Tilda Swinton on We Need to Talk About Kevin, the Joys of Chaos, and What 'Indie' Means Today

Another year, another blisteringly grand performance from Tilda Swinton: After a run that commenced with her Oscar-winning role in Michael Clayton and continued with her underseen creative triumphs Julia and I Am Love, Swinton arrives in theaters next week as the haunted lead in We Need to Talk About Kevin. If there is any justice in the Oscar cosmos, she’ll be back in the Kodak Theater as at least a nominee come February. Of course, that cosmos knows little justice, and anyway, that’s not why Swinton is in the business. “I don’t choose roles; I choose people,” she said at a recent guild screening of Kevin in NY City — a reference to her friend Lynne Ramsay, the brilliant filmmaker behind Ratcatcher (1999) and Morvern Callar (2002) who makes her return to directing after nearly a decade away. Along with Rory Kinnear, Ramsay adapted Lionel Shriver’s epistolary novel about Eva Katchadourian (Swinton), an erstwhile travel writer who settles down to motherhood despite her acute unease with the concept. Her pregnancy yields Kevin, the raven-haired baddest of bad seeds who reflects back to Eva every dark apprehension under which he was conceived. When, as a teenager (played by a smoldering Ezra Miller), he commits an unthinkable crime, Eva is left to face the consequences alone as the community’s most notorious pariah. Swinton and I caught up yesterday in NY City, a day after the actress-producer-artist presented the Gotham Awards’ Best Feature prize and at the start of another week of appearances geared to stir much-needed (and much-deserved) word of mouth about We Need to Talk About Kevin. (The film opens Dec. 9 in limited release and will roll out nationally through the winter.) How were the Gothams last night? They were a blur, but they were fun. They were great. I’d never been before. Really? First time! It’s funny, because to announce something like a tie between The Tree of Life and Beginners, were you thinking, “These are indies?” Or is “indie film” just a matter of semantics now? It all gets lost in translation. I have no idea what “indie” means now. I certainly don’t know what it means here. I really don’t. It means something different every decade, I think. There was a time when it didn’t have a capital “I,” and now it does. Now it has award shows. It has studio backing a lot of the time. So I myself am bemused, but I’m a little bit of a Rip Van Winkle when it comes to “indie.” The roots of it were different anyway in Europe than in America. So I really don’t know. As the co-producer of We Need to Talk About Kevin, would you call this an indie? Well, you could say that’s it’s not an indie because it received money from BBC Films. But then you could also say it’s an indie because the hard core of the people who made it worked on it unpaid for several years. It didn’t have development finance. You could say that that qualifies a film as independent. I mean, we all wish we were Stanley Kubrick, working on something for over a decade, funded by Warner Bros. I would love that. But when you’re working on a film like I Am Love for a dozen years on a song and a prayer, that feels really indie. A lot of the time it feels like you’re pissing in the wind. It depends on your distribution as well — how your film is actually seen. The first American independent film I made — with David Siegel and Scott McGehee — interestingly enough, I remember after it was released someone came up to me and asked, “Is this the first Hollywood movie you’ve ever made?” And that was a credit-card funded movie — entirely independently put together. But the fact that it was picked up by Fox Searchlight and given a really nice release gave it a different kind of patina. So your independence is a color that can either be thrown out of you, or it can be thrown on you by a gel and a light. I talk to more and more actors who go into producing who seem to actually resent discussing that side of the job — as if it compromises the art. What’s your relationship with it? To be honest with you, that’s the territory of the bulk of the last 25 years of my life. I’ve spent much more time putting projects together with filmmakers than performing. Performing and actually shooting is just a thumbnail compared to the whole body of what production is. So no — I have no sense of resentment at all. In fact, I