger Games-a public twelve-monthly occasion where a single youngster and one female coming from all of the 12 districts are usually picked in the sweepstakes while "tributes" and they are essential to battle to your dying within the world right up until there is a single remaining winner. Once the protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) hears the woman more youthful sister's brand called as the female gratitude for their section, the girl volunteers to use the woman placed in purchase just to save the woman coming from needing to engage. Accompanied by the woman district's masculine gratitude Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), Katniss vacations for the Capitol to teach regarding the Hunger Games beneath the instruction of ex- winner Haymitch Abernathy (Harrelson). The video was already released in April Twenty-one, 2012, inside Portugal along with international locations and also around the world in April 3, 2012, within traditional moviehouses and also a digital IMAX moviehouses. At the time of launch, your video arranged your record for your finally most effective beginning saturday and sunday pack office product sales associated with a motion picture ($152.Several mil) inside The usa behind Harry Knitter along with the Deathly Hallows * Component 2 ($169 mil) as well as Dimly lit Soldier ($158 mil) and was the most significant pack office be released for any non-sequel. It will be the 1st video since Avatar to stay in first place in the pack office regarding 4 sequential days off. The Hunger Games was celebrated by most experts, whom lauded it is designs and also messages, and also Lawrence's effectiveness while Katniss. Such as new, your video offers enticed grievance because of its resemblances to other operates, such as the Japanese people new Struggle Royale and its video difference, together with the National shorter tale "The Lottery". It really is mentioned, nonetheless, this Collins' new and also screenplay possess key variations by applying types of enthusiasm such as the fable of Theseus, Roman gladiatorial games, actuality television set, along with the Iraq Conflict. Watch The Hunger Games has been the main topics various understanding, like allusions to be able to feminist, politics, and also non secular allegory. The media of Panem, formed at a post-apocalyptic The usa, has a rich Capitol and also an even dozen lesser surrounding districts. Like a penalties for any preceding rebellion contrary to the Capitol from the districts, a single youngster and one female between the ages of 12 and also 20 coming from every single section are usually picked by a yearly sweepstakes (the "Reaping") to sign up inside the Hunger Games. The people (or "tributes") of the Hunger Games must attack within the world handled from the Capitol right up until just one remains full of life; your winner is usually honored along with recognition and also money. Katniss Everdeen, a new 16-year-old female coming from Center 12, volunteers for your 74th twelve-monthly Hunger Games, to accept host to the woman more youthful aunt Primrose, who had been picked from the sweepstakes. Peeta Mellark, a new baker's kid whom once afforded Katniss a loaf of bread if the woman loved ones was hungry, is additionally picked. Katniss and also Peeta are usually taken up to your Capitol, wherever his or her drunken advisor, ex- Games winner Haymitch Abernathy, teaches them to check out and also discover the advantages on the some other tributes, specially the "Careers", who had been educated coming from delivery to be able to participate inside Games. Within a pre-Games meet with along with Television for computer personality Caesar Flickerman, Peeta unexpectedly discloses the romance regarding Katniss. Nancy to begin with very angry, thinking that it is trick to get crowd help, while "sponsors" may supply in-Games items of food, drugs, and also gear. The Games focus on half your tributes wiped out around the 1st day time, although Katniss relies on the woman well-practiced looking and also backyard ability to outlive. Peeta sorts a annoyed alliance with all the Professions, like Cato, Clove, Miracle, and also Glimmer, together with his or her pursuing support they will spot Katniss inside woods. Katniss builds up a new relationship along with Center 13 gratitude Are sorry for when the litttle lady highlights a new monitor jacker nest, which often Katniss lowers around the Professions, hurting Glimmer. Are sorry for cares about you regarding Katniss while the girl recuperates coming from monitor jacker toxic body, however the relationship comes to an end if Are sorry for is usually fatally wounded by Miracle, with whom Katniss eliminates for their immunity. Katniss remains along with Are sorry for while the girl passes away, after that arises blossoms in excess of the woman physique like a manifestation of regard. When this is usually public, that cause a new huge range inside Center 13. Having Katniss and also Peeta given to the public while "star-crossed lovers" * along with the Gamemakers wanting to steer clear of inciting more riots * a rule adjust is usually released half way throughout the Games, on the grounds that a pair of tributes from the same section can certainly succeed your Games like a set. In hearing this specific, Katniss pursuit of Peeta and also detects your ex, wounded by Cato by using a sword. As Katniss nurses Peeta here we are at wellness, the girl offers she is while obsessed about your ex to get crowd like and also sponsorship. Whenever the girl attempts to recover drugs regarding Peeta, Clove violence the woman. Thresh would seem and also eliminates Clove, sparing Katniss inside recollection of Are sorry for. "Foxface" passes away coming from consuming nightlock blueberries and other berries compromised coming from Peeta, whom would never know we were holding extremely deadly. Any package of vicious hound-like creatures are let go of, hurting Thresh and also pushing Katniss and also Peeta into the Cornucopia, wherever they will knowledge Cato. After a challenging attack, Katniss sets Cato with an arrow just to save Peeta's daily life. Cato comes for the creatures, and also Katniss sets your ex to be able to sacrifice your ex a prolonged dying. Having Peeta and also Katniss apparently triumphant together, your Gamemakers abruptly turnaround for the concept adjust allowing for a pair of victors, setting up these folks nearly the multiple 1 another for the dying. As an alternative, Katniss has a cache of nightlock blueberries and other berries and also hands and fingers 1 / 2 to be able to Peeta. Realizing that his or her suicide would probably deprive the public associated with a winner, your Gamemakers quickly publicize both of them while victors on the 74th Hunger Games. Though they are usually dealt with into a hero's encouraged inside Capitol, Katniss is usually cautioned by Haymitch she has turn into politics attacker immediately after such a public defiance of the woman society's authoritarian frontrunners. As Katniss and also Peeta resume Center 12, Web design manager Snow considers purchasing your mutual victors along with the sensations of rebellion they will get empowered.

