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Exclusive: Wilmer Valderrama and Freddy Rodriguez are teaming up on the new weekly podcast series Dos Amigos (Two Friends), premiering on January 30.

The project will join other popular podcasts from Valderrama’s exclusive slate with iHeartMedia’s My Cultura Podcast Network, of which he is a shareholder, including More Better with Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumer, Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama, Date My Abuelita, First!, and Forgive Me For I Have Followed. Dos Amigos is co-produced by Valderrama’s production company Wv Sound.

Each episode will feature the longtime friends as they candidly reflect on their careers and lives, and share everything about everything. The podcast will be recorded from Wilmer’s speakeasy and feature special guest appearances. Their goal each week is to bring friends together to spark honest reflection while toasting the good times.

Wilmer Valderrama and Freddy Rodriguez...

February ushers in a new slate of movies and TV shows making their way to HBO and HBO Max, from a slew of James Bond movies to the recently released Olivia Colman-led “Empire of Light” to, yes, the Puppy Bowl.

“The Terminator,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Footloose,” “Taxi Driver” and “The Silence of the Lambs” all mark notable library offerings this month, in addition to “Superbad,” “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” and “Eighth Grade.”

Despite HBO Max pulling a number of originals from its roster over the past several months, HBO Max originals premiering on the platform this month include a Dionne Warwick documentary, an adult European animated series titled “Poor Devil” and “Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special” based on the popular animated series.

HBO Max is also beefing up its sports offerings by streaming soccer matches featuring the U.S. national teams,...

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and HBO Max got the memo. With its list of new releases for February 2023, the HBO streamer is bringing a very special Valentine’s Day episode into the fold.

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special premieres on Feb. 9 and finds Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy celebrating their first Valentine’s Day together. Consider this a fun little aperitif for the fast approaching Harley Quinn season 3 – which will feature none other than freshly-installed DC czar James Gunn. Other HBO Max original series this month include another C.B. Strike special on Feb. 6 and Spanish-language animated comedy Poor Devil a.k.a. Pobre Diablo on Feb. 17.

February also looks to be a jam-packed month for movies on HBO Max. February 1 sees the arrival of many appealing library titles like Birdman, Casino Royale, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Terminator. Later on HBO Max...

The selection of titles for HBO Max in February 2023 will include the continuation of hit TV shows, premieres of holiday specials, and Oscar nominees. HBO Max’s January 2023 additions kicked off the new year with the premieres of TV shows like The Last of Us, which broke HBO records for having the highest jump in viewership for its second episode, and the original series Velma. The month also brought The Menu (2022) and the John Wick franchise to the platform’s library, with plenty more classic films and new releases set to drop on HBO Max in February.

In February 2023, HBO Max will host the streaming premieres of two 2023 Oscar nominees: Sam Mendes’ drama Empire of Light (February 7), which earned Roger Deakins a Best Cinematography nod, and HBO documentary All That Breathes (February 7), which is up for Best Documentary Feature. Also coming to HBO Max in 2023 are the premieres of Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special...

Like searching for the perfect Christmas tree, the hunt for the ideal holiday movie can feel oddly defeating, especially if the point of a viewers' quest is to find some diversity in seasonal entertainment. Fortunately, among the snow-blinding mountains of Caucasian movies, there are some diverse stories to add a little variety, including this year's Feliz naviDAD starring the ebullient Mario Lopez.

As with any movie genre, it's important for viewers to see themselves on screen and be able to relate to the characters and their situations. No matter how trite their Yuletide tropes, even the corniest holiday movies deserve to be appreciated by everyone, especially with the right representation of different beliefs and traditions. Here are the Latinx-led holiday movies sure to put even the most skeptical viewers in the festive spirit!

Updated on December 19th, 2022 by Kayleena Pierce-Bohen: There has been an explosion of Latinx-led holiday movies in the last few years,...

"Nothing Like the Holidays" has become the definitive Latinx Christmas movie. The 2008 film features a stellar lineup of our stars - John Leguizamo as the striving son, Luis Guzmán as the obnoxious cousin, Freddy Rodriguez as the returning brother, Melonie Diaz as the one who got away, the late great Elizabeth Peña as the long-suffering mother, and more. It's non-Latinx talent includes Debra Messing as part of a cross-cultural marriage and Alfred Molina (who is of Spanish and Italian descent) as the family's patriarch.

Watching it more than a decade after its release, "Nothing Like the Holidays" still holds up. The plot works, hitting the right emotional notes, while also keeping the audience guessing. The performances sing with real chemistry, mischief, and frustration. But why the film remains so relevant is in how it depicts the Latinx family at its center, using the Rodriguezes to get something right about la cultura.

