Limelight

A Magnolia Pictures release of a Rakontur, Gulfstream Films, DeerJen and Magnolia Pictures presentation. Produced by Jen Gatien, Alfred Spellman, Billy Corben. Executive producers, Dave Berlin, Jonathan Vinnik. Co-executive producers, Eric Friedman, Scott Shelton. Directed by Billy Corben.With: Peter Gatien, Frank Owen, Michael Alig, Michael Caruso, Ed Koch, Steve Lewis.Watching "Limelight," about the rise and politically engineered fall of onetime Manhattan nightclub kingpin Peter Gatien, is like looking through a family album: If you're in the family, you might be interested. Otherwise, helmer Billy Corben's candy-hued docu is a fairly wobbly walk down a Memory Lane littered with feathers, leather and empty coke vials. Release by Magnolia will give the film considerable exposure, although interest will be limited, perhaps to certain neighborhoods in NY. "Limelight" is named for the notorious nightclub Gatien established in an abandoned Episcopal church on Sixth Avenue; during the '80s and '90s, it proved a desanctified gateway for hip-hop, Ecstasy and a musical phenomenon imported from the U.K., raves. Lit up like a lava lamp (which is the wrong decade entirely), the film lays out how Gatien went on to open Palladium, Tunnel and Club USA, all cultural petrie dishes at a time of great social metamorphosis. Corben makes the point that all this came to a crashing end with the advent of Rudolph Giuliani, who, together with federal prosecutors, killed NY nightlife and made Gatien's life a living hell. Gatien, who was born in Canada (where he lost an eye playing hockey) and had clubs in Miami and Atlanta before opening the first Limelight in NY, is an engaging character, although he seems snakebitten by his years of prosecution and persecution. Others in the film include party promoter Michael Alig (played by Macaulay Culkin in the 2003 film "Party Monster"), who was eventually convicted in 1996 of killing a man known as Angel Melendez; and Michael Caruso, known as Lord Michael, who admits to having been involved not only in a massive Ecstasy trade but also kidnappings and assaults; others interviewed imply he committed a murder. Such are the film's unreliable witnesses. The prosecution of Gatien -- who, the feds charged, was complicit in and benefited from the drug sales at in his clubs -- is the best part of the film, especially since Corben, through his interviewees, establishes what a trumped-up case the government constructed (and lost). As unsavory as some of Gatien's customers may have been, they were babes in the woods compared with some of his colleagues, whom the feds used as witnesses in their case. With the entertaining exception of journo Frank Owen, who covered the club scene for the likes of the Village Voice during the '90s, there isn't a trustworthy, agenda-free soul among them, including members of the Giuliani administration and all the lawyers involved. But this ultimately ends up hurting the movie: What the viewer wants is a voice (other than Owen's) that might weigh in with some legal authority on the witchhunt being waged. No such figure appears. Corben also tries too hard; in an effort to convince the viewer that Limelight and the black-eyepatch-wearing Gatien meant something, he fills the film with shaky-cam footage, news reports (some of which seem entirely suspect) and post-production trickery intended to entrance the ADD-afflicted. As if knowing he's trading in a slippery form of nostalgia, the director pulls out all the stops to make "Limelight" visually echo the pre-AIDS, pre-herpes, pre-drug-law NY in which Gatien's clubs flourished. Despite these attempts to simulate a heady drug experience, all the viewer will want is an aspirin.Camera (color), Ralf Gonzalez, Alexa Harris, Trisha Solyn, Randy Valdes; editor, Sam Rega; sound, Eric Moorman; visual effects, Ricardo Pagan. Reviewed at Sunshine Cinema, NY, Sept. 23, 2011. Running time: 103 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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Langmann wins 'Nothing' suit

PARIS -- French producer Thomas Langmann has won his suit against Pathe in regards to the privileges to Dany Boon's hit comedy "Absolutely nothing to Declare." A Paris court has purchased Pathe, which co-created and distributed the film, to pay for Langmann and the brother Darius 30% from the film profits as much as Pounds 12 million ($16.a million). Langmann filed the suit 2 yrs ago, declaring that Pathe hadn't respected the agreement signed between his late father, producer Claude Berri, Boon and Pathe's co-prexy Jerome Seydoux. The offer permitted Berri's shingle La Petite Reine to create Boon's first couple of films, "La Maison du Bonheur" and "Thanks for visiting the Stays," with Pathe, and gave him an initial-look on Boon's third film, "Absolutely nothing to Declare." But as Berri died last year, before Boon began developing "Absolutely nothing to Declare," Pathe stated it was the pic's sole privileges holder, and unsuccessful to consider Boon's previous agreement with Berri into consideration. "Absolutely nothing to Declare" has made $66.two million in France since its release in Feb. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Ghostbusters Slot Machines Promise Ectoplasmic Gambling Fun