Raven-Symon to Star in Broadway's 'Sister Act'

Raven-Symon will need inside the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier inside the Broadway musical "Sister Act." Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Burns, who presently plays Van Cartier, can provide her final performance on Sunday, March 18. Symon will begin starring inside the production on Tuesday, March 27."Finding an actress who is able to play Deloris in Sister Act is not any easy task," mentioned producer Whoopi Goldberg in the news release. "Fortunately for people, Raven is a lot more than around the job but audiences is going to be astounded by her performancewe couldn't be excited that she's joining the business.InchSymon most recently starred round the Emmy-nominated Disney Funnel Tv program "That's So Raven" and ABC Family's "Condition of Georgia." She also came out on NBC's extended-running hit "The Cosby Show" and contains recorded several music albums. This is actually the 26-year-old's Broadway debut. She is not the only real former Disney Funnel star being taking up the fantastic White-colored Way this season. Nick Jonas of "Jonas L.A." is presently headlining the revival of "How you can achieve Business Without Really Trying." "Undertaking on Broadway is an aspiration of mine and i am beyond thrilled being making my debut using this role within this fantastic show," mentioned Symon in the news release. "I am unable to wait to acquire onstage and share her story with audiences eight occasions each week.InchInchSibling Act" can be a musical adaptation in the 1992 film of the title, which starred Goldberg just like a lounge singer hiding inside a convent while on the go within the mob. The expansion will celebrate its first anniversary on Broadway on April 20.

Comic Impressionist Steve Bridges Dies in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) Impressionist Steve Bridges, who used prosthetics and wigs to turn into presidents and laughs to make a living, was found dead at his home, his manager said Monday. He was 48.Bridges returned from China on Feb. 23 and complained to friends of "super jet lag," manager Randy Nolen said.Bridges' maid found the comic dead about 9:30 a.m. Saturday in his Los Angeles home, Nolen said.It appeared that he died of natural causes, but an autopsy will be conducted, said Craig Harvey, chief of operations for the Los Angeles County coroner's office.Bridges' George W. Bush impression made him a regular on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and earned him an invitation to the White House in 2003.In 2006, Bridges joined Bush in a comic routine at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., and at a Ford's Theatre benefit.Nolen said Bush called Bridges' brother, Phillip, on Monday and offered condolences."Steve was not only a funny man, but a kind and decent human being. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his parents, his siblings, and his entire family," Bush told The Associated Press through spokesman Freddy Ford."We had a great 10-year run," Nolen said. "He went to the White House, the Oval Office, toured with Barbra Streisand and was a regular on the 'Tonight Show' for almost eight years."Bridges became Barack Obama, Bill Clinton or Bush for his most popular shows.The makeup and prosthetics used for Bush and Clinton were designed by Kevin Haney, who won an Academy Award for aging Dan Aykroyd in "Driving Miss Daisy." Obama was done by Kazu Tsuji, who designed Jim Carrey's Grinch in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."Mari Enyart was Bridges' makeup artist."From the neck up, everything but his teeth was covered in a prosthetic piece of some sort," Nolen said about the impersonations of presidents. "It was as extensive, as good and as complicated as anything you would see in a motion picture."It took nearly four hours to apply the Obama makeup and nearly three hours to do Bush and Clinton. Close attention was paid to age marks and freckles on his hands because they were so visible, especially if a skit was being filmed.Bridges had been scheduled to do three free shows on March 13, 14 and 15 for the Indian Wells Rotary Club to help raise money for students who wanted to go to college. Because of the time it took to get ready, he was going to be a different president each night.Sometimes, Bridges would do shows without makeup that were titled "Steve As Steve" and showcased his 200 voices from Bill O'Reilly to Rush Limbaugh to Tom Brokaw and all the presidents from Kennedy to Obama, Nolen said.Born in Dallas, Bridges loved football and was a big Cowboys fan."He was courteous, kind, soft-spoken, reserved and respectful. He loved being on stage. He was a master at ad-libbing and improv comedy," Nolen said.Bridges is survived by his parents, Thomas and Margaret Bridges, brothers Phillip and Jon, and sister Elizabeth Bridges.A service will likely be held in the next few days near the family's Northern California home, with a memorial service to follow in Los Angeles.Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Sue Manning March 6, 2012 George Bush (Left) and Steve Bridges PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari LOS ANGELES (AP) Impressionist Steve Bridges, who used prosthetics and wigs to turn into presidents and laughs to make a living, was found dead at his home, his manager said Monday. He was 48.Bridges returned from China on Feb. 23 and complained to friends of "super jet lag," manager Randy Nolen said.Bridges' maid found the comic dead about 9:30 a.m. Saturday in his Los Angeles home, Nolen said.It appeared that he died of natural causes, but an autopsy will be conducted, said Craig Harvey, chief of operations for the Los Angeles County coroner's office.Bridges' George W. Bush impression made him a regular on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and earned him an invitation to the White House in 2003.In 2006, Bridges joined Bush in a comic routine at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., and at a Ford's Theatre benefit.Nolen said Bush called Bridges' brother, Phillip, on Monday and offered condolences."Steve was not only a funny man, but a kind and decent human being. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his parents, his siblings, and his entire family," Bush told The Associated Press through spokesman Freddy Ford."We had a great 10-year run," Nolen said. "He went to the White House, the Oval Office, toured with Barbra Streisand and was a regular on the 'Tonight Show' for almost eight years."Bridges became Barack Obama, Bill Clinton or Bush for his most popular shows.The makeup and prosthetics used for Bush and Clinton were designed by Kevin Haney, who won an Academy Award for aging Dan Aykroyd in "Driving Miss Daisy." Obama was done by Kazu Tsuji, who designed Jim Carrey's Grinch in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."Mari Enyart was Bridges' makeup artist."From the neck up, everything but his teeth was covered in a prosthetic piece of some sort," Nolen said about the impersonations of presidents. "It was as extensive, as good and as complicated as anything you would see in a motion picture."It took nearly four hours to apply the Obama makeup and nearly three hours to do Bush and Clinton. Close attention was paid to age marks and freckles on his hands because they were so visible, especially if a skit was being filmed.Bridges had been scheduled to do three free shows on March 13, 14 and 15 for the Indian Wells Rotary Club to help raise money for students who wanted to go to college. Because of the time it took to get ready, he was going to be a different president each night.Sometimes, Bridges would do shows without makeup that were titled "Steve As Steve" and showcased his 200 voices from Bill O'Reilly to Rush Limbaugh to Tom Brokaw and all the presidents from Kennedy to Obama, Nolen said.Born in Dallas, Bridges loved football and was a big Cowboys fan."He was courteous, kind, soft-spoken, reserved and respectful. He loved being on stage. He was a master at ad-libbing and improv comedy," Nolen said.Bridges is survived by his parents, Thomas and Margaret Bridges, brothers Phillip and Jon, and sister Elizabeth Bridges.A service will likely be held in the next few days near the family's Northern California home, with a memorial service to follow in Los Angeles.Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Moonbot flies across platforms