There's just something about the Christmas holiday season that gives many of us a dopamine kick that has us feeling warm and fuzzy inside, and there's research to back it up. It's for this reason that Christmas movies tend to be so popular this time of year - even the corniest ones seem worth watching. But until recently, it was hard to find Christmas movies that resembled what Christmas looks like for Latinx families. While we could enjoy rewatching films like "A Christmas Story" or "It's a Wonderful Life," it would certainly be nice to see a film that at least acknowledges how Latinxs in the States celebrate the holiday and how the major emphasis for us is actually on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve), not Christmas Day. After all, we do make up 19 percent of the US population, according to a 2021 study from the Pew Research Center. Director Gabriela Tagliavini...

August is officially the last month of summer, but it’s also when schools start to reopen while others might take a vacation. Any movies hoping to make money this month are working against many other factors, which is why it’s become somewhat of a last resort for many studios. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

There have been more than a few blockbusters to open the month, including James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” and “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” but this August, there aren’t any franchises to be found, other than movies already in theaters, like “Thor: Love and Thunder” and Warner Bros’ weaker-than-expected “DC League of Super-Pets.” [sad trombone]

See August 2022 box office preview

In some ways, Brad Pitt could be seen as a franchise, since he continues to be one of the more relevant and dependable box office superstars,...

Lauren Kisilevsky, most recently vice president of original movies at Disney Channel, has been promoted to senior vice president of original movies at Disney Branded Television, where she will develop and oversee production of Disney Channel and Disney Plus’ growing slate of films.

The exec has already overseen a wide range of Disney Channel and Disney Plus originals, including “Upside-Down Magic,” “Descendants 3,” “Zombies 2” and the upcoming “Spin,” as well as “Secret Society of Second Born Royals” and the upcoming “Sneakerella.” The “Descendants” and “Zombies” franchises have proven to be big audience draws for Disney.

“Lauren is an exceptional creative executive whose deep understanding of our brand and tremendous contributions continue to yield must-experience movies for kids and families,” said Disney Branded TV exec VP of creative development and strategy Ayo Davis. “As Disney Branded Television continues to augment its efforts in attracting and building the very best and...

Lauren Kisilevsky has been upped at Disney Branded Television.

Kisilevsky, who was previously VP, Original Movies, Disney Channels, becomes SVP, Original Movies, Disney Branded Television.

She will develop and oversee production of a slate of movies for Disney Channel and Disney+. It comes after the company launched the Disney Branded Television unit led by Gary Marsh.

Kisilevsky will report to Ayo Davis, EVP, Creative Development and Strategy, Disney Branded Television.

She previously oversaw Disney Channel Original Movies such as Upside-Down Magic, Descendants 3, Zombies 2 and the upcoming Spin, as well as Disney+’s Secret Society of Second Born Royals and the upcoming Sneakerella.

Prior to joining Disney Channel, Kisilevsky developed feature films including Paper Heart, Nothing Like the Holidays and Pandorum and worked with Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher on the executive side.

“Lauren is an exceptional creative executive whose deep understanding of our brand and tremendous contributions continue...

In the immortal words of Charlie Brown and friends: “Christmas time is heeereee!” Well, in the streaming world Christmas time is just about always here. Christmas lives forever on the servers of companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Disney. Now WarnerMedia has entered into the streaming Christmas fray with its service HBO Max.

HBO Max is one of the new kids on the block, but its dedication to the holiday season remains admirable. The amount of holiday episodes of its many TV shows that HBO Max can offer is staggering. For this list, however, we will focus on service’s holiday movies alone (save for one Tardis-y exception). If you’ve got an HBO Max subscription and a burning need for Christmas movies, here is what you can expect.

Doctor Who Christmas Specials

HBO Max

If the British know one thing, it’s tea. If they know two things, it’s tea and Christmas specials.

Today isn’t just the day before Thanksgiving, as it also marks one month exactly until Christmas. And you know what that means? Yes, tis the season to binge watch all your favorite holiday movies and TV specials.

This December, a lot of folks will be scouring the various streaming services for the classics, then. And if you’re an HBO Max subscriber, you need look no further, as the platform is playing host to a sleigh-full of festive content this yuletide.

As well as its original output, such as the latest Sesame Street Christmas special, the streaming site is home to a raft of iconic holiday films as well. These range from the family favorites to some alternate picks that keep things from getting too schmaltzy. For that old time-y festive feel, check out The Wizard of Oz or The Bishop’s Wife. Alternatively, action lovers have the likes of...

We might be stuck indoors this Halloween weekend, but thankfully, the various major streaming services are on hand to keep us occupied with a monumental mountain of new content heading our way over the next few days. As it’s both the end of the month and the beginning of November, the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video are adding a mix of seasonal movies and TV shows today and tomorrow, and a whole load of freshly licensed titles on Sunday.

First of all, Netflix is dropping five new originals this Friday, October 30th, including a couple of horrors, like The Day of the Lord and His House. Disney Plus, meanwhile, debuts The Mandalorian‘s season 2 premiere today, along with a new episode of The Right Stuff and Nicolas Cage movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Elsewhere, on the 31st, HBO Max adds last year’s Black Christmas...