Great news today for Ghosbusters-loving gamblers: According to a press release just over Movieline’s transom, International Game Technology is combining your two passions with a Ghostbusters Slot Machine “that will have even the most die-hard fans’ P.K.E meters scrambling.” They can win you millions (but most likely will not)! They can keep you company during all of those those cold, lonely lights when Ghostbusters 3 is still just an unconfirmed possibility. And best of all, they’re already in Vegas! Just a week after learning that Ghostbusters will get a theatrical re-release this October, IGT has announced that their movie-themed slots will appear exclusively in MGM Resorts International for 30 days (beginning September 19) before appearing in other venues on the Vegas Strip. Each Ghostbusters Slot features a 55-inch overhead LCD screen, chest-pumping MEGAfx surround chairs and your favorite characters from the franchise (Slimer, the Marshmallow Man and the Ghostbusters team). Additionally, players will have the chance to try a variety of games on each coin-operated machine including Ballroom Busters Pick Bonus, Stay Puft Free Games Feature, Are You Psychic? and a Paranormal Pick Bonus. With 50 credits per spin, who needs a Ghostbusters threequel!? Okay, we still might. No word yet on whether Bill Murray (who, last we heard, had not even read the G3 script) and the rest of the cast will profit off of this venture. As recently as August, Dan Aykroyd said that Ghostbusters 3 will begin production in the spring however there have not been any conclusive updates on the project. Take a closer look at the Ghostbusters Slots in the following video before slapping on your Proton pack change purse and booking the next flight to Vegas. 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Players are awarded five proton shots to blow up the ballroom to find ghosts. · Stay Puft Free Games Feature: Marshmallows fall from the sky, stick to symbols and turn them wild during this sweet feature. · Are You Psychic? Bonus: Guess the correct card to win credits and advance to the next round! · Paranormal Pick Bonus: Five levels of Paranormal Pick Bonuses allow players to select from phantasm clouds for a chance to win the progressive jackpot. “Based on the blockbuster film franchise from Sony Pictures, the memorable characters, a catchy song and many unforgettable scenes have made Ghostbusters a pop culture mainstay, and I think we’ve captured the fun of the brand in the Ghostbusters Slots,” said Eric Tom, executive vice president, North America Sales and Global Operations. “Players will be thrilled by the constant action and our graphic and sound technology will make for a ghoulishly good time.” Sherri Gilligan, senior vice president of marketing for MGM Resorts International, said, “Our guests deserve to have an amazing experience each time they arrive at one of our properties and the Ghostbusters Slots will add to that overall experience. The partnership with IGT allows us to create new opportunities for our guests and this is another example of an exclusive game we will feature on the casino floors throughout our company during the festive Halloween season.” To help kick off the Ghostbusters Slots fun, MGM Resorts and IGT will launch a sweepstakes featuring a grand prize VIP trip to Las Vegas. About MGM Resorts International MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world’s leading global hospitality companies, operating a peerless portfolio of destination resort brands, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. In addition to its 51% interest in MGM China Holdings and the MGM Macau, the Company has significant holdings in gaming, hospitality and entertainment, owns and operates 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has 50% investments in three other properties in Nevada and Illinois. One of those investments is CityCenter, an unprecedented urban resort destination on the Las Vegas Strip featuring its centerpiece ARIA Resort & Casino. Leveraging MGM Resorts’ unmatched amenities, the M life loyalty program delivers one-of-a-kind experiences, insider privileges and personalized rewards for guests at the Company’s renowned properties nationwide. Through its hospitality management subsidiary, the Company holds a growing number of development and management agreements for casino and non-casino resort projects around the world. MGM Resorts International supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its gaming properties. The Company has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for its industry-leading Diversity Initiative, its community philanthropy programs and the Company’s commitment to sustainable development and operations. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company’s Web site at www.mgmresorts.com. About IGT International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. More information about IGT is available at www.IGT.com or follow IGT on Twitter at @IGTNews or Facebook at www.facebook.com/IGT. ###

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Whitney: TV Review

Whitney Cummings' finest mistake here may have been letting NBC make her show a multi-camera affair, full of (another) excessively generous live audience.our editor recommends'Whitney': 10 Things to learn about the NBC ComedyFall TV Dying Pool: Will 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Whitney' or 'How to become Gentleman' Be Axed First? Cumming's stock in trade is sass that traffics in smart banter and low-brow crowd-pleasing. Meaning a couple of from the lines she written for Whitney work while others appear all-too-easy. It's tough to see simply how much NBC really trusts Cummings (who also co-created 2 Broke Women on CBS). She's a brand new plus it seems such as the reins continue being on. For example, the pilot really features a clever scene that follows on the concept that Whitney and her live-in boyfriend Alex (Chris D'Elia) have grown to be sexually stagnant over their years together. So she buys a slutty nurse costume to surprise him after which it, while vamping, helps it be very real by asking for his insurance card and asking him to accomplish forms. The scene works until Alex does a typical sitcom pratfall taking his pants off and knocks themselves out. Ugh. PHOTOS: NBC's Year Tv Shows Most of the success of Whitney may hinge on whether people uncover her likeable or else. But you will discover fundamental issues holding back the show too -- beyond the multi-camera fakeness from this all. First, the premise seems being that Whitney and Alex aren't married plus they are happy by doing this. Yes, and? Apparently there is no and. Include stock figures (happy new fanatics the bitter divorcee the super horny single guy) that make an effort to play up Whitney and Alex's shocking dismissal of convention (ahem), along with rapport demonstrate that's hung round the "we're not married" nail. Maybe that's why they might require that audience cackling without anyone's understanding? Hopefully, future episodes will improve. Whitney Cummings NBC Whitney