think that’s the science of it. Honestly, that’s the bit of it I’m particularly interested in. I’m more interested in it. A few weeks ago, I was at a guild screening of Kevin where you spoke about having finally made Julia, I Am Love and We Need to Talk About Kevin after collective years of struggle. And you compared that having a farm that you were watching grow for a while, and when you harvested it, that’d be it for a while. We’ve had the harvest. It’s grown! Now it’s time to maybe sow something else. But the field is fallow. It sounded like you were planning a break. How long a break are we talking about — if it happens? A break from what, is the question. I hope there will be a break from going out in public. [Laughs] And hopefully a break from talking for a while. But there are other seeds being planted now; it just depends how long they take to come up. They might take as little as two years, or they might take as much as 10. Don’t know. But people do — pardon the pun — need to talk about Kevin. There is lot to discuss here. It’s helpful if they see it first! But it’s all good. Starting at Cannes and moving forward to today, having heard the conversations about it yet being as close to it as you’ve been over the years, how has that chatter affected your own perception of the film — if at all? This is not a new conception, because it’s in many ways what we set out to do — it’s a relief that I notice this. But sometimes you have an intention — the best one in the world — but the film is a beast of its own, and it ends up doing something different. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; very often it can be better than you intended. But in this case, I really feel that the film is about and was intended to be about a person’s mind. That’s what it’s about — a human consciousness. It’s about memory, it’s about guilt, it’s about isolation and fantasy. It’s much more about that than it is about any of the events that we see or are referred to. It’s partly about the psyche she shares with Kevin, right? Who knows how much of it is what we call “true”? It could all really be a hallucination. The last few times I’ve seen it, I viewed it through that prism. That’s really useful — that’s a really good ride. I recommend that trip. If you go to the film expecting social commentary or expecting some kind of thriller that relies in a kind of reliable territory, then you might be disappointed. You might be unsatisfied. It’s not a conventional enough film to satisfy the tropes of a genre. It’s not a genre film at all. I think it’s truly radical in that sense. If you go expecting to do that “thing” — cinema being the great empathy machine that it is — to just go into somebody else shoes and wallow in their experience and limit yourself to that, to relax into that, then I think that’s the most valuable thing the film can offer. It’s also about the American psyche — something that you and Lynne had to approach as outsiders. How did that go? We had a discussion about that. When we were putting the film together, there was a moment when, money being what it is… Money tends to bring its own color with it sometimes, its national color or a kind of agenda, and there was a moment when — because the film is largely funded by British money — there was a question about whether it really need to be shot in America, or whether it even needed to be an American story. It was very quick business for us — the central core of Lynne, Rory and me — to know that it had to be. And that in itself begs the question of why? I’m not really clear on why, apart from the fact that — having said that it’s not social commentary — it is about a kind of atmosphere. And while the atmosphere it evokes isn’t exclusively about America — I mean, let’s face it: America is incredibly good at exporting its cultural atmosphere to most the rest of the world — there was something simpler about placing it where it was set in NY. It felt clean. And because we were dealing with sort-of clean elements, because our budget was what it was, and we had to pare it down into this Greek tragedy of a few protagonists and a chorus of kids outside a high school and no other society. You never go into the school. You never see any life with friends. You don’t get any back story of Franklin’s family or Eva’s family, which you do in the book. Because we were so pared down, we needed to be that straight-up.