As we have just about a week left to go of October, let’s take a look at everything that’s due to arrive on HBO Max in November. It’s a big month for the WarnerMedia streaming service, with countless new movies from their legendary library being added and plenty of fresh originals dropping throughout the following weeks. A few upcoming releases have yet to be dated, but otherwise, here’s the full list of what’s coming to HBO Max next month.

Released November Tba

12 Dates Of Christmas, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show, HBO Max Original Special Premiere

Crazy, Not Insane, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Reunion Special, HBO Max Original Special Premiere

Full Bloom, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

I Hate Suzie, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

The Mystery Of Db Cooper, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Sesame Street,...

With a new month quickly approaching, it’s time to look ahead and see what’s coming to all your favorite streaming services this November. That’s Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and, of course, HBO Max.

Halloween will soon be behind us and given that Christmas isn’t too far off, we’re beginning to see some holiday titles pop up, with all the major platforms getting into the festive spirit. That’ll continue in December as well, of course, but for November, there’s certainly tons on offer for those looking to start the celebrations early.

There’s a lot of other great stuff on the way, too, though, be it classic films, underrated gems, brand new releases and much more, and you can check out the entire lineup, sorted by date, down below. Ready to dive in?

November 1

Netflix

60 Days In: Season 5

A...

Hulu’s slate of new titles arriving on the platform in January is here.

The second season of Hulu original “Future Man” will arrive on the service Jan. 11, while the Natalie Portman-Tessa Thompson science fiction film “Annihilation” will be available to stream on Jan. 4. The film is Alex Garland’s follow-up to “Ex Machina” and starred Portman, Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh as a group of scientists investigating a strange environmental phenomenon known as “the shimmer.”

Here’s the full list of what’s coming and going in January.

Also Read: Here's What You Can Stream With Your Amazon Prime Membership in January

Available Jan. 1

Atlanta: Complete Season 2 (FX)

The Detectorists: Complete Season 3 (Drg)

Dot.: Complete Season 2B (Universal Kids)

Saints & Sinners: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Bounce TV)

X Company: Complete Seasons 2&3 (Sony)

54 (1998)

10 Years (2011)

2 Days in the Valley (1996)

9 to 5 (1980)

A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)

A Simple Plan (1998)

A...

Viewers can Celebrate the Season with More Than 600 Hours of Holiday Classic Films, Specials and Family Favorites Beginning November 26 Through December 25

AMC has viewers covered this holiday season with “AMC Best Christmas Ever,” its largest slate of holiday programming ever featuring 35 films and 18 specials, airing all day, every day. Beginning Monday, November 26 through Christmas Day, the monthlong programming marathon will offer up more than 600 hours of holiday-themed movies, specials and family favorite films, as well as the television debut of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You (2017). AMC will be the exclusive home to Christmas favorites including Elf, The Polar Express and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as well as 12 classic Christmas specials from the legendary Rankin/Bass production company, including The Year Without a Santa Claus, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Jack Frost, Rudolph’s Shiny New Yearand Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, among many others.

“In...

When The CW's reboot of the cult favorite TV series Charmed was announced, the first question on everyone's minds was who would be playing the "Charmed Ones," the trio of supernaturally chosen sister witches. Instead of casting big-name actresses, the network chose instead to select three actresses who have worked steadily but haven't had breakout roles just yet. The middle sister, Mel Vera, is played by Melonie Diaz, a longtime staple of the indie film world.

Diaz began her career in the New York theater scene, appearing in off-Broadway plays and fringe festivals. This work led to her entry into the film world, with supporting roles in small and independent films. Her early-career credits include the direct-to-video dramedy Double Whammy and 2002's Raising Victor Vargas, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.

Although she briefly appeared on TV (in an episode of Law & Order and in a...

Isa of the day is a continuing series of profiles of very special international sales agents. Shoreline Entertainment, one of the longest running independent film production companies and international sales agencies, has expanded its management arm to foster Latin American and women driven projects. You can see its Cannes lineup here.

The company was founded in 1992 by CEO and film producer Morris Ruskin whose production “Glengarry Glen Ross” launched him into the top level of indie producers. Shoreline’s Latin American Division for Management and Production is meeting with great success in repping over 25 directors, writers, actors, DPs and more.

Two interviews here, one with Alex Flores, the head of the division and the other with Diana Elizabeth Torres, a California based actress and writer illuminate their strategy and mission.

Alex and Morris’s friendship dates back 20 years, and their professional relationship flourished with films “Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School” starring Robert Carlyle,...

Who knew?!

Apparently, somewhere between rocking everyone's worlds with Guardians of The Galaxy for Marvel Studios, and getting Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2 ready for its upcoming May premiere, James Gunn managed to get another one of his scripts produced. This one flew totally under my radar.

And it looks fantastic!!

