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Twenty years ago this month, the fairy tale-like romantic comedy “13 Going on 30” starring Jennifer Garner made its way into cinemas. The actress played Jenna Rink, a socially awkward soon-to-be 13-year-old who quickly realizes that she “hates being 13.” She makes a birthday wish to be “thirty, flirty and thriving.” With the little help of some wishing dust, she wakes up the next morning to discover that her wish has come true.

It was a defining moment in Garner’s early career. Her role as Sydney Bristow in the television action thriller series “Alias” had made her a breakout star (including at awards shows) just a few years earlier. She won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Actress in 2002 and had competed again in 2003 and earlier in 2004. She had also been nominated for two Emmy Awards one Screen Actors Guild trophy.

While Garner already had a number of film credits on her resume,...

Lady Gaga is one of pop’s most prolific artists, and she’s released plenty of incredible studio albums across her decade-plus long career.

In celebration of the “Stupid Love” singer’s kick-off of the Chromatica Ball tour, we’re taking a look back and seeing how all of her studio albums fared on Metacritic, which compiles reviews from journalists around the world.

Here’s how their ranking system works: “Creating our proprietary Metascores is a complicated process. We carefully curate a large group of the world’s most respected critics, assign scores to their reviews, and apply a weighted average to summarize the range of their opinions. The result is a single number that captures the essence of critical opinion in one Metascore.”

From her 2008 debut studio album The Fame up to 2021′s Love For Sale, here’s how Lady Gaga’s albums are ranked…

10. Artpop (2013)

Metascore: 61

Billboard wrote that “Coherently channeling R&b,...

Lady Gaga is one of pop’s most prolific artists, and she’s released plenty of incredible studio albums across her decade-plus long career.

In celebration of the “Stupid Love” singer’s kick-off of the Chromatica Ball tour, we’re taking a look back and seeing how all of her studio albums fared on Metacritic, which compiles reviews from journalists around the world.

Here’s how their ranking system works: “Creating our proprietary Metascores is a complicated process. We carefully curate a large group of the world’s most respected critics, assign scores to their reviews, and apply a weighted average to summarize the range of their opinions. The result is a single number that captures the essence of critical opinion in one Metascore.”

From her 2008 debut studio album The Fame up to 2021′s Love For Sale, here’s how Lady Gaga’s albums are ranked…

10. Artpop (2013)

Metascore: 61

Billboard wrote that “Coherently channeling R&b,...

August is heating up on Max, with “90 Day: The Last Resort” premiering on the streamer Aug. 15 (one day after it airs on TLC).

Five fan-favorite couples from “90 Day Fiance” have reached their breaking points. In a final attempt to salvage their relationships, each couple will participate in a couples retreat to determine whether or not they can heal old wounds. Alongside a team of professionals, they’ll actively navigate issues with trust, sex, jealousy, anger and intimacy. Explosive group therapies, intense couples sessions, past life regressions, unique on-and-off-resort activities and so much more ensue. At the end of the retreat, each couple must decide if they will stay together or move on separately.

Fans of dating and relationship shows may also be interested in “Kim vs Kayne: The Divorce” on August 7, which chronicles the split between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. There’s also Season 18 of “Sister Wives,...

Summer isn’t over yet but HBO and its streaming arm Max are already moving on to fall. With its list of new releases for August 2023, Max is focusing on football! The American kind, mind you, not the actually footy kind.

August 2023 sees the release of two major football documentaries on HBO and Max. The first is the premiere of Hard Knocks on Aug. 10. The new season of long-running NFL training camp docuseries will center on the New York Jets, new employers of legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers. On Aug. 23, Max will air the aptly named Bs High. The doc tells the stranger-than-fiction story of high school football team Bishop Sycamore, which pulled off one of the more notable sports scams you’re likely to ever hear about.

Not of the football variety but in keeping with the North American sports theme will be season 2 of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on Aug.

DeVaughn Nixon, Quincy Isaiah, and Delante Desouza in ‘Winning Time’ season 2 (Photograph by Warrick Page/HBO)

Hard Knock‘s new season focusing on the New York Jets and the second season of the original drama Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty join Max’s August 2023 lineup, along with Tracy Morgan’s latest comedy special. August’s schedule also includes the season finales of And Just Like That… and Warrior.

