News

A gritty woman’s perspective on tropes of the western genre, a lean action drama that is sparse yet sympathetic, and laconic but simmers with deep emotion. I’m “biast” (pro): desperate for stories about women; love Natalie Portman

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

Jane got a gun. She also got a movie. Hooray! And not just because women hardly ever get the spotlight in a Western. This particular film suffered a long roller-coaster battle to get made: its original director and a big-name star dropped out along the way; cast was reshuffled. But there’s no hint of behind-the-scenes turmoil in the finished product: this is a lean action drama, laconic but simmering with deep emotion that must stay buried with more pragmatic concerns at the fore.

It’s Middle of Nowhere, New Mexico Territory, 1871, when Jane’s...

The Manic Pixie Dream Girl gets sick, but she can still inspire a man to better himself, while also adding a dash of repugnant narcissism to the subgenre. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is going through quite the evolution this summer. First there was Paper Towns, in which a boy is ushered into the realization that MPDGs are people too, though it’s an Mpdg who does the ushering, and whose story we are explicitly informed is not going to be shared with us; she can go be an authentic human being in some other movie, thank you very much. And now we have Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, in which the Mpdg becomes a Manic Pixie Cancer Girl who will help a “self-hating” teenaged boy come...

It’s one joke dragged out for 90 minutes, and while it’s not entirely unamusing, the comedy feels mired in the same stoner fog as its slacker protagonist. I’m “biast” (pro): like Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

It’s one joke — stoner slacker Jesse Eisenberg is actually a sleeper badass covert operative, har har — dragged out for 90 minutes. And while it’s not entirely unamusing, the fact that the trailer tells the same story in two minutes and doesn’t feature any fewer jokes than the film itself tells you all you need to know. Mike Howell (Eisenberg: Rio 2) suffers from panic attacks, a kind of agoraphobia that doesn’t allow him to leave his small West Virginia town, and a complete and utter lack of ambition. But life isn’t too bad,...

There aren’t a lot of people who can pull off writer/director/actor in the first place, but among those who can pull it off, they need to find an exact fit. Edward Burns shot out of the gates with The Brothers McMullen 20 years ago, and he’s been trying to find the sweet spot again ever since, and without much luck.

His work mostly hasn’t been bad, but it hasn’t been great (though The Fitzgerald Family Christmas came close), and it has seemed a result of trying to make niches work when there wasn’t truly a lot of potential.

Though Burns only acted in Mob City, it apparently tuned him into a niche he could work with.

With Public Morals, Burns is back in the everything chair, and now he has exactly the right team with him, and though he kicks off slightly cheesy, once...

The holidays are almost upon us, and if you just can't wait to re-watch seasonal classics like "White Christmas" or "The Muppet Christmas Carol," they're available right now on Netflix. There are also a few Thanksgiving-themed movies you can stream, our favorite being, of course, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

There's something for almost every taste, whether you want something nice like an animated film for the kids or something very naughty, like "Bad Santa."

Thanksgiving Movies

1. "American Son" (2008) R

Nick Cannon stars as a young Marine who's just completed basic training and is about to ship out to Iraq: But first, he's home for a volatile four-day Thanksgiving with friends and family.

2. "The House of Yes" (1997) R

Parker Posey proves why she was the '90s Indie Movie Queen in this film where she plays a Jackie Kennedy-obsessed who is unreasonably jealous when her brother (Josh Hamilton) brings home...

Builds up a good momentum of suspense only to throw it away on a rushed and powerfully unsatisfying ending, rendering all its preposterousness suddenly unforgivable. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

World-famous classical concert pianist Tom Selznick (Elijah Wood: The Wind Rises, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) hasn’t been in front of an audience in five years, after a performance went, apparently, so disastrously wrong that classical music nerds are still talking about it. But his movie star wife, Emma (Kerry Bishé: The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Argo), has arranged a comeback. And as if Tom weren’t already nervous enough, when he opens his sheet music — you know, the kind that I’m pretty sure world-famous classical concert pianists don’t use onstage in the same way that actors onstage don’t...

