News

Sinqua Walls is set to star in the remake of “White Men Can’t Jump” for 20th Century Studios, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

Walls (“Nanny”) will star opposite Grammy-nominated musician Jack Harlow, who is set to make his acting debut in the remake.

Music video director Calmatic is set to direct the project, from a script by “Blackish” creator Kenya Barris and Doug Hall.

Released in 1992, “White Men Can’t Jump” starred Woody Harrelson as Billy Hoyle, a former college basketball star who wins bets against streetballers who think they can beat him because he’s white. His hustling strategy changes when he runs into Sidney (Wesley Snipes), another baller who tricks Billy out of a huge chunk of cash. After some prodding from their significant others, Sidney and Billy form a partnership that slowly grows into a friendship as they enter 2-on-2 tournaments for big bucks.

Summer theatrical and on-demand release planned.

Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Dreaming Walls, the 2022 Berlinale selection directed by Amélie van Elmbt and Maya Duverdier on which Martin Scorsese served as executive producer.

The love letter to the iconic Chelsea Hotel and its longtime residents who face an uncertain future as the New York landmark undergoes a transformation into a luxury hotel will open theatrically and on-demand this summer.

The film is a Dogwoof presentation of a Clin d’Oeil Films, Les Films de l’Oeil Sauvage production in association with Momento Film, Basalt Film, Media International and Hard Working Movies...

Belarusian director and journalist Andrei Kutsila is in the Czech Republic this week where his film “When Flowers Are Not Silent” opens the 25th Jihlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival. This follows its world premiere at Warsaw Film Festival, where it nabbed the award for best documentary feature. After the screening, Kutsila will continue his one-year internship at Łódź Film School in Poland, he tells Variety.

“It’s not just about security – you simply cannot work [as a documentary filmmaker in Belarus] right now. I decided to leave when I was still editing the film,” he says, referring to the situation of the country still reeling from the government’s violent response to the protests after the rigged 2020 presidential elections. Belarus’ authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, has been in power since 1994.

“I don’t know what will happen next; there is no point in making any plans. The streets are calmer, but the authorities have to maintain a certain level of fear.

The 1996 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album Songs and Music From the Motion Picture ‘She’s the One’ is such a weird outlier in the band’s catalog that even Tom Petty himself didn’t quite know what to make of it. “It was kind of a confused album for us,” Petty told writer Paul Zollo in his book Conversations With Tom Petty. “It got stocked in the soundtrack section. It didn’t really come out like a Heartbreakers record. So it didn’t feel like we made a record or anything.

More than a dozen of music’s biggest stars, from Beyoncé to H.E.R., would love an Emmy to add to their award shelves.

A Variety review of the 535 entries throughout the Television Academy’s seven music categories reveals a surprising number of A-list singers, songwriters and music directors apparently eager for TV’s top honor. Among them:

H.E.R. (with Josiah Bassey) is entered for original song for “Hold Us Together” from the Disney Plus movie “Safety.” She won the Oscar earlier this year and already has four Grammys, so an Emmy win would put her three-fourths of the way to a fabled Egot. Beyoncé is entered for music direction and original song (both with Derek Dixie) for “Black Is King,” her musical film companion to “The Lion King” (also on Disney Plus). The song “Black Parade” won her a Grammy earlier this year for best R&b performance.

Cher spent last Thanksgiving leading a rescue team to save a four-ton elephant in the middle of the pandemic, and yes, a new documentary is on the way.

Smithsonian Channel’s Cher & the Loneliest Elephant documents the superstar’s goal to save Kaavan, a malnourished elephant living in Pakistan. The elephant has spent nearly two decades in chains, living in a shed. He experienced depression, obesity, and the death of his mate.

Cher got wind of the crisis on social media, leading a team of veterinarians, animal aid groups, and sanctuary owners to the rescue.

Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill is an arena-rock idealist, a firm believer in the undying power of setting up shop at the 50-yard line of rock & roll expectations and doing very brisk business. “Like in a mainstream melody / Oh, I want to take you in!” he told us on the Kings’ last album, 2016’s Walls, a subtle come-on that was a pretty fair assessment of why his band’s music hit home with millions.

So, what do these Tennessee titans do in times like these, when there aren’t any arenas to be rocked?...

Kings of Leon have released a new song, “Echoing,” with a black-and-white music video. The clip shows members of the band performing in an empty concert space, with erratic camerawork and lighting effects that match the song’s tempo.

“Time is often higher learning/I’m still barely making grades/Just about imagination anyway,” frontman Caleb Followill sings. “We are circling the wagons/Lining up in single file/Members of the jury are standing trial.”

Kings of Leon will release their eighth studio album When You See Yourself on March 5th via RCA Records,...