Rap Sh!t season two premieres on August 10th, and the new half-hour young adult animated series Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake arrives on August 31st.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In August 2023:

August 1

A Hologram for the King (2016)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child...

August is one of the weird months on the calendar. It feels like it should be early fall; September is Right there, after all. And yet August is one of the hottest months of the year for many in the United States, one last gasp of summer before autumn and its traditional TV schedule of new releases settle in.

This year’s fall schedule will look markedly different thanks to strikes by both the leading actors’ union and the leading writers’ guild in Hollywood, but August will still have some fantastic new hits coming to streaming. Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform Max is debuting new titles in just about every imaginable category, so here are the five we’re most excited for at The Streamable!

7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com

Get 20% Off Your Next Year of Max When Pre-Paid Annually

‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ Season 2 Premiere | Aug.

April on Prime Video is stacked with returning favorites, the launch of one of Amazon’s biggest shows ever and a bevy of great movies to watch. The fifth and final season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” launches on April 14, while Amazon will premiere the globe-trotting action-thriller series “Citadel” – starring Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Richard Madden – on April 28. The show hails from “Avengers: Endgame” filmmaker Joe and Anthony Russo.

Noteworthy movies arriving on April 1 include the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” movies, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Looper,” “Vanilla Sky” and “Top Gun.”

You can also stream the Billy Eichner rom-com “Bros” starting April 4 and the George Clooney/Julia Roberts rom-com “Ticket to Paradise” on April 11.

Check out the full list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in April 2023 below.

Also Read:

The 41 Best Movies on Amazon Prime (April 2023)

April 1

American Gigolo

At the Gate...

As befitting its status as one of the world’s biggest companies, every now and then Amazon likes to take a big swing with its Prime Video originals. With its list of new releases for April 2023, the streamer is taking one of its biggest swings yet.

Though it’s not quite as vast or expensive as fellow Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Citadel (premiering April 28) is a massive, massive undertaking. Starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, this spy series is described as “an expansive and groundbreaking global event comprising a mothership series and several local language satellite series.” This means that the Russo Brothers-produced project will eventually feature several spinoffs in multiple countries and languages around the world. Neat-o!

The only other major TV original of note this month is Dead Ringers, based on the 1988 David Cronenberg film of the same name,...

The jury system can by trying, but “Jury Duty” — a doc-style comedy series coming to Freevee on April 7 — examines it through the eyes of one juror. The catch: The actual juror, Ronald Gladden, doesn’t realize the case is fake and everyone else is an actor. All the crazy machinations inside the courtroom are planned, and everyone is in on it, except for Gladden. Will this lone juror be able to find his way to justice despite all of the chaos surrounding the case?

Watch the trailer for ‘Jury Duty’:

Also coming to Amazon’s free streaming service next month will be the five seasons of Rod Serling’s groundbreaking show “The Twilight Zone.” The original 1950s series took psychological insights into new TV territory. The 2019 reboot of the series from Jordan Peele will stream on the service alongside the original. Either coincidentally, or perhaps suspiciously, both versions of...

“He’s lost everything but his accent!”

Doris Day in Lullaby Of Broadway (1951) will be available on Blu-ray November 23rd from Warner Archive

Doris Day is at the top of her form in this 1951 Warner Bros. musical classic, which gave Doris a chance to not just vocalize with her usual excellence, but to also show of her impressive dancing talents. The prospect was daunting for the star, as a car accident during her youth left her with severe injuries, and she was told that she would have to put aside her dreams of becoming a dancer. Vocally talented as she was, she rose to fame as a big band singer, which eventually led to her screen stardom. When preparing for this big-budget musical’s finale to the famous title tune, the steps of the studio set towered before her like a pyramid. All Doris Day had to do was dance...

Update 12/1: The Red Hot organization honored World AIDS Day with a 30th anniversary reissue of Red Hot + Blue, releasing a PBS NewsHour piece and a message from Dr. Anthony Fauci. “Today on World AIDS Day I want to commend the Red Hot (+Blue) Organization for 30 years of art and activism that have provided critically needed assistance in the fight against AIDS,” he said. “Thank you for raising awareness and millions of dollars, including the grant that helped establish our long time community activist partners The Treatment Action Group (Tag...

