Palm Springs to recognition Chastain, Shoreline

Thesp Jessica Chastain and composer Howard Shoreline would be the final inclusions in the slate of honorees for that 23rd Palm Springs Film Festival. Both is going to be recognized in a Jan. 7 gala in the Palm Springs Convention Center. Chastain caught the interest of fest coordinators this season on her roles in "The Assistance,Inch "The Tree of Existence" and "Take Shelter." "Through a number of virtuoso performances, Jessica Chastain has built herself among the cinema's most versatile and many desired youthful stars," stated festival chairman Harold Matzner. Shoreline will require home the Ernest Loewe Award for Film Creating for his focus on "Hugo." The composer won exactly the same award in 2005 for "The Aviator," also directed by Martin Scorsese. "The labyrinthine setting of the Paris railway station, in which a youthful boy lives alone, doing what he or she must to outlive, and also the discovery of the aging filmmaker gifted having a second chance supply the perfect inspiration for Shore's haunting score," Matzner stated. The fest runs Jan. 5-16. Chastain and Shoreline join formerly introduced honorees George Clooney, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, Kaira Pitt, Octavia Spencer and Michelle Williams helmers Stephen Daldry and Michel Hazanavicius and also the film "Youthful Adult." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Daniel Craig: 'Politicians are Sh*theads'

When he isn't blasting the Kardashians, Daniel Craig is taking out his anger on politicians. "Politicians are shitheads," Craig reportedly said in a new interview with Men's Journal (not yet online). "That's how they become politicians, even the good ones. We're actors, we're artists, we're very nice to each other. They'll turn around and stab you in the fucking back." Craig takes out most of his aggressions on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "Tony Blair started it much more than anybody's ever done. 'Go and have tea at 10 Downing Street.' It becomes 'Mephisto,'" the 'Dragon Tattoo' star said, conflating political elbow-rubbing in the 21st century with the 1936 novel about an actor saddling up with the Nazi party to improve his career. Of course, Craig is prone to speaking his mind. "Look at the Kardashians, they're worth millions. Millions!" he reportedly told the British edition of GQ last month. "I don't think they were that badly off to begin with, but now look at them. You see that and you think, 'What, you mean all I have to do is behave like a fucking idiot on television and then you'll pay me millions?'" You can see a much more staid version of Craig onscreen now in 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.' He returns to the scren as 007 when 'Skyfall' is out in theaters next year. [via Huffington Post, NYT/ArtsBeat] [Photo: WireImage] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Watercooler: Is Kathy Griffin Tired?

Kathy Griffin Who needs US Weekly when we have Kathy Griffin?Last night, the gossip-fueled funny lady suited up for Tired Hooker, her fourth and final Bravo comedy concert of the year. And in true Griffin form, it was an hour of TMZ and tabloid headlines, all gayed up and regurgitated for a full house of fawning fans at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City. Kim Kardashian's "marriage." Ashton Kutcher's divorce. Nancy Grace's DWTS nip slip. And of course, her favorite, longest-running punching bag, Lindsay Lohan.Was it the hoot we expected from the red menace? Eh. Usually, Griffin kills it with her A-list targets. No one skewers pop culture better, nor do many dare to take on the more sacred subjects (Oprah, Scientology) she does. But since it seems like everyone on Twitter and Facebook and even the shiny happy hosts of E.T and The Insider has already clowned on these big-ticket celebrity scandals, a lot of Kath's material felt played out. Where she excelled, surprisingly, was when she veered away from the star-bashing to toss out personal anecdotes about her dog's penchant for eating unmentionables, her inability to order a pizza with unlikely new bestie Cher and her newfound love of Pajama Jeans. Because let's face it, the only thing funnier than pants that offer the style of a jean and the comfort of pajamas is the idea of the queen of the D-List kicking back in a pair while eating a couple slices with Chaz Bono's mom.Did you check out Kathy's latest show? What did you think?Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Russell Brand Lands Late-Evening Series on Forex

