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Robin Williams' Widow Pens Essay On Husband's Struggle With Lewy Body Disease


Robin Williams

Robin Williams’ widow Susan Schneider Williams has opened up on the final months of her husband’s life and his devastating struggle with Lewy body disease.

In an essay titled ‘The terrorist inside my husband’s brain’ for the American Academy of Neurology, Schneider Williams reveals that Williams was initially wrongly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, something that often happens to LBD sufferers.

Robin WilliamsRobin Williams’ widow has described her husband’s battle with Lewy body disease (LBD)

Continue reading: Robin Williams' Widow Pens Essay On Husband's Struggle With Lewy Body Disease

See The Lost Boys From 'Hook' All Grown Up 25 Years Later


Robin Williams Dustin Hoffman

Peter Pan’s Lost Boys from the 1991 movie Hook have staged an epic reunion to mark the film’s 25th anniversary. But the very special reunion, staged by Entertainment Tonight, also had a tinge of sadness, as it occurred on the two-year-anniversary of the death of Hook star Robin Williams.

Continue reading: See The Lost Boys From 'Hook' All Grown Up 25 Years Later

Dwayne Johnson Confirms 'Jumanji' Remake Is Happening


Dwayne Johnson Robin Williams

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has officially announced that classic 90s children’s adventure Jumanji is set to be remade. The film had been the subject of remake rumours for some time, but Johnson took to Instagram on Friday to officially announce the project.

Continue reading: Dwayne Johnson Confirms 'Jumanji' Remake Is Happening

Boulevard Review

Excellent

This dark, introspective drama hinges on one of Robin Williams' final film performances before his death in 2014. And it's one of his most unusual roles too, a sensitive depiction of a man grappling with a long-repressed truth about himself. Most importantly, the film is never sentimental, and it continually refuses to take a political or moral approach to a potentially touchy topic, exploring the issue of sexuality with unusual honesty.

Williams plays Nolan, who at 60 has no reason to feel unhappy. He has a great job and a loving wife, Joy (Kathy Baker). But a change in the health of his father (Gary Gardner) makes him feel the need to address a very deep desire that he has been hiding all his life, even though he can't even admit to himself that he's gay. One evening, he takes a drive to the spot in town where the young male escorts hang out, and in a moment of panic he picks up Leo (Roberto Aguire). Nothing physical happens between them, but they become friends. And just opening himself to the possibility awakens feelings Nolan has been burying since childhood. Nolan's best pal Winston (Bob Oedenkirk) knows something is up but doesn't need to ask. And as Nolan struggles with what to do next, he has a nasty altercation with Leo's cruel pimp (Giles Matthey).

Although this plot point feels just a bit overwrought, it's thankfully not the focus of the story. Instead, it escalates the urgency Nolan feels about dredging up these long-suppressed feelings and admitting the truth to himself and others. Best of all is the way writer Douglas Soesbe and director Dito Montiel quietly explore the textures of Nolan's long relationship with Joy in scenes that are beautifully underplayed by both Williams and Baker. These are people struggling to say out loud the things they have always known but considered taboo. And now they are realising that perhaps doing what was considered to be the right thing all their lives only delayed the inevitable.

Continue reading: Boulevard Review

Robin Williams' Widow Opens Up About Actor's Final Days


Robin Williams

Robin Williams’ widow Susan has opened up about her husband’s final days in a new article published by The Times. In the piece Susan described how Williams had struggled to cope with ‘losing his mind’ and his Parkinson’s diagnosis before his suicide in August 2014.

Robin Williams  kRobin Williams' wife has opened up about her husband's death.

Susan said that she had met the actor in an Apple store by chance and the two had instantly bonded over their experiences with rehab and alcoholism. “I'd been in rehab since before "rehab" had become a household word. When I told him I hadn't had a drink for 23 years, he was impressed,” Susan shared.

Continue reading: Robin Williams' Widow Opens Up About Actor's Final Days

Video Of Actor Doing Amazing Robin Williams Impressions Goes Viral


Robin Williams

A video of an actor impersonating some of Robin Williams’ most iconic characters has going viral, so far notching up over a million views on Youtube. The two minute tribute made by look-a -like and fan Jamie Costa features impersonations of 20 of Williams’ most famous characters mashed together.

Robin WilliamsWilliams passed away last August.

Titled ‘Never Had A Friend Like Him’, the video puts together 20 Williams impressions in just over two minutes. Costa, who bears a striking resemblance to the late star, impersonates a range of characters from Williams’ career including Mork, Mrs Doubtfire and Peter Pan.

Continue reading: Video Of Actor Doing Amazing Robin Williams Impressions Goes Viral

Sadly, Robin Williams' Wife And Kids Are Feuding Over Estate


Robin Williams

The widow of Robin Williams and his three children from previous marriages are currently embroiled in a legal battle over the comedian's vast estate, with everything from clothing to action figures set to be the subject of intense negotiations. 

Robin WilliamsRobin Williams had a long and illustrious career but struggled with addiction and depression

Williams' third wife Susan Schneider, whom he married in 2011, filed court documents making her case for the estate, while Zak, Zelda and Cody submitted their papers in January. According to the New York Times, everything from "photographs, bicycles, fossils, toys and his awards," is at stake and that the matter will be resolved "as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Continue reading: Sadly, Robin Williams' Wife And Kids Are Feuding Over Estate

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb Cast Pays Tribute To "Integral" Robin Williams


Robin Williams Ben Stiller

The cast of Night At The Museum: Secret of the Tomb has paid tribute to cast member Robin Williams who died earlier this year. Speaking to People Magazine, the film’s stars celebrated the life and performance of their late co-star whose suicide in August devastated Hollywood.

Night at the Museum Robin Williams and the cast of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

In what would be one of his final film appearances Williams reprised his role of President Theodore Roosevelt in the third instalment of the comedy franchise.

Continue reading: Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb Cast Pays Tribute To "Integral" Robin Williams

Robin Williams' Son, Zak, Reflects On Father's Death: "I Miss Him All The Time"


Robin Williams

Even though it has been over three months since Robin Williams tragically took his own life in August at his Northern Californian home aged 63, the loss of the iconic comedian is still just as hard to process for his children.

Robin Williams
Williams committed suicide in August, aged 63

"I miss him all the time," Williams's 31-year-old son Zak told this week's issue of People magazine. "Often I see something or if I'm watching a film, I think, 'Oh, man, he would have appreciated this' or 'He would have gotten a laugh out of this.'"

