Variety articles from October 2005

Variety archives from October 2005

Burning Bush: right-wing gabbers energized by White House meltdown.(talkradio ratings are up )
October 31, 2005... The Bush administration is having a meltdown--and the political media, both right and left, are having a field day. Each new government misstep energizes the pundits. Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court--and her Oct. 26...

The smear hunter.(ANALYSIS)(Bill O'Reilly casts himself as a victim)
October 31, 2005... Back when he introduced his Fox News Channel program, Bill O'Reilly waged a charm offensive to woo reporters. Today, the lanky host claims he's shunning the print press, while presenting himself in a new if miscast role--that of a victim. ...

Sony seeing red.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(Sony Pictures has posted a third-quarter $59 million operating loss )(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Sony Pictures has posted a third-quarter $59 million operating loss with a 17% drop in revenue to $1.4 billion, thanks to weak perfs by pics such as "Stealth" as well as woes in its electronics biz. Loss knocked Sony Corp.'s net profit down...

Disney not taking disc risks.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(signs on to use Cinea's DVD technology)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... A year after Cinea's aborted attempt to solve award-season piracy, Disney has signed on as the first studio to use the Dolby-owned company's DVD technology for its screeners.

Warner overhauls homevid group.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Warner Bros. Entertainment has become the first studio to combine its home entertainment, Internet, wireless, games and other digital operations into one group, to be headed by Kevin Tsujihara. Vid exec Ron Sanders replaces Jim Cardwell as...

Board under review.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(ex-National Board of Review members file complaint )(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... A cadre of ex-National Board of Review members has filed a complaint with New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, claiming the group improperly used proxy votes to oust board members and accusing prexy Annie Schulhof of having a...

Weinsteins flash cash.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(Weinstein Co. has raised $490 million in private equity )(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... The Weinstein Co. has raised $490 million in private equity from investors including TF1, Quinta Communications and Goldman Sachs. Company also is in final negotiations with former Miramax exec Barbara Schneeweiss to develop a TV slate.

Ball in HBO's court.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(Alan Ball to develop series based on "Southern Vampire")(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Alan Ball has struck an exclusive two-year overall deal with HBO. Pact calls for the "Six Feet Under" creator-exec producer to develop series for the paybox; first up is a drama based on Charlaine Harris' bestselling "Southern Vampire" series.

Peacock pilot for 'Invisible' men.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(NBC and Jerry Bruckheimer TV to produce medical drama)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Jerry Bruckheimer is teaming with "Seabiscuit" scribe-helmer Gary Ross for a one-hour medical drama, to be titled "Invisible." NBC has made a pilot commitment to the project, which Jerry Bruckheimer TV will produce under its overall deal at...

Bitter pill for shareholders.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(News Corp. shareholders withheld about 15% of their votes for a slate of directors)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Disgruntled News Corp. shareholders withheld about 15% of their votes for a slate of directors, claiming chairman Rupert Murdoch broke a promise to put his "poison pill" provision--enacted to prevent a hostile takeover by John Malone--to a...

Sun shines on Grode.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(Eric Grode has been named theater critic for the New York Sun)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Eric Grode has been named theater critic for the New York Sun. He previously wrote the "Stage to Screen" column for Playbill.com and also has written for American Theater, the New York Times and the Sondheim Review.

O'Hara game for 'Pajama'.(In the News: A LOOK AT THE WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT)(Kelli O'Hara to star in "The Pajama Game")(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara will star opposite Harry Connick Jr in Roundabout's Kathleen Marshall-directed revival of "The Pajama Game," set to begin performances Jan. 19.

Pellicano: friction blurs with fiction.(The Back Lot)(Anthony Pellicano novel)
October 31, 2005... Memo to: Anthony Pellicano From: Peter Bart re: your novel insights I understand you've finished a draft of your new novel, Anthony, and that it reads pretty well. I'm glad you're using your time in the slammer to good advantage...

It's a jungle out there: wow factor busting the budget on f/x pics like 'Kong'.(Smoke & Mirrors: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BIZ'S DEALS, DECISIONS AND DIVERSIONS)
October 31, 2005... Hollywood studio execs have long blamed stars like Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts for ballooning film budgets. But those salaries seem like a bargain compared to the cost of special f/x. Last week, Universal acknowledged that "King...