Russell Brand Forex has signed an offer with Russell Brand for six 30-minute instances of an unscripted late-evening series, the network introduced Thursday.The yet-to-be-entitled show is placed to debut next spring and will also be shot before an active audience, who'll communicate with the host. The network describes the series as "Brand's unvarnished, unfiltered undertake current occasions, politics and popular culture."Photo Gallery: The very best performances of 2011"We are very excited to include Russell Brand's bracingly funny, original, and honest voice towards the Forex comedy line-up," stated Nick Grad, FX's executive v . p . of original programming. "We anticipate supporting Russell and the partner Troy Miller's ambition to strip lower the located comedy format to the most fundamental elements and also to create something daring and unfiltered for that Forex audience."Browse the relaxation of present day newsBrand is better noted for his roles in Failing to remember Sarah Marshall and Make Him The Greek.Burns, a 2-time Emmy-winning director, has directed and created numerous Television shows including Flight from the Conchords, Parks and Entertainment, Work, Bored to Dying, Raising Hope, Happy Being or more Through The Night.

First images arrive for The Great Gatsby

The first official images have been released for Baz Luhrmann's 3D adaptation of The Great Gatsby, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire all looking sharp in their '20s attire.Adapted by the seminal novel by celebrated author F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film will be set across a heady Long Island summer in which Midwesterner Nick Carraway (Maguire) becomes entangled in the lives of wealthy recluse Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio) and the (married) object of his affections, Daisy Buchanan (Mulligan).These first images give away little besides the look of the film, but the air of Old Hollywood glamour is intoxicating. Quite how the 3D element will work out remains to be seen, but the principle players certainly look the part here.Joel Edgerton heads up the rest of the supporting cast as Daisy's husband and all-round rotter Tom Buchanan, whilst fellow Antipodeans Isla Fisher and Gemma Ward are also involved.The film will be released in the US on Christmas Day next year, meaning that we'll probably have a little while to wait before a first trailer emerges. Then the anti-3D wailing can begin in earnest!

'This Is 40': Judd Apatow Comedy Will get 12 ,. 2012 Release Date

Toss another major film to the pile-from December 2012 releases. Variety reviews that Universal has formally slated Judd Apatow's 4th directorial outing, 'This is 40,' for release on 12 ,. 21, 2012. Which means the non-follow up follow up to 'Knocked Up' -- featuring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their roles in the first film -- will open opposite 'World War Z' with Kaira Pitt and 'Life of Pi' from director Ang Lee and merely four days before 'Django Unchained' and 'The Great Gatsby.' Oh, and 'Les Miserables,' 'The Hobbit: An Unpredicted Journey' and Kathryn Bigelow's Osama Bin Laden movie also open that month. And also you thought this holidays was busy. 'This is 40,' which in fact had been the significant title from the film for quite a while, would be the first Apatow-directed release to spread out from summer season. 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' was an August release, 'Knocked Up' showed up in June and 'Funny People' hit in August. Per Variety, '40' has already been test screening. So, look out for your. Featuring Rudd, Mann, Jason Segel, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks, Chris O'Dowd, Melissa McCarthy and much more, '40' comes to theaters on 12 ,. 21, 2012. [via Variety] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Richard Hatch Released from Prison Again

Richard Hatch First Survivor champ Richard Hatch has been released from a Rhode Island state prison after serving a nine-month term for failing to file his tax returns, The Associated Press reports.Richard Hatch ordered back to prison - againHatch was freed Monday, according to a state prison official. Hatch spent most of his sentence in federal prison, except for six weeks at a state minimum-security facility as a transition.The reality star, who competed on Celebrity Apprentice last season, previously spent three years in prison after failing to pay taxes on the $1 million he won on the first season of Survivor. He was released in 2009, but jailed again in March for not re-filing his 2000 and 2001 taxes. Hatch later claimed he was "financially destitute."Richard Hatch claims he's destitute Upon his release, Hatch, 50, maintained his innocence and said he was "happy" to be out of prison.