Star of stage and screen Jenna Ushkowitz joins Josh and Joe to discuss her favorite musical biopics.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Gremlins (1984)

Back To The Future (1985)

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

National Treasure (2004)

The Sound of Music (1965)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Star Wars (1977)

La Bamba (1987)

Selena (1997)

The Buddy Holly Story (1978)

De-Lovely (2004)

Night and Day (1946)

All That Jazz (1979)

A Chorus Line (1985)

Star 80 (1983)

Psycho (1960)

Evita (1996)

Love and Mercy (2014)

Grace of My Heart (1996)

Get On Up (2014)

Ray (2004)

What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993)

El Norte (1983)

The Wedding Planner (2001)

Out of Sight (1998)

Hustlers (2019)

Sweet Charity (1969)

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Chicago (2002)

Moulin Rouge (1952)

Roxie Hart (1942)

The Greatest Showman (2017)

Other Notable Items

Glee TV series (2009-2015)

The Tony Awards

The Emmy Awards

The Academy Awards

Pee Wee’s Playhouse (1986-1990)

Eric Stoltz

Harry Potter film series

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Dark Knight trilogy

Christopher Nolan

Julie Andrews...

Hulu is out with its list of everything new coming to the streaming service in the month of September — and everything that’s leaving.

Highlights in the new category include Season 2 of “Pen15,” which stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle as their middle school selves, out Sept. 18. Another highlight is the series premiere of “Woke,” inspired by the life and work of American cartoonist Keith Knight. That’s out Sept. 9.

Leaving at the end of the month are movies like “50 First Dates,” “A Mighty Wind,” and “Best in Show.”

See the full list below.

Sept. 1

Mike Tyson Mysteries: Complete Season 4 (Adult Swim)

Jeopardy!: Episode Refresh (ABC)

50 First Dates (2004)

Absolute Power (1997)

Aeon Flux (2005)

American Dragons (1998)

An American Haunting (2006)

Any Given Sunday (1999)

Anywhere but Here (1999)

Back to School (1986)

Bad Girls from Mars (1991)

The Bank Job (2008)

Because I Said So (2007)

The Birdcage (1997)

Broken Lizard’s Club Dread (2004)

Call Me (1988)

Carrington (1995)

The Cold Light Of Day...

As August winds down, it’s time to look ahead to everything that’s hitting the major streaming services in September. As always, there’s an enormous haul of originals and newly licensed titles going up across Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video over the month, including content from every genre out there.

The first day of September brings the usual lengthy list of movies arriving on most of the sites. Just a few of the highlights include all three Back to the Future films returning to Netflix, every entry in the Twilight saga arriving on Hulu and countless iconic movies going up on HBO Max, including Grease, Miss Congeniality and V for Vendetta. Also, Doctor Who fans will want to take note, as the most recent season of the show lands on HBO Max the same day.

Feel free to inspect the full list of everything...

It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to clue us in on who is the Queen of Jazz. It’s Ella Fitzgerald, my dear Watson, Lady Ella. William Basie began to boogie-woogie piano keys at a Harlem club catering to “uptown celebrities.” After a quick stomp through Kansas City, he came back as Count Basie. There are few true royalties among jazz, ask anyone waiting for residual checks, but as Duke Ellington made clear, these two had that thing which made them swing. Eagle Rock Entertainment is dropping two documentaries celebrating these American jazz icons: Ella Fitzgerald: Just One Of Those Things and Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes exclusively on digital formats on Sept. 11.

“Recently enjoying a hugely successful Virtual Cinema release, Ella Fitzgerald: Just One Of Those Things presents a deep, insightful look into the life of The ‘First Lady Of Song,’” according to the press statement. “Ella Fitzgerald’s journey is thoroughly explored,...

We’re still a couple of weeks out from The Boys returning with its second season, but based on the footage we’ve seen so far, it certainly looks as if we’re in for another wild ride. One that may even top the first run of the show, which was one of the best things that we’d seen on television in a long time.

Of course, trying to predict how something as crazy as The Boys is going to end up is a fool’s errand, but let’s not forget that it won’t be the only new thing arriving on Amazon Prime in September. Far from it, in fact.

