New Releases: 'The Iron Lady,' 'A Separation' and 'Pariah'

It's almost 2012, which -- according to your height appealing about Mayan civilization -- either means the start of the apocalypse or the start of a completely new year. (Fingers joined for your latter!) Regardless if you are planning for your finish days, you'll find still plenty of good movies to check out inside the theaters (don't get worried, you does not need to spend one further several hours watching 'Alvin as well as the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked'). From 'The Iron Lady' to 'The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo' to 'Hugo,' let's take a look as of this week's new releases, along with some films that are already round the silver screen. LIMITED RELEASES 'The Iron Lady' What's the story: With no new country wide releases now, we use former Uk Pm Margaret Thatcher. 'The Iron Lady,' that you have formerly discovered if you would like the 2010 Oscar race, features Meryl Streep as Britain's conservative icon. While Streep's portrayal of Thatcher has riled some within the Atlantic, many have famous her performance. Not to be completely surpassed, experts also provide recognized actor Jim Broadbent's role as Dennis Thatcher, Margaret's husband. The film focuses on the occasions just before England's participation inside the Falklands War. Box office projection: Since 'The Iron Lady' is simply in limited release now, we will probably wait to produce a box office projection until Jan. 12, when the film hits theaters country wide. [Showtimes & Tickets] 'A Separation' What's the story: This Iranian film notifies the story from the couple who finish off separating. Eventually, the husband is billed with attacking his father's senior citizens caretaker, and possibly resulting in her miscarriage. Iran's official candidate to find the best Language film at next year's Oscars, 'A Separation' has become critical acclaim from film festivals around the globe -- pretty for just about any movie getting a reported budget of just $500,000. [Showtimes & tickets] 'Pariah' What's the story: Another film critic favorite, 'Pariah' follows Alike, a 17-year-old African-American going to terms along with her identity just like a lesbian. Adepero Oduye, who plays Alike, remains nominated for top Female Lead within the Independent Spirit Honours. Taken, 'Pariah' won the Excellence in Cinematography award as of this year's Sundance Film Festival. [Showtimes & Tickets] IN THEATERS If the limited releases aren't inside your sweet zone (or aren't being proven within your hometown), don't worry: there are lots of movies already in theaters. Fresh off last week's $44 million opening is 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol,' the fourth film inside the Tom Cruise film franchise. This time around around around, the mission considered impossible features a jaw-losing sequence where Cruise dangles within the Burj Khalifa, the greatest building in the world. People trying to find something a little more severe may want to have a look at 'War Equine,' the Steven Spielberg-directed flick using the award-winning stage production, which follows the street from the equine through the First World War. Speaking about Spielberg, furthermore, you will find 'The Adventures of Tintin,' the animated film he directed and co-produced with 'Lord in the Rings' master Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson. Also for him or her, there is a choice of 'Hugo,' 'Arthur Christmas,' 'The Muppets' or (sigh) 'Alvin as well as the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' (we'd go for 'Hugo,' our pick for top movie of year). The dark murder mystery of 'The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo' will attract adult audiences, while 'We Bought a Zoo' is great fare for the whole family. And, if you wish to visit full-scale and celebrate the 2012 apocalypse, more often than not there's 'New Year's Eve.' [Photo: TWC] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Christmas Movie Trivia: 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' and More

Over at Huffington Post, Jordan Zakarin has put together an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at some of your favorite Christmas movies -- from 'Love Actually' to 'It's a Wonderful Life.' One of the most bizarre bits of Christmas movie trivia, however, involves ghosts -- and not just because it happened during a production of 'A Christmas Carol.' The night before recording songs as Kermit for the first time on 'A Muppet Christmas Carol,' Steve Whitmire said he was visited by the recently deceased Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets and Kermit's voice, in a dream for some reassurance. "He stopped, and there was a thoughtful gesture Jim would do where he would take both of his index fingers and put them under his chin, and he did that and thought and he said, 'It will pass,'" Whitmire told MuppetCentral.com. "Which is exactly what Jim would have said. You would have to really know Jim to know this, but that's exactly what he would have said. Then he turned and he said, 'I've really got to run...' and he took off out the door." Spooky, scary! For more Christmas movie trivia, head over to Huffington Post. Watch the trailer for 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' below. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Game Of Thrones' Season Two Trailer: Cold Winds