Continue reading: Robin Williams' Son, Zak, Reflects On Father's Death: "I Miss Him All The Time"

Robin Williams Was Most Searched Google Term Of 2014


Robin Williams

The suicide of the best-loved actor and comedian Robin Williams was the most searched for term on Google in 2014. Internet users searched for news on the Mrs Doubtfire star more than for the football World Cup (second), the Ebola virus (third) and the missing Malaysia Airlines flight (fourth).

Robin WilliamsRobin Williams' death was the most searched for term on Google in 2014. 

Williams died on the morning of August 11, 2014 at his home in Paradise Cay, California. The final autopsy report affirmed that Williams had committed suicide and that neither alcohol or drugs - both of which Williams struggled with during his career - played a role in his death.

Continue reading: Robin Williams Was Most Searched Google Term Of 2014

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb - International Trailer


Larry Daley, the former security guard at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, is facing his biggest challenge yet. While he's used his exhibit friends coming to life at night, they are normally very well-behaved during the new sunset opening hours, but it seems something's started making them a little crazy. The magic of The Tablet of Ahkmenrah seems to be waning, putting them at risk of being still forever. Larry must find a way to restore the tablet before it's too late, and so he decides to venture to the Natural History Museum in London to find out how to fix it. There, Larry and his ancient friends face enormous snakes, dinosaur skeletons and bronze lions that are all coming to life, as well as the feisty head of security Tilly.

Continue: Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb - International Trailer

Robin Williams' Autopsy Results Conclude No Drugs Or Alcohol Played Part In Suicide


Robin Williams

When Robin Williams committed suicide on August 11th at his Northern Californian home, there were no drugs, alcohol or any other illegal substances in his system at the time, the authorities have announced.

Robin Williams
Williams was alcohol and drug free at the time of his death

On Friday (Nov 7th), the Marin County sheriff's office confirmed that the iconic comedian's cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. TMZ also reports, he was suffering from anxiety and Parkinson's Disease in the days leading up to his suicide.

Continue reading: Robin Williams' Autopsy Results Conclude No Drugs Or Alcohol Played Part In Suicide

Coroner's Report Details Robin Williams' Last Hours & Confirms Actor Was Alcohol/Drug Free


Robin Williams

The Marin County Coroner's report revealed details about the last hours of Robin Williams' life and stressed there were no traces of illegal drugs or alcohol in his system. His cause of death has been confirmed as suicide.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams died in August and the Coroner's report has just been published.

Read More: Autopsy Finds Robin Williams Was Clean Of Alcohol And Drugs.

Continue reading: Coroner's Report Details Robin Williams' Last Hours & Confirms Actor Was Alcohol/Drug Free

Interstellar Is A New Genre For Nolan


Christopher Nolan Anne Hathaway Matthew Mcconaughey Michael Caine Jessica Chastain Robin Williams Al Pacino

Over the past 15 years, Christopher Nolan has proven himself as a master of intelligent filmmaking, generally sticking to the psychological thriller genre while mixing in action and brain-bending flourishes. And now with Interstellar he has left the confines of Earth's gravity to head into science-fiction for the first time.

Matthew McConaughey & Anne Hathaway on setMatthew Mcconaughey & Anne Hathaway on set

Intriguingly, Nolan has still maintained his commitment to in-camera effects even in this genre, refusing to indulge in flashy digital trickery just because he can. Like his last few films, he has also shot portions of the film in Imax, massive screen imagery photographed on film, not digitally, which gives the entire movie an earthy texture that's intriguingly realistic. This also focusses even the most existential and scientific discussions squarely on the characters.

Continue reading: Interstellar Is A New Genre For Nolan

Billy Crystal Admits Emmy Tribute To Robin Williams Was "The Hardest Thing I've Ever Had To Do"


Robin Williams

During the 66th Emmy Awards on August 25, 2014, Billy Crystal had the difficult honour of leading a tribute to the late comedian and his close friend Robin Williams. Unsurprisingly this was very tough for the 66 year-old actor, in fact he recently admitted it was one of the most difficult things he has ever been faced with in his career.

Billy Crystal
Crystal memorialised Williams at this year's Emmy Awards

Crystal recalled memorializing his best friend while appearing on Tuesday's 'Today' show (Sept 16th), and when discussing the legendary comedian's death with Matt Lauer, it was obvious he is still grieving.

Continue reading: Billy Crystal Admits Emmy Tribute To Robin Williams Was "The Hardest Thing I've Ever Had To Do"

Ethan Hawke Calls The Death Of Robin Williams An "Immediate Sadness"


Robin Williams

Ethan Hawke was no different to the many celebrities and stars who knew Robin Williams, he was extremely upset to hear the news of the legendary comedian's suicide last month, which was obvious when he recalled the impact Williams had on his career.

Robin Willims
Williams died aged 63, last month

When Hawke was a young, upcoming actor he was lucky enough to co-star with the late comedian back in 1989's 'Dead Poet Society,' and their time together was very influential for him, so it is no surprise that the sudden death of Williams hit Hawke especially hard.

Continue reading: Ethan Hawke Calls The Death Of Robin Williams An "Immediate Sadness"

At Emmys, Billy Crystal Pays Tribute To "Beautiful Light" Robin Williams


Billy Crystal Robin Williams Emmy Awards

Billy Crystal delivered a clever, witty and typically funny tribute to his late friend Robin Williams at the 66th Emmy Awards on Monday (August 25, 2014). Crystal teamed up with Whoopi Goldberg to recall a bunch of anecdotes about the Oscar-winning actor, who died aged 59 last week.

Billy CrystalBilly Crystal delivered a touching tribute to his late friend, Robin Williams

"I used to think if I could put a saddle on him and stay on him for eight seconds, I was gonna do OK," he joked.

Continue reading: At Emmys, Billy Crystal Pays Tribute To "Beautiful Light" Robin Williams

Billy Crystal Pays Emotional Tribute To Late Comedian Robin Williams At Emmy Awards 2014


Robin Williams Billy Crystal

Robin Williams was honoured at the Primetime Emmy Awards 2014 on Monday (25th August) by his close friend Billy Crystal. Crystal's speech was sombre and poignant, in contrast to the vibrant man he described and we all know from the screen.

Robin Williams
Tributes have poured in from Williams' friends and fans.

Read More: David Letterman Opens Up About Long Time Friend Robin Williams' Suicide.