Earlier today, the streaming service announced their entire line-up of new titles for next month and it’s a meaty list, comprising both films and television shows. And though The Boys may be the highlight for many...

An election season is fast-approaching in the U.S. So for its new releases in September 2020, Amazon Prime is bringing back one of its most political shows.

The Boys season 2 premieres its first three episodes on September 4. Though the show on its face is a superhero story, viewers of season 1 will know it’s really about America’s troubling embrace of entertainment with fascism. Sounds fun and not at all terrifying right before a presidential election!

That’s not the only bleak Amazon original on the schedule for September. British TV adaptation Utopia arrives on September 25. This Gillian Flynn-produced series follows fans of a comic book who believe it predicts…world-ending pandemics. Darn it. Amazon’s only original film this month is a…documentary about voter suppression from Liz Garbus called All In: The Fight for Democracy. Yikes.

For those of us who want to relax with some ‘member berries,...

As one of the weirder “back to school” seasons in living memory rolls out, Hulu is heading back to school in its own way for September 2020.

The biggest Hulu original arriving to the streaming services stream this month is season 2 of coming-of-age comedy Pen15…which of course stars two adults who have already come of age playing their middle school selves.

Speaking of middle school, perhaps the biggest non-original addition to the Hulu library this month is the arrival of all The Twilight Saga movies on September 1. That should prove to be a real nostalgia trip for interested parties. Other library titles of note include Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, The Terminator, and 2019’s Judy on September 25.

Bookending Hulu’s originals this month is another intriguing comedy, Woke. This series will star Lamorne Morris as a Black cartoonist who gets an unexpected wakeup call.

Here is everything else...

With the streaming wars really starting to heat up now thanks to all the new services that have sprung up over the past few months, it’s more important than ever for the major players to continue delivering truckloads of new content to keep subscribers happy. And thankfully, Hulu intends on doing just that.

Earlier today, the platform announced their September line-up and it’s an exciting mix of films and TV shows covering iconic classics, underrated gems, overlooked projects and true fan favorites. In fact, it’s looking like a particularly strong month compared to what we’ve seen from the streaming site over the summer so far and below, you can check out the entire list of what’s headed to Hulu in the coming weeks.

Released September 1

Mike Tyson Mysteries: Complete Season 4 (Adult Swim)

Jeopardy!: Episode Refresh (ABC)

50 First Dates (2004)

Absolute Power (1997)

Aeon Flux (2005)

American Dragons...

Early on in “Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things,” singer Patti Austin tells the story of how Fitzgerald — traveling with a big band in the 1930s and apparently the only one on the bus with no interest in getting high — would sit in the back with her coat over her head to act as her “own personal filtration system.” That’s good for a laugh, and it’s also good for a sense of relief, in being reminded that this will be the rare film about a 20th century jazz giant that doesn’t have to worry about when to start in on the tragic foreshadowing. Living to a ripe old age, in this genre of documentary, is not just one of those things.

It’s suggested in director Leslie Woodhead’s film that Fitzgerald lived a fairly lonely life when she was off the road — but it’s...

Chicago – Both the Music Box Theatre and the Gene Siskel Film Center have continued their at-home screenings, due to the physical theaters staying closed for now. Below are the updates to their current offerings.

Music Box Theatre Presents Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, I Am Not Your Negro, Whose Streets?, The Grey Fox, Mysteries Of Lisbon, Mystery Of Chess Boxing, Mr. Topaze and Sometimes Always Never

One Night Only: June 12th, 2020

Photo credit: MusicBoxTheatre.com

The Music Box Theatre will get a percentage of the proceeds from any screening. Click site link below for details.

Scheduled: Now until the theater re-opens.

Description: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, I Am Not Your Negro, Whose Streets? is three Magnolia Studios documentaries that are biographical (Morrison & James Baldwin in I Am Not) and activist. One price can get all three and a portion of the box office will go towards a Small Business Relief Fund.

Tony Sokol Feb 13, 2020

Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things documentary paints an intimate portrait of the First Lady Of Jazz.

Ella Fitzgerald debuted at an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in 1934. She sang Hoagy Carmichael's "Judy" and "The Object of My Affection" and won $25. She went on win 13 Grammys, sell more than 40 million albums and be proclaimed "The First Lady of Jazz." Eagle Rock Entertainment will present Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things this spring. Directed by Leslie Woodhead along with producer Reggie Nadelson, the film will be screened in select cinemas beginning April 3.