Kings of Leon have returned with two new singles, “The Bandit” and “100,000 People,” off their upcoming album When You See Yourself, out March 5th.

“The Bandit” is accompanied by a video shot in black-and-white, showing the band tearing through the new track live. “And they’re walking around/With their heads in the cloud screaming,” Caleb Followill sings. “Must catch the bandit/Reckless abandon.”

“100,000 People” is a slow-burner, with the simple chorus: “You do.”

When You See Yourself marks the band’s first new album in five years, following 2016’s Walls.

Barbra Streisand and songwriter Desmond Child on Saturday shared a new lyric video for the track “Lady Liberty,” which appeared on Streisand’s 2018 album Walls and features lyrics that urge others to make their voices heard.

“I recorded ‘Lady Liberty’ in 2018, but the message seems more urgent now than ever,” said Streisand in a statement. “The key lyric, “The real danger lies in the sound of silence.” So make your voice heard, please vote!”

Child added that when he wrote “Lady Liberty,” he couldn’t have predicted the situation we’d all find ...

Barbra Streisand and songwriter Desmond Child on Saturday shared a new lyric video for the track “Lady Liberty,” which appeared on Streisand’s 2018 album Walls and features lyrics that urge others to make their voices heard.

“I recorded ‘Lady Liberty’ in 2018, but the message seems more urgent now than ever,” said Streisand in a statement. “The key lyric, “The real danger lies in the sound of silence.” So make your voice heard, please vote!”

Child added that when he wrote “Lady Liberty,” he couldn’t have predicted the situation we’d all find ...

Get ready, One Direction fans. Louis Tomlinson is making some new music. The singer went on a Twitter spree on Thursday, Oct. 1, and answered fans' burning questions about his upcoming tunes after he released his solo album, Walls, in January 2020. One fan asked if they could expect new music soon. Louis was quick to give the good news: "Wrote 4 songs in 4 days. It's cooking," he tweeted.  And when another Twitter user asked, "what have you cooked lately?" he replied, "Banger after banger." Dare we say we're ready for the "Best Song Ever"?  Unfortunately, it may be a while before fans get to hear the music. When...

After teases, unearthed songs and demo recordings, Tom Petty’s estate has finally announced its long-awaited reissue for Petty’s beloved 1994 solo album Wildflowers.

Wildflowers and All the Rest, a “comprehensive” five-cd or nine-lp box set due out October 16th, features the 1994 LP alongside dozens of unreleased tracks, home recordings (like “There Goes Angela (Dream Away)” and the demo of “You Don’t Know How It Feels“), alternate versions and live renditions of Wildflowers tracks.

In addition to the announcement of Wildflowers and All the Rest, Warner Records also shared...

Exclusive: Multiple Grammy award-winning recording artist Alicia Keys is attached to produce a currently untitled Netlfix romantic comedy that explores the bonds of love and family. Christina Milian, Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharoah, and Sinqua Walls will star in the film, which is being directed by Steven Tsuchida, who has directed episodes for Dear White People, Younger, and On My Block.

The script was co-written by Stella Meghie, Dana Schmalenberg and Rheeqrheeq Chainey. It centers around an aspiring pop star, Erica, who ends up as the entertainment at her ex-fiancé’s wedding after reluctantly taking a gig at a luxurious island resort while in the wake of a music career meltdown. She tries to keep their past relationship a secret from his bride-to-be Beverly, but Erica rediscovers her feelings for her ex, Jason, despite his brother Caleb’s attempts to keep them from falling back in love. The question...

Louis Tomlinson, a former One Direction member, announced on Twitter today he is parting ways with Simon Cowell’s Syco Music. Tomlinson has been with Syco Music since One Direction’s inception on The X Factor in 2011. Syco Music is a subsidiary of Syco Entertainment, a joint venture by Simon Cowell and Sony Music.

Tomlinson further detailed in the tweet that a new album is in the works. This would be Tomlinson’s second solo album effort after his debut album, Walls, which released earlier this year.

Many fans expressed excitement for Tomlinson’s departure from his longtime label. Scroll down for some reactions.

Hope everyone is doing ok! Just wanted to let you know that Syco Music and I have agreed to part ways. I'm really excited for the future and to be back in the studio writing the next album. Can't wait to finally see you all on tour!

Boy bands don’t usually get much respect from Grammy voters, but once members go solo they often get their due. Michael Jackson cleaned up after leaving The Jackson 5. Justin Timberlake was an awards darling after Nsync split up. Now the members of the British group One Direction are pulling the industry in several directions after going on hiatus in 2016. Four of them have albums eligible for consideration in 2021. Who do you think has the best chance of winning? Scroll down to vote in our poll at the bottom of this post.