Comedian Patrice O'Neal Dies at 41

Patrice O'Neal Comedian Patrice O'Neal has died after getting experienced a stroke lately. He was 41.The Opie and Anthony Show, where O'Neal will be a frequent guest, introduced what is the news Tuesday on Twitter. "You heard that right our friend Patrice O'Neal has died. Easily easily the funniest and greatest thinker i've come across PERIOD."Start to see the stars we lost this yearA Boston native, O'Neal made his Def Jam Comedy debut in 2007. He's had special deals on Showtime, Cinemax, Comedy Central, will be a regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and situated VH1's Web Junk 2.. In 2006, he grew to become part of Opie and Anthony's Traveling Virus Comedy Tour, playing in outdoors arenas nationwide.O'Neal happen to be an Opie and Anthony regular since 2002 in addition to situated their very own relationship advice online online show on XM radio in 2006. Becoming an actor, O'Neal came out on Arrested Development, Work, too as with the movies 25th Hour and Mind of Condition. O'Neal made his last TV performance within the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen in September. Watch his appearance: Roast of Charlie Sheen

Lawyers For Jackson Physician Request Probation

First Launched: November 23, 2011 7:21 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Dr. Conrad Murray reaches the Airport terminal terminal Courthouse for his arraignment, La, February 8, 2010LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Lawyers for Michael Jacksons physician have asked for he receive probation for his involuntary wrongful dying conviction, while prosecutors have advised a sentence of four years jail time. In the sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday just before sentencing Tuesday, da David Walgren mentioned Dr. Conrad Murray has proven no remorse for Jacksons dying and contains placed blame on others. He asked for that Murray be bought to cover restitution to Jacksons children. Defense attorney Nareg Gourjian, stating letters of praise from Murrays former patients, mentioned the doctor is serving a very long time sentence of self-punishment and asked for probation and community service inside the medical area. The Two recommendations were filed with Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor. Murray was billed November. 7 carrying out a six-week trial. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Netflix Ex-CFO Works best for Venture Firm Involved with Company's Debt Deal

NY - Former Netflix CFO Craig McCarthy, who left the organization in December, captured became a member of investment capital firm Technology Crossover Endeavors like a venture partner. TCV is the organization that Netflix late Monday introduced had decided to buy $200 million in convertible debt in the streaming video provider. Barclays Capital analyst Anthony DiClemente stated the bond inside a research set of Tuesday. "We feel TCV's unique perspective on Netflix and readiness to invest in its lengthy-term growth might be construed as an optimistic," he authored. In announcing adding McCarthy along with a former IAC executive on April 4, TCV outlined that Netflix was among its portfolio companies. It outlined the professionals' "deep management and operational experience, together with extensive network." McCarthy had became a member of Netflix in 1999 after investing six years at Music Choice. Younger crowd used to dedicate yourself Credit Suisse. His departure came as experts stated McCarthy had lengthy considered departing to defend myself against a brand new challenge. TCV, founded in 1995, has $7.7 billion in capital under management. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Netflix

Music Label Sues Demanding '50/50' Distributors Change Title

Chris Helcermanas-Benge/Summit Entertainment A Florida-based music and fashion label is suing Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment, and Mandate Pictures for infringing its trademark on the title of the film, 50/50, starringJoseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen.our editor recommends'50/50's' Seth Rogen Weds in Sonoma'50/50': What Moviegoers Are Saying About the Cancer Comedy'50/50's' Seth Rogen Reveals 'Most Challenging' Part of Filming (Video)'50/50': How Joseph Gordon-Levitt Signed on Cancer Comedy at Eleventh Hour (Video) Eastland Music Group filed the federal lawsuit on Thursday in Illinois and says it has been using the 50/50 mark since 2000 in connection with entertainment services and products. As evidence, the plaintiff points to its website,phifty-50.com, which currently has a sign post on its front page adorned with "50/50." A screenshot from five years ago, however, suggests that the sign may have been changed at some point. In 2006, for example, the sign post read, "Phifty 50." Nevertheless, Eastland says it has a trademark on "Phifty-50" and a common law trademark on "50/50," meaning that the latter was never formally registered but potentially still recognized as intellectual property if it was used continuously during that time. The company says it puts out CDs and DVDs and alleges that Lionsgate's plans to release the film on DVD threatens to harm the recognition and goodwill its marks have earned in the marketplace. Eastland notes that it sent a request to Lionsgate to stop using the 50/50 mark in September. The 50/50 film was released later that month by Summit, and the comedy about a man trying to beat his cancer diagnosis earned excellent reviews. The movie has so far grossed nearly $34 million at the box office and is considered a long-shot sleeper for an Oscar nomination. But the title is allegedly causing consumer confusion, so Eastland is demanding a permanent injunction against use of the title, the destruction of all products where "50-50" is affixed, and an award of all of the film's sales and revenues as a result of the alleged infringement. The defendants haven't yet responded to requests for comment. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner Joseph Gordon-Levitt Seth Rogen 50/50

Custom Bellflower Medusa Car Can Be Yours to Drive Around the Apocalypse For Just $250,000