A pillar of American music history, Ella is an international icon. Her tone, delivery, and scat improvisations laid the groundwork for generations of vocalists. Just One Of Those Things presents the artist through an intimate lens, "through all of her moments of triumph and joy, delivering a clear picture of the...

Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.

Museum of the Moving Image

“See It Big! Action” brings some of the genre’s greatest offerings, from Police Story to this century’s favorite, Miami Vice.

Los Angeles Plays Itself leads “Essay L.A.,” a series of “essay and collage films [that] explore the terrain and spatial imagination of Los Angeles.”

A nearly century-spanning tribute to the laser light show,...

Hulu has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in November, including more of season 1 of the Sean Penn drama “The First” and the start of the English comedy “The Bisexual.” And there will also be new to Hulu seasons of some of your favorites reality shows from other networks, including various editions of “Top Chef” and “Vanderpump Rules.”

Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Hulu appearances including 20 of the 26 films in the James Bond franchise as well as all three of the “Oceans” movies.

See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in November

Available November 1

10 to Midnight

28 Days Later

2001 Maniacs

The Accused

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

A Fairly Odd Christmas

A Fistful of Dynamite

A View to Kill

Albert

Alice

Amelie

Bachelor Party

Barbie Mariposa and Her Butterfly Fairy...

Kevin Kline first rose to fame on the New York stage where he has continued to appear with 16 Broadway roles. He impressed critics and won the 1978 Tony Award for the musical “On the Twentieth Century,” which gave him a highly comedic role with pratfalls. That led to other roles on Broadway, most notably as The Pirate King in a revival of “The Pirates of Penzance,” which brought him a second Tony, this time as a lead actor. In 2017, he he would add a third Tony to his mantle for the lead character in “Present Laughter.”

Kline was 35 before he ventured into the world of film, but he did it in a highly notable way playing opposite Meryl Streep in her legendary Oscar-winning role in “Sophie’s Choice.” Streep dedicated her Oscar to Kline and Peter MacNicol since it was their eyes she looked into while giving her highly acclaimed performance.

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

“Wonder,” starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay, will arrive on Hulu Nov. 2. The movie, based on the novel of the same name, tells the story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

The complete series of “Married with Children” will arrive on the platform on Nov. 9, and the Season 1 premiere of “The Bisexual” will drop on Nov. 16. The “Oceans” trilogy will also become available, beginning Nov. 1.

Also Read: Hulu in Talks to Create a Smaller, More Affordable TV Bundle

Here’s the complete list of titles coming to and leaving Hulu below.

Available Nov. 1

K: Complete Season 2 (Dubbed) (Viz)

Sailor Moon: Complete Season 3 (Dubbed) (Viz)

Six: Complete Season 2 (History)

10 to Midnight (1983)

28 Days Later (2002)

2001 Maniacs (2005)

The Accused (1988)

The Adventures of Priscilla,...

Actress-turned-humanitarian Ashley Judd was moved to campaign against human trafficking after she "stumbled upon" the problem while visiting the developing world to promote public health.

The De-Lovely star - who has also used her fame to focus attention on Hiv/AIDS prevention - became concerned with the issue after visiting various slums, hospices and clinics during a three-week charity mission to Rwanda and the Congo.

Speaking at a press conference at New York's United Nations (U.N.) headquarters on Tuesday, Judd told reporters: "I know that the unheard are helped when they are heard. I know that compassionate listening helps me, and my goal was to help the U.N. help them."

Approximately 2.5 million people worldwide, most of them women and children, are reported to be victims of the $32 billion (GBP16 billion) annual industry of human trafficking, according to U.N. figures.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced the seven films being considered for achievement in makeup for the 77th Annual Academy Awards. The films in consideration are Miramax Pictures' The Aviator, MGM Pictures' De-Lovely, Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sony Pictures /Revolution Studios' Hellboy, Paramount Pictures' Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Newmarket Films' The Passion of the Christ and Fine Line Features' The Sea Inside. Ten-minute clip reels from each of the seven films will be screened Jan. 22 for the Makeup Award Nominating Committee. The members may nominate up to three of the seven films for Oscar consideration, recommend a single film for a Special Achievement Award or elect to recommend that no award be given in this category. Nominations for the 77th Annual Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 25.