NBC Buys Family Comedy Project Produced By John Legend

EXCLUSIVE: After extended discussions, NBC has closed a deal for Mixed Benefits, only one-camera comedy project executive produced by singer-songwriter John Legend and former NBC executive Teri Weinberg. Make the most of Pearlstein (Medium) will write and co-executive produce the comedy, which received interest from multiple systems before entering exclusive discussions with NBC, returning Weinberg while using network where she offered as EVP under Ben Silverman. John Legend and Mike Jackson are executive creating though their Get Lifted Film Co. and Weinberg’s through her Yellow Brick Road banner. Universal Television will produce. Inspired by Jacksons childhood maturing in suburban Philadelphia, Mixed Benefits concentrates on a prominent, black, street-bred stylish-hop artist experiencing his single existence who discovers he features a teenage boy and decides for hooking up with him and his white-colored suburban family. The show explores the culture clash as well as the complicated journey from the father and boy beginning their relationship since the father soon discovers that fame, talent, and wealth allow you to get nowhere if the involves nurturing. Pearlstein is writing feature comedy True North for Warner Bros with Imagine creating and Erection dysfunction Helms installed on star. He'll direct his original comedy script Someone Marry Craig in 2012. Before her stint NBC, Weinberg labored at then-upstart Reveille and produced numerous series, including Ugly Betty as well as the Tudors. She is constantly be the co-executive producer round the Office. This marks the initial major foray into TV for Legend and Jackson’s Get Lifted Film as well as the second high-profile comedy project at NBC this season with a b-level singer attached just like a producer. The network also provides a karaoke comedy inside the works, that's executive produced by Adam Levine. Mike Kasdan is installed on direct the chance pilot in the script by Gene Hong for 20th TV and Chernin Entertainment. Mixed Benefits was packed by CAA.

Alexander Skarsgard Hasn't Seen 'Battleship' Trailer, Had 'Great Time' Shooting It

It's a good time to be Alexander Skarsgard. He stars on a hit HBO series, "True Blood," where he plays a sexy vampire and makes women -- scratch that, make it everyone -- swoon. On top of that, he's got a bustling film career: last week, his super dark thriller "Straw Dogs" opened in theaters, he's currently filming "What Maisie Knew" in NYC and he's also poised to try his hand at the big blockbuster action genre in "Battleship." When the "Battleship" trailer dropped a while back, it was a bit kitschy and kind of ridiculous, which some of us around MTV News really loved. After all, what else is to be expected of a film based on a board game? People, a board game! That being said, when we talked to the dashing Alex at the NY premiere for "Straw Dogs," he hadn't seen the trailer, but had a lot of really gushing things to say about shooting the flick, which also stars a whole army (navy?) of stars like Liam Neeson, Rihanna, Taylor Kitsch and Brooklyn Decker. "No I had a great time on it," he said. "I haven't seen [the trailer], but I had a blast. Peter Berg, the director, was amazing and I had really fun with the rest of the cast. And I had fun with the character, really enjoyed it." There's still some work being done on the film as well. Alex added, "I haven't seen it. I hadn't done ADR yet so we'll see what happens, but it was a good experience." With all that praise from a man as tall as Alex, any reservations we had were sunk, like a battleship. Get it? Anyways, the film opens May 2012. Tell us what you think in the comments section and on Twitter!

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Lionsgate's 'Hunger Games' Wraps in North Carolina

TORONTO -- Lionsgate's The Hunger Games is in the can. The mini-major on Thursday said principal photography in North Carolina on the film adaptation of the Suzanne Collins novel of the same name is completed, ahead of a March 23, 2012 theatrical release. PHOTOS: The 'Hunger Games' Cast With much hinging on how The Hunger Games performs in theaters, Lionsgate is eyeing a lucrative franchise to emerge from the teen book trilogy. PHOTOS: 'Hunger Games' First Look: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth The 84-day shoot for The Hunger Games started on May 23, and starred Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth in lead roles, alongside Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley and Toby Jones. Related Topics Josh Hutcherson International Jennifer Lawrence Lionsgate Gary Ross Hunger Games

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