After you watch the horrific repercussions of Twilight’s sweet, placenta-chomping vampire romance this weekend, check out the indie drama Bellflower, one of the year’s more vivid and gut-wrenching examinations of the more painful side of love. You think delivering a monster baby is stressful, Bella Swan? Just see what happens to poor Woodrow (writer-director Evan Glodell) in the aftermath of puppy love. At least he’s got the kick-ass, flame-throwing, apocalypse-ready Medusa car to ride around in… which can be yours, Bellflower fans, for just a few (thousand — OK, many thousands of) bucks! I raved about Bellflower earlier this year, but since it only opened in limited release opportunities to see it were scarce. The micro-budgeted flick is available as of this week on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD, so no more excuses! Okay, the real reason I’m posting this: Over at the official website of Coatwolf Productions, the Bellflower crew’s got a special item for sale. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR VERY OWN MEDUSA CAR. WHICH SHOOTS FLAMES AND IS GENERALLY THE MOST BADASS CAR IMAGINABLE. And only for $250,000! (Someone buy this for me, yes? Heck, with that much money the Bellflower crew could make over a dozen more Bellflowers!) As described by Glodell: If you give us $250,000 — Myself, Paul Edwardson and the entire Coatwolf team will drop whatever we are doing for a month and go crazy building you a badass post-apocalyptic, fire breathing, battle ready Medusa Car. We will even cover the legal fees to make sure we can deliver it to you without getting arrested. Glodell, whose Bellflower getup made for an amazing if obscure movie-referencing costume this past Halloween, also posted a new alternate trailer for the film, shot this past summer, which beautifully encapsulates what the movie’s about. Watch it below and look for Bellflower on home vid this weekend, if you’re in the mood for an incredibly visceral (and gorgeously-shot, on a shoestring budget) few hours that’ll cut your heart all the way open — in the best possible way, of course. [Coatwolf Productions]

Myths of 'Christmas'

Mariska Hargitay with son August Bill Nighy and helmer Sarah Smith Though the calendar says mid-November, there was plenty of yuletide cheer at Sunday's Gotham preem of Sony's "Arthur Christmas." Screening and post-party, held at Clearview Chelsea, drew numerous thesps and their tots."Kids start to ask, 'How does Santa get to everyone's house?' and this movie is so great because it answers that question," said Mariska Hargitay, with 5-year-old son August, who is still "completely in the magic, which is so beautiful. We'd like to keep it that way."Patrick Wilson, who accompanied his 5-year-old son, Kalin, to the afternoon bash, also hopes to keep any questions at bay for some time. "He's still blissfully in the stage of excitement about Santa, and there's not a shred of doubt," he quipped.Bill Nighy raved about giving voice to a long-retired Santa. "The great thing about animation is you get to play parts you wouldn't be able to pull off otherwise," he said. "I'm not quite 136 years old. I still have teeth and hair." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Being Flynn' Trailer: Robert P Niro Heads to 'Suck City'

Bashing Robert P Niro's recent selection of roles is a little performed out at this time, however the actor has been doing his defenders no favors by starring in films like 'Killer Elite' and 'New Year's Eve.' However, is the times of 'Fockers'-related insults be over? When the first trailer for 'Being Flynn' is any suggestion, then ... maybe! The brand new film from director Paul Weitz stars P Niro because the estranged father of the youthful author (Paul Dano) who incurs his father at various destitute animal shelters around Boston. In the event that been there as well, but 'Being Flynn' does not, possibly you don't forget this project from the original title: 'Another Bullshit Evening in Suck City.' In line with the memoir by Nick Flynn (the role Dano plays), 'Being Flynn' has been around development since 2007 when Fox acquired the film privileges. Directed by Paul Weitz -- an Oscar nominee for the best Modified Script for 'About a Boy,' along with the guy who directed P Niro in 'Little Fockers' -- 'Being Flynn' is scheduled hitting theaters early in the year. Could Weitz -- the guy who helmed among P Niro's low points -- assist the two-time Oscar champion go back to glory? Watch below and select on your own. 'Being Flynn' will hit theaters in Spring 2012. Mind on to Apple to look into the HD trailer. [via Apple] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Chelsea Clinton Joins NBC News as Special Correspondent

