Thompson on Hollywood

Bizarro, A-List Movies Lead HBO Lineup: TCA Winter Press Tour 2013

Television

Two provocative new star-driven movies – both about real-life musical geniuses whose lives took a dark turn – dominated HBO’s presentation Friday at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena. In one, Al Pacino plays reclusive record producer Phil Spector, convicted in 2009 of the gunshot murder of B-movie actress and House of Blues hostess Lana Clarkson. David Mamet directed from his own screenplay, and Helen Mirren plays Spector’s defense lawyer. The other, directed by Steven Soderbergh, features Michael Douglas as the late impresario Liberace, and Matt Damon as his much-younger chauffer and lover, Scott Thorson.

By Amy Dawes
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January 5, 2013 4:03 PM
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HBO to Premiere 'Parade's End' Miniseries This February, Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall

Television

UK five-part mini series "Parade's End," adapted from Ford Madox Ford's novels, will premiere on February 26-28. Benedict Cumberbatch, Rebecca Hall and Adelaide Clemens star and are directed by Susanna White. Tom Stoppard penned the drama, set in early 20th century Edwardian England.

By Sophia Savage
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January 4, 2013 5:57 PM
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HBO Announces Documentary Film Lineup for 2013, including 'Mea Maxima Culpa' and 'Life and Times of Tim Hetherington'

Awards

HBO announces their documentary lineup for the first half of 2013, including Alex Gibney's "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God," Sebastian Junger's "Which Way is the Front Line from Here?: The Life and Times of Tim Hetherington" and Steven Pressman's "50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus."

By Sophia Savage
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January 4, 2013 3:58 PM
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Trailer for 'Girls' Season Two: More Sex and Shenanigans for Dunham & Friends

Video

Season two of Lena Dunham's HBO hit show "Girls" debuts on January 13. The shenanigans continue for Dunham's Hannah Horvath and friends as they awkwardly navigate through their messy, sexy twenties in Brooklyn, NY. Check out the season two trailer below:

By Sophia Savage
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December 26, 2012 1:22 PM
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HBO Backs Martin Scorsese's Official Bill Clinton Documentary

Television

Martin Scorsese is jumping tino the current appetite for presidential profiles. In this case the director and HBO are partnering on an official documentary of the 42nd president of the U.S., Bill Clinton. This doc will be Scorsese’s fourth collaboration with HBO

By Anne Thompson
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December 17, 2012 1:13 PM
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Weekend Recap: SNL Christmas Clips, Tarantino on 'Django,' More Top Tens, Tim Burton and Winona Ryder's Music Video

News

We cover the weekend's breaking news, from SNL and Tarantino to the latest ten best lists and Andrew Sullivan on "Zero Dark Thirty."

By Maggie Lange
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December 16, 2012 11:30 PM
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'Treme' Season 3, Ep. 10: A Finale of Sorts, More Hopeful Than Where the Season Began

Television

HBO renewed "Treme" after the season was in the can and sent off to critics, meaning that it was still in limbo when the last episode (teleplay by David Simon & Eric Overmeyer, story by Simon & Anthony Bourdain) was written.

By Terry Curtis Fox
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November 26, 2012 1:59 AM
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Trailer Watch: Mel on Mel in HBO's 'Mel Brooks Strikes Back!'

Video

Check out the new trailer for HBO's upcoming "Mel Brooks Strikes Back!," a lively extended interview between the legendary comedy writer-director and BBC creative director Alan Yentob. "What was it like growing up as a Jew in Brooklyn?" Yentob asks. Brooks' reply: "I don't think there was anybody but Jews in Brooklyn!"

By Beth Hanna
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November 9, 2012 11:45 AM
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'Treme' Season 3, Ep. 7: Setting the Table for Things To Come

Television

By episode seven (written by Chris Rose & Micah Kibodeaux, story by David Simon & Chris Rose, directed by Tim Robbins), "Treme" is in the development stage of its dramatic construction. By this I don’t mean that executives are getting their paws all over it – rather...

By Terry Curtis Fox
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November 5, 2012 1:18 PM
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Early Reviews: HBO's 'The Girl' Premieres at the Hampton Film Festival

Reviews

HBO premiered their Hitchcock vs. Hedren flick, "The Girl" at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Early reviews hint that while the film entertains, it doesn't quite satisfy in terms of character development. Toby Jones' portrayal of Alfred Hitchcock is praised across the board, while critics say that Sienna Miller is passable, but not notable. The film avoids the horror tropes that the master of suspense was known for, instead aiming to reveal the psychological underpinnings of the main characters.