Radio revamps from stem to Stern.(VOICEOVER)(Howard Stern show moves to Sirius Satellite Radio)
October 31, 2005... SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO IS placing a $100 million a year bet on the notion that the sophomoric humor and outrageous antics of Howard Stern will play in pay; his former boss, Infinity Broadcast, is banking on a batch of relatively unknown...

Lion back in the hunt.(Smoke & Mirrors: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BIZ'S DEALS, DECISIONS AND DIVERSIONS)(Harry Sloan appointed MGM chair)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Could the Lion roar again? Six months after Sony and partners snapped up MGM, it's got a savvy new chief who wants to make movies (MGM-owned) and take the studio to another level. The appointment of entrepreneur Harry Sloan as MGM...

A standup kind of guy.(Smoke & Mirrors: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BIZ'S DEALS, DECISIONS AND DIVERSIONS)(Carl Icahn part of NYC Comedy Festival)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... Who knew? Seems billionaire corporate raider Carl Icahn's next favorite pastime (after needling big companies) is... standup comedy. "You learn in this business: If you want a friend, get a dog," he says in a promo for Funny Business, a...

Thesps act up against AFTRA.(SMOKE & MIRRORS)(Screen Actors Guild)
October 31, 2005... After sacking CEO Greg Hessinger, what'll SAG do for an encore? Prexy Alan Rosenberg says the ouster of Hessinger and three execs on Oct. 23 simply reflects SAG members wanting the guild to be more aggressive with employers. But...

News blues haunt execs at Big Three.(SMOKE & MIRRORS)(news divisions all have problems)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... The title sounds great, but president of one of the Big Three news divisions is one of the most thankless--and perilous--jobs in media. So when Leslie Moonves showed Andrew Heyward the door last week, most considered it less remarkable...

Gaul wall won't stall H'wood anytime soon.(SMOKE & MIRRORS)(148 countries voted in favor of a UNESCO convention to protect cultural diversity)
October 31, 2005... PARIS Hollywood movies took in $9.2 billion in overseas ticket sales last year, a bumper 80% hike in less than a decade. And that's something the rest of the world appreciates less and less. With some pics garnering up to 70% of...

Will pics play in handheld world?(GUEST COLUMN)(Column)
October 31, 2005... Confronting audience erosion, changes in exhibition technology and the need to safeguard its creative works, the film business is at a crossroads. MPAA chairman-CEO Dan Glickman writes below of the challenges and possibilities this evolution...

Iran strikes up the ban vs. foreign pix.(SMOKE & MIRRORS)(bans all foreign films with "secular, feminist, liberal or nihilist ideas" )
October 31, 2005... Iran's hardline Islamic regime has banned all foreign films deemed to promote "secular, feminist, liberal or nihilist ideas." Announcement last week by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, the watchdog org headed by new President...

Plexes vexed by falling teen spirit: specialty pix find older auds' favor.(Film)
October 31, 2005... Are the megaplexes turning gray? As studios sift through the market research on this summer's box office, a consensus is growing that young people--particularly young guys--are getting harder to herd into megaplexes. But even as the...

Whole lotta churnin' goin' on.(FILM)(studio deals)
October 31, 2005... The production landscape has undergone major shifts in the last six months, with Disney and the Weinsteins parting ways, Sony formally absorbing MGM/UA and a new regime revamping Paramount. The number of studio deals is up slightly, from...

Facts on pacts.(FILM)(studio deals)
October 31, 2005... Subside companies are in blue New deals are in red Disney# Julie Andrews Beacon (Armyan Bernstein) Boxing Cal (Tim Allen) Jerry Bruckheimer FP Ventures (Joe Farrell, Catherine Paura) Frontier (Ed Decter,...

Kids, doc events hot in Holland.(FILM)(Cinekid)(Intl. Documentary Festival Amsterdam )(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... AMSTERDAM Tiny Holland is something of a Mecca for film fests. While the prestigious Rotterdam event unspools in January, October and November are devoted to kidpics and docs, respectively. Amsterdam's Cinekid, believed to be the largest...

Box office report.(FILM)(Illustration)
October 31, 2005... BOX OFFICE REPORT Visit Variety.com/boxoffice for a searchable, sortable and international B.O. archive Reported Percent Box Office ...

Claymation duo hits $108 million worldwide.(FILM/INTERNATIONAL)("Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit")(Illustration)
October 31, 2005... UIP's "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" continued its reign at the world B.O. over the Oct. 21-23 frame, playing particularly well in its own backyard, the U.K. Other good showings for the Aardman toon came from Germany,...