What’s festive and what’s available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

available on Prime

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol: anyone with an ounce of sentiment will be thoroughly appalled by this gleeful, entirely mean-spirited savaging of Dickens; a welcome dose of cynicism in the sugarplum season [my review] [at Amazon Instant Video] Joyeux Noël: devastating film about the “Christmas truce” of 1914 that saw French, British, and German soldiers leave their trenches to celebrate the holiday togther [my review] [at Amazon Instant Video] Santa Claus Conquers the Martians: cheesy 60s sci-fi adventure is so bad it’s must-see [at Amazon Instant Video] Scrooged: a witty satire on television, with Bill Murray exuded his usual combination of smarm, insouciance, and demented charm as an 80s greed-is-good Scrooge [my review] [at Amazon Instant Video]

for the whole family

A Christmas Story: middle-American 1940s nostalgia is a big pile of wonderful [my review] [at Amazon Instant Video] Home Alone: kiddie slapstick at its finest as little Macaulay Culkin battles Christmas burglars [my review] [at Amazon Instant Video] Miracle on 34th Street...

What’s festive and available to stream on Netflix and blinkbox.

grownups only

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol: anyone with an ounce of sentiment will be thoroughly appalled by this gleeful, entirely mean-spirited savaging of Dickens; a welcome dose of cynicism in the sugarplum season [my review] [at Netflix] The Fitzgerald Family Christmas: bittersweet, down-to-earth drama about the familial upheaval that the supposedly happy holidays bring; a gem from filmmaker Ed Burns [my review] [at Netflix] Scrooged: a witty satire on television, with Bill Murray exuded his usual combination of smarm, insouciance, and demented charm as an 80s greed-is-good Scrooge [my review] [at Netflix]

grownups only

Bad Santa: Billy Bob Thornton is a bitter, drunken, misanthropic, sex-addicted department-store Santa/thief in the meanest, curmudgeonliest, blackest holiday movie ever [my review] [at blinkbox] Die Hard: the 80s classic created the genre of the action comedy, and still has not been topped; its Christmas setting is a wicked bonus joke [at blinkbox] Edward Scissorhands: where does snow come from?...

What’s new, what’s hot, and what you may have missed, now available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

streaming now, before it’s on dvd

All Is Bright: Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti are Canadians selling Christmas trees in New York City; they elevate the underpowered dramedy to something worth your time [at Amazon Instant Video] 2 Guns: Wahlberg and Washington are as fun together as they are separately, but there’s little genuinely unique or clever here; you will forget the movie the moment it ends [my review] [at Amazon Instant Video]

new to stream

Manhunt: The Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden: wonky, less than wholly satisfying documentary about the CIA’s hunt for the Al Qaida leader [at Amazon Instant Video] White House Down: the action is mildly diverting, and though star Channing Tatum is bland, the rest of the cast, including James Woods and Jamie Foxx, is fun to watch [my review] [at Amazon Instant Video]

new to prime...

Moviefone's DVD of the Week:

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

What's It About? The first installment of Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation of the beloved J.R.R. Tolken novel, "The Hobbit," follows an epic quest to retain a treasure. Martin Freeman stars as the titular Bilbo Baggins hobbit (the younger version of Ian Holm's Bilbo), who travels with a pack of dwarves to reclaim their stolen treasure from the vicious dragon Smaug.

Why We're In: While Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey" is in no way as grand or as incredible as his "Lord of the Rings" films, it is still a fun and worthy visualization of the book.

Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week:

"James Dean: The Ultimate Collector's Edition"

What's It About? This collection features the three films that spanned the iconic actor's short career. In Elia Kazan's 1955 "East of Eden," Dean plays Cal,...

Among the most pleasant experiences I have enjoyed in recent years was a long, leisurely lunch with Ed Lauter, one of my all-time-favorite character actors, last November at the Starz Denver Film Festival. For the better part of two hours before we engaged in an on-stage, post-screening Q&A after the Denver Fest premiere of Ed Burns' delightful "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," we chatted about the highlights of our respective careers -- and he was graciously polite enough to indicate he found my anecdotes almost as interesting as his.Mind you, it wasn't like we were in any sort of "Can you top this?" competition. Because, really, what could I possibly say that could top his account of being cast by Alfred Hitchcock in "Family Plot" after The Master of Suspense spotted him in "The Longest Yard"? Lauter impressed Hitchcock so much that he was set to co-star in "The Short Night,...

Ready to close out your Monday work day with some casting news for an upcoming new TV show on The CW? If you're a fan of "The Originals," then you'll want to read on for the info.

Per TV Guide, "Pretty Little Liars" actor Steven Krueger will appear in three episodes of "The Originals" as Josh, a young tourist whose night out in New Orleans takes an unexpectedly dark turn when he ends up at Marcel's bar.

