Thompson on Hollywood

HBO Renews 'Boardwalk Empire' for Fourth Season: Why?

Television

Judging from the first four episodes of "Boardwalk Empire" Season Three, I cannot commend HBO for renewing the series for a fourth season. HBO is looking at the fact that the first two episodes of its third season averaged 2.5 million viewers, somewhat down from the Season Two finale of 3 million. Last week the show won three Emmys, down from Season One's eight; exec producer Tim Van Patten won for directing.

By Anne Thompson
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October 2, 2012 2:05 PM
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In the Works: On-Location Principal Shooting for John McDonagh's 'Calvary' Begins in Ireland

News

Principal photography has begun on John Michael McDonagh's "Calvary," the follow-up to his 2011 Celtic crime comedy "The Guard," with Brendan Gleeson again starring, but swapping his Irish bad lieutenant Gerry Boyle for a good-hearted priest up against a hostile congregation.

By Beth Hanna
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October 2, 2012 1:39 PM
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Sony Pictures Classics Picks Up Another Middle Eastern Film and Foreign Oscar Submission

News

In advance of its New York Film Festival screening next week, Israel's Oscar entry "Fill the Void," has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Israel sends its Ophir Best Picture winner to the Oscars.

By Anne Thompson
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October 2, 2012 1:26 PM
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Now and Then: 'Looper' and the Future of Sci Fi

Reviews

Deep into "Looper" we meet Sara (Emily Blunt), a young mother and cane farmer in the year 2044. The moment, for science fiction, is riskily quiet — in the first blush of dusk she mimes lighting a cigarette, taking a slow drag on imagined bliss. It's also, for all the film's nodding at the genre's past, a glimpse of where sci fi is going.

By Matt Brennan
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October 2, 2012 11:59 AM
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Gina McIntyre Takes Over as Editor of LAT's Hero Complex Blog

News

LAT deputy film editor and genre buff Gina McIntyre, editor and contributor on departing staff writer Geoff Boucher's The Hero Complex, is officially taking over the blog. Boucher was lured away by EW.

By Anne Thompson
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October 1, 2012 8:18 PM
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In the Works: Stephen Frears to Direct 'Philomena,' Starring Coogan and Dench

News

Stephen Frears has signed on to direct the Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope-penned "Philomena," a mother-son drama starring Coogan and Judi Dench. The script is an adaptation of Martin Sixsmith's "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee," and follows the true story of Sixsmith's wife's search for the son she gave up for adoption.

By Beth Hanna
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October 1, 2012 4:23 PM
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Spielberg and Day-Lewis to Talk 'Lincoln' during Live Q&A Session at AMC Theaters October 10

News

Following special screenings of "Lincoln" on October 10 in AMC Theaters in nine American cities, Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis will participate in an interactive Q&A session via satellite where audience members can text questions to the discussion's moderator.

By Beth Hanna
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October 1, 2012 4:22 PM
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Bond News: 'Skyfall' Submerges with Underwater Video, Adele's Theme Song & 50 Years of Bond Gadgets [Video]

Video

The video blog and promotion materials for the 23rd James Bond film, "Skyfall," may be at risk of giving everything away! In this latest clip, production experts show us how the underwater action sequences were shot for the film...

By Maggie Lange
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October 1, 2012 2:29 PM
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Von Trier's 'Gesamt' Project Asks Emerging Filmmakers to Reinterpret Six Major Works

News

In August 2012, Danish enfant terrible director Lars von Trier posed a challenge to the aspiring filmmakers of the world: Reinterpret one or more of six classic works into a film, video, still, or piece of music or soundpiece. True to Trier's apocalyptic leanings as of late, the project is titled "GESAMT - Disaster 501: What Happened to Man."

By Beth Hanna
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October 1, 2012 1:52 PM
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Warner Bros. Sets Tom Cruise-Starrer 'All You Need is Kill' for March 2014

News

Warner Bros. has set March 14, 2014, as the date for Doug Liman's sci-fi actioner "All You Need is Kill," starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. The film is adapted from Hiroshi Sakurazaka's novel of the same title, centering on a soldier in an intergalactic war caught in a time loop where the day of his final battle must be played out over and over again. A bit like "Groundhog Day," but with ruthless aliens.