Teutons tout local titles: Germany hopes for more homegrown hits.(FILM/INTERNATIONAL)
October 31, 2005... BERLIN Hollywood films may have suffered a serious flogging at the German box office this year, but Teutonic viewers have turned out in droves for local productions, and it looks like the trend will continue next year. Constantin...

Crix' picks.(FILM)(Illustration)
October 31, 2005... CRIX' PICKS NEW YORK Dreamer: North Inspired by a Country True Story Studio DreamWorks WB Release date Oct....

Spain's art labels rebound.(FILM/INTERNATIONAL)
October 31, 2005... MADRID After a tough decade, Spain's specialty market is coming back. The surest sign is a new generation of distribs, some of which will be bringing shopping carts to the AFM. Four micro-pic shingles recently bowed: Jose Luis Fernandez...

Brits view Czech shoot possibilities.(FILM/INTERNATIONAL)(British film industry checks out Barrandov Studios)
October 31, 2005... While discreetly avoiding any mention of Bond shooting in the Czech Republic (among other locales), the first high-level British film industry mission to Prague wrapped up its visit last week, apparently satisfied there's no cause for...

New wave of Euro pix avoids Europudding curse.(FILM/INTERNATIONAL)
October 31, 2005... BERLIN They're giving "Europudding" films a bad name. Several promising European co-productions about authentic multinational, multilanguage stories such as "Merry Christmas," "Black Book" and "One Day in Europe" are dispelling many of...

Mikhalkov sets weighty slate.(FILM)(Nikita Mikhalkov's working plans )(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... M0SCOW Russian helmer Nikita Mikhalkov marked his 60th birthday in style Oct. 21 complete with a private visit--albeit one broadcast on national television--from the country's president, Vladimir Putin, to a family celebration gathering. ...

AUDS think locally at B.O.(BOX OFFICE NEWS[TM])(movies that scored in vicinity of film's setting)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 31, 2005... Docudrama "North Country" placed fifth in the nationwide B.O. results for the Oct. 21 sesh, but according to Nielsen EDI's overnight tracking, it led the field throughout Minnesota, where the film takes place. Down south, the local success of...

'Zorro' returns to action.(BOX OFFICE NEWS[TM])(average gaps between movie sequels)(Illustration)
October 31, 2005... White gruesome suspenser "Saw II's" Oct. 28 debut came exactly one year after the original pic's bow, fellow opener "The Legend of Zorro" arrived more than seven years after the launch of its swashbuckling predecessor. In recent years, the...

Reality bites for cable powerhouse: after two tough years, discovery shifts strategy under new topper Campbell.(TV)(Billy Campbell reorganizes Discovery Networks)
October 31, 2005... Discovery Networks has decided to rediscover its roots. In 20 years, the cabler grew from a single channel to a multibillion-dollar global enterprise, which includes 16 networks--owned by Liberty Media, Advance/Newhouse and Cox--in the...

FX between Iraq and hard place: 'Over There' winds down, too violent for some viewers, too apolitical for others.(TELEVISION)
October 31, 2005... FX tried its damnedest to avoid what it knew were the pitfalls facing "Over There," one of the riskiest TV series ever set in motion. Because "Over There" was dealing directly with the Iraq War--the first time a TV series had ever tackled an...

CNN spreads out in subcontinent.(TELEVISION)(will launch CNN-IBN in India)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... LONDON CNN is set to launch a 24-hour English-language channel in India in tandem with one of the subcontinent's TV journalists. CNN-IBN will be headed by former talkshow host Rajdeep Sardesai, via Indian business newsie TV18, which will...

Webs grapple with current events.(TELEVISION)(when TV reflects reality)
October 31, 2005... This year's rash of tragedies--man-made or the work of Mother Nature-- continues to keep network programmers on their toes. Events like hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the Pakistan earthquake and the London bombings forced webheads to...

All eyes on military crimeshow.(TELEVISION)("NCIS" takes off)
October 31, 2005... A crimeshow on CBS with military themes starring a fiftysomething actor has become a magnet for the aud that Madison Avenue pays a premium to reach. Although things change every January when Fox's "American Idol" rejoins the sked, the...