IPad application and Oscar-nommed short 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore' arrives out like a book. William Joyce, left, co-founding father of Moonbot, and Brandon Oldenberg co-directed the companys Oscar-nominated animated short. Moonbot Galleries is nominally an animation house, but that is a restricting description if this involves telling the storyline of these two-year-old shingle co-founded by award-winning children's author and animated-feature veteran William Joyce. "Our qualities our tales -- we do not discover their whereabouts as only one factor in a single medium," states Joyce, who began the studio in the home town of Shreveport, La., with Reel Forex Creative Services co-founder Brandon Oldenburg and producer Lampton Enochs. "We kind of wallow in it and go: 'Is mtss is a great movie? 'Is mtss is a great book?' And when the solutions are 'yes,' only then do we think about them in whatever different (form is relevant)." Moonbot's first project, "The Great Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," has borne out that approach. It first showed being an iPad application (selling a lot more than 120,000 downloads since last summer time). Which was then an animated video clip which has been nommed to have an Oscar -- along with a book version arrives from Simon & Shuster later this season. Follow-up project "The Numberlys," manufactured to fit the iPad's vertical orientation, has offered 20,000 downloads because it preemed recently. The approaching short-film version -- named by Moonbot as "the highest video clip on the planetInch -- will support the iPad's vertical aspect ratio as well as is going to be then a magazine version. Joyce states the application for "Lessmore" came into being almost accidentally, well into production around the video clip and book, once the iPad was introduced, and filled a formerly unarticulated void. "It had not been a magazine also it wasn't a film -- it had been something among. We'd wanted that, although not understanding what which was.Inch But not only porting content in one medium to another, Moonbot tailors the job to every platform. The storyline application blends facets of the film and also the book, offers minigames and explorable conditions, and sways on computer interaction. Rapid has met with apparent success, along with the book featuring original illustrations, each version of "Lessmore" stands by itself, Oldenburg states. "All of them justify their very own existence, and you want to make certain (of) that.". Digital distribution assisted "Lessmore" and Moonbot achieve a far wider audience than the usual book or short would typically achieve alone. "It's not necessary to create a distribution deal it's not necessary to court 5 or 6 different companies," Enochs states. "You press a few buttons, and also the world can easily see it." Nearly all purchasers are parents, although the application has been a success with teens, and emails came in from classes, Enochs states. (Cost to create all of the areas of "Lessmore" is tough to find out, Enochs states, thinking about the application wasn't area of the original plan -- which meant there is a learning curve for designers to cope with -- and also the final a part of project, it, is not going to be out until late this season.) Author in excess of 50 children's books, Joyce has created or led ideas, designs and animation to features from "Toy Story" to "Robots" and "Satisfy the Robinsons," and it is professional-creating the approaching DreamWorks Animation feature "Rise from the Parents" according to his "Parents of Childhood" book series. He sees in Moonbot's approach the liberty to produce new projects -- as well as the opportunity to simply have fun. "I seem like people expect, or are visiting expect, different encounters in storytelling," states Joyce, who dismisses as "overdramatic" the concept that books will die, but confesses focusing on applications is much more instinctive and timely. "We are capable of being almost live-action filmmakers in ways, that is a fascinating factor to create to animation." "The Numberlys" is really a prime example. The storyline application is made with off-the-shelf software and cameras, and carried out four several weeks, permitting Moonbot an opportunity to rapidly take advantage of its growing brand, Oldenburg states. Additionally to projects for clients, Moonbot plans another short/application/book project, tentatively entitled "Mr. Junk e-mail Will get a brand new Hat" along with a feature being coded in which another entertainment platform figures conspicuously -- by getting a brand new Orleans puppet troupe carry out the story live before audiences. "We discovered that to become a real very cost-efficient way to determine if your scene is working," Joyce states, "by carrying out it theatrically." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Jim Caviezel joins The Tomb

The Tomb might find Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone reunited around the giant screen, but oddly enough, the following bit of casting hasn't involved another musclebound beefcake, but character actor Jim Caviezel.The film is occur a maximum security jail, created by Stallone's wrongly-jailed architect. Using his understanding from the building's inner workings, Stallone sets about attempting to escape, assisted and abetted by fellow inmate Schwarzenegger.Caviezel will have the prison warden the 2 will need to evade, so odds are he'll be practicing his sneering and snarling in readiness for that role. Meanwhile, producer Mark Canton has spoken in the cast, and what don't be surprised in the movie."For me personally, The Tomb is really a large deal," he states, " because I always aspired to have Sly and Arnold together. The Expendables is fantastic but [here] they are really mano a mano, as with Warmth, or perhaps a movie of this quality."Set up finished product works out to become of comparable quality to Michael Mann's masterpiece remains to appear, however for fans of old-school action, this reunion should obtain the adrenaline moving once again. The Tomb will open in 2013, having a full release date to become confirmed.

New image of Jaden Smith in After Earth

A glut of on-set images have recently emerged from the Costa Rican shoot of M Night Shyamalan's After Earth, but up until now, they've mainly featured Will Smith and son Jaden lounging about in their civvies.However, a new image has now been released featuring Jaden Smith in his full costume, and it's starting to give us some idea of the kind of visual aesthetic we can expect from the film.Set some thousand years in the future, After Earth tells the story of a young boy and his estranged father attempting to navigate a desolate and dangerous Earth when their ship crashes and maroons them.That's about as much as we know plot-wise, but this new image reveals that our heroes will be sporting some sort of second-skin, presumably designed to help them survive this newly inhospitable Earth.Co-starring Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo, and Isabelle Fuhrman, After Earth is slated to open in the UK on 7 June 2013. Will this be the film that kick-starts Shyamalan's career? Put it this way, it can't be any worse than The Last Airbender...

