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Sean Penn Makes First Appearance Following Controversial El Chapo Interview
2 hours ago
Sean Penn appeared Saturday night in Beverly Hills at his own fundraiser in which he took to the stage numerous times to speak, yet didn’t allude to the controversy that exploded just hours earlier pertaining to his published interview with Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
The “Sean Penn & Friends: Help Haiti Home” charity gala went on as scheduled at the Montage Hotel, but he and other celebrities kept the focus squarely on the cause for which he raised more than $7 million.
Before opening the live auction, Penn teared up at the podium recalling the death of a 15-year-old in Haiti, who was refused treatment at hospitals. “So whose fault was it that he died? It was my fault as much as your fault… We can’t depend on governments… We have to make it better now,” Penn said. “Let’s use the cash to stop people from »
- Variety Staff
Golden Globes: BAFTA/La Tea Party Draws Global Crowd
4 hours ago
Proving the international nature of the Golden Globes the BAFTA/La tea party at the Four Seasons on Saturday drew a crowd from Australian Cate Blanchett to Austrian Christoph Waltz, besides of course Americans and Brits.
BAFTA/La chief exec Chantal Rickards thought the party was a hit. “I think so, it’s looking like a success so far. I’m not looking forward to the washing up,” she joked. “But otherwise I think it’s going to be great. We never know who’s going to come. We have this fantastic list and those people come, but then they bring other people.”
BAFTA/La’s Kieran Breen and Peter Morris were pleased the rain held off.
Although Harvey Weinstein wasn’t stopping for interviews, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan performed an impromptu jig while Leonardo DiCaprio posed for photos with guests and Mark Ruffalo was told by a guest »
- Shalini Dore
Sean Penn Under Investigation for Secretly Interviewing Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Chapo’
7 hours ago
In a surprising development, Rolling Stone has published the first-ever interview with fugitive Mexican drug lord Joaquín Guzman, known as “El Chapo,” conducted by none other than Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn.
ABC News reported Saturday night that Penn is now under investigation for the interview, according to a Mexican official. Since Penn had been in contact with Guzman for several months, authorities are presumably interested to find out why the actor did not earlier share any information on the wanted man.
According to the Associated Press, Penn’s interview helped lead authorities to Guzman, who was captured and returned to prison Friday.
The interview published Saturday evening was conducted in October while the drug lord was on the run from Mexican and U.S. authorities. Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, star of Telemundo’s hit 2011 telenovela “La Reina del Sur,” in which she played a ruthless drug cartel leader, accompanied »
- Pat Saperstein
Watch: ‘Free State of Jones’ Trailer Puts Matthew McConaughey in the Civil War
10 hours ago
The trailer for Matthew McConaughey-starring Civil War epic “Free State of Jones” debuted Saturday during an NFL playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.
McConaughey stars as Newt Knight, a Southern farmer who leads a rebellion against the Confederacy. He flees the battlefields after being disillusioned by the horrors that touched his own family. On the run, he rallies the support of fellow deserters to lead an uprising against their former comrades, in the process creating a free safe haven. Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Keri Russell also star.
“We’re all out there dying so they can stay rich,” McConaughey intones as Knight in the clip.
Gary Ross (“The Hunger Games”) wrote and directed the Stx Entertainment pic.
“Free State of Jones” bows in theaters May 13.
»
- Variety Staff
Palm Springs Film Festival Announces Winners
11 hours ago
The Palm Springs Film Festival began rounding off its 11-day run with its annual awards luncheon held Saturday afternoon at Spencer’s at the Mountain.
The Fipresci Prize for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year went to Taiwanese thriller “The Assassin,” directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien. The Fipresci Prize for the Best Actor of the Year went to Sigurður Sigurjónsson and Theodór Júlíussonfrom for their work in the Iceland film “Rams,” while the Fipresci Prize for Best Actress of the Year in a Foreign Language Film went to Alena Mihulová for her role in “Home Care,” written and directed by Czech filmmaker Slavek Horak.
“Alena, who is now 50, had her first breakthrough role at (age) 17 and then nothing for 33 years,” said Horak, who accepted the award on the actress’ behalf. “She played an apprentice to a home care nurse in her first film and has now graduated to a »
- Malina Saval
Three Film Independent Awards Unveiled at Spirit Awards Brunch
12 hours ago
Film Independent has presented a trio of Spirit Awards with filmmaker grants to Mel Eslyn, Felix Thompson and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.