The CW will be pairing "The Originals" with "Supernatural" on Tuesday nights, 8Pm and 9Pm, respectively, beginning October 8th; but first "The Originals" will debut on Thursday, October 3rd, immediately following the Season 5 premiere of its sister show "The Vampire Diaries," from which it was spawned.

Series Synopsis:

Family is power. The Original Vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together, always and forever. Now,...

Now that The CW has announced its fall premiere schedule, the network has also released new promos for upcoming shows "The Originals" and "The Tomorrow People." They aren't much different from what we've already seen, but being completists, we have them both for you here.

Look for "The Tomorrow People" to premiere on Wednesday, October 9th (along with "Arrow"), with "The Originals" making its bow on Tuesday, October 15th (paired with "Supernatural").

"The Tomorrow People" Synopsis:

They are the next evolutionary leap of mankind, a generation of humans born with paranormal abilities — the Tomorrow People. Stephen Jameson stands at the crossroads between the world we know and the shifting world of the future. Up until a year ago, Stephen was a “normal” teenager — until he began hearing voices and teleporting in his sleep, never knowing where he might wake up. Now, Stephen’s issues have gone far beyond the usual teenage angst,...

Apparently that extended promo The CW released yesterday for its new series "The Originals" just wasn't enough as they've now provided us with a preview entitled "Jealousy."

Whether or not Episode 1.01 of "The Originals" will be called "Jealousy" isn't clear - but as soon as we get an announcement about the show's premiere date, the ep's title probably won't be too far behind so stay tuned!

Series Synopsis:

Family is power. The Original Vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together, always and forever. Now, centuries have passed, and the bonds of family are broken. Time, tragedy and hunger for power have torn the Original Family apart. When Klaus Mikaelson, the original vampire-werewolf hybrid, receives a mysterious tip that a plot is brewing against him in the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, he returns to the city his family helped build.

Now that the spring TV Upfronts are over, we can catch our breath and start doling out some of the goods that the networks provided during the week. First up are a few new images from The CW's "The Originals."

Series Synopsis:

Family is power. The Original Vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together, always and forever. Now, centuries have passed, and the bonds of family are broken. Time, tragedy and hunger for power have torn the Original Family apart. When Klaus Mikaelson, the original vampire-werewolf hybrid, receives a mysterious tip that a plot is brewing against him in the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, he returns to the city his family helped build. Klaus’ questions lead him to a reunion with his diabolical former protégé, Marcel, a charismatic vampire who has total control over...

The CW has long been one of the best supporters of Our Kind of Shows, and at this year’s Upfronts they put even more money where our hearts are. Of the six new shows announced for the fall and winter schedule, four are for us: The Originals, The Tomorrow People, The 100, and Star-Crossed. Now of course more than one has that trademark The CW soap opera-ish spin on it, but hey, not Every show is for every one of us.

Here to assist in our prejudging are synopses for all, via Deadline, and maybe even better, clips and/or TV spots. There’s not really anything new for The Originals, but fans will want to see it all again anyway. The Tomorrow People features the wonderful Mark Pellegrino so it’s my favorite of the four.

The 100 (pronounced “the hundred”, not “the one hundred”) has an encouraging clip,...

The CW announced its fall 2013-14 slate earlier today, adding five new dramas including a drama about Mary, Queen of Scots called Reign, as well as the highly anticipated Vampire Diaries spinoff titled The Originals, and The Tomorrow People, starring Robbie Amell, brother of Arrow’s Stephen Amell. The network has also released trailers which you can watch below. Let us know which shows you are interested in watching.

The Originals – Family is power. The Original Vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together, always and forever. Now, centuries have passed and the bonds of family are broken. Time, tragedy and hunger for power have torn the Original Family apart. When Klaus Mikaelson, the original vampire-werewolf hybrid, receives a mysterious tip that a plot is brewing against him in the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, he...

The CW presented its 2013-14 broadcast schedule today, and we have all the details of who's paired with whom and on which nights we'll be able to see our favorites as well as some clips and previews.

Excerpts from the Press Release:

“We had a terrific season last year, growing our audience on-air, digitally, and socially. Now we are building on that success by continuing to add more original programming all year long and by adding high-concept, exciting shows to our schedule that will help us continue our mission of broadening out our 18-to-34-year old audience,” said Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW. “‘Arrow’ was one of the breakout hits of this season, and we’re using that show and ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ our two highest-rated series, to launch our new dramas ‘The Tomorrow People’ and ‘Reign,’ on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah, the original family of vampires,...