SEE2021 Grammy contenders: These are top artists and albums that may get their due next year

On paper, Harry Styles looks like he might be the best bet. He released his sophomore solo album “Fine Line” in December 2019. It debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, has gone platinum for achieving a million album units based on streams and sales.

Kings of Leon have unveiled a video for their new song, “Going Nowhere.” Directed by Casey McGrath, the black-and-white clip was shot live from Nashville, Tennessee and they released it on Tuesday.

The visual features band frontman Caleb Followill. He is seen sitting on the arm of a couch as he’s filmed with his back to the camera while he is alone performing the reflective ballad on acoustic guitar. The minimalistic backdrop and setting befits the song’s of-the-moment longing themes of yearning to be with someone while looking forward to better days.

Lil Wayne’s 13th album, Funeral, debuted at Number One on the Rolling Stone Top 200 Albums chart for the week of January 31st through February 6th. The album racked up 138,000 album-equivalent units and 118.2 million streams, outpacing the debut from Compton rapper Roddy Richh, which fell to Number Two.

Eight songs from Funeral made the latest Rolling Stone Top 100 Songs chart, led by “I Do It,” a single featuring Big Sean and Lil Baby, which hit at Number Six thanks to 14.2 million streams. “Mahogany,” produced by Lil Wayne’s longtime collaborator Mannie Fresh,...

On the heels of his debut solo album Walls, released last week, Louis Tomlinson sat down for a chat with Rolling Stone about some of his career highlights, like the time he performed with Steve Aoki in his first ever X-Factor appearance.

“That was a really special moment for me,” Tomlinson recalled. “There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders that day.”

Soon after Tomlinson and the rest of One Direction “graduated” from their UK X-Factor run, they felt their first brush with international fame when they were in Sweden for a recording session.

You live and you learn.  Former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson has been back in action promoting his new work and his solo album Walls. The stars return to the music scene comes after recently losing both his mom in 2016 and his sister in 2019. Although the star has shared with fans briefly about his grief, he's chosen to express his pain on his own terms. Unfortunately, in an interview with BBC Breakfast Show on Monday, Louis called out the program for what he deemed an attempt at using his pain to gain viewers. "Defo wont be going on there again Haha! Love to all my fans for always having my back," he tweeted out after the interview.  That tweet caught the attention of...

It's systematic, hyrdomatic, ultramatic, it's Louis Tomlinson! During an appearance on Thursday's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the former One Direction member celebrated the release of his debut solo album Walls, and then Fallon treated viewers with a clip of the star as a teen performing in Grease. As Tomlinson explained, he caught the acting bug when his twin sisters started booking gigs when they were younger, resulting in him snagging some extra roles in their projects. When he transferred to a new school, the first thing he did was audition for the school's production of Grease, and being the crooner he is, he landed the role of Danny Zuko. "Where I grew...

Louis Tomlinson appeared on The Tonight Show to perform his new single “Walls.” For the heartfelt rendition, Tomlinson was joined by a backing band, including a string section, as he crooned, “Nothing wakes you up like waking up alone/ And all that’s left of us is a cupboard full of clothes.”

“Walls” comes off Tomlinson solo debut album of the same name, which is out now. “It took me a second to get here,” the singer told Rolling Stone of finally releasing the album after One Direction went on...

Listening to Louis Tomlinson’s solo debut, Walls, is a bit like hanging out with the high school quarterback who stayed in his hometown after the rest of his class moved away. It wistfully brings to mind One Direction’s glory days, grown faded around the edges by time. The quarterback is still charming, his tales still rousing, but you kind of hope maybe, next year, he’ll move on — he’s certainly talented enough to do so.

It’s hard stepping out of the boy band formula, for sure.

It's Louis Tomlinson's time to shine. The British singer, who made a name for himself as a member of the ultrapopular One Direction, is finally sharing his debut album, Walls, with the world, and let me tell you, fan friends, you're going to be even prouder than you already were of him. The 12-track album officially lands Jan. 31 and tells the entire story of Tomlinson's life, from falling in love to losing his mom and younger sister and questioning his position in the music world.

What's so stunning about this album is that Tomlinson, a proven songwriter who penned numerous tracks for One Direction, gets to showcase all his talent and place his vocals at the forefront. It's something his fans have been thirsting for for years. The album as a whole is brutally honest about his life and gives you a glimpse into his life. Where some may...

Billie Eilish swept the top categories at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards as she and brother/recording partner Finneas O’Connell took home six out of the seven awards they were nominated for. Eilish became only the second artist in history to nab new artist, song of the year, record of the year and album of the year. She also won pop vocal album while O’Connell earned producer of the year and engineered album (both non-classical).