Each received $25,000 grants from the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday at the organization’s annual brunch at the Boa in West Hollywood.
The Piaget Producers Award, which goes to an emerging producer, went to Eslyne. Her credits include “My Sister’s Sister” and “The One I Love.”
The Truer Than Fiction Award went to Vasarhelyi for “Incorruptible” and the Someone to Watch Award — which recognizes a filmmaker “of singular vision” who has “not yet received appropriate recognition” — went to Thompson for “King Jack.”
Notable guests included Bel Powley, Michael Fassbender, “Carol” screenwriter Phyllis Nagy, Cate Blanchett, Jason Segel, Todd Haynes, “Beasts of No Nation’s” Abraham Attah and Sally Kirkland — who noted that she had won the second Best Actress award at the 1987 Spirits for “Anna.”
- Dave McNary
‘El Chapo’ Sought to Make Biopic, Which Led to Capture in Mexico
14 hours ago
Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was re-captured Friday, and it turns out it was his attempt to contact film producers that led to his arrest.
According to Mexican authorities, the fugitive had been in negotiations to produce a film about his own life.
“He established communication with actors and producers, which has formed a new line of investigation,” Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez said in a press conference on Friday. No further information was offered regarding which producers and actors Guzman had contacted.
Guzman got the movie ball rolling after his first prison escape in 2014. The New York Times reports that he ordered his associates to get in contact with actresses and producers six months ago.
El Chapo heads the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. He has an estimated net worth of $1 billion. He was captured in the coastal city of Los Mochis and returned to maximum security facility Altiplano. »
- Variety Staff
J.J. Abrams on ‘Force Awakens’ DVD, Monopoly Game and $1 Billion Gross
15 hours ago
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has hit $1 billion at the global box office — and director J.J. Abrams is immensely thankful, if a bit apologetic.
“I’m grateful to anyone who has gone to see it,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena, where he was promoting his new Hulu series, “11.22.63.”
“When I hear that people have gone seven or eight times, I just want to apologize to I’m guessing their parents… But honestly I’m just grateful. I can’t believe that it’s done. It was three years of very tense work for a lot of people… I’m just so happy that everyone gets to see all the work that this amazing crew and cast did. Whatever the numbers are, I’m just grateful [it has] been well received.”
The director also addressed the controversy over the character Rey being missing from the Star Wars Monopoly game, »
- Debra Birnbaum
‘Star Wars’ Soars to Stellar Opening in China
15 hours ago
Disney’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has opened with a record-setting $33 million in China on Saturday.
The studio said the seventh Star Wars set Chinese records for best Disney opening day and the best Saturday opening day.
China, the second-largest market in the world after the U.S., is the final territory in the world to receive the blockbuster.
“The Force Awakens,” directed by J.J. Abrams, is expected to become the the third-largest worldwide grosser of all time this weekend, passing the $1.67 billion grossed worldwide by “Jurassic World” last year. After less than a month in theaters, it will trail only “Avatar” at $2.78 billion and “Titanic” at $2.19 billion.
The space saga set a U.S. record on Wednesday by passing “Avatar” and has a domestic gross of $781 million as of Friday.
Disney has marketed “The Force Awakens” aggressively in China, where the “Star Wars” saga has a short history »
- Dave McNary
U.S. Box Office: ‘The Revenant’ Chases $37 Million, Likely Topping ‘Force Awakens’
17 hours ago
Leonardo DiCaprio’s survivalist drama “The Revenant” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” are locked in a bitter battle at the multiplex this weekend. Based on Friday night receipts, “The Revenant” appears to have taken a slight lead.
“The Revenant” pulled in $14.3 million as it opened wide on Friday, putting it on track for a weekend haul of $37 million. Directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu, Fox’s R-rated tale of frontier justice is playing in 3,375 locations. It bowed to an impressive $2.3 million in Thursday night preview screenings as it expanded from a fruitful four-screen run that began on Christmas Day, during which it picked up $1.5 million.
Earlier estimates had pegged “The Revenant’s” opening weekend total around $20 million. Tom Hardy and Domhnall Gleeson also star in the pic, which has been earning major awards buzz for DiCaprio’s performance and its cinematography.
“Force Awakens,” now in its fourth weekend of play, »
- Marianne Zumberge
Adam McKay at Art for Amnesty Brunch: ‘It’s Been an Amazing Year for Movies Challenging Entrenched Power’
8 January 2016 10:32 PM, PST
“We were thinking about how we break back into the Hollywood awards season with a social change-human rights message, and since the Globes were first up, we said, ‘why don’t we go for it?'” explained Art for Amnesty’s creative director Marvin Bing at the inaugural Art for Amnesty Pre-Golden Globes Recognition Brunch on Friday afternoon at Chateau Marmont.
