Tag Archives: breakthrough

Rachael Leigh Cook’s Hotness Comeback

Since BuzzFeed aren’t the only ones who can do ’90s nostalgia, here’s forgotten hottie Rachael Leigh Cook at the Audi Golden Globes Cocktail Party. And she’s looking just as hot now as she did back in 1999, or whenever the last time she was famous was. What ever happened to her though? It’s not like she had to go to rehab or put on a ton of weight, so you’d think we would’ve seen more of her over the past decade. Actually, I bet I know what it was: she decided to settle down with an actor instead of a celebrity blogger. Big mistake. But if Rachael wants to correct that, it’s not too late. I’m still available. Call me. Photos: WENN.com

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Rachael Leigh Cook’s Hotness Comeback

Maria Menounos’ Booty Breakthrough

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s awards season, which means in addition to all the big ones that people actually care about, we’ll also be seeing a steady string of crap like the Variety Breakthrough of the Year Awards, whatever the hell that means. Still, as long as they invite hotties like Maria Menounos , I’m not complaining. Especially since Maria brought her booty A-game with this tight dress. And if this is just a trial run for the real shows, I can’t wait to see what she busts out next. Enjoy. » view all 30 photos Photos: WENN.com

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Maria Menounos’ Booty Breakthrough

Rihanna Spills Out Emotional ‘Stay’ At Grammys

Mikky Ekko joins Rih onstage to perform Unapologetic single. By Nadeska Alexis Rihanna performs at the 55th annual Grammy Awards Photo: Getty Images

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Rihanna Spills Out Emotional ‘Stay’ At Grammys

Gotye Has ‘Somebody’ To Thank For Record Of The Year Grammy

Prince presents the award to the Australian singer for his breakthrough hit. By Gil Kaufman Gotye and Kimbra win at the 55th annual Grammy Awards Photo: Getty Images

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Gotye Has ‘Somebody’ To Thank For Record Of The Year Grammy

SUNDANCE: ‘Sound City’ Premiere Finds Dave Grohl Rocking With Rick Springfield

No live music was played, but the Saturday afternoon premiere of Dave Grohl’s Sound City documentary — about the fabled-yet-scuzzy Van Nuys, CA recording studio of the same name where Nirvana , Neil Young , Fleetwood Mac, Rick Springfield , Rage Against the Machine and Fear recorded landmark albums — felt like an all-star rock concert. Fans stood on street corners near the Marc theater, where the film debuted, offering to purchase tickets from anyone with a spare, and the musical artists who turned out to watch the documentary, included former Creedence Clearwater frontman John Fogerty, Grohl’s former Nirvana bandmates Krist Novoselic (pictured on the right) and Pat Smear, Springfield and Stevie Nicks, most or all of whom are expected to play with Grohl in a live show later tonight on Main Street in Park City. Before the screening, Grohl called the film “the most important thing I’ve done artistically,” and at the Q&A session that followed the movie, noted that the digital revolution, which transformed music industry (and essentially killed Sound City, which did things the analog way) enabled him to become a filmmaker  and tell the story of the recording studio’s rightful place in rock ‘n’ roll history. “I made a movie. It’s shocking, really,” Grohl said. “Next, I’ll be flying your plane to Dulles.” Grohl and Sound City got an enthusiastic standing ovation at the end, and the people in the audience around me seemed to really be rocking out to a segment that has the surviving members of Nirvana playing with former Beatle Paul McCartney .  The part of the movie that rocked my world, however,  was when Grohl performed the gritty “The Man That Never Was,” with Springfield.   Like a number of other performances, the song, which was co-written by Springfield, Grohl and others was recorded on Sound City’s fabled Neve console, which the Foo Fighter bought for his own 606 Studios when Sound City closed its doors as a commercial recording business in 2011. Grohl said these songs will be released on a Sound City album in March. I especially loved it when, after the performance, Nevermind producer (and Garbage drummer) Butch Vig tells Springfield: “You got some darkness in you, boy!” Springfield also turns out to have been an important part of the studio’s history and vice versa. He recorded his 1981  Working Class Dog there, which contained his breakthrough hit “Jessie’s Girl.”  The success of that album was important to Sound City’s success.  Springfield was also managed by Sound City’s original owner and even met his wife, Barbara Porter, who was an assistant there. I’m hoping that Springfield performs with Grohl on Main Street tonight, and that, as a result, Sundance sees a warp in the time-space continuum. See you on the other side. Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter.  Follow Movieline on Twitter. 