Nielsen ratings report.(TELEVISION)(week of Oct. 17-23)(Illustration)
October 31, 2005... NIELSEN RATINGS REPORT Oct. 17-23, 2005 A18-49 abc Monday 4.9/13 8:00 Wife Swap 29/9 8:30 (3.1/9) 3.4/10 9:00...

Sky beams up posh HQ: BSkyB takes on Beeb with news makeover.(TELEVISION/INTERNATIONAL)
October 31, 2005... LONDON In the U.S., News Corp.'s Fox News transformed TV news by pushing an opinionated, anti-liberal agenda. But it is another story across the Atlantic as Sky News--owned by the Murdoch-controlled paybox BSkyB--gears up to eclipse the...

Berlusconi fails to see humor in satire.(TELEVISION/INTERNATIONAL)(Silvio Berlusconi not amused by "RockPolitik")
October 31, 2005... ROME Italo song and satire show "RockPolitik" is rocking Italian TV. It's breaking rules, scoring stratospheric ratings, and has greatly peeved media mogul and conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, unwitting muse for the...

Indies meet rising prod'n demand: producers go on their own in Argentina.(TELEVISION/INTERNATIONAL)
October 31, 2005... BUENOS AIRES With domestic demand on the rise for local fiction and exports booming, a new wave of independent production companies and projects is hitting Argentina. Sebastian Ortega, behind hits like poor-turned-rich comedy "Los...

Russian lawyers' dream: battle over TV 'Space'.(TELEVISION/INTERNATIONAL)(Rossiya and Channel One dispute TV rights to "Dreaming of Space")(Brief Article)
October 31, 2005... MOSCOW Russian helmer Alexei Uchitel probably never dreamed his latest film would cause so many legal headaches. After "Dreaming of Space" won top honors at the Moscow Film Festival in June, he inked a deal with pubcaster Rossiya for a...

Asian cable confab plugs into tech issues.(TELEVISION/INTERNATIONAL)(Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Assn. of Asia (Casbaa) conference)
October 31, 2005... HONG KONG Last week's Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Assn. of Asia (Casbaa) confab tackled technology and piracy issues. Asia may be the land of cutting-edge pay-TV technology, but execs at the confab made it clear how widely rollout...

Campaign trail survival: vets of kudoscasts & fests offer advice to rookies.(Inside Awards Season)
October 31, 2005... Award season is a stressful Lime for filmmakers, actors and anyone else involved in the kudo campaign trail. Newbies make mistakes on the red carpet--often involving apparel choices--but even experienced hands goof up (again, apparel choices...

Razzle dazzle 'em: cutting-edge parties set the tone for pix as competition heats up.(INSIDE AWARDS SEASON)
October 31, 2005... During award season, generic parties just don't cut it with the sophisticated showbiz partygoer. And the corporate entities that underwrite industry events require a measurable return on investment. These factors make competition for...

Gift suite success: Backstage Creations blends stars and swag in burgeoning biz.(INSIDE AWARDS SEASON)
October 31, 2005... When Karen Wood coordinated talent for major award shows in the 1990s, she booked celebs an hour early just to make sure they'd be on time. Soon, stars were on to her tricks. So she wooed them with designer gifts. "At the time you...

Time management: kudos contenders learn to juggle events for maximum impact.(INSIDE AWARDS SEASON)
October 31, 2005... Juggling time is an art form during award season. Managing the full-court press of events related to a film's opening, combined with pre-Oscar publicity and promotion, can be a logistical nightmare. Overseeing this potential runaway train...

Careful plan helped 'Maria' nab worldwide noms.(QUICK STUDY)(Joshua Marston's "Maria Full of Grace")
October 31, 2005... A subtitled Spanish-language film starring an unknown Colombian actress directed by a little-known helmer-scribe with a July release would be a definite long shot for awards consideration in most years. Joshua Marston's "Maria Full of...

Fashion passion: stars maintain sartorial splendor with stylists and good humor.(INSIDE AWARDS SEASON)
October 31, 2005... Along with the joys of receiving accolades comes the downside of the awards season for actors and other artists: endless red carpet interviews, enormous pressure to dress up and harsh criticism if they don't pass sartorial muster. How's a...

Continental kudos: a field guide to Western Europe's top awards illustrate the impact of home-grown heroes.(INSIDE AWARDS SEASON)
October 31, 2005... BAFTAs Country: U.K. Award profile: The British Academy of Film & Television Arts gives award. David Lean, Alexander Korda, Carol Reed, Charles Laughton, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger launched awards in late 1940s under...