There, the historic organization — which was founded 55 years ago, and has fought beside activists from Nelson Mandela to Malala Yousafzai — honored three individuals for artistically promoting freedom of expression: Participant Media founder and chairman Jeff Skoll, “The Big Short’ writer/director Adam McKay and “Homeland” actress Nazanin Boniadi.
“I think it’s been an amazing year for movies challenging entrenched power and corruption,” McKay — who founded comedy video website Funny or Die with Will Ferrell, and partnered with Amnesty in 2010 — told Variety before the program. “‘Beasts of No Nation, »
- Jasmin Rosemberg
‘Mojin’ Breaks IMAX Box Office Record in China (Exclusive)
8 January 2016 6:53 PM, PST
“Mojin – The Lost Legend” has broken the box office record for a local language IMAX film in China, overtaking China’s all time box office champ “Monster Hunt.”
As of Wed, Jan 6, “Mojin” had $27.1 million in IMAX’s China theaters, compared with $27.0 million for “Monster Hunt,” which was released in summer and held on screens for two months.
“Mojin,” a tomb-raiding action adventure based on a popular series of novels and directed by Wuershan, was released in mid December. “Mojin” had scored $245 million in its run to Friday (Jan. 7), so the score represents some 11% of its receipts in China. “Monster Hunt” scored over $380 million in total, implying a smaller IMAX portion
“Mojin,” previously known as “The Ghouls” in English, was backed by Wanda, Huayi Brothers and Enlight Pictures.
IMAX has expanded hugely in China, with Wanda Cinema Line and Korean company Cj-cgv’s Chinese circuit two of its largest clients anywhere in the world. »
- Patrick Frater
Leonardo DiCaprio on Why He’ll Never Direct a Movie
8 January 2016 5:58 PM, PST
Most actors harbor dreams of directing a movie of their own one day, but not Leonardo DiCaprio. For a recent cover story about “The Revenant,” which opens today in wide release, DiCaprio offered a lengthy explanation to why he didn’t think he’d ever make the transition to the director’s chair.
“I’ve been so blessed to work with some great filmmakers, that I’m probably cursed to probably ever work as a director myself,” DiCaprio, 41, said. “I don’t think I would be able to compare to what I’ve seen. There are so many things that come into play when you make a movie. I really don’t know how they do it. The truth is, the one thing I regret, if anything, in my long career having worked with the likes of Alejandro [G. Inarritu] and Marty [Scorsese] is not be able to be a voyeur and stand »
- Ramin Setoodeh
Sylvester Stallone on Donald Trump, Republicans and Running for Office
8 January 2016 5:16 PM, PST
Sylvester Stallone has packed many jobs onto his resume over the years: movie star, screenwriter, director, producer and painter of Kafkaesque portraits, but in a new interview with Variety, he revealed that he briefly considered following his pal Arnold Schwarzenegger into politics.
“And five minutes later, I came to my senses,” Stallone told Variety for this week’s cover story on “Creed.” He remembered, on 2006’s “Rocky Balboa,” meeting the mayor of Philadelphia, who told him: “I believe you could be elected.”
“I said to my wife, ‘What do you think?’” Stallone recalled. “She said, ‘Are you crazy? He’s just being nice. You’re not going to be elected. You don’t have that insatiable need to be embraced by people.’”
Although he’s been called a Republican, for supporting John McCain’s 2008 presidential run, Stallone says he’s not a member of the Gop. “May the best fighter win, »
- Ramin Setoodeh
AFI Awards Luncheon Red Carpet
8 January 2016 5:14 PM, PST
The AFI Awards luncheon honored “The Big Short,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Carol,” “Inside Out,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Martian,” “Room,” “Spotlight,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and “Straight Outta Compton.” On the TV side: “The Americans,” “Better Call Saul,” “Black-ish,” “Empire,” “Fargo,” “Game of Thrones,” “Homeland,” “Master of None,” “Mr. Robot” and “Unreal,” plus a special award for “Mad Men.”
»
- Janine Lew
Greg Silverman Re-Ups as Warner Bros. Production Topper
8 January 2016 5:08 PM, PST
In a surprise move, Warner Bros Entertainment chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara has signed production topper Greg Silverman to a new multi-year deal despite the movie studio suffering one of the worst box office spells in its history.