NY - NBC News has hired Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former Leader Bill Clinton and Secretary of Condition Hillary Clinton, like a full-time special correspondent for NBC News. The organization stated Monday that Clinton, who had been also lately named towards the board of Craig Diller's IAC, works with Rock Center with John Williams and NBC Nightly News to focus on tales inside the "Creating a Difference" franchise, which has a tendency to profile organizations the ones doing remarkable things. Jenna Rose bush Hager, daughter of former Leader George W. Rose bush, already works like a correspondent for NBC's Today show. And Meghan McCain, daughter of former presidential candidate John McCain, is really a contributor on MSNBC. ABC News was roundly belittled for employing George Stephanopoulos once the former Clinton consultant left the Whitened House in the finish of Clinton's first term. However in its pr release announcing adding Clinton, NBC News stressed that they won't be a conventional news correspondent, but instead concentrate on positive pieces highlighting people doing good works. "Chelsea is really a amazing lady who definitely are an excellent addition to NBC News," stated NBC News leader Steve Capus. "Given her huge encounters, it's as if Chelsea continues to be planning with this chance her entire existence. We're proud she'll be getting her considerable, unique talents and dedication to NBC News." Stated John Williams, anchor and controlling editor of Nightly News and Rock Center:"Chelsea Clinton has brought a amazing existence. She offers an infrequent knowledge of humanity - on city roads, across america and round the globe." Stated Clinton: "I really hope telling tales through "Creating a Difference" - as with my academic work and non-profit work - can help me to reside my grandmother's adage of 'Life isn't by what transpires with you, but by what you need to do using what transpires with you'." Capus told the NY Occasions that the intermediary approached him in This summer with word that Clinton "was kicking around what she desired to do next." One individual near to Clinton told the Occasions that they planned to give the money she gained from NBC towards the Clinton Foundation and also the George Washington College Hospital within the title of her grandmother who died this month. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Craig Diller John Williams NBC IAC

Magoproduction, RAI team for 'Squirrels'

BARCELONA -- Toon and docus production house Magoproduction is joining with Italian pubcaster RAI to produce animated series "The Flying Squirrels." Allotted at 2.5 million ($3.4 million), "Squirrels" may also be backed by Catalan pubcaster TV3, Colombia's Jaguar and Andorra Television. RAI holds all distribution rights for Italia. The 3 dimensional toon series, that's made up of 26 13-minute episodes, triggers five pals, descendants of pirates, who chance a mission for just about any miracle chest that may make each of their wishes be realized. To be successful, they are going to need to outlive the potential risks from the underworld beneath Dragon City. Concentrating on 11-14 year olds, the series was short-listed for October's Mip Junior Kids' Jury Prize. It'll be ready for delivery late 2012. Magoproduction has furthermore folded out sales on "Dr. W," a short toon format of a surgeon working beneath the nickname of Dr. W around the kids' Tv series. Arte has acquired "Dr. W" for Germany and France, RTP for Portugal, YLE for Finland and Canal Encuentro for Argentina. Barcelona-based, Magoproduction will close co-production with Latin America around the second "Dr. W" season, its creative director, Muyi Neira, told Variety. Peter Keydel founded Magoproduction in 2004. Neira grew to become an associate of in 2007. "You need to make B series super productions," Neira joked. We shouldn't suffer pressure of huge budgets, although all of us do goal to endow a TV product with film feel and artistic vision." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

New 'Hunger Games' Trailer to Debut on Good Morning America

'Hunger Games' fans will want to call-in sick and/or stay home from school on Monday, Nov. 14. That's because Lionsgate has announced an exclusive partnership with the ABC show 'Good Morning America' to debut the brand-new trailer for 'The Hunger Games.' The premiere will not only happen on televisions around the country in the 8 a.m. hour of the program, but also on the Jumbotron in Times Square. (NY City: the new Capital? Discuss.) Josh Hutcherson (your friendly neighborhood Peeta) will be on hand to introduce the new footage, which should be mind-blowing. After all, thus far, the only glimpse of 'The Hunger Games' has been that brief teaser trailer released in the summer. Check back to Moviefone for more on Monday. [via PR Newswire] [Photo: Lionsgate] 'The Hunger Games' Character Posters See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Exclusive: Ringer Casts Supernatural's Misha Collins

Misha Collins Supernatural's Misha Collins is set to appear in an upcoming episode of Ringer, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively. Collins, best-known for playing Castiel on The CW series, will play Dylan, someone from Bridget and Siobhan (Sarah Michelle Gellar)'s past when they were in Tahoe. Dylan was part of the reason there was a wedge driven between the sisters. Exclusive Ringer Scoop: Gregory Harrison cast as Gemma's father The 37-year-old actor, whose credits also include Nip/Tuck, ER and 24, will first appear in Episode 14. Ringer airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

Jonah Hill was Offered a Part in Tarantino's Django Unchained, But...