Lizzo had a stellar Grammy debut as well. After opening the show with a Kobe Bryant tribute and an energetic rendition of “Truth Hurts,” she picked up trophies for pop solo performance, traditional R&b performance and urban contemporary album. Tyler, the Creator won his first Grammy on Sunday in the rap album category, beating 21 Savage, Ybn Cordae, Meek Mill and Dreamville.

Nipsey Hussle earned two posthumous awards. Along with a tribute performance in his honor,...

Winners of the 62nd annual Grammys were revealed on January 26 in a two-part event. The majority of the 84 Grammy Awards were handed out at the non-televised Premiere Ceremony, which began at 12:30 p.m. Pt/3:30 p.m. Et at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

The televised portion of the Grammys took place across the street at the Staples Center. It started on CBS at 5:00 p.m. Pt/8:00 p.m. Et. Winners in the top 10 categories were announced during a three-and-a-half hour concert that was hosted by Alicia Keys. Scroll down for the full and complete list of winners at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.

See 2020 Grammys online: How to watch Grammy Awards live stream without a TV

General Field

Album Of The Year

“I, I,” Bon Iver

“Norman Fucking Rockwell,” Lana Del Rey

X – “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Billie Eilish

“Thank U,...

Grammy Awards winners will be revealed on Sunday, January 26 in a two-part ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The majority of the awards in the 84 categories spread across 30 fields will be handed out in a non-televised event, the Premiere Ceremony, that afternoon. The televised portion of the Grammys will begin on CBS at 5:00 p.m. Pt/8:00 p.m. Et. Expect that 3.5 hour telecast to be dominated by musical performances with about a dozen presentations of prizes. Scroll down for the full and complete list of nominees for the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.

General Field

Album Of The Year

“I, I,” Bon Iver

“Norman Fucking Rockwell,” Lana Del Rey

“When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Billie Eilish

“Thank U, Next,” Ariana Grande

“I Used to Know Her,” H.E.R.

“7,” Lil Nas X

“Cuz I Love You,” Lizzo

“Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend...

Who will win at the Grammys this weekend when the recording academy hands out its awards on Sunday, January 26? Scroll down to see our official predictions in 32 categories, listed in order of our racetrack odds, with our projected winners highlighted in gold.

Our odds were calculated by combining the predictions of more than 2,000 Gold Derby users who have placed their bets here in our predictions center. That includes the Expert journalists we’ve polled, the Editors who cover awards year-round for Gold Derby, the Top 24 Users who got the highest scores predicting last year’s winners, and the All-Star Top 24 who got the highest scores when you combine prediction results from the last couple of years.

SEEWho is Performing at the Grammys 2020? List of Performers

Lizzo came into these awards with the most nominations (eight), followed closely by Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X (six) and Ariana Grande and H.

Louis Tomlinson roams the Moroccan desert and plays a sunset concert in his video for recent single “Walls.”

The clip opens in the barren landscape, where the former One Direction singer encounters a mysterious door, walks through a series of glass panes and sits on a chair perched halfway up a brick wall. “Nothing wakes you up like waking up alone,” he sings over acoustic strums and ringing piano. “And all that’s left of us is a cupboard full of clothes.”

The imagery becomes more surreal as he enters through the door.

Lotus International, the international sales agent and the U.S. distributor, Millennium Entertainment, will open “ Elsa & Fred” theatrically on November 7.

Writer-Director Michael Radford and stars Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, Marcia Gay Harden, Scott Bakula, George Segal and James Brolin team up to make an endearing film for many reasons.

The terms of endearment of Shirley Maclaine here are those of love, pure love as she takes three small steps with Christopher Plummer. Even at the ripe old ages of 75 and 80, love is young and ecstatic. And what memories septuagenarians and octogenarians have -- of Fellini, Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastrioanni defining new versions of love. This is a targeted film, made on a budget easily recouped.

Christopher Plummer plays himself as an elegant, gorgeous, refined and gentle man, disguised as an old grump and Shirley plays herself, defining herself as a stunning older woman as beautiful as she was when young. In her case, even her face work is forgivable and almost lovable because she knows, and you know she “knows” you know.

My memories of Rome were awakened by the beauty of the city, my memories of Fellini. This device of making love to the audience, so successful in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” by allowing the audience’s eyes to caress the city, is also effective here. The movie also triggered my memories of walking and talking at two almost back-to-back film festivals with Michael Radford…for some reason I am thinking Mill Valley or Napa Valley in the fall and the Guadalajara Film Festival (Ficg)…where walking on new streets in new cities, we talked about our lives and his next film (which was not this one) and enjoyed being together in the collegial way festivals sometimes lend themselves to being.