Chicago – The CW is shaking things up this Fall, perhaps recognizing that their audience doesn’t care as much what night of the week their shows are on as they’re getting increasingly likely to DVR, download, or stream them. 40% of the net’s line-up is switching nights, moving around three new shows in the mid-section of the week.

“Nikita“‘s final season is being held to mid-season.

Full schedule below, followed by new show descriptions.

*-new show

Monday

7pm “Hart of Dixie”

8pm “Beauty & the Beast”

Tuesday

7pm “The Originals”*

8pm “Supernatural”

Wednesday

7pm “Arrow”

8pm “The Tomorrow People”*

Thursday

7pm “The Vampire Diaries”

8pm “Reign”*

Friday

7pm “The Carrie Diaries”

8pm “America’s Next Top Model”

New Show Descriptions

“The Originals”

The Originals

Photo credit: The CW

Family is power. The Original Vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together,...

I had planned to start off this review wondering just where the hell this Edward Burns has been all these years. The Fitzgerald Family Christmas is so achingly lovely a film, so full of bittersweet melancholy and yet so fixedly hopeful without ever having to touch on the sentimental, that it reminded me so hard why I fell in love with Burns’ work with his Brothers McMullen all those years ago. I felt like he’d abandoned us since 2001’s Sidewalks of New York (another perfect film). But then I looked at Burn’s IMDb page and discovered that he’s made a bunch of movies between then and now and I’d never even heard of them. How can that be? How can I be a clued-in critic, a film professional, for Christ’s sake, and not have been aware of his work? How is it that his unpretentious...

Ed Burns, whose debut film The Brothers McMullen premiered at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, was announced today as a jury member for next month’s Sundance in Park City, Utah. Burns joins documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, executive Tom Rothman and 16 others named to five juries that will award prizes at independent film’s most high-profile showcase.

Short Film Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Jan. 22, with feature film awards announced at a separate ceremony on Jan. 26. The festival runs this year from Jan. 17-27.

Click below for the entire Sundance jury list:

U.S. Documentary Jury

Liz Garbus is a prolific documentary filmmaker.

With the film recently debuting on VOD and in limited theaters, we’ve been provided with two (2) posters for the The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, signed by writer/director/actor/producer Edward Burns. See how to enter to win below, along with more details, and all entries must be received by 11:59 Pm Est on Sunday, December 16th. To enter, leave [...]...

Never, ever feel bad about neglecting Fsr during the week. We understand. Maybe you’re still tired from Thanksgiving. Perhaps the colder weather and darker sky is causing you to nap more. Or, maybe you had to spend your free time shopping for the holidays or stringing lights around the house. Possibly you saw our guide to must-see movies out this month and have been spending all your time at the cinema. Probably — most likely — you prefer to just wait until Saturday morning and look over highlights in the ol’ Recap. By the way, if you still have shopping to do, check out our latest holiday deals and gift ideas for movie lovers. This week, we posted reviews for new theatrical releases, including Playing for Keeps, Hyde Park on Hudson, Deadfall and Lay the Favorite, and the new home videos, including The Dark Knight Rises and Beasts of the Southern Wild. We...

For his eleventh feature, the heartwarming family drama "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," filmmaker-actor Edwards Burns returns to the working-class, Irish-American roots that defined "The Brothers McMullen," his phenomenally successful debut that netted him the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and made him an instant star on the indie circuit. In "Christmas," Burns heads a large ensemble (stocked mostly with actors he's worked with before, including Connie Britton who made her acting debut in "The Brothers McMullen") as Gerry, a bar owner struggling to reunite his entire family -- estranged father included -- for Christmas dinner. Indiewire sat down with Burns in his native New York to discuss his reasons for taking inspiration from the past, the progress of his in-the-works sequel to "The Brothers McMullen," and whether he'd ever take the plunge and write for TV -- a medium that would no doubt suit him well. [Tribeca...

Ed Burns wrote, directed, and starred in his new holiday film, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. He swung by our NYC studio last week to chat about what he's learned about being both behind and in front of the cameras, much like other actor-directors Ben Affleck and George Clooney. Ed also spoke about his own holiday traditions with wife Christy Turlington and their two kids. Christmas and New Year's are family-filled for Ed and Christy, especially since his brother is married to her sister! The Fitzgerald Family Christmas is in theaters today.