Continue reading: Billy Crystal Pays Emotional Tribute To Late Comedian Robin Williams At Emmy Awards 2014

Will Robin Williams Be Immortalised In A Zelda Game? Maybe


Robin Williams Zelda Williams

Robin Williams’ love for videogames has been well documented since the popular actor was found dead last week at his home near San Francisco after committing suicide at the age of 63.

Robin WilliamsRobin Williams had suffered from depression

Williams, who appeared in a string of adverts for Nintendo alongside his daughter Zelda - named after the titular princess in the Legend of Zelda games - expressed a particular fondness for Link’s adventures. And this had lead for calls for him to be remembered in a future Zelda game, to wit Nintendo released a statement. 

Continue reading: Will Robin Williams Be Immortalised In A Zelda Game? Maybe

The Gaming World Set To Pay Tribute To Robin Williams With World Of Warcraft NPC


Robin Williams Jimmy Fallon

As the world mourns the death of one of its finest entertainers, Robin Williams’ love for videogames is set to manifest in another type of tribute: a non-playable character in Blizzard’s hugely popular MMO, World of Warcraft.

Robin WilliamsRobin Williams at the Prime Time Emmys in 2013 - Getty/Kevin Wilson

Of course, Williams is well known for gifting many brilliant characters to film and TV, but his love for gaming made him even more of a cult hero in the videogame community – a kind of cultural vanguard for the medium. 

Continue reading: The Gaming World Set To Pay Tribute To Robin Williams With World Of Warcraft NPC

Robin Williams Had Early Stages Of Parkinsons Disease


Robin Williams

The tragic suicide of comedian and actor Robin Williams had led to many of his friends and fans asking what could have driven him to take his own life. Today in a touching statement his wife Susan Schneider spoke of her husband's selflessness and personal struggles.

Robin Williams
Williams battled great personal troubles whilst bringing joy to thousands through his work

She revealed that Williams had been diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson's Disease, an incurable afflication that affects the central nervous system. Williams had not been reading to disclose this information to the public at the time of his death. Schneider also confirmed that Williams was sober when he passed away. 

Continue reading: Robin Williams Had Early Stages Of Parkinsons Disease

The Lesser Known Films Of Robin Williams


Robin Williams Al Pacino Jeff Bridges Danny Devito

The late Robin Williams was well-known for a number of iconic roles and had spread his talent liberally across comedy, thriller, drama and animation. From the fantastically eccentric Mrs Doubtfire, to the troubled and unhappy Sean Maguire from Good Will Hunting and the inescapable comedic brilliance of the Genie in Aladdin, Robin Williams stamped his presence on so many films that audiences will never forget.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams tragically took his own life on Monday 11 August

But he also featured in a lot of motion pictures that people have forgotten: perhaps there’s only room in the human brain for so many brilliant movies. As a tribute to the actor, who was found dead as a result of suicide on Monday 11 August, we look at some of his lesser known projects.

Continue reading: The Lesser Known Films Of Robin Williams

The Final Projects Of Robin Williams


Robin Williams Ben Stiller Bob Odenkirk Simon Pegg

The death of acting legend and comedic master, Robin Williams, has prompted many tributes from colleagues, friends, family and fans to pour in from around the world as people come to terms with the loss of an icon. The 63-year-old versatile star of such classics as Mrs Doubtfire and Good Will Hunting was found dead at his home on Monday 11 August in what has now been confirmed as suicide by asphyxiation.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams was 63 when he took her own life

His untimely death has left many devastated that they will no longer be able to frequently witness his talent with the potential for a Mrs Doubtfire sequel now unlikely to come to fruition. There are, however, four films as yet unreleased in which Williams stars and will be seen on screen.

Continue reading: The Final Projects Of Robin Williams

Ben Affleck Honors His Late 'Good Will Hunting' Co-Star Robin Williams


Robin Williams

Like many other celebrities and fans, Ben Affleck wanted to pay his respects to one of the most memorable Hollywood legends ever, Robin Williams. The 41 year-old actor expressed that he his completely "heartbroken" after hearing about the comedian's sudden death.

Robin Williams
Williams was found dead on Monday morning (Aug 11th)

Affleck, who co-starred with Williams in 1997's 'Good Will Hunting,' shared an emotional message via Facebook on Tuesday (Aug 12th), in which he thanked the late star for giving him a chance when many others didn't.

Continue reading: Ben Affleck Honors His Late 'Good Will Hunting' Co-Star Robin Williams

Robin Williams Made Millions Laugh, While Fighting His Own Demons


Robin Williams

Sad news today, as the world has lost the comedic genius and bright personality of Robin Williams. The actor died at the age of 63, after a career that stretched over more than three decades and earned him the love of millions. Probably the most disturbing information that has come to light since Williams’ sudden death, is that the actor may have committed suicide.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams fought his own inner demons, but continued entertaining the world. [Getty/Mike Coppola]

The 63-year-old Good Will Hunting star was found unresponsive by paramedics in his house in in Tiburon, north of San Francisco, at around 11:55 am on Monday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with the coroner’s early assessment pegging the cause as asphyxiation.

Continue reading: Robin Williams Made Millions Laugh, While Fighting His Own Demons

Robin Williams' 'Merry Friggin' Christmas' Co-Star, Joel McHale, Says Comedian Won't Relapse


Robin Williams

At the beginning of this month, Robin Williams checked into rehab to "fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment" to maintaining sober.

The comedian hasn't had any setbacks or fallen off the wagon, but he is just taking precautions to avoid relapsing.

And Williams' 'Merry Friggin' Christmas' co-star, Joel McHale, thinks he will "win" his battle with alcoholism.

Continue reading: Robin Williams' 'Merry Friggin' Christmas' Co-Star, Joel McHale, Says Comedian Won't Relapse

5 Networks Cancel 22 Shows Including CBS' 'The Crazy Ones' And 'Hostages'


Robin Williams Simon Baker Greg Kinnear

22 shows from five different television networks have been cut over the last week. Whilst it is bad news for fans of Robin William’s and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s The Crazy Ones but Simon Baker will return as Patrick Jane in The Mentalist.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams' comedy The Crazy Ones has been cancelled after one season.

CBS’ The Mentalist has been struggling recently, with a decline in ratings evident. However, it was announced on Saturday (10th May) the crime drama would be continuing for a seventh season. It’s one of the shows which were under review by executives, as EW reports.