And my memories of Shirley MacLaine, when I was training at 20th Century Fox International in Amsterdam, so homesick that when it was advertised she was playing live, I went to her hotel and introduced myself as working for Fox and welcoming her to Amsterdam. Her first words were she did not work with Fox (was involved in a lawsuit with them?) which I was prompt to report back to my boss, David Raphael. I remember especially her strong hand as she took my wrist and urged me to have tea with her at the hotel where she was staying and dismissed her entourage. We spent a good three hours talking about so many things, as I attempted to explain the Dutch and how I was experiencing my year in Amsterdam, and I felt so much better afterward.

The next thing I heard about her was when I went to 20th Century Fox’s home office to say my good-byes and they told me to go say hello to her as she was filming Herb Ross’ “The Turning Point” (1977) there on the lot of 20th Century Fox. I was too shy unfortunately to go see her. But it was a turning point in my life too.

This is a movie for women of “uncertain age”. It has a great cast, an accomplished director who is reflected in the character of Christopher Plummer. We hope it might cross over, but its budget is reasonable enough that it need not break box office records in order to break even. I notice that Intramovies, one of last two remaining independent international sales agent-production companies to remain standing in Italy (and both are owned by women of un certain age – Paola Corvino of Intramovies and Adriana Chiesa of Adriana Chiesa Enterprises) is the producer who brought in Rome, the eternal city of sacred and profane love.

The film premiered at Afm 2013 where Inferno was selling it. Something has transpired over the past year and Inferno’s product or Inferno itself has morphed into Lotus International (That is a story to look into another time), just as the U.S. distributor, Bill Lee’sMillennium Entertainment (“ Fading Gigolo” by John Turturro for Theatrical, Tv, Dvd-Video, Vod, Airline; “ The Assassin Next Door” (“Kirot”) by Danny Lerner and “Gacy” by Clive Saunders) and not to be confused with NuImage’s Millennium Films, is rumored to be about to change its name.

Lucky for me, I had not seen the Spanish-language original of “Elsa & Fred” directed by Marcos Camerole in 2005. I had heard such great things about it over a year of festivals and markets, but somehow always missed it. That Argentinean-Spanish coproduction won nine prestigious international awards.

It also sold well, although late to the U.S. where DistriMax took the rights (2008). But that is how “foreign” films fare in the U.S. Independent producers and financiers abroad don’t even bother factoring in the U.S. market – except for remake rights, if they are smart enough. But the story and movie itself was so good that it accomplished a rare feat of distribution: it crossed the borders of Latin American countries, something that rarely happens, and sold to both Venezuela - Amazonia Films and Chile - Four Films and played well in Spain -Altafilms Grupo Alta Classics and Argentina -Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina andLk-tel It also sold to Switzerland -Stamm Film Ag and the Netherlands - Filmfreak Distributie, It even sold to Taiwan which is a greater feat for Spanish language films.

According to Box Office Mojo its international gross was almost $3,000,000:

Foreign Total

-

7/28/05

n/a

-

$2,796,813

3/1/09

Argentina

Sony

7/28/05

$88,441

7.1%

$1,247,302

11/13/05

Belgium

Cnc

5/30/07

$2,153

100%

$2,153

6/3/07

Mexico

Zima

8/4/06

-

-

$804,202

11/16/06

New Zealand

Rialto

1/16/08

$3,018

10.2%

$29,679

3/9/08

Spain

Alta

11/11/05

$128,771

20.9%

$616,169

12/11/05

Taiwan

-

2/13/09

$3,160

33.2%

$9,509

3/1/09

Venezuela

-

10/17/08

$12,237

13.9%

$87,799

Information courtesy of The Internet Movie Database. Used with permission.

o Elsa & Fred (2014)

o Movie

o Director: Michael Radford (I), Production Co: Cuatro Plus Films [Us]

o Country: United States , Filming Location: New Orleans,… More

o Genre: Comedy | Family | Romance

o Elsa & Fred (2005)

o Movie

o Director: Marcos Carnevale, Production Co: Shazam S.A. [Ar]

o Aka: Elsa y Fred | Elsa és Fred | Intramontabile effervescenza

o Countries: Argentina | Spain , Filming Location: Madrid, Spain

o Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance

The new and nearly word-for-word remake of the film has sold to Canada’sMétropole Films Distribution, Israel’sUnited King Films Ltd and Diamond Films for Argentina, the distributor of “The Hunger Games” trilogy and other exciting films. All three of these companies are top caliber which attests to the excellence of this film. If other rights are still available after one year, as they seem to be, this may the right time to acquire them – so listen up all you distributors out there in the world aiming at the cultured klatch of women who pay their own way to movies, theater, concerts and dancing! Reviewed at Wilshire Screening Room, October 12, 2014. Opens in theaters November 7, 2014.

Exclusive: Actress and singer attached to star in Eran Riklis-produced drama.