The Belko Experiment has an impressive cast that includes John Gallagher Jr. ("The Newsroom," 10 Cloverfield Lane), Tony Goldwyn ("Scandal"), John C. McGinley ("Stan Against Evil," "Scrubs"), Adria Arjona ("True Detective"), Josh Brener ("Silicon Valley") Melonie Diaz (Nothing Like The Holidays, Fruitvale Station), and Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy).

Gunn wrote the script and Greg McLean (Wolf Creek) directed it. Check out this new trailer for The Belko Experiment right here:

The Belko Experiment is a terrifying, provocative and at times hilarious thrill-ride that literally provokes the question; what does it take to survive at work? 

I think I need to see this,...

Elizabeth Peña has passed away. The actress, with a professional career spanning nearly 40 years, left us on the night of October 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She had recently wrapped work on the first season of the El Rey Network's action series, Matador, where she played the title character's mother Maritza.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and raised by her Cuban immigrant parents, Peña was destined for a career in the arts. Her father, Mario, was a playwright, director, actor, and designer in their native Cuba, who opened up the Latin American Theatre Ensemble after establishing a life for he and his family in New York. As a teen, Peña began making a name for herself as a formidable young actress in the New York theatre scene. She attended, and graduated from, the High School of Performing Arts and began her professional film career in 1978 with León Ichaso's El Super.

Considering the recent conversation regarding whether or not Saturday Night Live player Kenan Thompson is correct in his assertion that women-of-color are absent from that show's cast due to their unreadiness in auditions, I thought I'd revisit a post from last year that highlighted the talents of several funny women-of-color who are indeed ready for primetime. I think it's time for funny women like Claudia M. Wallace, Leslie "Big Les" Jones, and Anjelah Johnson to get a shot at making us laugh on a grander stage like SNL's. Claudia M. Wallace She's an alum of the famed Second City comedy troupe who has had small roles in films and TV shows such as Nothing Like The Holidays and...

Previous | Image 1 of 3 | NextOscar Winner Jennifer Hudson of ‘The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete.’

Chicago – Black Perspectives Night is in its 17th year at the Chicago International Film Festival, and the 2013 event featured the new film, “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,” starring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and directed by George Tillman Jr., a filmmaker based in Chicago. The festivities took place on the second day of the Festival, Friday October 11th.

The Red Carpet featured Tillman, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and singer/actress Jennifer Hudson, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls” (2006). “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete” is George Tillman Jr.’s 11th feature film, after popular favorites like “Soul Food” (1997), “Barbershop” (2002) and “Nothing Like the Holidays” (2008). The night was moderated by local anchor Robin Robinson of Fox 32 News.

HollywoodChicago.com was on the Red Carpet, and photographer Joe Arce took these Exclusive...

Further flexing the muscles of its worldwide sales and distribution operation at this year’s European Film Market, 108 Media has just sealed a deal on Fugly!, an autobiographical comedy written by and starring John Leguizamo, it was announced by 108 CEO Abhi Rastogi. With foreign sales commencing immediately in Berlin, the film will also see a theatrical release in North America via 108 Media and it’s distribution partner, Paladin. Fugly! Is slated to open in the third quarter of this year. A fictionalized rendering of his acclaimed one-man show, “Ghetto Klown,” (which played on Broadway prior to an extensive international tour), Fugly! casts Leguizamo as Jesse Sanchez, a Latino comic who has a near-death experience that forces him to revisit his personal and professional highs and lows. Told in a style that befits the envelope-pushing Jesse–and Leguizamo–the film blends past, present, fantasy, and reality to tell of one man’s hilarious quest for fame,...

Modern Family is a show that always delivers great guest appearances. Now the ABC comedy is announcing the mother of all visits. Where does Gloria get her particular brand of crazy? Let’s hope it comes from her mother, because that means a double dose of accented histrionics are coming to an episode very soon.

EW has announced that a family reunion is in development for Gloria. A fan-favorite, Gloria is acted by the vivacious Sofía Vergara. Now her mother and her sister are en route! So, let’s make that a triple dose of crazy! Gloria’s mother will be acted by Elizabeth Peña of La Bamba, Rush Hour, and Nothing Like the Holidays. Coming along with Gloria’s mother is her sister Sonia, to be played by Stephanie Beatriz of The Closer.

The critically acclaimed comedy is enjoying its fourth season now and la madre de Gloria will...

Anyone who has seen the trailer for Searching For Sugar Man knows that the title character has indeed been found (but there’s much more to his unbelievable life story than that). If you’d prefer to keep Sugar Man a mystery until after you see the film, please bookmark this interview to refer back to after you’ve had your own discovery of this man’s unbelievable story.

In our age of instant music sharing, it seems like any artist can get recognition with a hip enough music video or high amount of followers on Twitter. Searching for Sugar Man, directed by Malik Bendjelloul, is a documentary about Sixto Rodriguez, a great talent from the early 70s (think poppier Bob Dylan) who slipped through the cracks of notoriety (at least in America). It is the story of a man’s disappearance, as well as it is his unbelievable return.