Looks like Jonah Hill won’t be joining Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kurt Russell, Kerry Washington, Anthony LaPaglia, RZA and Don Johnson in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, even though he was offered a part. Hill revealed why he had to turn down the role with thundering poetic regret: “I got offered the new Quentin Tarantino movie, and I can’t do it because of my schedule… Doing Quentin’s movie would have obviously been amazing, but my schedule didn’t work out, which sucks.” Djonah Unavailable, more like! [MTV via /Film]

King Curling (Kong Curling)

A Euforia Film relieve a 4 1/2 Film presentation. (Worldwide sales: NonStop Sales, Stockholm.) Produced by Hakon Overas. Executive producer, Lars Andreas Hellebust. Directed by Ole Endresen. Script, Endresen, Atle Antonsen.With: Atle Antonsen, Linn Skaber, Ane Dahl Torp, Kare Conradi, Jon Oigarden, Steinar Sagen, Jan Saelid, Anne Marit Jacobsen, Ingar Helge Gimle, Magnus Devold, Else Kass Furuseth, Harald Eia, Bard Tufte Johansen. (Norwegian, British dialogue)Doing for your ice-rink-based sport of curling what "Kingpin" did for bowling or "Dodgeball" did for ... er, dodgeball, raucous Norwegian laffer "King Curling" reps a amusing undertake the mock-heroic sporting-underdog genre. Pic throws a spotlight mainly on massive local comedy star Atle Antonsen, who co-written and stars just like a champion who must overcome odds to win an essential match, but co-author-helmer Ole Endresen guarantees the comfort of his skilled cast all obtain the chance to achieve laughs. Produced using professional polish, pic is funny enough, during translation, to go to beyond Norwegian, where it's setup high B.O. amounts. Early action is positioned about 10 years ago, even though combination of seventies and eighties styles and soundtrack options confuse the issue somewhat. Oslo native Truls Paulsen (Antonsen) might be the obsessively competitive captain of Norway's top curling team, a task that (for people who is probably not of Scottish, Canadian or Scandinavian extraction) seems just like a mix between bowling and darts. Truls' team includes ladies' guy Marcus (Jon Oigarden), inflammed Espen (Jan Saelid) and workhorse Flemming (Steinar Sagen), along with Truls' long-term mentor, Gordon (Ingar Helge Gimle), since the team coach, and Truls' wife, Sigrid (Linn Skaber), since the team's one-lady entourage. Sadly, due to obsessive-compulsive habits, Truls totally handles to get rid of it within a match against afro-sporting archrival Stefan Ravndal (Kare Conradi) and also the team, and finally eventually ends up trading 10 years in the mental hospital drugged around his eyeballs. When he's finally released into Sigrid's care, he struggles to reintegrate into society, especially since he's under strict orders not to even consider curling again. However, if he learns that Gordon is dying in the hospital and merely an pricey lung transplant will save you him, Truls decides to reform they for starters last, lucrative match. Script absolutely changes for the traditional loser-to-champion story template, but as being a sonnet or possibly a 3-minute pop song, structural originality is not the reason it's all regulated controlled inside the particulars, the running gags as well as the timing. Pic deftly weaves in subplots together with additional factors -- Espen's frustrations getting a loud milkman, a support group comprised of loonies, some misadventures with bird-audiences -- that stimulate Antonsen and Endresen's roots in TV sketch comedy, similar to the stylishly staged bouts of slapstick, just like a one-take monitoring shot of Truls leading to havoc in the hospital corridor. Otherwise, the humor relies mainly on bathetic campiness, the figures intoning sentiments with greatly serious gravitas in regards to the naturally silly-searching sport they worship. Consequently, handful of in the lines are funny on paper it's the way a thesps deliver these with such intensely straight faces that puts the material across. The ensemble is also excellent Antonsen, strapping but perfectly regular to check out, can be a standout, along with Skaber, both perky and menacing as his frustrated, slightly demented spouse. Production design and costumes deploy the palette of hot pastels and lurid colors needed to stimulate the very best quantity of Nordic kitsch. Lensing by Askild Vik Edvardsen utilizes widescreen framework to full comic effect, while editing by Per Erik Eriksen keeps things ticking fantastically.Camera (color, widescreen), Askild Vik Edvardsen editor, Per Erik Eriksen music, Stein Johan Grieg Halvorsen, Eyvind Andreas Skeie music managers, Henrik Hawor, Johan Husvik production designer, Merete Bostrom costume designer, Camilla Lindblom appear (Dolby Digital), Kenneth Gustavsen appear designer, Baard Haugan Ingebretsen supervisory appear editor, Baard H. Ingebretsen re-recording mixer, Petter Fladeby visual effects supervisor, Oystein Larsen stunt coordinator, Kristoffer Jorgensen line producer, Orjan Karlsen assistant director, Tonje S. Rolland casting, Andrea Eckerbom. Examined at London Film Festival (Cinema Europa), March. 22, 2011. Running time: 78 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Miley Cyrus Booked Into Hotel Transylvania