Israeli actress and singer Ninet Tayeb is attached to play the lead role in Dina Zvi-Riklis’ next film Poppies in October about the tragic life of Tirza Atar, the daughter of Israel’s national poet Nathan Alterman and actress Rachel Marcus.

The joint production between Yifat Prestelnik Films and Eran Riklis Productions, currently in advanced development and aiming for an April 2015 shoot, will unveil a trailer starring Ninet to potential backers at the Jerusalem Film Festival’s Pitch-Point event on Monday.

The Hebrew-language drama, set in 1977, charts the final days of poet and author Atar who committed suicide aged 36 after spending much of her life trying to establish herself as a poet outside her father’s shadow.

The producers have already secured a portion of the estimated budget of $840,000 through a distribution deal with United King but will be looking for potential partners on the...

In Danny Lerner's The Assassin Next Door (2009), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace [2008], Max Payne [2008]) play Galia, a young woman who finds herself in a severe set of circumstances. Having left her husband and daughter in her native Ukraine, she travels to Tel Aviv, Israel. Whilst there she winds up in a dire situation, becoming embroiled with the local sex-traffic mafia and used against her will as an assassin for their seedy deeds.

Living in a run down Tel Aviv flat she befriends her neighbor, Elinor (Ninet Tayeb) – a grocery store cashier who submits herself to brutal beatings by her husband. As Galia disobeys her latest contract and Elinor discovers that she is pregnant, the two women become increasingly desperate to escape. As the film draws to a close the protagonists decide to take action against their oppressors, resulting in a tense and thrilling finale.

Although this may be a short opening synopsis,...

Another week, another list of DVDs and Blu-rays out to buy from today – and what a selection of titles: action, drama, award-winners and even some complete drivel. I’ll let you decide which is which!

Red (DVD & Blu-ray) – Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA’s top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history. Review.

The Social Network (DVD & Blu-ray) – David Fincher’s The Social Network is the tale of a new...

The Assassin Next Door

Stars: Olga Kurylenko, Ninet Tayeb, Vladimir Friedman | Written and Directed by Danny Lerner

Galia (Kurylenko) is an assassin involved against her will with the local sex-trafficking mafia. Eleanor (Yayeb) is a grocery store clerk and battered wife. All Galia wants to do is escape her “job” and be reunited with her young daughter at home in the Ukraine. Meanwhile all Eleanor wants to do is to escape her abusive husband. As new neighbours the two slowly get to know each before slowly realising that they both have something in common – their need to escape. With Galia refusing to kill her female target and Eleanor falling pregnant the two decide it’s now or never and take action against their oppressors in a fight for their freedom.

A cross between the classic French film La Femme Nikita and Thelma and Louise, The Assassin Next Door (aka Kirot...

Olga Kurylenko’s “The Assassin Next Door” (aka “Kirot”) is an English/Hebrew/Russian (!) thriller about an assassin (Kurylenko) who, wait for it…Lives Next Door to another woman, who’s suffering quite badly at the hands of her abusive husband. The two become friends, which obviously puts pressure on Olga to keep her murderous job under-wraps. I thorouhgly enjoyed it, even if it’s not the most original film out there, but Kurylenko is as magnetic as ever (and hot) and there’s enough action to satisfy most. It’s getting a Region 2 release on the 7th Feb courtesy of G2 Pictures, unfortunately without any special features apart from the usual trailers. However, If You’D Like To See Olga Kurylenko’S Bum then I’d recommend buying it. Read Todd’s review here.

In the second part of our look back at the memorable moments of the past year, we also look forward to what we're anticipating in 2011.

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This week's keyword game giveaway is a grab bag where six winners will receive one of the following DVDs: "The Assassin Next Door," "Dogora," "Indie Sex," "Love Songs," "Throw Down Your Heart" and "Valhalla Rising."...

We're already offered our picks for the best films of 2010. But what about the best final shot of a film this year? The most unfairly maligned movie? The greatest fight scene? In the first of a two-part episode, we look at some of our favorite scenes, moments, performances and images from the year in cinema.

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This week's keyword game giveaway is a grab bag where six winners will receive one of the following DVDs: "The Assassin Next Door," "Dogora," "Indie Sex," "Love Songs," "Throw Down Your Heart" and "Valhalla Rising."...

By Ed Sum

3.5/5

Director/Writer: Danny Lerner.

Originally titled Kirot, this Israeli import is a satisfying watch on an emotional level. Well, that’s only if one wants to discover what life is like in a land where women are treated indifferently. The portrayal here is by no means a reflection of a different culture, but it can hit a chord with some viewers.

Actress Olga Kurylenko is better known for her role in James Bond, Quantum of Solace, and here, she shows off her acting chops as Galia, a prostitute turned hitlady. All she wants is money and a passport to go back to Russia, but the mafia’s not ready to let her go.