There was rampant speculation last year that Silverman would be ousted from his position as president of creative development and worldwide production after Warner Bros. suffered a string of costly misfires that included “Jupiter Ascending,” “Pan,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” “Our Brand Is Crisis” and “In the Heart of the Sea.” The studio finished the year a distant third in domestic market share with less than 14% at $1.6 billion despite releasing the largest number of titles.
Warner Bros. also landed in third place in 2014. In every year between 2004 and 2013, the studio had finished in first or second. Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper,” which opened on Christmas 2014, was by far »
- Dave McNary
Fox Developing Joe Hill’s ‘The Fireman’ as Movie
8 January 2016 5:04 PM, PST
Fox is developing Joe Hill’s upcoming horror novel “The Fireman” with Louis Leterrier directing and Temple Hill partners Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen producing.
Hill’s book, set to be pubished in May by William Morrow, takes place amid a worldwide plague of spontaneous combustion called Draco Incendia Trychophyton or Dragonscale, giving rise to ruthless Cremation Squads to exterminate those who they believe carry the spore. The titlular Fireman is a madman afflicted with Dragonscale who has learned to control the fire within himself, using it as a shield to protect the hunted and as a weapon to avenge the wronged.
It’s the fourth Hollywood project based on a novel by Hill, the son of Stephen King. He previously wrote “NOS4A2,” which is in development as an AMC series; “Horns,” the basis of a 2014 movie starring Daniel Radcliffe; and “Heart Shaped Box,” which is in development at Langley Park Productions. »
- Dave McNary
AFI Awards Honor ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Mad Max’ at Relaxed Bash
8 January 2016 5:02 PM, PST
“The Martian” gang mixed with the “Star Wars” team, WB’s Sue Kroll chatted with Harvey Weinstein, while Cate Blanchett, Ryan Gosling, Steven Spielberg and F. Gary Gray accepted congrats for their work at the 16th AFI Awards Friday afternoon at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.
The event honored 10 films and 10 TV works that had been announced last month as being “the year’s most outstanding storytelling,” and as usual, the mood was high energy yet relaxed. The honorees knew that they were all winners, so there was no suspense, with no acceptance speeches, minimal red-carpet coverage and no fashion commentary. And a key to the buoyant mood: There were no TV cameras focusing on the 220 people in the room.
In the two-hour luncheon, each of the 20 works got a film clip of a few minutes, with the biggest reactions going to “Martian,” “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Straight Outta Compton »
- Tim Gray
Balloting for 2016 Oscar Nominations Draws to a Close
8 January 2016 5:00 PM, PST
It’s 5:00 p.m. on the West Coast, meaning it’s pencils down for Academy voters. Balloting for the first phase of the 88th annual Oscar season has drawn to a close and now, the hard-working folks of PricewaterhouseCoopers will tally the results, which will be revealed the morning of Jan. 14.
Here’s what happened when Academy members had ballots in hand (though it should be noted paper ballots were mailed out earlier than the official start date, which is when electronic ballots were made available).
– Ballots officially arrived on Dec. 30 as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” crossed the $600 million domestic box office mark on its way to becoming the all-time champ, which it did on Jan. 6.
– Also on Dec. 30, Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” transitioned out of its 70mm/roadshow limited engagement phase, adding another 1,858 screens across the country before beefing up with another 500 over the holiday weekend. »
- Kristopher Tapley
Outbreak Thriller ‘Viral’ Forgoes Theatrical Release (Exclusive)
8 January 2016 4:00 PM, PST
“Viral,” a thriller about a deadly outbreak that brings a community to its knees, will be forgoing a theatrical release, Variety has learned.
The micro-budget release is being backed by Blumhouse Productions, the makers of “Paranormal Activity” and “The Purge,” and is distributed by Dimension Films, the Weinstein Company label that is primarily concerned with horror films and other genre projects. It was originally scheduled to debut on Feb. 19, where it would have gone up against the faith-based drama “Risen,” the horror film “The Witch” and the historical drama “Race.”
Blumhouse and Dimension have yet to decide on an alternative releasing strategy. Blumhouse has experimented through its Bh Tilt label with several different forms of distribution, including launching films in smaller and more targeted collections of theaters or on video on-demand platforms. The companies may go the VOD route with “Viral,” or debut the picture on streaming services or on television. »
- Brent Lang
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