Review of The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, starring Edward Burns and Connie Britton It all looks so easy, these working-class comic dramas from the mind of actor and filmmaker Ed Burns, who consistently mines his Long Island upbringing and feelings of Catholic guilt for an easygoing holiday tale like The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. Telling stories based in Blue-collar, suburban Tri-State homes instead of 3D fantasy landscapes; focusing on familiar, next-door type characters and long stretches of everyday chatter, a moviegoer falls into the trap that Burns style of social realism simply requires the assembly of longtime friends and colleagues and a cameraman in the corner of the room.

Review of The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, starring Edward Burns and Connie Britton It all looks so easy, these working-class comic dramas from the mind of actor and filmmaker Ed Burns, who consistently mines his Long Island upbringing and feelings of Catholic guilt for an easygoing holiday tale like The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. Telling stories based in Blue-collar, suburban Tri-State homes instead of 3D fantasy landscapes; focusing on familiar, next-door type characters and long stretches of everyday chatter, a moviegoer falls into the trap that Burns style of social realism simply requires the assembly of longtime friends and colleagues and a cameraman in the corner of the room.

Click here to watch the live stream. Edward Burns' latest film, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, is now available on VOD and digital platforms across the county. The triple threat filmmaker returns to his working class Irish-Catholic roots with The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, drawing comparisons to earlier Burns' films such as The Brothers McMullen. Starring Burns, Connie Britton, Michael McGlone, Kerry Bishe and other familiar faces from the Burns' oeuvre, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas gives your family a perfect opportunity to get together for a holiday movie night! On Monday, December 10, at 7Pm Et/4Pm Pt, New York's own Edward Burns will join host and comedian Barry Rothbart to discuss the yuletide film and answer questions from fans and film lovers, right here on Tribecafilm.com. And it's so easy to participate! Just tweet your questions using the hashtag #Fitzmas, and Edward Burns will answer them on-air in real time.

Title: The Fitzgerald Family Christmas Director: Edwards Burns (‘The Brothers McMullen,’ ‘Shes’ the One’) Starring: Edward Burns, Connie Britton (TV’s ‘American Horror Story,’ ‘Friday Night Lights,’ ‘Nashville’), Ed Lauter (‘The Artist’), Anita Gillette (‘She’s the One,’ ‘Moonstruck’) Tom Guiry (‘Mystic River,’ ‘Black Hawk Down’) and Kerry Bishé (‘Argo,’ ‘Red State’) Many large, tight-knit families often experience vast differences in opinions, even though they have gone through the same events growing up together in the same house. They’re forced to overcome their differing viewpoints when they reunite as adults for the holidays. Through spending more time together, they come to realize they do appreciate the bonds they have formed, even though [ Read More ]

The post The Fitzgerald Family Christmas Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Returning to the Irish Catholic roots he explored in his 1995 debut breakout film The Brothers McMullen, prolific actor/filmmaker Edward Burns delivers an overstuffed holiday feast in The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. This tale of a dysfunctional family whose members experience enough personal crises to fuel a dozen films is a virtual compendium of clichés, but the star’s sheer likeability makes it go down as easily as a cup of eggnog. Burns plays Garry, the de facto patriarch of a Queens, New York brood that includes six siblings and his soon to be 70-years-old mother Rosie (Anita Gillette). The

read more...

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, the latest ensemble drama from Edward Burns, is now available on VOD and digital platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu and more. Watch it with your family today! With The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Burns returns to the working-class, Irish-American roots of The Brothers McMullen. Reuniting with McMullen co-stars Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), and Mike McGlone, along with Noah Emmerich and Kerry Bishe, Burns seamlessly weaves an ensemble story of adult siblings dealing with the desire of their estranged father to return home for Christmas for the first time since he walked out on his family 20 years ago. Family rifts emerge, and like with any family, Christmas brings a mixed bag of complicated emotions and dynamics. Alliances form, old wounds are reopened or glossed over, and the possibility for a new hope ...

Connie Britton has come a long way since first appearing onscreen in Edward Burns' directorial debut "The Brothers McMullen," which won the grand jury prize at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. She's since netted herself three Emmy nominations for her work in "Friday Night Lights" and "American Horror Story," and she's won over country music lovers with her acclaimed performance as a fading superstar in Callie Khouri's new hit show "Nashville." This Friday Britton's back in theaters in Burns' latest, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" (it's also currently available on VOD). "Christmas" marks her fourth feature with Burns, whose new family drama marks a return to the working-class, Irish-American roots that defined his phenomenally successful debut. In "Christmas," Britton plays the mysterious love interest of Burns, whose character struggles for much of the film to reunite his entire...