The Step Up franchise has helped audiences discover the acting and dancing talent of young stars, including Channing Tatum, his future wife Jenna Dewan, Briana Evigan (from Step Up 2 The Streets), and even Adam G. Sevani, who has now appeared in three Step Up films as a character named “Moose.”

In Step Up Revolution, the fourth film in the franchise, this story of star-crossed dancers takes audience members to Miami, where a flash dance group called “The Mob” (featuring Guzman & McCormick) are trying to stop evil corporate powers from destroying their community.

Guzman comes from a background of modeling and Mma fighting, and this is his first professional dance project. No stranger to the TV cameras, McCormick can be seen on “So You Think You Can Dance?” as a regular performer. Step Up Revolution marks their feature acting debuts.

I sat down with Guzman & McCormick to discuss their first-time acting gigs,...

HollywoodNews.com: Our selected latinos to be included in our “10 Hottest Latinos in Hollywood TV and Movie Actors” are listed in the gallery below. Enjoy!

Jay Hernandez ◄ Back Next ►Picture 1 of 10

Jay Hernandez - "Nothing Like The Holidays" Los Angeles Premiere

Photos by PRPhotos

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Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News...

A Better Life

Directed by: Chris Weitz

Cast: Demian Bechir, Jose Julian

Running Time: 1 hr 38 mins

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: July 8, 2011 (Chicago)

Plot: An illegal immigrant (Bechir) dreams of a better neighborhood and school for his son (Julian), who is being tempted by gangs. After the father wrangles enough money to buy a truck from a friend, the truck is stolen by another worker.

Who’S It For?: A Better Life makes an emotional appeal for the case of illegal immigrants, which is bound to play better to audiences of some parts of America than others. As for age groups, the PG-13 film plays like a slightly more aggressive PG movie, though the drama asks for mature attention. The film’s central conflict, on the other hand, can grab any person of nearly any age, so long as they have some emotional investment in “the American Dream.”

Expectations: This...

Relativity Media has finally found a futuristic drama that they could love. The studio optioned for “Ecstasia,” the science-fiction drama was written and to be directed by Wayne Kramer. Kramer directed several films including “Crossing Over,” “Running Scared” and “The Cooler.” According to Deadline, “Ecstasia” is set in an alternative universe, in which love no long exists except through costly artificial simulations. The procedure involves computer chips implanted into each couple, but it is incredibly very expensive. If a couple cannot afford to maintain the payments, then they are forced into “dissolution” to remove the emotional link. The main story will involve a man and a woman who are 10 days from losing their commitment and trying to refinance to keep their love. The film will be produced by Jason Felts (“Limitless,” “Romance & Cigarettes”), Rene Rigal (“Nothing Like the Holidays,” “Fish in a Barrel”), Ryan Kavanaugh (“Zombieland,” “The Fighter”), Tucker Tooley (“The Fighter,...

This is a featurette from Takers. Directed by John Luessenhop (Lockdown), Takers stars Matt Dillon (Crash, There’s Something About Mary), Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious, The Death and Life of Bobby Z), Idris Elba (“The Wire,” RocknRolla, Obsessed), Jay Hernandez (Lakeview Terrace, Nothing Like the Holidays), Michael Ealy (Miracle at St. Anna, Seven Pounds), Tip “T.I.” Harris (American Gangster, Atl), with Chris Brown (Stomp The Yard, This Christmas), and Hayden Christensen (Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith). A group of high-living young criminals bankroll their extravagant lifestyle with a series of painstakingly planned bank robberies while a dedicated police officer makes it his personal mission to stop them in the taut, edge-of your seat crime thriller Takers.

"How to Make It in America," the latest HBO comedy from "Entourage" creator Mark Wahlberg, is kicking off its eight-episode season on Sunday, February 14th.

The show, which has been called the "East Coast 'Entourage'" follows two entrepreneurial twenty-somethings trying to make it in New York City. The show stars Bryan Greenberg ("Bride Wars"), Victor Rasuk ("Lords of Dogtown"), Luis Guzman ("Nothing Like the Holidays"), Lake Bell ("What Happens in Vegas"), Shannyn Sossamon ("The Holiday"), Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi, and Eddie Kaye Thomas ("American Pie").

In the pilot, Ben (Greenberg) and best friend Cam (Rasuk) start a leather jacket hustle when Cam's cousin Rene (Guzman) threatens injury if an old loan isn't repaid. In the follow-up episode, "Crisp," the two enterprising friends try to start their own retro denim brand.

"How to Make It in America" airs Sunday nights at 10pm Et/Pt on HBO starting February 14th.

We all have visions of the Holidays as being a time of perfect peace and blissful harmony, with Currier and Ives or Norman Rockwell type scenes unfolding as we celebrate with family and friends. Yes, that is the dream, and in spite of the reality that should teach us the truth of the matter we all still expect the perfect holiday will happen, perhaps this year. Nothing Like the Holidays is a look at a family in Chicago, gathered for the Season of Joy, with trials and triumphs that will be familiar. When the geographically scattered Rodriguez family gathers at their childhood home in Chicago for the first meal of the holiday season, tensions are already high.