The American Cinema Editors announced nominations on Thursday for the 2004 ACE Eddie Awards recognizing outstanding editing in film, television and documentaries. Nominees for best edited dramatic feature film are Miramax Films' The Aviator, Finding Neverland and Kill Bill: Volume 2, DreamWorks' Collateral, Fox Searchlight Pictures' Kinsey and Warner Bros. Pictures' Million Dollar Baby. The five nominees for best edited comedy or musical include Focus Features' Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Fox Searchlight's Sideways, MGM's De-Lovely, Pixar Animation Studios' The Incredibles, and Universal Pictures' Ray. In the best edited documentary race are IFC Films' Fahrenheit 9/11, New Yorker Films' My Architect, and Sony Pictures Classics' Riding Giants.

Marking the true end of an era, MGM will cease to be a stand-alone studio this year once its purchase by a Sony-led consortium is completed. After years during which majority owner Kirk Kerkorian put the studio on and off the block -- and months of uncertainty during which both Sony and Time Warner circled the studio -- CEO Alex Yemenidjian and chief operating officer Chris McGurk closed out a year in which MGM did not leave a major impact at the boxoffice. But, ironically, they managed to put in place what they consider one of the strongest upcoming slates in recent studio history. Amid all the question marks about the company's future, the fact that MGM's staff remained focused on the product was an accomplishment in itself. While MGM celebrated its history when the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely played as the closing-night attraction at the Festival de Cannes, back in the United States, Barbershop 2: Back in Business established itself as an urban hit. "We had a great year," McGurk says. "We are handing over one of the strongest slates in memory. We have tripled the value of the library and home video. There have been some great innovations in ideas to using the library, and this has all been key to the transaction."...

Pop hunk Robbie Williams is poised for a Hollywood movie career - after amazing famed movie producer Irwin Winkler with his acting talents in the eagerly awaited biopic De-Lovely. The 30-year-old Brit starred alongside Hollywood icons Ashley Judd and Kevin Kline in the new movie and impressed the Oscar-winning producer so much he is now determined to turn Williams into a movie star. Winkler excitedly explains, "He was so successful in this movie that when we do the TV slots to promote the film, we're using scenes of him singing De-Lovely. He's really great. I picked him up for the film because I had seen a TV special and knew he could do it." The Shipping News producer was concerned about the "Millennium" singer's tattoos but was delighted by his smart appearance in a tuxedo and is desperate to give him the starring role in a big-screen musical he's planning.

The music of Cole Porter takes center stage in MGM's De-Lovely, director Irwin Winkler's first foray into the world of movie musicals. This, his sixth film, is the first one in which Winkler eschews straight drama for something lighter. More than just a series of musical cues, however, De-Lovely focuses on the unconventional marriage that united Porter (Kevin Kline) with his supportive wife, Linda (Ashley Judd). Winkler spoke with The Hollywood Reporter film editor Gregg Kilday about joining the MGM musical tradition.

The music of Cole Porter takes center stage in MGM's De-Lovely, director Irwin Winkler's first foray into the world of movie musicals. Winkler spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about joining the MGM musical tradition.

Singer Robbie Williams is flying out to the Cannes Film Festival in a desperate bid to land a major movie role - because he's become disillusioned with the music industry after failing to crack America. The star - who set up home in Los Angeles in a concerted effort to score US chart success - is traveling to the South of France next week, convinced his recent cameo performance in movie musical De-Lovely will be enough to win over film chiefs. Williams - who is officially attending the Cannes Film Festival to promote the movie - will be using his time in the glitzy city to seek out lead roles and plans to meet a series of big Hollywood names, according to Britain's The Sun tabloid. A pal says, "He would love a stab at acting in a film. He's a very intelligent and witty person and he would be brilliant in front of the camera. He's confident this could lead to other things. Cannes is a good chance to shake the right hands."...