After giving her a place to live, she befriends her next-door neighbour, Eleanor (Israeli platinum recording artist Ninet Tayeb) and the resulting bond is what carries the movie.

This film is hardly an action-thriller.

Immediately after she saw the George Clooney film, "The American," IFC.com editor Alison Willmore tweeted, "Are there ever any Happy assassins? They're always moping around by themselves. There has to be some upside to it as a career choice." She had an excellent point: movie after movie portray hitmen as dour, moody depressives. Presumably no one is forcing these people into the profession. The economy's not that bad, and it's not one of those jobs that's passed down from one generation to the next like a cobbler in Victorian England ("You want me to be like you Dad! But I'm not like you! I don't want to use an M40 rifle to lay down supressive fire!"). Surely their skills -- accuracy with guns and knives, making enigmatic conversations seem incredibly charming, doing lots of pushups without a shirt on -- would suit them well in other jobs. What about...

Israeli documentary Precious Life marks an early pre-Toronto Film Festival sale as HBO acquires U.S. rights. Directed by Israeli broadcaster Shlomi Eldar and produced by Ehud Bleiberg and Yoav Ze’evi, Precious Life tells the story of a four-month-old Palestinian boy from Gaza who lacks an immune system and requires a bone marrow transplant. This can only be done in an Israeli hospital. As his doctor pleads for help, Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar decides to document this complex drama about Israeli and Palestinian doctors’ attempt to save the kid's life. “We can’t imagine any other company releasing Precious Life," said producer Ehud Bleiberg of Bleiberg Entertainment (Adam Resurrected, The Assassin Next Door, The Band’s Visit). Precious Life will screen in Toronto's Real-to-Reel program, followed by its 2011 presentation on HBO.

Generally speaking, I tend to like my action movies straight-forward, uncomplicated, and relatively free of needless melodrama or intricate plotting. Some of the best examples of the genre are the simplest, be it a balls-out martial arts free-for-all or a tightly-wound revenge flick teeming with brutal intensity. Once you start exploring deep-rooted character motivations and the backstories of everyone in the entire picture, my interest starts to wan, and I’m effectively removed from the proceedings at-hand. As always, there are exceptions, though typically I don’t stray far from this admittedly hair-brained philosophy. Director Danny Lerner’s dramatic 2009 action/thriller “The Assassin Next Door” (aka “Kirot”) delicately balances the character-oriented drama with the bloody, frequently vicious action that someone as demented as myself craves on a fairly regular basis. In many ways, it is the heir apparent to “La Femme Nikita”, though it’s nowhere near as iconic or...

The Last Song: "What does this have to do with The Last Song? Only this: Miley Cyrus is one of those socioeconomically pretty people. She thinks she's pretty; she thinks she's talented; and she thinks it so much, and with so much arrogance, that she's convinced millions of others that she is those things. Do I feel terrible for saying that? Yes. But it's true. And the world is eventually going to chip away at her confidence and expose her for what she is. That's how drug-addicted former child stars are born. And when it happens, I'm probably going to feel bad about it. Because my assholery only extends to successful people." - Dustin Rowles

Furry Vengeance: "Now, if Dustin can blame the Bush administration for Jackie Earle Haley's voice coming out of Freddy Kruger's head, then I shall blame Al Gore for Furry Vengeance. This movie...

A look at what's new on DVD today:

"The Assassin Next Door" (2009)

Directed by Danny Lerner

Released by First Look Studios

Retitled since its premiere at last year's Toronto Film Festival as "Kirot," Bond girl Olga Kurylenko is the one handling the gun in this thriller about two women -- an assassin and a grocery clerk -- desperate to leave their lot in life who hatch a plan to improve their situation and decidedly won't do the same for the men who stand in their way.

"Black Orpheus" (1959)

Directed by Marcel Camus

Released by Criterion Collection

Marcel Camus' Palme d'Or-winning Brazilian-set retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurdice is reissued by Criterion Collection on Blu-ray and DVD with a completely new set of extras including the French documentary "Looking for 'Black Orpheus'" about the film's legacy and archival interviews with Camus and actress Marpessa Dawn.

"Burning Bright...

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all are excited for this weeks releases because it has one of my fave shows in it!

Dexter: Season 4

Miami forensics specialist Dexter Morgan (Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall) has been so successful at keeping his secret life as a serial killer under wraps that no one -- not even his newly minted wife, Rita (Julie Benz) -- knows about his extracurricular activities. Dexter continues to count on the fact that nobody suspects him of murder. And then he commits it with reckless abandon. John Lithgow joins the fourth season in a Golden Globe-winning role.

Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter

Love this show! Don't want it to be over after next season. Michael C. Hall is a amazing actor. This show is original, smart, well written and well acted. If you have not gotten a chance to watch it you should.