Kudos calendar.(awards nominations and ceremonies)(Calendar)
October 31, 2005... NOVEMBER 2005 sunday monday tuesday ASC announcement of Presidents Award recipient ...

A bit of post-Oscar R&R.(INSIDE AWARD SEASON)
October 31, 2005... You've done your award campaigning. You've answered your last question. You've shoehorned your feet into your last pair of strappy Manolos. So where do the showbiz elite go to recover? At 3 a.m. Oscar night, Hilary Swank was famously...

New friends in the west: region opens up fest to global perspective.(Turkish cinema)(Eurasia Intl. Film Festival)
October 31, 2005... ISTANBUL The riches of Antalya were used to seduce the Western guests of the first Eurasia Intl. Film Festival, and organizers have big plans for the future. The first edition ended with an audience of over 15,000 packing the...

Gov't production coin comes with conditions.(Turkish Cinema)
October 31, 2005... ISTANBUL The good news is that the Turkish film industry recently got some long-awaited government coin. The bad news is that it's hard to get, according to some critics of the new plan. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in March...

Cross-border entry.(TURKISH CINEMA)(benefits of membership in EU)
October 31, 2005... On Oct. 4, Turkey got what it has wanted for years: The official launch of talks that could see it admitted to the European Union. It was not an easy decision with Austria seeking to downgrade Turkey's position to "preferred partner" of the...

Local heroes put bite into the B.O.(TURKISH CINEMA)(Omer Vargi and his spouse, Mine, run Filma-Cass)
October 31, 2005... SYDNEY It's not really possible to talk about Turkish producer and director Omer Vargi without talking about his vivacious spouse, Mine. This husband-and-wife team runs Filma-Cass, the largest and most successful film production outfit...

Casting makes for less than perfect 'Couple'.(The Odd Couple)(Theater Review)
October 31, 2005... THE ODD COUPLE Directed by Joe Mantello Starring: Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick The Odd Couple (BROOKS ATKINSON THEATER; 1,089 SEATS; $100 TOP) NEW YORK An Ira Pittelman, Jeffrey Sine, Ben Sprecher, Max Cooper, Scott E....

Muted winds of war.(Jarhead)(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... JARHEAD Directed by Sam Mendes Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx A Universal release, presented in association with MP Kappa Prods., of a Lucy Fisher/Doug Wick production in association with Neal Street Prods....

Zathura: A Space Adventure.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Columbia Pictures presentation of a Radar Pictures/Teitler Film/Michael De Luca production. Produced by William Teitler, Scott Kroopf, Michael De Luca. Executive producers, Ted Field, Louis...

Nanny Mcphee.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (U.K.-U.S.) A UIP (in U.K.)/Universal (in U.S.) release of a Universal Pictures, StudioCanal presentation, in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, of a Working Title production, in association with Three Strange Angels, Nanny...

Barely Legal.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (U.S.-GERMANY) A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a National Lampoon presentation of a Motion Picture Corp. of America/IWP Intl. West Pictures/Talent Networks Media production. Produced by Brad Krevoy, Keetgi Kogan. Executive...

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI) (HONG KONG-CHINA-JAPAN) A Toho Co. (in Japan)/Sony Pictures Classics (in U.S.) release of a Gilla Co. (Japan)/Beijing New Picture Film Co., Elite Group (2004) Enterprises (China) presentation of an Edko Films...

Sweet Land.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... A LaSalle Holland production in association with Beautiful Motion Pictures/120 dB Films/Liebermania/Channel Z Films. Produced by Jim Bigham, Alan Cumming, Ali Selim. Executive producers, Gill Holland, Lillian LaSalle, Thomas F. Lieberman,...

Boynton Beach Bereavement Club.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... A Snowbird Films/NOW production. Produced by Florence Seidelman, Susan Seidelman. Executive producers, Deborah Shantz van Eck, Blair Treisman Rosenfeld. Co-producer, Jamin O'Brien. Directed by Susan Seidelman. Screenplay, Seidelman,...

Muskrat Lovely.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (DOCU) A Myrtle and Olive production. Produced, directed by Amy Nicholsen. Camera (color, Super 16mm-to-HD), Jerry Risius; editor, John Young; sound, Felix Andrew. Reviewed on DVD at Hamptons Film Festival (competing), Oct. 18, 2005....