Producer-director Irwin Winkler, who is putting the finishing touches on his Cole Porter musical De-lovely, will turn to a study of sibling rivalry for his next film. He is in final negotiations to direct Man on Third for MGM. Based on Columbus Slaughters Braves, the debut novel from writer Mark Friedman, Man focuses on the relationship between two brothers. One is a successful Major League Baseball player, the other a scientist who lives in his shadow. Friedman has adapted the screenplay. Winkler, David Ladd, Rob Cowan and Charles Winkler will produce with Elizabeth Ingold and Erik Baiers overseeing for the studio. MGM is looking to shoot early next year for an end-of-year release date. Helmer Shawn Levy, a college friend of Friedman's, was previously attached to the long-gestating project. Man will mark Winkler's seventh directorial outing. His latest effort, De-lovely, is set to be unveiled as the closing-night film at the upcoming Festival de Cannes. Winkler's other directing credits include At First Sight and Life as a House. Winkler is repped by CAA, while Friedman is repped by UTA.

Kevin Kline is in negotiations to team up with Steve Martin in The Pink Panther for MGM and helmer Shawn Levy. Shooting starts in May in New York, followed by Paris. Kline also joins Beyonce and Jean Reno in the Robert Simonds-produced project. It follows the story of chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kline), who needs an idiot to take over the investigation of the missing legendary Pink Panther diamond ring. The person he needs is a fool who will divert public attention that in turn will make him look better when he solves the case himself. He then turns to Inspector Clouseau (Martin). In the Pink Panther films, Inspector Dreyfus was played by Herbert Lom, who originated the role in 1964's A Shot in the Dark. Simonds is producing from a script by Martin. Tracey Trench, president of the Robert Simonds Co., will executive produce. At the studio, Michael Nathanson and Toby Jaffe are overseeing. Kline, repped by WMA and CAA, next appears on the big screen reteaming with MGM on De-lovely, the Cole Porter biopic based on the life of the legendary musician. Kline stars as the title character. The film is scheduled to unspool in May at the Festival de Cannes.

Kevin Kline is in negotiations to team up with Steve Martin in The Pink Panther for MGM and helmer Shawn Levy. Shooting starts in May in New York, followed by Paris. Kline also joins Beyonce and Jean Reno in the Robert Simonds-produced project. It follows the story of chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kline), who needs an idiot to take over the investigation of the missing legendary Pink Panther diamond ring. The person he needs is a fool who will divert public attention that in turn will make him look better when he solves the case himself. He then turns to Inspector Clouseau (Martin). In the Pink Panther films, Inspector Dreyfus was played by Herbert Lom, who originated the role in 1964's A Shot in the Dark. Simonds is producing from a script by Martin. Tracey Trench, president of the Robert Simonds Co., will executive produce. At the studio, Michael Nathanson and Toby Jaffe are overseeing. Kline, repped by WMA and CAA, next appears on the big screen reteaming with MGM on De-lovely, the Cole Porter biopic based on the life of the legendary musician. Kline stars as the title character. The film is scheduled to unspool in May at the Festival de Cannes.

Pop stars Robbie Williams, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow and Elvis Costello are being lined up to appear in a big-screen musical about Cole Porter. The musicians will appear in forthcoming flick Just One Of Those Things - which stars actor Kevin Kline in the lead role - dancing and singing some of the songwriting legend's most famous songs. Robbie, who previously covered Porter's "Did You Evah?" for his Swing When Your Winning album, will sing It's De-lovely. Sheryl Crow will cover "Begin The Beguine," Alanis Morissette will dance and sing "Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love" and Elvis Costello will perform "Let's Misbehave." Producer Rob Cowan claims the film, which does not as yet have a release date as yet, will be unlike any musical seen in recent time. He says, "With complex characters and situations for the actors to explore, amazing costumes and choreography, and Porter's terrific music to drive the narrative forward - the result is moving and exciting."...

Sexy actress Ashley Judd is set to portray legendary socialite Linda Lee Porter in a Cole Porter bio-pic starring Kevin Kline. In the movie De-Lovely, Judd will play Linda Lee, who was married to acclaimed composer Cole - even though he was gay. Linda Lee was a source of inspiration for such musical compositions as Anything Goes and Kiss Me Kate. After she died in 1954, her husband never wrote another song. The unusual love story will begin shooting in London from May 5, which gives the High Crimes beauty time to make the film and be back in America to begin rehearsals for her role as Maggie The Cat in the revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.