Michael Bay to direct 'Transfomers 4'

Bay Paramount's signed director Michael Bay to some two-picture deal for "Discomfort and Gain" and "Tranformers 4."Studio, which introduced the pact Monday evening, stated Bay will commence shooting this spring on "Discomfort and Gain," then follow using the next installment within the "Transformers" franchise, to become launched within the summer time of 2014.With different true story, "Discomfort and Gain" follows several bodybuilders who involved in an offer of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. Mark Wahlberg, lengthy mounted on topline, is going to be became a member of by Dwayne "The Rock" Manley.Producers include Bay, Jesse P Line and Ian Bryce.Componen gave no particulars regarding the plot of "Transformers 4," in line with the Hasbro toyline. The 3rd installment, "Transformers: Dark from the Moon," required in $1.12 billion.Producers are Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce and executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Bay, John Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Vital Pictures will release the film on June 29th, 2014."Michael continues to be focusing on 'Paid and Gain' for several years but has with patience anxiously waited for that perfect casting to trigger a start," stated Adam Goodman, Leader of Paramount's Film Group. "Clearly his persistence has compensated off once we could not become more looking forward to this combo." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Naomi W Cast to see Princess Diana in Silver Screen Biopic

Naomi Wattshas signed to see British icon Princess Dianain Oliver Hirschbiegel's silver screen portrait "Caught Flying."The film continues to be suggested to customers in Berlin by producers Ecosse Films, the U.K. production and finance banner behind numerous movies including "Charlotte now now Gray," "Becoming Jane"and "Brideshead Revisited."Tim Haslam, the prior Hanway Films leader, is handling worldwide sales under his upstart company Embankment Films.Hirschbiegel directs W using the script byStephen Jeffreys, with production set to begin inside the U.K. later this year.Billed just like a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales through the final couple of years of her existence, the script charts her search for personal happiness as she converted to a significant worldwide campaigner and humanitarian.W, who'll next be seen starring in "The Impossible"opposite Ewan McGregor, known to her casting as "an recognition to be capable of play this legendary role - Princess Diana was loved around the world, which i anticipate rising for the challenge of playing her on-screen.InchHirschbiegel mentioned W has enough in their acting armoury to embody "the warmth, humanity and empathy of those an international icon as Princess Diana." The Hollywood Reporter

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Sylvester Stallone Are Siamese Warriors (Or Something)!

In a move three decades in the making, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone finally followed through on the promise of their intersecting action-movie careers and had their bodies surgically fused together for their upcoming 3-D sequel, "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot a Siamese Warrior." At least that's what we hoped was going on in the above photo. That, or confirmation that while Arnie and Sly's cyborg doppelgangers have been out making movies and governing California for years, the two men have in fact been holed up in side-by-side hospital beds, recounting the glory of a time when a "Batman" movie villain could actually utter the line, "Ice to see you!" But: no. None of this is true. Instead what we're seeing is two sexagenarians having the time of their lives while getting their creaky bodies fixed up. "After all the action, stunts & physical abuse shooting 'The Expendables 2' and 'The Last Stand,' it was time for a little tune up on my shoulder," Schwarzenegger wrote in a post on his WhoSay page. "Look who was coincidentally waiting in line behind me for his shoulder surgery. Now we're ready for another round of great times and action when we shoot 'The Tomb.'" The surgeons better bring their A games, because these two despite their arthritic limbs and the fact that they really are far too rich to still be doing their own stunts don't seem to be backing away from any sort of challenge. Just peep Arnie's forehead at the end of what we assume was a fairly typical day on the "Expendables 2" set. "Got a little banged up on set today," he wrote on Twitter as the proud owner of a fresh scar. "Thanks to the medical staff who got me back in action an hour later!" Yeah, so as excited as we are about their upcoming collaborations, we're also a little worried about these two gentlemen. When we look at the hospital photo, we're wondering why 64-year-old Schwarzenegger looks oddly like a newborn fetus. We're wondering how long Sly's pain meds have been dripping into his veins, 'cause that dude is looking happier than Newt Gingrich at an all-you-can-eat strip club. We're wondering if Arnold is saying to his buddy, "One, I'm so high right now. And two, we have the best f---king lives ever, bro!" Tell us what you think of the photo in the comments and on Twitter!

Ratings: Smash Opens Strong, The Voice Doesn't Falter

Smash Smash lived up to its title, winning the final hour of Monday's prime time, and fresh off The Voice's Season 2 debut after the Super Bowl, it posted formidable numbers, making for a huge night for NBC. Read our recap of The Voice Smash pulled in an audience three-and-a-half times bigger than its time slot predecessor, Rock Center with Brian Williams. (It's good news for NBC, which has been particularly snake-bitten in that slot, quickly cancelling The Playboy Club after its premiere.) Nielsen overnight data indicates that The Voice grew its rating in the coveted 18-to-49 demo during each half-hour that it aired. Decoding Mount McPhee: Is it a Smash spoiler? NBC's solid showing throughout Monday took a toll on almost all the competition. Fox's two shows, House and Alcatraz, were each down nearly 20 percent, while CBS' sitcoms sustained their viewership numbers, but suffered decreases in the demo. Against Smash, Castle and Hawaii Five-0 fell 13 percent and 9 percent, respectively. ABC's The Bachelor, however, remained remarkably constant. Check out the rest of the day's news on TVGuide.com 8 p.m.CBS: How I Met Your Mother 9.99 million viewers (4.0 demo rating); 2 Broke Girls 11.42 million (4.3)ABC: The Bachelor 8.24 million (2.6) {8-10 p.m.}Fox: House 7.16 million (2.4)NBC: The Voice {8-10 p.m.} 17.69 million (6.6)CW: Gossip Girl 1.28 million (0.6) 9 p.m.CBS: Two and a Half Men 12.90 million viewers (4.2 demo rating); Mike & Molly 11.02 million (2.3) {9:30 p.m.}Fox: Alcatraz 6.78 million (2.2)CW: Hart of Dixie 1.50 million (0.6) 10 p.m.CBS: Hawaii Five-0 9.80 million viewers (2.7 demo rating)ABC: Castle 8.72 million (2.0)NBC: Smash 11.50 million (3.8)

Kobalt Music taps Sanders as prexy

Richard Sanders remains named prexy of Kobalt Group, the independent music author introduced Friday. Inside the lately created position, Sanders is dependent in NY and therefore are accountable to Kobalt founder-Boss Willard Ahdritz. Rapid-growing indie author recently acquired digital distributor Artists Without any Label, and launched new divisions in neighboring rights and artist and label services. A 3-decade industry vet, Sanders was most recently chairman from the new the new sony Music Intl. additionally to leader of worldwide marketing. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Netflix searching for new CMO