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SUNDANCE: ‘Sound City’ Premiere Finds Dave Grohl Rocking With Rick Springfield

Stella Hudgens Flexibility Will Get You In Trouble

Well, it appears that Stella Hudgens is way more talented than her sister. Now I don’t want to get into trouble, but I’m pretty sure when Stella becomes of age, we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in these positions when her breakthrough video get leaked on the web.

Slamdance Film Festival Sets 2013 Competition

Slamdance set its competition lineup Wednesday with 12 Narrative titles and 10 documentaries joining the film festival’s roster at the 19th annual event which coincides with the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. This year, 13 World Premieres and seven U.S. debuts will screen in competition, chosen out of 5,000 submissions. “Our goal is to showcase exhilarating filmmaking with a revolutionary take on our world,” commented Slamdance president and co-founder Peter Baxter on the festival website. “These filmmakers have a tremendous ability to innovate, explore and revitalize the independent filmmaking landscape.” The 2013 Slamdance Film Festival will take place January 18 – 24. The festival’s competition lineup follows with descriptions and credits provided by Slamdance. NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION: The Narrative Competition is comprised of American and International productions. All 12 films are feature debuts with budgets of less than $1 million, and were programmed entirely from blind submissions. Best Friends Forever / Director: Brea Grant, Screenwriters: Brea Grant, Vera Miao (USA) World Premiere Harriet and Reba hit the road in this darkly comedic apocalypse tale that explores the boundaries of friendship, the danger of hipsters, and nuclear fallout. Cast: Brea Grant, Vera Miao, Sean Maher, Glen Powell, Kit Williamson, Alex Berg, Alex Fernie, Stacey Storey Big Words /Director and Screenwriter: Neil Drumming (USA) World Premiere A lively drama that captures members of a once-promising hip-hop group, now in their late 30’s, as they struggle with regret, disappointment, and change on Election Night 2008. Cast: Darien Sills-Evans, Dorian Missick, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Yaya Alafia, Zachary Booth, Amir Arison, Jean Grae The Court of Shards / Director and Screenwriter: Jan Eilhardt (Germany) World Premiere In this experimental narrative, two disabled women fight in their own way to maintain their independent loves and lives against an overpoweringly caring family. Cast: Caroline Fricke, Silvia Giehle, Natalia Bondar, Frank Hoffmann, Doris Egbring-Kahn The Dirties / Director: Matt Johnson, Screenwriters: Matt Johnson, Evan Morgan, Josh Boles (Canada) World Premiere Two best friends think it would be funny to make a movie about getting revenge on the bullies at their school. One of them isn’t joking. Cast: Matt Johnson, Owen Williams, Krista Madison, David Matheson, Brandon Wickens, Josh Boles, Alen Delaine, Jay McCarrol Fynbos / Director: Harry Patramanis, Screenwriters: Harry Patramanis, Jonathan Glatzer (South Africa) US Premiere On a lavish and remote property, within the walls of a glass house, six lives intersect and lay bare their secrets and psyches in this twisting drama. Cast: Jessica Haines, Warrick Grier, Cara Roberts, Chad Philips, Susan Danford, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, John Herbert Billy Chen Presents: Ghost Team One / Directors: Ben Peyser, Scott Rutherford, Screenwriters: Andrew Knauer, Arthur Pielli, Scott Rutherford, Ben Peyser (USA) World Premiere A subversive, comedic take on the found footage genre, where two roommates deathly afraid of ghosts both fall in love with a girl who believes their home is haunted. Cast: Carlos Santos, Fernanda Romero, J.R. Villarreal, Meghan Folcone, Tony Cavalero, James Babson, Scott MacArthur, Craig Stott Hank and Asha / Director: James E. Duff, Screenwriters: James E. Duff, Julia Morrison (USA) World Premiere In this voyeuristic love story, an Indian student in Prague and a lonely New Yorker correspond online through video letters – two strangers aching for human connection in a hyper-connected world. Cast: Andrew Pastides, Mahira Kakkar He’s Way More Famous Than You / Director: Michael Urie, Screenwriters: Halley Feiffer, Ryan Spahn (USA) World Premiere A struggling actress will stop at nothing to get her movie made in this sharp comedy, bolstered by absurdist touches and a bravura lead performance. Cast: Halley Feiffer, Ryan Spahn, Tracee Chimo, Jesse Eisenberg, Mammie Gummer, Michael Urie, Ralph Macchio , Natasha Lyonne, Ben Stiller Joy De V. / Director and Screenwriter: Nadia Szold (USA) World Premiere An expressionistic, gritty