'Crime' an indication of new occasions

'Major Crimes'When Mary McDonnell required on the guest-starring role as Capt. Sharon Raydor around the fifth season of "The Closer," nobody might have anticipated the "Battlestar Galactica" actress will be the one transporting the torch over in the TNT hit procedural to spinoff "Major Crimes."In rather serendipitous fashion, Kyra Sedgwick and McDonnell had encounter one another in a party and expressed their mutual admiration and need to interact. Caused by their exchange rapidly converted into an invite for McDonnell to experience Sedgwick's enemy inside a guest arc."The moments between Brenda and Raydor just sizzled using their conflict clash," recalls professional producer Greer Shephard, who is a author on the program since its beginning. "She designed a very large impression. All of us understood that there is an expiration date for Kyra, and i believe that people were always attempting to expect and find out the way the show could keep on.InchIn McDonnell, along with a polarizing character whose trajectory greatly was similar to those of Brenda Leigh Johnson's, they all of a sudden had their answer."Major Crimes," which premieres next summer time, has already been a transition happening. A few of the skein's figures is going to be introduced through the latter 1 / 2 of the ultimate season of "The Closer" and familiar faces can make a seamless move in one procedural towards the other.Whereas "The Closer" ended each episode having a confession, this is where the storyline starts within the reboot, which ultimately focuses more about the justice system and it is defects.The existence of the district attorney's office is going to be introduced included in the criminal process and also the series will examine how confessions, which frequently given audiences closure inside a situation, sometimes aren't enough to convict a defendant in the court."You are likely to observe how frail and human the justice product is,Inch states professional producer James Duff. "You are likely to see people battling to produce justice while coping with their baser ambitions."If the show handles to meet its predecessor is dependent largely how invested fans have been in McDonnell's character and also the crime-fixing team they have arrived at know within the last seven years. It is a gamble, but Entertainment Weekly TV critic Ken Tucker has without doubt they are up for that challenge."The wise factor the producers did is bring the supporting cast in the forefront in recent seasons, which makes them full co-stars with Sedgwick," states Tucker. "Mix this considering that the show has woven Mary McDonnell in to the show as Brenda's enemy and 'Major Crimes' is really a type of steps to make a franchise survive after its star leaves.""THE CLOSER" 100TH EPISODE TNT's blue streak Sedgwick confides on 'Closer' implications 'Crime' an indication of new occasions Bailey, Reynolds remember favorite moments Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Steven Spielberg: 'Wasn't Sure' About the End of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'

Die-hard fans of Indiana Jones claim to know everything about the series -- even the stuff that happened off-camera. Trivia buffs probably know that Tom Selleck almost took the part before a 'Magnum P.I.' scheduling conflict got in the way; that the 10-second fight scene with the swordsman was motivated by Harrison Ford's real-life bout with dysentery; that 'Temple of Doom' is one of the main reasons Hollywood came up with the PG-13 rating; and that Sean Connery was cast in 'Last Crusade' as inside joke on the idea that James Bond was Indiana Jones' father. However! Here's a new piece of trivia that you may not know: remember the creepy, face-melting contents of the Ark of the Covenant in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'? Steven Spielberg didn't actually know what they were going to be when he shot the movie. "There were a lot of crazy things in the script. I wasn't sure how much we could actually get on the screen. We made a lot of it up as we were in postproduction," the director revealed in the latest issue of EW, on sale now. The Oscar-winning director's uncertainty over the climactic scene motivated him to deliver one of the biggest movies of all time, and fans might also be surprised to learn that the godfather of blockbuster films is motivated by his anxiety. "It's my fuel, basically -- my nervous stomach ... when I make a movie, I never think I have all the answers." The director reveals never-before-told stories like this one in anticipation of his upcoming releases, 'War Horse' and 'The Adventures of Tintin.' You'll find out everything, from more behind-the-scenes stories on his '80s hits to what really happened with Megan Fox's removal from the 'Transformers' series. You'll never get a better opportunity to become the ultimate Spielberg trivia buff. [via EW] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-486274{display:none;}.cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-486274, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-486274{width:475px;height:357px;display:block;}