Netflix is searching outside the company for a new chief marketing officer, the streaming service announced Friday.Leslie Kilgore, who held the position for the past 12 years, is being elevated to the Netflix board as a non-executive director. Jessie Becker, currently VP of marketing, will step in as interim CMO."Leslie has been instrumental in our long-term success and our recent return to solid growth," said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. "We are delighted she is joining our board of directors and will continue to be a key part of Netflix."The search for a replacement for Kilgore comes as Netflix shakes off the most turbulent period in the company's history. Disastrous decisions involving its pricing and DVD business left many on Wall Street with the impression the company was tone deaf to the marketplace--a problem bringing in fresh blood to a consumer-facing executive position could help rectify.Before joining Netflix, both Kilgore and Becker are veterans of Amazon; Becker has been with the compny almost as long as Kilgore.In addition, Netflix made a change on the corporate communications side, elevating Jonathan Friedland from senior VP to chief communications officer. Friedland joined Netflix nearly a year ago from Disney. Both Becker and Friedland report to Hastings. Netflix will announce its fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 25. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Swinton, Bell in talks for 'Snow Piercer'

SwintonBellTilda Swinton and Jamie Bell have been in foretells join Chris Evans within the indie drama "Snow Piercer."Bong Joon-ho is helming from the script he composed with Park Chan-wook creating.Occur a global covered in ice and snow, the storyline follows a train filled with vacationers who find it difficult to co-exist.Park is creating through Moho Films. Production is anticipated to begin in March, though no distributor is yet in position.The pic marks Bong's domestic directorial debut and other alike to fit, who also just wrapped production on his first U.S. film, the Korean helmer is drawing notable thesps due to his history overseas.Bell was most lately observed in "The Adventures of Tintin" and is visible next in Summit's "Guy on the Ledge." Swinton is visible next in Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom." On Tuesday, she snagged a BAFTA nom on her operate in "We have to Discuss Kevin." Bell is repped by WME and Vanessa Pereira at Artists Independent Management. Swinton is repped by WME and London agent Christian Hodell. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Report: Beyonc and Jay-Z Welcome a Daughter

Beyonce and Jay-Z The most recent princess of stylish-hop has turned up. Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed a daughter late Saturday in NY, E! Online reviews. The 30-year-old singer and 42-year-old rapper have apparently named the newborn Blue Ivy Carter. The couple's famous pals were already tweeting their champion late Saturday and early Sunday. Beyoncé pregnancy: Is she ready to give birth? "Welcome all over the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih," Beyonce tweeted late Saturday. "Welcome all over the world Blue! We love to you already," Gwyneth Paltrow written early Sunday. Blue Ivy Carter's arrival comes each week after several media shops reported the previous Destiny's Child lead singer had already given birth. Perry wins top recognition at VMAs Beyoncé announces pregnancy Initially due to give birth in February, Beyoncé checked into Lennox Hill Hospital on Friday beneath the alias "Ingrid Jackson," in line with the NY Daily News. The happy couple leased an entire floor in the hospital - apparently for the tune of $1.3 million - and video cameras were recorded to make certain the couple's privacy. Beyoncé introduced having a baby in the finish of August within the MTV Video Music Honours, when she revealed her growing belly within a performance. She and Jay-Z, who've labored with on hit singles for instance "03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Crazy In Love With One Another,Inch married in April 2008 after dating for approximately six years. This really is really the very first child for.

Royalty suits filed vs. labels

The ongoing legal battle between artists and labels over digital royalties widened late last week, as two new suits alleging gross underpayments to acts were filed. On Friday, singer-guitarist Peter Frampton sued A&M Records, a unit of Universal Music Group, claiming he was paid a fraction of what he was due for downloads of his '70s hits. Frampton's suit succeeded a similar Thursday action filed against Capitol Records by the heir of the late Bruce Gary, drummer of '70s new wave act the Knack. The latter suit against EMI Music's flagship imprint is the first of several actions regarding digital royalty payments to be lodged against a label not operated by UMG. However, UMG could ultimately prove liable in that case, since last month the company made a successful $1.9 billion bid for EMI's label assets that has yet to be approved by regulators. Both plaintiffs scored huge hits for their labels in the '70s. Frampton's two-LP A&M concert set "Frampton Comes Alive" was No. 1 for 10 weeks in 1976, while the Knack's Capitol album "Get the Knack," which contained the No. 1 single "My Sharona," topped the charts for five weeks in 1979. Both suits allege breach of contract and unfair competition and seek compensatory damages to be determined at trial. Frampton's suit, which succeeds a 1998 royalty settlement between the musician and UMG, says the language of the agreement is "virtually identical" to that of last year's appellate court decision in F.B.T. Prods.' suit against UMG and Aftermath Records. That decision found that F.B.T., which produced Eminem's earliest recordings, was entitled to much higher digital royalties based on rates for masters licensed to third parties (Daily Variety, Sept. 7, 2010). It inspired class actions filed in federal court in Northern California earlier this year by the Rick James estate (Daily Variety, April 5); Rob Zombie, his band White Zombie, Whitesnake and Dave Mason (Daily Variety, May 24); and Chuck D of Public Enemy (Daily Variety, Nov. 3). On Dec. 22, Bruce Gary's sister Felice Catena, who holds rights to Gary's interest in the Knack, filed a suit in L.A. Superior Court alleging that Capitol has "systematically" paid less than the 50% of net receipts contractually due for licensed masters. Frampton's suit, lodged Dec. 23 in U.S. District Court in L.A., makes a similar allegation. Frampton claims that a $212,000 check sent to the musician without documentation late this year was "wholly insufficient to cover the actual monies owed to Frampton, which is potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the insufficient partial payment made by UMG." Spokesmen for UMG and EMI could not be reached for comment. However, UMG has consistently maintained that the appellate decision in the so-called Eminem case does not constitute a legal precedent. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Holiday Movie Playlist: Our Favorite Christmas Movies