look at the intersection of madness and love that follows a young con-artist who wakes up to discover his pregnant wife is missing. Cast: Evan Louison, Claudia Cardinale, Josephine de La Baume, Iva Gocheva, Victoria Imperioli Kohlhaas / Director and Screenwriter: Aron Lehmann (Germany) US Premiere An obsessed director and his cast seek to adapt the true story of a 16th-century revolutionary when their actions behind the scenes begin to mimic the book’s subject. Cast: Robert Gwisdek, Jan Messutat, Thorsten Merten, Rosalie Thomass, Michael Fuith, Heiko Pinkowski Visitors / Director: Constanze Knoche, Screenwriters: Leis Bagdach, Constanze Knoche (Germany) US Premiere Three adult siblings are surprised by their parents’ announcement that they are cutting off finances in this commanding and evocative look at the oppressive results of stasis. Cast: Uwe Kockisch, Corinna Kirchhoff, Irina Potapenko, Jakob Diehl, Anne Muller, Anjorka Strechel, Bernhard Schütz, Andreas Leupold, Janusz Kocaj, Mehdi Nebbou What Isn’t There / Director: Marie Jamora, Screenwriters: Marie Jamora, Ramon De Veyra (Philippines) US Premiere In this lyrical exploration of love, music and expression, a self-imposed mute returns home for Christmas and the anniversary of his twin brother’s accidental death. Cast: Dominic Roco, Annicka Dolonius, Boboy Garrovillo, Dawn Zulueta, Felix Roco, Alchris Galura, Mercedes Cabral, Marc Abaya DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION: The Documentary Competition is comprised of American and International productions. All 10 films are directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million, and were programmed entirely from blind submissions. Battery Man / Directors and Screenwriters: Dusan Saponja, Dusan Cavic (Serbia) US Premiere Thanks to the powers he discovered by accident, Biba Struja has spent his entire life experimenting with electricity and proving to himself and others that it cannot harm him. Cast: Slavisa Pajkic Bible Quiz / Director: Nicole Teeny (USA) World Premiere Seventeen-year-old Mikayla memorizes books of the Bible on her quest to win the National Bible Quiz Championship and the heart of JP, her quiz team captain. The film explores coming of age in the face of faith, doubt, fierce competition and teen love. Cast: Mikayla Irle, JP O’Connor, Christopher Teeny, Brandon Duffy, Rich Nelson, Rachel Dawson, Rachel Holley, Gary Irle The Bitter Buddha / Director: Steven Feinartz (USA) Cult-Comic Eddie Pepitone’s life is on display in this unhinged portrait of creativity, enlightenment and rage. Cast: Eddie Pepitone, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, Sean Conroy, Paul Provenza, Dana Gould, Marc Maron The Brotherhood of the Traveling Rants / Directors: Gavin McInnes, Steve Durand, Bryan Gaynor (USA/Canada) World Premiere ‘Godfather of hipsterdom’ Gavin McInnes goes on a stand-up comedy tour with his best friend from high school and things go from bad to worse to downright catastrophic. Cast: Gavin McInnes, Steve Durand, Bryan Gaynor The Institute / Director: Spencer McCall, Screenwriters: Uriah Findley, Spencer McCall (USA) Is it a cult? Is it a game? Or is it a life-changing adventure? Cast: Daniel Shoup, Arye Michael Bender, Carolee Gilligan Wheeler, Garland Glessner, Michael Wertz, Kiyomi Tanouye, Geordie Aiken, Jeff Hull The Last Shepherd / Director and Screenwriter: Marco Bonfanti (Italy) US Premiere Renato, the last traveling shepherd left in Milan, has a dream – get to the inaccessible center of the city to meet the children who have never seen a flock of sheep. Cast: Renato Zucchelli, Piero Lombardi, Lucia Zucchelli, Patrizia Frisoli, Hedy Krissane, Barbara Sorrentini (voice) My Name is Faith / Directors: Jason Banker, Jorge Torres-Torres, Tiffany Sudela-Junker (USA) US Premiere Faith, a 13-year-old girl who suffers from Reactive Attachment Disorder, attempts to heal from the trauma inflicted by her birthmother’s lifestyle. Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde / Director: Suzanne Mitchell (USA) World Premiere The inspiring journey of a remarkable cowboy who triumphs in his quest to protect wild horses and the American West. Cast: Dayton O. Hyde Where I Am / Director and Screenwriter: Pamela Drynan (Ireland) World Premiere The courageous story of Gay American writer Robert Drake and his struggle to recover and return to the scene of a crime in Ireland, where, he was left for dead more than 10 years ago. Cast: Robert Drake Without Shepherds / Director: Cary McClelland (Pakistan/USA) World Premiere Six bold individuals struggle to find their role in the turbulent waters of Pakistan and build a better tomorrow. Cast: Vaneeza Ahmad, Arieb Azhar, Abdullah Khan, Imran Khan, Ibrahim Waheed, Laiba Yousafzai