Continue reading: 5 Networks Cancel 22 Shows Including CBS' 'The Crazy Ones' And 'Hostages'

'Mrs. Doubtfire' Cast Reluctant For Sequel: A Cash Cow For Robin Williams?


Robin Williams Chris Columbus Sally Field Mara Wilson

The news that a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel is definitely in the works 21 years after the 1993 comedy classic has been met mostly with hearty cries of "hooray" and reminiscing about the movie's poofy early '90s hair-dos, bad fashion and the endlessly funny story of a man who disguises himself as an elderly Scottish nanny in order to sneak his way back into his ex-wife's and children's lives.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams Will Play Mrs. Doubtfire Again, In An Upcoming Sequel.

However, others have reacted with a mixture of trepidation and concern for fond childhood memories which could be about to be splattered all over a wall if Hollywood makes a classic hash of this most precarious of follow-up films. Actor Robin Williams and director Chris Columbus are driving the motion for a sequel, which is said to have been in slow development since 2001, the Mrs. Doubtfire sequel reportedly stalled several times due to Columbus and Williams not being sold on any proposed new takes.

Continue reading: 'Mrs. Doubtfire' Cast Reluctant For Sequel: A Cash Cow For Robin Williams?

Wait, Isn't Mrs Doubtfire 2 Actually A Terrible Idea?


Robin Williams

The news that a sequel to Mrs Doubtfire was in the works seems to have caught fire on the internet today quicker than Robin William’s fake boobs did. When word hit the web the general reaction seemed to be one of excitement at the prospect of Mrs Doubtfire follow up which would come a lengthly 21 years after the original. The reaction isn’t really surprising, given how great the original was, but really is a sequel what we wanted? Although no one really wants to say it, could Mrs Doubtfire 2 actually be a pretty terrible idea?

Robin WilliamsCould Robin Williams be Mrs Doubtfire again?

There’s no debating that the original Mrs Doubtfire was a classic example of early 90s family friendly comedy. It had all the right ingredients, a star performance from Robin Williams, a great supporting cast, a ludicrous yet hilarious plot and also a sweet and sincere underlying message. Actually, in the field of family friendly comedy, Mrs Doubtfire was pretty much perfect. That’s why news of a sequel should be greeted a little more apprehensively.

Continue reading: Wait, Isn't Mrs Doubtfire 2 Actually A Terrible Idea?

'Mrs Doubtfire' Sequel? Robin Williams To Don Wig And Fake Boobs Once More!


Robin Williams Sally Field Chris Columbus Mara Wilson Pierce Brosnan

Robin Williams is set to reprise his role in the surprise sequel to the 1993 comedy, Mrs. Doubtfire, which will reportedly be directed by the original's Chris Columbus, according to THR. 21 years after the original movie, the news of a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel has come as an unexpected albeit welcome surprise for many fans of the '90s hit.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams Will Return To His Lauded 'Mrs. Doubfire' Comedy Role For A Sequel.

Fox 2000 has tapped Elf writer David Berenbaum to write the sequel with Robin Williams attached to reprise his starring role as divorcee Daniel Hillard, who devises an outrageous plan to work his way back into his hostile wife (Sally Field) and children's lives. After creating an elaborate old lady costume and styling himself as the pleasant Scottish nanny, Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, he gets himself hired as a housekeeper and nanny to his own children.

Continue reading: 'Mrs Doubtfire' Sequel? Robin Williams To Don Wig And Fake Boobs Once More!

Hoaxer Or The Hoaxed? Andy Kaufman's Brother Backpedals On 'Alive' Rumours


Robin Williams

Andy Kaufman's brother Michael Kaufman appeared on CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper on Thursday (November 14, 2013) to claim that he himself has been the victim of a hoax meant to trick him into believing his famous brother is still alive and the father of a 24-year-old woman.

Robin WilliamsRobin Williams Was A Close Friend of Andy Kaufman

"I believe I am part of the hoax," Kaufman said. "I don't believe that [the woman claiming to be his daughter] is acting on her own, though."

Continue reading: Hoaxer Or The Hoaxed? Andy Kaufman's Brother Backpedals On 'Alive' Rumours

The Butler Review


Good

This is an strangely slushy movie from Lee Daniels, whose last two films (Precious and The Paperboy) bristled with unexpected life. By contrast, this star-packed drama uses a true story to trace the Civil Rights struggle from the 1950s to the present day. But it's been so fictionalised that it feels kind of like a variation on Forrest Gump.

Cecil Gaines (Whitaker) grew up on a Georgia cotton plantation, where the cruel master's kindly mother (Redgrave) taught him to be a house servant. Years later, he marries Gloria (Winfrey) and moves to Washington DC, where he gets a job in the White House as a butler to presidents from Eisenhower (Williams) to Reagan (Rickman). His job description is simple: "You hear nothing, you see nothing, you only serve." And yet as the nation grapples with its racist culture, he has a quiet influence on each leader who moves through the house.

Whitaker narrates the film in drawling flashbacks, while the story flickers between Cecil and his eldest son Louis (Oyelowo), an activist who is involved in every key moment in the Civil Rights movement. And their younger son (Kelley) is sent to Vietnam. So it's like a condensed version of late 20th century American history, made notable by the lively cast of cameo players including Marsden (as JFK), Schreiber (LBJ), Ellis (MLK) and Cusack (Nixon), plus Fonda as a lively Nancy Reagan.

Continue reading: The Butler Review

Robin Williams Trounces Michael J Fox In Comedy TV Ratings


Robin Williams Michael J Fox

The premiere of two highly anticipated comedy programs fell in the same week and Robin Williams' CBS 'The Crazy Ones' soundly beats Michael J Fox's NBC 'The Michael J. Fox show' in the ratings.

Both programmes aired this past Thursday night (Sept 26th) at the same time of 9pm Eastern time and 'The Crazy Ones' garnered 15.6 million people whereas 'The Michael J. Fox' only managed to debut before 7.2 million viewers.

However it has to be made aware that CBS wisely aired two brand new episodes of the hugely popular sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory' which was watched by an average of 18.9 million souls.

Continue reading: Robin Williams Trounces Michael J Fox In Comedy TV Ratings

Was The Robin Williams Reddit AMA Better Than 'The Crazy Ones'?


Robin Williams

It’s been a long time since Robin Williams graced the small screen, but he’s at it again, tonight, actually. The Crazy Ones debuts on CBC at 9/8c, and in the build up to it, Williams sat down to answer some questions from Reddit users, begging the question: should he just do that every week?