Here’s a brief look at this week’s big DVD, Blu-Ray and Cinema releases, on both sides of the pond. All information is correct to the best of my knowledge (and research skills). From the looks of it, Christmas is well on it’s way…

UK Releases

DVD (23rd November)

Terminator: Salvation

Land of the Lost

My Sister’s Keeper

Coco Before Chanel

Crossing Over

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Silent Night, Deadly Night

Scrooge (1951)

Nothing like the Holidays

Crossing Over

Orphan

Greys Anatomy season 4

Blu-Ray (23rd November)

Terminator: Salvation

Land of the Lost

My Sister’s Keeper

Coco Before Chanel

Crossing Over

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Fight Club

The Sopranos Season 1

Cinema (27th November)

Law Abiding Citizen

Nativity

Seraphine

Bunny and the Bull

De Dana Dan

Mr Right

Us Releases...

Sports movies usually offer a shocking amount of heavy-handed melodrama designed to stir emotional responses from viewers. A lot of them, especially films that play out on the gridiron, are based on true stories, which are then pumped-full of social issues, either race or class, that can be extremely manipulative towards its viewers. While some of this is true in The Blind Side, the latest from director John Lee Hancock (The Rookie, The Alamo), the film excels in where it differs from the norm. Instead of using the true story of Baltimore Ravens left tackle Michael Oher to steal easy tears from the audience (there are many scenes where this could have happened), The Blind Side masterfully takes viewers on a character journey and avoids all of the many, many trappings found in this drama.

The Blind Side is based on the dual-storied novel by Michael Lewis who examines not...

Chicago – Many editions of the DVD Round-Up have featured a different genre and focus for each title within it. This week seems a little more thematically linked as we have a trio of foreign horror films and a few more independent films than usual. Of course, there has to a holiday comedy to spice things up.

Consider this column informational with synopsis, tech specs, and special features info for titles that might go otherwise unnoticed, but if you’re looking for more critical opinion, we covered “Sauna” when it played at the EU Film Fest, “Medicine For Melancholy” when it was available on IFC Direct, and “Nothing Like the Holidays” when it played in theaters.

“P” and “The Tournament” were released on October 20th, 2009

“The Butcher,” “Medicine For Melancholy,” “Nothing Like the Holidays,” and “Sauna” were released on October 27th, 2009

“Nothing Like the Holidays”

Photo credit: Anchor Bay

Synopsis: “John Leguizamo (Ice Age,...

Here’s a list of some of the new movie and TV shows coming to DVD and Blu-ray this week that we’re looking forward to seeing. Also, there’s some classic, and not-so-classic, movies hitting Blu-ray for the first time this week as well.

Of all the new releases, we’re particularly interested in the Blu-ray versions of movies and TV shows such as Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, Night of the Creeps, the original Stargate, The Sam Fuller Collection, Orphan and the complete The Prisoner series starring and created by Patrick McGoohan (pictured above).

Check them out.

Movies

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan ~ Edward James Olmos, Tricia Helfer (DVD and Blu-ray)

42nd Street Forever 5: Alamo Drafthouse Edition ~ Charlton Heston, Robert Englund (DVD)

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs ~ Ray Romano (DVD and Blu-ray)

Into Temptation ~ Kristin Chenoweth, Jeremy Sisto (DVD and Blu-ray)

Messiah of Evil: The Second Coming ~ Michael Greer,...

Orphan

An "outwardly angelic little girl" gets adopted by a new family consisting of Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga, and then begins to unleash her hidden evilness. In his review, Peter Martin wrote that Orphan "is so bats*** crazy that it wears you down just enough to accept the lunacy and enjoy the movie for what it is: every parent's worst nightmare, writ large in childish crayon." Skip it. Also on Blu-ray.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Whatever Works

Woody Allen's follow-up to Vicky Cristina Barcelona and return to the Big Apple takes his old man self out of the equation to give a new dude (played by Larry David) some May-December romance with Evan Rachel Wood. Nick Schager wasn't sold, and in his review, he wrote: "rather than an inspired meeting of kindred minds, their collaboration does little except reinforce the notion that Allen's creative well has long since run dry,...

It's pretty slim pickings this week on DVD as there are only a few noteworthy releases, and fewer still that are even remotely related to Halloween. If you want horror, the only major releases available are the middling summer thriller Orphan, a collection of creepy animated shorts called Fear(s) of the Dark, and... the direct-to-dvd spoof Stan Helsing. Ugh. Other new releases include Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Woody Allen's Whatever Works starring Larry David, and the final (?) Battlestar Galactica Dtv feature, The Plan. The only thing that salvages the week is the long awaited release of Fred Dekker's cult classic Night of the Creeps on both DVD and Blu-ray! Definitely well worth checking out if you haven't seen it before. Will you be picking anything up this week? Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs [1] (DVD, Blu-ray [2]) Orphan [3] (DVD, Blu-ray [4]) Whatever Works [5] (DVD, Blu-ray [6]) Nothing Like the Holidays [7] (DVD,...