In "Bet on Thrones," the intense Braavos swordsman Syrio Forel trained his youthful protg Arya Stark to "see together with your eyes" and "hear together with your ears." Within the situation from the completely new "Bet on Thrones" season two preview, I'd echo Syrio's knowledge and encourage you to definitely listen very carefully. Though you will find lots of beautiful pictures displayed worth gawking at, it is the words you are hearing which make this new "Thrones" footage so captivating. Particularly, they are what of Stannis Baratheon: more youthful brother from the late King Robert, older brother of self-anointed renegade King Renly, and also the guy who'd sit upon the Iron Throne. "My buddy left no trueborn beneficiaries," drones the awesome voice of Stannis, performed by actor Stephen Dillane, as images of the several "Bet on Thrones" gamers still within the mix (see: no Ned Stark) flow in all directions. "By right and birth and bloodstream I actually do this very day lay claim that they can the Iron Throne of Westeros. Let all true males declare their loyalty. The Iron Throne is mine by right. They'll bend the knee or I'll destroy them. The cold winds are rising." Greatly a guy who'll break before he ever bends, Stannis is among the most significant figures within the "An Audio Lesson of Ice and Fire" series, and despite the fact that we do not see him within this new trailer, his presence dangles heavily. Mark my words: Stannis isn't a guy it's easy to forget. "Bet on Thrones" returns to Cinemax in April 2012. What have you think about the most recent "Bet on Thrones" preview? Tell us within the comments as well as on Twitter!

Asian webs seek more regional content

SINGAPORE -- Customers within the Asian Television Forum in Singapore, which runs 12 ,. 7-9, are focusing their search for new formats and regional programming to fulfill elevated curiosity about quality content. Progressively much more of Asia's TV audiences have become their content around the cell phones an online-based, and new technology is really a major speaking reason for the forum, particularly with various Asian nations at such different methods in adapting new tech specs. This Year's extended ATF happened within the Marina Bay Sands Expo, attached to the casino that opened up up in Singapore a couple of years back, and situated greater than 3,500 participants from 950 companies representing 53 nations. The Media Development Authority hosts the large event as well as the city-state's shingles were a substantial presence, as well as the Singapore pavilion had 55 companies, additionally to some Singapore Music Showcase. As they are customary at any biz gathering in any format in the region nowadays, china presence was significant. "A lot of the Asian customers come here, and ATF puts more focus on China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, and encourages exchange between Asian nations. You will discover options to get the right partners here," mentioned Zhu Danhong, project manager at Shanghai WingsMedia, among Shanghai Media Group, within the large Chinese stand. There has been many deals inked within the fest, most of them small deals between different Asian nations. There is a feeling that cooperation grows involving the various nations. Among the deals introduced within the ATF this year will be a co-production deal with Singapore's Scrawl Art galleries and French toon shingle Marathon Media to co-produce "Star Princess," a 52-part animated series, along with France Televisions and Disney France. Singapore shingle Sparky also released pictures for "One Stormy Evening," a CG-animated series for rugrats that was co-produced with Japan's Bandai Visual and Duckbill Entertainment, presented with the author from the finest-selling toon, Yuichi Kimura. Skein will launch on major Japan systems in April 2012. Together with china, other Asian nations are pushing their presence. Japan stood a large stand, together with Korea and Thailand. Malaysia appeared to become strongly in evidence. Animasia presented "ABC Monsters," which will air on Turner's kids' systems in the month of the month of january 2012, and aims to market working out of British among 4- to 6-year-olds. The project continues to be co-funded by Malaysia's Secretary of condition for Science, Technology and Innovation's E-Content Grant. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Remember Pearl Harbor, and 5 Other Stories You'll Be Talking About Today