Robin Williams
Robin Williams knows how to have a laugh

While The Crazy Ones hasn’t exactly bombed with the critics – there are enough positive reviews to suggest this could be an excellent season of comedy from the funny-man – there were plenty of mediocre reviews to accompany the good ones.

Continue reading: Was The Robin Williams Reddit AMA Better Than 'The Crazy Ones'?

Neil Patrick Harris Relishing Hosting Duties Ahead Of Sunday's Emmy Awards


Neil Patrick Harris Carrie Underwood Beatles James Gandolfini Edie Falco Jane Lynch Cory Monteith Michael J Fox Robin Williams

Neil Patrick Harris will look to further his claim as a natural awards show host when he takes to the stage at the 65th Annual Emmy Awards this Sunday, 22 September. Having built up an impressive resume already as co-host of the awards in 2009 and as a four-time host of the Tony Awards, the How I Met Your Mother star needed no incentive to take on the challenge of hosting the Emmy's this year.

Neil Patrick Harris
Harris is relishing the chance to host the Emmy's again

"I love TV and the motley crew of people that are part of it," Harris told reporters on Wednesday as the red carpet was laid out in front of Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre ahead of Sunday's ceremony. As the host of the celebration of television, you can bet that NPH had praise for the current crop of shows looking to be honoured at the awards show. He continued, in reference to the wide-ranging scope of shows up for awards, "I think that makes for a better viewing experience of television than ever, and I'm happy to be the guy in charge of honoring that."(via USA Today)

Continue reading: Neil Patrick Harris Relishing Hosting Duties Ahead Of Sunday's Emmy Awards

'The Butler' & 'We're The Millers' Retain Top US Box Office Positions


Forest Whitaker Oprah Winfrey Alan Rickman Robin Williams John Cusack Lily Collins Kevin Zegers Jennifer Aniston Jason Sudeikis Robert Sheehan Nick Frost Simon Pegg

Lee Daniels' The Butler has retained its position at No.1 in the US Weekend Box Office for the second week. The movie is an historical epic which follows the true story of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), a black butler who served at the White House through the offices of eight presidents. Whitaker is supported by a cast of award winning actors including Oprah Winfrey, Alan Rickman, Josh Cusack and Robin Williams.

Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey
Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey at the L.A. premiere of Lee Daniels' The Butler.

This weekend Lee Daniels' The Butler may not have been, financially, as successful as last weekend. It made over $17 million this week as opposed to the $25 million it earned in its opening weekend. Meanwhile We're the Millers, starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis, made $13 million down from $17 million last weekend. The comedy made a similar amount to The Butler in its opening weekend ($26 million) yet has continued, by comparison, to be more financially profitable. 

Continue reading: 'The Butler' & 'We're The Millers' Retain Top US Box Office Positions

The Butler Movie Looks Ready To Be The First Major Oscar Contender Of The Year


Forest Whitaker Lee Daniels Oprah Winfrey Cuba Gooding Junior John Cusack Alan Rickman Robin Williams

The Butler movie could very well be the first real contender for next year's Academy Awards when it is released next Friday (16 August) as critics have already singled the film out as a wonderfully acted, well told story worthy of award recognition. Covering the course of thirty years and eight presidents, some of the most important moments in the history of the 20th century are retold from the unique point of view from within the presidential chambers.

Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker stars as the fictional butler Cecil Gains in the film

Starring Forest Whitaker, The Butler covers the extensive career of Cecil Gains, a devoted butler for the White House who was born on a southern cotton farm and rose from humble origins as a kitchen worker to eventually become the top butler to eight different presidents over the course of more than 30 years; including John F Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower. Despite serving a series of conflicting presidents, Cecil never forgot his duties and always presents himself as the upmost professional, no matter what is happening in the world.

Continue reading: The Butler Movie Looks Ready To Be The First Major Oscar Contender Of The Year

Lee Daniel's 'The Butler' Is A Clear Oscar Contender [Stills + Clips]


Forest Whitaker Oprah Winfrey Lee Daniels Mariah Carey Jane Fonda John Cusack Alan Rickman Robin Williams

Hollywood and the film industry seem more confident in taking on the issue of slavery in a cinematic context. Last year saw Django Unchained and Lincoln prove popular, and this year will see more films of that ilk, including Lee Daniels' The Butler, which enjoyed its premiere last night (Monday, Aug 5) in New York.

Forest WhitakerWhitaker is The Butler

The film follows Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) – an African-American White House butler who, due to his close proximity, was privy to many of the political events that helped shaped contemporary America. The film is based on the real-life account of Eugene Allen.

Continue reading: Lee Daniel's 'The Butler' Is A Clear Oscar Contender [Stills + Clips]

The Butler - Clips


Cecil Gaines is a modest and dedicated butler at the White House who manages to make for himself a respectable career despite his underprivileged upbringing and cotton farm roots. Starting out as a regular kitchen worker, Cecil soon proves himself to be extremely proficient and works his way up to be the head butler for eight different US presidents. Some of them prove to be discriminatory, treating Cecil with little respect and holding massively differing views to him, but he always remains polite and does everything within his power to care for his employers while keeping any top secret information that he might hear firmly to himself. Meanwhile, he struggles at home with his son; a Black Panther with aggressive views on racial equality who is less than grateful to have a father working for the people that he believes are causing racial oppression. 

This story of loyalty and unconditional dedication is based on the true story of Eugene Allen; a butler who similarly lived through years of racial inequality before finally seeing, in his retirement, the election of the first black President, Barack Obama. His story was documented in the article 'A Butler Well Served by This Election' written by Wil Haygood. 'The Butler' has been directed by Lee Daniels ('The Paperboy', 'Precious', 'Shadowboxer') and co-written by Danny Strong ('Game Change', 'Recount') and will be released in the US on August 16th 2013.

Click here to read The Butler Movie Review

The Big Wedding Review


Good

An all-star cast very nearly goes down with the ship as filmmaker Justin Zackham (The Bucket List) indulges in relentlessly farcical silliness. Thankfully the actors play it relatively straight, injecting moments of dark emotion and sharp wit in between the corny wackiness. But the script is more interested in humiliating its characters than finding any genuine humour.