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Ugh, I did not like this movie and, like the sequels to Shrek, will never be returning to watch it. There must come a point during the writers' meetings where the inevitable poop or sex joke enters the dialogue and people snicker and laugh, and perhaps even the whole room begins rolling and shouting between breaths, "That's great! Keep that in there." Then the movie gets made and animated little characters are regurgitating these lines and unless you have the mental capacity of a 12-year-old or are so easily amused all it takes is a poop joke to get you to laugh you sit and stare in bewilderment, unimpressed and shocked this is the best they can come up with. My theatrical review is here. Orphan I just reviewed the Blu-ray for this,...

Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek were among the big winners at the American Latino Media Arts Awards on Thursday.

The Vicky Cristina Barcelona star picked up the award for best film actress at the ceremony, which celebrates the achievements of Hispanic artists in film, television and music.

Hayek was given the Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence, while family drama Nothing Like the Holidays, starring Debra Messing and John Leguizamo, took home three honours.

Make-up artist Jeanne Van Phue and hairstylist Mary Ann Valdes were honoured for their work behind the scenes of vampire movie Twilight.

Other winners on the night included The Office's Oscar Nunez, who was named best comedy actor, and Selena Gomez, who scooped best comedy actress for her part in the Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place.

The ceremony was held at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, and was hosted by George Lopez and Eva Longoria Parker.

Penelope Cruz has added another statuette to her awards collections. Having won the prestigious Academy Award and BAFTA among others, the 35-year-old was honored as Best Actress for her performance as Maria Elena in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" at this year's Alma Awards. The title was given during a gala ceremony held at the Royce Hall Auditorium at UCLA.

The Spanish actress was not the only movie star winning the Alma award on Thursday night, September 17. Actor John Leguizamo also took home one kudo for his drama comedy "Nothing Like the Holidays". For his portrayal of Mauricio Rodriguez, the Debra Messing's co-star was hailed Best Actor.

In addition to Leguizamo's nod, "Holidays" grabbed two more trophies as Alma presented screenwriter Rick Najera and director Alfredo De Villa each with a recognition for their work in the film category. "Twilight", in the meantime, collected two prizes; one for make-up artist Jeanne Van Phue...

"Nothing Like the Holidays" won three awards at Thursday's Alma Awards, which recognizes achievements by Hispanic artists in film, television and music over the past year.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is the gift that has kept on giving for the unexpectant Penélope Cruz. The Oscar winner picked up her umpteenth honor tonight for her role as Javier Bardem's loca ex in the Woody Allen comedy, taking home the film actress award at the 2009 Alma Awards, which recognizes the achievements of Hispanic artists in movies, TV and music. The culture-clash dramedy Nothing Like the Holidays, costarring Debra Messing as the fish-out-of-water guest at her Hispanic in-laws' Christmas dinner, won a leading three trophies, including film actor of the year for John Leguizamo, who played Messing's hubby. Salma Hayek was honored with the Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence,...

If you happen to be an aspiring director then this is for you. Film Independent, the non-profit devoted to artists and independent filmmaking is now accepting applications for its 9th Annual Director’s Lab, an eight-week course designed to help directors who are in the midst of prepping films. Sound good? Well, read on to get all the latest details on the program, how to apply and other goodies.

Film Independent Now Accepting Applications

For 2010 Directors Lab

* Deadline is October 5, 2009 -

Film Independent’s 9th Annual Directors Lab is an intensive eight-week incubator designed to help directors who are prepping their feature films, and is sponsored by Kodak.

Taking place in Los Angeles during the winter, the Lab assists directors with strong, original voices develop new narrative feature films, improve their craft, and advance their filmmaking careers in a nurturing, yet challenging creative environment.

To apply, please visit: http://filmindependent.

Jessica Alba has been dishonoured as the worst Latino actress of the past 12 months in a pre-Oscars online awards announcement.

The new mum picked up two 'prizes' at Latina.com's second annual Lazzie Awards - one for acting for "everything she was in last year" and one for her flop 2008 film The Love Guru.

Mexican star Diego Luna was named the worst Latino actor for his role in Milk.

Also among the Lazzie dishonours are Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem (Ickiest Onscreen Chemistry), Eva Mendes (The Setting Us Back Award for Negative Stereotyping in a Movie) and Victor Rasuk, whose Spanish speaking skills in Che earned him the 'No Espeak Espanish' award.