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas marks writer/director/star Edward Burns’ return to capturing the working class milieu of his earlier work in films like indie darling The Brothers McMullen. Somewhat surprisingly, the film also marks Burns’ very first foray into a making a film about the holidays. In the film, Burns plays Gerry, a grown man who still lives with his mother (Anita Gillette) on Long Island. He also lives with the burden of running his family’s bar and filling in for his father (Ed Lauter), who walked out his large Irish family – a total of seven siblings – twenty years ago. When his father announces that he’s dying and wants to spend his last Christmas with his family, the disparate siblings come together and debate whether or not they are ready to forgive their father for the transgressions of the past. Amidst all the family drama, Gerry also strikes up a romance with at-home nurse...

Fifteen years after winning the 1995 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for The Brothers McMullen, Edward Burns proves with The Fitzgerald Family Christmas that you can always return home. In his newest feature film, the Long Island native revisits the joys and trials of an Irish-American working-class family — fertile ground that helped him to stand out as a director and writer of independent film all those years ago. At first, Burns was hesitant to dip again into the well, but The Fitzgerald Family Christmas stands on its own. Two generations of actors with ties to Burns over his 15 years in film reunite …...

Many of us have already survived the big major family gathering of the season after Thanksgiving, but for many of the rest of us there's Christmas, which is when entire extended families gather in one place, mostly love each other, but occasionally drive each other batty and dredge up all kinds of bad old feelings. And for some families, like the Fitzgeralds, those kinds of bad old feelings are almost impossible to avoid. In The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, the new film from actor and director Ed Burns, a family of adult children decide to use the holiday as an opportunity to reunite with their estranged father, who abandoned the family 20 years earlier. And as you can see in the brand-new, exclusive clip below, you can see that some of the siblings are more enthusiastic about the idea than others-- and also that some of the kids have old wounds to...

Long before Connie Britton was perfecting her "y'alls" as Tami Taylor on "Friday Night Lights" she played Ed Burns' put-upon sister-in-law in "The Brothers McMullen." The 1995 indie sensation was Britton's screen debut, and while she has become famous for her television roles on "Friday Night Lights," "American Horror Story" and "Nashville," Britton's movie career has continued to be intertwined with her original director and co-star. In addition to "Brothers McMullen," Britton has also starred for Burns in "No Looking Back," "Looking for Kitty" and his new feature, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," where she plays his onscreen love interest.

Britton took time out of her busy "Nashville" shooting schedule to talk with HuffPost Entertainment about her debut in "Brothers McMullen," why it can be difficult to find fulfilling movie roles, and the latest on that "Friday Night Lights" movie.

How has your relationship with Ed changed since 1995?

It's funny, because...

Long before Connie Britton was perfecting her "y'alls" as Tami Taylor on "Friday Night Lights" she played Ed Burns' put-upon sister-in-law in "The Brothers McMullen." The 1995 indie sensation was Britton's screen debut, and while she has become famous for her television roles on "Friday Night Lights," "American Horror Story" and "Nashville," Britton's movie career has continued to be intertwined with her original director and co-star. In addition to "Brothers McMullen," Britton has also starred for Burns in "No Looking Back," "Looking for Kitty" and his new feature, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," where she plays his onscreen love interest.

Britton took time out of her busy "Nashville" shooting schedule to talk with HuffPost Entertainment about her debut in "Brothers McMullen," why it can be difficult to find fulfilling movie roles, and the latest on that "Friday Night Lights" movie.

How has your relationship with Ed changed since 1995?

It's funny, because...

With The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, writer-director-star Edward Burns returns to the Irish-Catholic working-class milieu of his first two films, The Brothers McMullen and She’s the One, in the mid-’90s. It marks his 11th outing in the director’s chair, and although none has matched the box-office success of his debut, which grossed more than $10 million, Burns’ latest demonstrates the workmanlike skill with which he’s produced a new relationship drama every one or two years....