The holidays are nearly upon us, and while many of you out there will undoubtedly be spending your time roasting chestnuts on an open fire (or some other cheery activity) with your family, there's going to be down time. And what better way to spend that time than by watching some classic holiday movies? There are far too many feel-good Christmas movies (as well as some feel-bad holiday movies) out there to choose from, so if you find yourself stumped come December 25, never fear -- the MTV Movies team has compiled our all-time favorite holiday movie viewing experiences to make your season bright. "Die Hard" Now I have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho. These words, written on a dead bad guys shirt by NY cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) and uttered by the Grinchiest of movie menaces Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), exemplify why Christmas at Nakatomi Plaza is so much fun. The original Die Hard, a classic action flick which captured the wisecracking talents of Willis on the brink of his mega-stardom, is infinitely quotable and just as enjoyable on the tenth viewing as on the first. -Tami Katzoff "Home Alone" More than 20 years after Kevin McCallister sledded down his staircase and into theaters, "Home Alone" continues to be one of my favorite Christmas movies. Starring blond moppet Macaulay Culkin as the left-behind lad, the 1990 romp follows the boy who stayed as he protects his home from a pair of bungling burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), all the while seamlessly weaving heartfelt holiday-ness with hilarious hi-jinks. I (and the American Dental Association) approve. (I probably shouldn't speak on behalf of the ADA, so for legal purposes, please consider this an assumption.) -Amy Wilkinson "Love, Actually" Is there anyone who doesn't love this wonderfully well-received ensemble romantic comedy? Even the most testosterone-charged of my male friends get all warm and fuzzy when they mention it. The reason it's perfect for the holidays is obvious: it's set right around Christmas, but unlike other films that try to capitalize on an already over-commercialized season with kitschy gimmickry (see "Valentine's Day" and "New Year's Eve"), "Love Actually" works because it's central theme is real love: The good, the bad, the messy, the hard to watch. Plus you could not assemble a better cast: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Rodrigo Santorro, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln (pre-"Walking Dead!") and amazing Bill Nighy performing the best new Christmas song ever, "Christmas Is All Around." -Kara Warner "The Christmas Toy" With "The Muppets" back in the spotlight, there's no better time to revisit this little-seen Jim Henson made-for-TV gem about a group of toys who come to life when no one's looking. No, we're not talking about "Toy Story" -- "The Christmas Toy" dates the Pixar classic by several years, and while I'd stop short of saying it's a better film, it's certainly the one I cherish more. Old friends, dear friends, Meteora, eww-it's-Mew, Rugby the Tiger (aka the greatest Christmas toy of all)... this movie has it all. Hands down, my favorite holiday movie of all time. -Josh Wigler "The Lord of the Rings" Extended Edition It's not the most obvious choice, but stick with me here. In all, the three extended editions of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy clock-in at a butt-numbing 12 hours. Now, I love these movies, but when I am supposed to watch them and not feel bad about sinking four hours on "Return of the King" on a random Saturday? The holidays offer the perfect combination of guilt-free sloth and large amounts of free time, the ideal movie marathon conditions. Aside from being convenient, the time of year always reminds me of "The Lord of the Rings," because they were guaranteed Christmas presents each year they came out on DVD. So maybe it isn't that weird after all, jerk. -Kevin P. Sullivan What are your favorite holiday movies? Tell us in the comments section and on Twitter!

'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Trailer: Nicolas Cage Fights the Antichrist

Good news and bad news: a brand-new trailer for 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' has arrived ... but, unfortunately, it does not feature Nicolas Cage pissing fire. (Curses!) In fact, the new trailer does a pretty great job of depressing any trashy expectations you may have had from 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.' Despite plenty of fire-breathing and ass-kicking from Ghost Rider himself, the new trailer features a ton of cheesy, cliched dialogue we've come to expect from Cage films over the years. 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,' which stars Cage, Johnny Whitworth and Idris Elba, hits theaters Feb. 17, 2012. [via Yahoo!] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Why Armie Hammer Almost Switched Clint Eastwood Lower