The full lust of Lazzie winners is:

The John T. Leguizamo Award for Worst Actor in a Movie - Diego Luna (Milk)

The John T. Leguizamo Award for Worst Actor on TV - Cristian de la Fuente (In Plain Sight)

The 'There's Always Waitressing' Award for Worst Actress in a Movie - Jessica Alba (for all of 2008)

The 'There's Always Waitressing' Award for Worst Actress on TV - Dania Ramirez (Heroes)

The 'We Want Our Money Back' Award for Worst Movie - The Love Guru

The 'Worst Fauxtino of the Year' Award for Worst Portrayal of a Latino - Vanessa Ferlito (Nothing Like the Holidays)

The 'No Espeak Espanish' Award for Poor Spanish Speaking Skills in a Movie - Victor Rasuk (Che)

The 'No Espeak Espanish' Award for Poor Spanish Speaking Skills on a TV Show - Michael Trevino (90210)

The 'I'd Rather Be Watching the Weather Channel' Award for Worst TV Show - Heroes

Award for Ickiest Onscreen Chemistry in a Movie - Javier Bardem and Scarlett Johansson (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)

Award for Ickiest Onscreen Chemistry on a TV Show - Sara Ramirez and Brooke Smith (Grey's Anatomy)

The Setting Us Back Award for Negative Stereotyping in a Movie - Eva Mendes (The Women)

The Setting Us Back Award for Negative Stereotyping on a TV Show - Viva Hollywood

Best Reality TV Trainwreck Female - Daisy de la Hoya (Rock of Love)

Best Reality TV Trainwreck Male - Frankie Delgado (Bromance)

The 'Karma's a Beyotch' Award for Shady Behaviour Female - America Ferrera (for rolling her eyes at a co-star on a press tour)

The 'Karma's a Beyotch' Award for Shady Behaviour Male - Eduardo Verastegui (for voting in favour of banning gay marriages in California)

The Biggest Disappointment in a Movie Award - Nothing Like the Holidays

The Biggest Disappointment in a TV Show Award - Ugly Betty

The Lifetime Underachievement Award - Luis Guzman.

San Diego REPertory Theatre will present a one-night only special performance of actor/writer and native San Diegan Rick Najera's new comedy, Daddy Diaries on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 7pm. A local favorite, Rick Najera is an award-winning playwright and the father of three young children, including a one year old. Daddy Diaries explores life as a father through his eccentric and comedic point of view. San Diego Rep has previously hosted Najera's four original productions, A Quiet Love, Latins Anonymous, Latinologues and Sweet 15 Quinceanera. Daddy Diaries is written and performed by Rick Najera and directed by Gary Blumsack. "A new play from Rick Najera is always of immediate interest to San Diego Rep. We are thrilled to once again host Najera's unique comic point of view and talent on our stage," said San Diego Rep Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse. Najera is one of the most powerful voices in the Latino world today,...

Box Office estimates for the weekend of December 12-14.

Rentrak Theatrical, a business unit of Rentrak Corporation today announced the weekend theatrical box office estimates for the weekend period of December 12 through December 14, 2008 according to the company's Box Office Essentials(Tm) theatrical box office data collection and analytical service. The twelve estimated top producing motion pictures for the weekend, per data collected as of Sunday, December 14, 2008 by Rentrak Theatrical include:

Rank Title Weekend Gross Locations

1 The Day The Earth Stood Still $31,000,000 3560

2 Four Christmases $13,270,000 3540

3 Twilight $8,013,000 3649

4 Bolt $7,506,000 3133

5 Australia $4,285,000 2703

6 Quantum Of Solace $3,800,000 2635

7 Nothing Like The Holidays $3,500,000 1671

8 Madagascar Escape 2 Africa $3,250,000 2768

9 Milk $2,635,552 328

10 Transporter 3 $2,250,000 2541

11 Slumdog Millionaire $2,200,000 169

12 Cadillac Records $1,600,000 688

Weekend of 12/12/2008 to 12/14/2008

 

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The Day The Earth Stood Still has topped the Us box office on its first weekend on release. Starring Keanu Reeves as alien Klatuu, the sci-fi remake lands at number one with $$31 million in ticket sales. Last week's chart topper Four Christmases, teen romance Twilight, animated comedy Bolt and war epic Australia complete the top five. Elsewhere, the top ten sees new entries from comedy Nothing Like The Holidays and Gus Van Sant's political biopic (more)...

The earth may have stood still, but audiences generally couldn't be bothered to stay in one place long enough to mess with the latest disaster movie to hit theaters. The Day The Earth Stood Still make only an estimated $31 million on its opening weekend, and I'd wager a third of that were probably people who just showed up to get a first glimpse of X-Men Origins: Wolverine which ran its first trailer excusively with Earth. At this rate the movie will probably manage to clear its reported $80 million budget, a number I find oddly low. The special effects looked a little weak, but not that weak. The other two big new release this weekend also hit theaters with resounding thuds. Nothing Like The Holidays, which is one of only two holiday themed movies out this year (the other, Four Christmases, was number one for the last two weekends) only managed...