Gimme Kudos.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (QIUQIU NI, BIAOYANG WO) (CHINA) A Beijing Forbidden City Film Co., Taihe Film Investment, Happy Culture Pictures production, in association with Beijing Polybona Film Co. (International sales: Media Asia, Hong Kong.) Executive...

Journey from the Fall.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (VUOT SONG) An Old Photo Film presentation of an A Fire in the Lake production. (International sales: Carat Fon, Bangkok.) Produced by Lam Nguyen. Executive producers, Alan Vo Ford, Trung Pham, Joseph Faircrest. Directed, written,...

Duelist.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (HYEONGSA) (SOUTH KOREA) A Korea Pictures release and presentation of a Production M production, in association with Wellmade Entertainment. (International sales: the Core Studio, Seoul.) Produced by Lee Myung-se. Executive...

The Nine Lives of Korean Cinema.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (LES RENAISSANCES DU CINEMA COREE) (DOCU-FRANCE) A Cine Cinema presentation of a Les Films du Tamarin, Filmoblic production, with participation of CNC. (International sales: Les Films du Tamarin, Paris.) Produced by Yann Brolli,...

Big River.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (JAPAN) A Big River Films production in association with Bandai Visual, Tokyo FM, TV Asahi, Tokyo Theaters, Office Kitano. (International sales: Office Kitano, Tokyo.) Produced by Masayuki Mori, Takio Yoshida, Shozo Ichiyama....

Diameter of the Bomb.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (DOCU--U.K.-CANADA) A ThinkFilm release (in U.S.) of a Rainmaker Films (U.K.)/National Film Board of Canada (Canada) production. (International sales: National Film Board of Canada, Ville Saint-Laurent, Canada.) Produced by Claude Bonin,...

The Gronholm Method.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (EL METODO) (SPAIN-ARGENTINA-ITALY) An On Pictures release (in Spain) of an Alquimia Cinema/Tornasol Fihns/Arena Films/Cattleya presentation of a Francisco Ramos production. (International sales: Latido Films, Madrid.) Produced by...

Dreaming of Space.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (KOSMOS KAK PREDCHUVSIVIE) (RUSSIA) A Rock Film Studio, Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography production. (International sales: Intercinema, Moscow.) Produced by Alexey Uchitel. Executive producers, Filipp Pastukhov, Marina...

The Quiet.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... A Town Lake Films presentation of a Burnt Orange production in association with Holly Wiersma Prods., Andrea Sperling Prods., Joel Michaely Prods. Produced by Carolyn Pfeiffer, Michaely, Wiersma, Sperling. Executive producer, Tom Schatz. ...

Neverwas.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... A Sidney Kimmel Entertainment/Mandate Pictures production in association with Kingsgate Films. Produced by Kimmel, Greg Shapiro. Executive producers, Nathan Kahane, Amanda Mackey Johnson, Marina Grasic. Co-producers, Carsten Lorenz, Aaron...

A Little Trip to Heaven.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (ICELAND-U.S.) A Palomar Pictures and Blueeyes Prods. presentation. Produced by Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Baltasar Kormakur. Executive producers, Jon Asgeir Johannesson, Lilja Palmdottir. Co-producer, Agnes Johansen. Directed by Baltasar...

Eve & The Fire Horse.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (CANADA) A Mongrel Media presentation of a Golden Horse Prods. production, in association with HUM TV, Astral Media, Movie Central, with support from Telefilm Canada, British Columbia Film. Produced by Shan Tare, Erik Paulsson, Yves J....

Blue Days.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (DIAS AZULES) (DOCU--SPAIN) A Nirvana release (in Spain) of a Cre-Accion Films production. (International sales: Nirvana Films, Madrid.) Produced by Rodolfo Montero de Palacio, Israel Sanchez-Prieto, Nano Montero. Directed by...

Reviews on the web.(film review)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 31, 2005... REVIEWS ON THE WEB For reviews of the following films, go to Variety. com/filmreviews Two Step Andrea Barzini Italy MILL VALLEY The Fakir Peter Flinth Denmark Max and...

In Evil Hour.(Movie Review)
October 31, 2005... (O VENENO DA MADRUGADA) (BRAZIL-ARGENTINA-PORTUGAL) A Lagoa Cultural/Sky Light (Brazil)/ Arca Difusion (Argentina)/MGN Filmes (Portugal) production. (International sales: Lagoa Cultural e Esportiva, Rio de Janeiro.) Produced by Bruno...