There are many reasons why we like talking to Edward Burns. First of all, he's a filmmaker who has strived to make his fairly low-budget movies all over New York using local actors and crews, but he's also a straight shooter who doesn't dance around with questions as similarly experienced actors and filmmakers sometimes do. His latest movie is The Fitzgerald Family Christmas , his 11th independent feature film, this one a big ensemble piece that returns him to the world of his first film The Brothers McMullen . It.s centered around an Irish-American family, the Fitzgeralds, who are getting together for Christmas when they discover that their long-absent father, who deserted them 20 years earlier, may be returning, looking for forgiveness as he faces a terminal disease....

Many large, tight-knit families have come to appreciate the bonds they have developed with their siblings and parents, and the diverse dynamics of their relationships have served as the realistic motivating factor of many genuine films. But when they come together to celebrate an important holiday, such as Christmas, they become surprised to learn that everyone had extremely contrasting memories, points-of-view and opinions that have driven the way they have lived their lives. This realization is an important motivating factor for the characters in scribe-helmer-actor Edward Burns’ latest writing and directorial effort, the new drama ‘The Fitzgerald Family Christmas.’ The movie is a homage to the filmmaker’s first two films, [ Read More ]

The post Interview: Edward Burns Talks The Fitzgerald Family Christmas appeared first on Shockya.com.

Ed tells HollywoodLife.com he'd love to join his good friend Connie Britton on her hit show — and he even has a part in mind! Edward Burns wants to get a little bit country, as he revealed to HollywoodLife.com that he hopes to guest star on ABC's Nashville. Ed spoke to us at the premiere of his new film The Fitzgerald Family Christmas on Nov. 27 in NYC, and he even told us about the character he would love to play! Ed is close friends with Connie Britton, who stars on Nashville as Rayna James, and at his premiere he expressed interest in appearing on the show. "If they ever asked me [to be on it], absolutely," he said. "Connie does the right thing by me. ... I would have to try to figure why the New Yorker is down there. I would like to be the corrupt record producer." That sounds awesome! What do You think HollywoodLifers?...

Like any good Irish-Catholic family, the Fitzgerald clan features a lot of siblings. The eldest of seven children, Gerry (Edward Burns) adopted the role of patriarch when their father (Ed Lauter) walked out on them over twenty years ago. Fortysomething, single and childless, Gerry still resides with their mother (Anita Gillette), while the other siblings each have their own individual dramas to contend with -- individual being the operative word, as none of the siblings show much desire to share their personal problems with each other, unless forced. At the onset of writer-director Edward Burns' The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Gerry is attempting to convince his siblings to celebrate their mother's 70th birthday together. Gerry has an ulterior motive for the gathering; he wants the family to vote on whether their long-estranged father should be allowed to spend Christmas Day with them. Unfortunately, their mother's birthday is only a couple days before Christmas,...

'Do me a favor? Next time you and Polite Guy are together - get the pigs in a blanket to go!' The latest film from Tribeca triple-threat Edward Burns, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, is now on VOD and digital platforms, so why not double your viewing pleasure with Doggy Bags, the writer/director's funny short from this year's Tribeca Film Festival. Made in partnership with American Express and based on cardholder Susan Brennan's idea from the company's My Movie Pitch contest, Doggy Bags is a delightfully layered comedy featuring Burns's signature style and a few familiar faces. Justin (Matt Bush, Nice Guy Johnny) and Hannah (Daniella Pineda, Newlyweds) are newly dating and decide to meet at one of New Jersey's delicious brunch places. Justin is smitten, but there is just one thing he can't figure out: the petite Hannah orders enough food for 3 people whenever they go out for a meal together,...

Have yourself a merry little Christmas with the Fitzgerald clan! Edward Burns returns to his roots with The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. Full of familiar faces from other Burns ensembles - Connie Britton, Mike McGlone, Heather Burns, Kerry Bishe, and Caitlin FitzGerald - the film is ideal viewing for your holiday season. Gerry (Burns) lives at home with his mother (Anita Gillette), running the family's pub and trying to rebuild his life after a personal tragedy. When his estranged father (played by character actor legend Ed Lauter) asks to spend Christmas with the family he abandoned years previously, Gerry must encourage his six siblings to participate - a task that proves much more daunting than he anticipated. With The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Burns maintains his signature style and continues to explore his Irish working class roots. We got the chance to sit down with our neighbor, Edward Burns, to discuss the holidays,...

Written and directed by, and starring the great Ed Burns, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas looks to be a solid drama worth heading out into the cold for this holiday season.