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Slamdance Film Festival Sets 2013 Competition

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Takes Top National Board Of Review Honors

In another major awards win for Kathryn Bigelow ‘s latest, Zero Dark Thirty took major nods from the National Board of Review, receiving kudos for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress for Jessica Chastain . [ Related: NY Film Critics Circle Spices Up Oscar Race With ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Best Picture Pick ] Also taking major wins by the group were Bradley Cooper for Best Actor for Silver Linings Playbook , Leonardo DiCaprio (Best Supporting Actor) for Django Unchained , while Michael Haneke’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Amour took Best Foreign Language Film. Sundance ’12 winner Beasts of the Southern Wild won both Best Directorial Debut for Benh Zeitlin and the Breakthrough Actress prize for Quevenzhané Wallis. Ben Affleck’s Argo received a Special Achievement in Filmmaking mention. Meredith Vieira will host the National Board of Review Gala on January 8th in New York. 2012 National Board of Review Prizes : Best Film: Zero Dark Thirty Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty Best Actor: Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook Best Actress: Jessica Chastain , Zero Dark Thirty Best Supporting Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio , Django Unchained Best Supporting Actress: Ann Dowd , Compliance Best Original Screenplay: Rian Johnson , Looper Best Adapted Screenplay: David O. Russell , Silver Linings Playbook Best Animated Feature: Wreck-It Ralph Special Achievement in Filmmaking: Ben Affleck , Argo Breakthrough Actor: Tom Holland , The Impossible Breakthrough Actress: Quvenzhané Wallis ,  Beasts of the Southern Wild Best Directorial Debut: Benh Zeitlin , Beasts of the Southern Wild Best Foreign Language Film:  Amour Best Documentary: Searching for Sugarman William K. Everson Film History Award: 50 Years of Bond Films Best Ensemble: Les Misérables Spotlight Award: John Goodman (Argo, Flight, Paranorman, Trouble with the Curve) NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Central Park Five NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Promised Land   Top Films 
(in alphabetical order)   ARGO BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD DJANGO UNCHAINED LES MISÉRABLES LINCOLN LOOPER THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER PROMISED LAND SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK   Top 5 Foreign Language Films (In Alphabetical Order)   BARBARA THE INTOUCHABLES THE KID WITH A BIKE NO WAR WITCH   Top 5 Documentaries (In Alphabetical Order)   AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY DETROPIA THE GATEKEEPERS THE INVISIBLE WAR ONLY THE YOUNG   Top 10 Independent Films (In Alphabetical Order)   ARBITRAGE BERNIE COMPLIANCE END OF WATCH HELLO I MUST BE GOING LITTLE BIRDS MOONRISE KINGDOM ON THE ROAD QUARTET SLEEPWALK WITH ME