The eponymous nuptials are between Alejandro and Missy (Barnes and Seyfried), who haplessly watch their families implode as the big day approaches. Alejandro's adoptive dad Don (De Niro) and his long-time girlfriend Bebe (Sarandon) are planning the event, but Alejandro's deeply religious birth-mother (Rae) is coming from Colombia, so he asks his dad to pretend to still be married to his ex-wife Ellie (Keaton). Meanwhile, Alejandro's sister Lyla (Heigl) is having her own marriage crisis, while his brother Jared (Grace) can't keep his libido under control.

As the preparations continue, the plot gets increasingly tangled. But it also becomes strangely ingrown, as if these people have never met anyone outside their small circle of family and friends. Past secrets are revealed and dark peccadillos come to light, leading to a series of manic confrontations. Through it all, the film remains blandly amusing, although its rather extreme moments never quite escalate to Meet the Parents hilarity. Thankfully they avoid the strained goofiness of Death at a Funeral

Continue reading: The Big Wedding Review

Forest Whitaker As 'The Butler' Could Be A Recipe For Success [Trailer]


Forest Whitaker Lee Daniels Robin Williams John Cusack James Marsden Liev Schreiber Alan Rickman Cuba Gooding Junior David Oyelowo Oprah Winfrey

The first trailer for 'Precious' director Lee Daniels' new movie The Butler starring Forest Whitaker has rolled out online. It has always been assumed that Harvey Weinstein believes the film is one of his better chances of tasting Oscars success this season and the trailer certainly appears to confirm that. It stars Whitaker as Eugene Allen, the man who served eight presidents as the White House's head butler. It's over-the-top, patriotic and, well, Oscar bait.

In the mould as The King's Speech and The Iron Lady, the historical biopic is set for release on October 18th - just in time to be wafted under the nose of the Academy. As well as Whitaker returning to a leading role, 'The Butler' boasts one of the more spectacular casts of the year, including Robin Williams (Dwight Eisenhower), John Cusack (Richard Nixon), James Marsden (JFK), Liev Schreiber (Lydon B. Johnson), Alan Rickman (Reagan), Cuba Gooding Jr (Carter Wilson). David Oyelowo (Loius Gaines) and Oprah Winfrey (Gloria Gaines) are among the supporting cast though this one appears to be set up for Whitaker.

Watch 'The Butler' Trailer!

Speaking to Indiewire last year, Daniels hinted that his movie might be a little too focused on awards, "I'm trying to keep it [The Butler] PG13 which is not easy for me. It's very un-Precious and un-Paperboy... I can't go into my bag of tricks on this one [...] I felt like I directed the film in handcuffs and a muzzle," he said.

Continue reading: Forest Whitaker As 'The Butler' Could Be A Recipe For Success [Trailer]

The Butler Trailer


Cecil Gains is a devoted White House butler who grew up on a simple cotton farm where he and other black workers were not treated with any respect by their white counterparts. From a simple kitchen worker, he rises to be top butler to eight different presidents over the course of more than 30 years. Sworn to secrecy over the goings on at the White House, he serves the likes of Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Lyndon B. Johnson with all the care that he has in spite of their differing policies and the suppression of his race across the country. He rejects his freedom fighter son's distaste at Cecil's job and never once wavers in his respect for his government. He merely stands back, silver platter in hand and watches the progression of racial equality until the day the country's first black president is finally inaugurated.  

This is a story about loyalty and commitment based on the article by Wil Haygood, 'A Butler Well Served by This Election', about Eugene Allen; a real butler who showed his devotion to his job over the course of three decades while he and his fellow black civilians went from being the underdogs to top dog as he lives to see the election of President Barack Obama. It has been directed by Lee Daniels ('The Paperboy', 'Precious', 'Shadowboxer') and co-written by Danny Strong ('Game Change', 'Recount'), and has an incredible all-star ensemble cast. 'The Butler' is set to his theatres in the US on August 16th 2013.

Click here to read The Butler Movie Review

CBS Plan 'Bad Teacher' Series Based On The Cameron Diaz Film


Cameron Diaz Ari Graynor Robin Williams Sarah Michelle Gellar

With the fall line ups for television broadcasters across America being revealed gradually over the past weeks, CBS have thrown a curveball with the announcement of a new comedy series based on the Cameron Diaz vehicle Bad Teacher. Fringe's Ari Graynor is taking on the staring role of an angry divorcee who becomes a teacher to find her next man.

The announcement has come a week after the network initially unveiled their fall line-up, that also included the comedy Crazy Ones, which boasts Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar as its stars. The Bad Teacher re-working won't make it to the upcoming network line-up though, and is likely to be held off until mid-season at least.

Ari Graynor
Ari Graynor will be taking on Cameron Diaz's role

Continue reading: CBS Plan 'Bad Teacher' Series Based On The Cameron Diaz Film

The Crazy One: Robin Williams Stuns CBS Advertisers With Cocaine Jokes


Robin Williams Sarah Michelle Gellar CBS

Robin Williams plays an unhinged advertising genius in the new CBS comedy The Crazy Ones, with co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the veteran comedian certainly arrived at the network with a bang this week. After a screening of the new show, CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler introduced Williams as "the biggest get of the season, actually many seasons," and "one of the defining comedy voices of our time," according to Deadline.com.

"Nice to come through the strip club motif," he began. "Welcome to Sugar Daddy's, where old men dance for young girls." Things took an even more unlikely turn when he "likened the upfronts to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show," though noting, "but with more agents, and a little less ass-sniffing."

To be fair to Williams, everyone in the audience appeared to lap it up, especially when he reminded them, "It's been a long time since I've been on TV, 30 years, when there were much simpler upfronts - and a mound of coke." There were further applause when the Hollywood star noted the influx of networks since his last time on television, noting, "And if a little child wants to be transported to the Land Of Make-Believe, there's Fox News." He ended, "Nice to have a job where the checks will clear."

Continue reading: The Crazy One: Robin Williams Stuns CBS Advertisers With Cocaine Jokes

CBS Go For The Crazy One: Robin Williams To Return To TV On New Comedy


Robin Williams

Robin Williams is being brought back to television by network CBS as it finalizes its new primetime schedule for the forthcoming season. CBS is absolutely rocking it at the moment with shows like The Big Bang Theory, Two And A Half Men and NCIS all doing well for its ratings, to the extent that last week it had five of the six highest-rated programs on broadcast primetime, according to Nielsen.

The Williams-starring show is called The Crazy Ones and also stars Sarah Michelle Gellar of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. It is being produced by David E. Kelly, who is best known for the lawyer-based drama Ally McBeal. A pretty solid line-up if you’ve traveled back to the 1990’s there. Anyway, Williams plays an eccentric advertising executive who works alongside his daughter, played by Gellar. The show will reportedly air Thursday evenings.

