Air breaks

Still from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (US) trailer Sony Pictures Entertainment’s publicity department sent out an early morning (2 a.m.) e-mail today that is creating shock waves in the film criticism world. It singled out The New Yorker ’s critic, David Denby, for breaking an embargo the studio had placed on any reviews for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo running before December 13, about a week prior to the film’s release date. (You can read the review, which is positive, here .) Below, a snippet from the e-mail. Dear Colleague, All who attended screenings of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo agreed in writing to withhold reviews until closer to the date of the film’s worldwide release date. Regrettably, one of your colleagues, David Denby of The New Yorker , has decided to break his agreement and will run his review on Monday, December 5th. This embargo violation is completely unacceptable. […] As a matter of principle, The New Yorker ’s breach violates a … [Read more...] about ’s David Denby Breaks Sony’s

Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images Prolific producer Scott Rudin came under renewed scrutiny last week after a Hollywood Reporter exposé detailed his alleged abusive behavior toward his assistants, including hurling a baked potato at one and smashing a computer monitor on another’s hand . But the EGOT winner’s temperament is not a revelation in the industry, where he has a long-established record of combative conduct — in 1998, Fortune magazine described Rudin as being famous for “his habit of throwing phones, verbally abusing staffers, and expecting 16-hour workdays and seven-day workweeks.” He told The Wall Street Journal in 2005 that he had burned through 119 assistants in five years (some workers estimated the number would be 250 or more if it included those fired during their two-week trial periods). From his pushing people out of moving cars to engaging in a bitter feud with Harvey Weinstein , here are 21 tales about Rudin that helped build his unpleasant … [Read more...] about 21 Notorious Scott Rudin Stories

Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMA It’s been a little over two months since Morgan Wallen apologized after he was caught on video saying the N-word , leading him to be “suspended” by his label and his music to be taken out of rotation at most major radio stations. “The timing of my return is solely upon me and the work I put in,” he told fans in a subsequent apology video . Now, that return appears to be imminent. Wallen posted a four-page, handwritten note to social media addressing several topics, after essentially leaving the public eye for the past two months. In the note, Wallen doesn’t name the behavior that led to his escape from public life or give an update on the specific work he committed to do after the N-word video, including meeting with Black leaders and addressing his alcohol use. “I’ve made some mistakes, I’m figuring those out + I apologized because I was truly sorry + have been making my amends,” Wallen wrote. He later added that he “really … [Read more...] about Morgan Wallen Says He Won’t Play Summer Shows, But Will Return ‘Sooner Than Later’

Photo: Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection Up at the Toronto Film Festival, Bill Murray took a break from living his freewheeling Bill Murray life to comment on the rumors that Bridesmaids helmer Paul Feig plans to direct an all-female Ghostbusters . Turns out that Dr. Venkman thinks it’s just a dandy idea, according to an interview with Access Hollywood reporter Scott Mantz. “It sounds great to me. It sounds as good an idea as any other,” he said. “There are a lot of women that could scare off any kind of vapor. No, it’s a grand idea, I don’t know who they’re talking about, but it’s a good idea, I would watch it. I mean, I love Robert Palmer’s videos, so why wouldn’t I love the female Ghostbusters ?” Later, talking to the Toronto Star , Murray offered some helpful casting suggestions. “Melissa would be a spectacular Ghostbuster. And Kristen Wiig is so funny. God, she’s funny,” Murray said. “I like this girl Linda Cardellini a lot. And Emma Stone is … [Read more...] about Bill Murray Picks His Dream Female

Photo: Peter Kramer/NBC/2014 NBCUniversal Media, LLC There are now enough comedy news shows on TV that they can poach each other’s on-air talent. The New York Times reports that Michael Che, who made his first appearance as a Daily Show correspondent in June, will replace Cecily Strong on Saturday Night Live ’s “Weekend Update.” Executive Producer Lorne Michaels said Strong asked to be featured in more sketches this season, and the move will allow her to do so. Michaels said “Update” had “struggled to find an identity last season,” since “what had come before had been pretty brilliant.” Strong served as co-anchor during Seth Meyers’s final 12 shows, and was then joined by Colin Jost, one of SNL ’s two head writers. Che will be the segment’s first African-American anchor, and he and Jost will form “Weekend Update“‘s first all-male fake news team. Apparently, there won’t be an Anchorman -style news team brawl: Sources NYT … [Read more...] about Correspondent Named ‘Weekend Update’ Co-Anchor