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‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Takes Top National Board Of Review Honors

‘Moonrise Kingdom,’ ‘How To Survive A Plague’ ‘Beasts’ Win Gothams

Wes Anderson ‘s Moonrise Kingdom won Best Feature tonight at the IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards tonight in New York, while David France’s How to Survive a Plague took Best Director. Benh Zeitlin ‘s Beasts of the Southern Wild , meanwhile won two awards including the Breakthrough Director prize and the inaugural Bingham Ray award. Moonrise Kingdom actors Bob Balaban took to the stage with fellow actors noting that if “Wes Anderson asks you to be in a movie…just be in it.” Anderson was a no-show, however, for the big win. Zeitlin took Best Breakthrough Director for Beasts of the Southern Wild . Taking to the stage, he said he hopes more people gets the kind of “freedom” he had to make his film which won Sundance earlier this year and the Camera d’Or in Cannes earlier this year. Zeitlin also won the inaugural Bingham Ray Award which honors a “promising emerging filmmaker.” How to Survive a Plague won Best Documentary. The film captures the ACT-UP movement and the push to get antivirals through government roadblocks. The emotional doc won accolades at Sundance. “It’s a story not about what AIDS did to our community, but a story about what our community did to HIV,” said director David France. Best Ensemble Cast went to Your Sister’s Sister . Actor Mark Duplass thanked his fellow actors Rosemarie Dewitt and Emily Blunt for their work only making $100 a day. The film beat out the likes of heavy-hitting Oscar contender Silver Linings Playbook as well as Moonrise Kingdom and Bernie . Said an excited Emayatzy Corinealdi about her Best Actor win: “This time last year I was at home eating Frosted Flakes… But to go from Sundance to Gotham with [ Middle of Nowhere ] is a dream for me…This role doesn’t come around often, so I’m grateful.” Best Feature: Moonrise Kingdom – Wes Anderson, director; Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, producers (Focus Features) Best Documentary: How to Survive a Plague – David France, director; Howard Gertler, David France, producers (Sundance Selects) Best Ensemble Performance: Your Sister’s Sister – Emily Blunt, Rosemarie Dewitt, Mark Duplass (IFC Films) Breakthrough Director: Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Breakthrough Actor: Emayatzy Corinealdi in Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM and Participant Media) Bingham Ray Award (Recognizes “Emerging American Filmmaker” includes a Panavision camera package valued at $60K) Benh Zeitlin , director of Beasts of the Southern Wild Gotham Independent Film Audience Award : Artifact , directed by Bartholomew Cubbins Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You: An Oversimplification of Her Beauty – Terence Nance, director; Terence Nance, Andrew Corkin, James Bartlett, producers Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ grant: Stacie Passon , director, Concussion

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‘Moonrise Kingdom,’ ‘How To Survive A Plague’ ‘Beasts’ Win Gothams

Frank Ocean Had A ‘Peaceful But Active Year’

Reserved singer shares a few words about his breakthrough year on GQ Men of the Year red carpet. By Nadeska Alexis, with reporting by Kara Warner Frank Ocean Photo: MTV News

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Frank Ocean Had A ‘Peaceful But Active Year’