EXCLUSIVE: Image Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Lovely Molly, the thriller directed by Blair Witch Project co-director Eduardo Sanchez. The deal is high six figures and the plan is to release theatrically next spring. Lovely Molly made its debut in the Midnight Madness section of the 2011 Toronto Film Festival. Newcomer Gretchen Lodge plays the title character, a newlywed who returns to her long abandoned family home and is his with scary reminders of her nightmarish childhood that quickly color her new life. She descends into an evil that is part psychosis and another part obsession. Haxan Films’ Robin Cowie and Gregg Hale produced with Amber Entertainment’s Jane Fleming and Mark Ordesky. The deal comes as Content Film sells international territories at AFM. Image acquisitions vice president Mark Ward called the film “a return and evolution to the genre that [Eduardo] created” with Blair Witch. “We look forward to partnering with Haxan and Amber to maximize the truly robust transmedia marketing campaign they’ve put together to make the film a huge success.” It’s the second significant AFM-timed deal for Image, which on Friday launched a distribution relationship with Alamo Drafthouse. “Image’s entrepreneurial thinking and robust infrastructure give us the perfect platform to bring our film to the widest audience possible,” said the producers. The deal was brokered by WME Global’s Graham Taylor and BHDRL’s Stuart Rosenthal. Here is the trailer:

Sinclair buys Freedom stations for $385 mil

The price is right for Sinclair Broadcast Group to get back into station acquisition mode. The company on Wednesday unveiled a deal to buy eight mid-sized market TV stations from Irvine-based Freedom Communications for $385 million. Sinclair's pact with Freedom comes on the heels of its $200 million deal inked last month to buy seven stations from Four Points Media, an affiliate of private equity giant Cerberus Capital Management. The Freedom and Four Points acquisitions were attractive to Sinclair because the station were available at a relatively low price and they will boost the company's market share by giving it multiple stations in markets including West Palm Beach, Fla., and Albany, N.Y., according to Sinclair chief financial officer David Amy. Although local stations in small- and mid-sized markets have been through a rough few years amid broader economic turmoil, Sinclair remains bullish on broadcast -- as to be expected from one of the nation's largest station owners. Amy said the additions of the Freedom and Four Points stations would drive 40% growth in the company's free cash flow. Sinclair is known for its skill at squeezing top profit margins out of its stations, especially in markets where it owns more than one. Baltimore-based Sinclair stayed mostly on the sidelines about five years ago when private equity players like Cerberus began snapping up TV stations at much higher multiples than Sinclair is paying now. "It didn't make sense for us to go out and compete against the private equity guys. We said at the time, 'Wait five years, you'll see us acquiring again.' " Freedom's sale of its broadcast properties had been expected after the company completed its bankruptcy reorg last year. Freedom owns 27 daily newspapers, including the Orange County Register, among other print and digital publications. The other Freedom markets are Chattanooga, Tenn., Medford, Ore., Beaumont, Texas and Grand Rapids and Lansing, Mich. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com