Why Armie Hammer Almost Switched Clint Eastwood Lower By Jessica Gardner December 13, 2011 Fresh off playing the Winklevoss twins in "The Social Networking," Armie Hammer gives a superb supporting performance in Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar." It is a performance that almost did not happen, because Hammer initially switched lower the audition. His agent known as and told him "J. Edgar" casting director Fiona Weir wanted him to audition for negligence Clyde Tolson, J. Edgar Hoover's reliable agent and long term companion. Hammer browse the script and think it is great but did not comprehend the character. "He did not seem sensible in my experience,Inch states Hammer. "I did not get why Clyde stuck around and required Edgar's hot-and-cold abuse. I did not comprehend the depth of the love and also the complications of their relationship."Hammer passed, telling his agent when he could not comprehend it, he wouldn't prosper within an audition. Weir endured, telling him "Clint" wanted him to audition. "I had been like, 'Okay, well, now you use his title like this, I suppose I must are available in,A " jokes Hammer. He switched to his older, gay buddies to assist him understand Tolson and Hoover's complex relationshipwhat it had been enjoy being a guy deeply in love with a guy currently when this type of relationship was completely taboo. Then, he entered Weir's office and requested questions to have an hour . 5 until he felt comfortable enough to possess her put him on tape. Not much later, he got a phone call that Eastwood wanted him for that film. Hammer hired a investigator to assist him search as many details as he could on Tolson and Hoover. Hammerwho has analyzed with your instructors as Lesly Kahn, John Reise, and presently Deborah Aquilasays he's large on studying and preparation. He approaches serving as intellectually as you possibly can. "I understand this is an art of emotion," he states. "But when you are just doing the work for emotion every time, it may be wild, cumbersome, and unwieldy, or may possibly not work. Should you truly understand intellectually who this type of person or what their deal isnot the things they did why they made it happen, their headspaceI find it's not hard to occupy them." Meeting His Match Although his onscreen relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays Hoover, was full of subtext and connection, the 2 only had one testing before shooting, when DiCaprio asked film writer Dustin Lance Black and Hammer to his house. "We did not even put things on their ft," recalls Hammer. "We simply go through the script and talked about some moments. Essentially, we both emerged with this figures and turned up to create. We did not actually have a discussion about how exactly for each other should these men be or perhaps is there any connection. We did not address it, that we thought was appropriate simply because they did not address it. The figures would haven't addressed it. It had been always like, the elephant within the room. I believe that exercised well. But additionally dealing with Leo made it very easy. It's like, if you are playing tennis with someone that's much better than you, it improves your game, you realize?InchFor that emotional fight scene, Hammer states he and DiCaprio contacted it with just as much importance and energy because they could bring. "There's a lot which i reached do for the reason that scene, that was great," he states. "It is so rare that you will get a scene that well-written, where it's as if you start at one place and finish inside a place completely different while going for a huge detour. It had been amazing dealing with smash glass from the wall and scream and fight and only the fake bloodstream and everything. It had been a very intense day."Eastwood Style We have spent with director David Fincher, noted for doing take after take and departing his stars exhausted through the finish during the day, being directed by Eastwood would be a change of pace. "They could not be more polar opposite," states Hammer. He compares watching Eastwood direct to watching an expert glass blower create a vase: "They do not seem like they are trying hard. They are just chill. They'll speak with you while they are doing the work. Then out of the blue they are done, and you've got a perfect vase. That is what it's as with Clint. It's enjoy it does not require effort for him to complete what he is doing. You believe that you are no longer working with enough contentration, but actually you simply need to learn to trust him."Eastwood made the decision that after the time had come for that actors' faces to age, they would not use CGI but rather would act through latex masks. On the very first day of putting on the mask and makeup (which required eight hrs to use), Hammer discovered the difficulties. He spent time searching inside a mirror, determining steps to make themself look like he was naturally smiling, squinting, and grimacing. "I needed to find out how my face labored," he states. "You need to emote a lot more to get what you are looking to get across in the future via a quarter inch of latex that's superglued for your face." In true Eastwood style, no coaches were hired to assist the stars with mask acting. "Decipher it working for yourself. Decipher it while you go. However, you better decipher it quick," Hammer states. Despite the fact that it had been challenging, Hammer was thrilled using the decision. "It felt really nostalgic," he states. "We've got to create a movie the old-fashioned way, without computer systems and all sorts of the nonsense that goes in it. The film looked exactly like when they shot it in 1950. It had been a classic-school, nostalgic movie that the old-school, nostalgic director made."Outtakes Were built with a dental professional inject his whole mouth with Novocain to simulate what it might be like to try and talk after getting a stroke. Did not meet Eastwood until 2 days before filming: In the DGA Honours, Kevin Spacey, executive producer of "The Social Networking," introduced them after discovering they had not met. States his first day on set was terrifying: "I had been relaxing in between Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Dustin Lance Black, and Dame Judi Dench. I had been like, 'What the hell shall we be held doing here?' However, you can't create a gemstone without pressure, you realize? Knowing I had been up against these stories, it place the anxiety about failure into me, and so i had to beat it."Approaching roles include Prince Andrew Alcott in "Mirror Mirror" and John Reid/The Lone Ranger in "The Lone Ranger" opposite Johnny Depp. Why Armie Hammer Almost Switched Clint Eastwood Lower By Jessica Gardner December 13, 2011 Fresh off playing the Winklevoss twins in "The Social Networking," Armie Hammer gives a superb supporting performance in Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar." It is a performance that almost did not happen, because Hammer initially switched lower the audition. His agent known as and told him "J. Edgar" casting director Fiona Weir wanted him to audition for negligence Clyde Tolson, J. Edgar Hoover's reliable agent and long term companion. Hammer browse the script and think it is great but did not comprehend the character. "He did not seem sensible in my experience,Inch states Hammer. "I did not get why Clyde stuck around and required Edgar's hot-and-cold abuse. I did not comprehend the depth of the love and also the complications of the relationship."Hammer passed, telling his agent when he could not comprehend it, he wouldn't prosper within an audition. Weir endured, telling him "Clint" wanted him to audition. "I had been like, 'Okay, well, now you use his title like this, I suppose I must are available in,A " jokes Hammer. He switched to his older, gay buddies to assist him understand Tolson and Hoover's complex relationshipwhat it had been enjoy being a guy deeply in love with a guy currently when this type of relationship was completely taboo. Then, he entered Weir's office and requested questions to have an hour . 5 until he felt comfortable enough to possess her put him on tape. Not much later, he got a phone call that Eastwood wanted him for that film. Hammer hired a investigator to assist him search as many details because he could on Tolson and Hoover. Hammerwho has analyzed with your instructors as Lesly Kahn, John Reise, and presently Deborah Aquilasays he's large on studying and preparation. He approaches serving as intellectually as you possibly can. "I understand this is an art of emotion," he states. "But when you are just doing the work for emotion each time, it may be wild, cumbersome, and unwieldy, or may possibly not work. Should you truly understand intellectually who this type of person or what their deal isnot the things they did why they made it happen, their headspaceI find it's not hard to occupy them." Meeting His Match Although his onscreen relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays Hoover, was full of subtext and connection, the 2 only had one testing before shooting, when DiCaprio asked film writer Dustin Lance Black and Hammer to his house. "We did not even put things on their ft," recalls Hammer. "We simply go through the script and talked about some moments. Essentially, both of us emerged with this figures and turned up to create. We did not actually have a discussion about how exactly for each other should these men be or perhaps is there any connection. We did not address it, that we thought was appropriate simply because they did not address it. The figures might have never addressed it. It had been always like, the elephant within the room. I believe that exercised well. But additionally dealing with Leo managed to get very easy. It's like, if you are playing tennis with someone that's much better than you, it improves your game, you realize?InchFor that emotional fight scene, Hammer states he and DiCaprio contacted it with just as much importance and energy because they could bring. "There's a lot which i reached do for the reason that scene, that was great," he states. "It is so rare that you will get a scene that well-written, where it's as if you start at one place and finish inside a place completely different while going for a huge detour. It had been amazing dealing with smash glass from the wall and scream and fight and merely the fake bloodstream and everything. It had been a very intense day."Eastwood Style We have spent with director David Fincher, noted for doing take after take and departing his stars exhausted through the finish during the day, being directed by Eastwood would be a change of pace. "They could not become more polar opposite," states Hammer. He compares watching Eastwood direct to watching an expert glass blower create a vase: "They do not seem like they are trying hard. They are just chill. They'll speak with you while they are doing the work. Then out of the blue they are done, and you've got an ideal vase. That is what it's as with Clint. It's enjoy it does not require effort for him to complete what he is doing. You're thinking that you are no longer working with enough contentration, but actually you just need to learn to trust him."Eastwood made the decision that after the time had come for that actors' faces to age, they would not use CGI but rather would act through latex masks. On the very first day of putting on the mask and makeup (which required eight hrs to use), Hammer discovered the difficulties. He stayed searching inside a mirror, determining steps to make themself seem like he was naturally smiling, squinting, and grimacing. "I needed to find out how my face labored," he states. "You need to emote a lot more to obtain what you are looking to get across in the future via a quarter inch of latex that's superglued for your face." In true Eastwood style, no coaches were hired to assist the stars with mask acting. "Decipher it working for yourself. Decipher it along the way. However, you better decipher it quick," Hammer states. Despite the fact that it had been challenging, Hammer was thrilled using the decision. "It felt really nostalgic," he states. "We've got to create a movie that old-fashioned way, without computer systems and all sorts of the nonsense that adopts it. The film looked exactly like when they shot it in 1950. It had been a classic-school, nostalgic movie that the old-school, nostalgic director made."Outtakes Were built with a dental professional inject his whole mouth with Novocain to simulate what it might be like to try and talk after getting a stroke. Did not meet Eastwood until 2 days before filming: In the DGA Honours, Kevin Spacey, executive producer of "The Social Networking," introduced them after discovering they had not met. States his first day on set was terrifying: "I had been relaxing in between Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Dustin Lance Black, and Dame Judi Dench. I had been like, 'What the hell shall we be held doing here?' However, you can't create a gemstone without pressure, you realize? Knowing I had been facing these stories, it place the anxiety about failure into me, and so i needed to overcome it."Approaching roles include Prince Andrew Alcott in "Mirror Mirror" and John Reid/The Lone Ranger in "The Lone Ranger" opposite The Actor-brad Pitt.