Arriving on VoD later this month, and released in Us theatres early next, the film sees Burns reuniting him with Connie Britton, who’s starred in a handful of Burns’ earlier films, and now EW have released a new poster for the film.

“With The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Burns returns to the working-class, Irish-American roots of The Brothers McMullen. Reuniting with McMullen co-stars Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), and Mike McGlone, along with Noah Emmerich (Little Children, Beautiful Girls) and Kerry Bishe (Newlyweds, Red State), Burns seamlessly weaves an ensemble story of adult siblings dealing with the desire of their estranged father (Ed Lauter, The Artist, The Longest Yard) to return home for Christmas for the first time since he...

Edward Burns' 11th film as a writer-director, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," is also a reunion for the Long Island native. For the first time in 16 years, Burns and actor Michael McGlone share the screen, playing combative brothers just as they did in Burns' first two efforts, "The Brothers McMullen" and "She's The One."

Available via on demand services starting on Nov. 21 -- and due in theaters on Dec. 7 -- "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" focuses on an Irish-American family on Long Island, dealing with the return of its estranged patriarch during the holiday season. Burns and McGlone star opposite an array of character actors -- Kerry Bishe, Heather Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Marsha Dietlein, Noah Emmerich, Brian James D'Arcy, Daniella Pineda, Ed Lauter -- as well as Connie Britton (the "Nashville" star has worked with Burns twice previously, in "The Brothers McMullen" and "Looking for Kitty"). Burns has called the film his "most personal work.

Ed Burns definitely loves mining his Irish-American roots, as he did for his 1995 sibling flick The Brothers McMullen. He’s returned to similar territory with his upcoming film The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, about a large working class brood whose estranged dad wants to visit for Christmas. The movie, also starring, written and directed by Burns, is out nationwide on VOD and iTunes Nov. 21, and in theaters Dec. 7.

The film reunites Burns with McMullen co-stars Mike McGlone and Connie Britton (such an “it” gal in Nashville). Britton, who played Burns’ character’s sister-in-law in McMullen, is his luscious-haired love interest in Fitzgerald.

With The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Edward Burns returns to the working-class, Irish-American roots of The Brothers McMullen. Reuniting with McMullen co-stars Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) and Michael McGlone, along with Noah Emmerich (Little Children, Beautiful Girls) and Kerry Bishe (Newlyweds, Red State), Burns seamlessly weaves an ensemble story of adult siblings dealing with the desire of their estranged father (Ed Lauter, The Artist, The Longest Yard) to return home for Christmas for the first time since he walked out on his family 20 years ago. Family rifts emerge, and like with any family, Christmas brings a mixed bag of complicated emotions and dynamics. Alliances form, old wounds are reopened or glossed over, and the possibility for a new hope and forgiveness emerges. Coming to VOD nationwide November 21, 2012. Search your zip code and cable provider below to see where Tribeca Film titles are available in your area. Also opening in select...

Over an aural backdrop of warm holiday music, the new trailer for Tribeca Film's "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" paints a montage of family life in the world of the eponymous Fitzgeralds, as the clan bickers good-naturedly over whether their patriarch (Ed Lauter) -- who walked out 20 years earlier -- ought to be allowed to join them for Christmas. Edward Burns directs and stars as Gerry Fitzgerald, chief advocate for the estranged Big Jim Fitzgerald, and love interest to Connie Britton's Nora, a character whose precise identity the trailer leaves mysterious. "Family Christmas," which premiered at Tiff last month, represents a return for Burns to the working-class Irish milieu of "The Brothers McMullen," as well as to a pair of that film's cast members -- Britton and Mike McGione. The trailer promises complex familial tensions shot through with both humor and pathos, and, if its tone is not misleading, a healthy does of.

The holidays are fast approaching and there's no surer sign of that than the brand new trailer we've got for you right here, Ed Burns' "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas."

Because the only thing better than spending Christmas with your family is spending it with someone else's even more messed up family.

Here's the deal: Written by, directed by and starring Burns, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" tells the tale of an Irish-American clan gathering to celebrate the holidays as they do every year. But this year, there's one major difference: The estranged family patriarch, who walked out on them 20 years earlier, wants to come as well and try to patch things over with the good old fashioned Christmas spirit.

Co-starring "Friday Night Lights" star Connie Britton, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" is set premiere On Demand on Nov. 21, hitting theaters on Dec. 7. Courtesy of the film's official website, here's a look...