Here's...

Not a very exciting week for DVD and Blu-ray as it seems to be mainly a dumping ground for direct-to-video releases. This might have something to do with the fact that the biggest movies out this week are Furry Vengeance starring Brendan Fraser and The Last Song starring Miley Cyrus. Other movies hitting stores today include Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's Cemetery Junction, Richard Linklater's Me and Orson Welles, and Ji-woon Kim's The Good, the Bad, the Weird, plus The Assassin Next Door starring Olga Kurylenko and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again, the sequel to The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. I think my only real recommendation of the week would be Dexter: Season 4... well, that or Nanny McPhee on Blu-ray. Will you be buying or renting anything this week? Furry Vengeance [1] (+ Blu-ray [2]) The Last Song [3] (+ Blu-ray [4]) Me and Orson Welles [5] Cemetery Junction [6] (+ Blu-ray [7]) The Good, The Bad,...

We have a brand new exclusive clip from the upcoming DVD The Assassin Next Door, which will be released on DVD shelves on August 17. Click below to watch this exclusive clip, which features star Olga Kurylenko in action.

Assassin Next Door: Unwanted Visitors

In an old apartment building on the wrong side of the tracks, Galia and Eleanor share two things: an adjoining wall and a need to escape. Galia (Olga Kurylenko), a skilled hit woman held captive by the mafia, longs for her freedom so she can reunite with her young daughter, whom she left back in Russia. Eleanor (Israeli platinum recording artist Ninette Tayeb) is a grocery store cashier who dreams of winning the lottery and running away from her abusive husband. The two women unite to take action against their oppressors in an action-packed fight for survival and freedom.

What’s cooler than a revenge story centered around a female assassin and her quest to save a battered housewife from her abusive relationship? Not much, really. Writer/director Danny Lerner’s sensitive action flick “The Assassin Next Door” (aka “Kirot”) sounds like a cross between “Le Femme Nikita” and “The Professional”, with a bit of good, old-fashioned human drama thrown in for good measure. Somewhere deep within the heart of France, action guru Luc Besson is kicking himself for not executing this intriguing concept himself. The embedded trailer is, simply put, fantastic, and should provide enough of an adrenaline boost to carry you through the rest of the morning. I make no promises. Here’s a snazzy synopsis to help clarify the plot: In an old apartment building on the wrong side of the tracks, two women, unknown to each other, live across the hall on the second floor.

Israel's Ophir Awards (the Oscar equivalent) ceremony takes place every year around Rosh-Hashanah (this year's New Year's Day takes place on September 9th) – which means the race for the awards has unofficially commenced. - Israel's Ophir Awards (the Oscar equivalent) ceremony takes place every year around Rosh-Hashanah (this year's New Year's Day takes place on September 9th) – which means the race for the awards has unofficially commenced. The films qualifying for this year were produced, and not necessarily distributed in the last year are currently receiving special screenings for Academy members – here's how I see the race so far: The Israeli Film industry proved to be highly effective when it comes to dramas, but other genres were left almost untouched - Danny Lerner's Kirot fits the action thriller bill with Bond girl Olga Kurylenko (see above), and winner of the Israeli version of "American Idol" winner Ninet Tayeb...

Israel's Ophir Awards (the Oscar equivalent) ceremony takes place every year around Rosh-Hashanah (this year's New Year's Day takes place on September 9th) – which means the race for the awards has unofficially commenced. The films qualifying for this year were produced, and not necessarily distributed in the last year are currently receiving special screenings for Academy members – here's how I see the race so far: The Israeli Film industry proved to be highly effective when it comes to dramas, but other genres were left almost untouched - Danny Lerner's Kirot fits the action thriller bill with Bond girl Olga Kurylenko (see above), and winner of the Israeli version of "American Idol" winner Ninet Tayeb team up in a story of two women who strike up a friendship that will change both their lives. The film's strong suits come in the supporting male characters and cinematography, but problems with the...

Kirot, or The Assassin Next Door was shot in Tel Aviv, Israel and this female-empowerment film puts the guns in the hands of women, with the release date expected in mid-August. The Bleiberg Entertainment Group has helped produce this film with several other film companies and First Look Pictures will distribute the film within the United States. The Assassin Next Door involves two women attempting to escape the domination of ruthless men who force both Eleanor and Galia to cruel punishment and misdeeds. If you can handle brutal violence step inside director and writer Danny Lerner's world of terror with help from this trailer below.

The synopsis for Kirot/The Assassin Next Door here:

"In an old apartment building on the wrong side of the tracks, two women, unknown to each other, live across the hall on the second floor. Galia is an assassin involved against her will with the local sex-traffic mafia.