Salma Hayek Admits She Once Prayed For Breasts

First Published: December 8, 2011 3:31 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Salma Hayek attends the Puss In Boots NY screening at The Hearst Tower on October 24, 2011Salma Hayek is known for her hourglass physique, but the Latina actress revealed she once asked for some Holy intervention when she was a flat-chested youngster. I was the youngest in class and all these girls were starting to get them and I wasnt getting anything I was really scared, Salma revealed while taping an appearance for Britains The Graham Norton Show, per The Daily Mail. In fact, Salma said her once-tiny frame prompted ribbing from her classmates. I was getting teased a lot because everyone was older and I was the skinny tomboy, she revealed. The ribbing was so bad, the Puss in Boots star said she asked Jesus for some help. I went to a church that had a saint that was supposed to do a lot of miracles, she said. I put my hands in the holy water and went, Please Jesus, give me some boobs. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

TV Ratings: 'How I Met Your Mother' Delivers Highs, American Country Awards Grow

Returning with the cast-of-thousands, multiple storyline approach they applied to Valentine's Day, Garry Marshall and screenwriter Katherine Fugate take on New Year's Eve, but this time out the result proves to be as appealing and effervescent as a flute of flat champagne.our editor recommends'New Year's Eve' Premiere Red Carpet Arrivals'New Year's Eve' Film Stills: Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Jessica Biel'New Year's Eve': Abigail Breslin Talks About Her First On-Screen Kiss (Video)'New Year's Eve' Trailer: Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron Ring in 2012 (Video)'New Year's Eve' Second Trailer Shows Off Star Power (Video) PHOTOS: 'New Year's Eve' Premiere Red Carpet Arrivals A remarkably maudlin affair that possesses scant evidence of Marshall's trademark brisk efficiency, the trite romantic comedy may technically take place on the last night of 2011, but it feels stuck at least 30 years in the past. Despite the attempts of a sprawling all-star ensemble to lend their flimsy characters any sort of involving definition, the majority end up lost in the perpetual shuffle. While Warner Bros. could still ring in some decent numbers, the tally will likely fall well short of the $110 million enticed by Valentine's Day. VIDEO: 'New Year's Eve' Star Abigail Breslin Talks About Her First On-Screen Kiss Using a potentially intriguing p.o.v. as its jump-off point-the behind-the-scenes orchestrations leading up to the annual Times Square ball drop-the film squanders many rich possibilities as it flits indifferently from story to story and character to character. Among them: Hilary Swank as the stressed-out, newly-promoted vp of the Times Square Alliance, responsible for making sure the big countdown goes off without a hitch; Robert De Niro as a terminal cancer patient determined to take in the action down in the street; Jon Bon Jovi as a rock star and Katherine Heigl as the one he let get away who happens to be catering the big bash at which he'll be performing. Then there's Sarah Jessica Parker as a single mom having relationship problems with teenage daughter Abigail Breslin; and Lea Michele as a back-up singer who finds herself stuck in her building's stalled elevator with a jerky neighbor (Ashton Kutcher). VIDEO: 'New Year's Eve' Trailer: Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron Ring in 2012 Elsewhere, landing with a particular thud are a pair of strained plotlines-one involving Michelle Pfeiffer as a meek, mousy office assistant who enlists the aid of bike messenger Zac Efron to help her realize a bucket list of unfulfilled resolutions. The other features Jessica Biel and Seth Meyers and Sarah Paulson and Til Schweiger as a pair of expectant couples who face off in a fierce battle to take home the hospital's $25,000 prize awarded to the first birth of the new year. They mainly succeed in inducing groans. PHOTOS: Ashton Kutcher's Career Through the Years To add to all the fun, the glittering countdown ball has gotten stuck during a run-through, much to the displeasure of Swank, not to mention Ryan Seacrest who gripes that it wouldn't have happened to Dick Clark. While on the subject of dropping the ball, in spite of Marshall's endeavors to keep them all in the air, Fulgate's cavalcade of cliched characters never come convincingly together for a common cause. VIDEO: 'New Year's Eve' Second Trailer Shows Off Star Power Ultimately, their intertwined, forced stories play out like schmaltzy Altman. Only Halle Berry manages to mine some honest gravity as a night nurse who has a poignant celebration lined up come midnight, but, like so many of the performances in the distancing, incohesive New Year's Eve, it felt like it came from a completely separate movie. Opens: Friday, December 9 (Warner Bros.) Production companies: New Line Cinema, Wayne Rice/Karz Entertainment Cast: Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Til Schweiger, Hilary Swank, Sofia Vergara. Director: Gary Marshall Screenwriter: Katherine Fugate Executive producers: Toby Emmerich, Samuel J. Brown, Michael Disco, Josie Rosen, Diana Pokorny Producers: Mike Karz, Wayne Rice Director of photography: Charles Minsky Production designer: Mark Friedberg Music: John Debney Costume designer: Gary Jones Editor: Michael Tronick Rating: PG-13, 118 minutes PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'New Year's Eve' Premiere Red Carpet Arrivals Ashton Kutcher Jessica Biel Jon Bon Jovi Lea Michele Sarah Jessica Parker New Year's Eve