CBS is bringing back a whopping 20 shows, which is more than any of its rival networks and a sign of its current success. Chief Executive Les Moonves was in understandably bullish mood, saying that CBS had never been so profitable. "The key is getting hits on this network," Moonves told reporters. "Our schedule going into next year is going to be even stronger than it's ever been before." We’re not sure that Williams show is going to be the one to keep it there, but if its big hitters keep on striking home runs then who really cares?

Continue reading: CBS Go For The Crazy One: Robin Williams To Return To TV On New Comedy

Forest Whitaker's 'The Butler' Clearly Has Oscar Glory In Its Sights [Trailer]


Forest Whitaker John Cusack Robin Williams Oprah Winfrey Alan Rickman James Marsden Liev Schreiber David Oyelowo Harvey Weinstein Lee Daniels

The first trailer for 'Precious' director Lee Daniels' new movie The Butler starring Forest Whitaker has rolled out online and Harvey Weinstein's ambitions of taking this film all the way to the Oscars couldn't be more apparent. Whitaker stars as Eugene Allen, the man who served eight presidents as the White House's head butler.

The movie is clearly Oscar bait. Firstly, it's a typical Weinstein movie in the same mould as The King's Speech and The Iron Lady and secondly it's set for release on October 18th - just in time to be wafted under the nose of the Academy. Oh, and there's a pretty strong cast with plenty of Oscar winners and several up-and-coming stars. Robin Williams (Dwight Eisenhower), John Cusack (Richard Nixon), James Marsden (JFK), Liev Schreiber (Lydon B. Johnson), Alan Rickman (Reagan), Cuba Gooding Jr (Carter Wilson), David Oyelowo (Loius Gaines) and Oprah Winfrey (Gloria Gaines) are among the supporting cast though this one appears to be set up for Whitaker.

Continue reading: Forest Whitaker's 'The Butler' Clearly Has Oscar Glory In Its Sights [Trailer]

The Big Wedding Trailer


Don and Ellie have been divorced for a long time but when their adopted son Alejandro and his fiancé Missy decide to get married, it looks to be time for a family reunion. If things weren't awkward enough with Ellie seeing that her best friend Bebe from years ago is now married to her ex-husband, Alejandro's biological mother has also decided to fly over from Columbia for the occasion. However, she happens to be an extremely devout catholic with the belief that divorce is a sin so the family's only resolution to appease her and make her feel that giving away her son was the right decision is for Don and Ellie to pretend that they are still married on the big day, to Bebe's resentment. As expected, things are not as straight forward as they planned and the days leading up to the nuptials couldn't possibly be more tense and disastrous for this unusual family.

This ridiculous though rather touching comedy has been based on the French movie 'Mon Frère Se Marie' written by Jean-Stéphane Bron and Karine Sudan and is the wonderful story of how broken families can mend or, at least, unite for their mutual relatives when it is a matter of importance. It has been directed and written by Justin Zackham ('Going Greek', 'The Bucket List') and is set to be released on May 31st 2013 in the UK.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, Robin Williams, Ben Barnes, Megan Ketch, Greg Paul, Christa Campbell, David Rasche, Christine Ebersole, Kyle Bornheimer,

Happy Feet Two Review


Very Good
Despite the fact that it's driven by a weakly developed plot, this penguin adventure is just as much fun as 2006's Happy Feet. It's a riot of colourful characters and vividly animated settings, with a few great songs thrown in to keep our feet tapping along.

Mumble (Wood) thinks he's inadequate as a father since his non-dancing son Erik (Acres) feels like such an outsider. So when Erik runs off to visit the guru Lovelace (Williams) and meet flying penguin star Sven (Azaria), Mumble follows.

Meanwhile back home, an ice-shelf collapse has trapped the entire Emperor colony, so now Mumble, Erik and Lovelace's colony must find a solution. Perhaps some passing humans can help. Or a gang of tetchy sea elephants. Or maybe it'll be down to two renegade krills (Pitt and Damon) who are trying to find their individuality.

Continue reading: Happy Feet Two Review

Happy Feet 2 - Trailer & Featurette


While the Emperor penguins of Antarctica find their mate by singing their 'heartsong', Mumble is different. Instead of singing, he has a talent for tap-dancing and it was this that won the affections of his old friend Gloria. His unique gift also helped ban overfishing in Antarctica which saved the fish population from extinction.

Continue: Happy Feet 2 - Trailer & Featurette

Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story Review


Very Good
This biographical doc about the comedian-actor contains such a wealth of old footage that it's a must-see for his fans. And although its structure is a bit messy, the film shows an intriguingly serious side of the surreal comic.

Using animation, home movies and archive footage, we follow Izzard through his birth in 1962 to British parents who were working in Yemen, his early childhood in Northern Ireland and his youth in Wales and England. After being kicked out of university, he started performing comedy on the street, finally getting his big break in the 1990s, touring the world as a comic and becoming more famous in America as an actor. Along the way he discovers that past tragedies have inspired him to believe that he can be a stand-up, an actor or anything he wants to be.

Continue reading: Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story Review

August Rush Review


Very Good
Going in to August Rush, you've got to be more than willing to accept fairy tale magic; you've got to be looking to embrace it, with all of its whimsy and overzealous sense of wonder. That way, the movie can be sweet (if a bit ponderously so) as opposed to so precious you feel the need to punt it through a window. It's a fine line, and August Rush is balancing it the whole way through.

Freddie Highmore plays the title character, a little boy in a Dickensian version of the real world: He has grown up in a group home for boys in upstate New York (do they even have those anymore?), where he hears music in the world, from the corn fields to the moonlight. He sets out one day, believing that if he follows the music, it will lead to his parents; where it actually leads is New York City, where the noise of the city turns into the rhythmic beginnings of a Stomp number. There, he hooks up with a band of street urchins/musicians straight out of Oliver Twist, run by the unstable and off-putting Wizard (Robin Williams as a creepy redhead). When August discovers things like guitars and sheet music that allow him to produce the music he hears, he becomes a prodigy, and a sensation.

Continue reading: August Rush Review

Nine Months Review


Good
Nine Months has all the makings of an incredible disaster. First, its star (Hugh Grant) is arrested for lewd conduct. Second, it's a remake of a French film (Neuf Mois), always a huge negative. Finally, it's a comedy decidedly for adults which is directed by the infantile Chris Columbus, the man who brought us the Home Alone franchise and Mrs. Doubtfire.

Imagine my shock; Nine Months is pretty good.

Continue reading: Nine Months Review

Aladdin Review


Extraordinary
Disney's version of Aladdin and his magic lamp is one of its best animated features -- or features, period -- with terrific songs and gorgeous colors, thrilling action sequences and big laughs. It doesn't have the classical emotional weight of Beauty and the Beast, which came out a year earlier, but it's one of the only Disney films to break out of that nebulous "family" genre and function as a genuine comedy/adventure.

What everyone remembers, comedically speaking, is Genie, a blue whirling dervish of impressions and wisecracks as vocalized by Robin Williams in 100 percent inspiration, negligible perspiration mode. But Aladdin also features what may be the only tolerable role for Gilbert Gottfried, period: Iago, the cranky parrot sidekick of evil villain Jafar. Even Aladdin and Jasmine, while essentially bland, have likeably cynical streaks (Jasmine is disgusted by the parade of handsome princes sent to woo her, as if she's just finished watching a Disney movie marathon). These characters would have significant goodwill flogged away by a TV series and the pair of direct-to-video follow-ups that bookend it, but on its own, Aladdin is a rollicking good time. And although the contribution of Williams is immeasurable, the Disney team rises to the occasion with some terrific, fast-paced gagwork and visual mastery.

Continue reading: Aladdin Review

The Big White Review


Very Good
It's kind of bizarre that The Big White never landed a proper theatrical release. I mean, how many Robin Williams/Holly Hunter/Woody Harrelson movies go straight to video?

Well, one that I know of.

Continue reading: The Big White Review

The Aristocrats Review


Excellent
In the dark weeks following 9/11, Comedy Central's management surprisingly decided not to cancel its taping of The Friar's Club Roast of Hugh Hefner. During the recording of the event, hundreds of comedians and urban luminaries found themselves shocked out of their post-terrorism pall by none other than Gilbert Gottfried, who delivered what the New York Times' Frank Rich, an attendee of the taping, called "the greatest dirty joke ever told."

Tracing its origins to vaudeville, this "comic's joke" is tantamount to a secret handshake among comedians and their friends. Although versions vary widely, it basically goes like this: A man seeking show biz representation walks into a talent agent's office and describes his family's act, which consists of various illegal and unspeakable activities including incest, bestiality, necrophilia, and an explosion of bodily fluids. After the man finishes, the appalled agent asks what this horrible act is called, to which the man responds, "The Aristocrats!"

Continue reading: The Aristocrats Review

Robots Review


Extraordinary
The 1995 release of Pixar's Toy Story forever altered the world of animated cinema. In an instant, decades of Disney-dominated traditional cartoons vanished in a pixilated puff of fairy dust and a new era of almost entirely computer-generated animation began. The ensuing wave of digital films has met with such astonishing box-office success that even such forgettable romps as Chris Wedge's Ice Age have managed to top the earnings charts in their opening weeks.

But things are changing in the animation scene. The freshness of CG has worn away, and audiences are no longer wowed by flashy technology alone. Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles has raised the bar on both animation excellence and story-telling savvy to a level that will be hard to top in coming years. If such early hits as Toy Story or Antz premiered today, it's unlikely they would wow the crowds nearly as much as they did on their initial releases. It's a tough time to be an animated film.

Continue reading: Robots Review

Get Bruce Review


Good
Bette, Billy, Lili, Whoopi -- now I know why these people aren't funny: Because Bruce Vilanch writes all their material. And now they've written a song about how great he is... ick.

Continue reading: Get Bruce Review

Good Will Hunting Review


OK
Hype? Sheesh, like no other. This side of Titanic, Good Will Hunting has enjoyed some of the most baffling, gushing praise of the year. Does either film deserve it? Not really.

Let's look at the facts: You have Matt Damon as Will Hunting -- apparently the smartest man on the face of the earth who can also kick anyone's ass over breakfast, and has a history of run-ins with the law. Oh no! Affleck is his down-to-earth best bud. Driver, the hoity-toity love interest. Williams and Skarsgård as Hunting's mentors, the guys that rescue him from a prison sentence for assaulting a police officer. And it is made abundantly clear that the film is also about the class stuggle in Boston.

Continue reading: Good Will Hunting Review

Death To Smoochy Review


Bad
Classic children's television show hosts like Mister Rogers and Barney make great role models for children, but their trite style makes them easy targets for adult jokes. Danny DeVito's latest project, Death to Smoochy, is well-intended with its mockery of children's television and those inane hosts, however it is completely misdirected in its efforts to be funny.

After the obnoxious but popular host Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is caught taking bribes from parents who want their kids on television, network head Frank Stokes (Jon Stewart) pulls the plug on his show. An exhaustive search through the downtrodden Barney wannabes to replace Randolph yields a pink, squeaky-clean rhino named Smoochy (Edward Norton), who becomes an overnight success with the kids despite his preachings of bland politically correct messages to children. Despite Smoochy's best wishes, his boss Nora (Catherine Keener) wants to cash in on the show's newfound success by selling Smoochy-sponsored cereals, cola, and string cheese. Randolph, on the other hand, is hell-bent on making life miserable for the rhino, and Smoochy's crooked agent (Danny DeVito) is busy making backdoor deals trying to sell Smoochy out to the mob.

Continue reading: Death To Smoochy Review

THE FINAL CUT Review


OK

Good ideas are rare in Hollywood. But rarer still is the tendency to leave a good idea alone.

If a movie is smart enough to rely only on its good idea, the result is almost always a decent film, from "Speed" to "Dark City" and "Memento."

"The Final Cut" represents the opposite tendency, to tinker with something until it's dead. Here is a terrific idea: in the future, parents will have the option to purchase a "Zoe chip" that will be implanted in their unborn child. From the moment of their birth, the chip records everything as the person sees it. After their death, a "cutter" takes the hours, days, and years worth of footage and assembles it into a two-hour film that, more or less, sums up the person's life. (Fortunately for the cutters, people's memories are recorded in Cinemascope and Dolby Surround sound.)

Continue reading: THE FINAL CUT Review

Robin Williams

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Robin Williams

Date of birth

21st July, 1951

Date of death

11th August, 2014

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Male

Height

1.7






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Following on from the discovery that New York Natural History Museum's exhibits come to life...

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