Also in today’s edition of The Broadsheet: David Fincher’s Dragon Tattoo quote machine hums along… Steven Soderbergh may take a Bitter Pill… Is the Daldry circling the drain?… Don’t look now, but Grown Ups 2 may yet be upon us… and more. · It was on this date in 1941 that, following a surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that killed 2,402 Americans while wounding another 1,282, the United States was induced into World War II. Meet a survivor here. Or read the poignant story of a disbanding survivor’s group here. Or hear concerns about another Pearl Harbor here. Either way, 70 years later amid the silly season of idiot celebrities who can’t separate themselves from their phones or other insufferable pop-cultural bluster, let’s try to keep this one, most essential consideration in mind. · Elsewhere, David Fincher is still poking at the media, this time about the process that led to casting Rooney Mara in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: “I wanted to say, ‘Are you really calling me to influence the casting of a movie?’ I was nave about it, to be honest. It wasn’t like there were 5,000 girls in black leggings and goth skull makeup lining up outside on the street. But a lot of the press and the bloggers made it seem like the search for the next Scarlett O’Hara.” [NYT] · Steven Soderbergh and his frequent collaborator, the screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, The Informant!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) are close to moving forward with The Bitter Pill, a thriller about a woman whose dependency on anti-anxiety medication jumps sharply as her incarcerated husband’s released date nears. Summit Entertainment is reportedly throwing the green light. [Deadline] · Richard Rushfield says what we’re all thinking but might be too polite to acknowledge about the latest trailer for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: “It looks like it might just be the worst movie ever made. It looks absolutely horrifying. It looks like someone went and used 9/11 as a set-up to remake Pay It Forward. […] The only good thing to be said about this is since they got all those people together they only will ruin one film this year. On their own, they could have gone off and ruined a dozen between them.” Ouch. [Rushfield Babylon via The Awl] · That Grown Ups sequel you couldn’t wait to stab your eyes out rather than watch could soon be a reality. Sorry. [Showblitz] · The British Advertising Standards Authority has banned Final Destination 5’s cracked-skull-and-rebar poster on account of its perceived likelihood “to cause fear and undue distress to children.” Which would be totally reasonable if the kids didn’t already wake up every day in Britain. [The Guardian] Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Exclusive Video: Get Your First Look at the iCarly Special "iStill Psycho"

iCarly She's baaaaaack! In "iStill Psycho," the sequel to last year's hit special "iPsycho," iCarly's biggest fan-turned-tormentor Nora Dershlit has been sprung from the slammer, and her first item of business is re-kidnapping the gang for some New Year's Eve "fun." Exclusive First Look: Crazy iCarly fan Nora Dershlit is back for "iStill Psycho" Check out TVGuide.com's exclusive trailer for the episode to find out who she's got locked in the basement and what kind of merriment she's forcing on Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) and her friends this time. Is that Nora... farting on them?!?!: Nickelodeon will premiere "iStill Psycho" on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 8/7c. What do you think of the new trailer?

Is 'Shame' the 'Black Swan' of 2011?

Short reaction to that scintillating headline: No chance! However, these two films have an overabundance to keep than you might initially think -- and not since they both vary from same studio (Fox Searchlight). Ahead, five reasons the Steve McQueen-directed sex-addiction drama 'Shame' might be the 'Black Swan' in the 2011 gaggle. 1. Outstanding lead performances in not-so-outstanding movies As honours season drawn on within the finish of 2010 and into this year, the thrill on 'Black Swan' went from instant classic to camping classic. The Darren Aronofsky-directed film -- specially the cuckoo bananas third act -- was more arch and hysterical than most honours-bait, this despite a committed performance from Natalie Portman, who made an appearance to improve in regards to the fray although wallowing in 'Black Swan's' ridiculousness. 'Shame' isn't as silly as 'Black Swan' -- quite contrary, it's so ... damn ... serious -- but it's similarly problematic. As Brandon, the sex addicted NYer at 'Shame's' center, Michael Fassbender is completely brilliant, nevertheless the film somewhat enables him lower after some a lot of repetition together with a not-as-shocking-as-it-wants-to-be third act. There's a great just like 'Shame,' but it's a hard movie to love. 2. Same-sex make-out periods No less than part of the reason 'Black Swan' made $329 million worldwide? That hug between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis! 'Shame' features a similarly bracing same-sex liplock (it's a spoiler, so you're going to get no more than that), though taking into consideration the participants as well as the film's NC-17 rating, it's doubtful that will help the conclusion. 3. NY City subways fresh from 'Warriors' Pet peeve time: NY City subways forget about appear like they did in 'The Gamers,' plastered with graffiti. Which is why movies like 'Shame' and 'Black Swan' (and television shows like '2 Broke Girls') so infuriating. When Brandon is riding the subway, of the question behind him is incorporated with scribble (see above). As someone who takes that train line virtually every day (it's the N and R line), I am in a position to attest it's not as untidy. This isn't 1981, 'Shame'! Seriously now. 4. Rising ingenues playing second-fiddle In 'Black Swan,' Mila Kunis never really can get an chance to shine with Portman consuming the spotlight in 'Shame,' Carey Mulligan is labored the same hands, though she includes one show-stopping moment: a downcast version of "NY, NY" that breaks Brandon's heart, and many likely yours too. 5. Addiction Clearly and many types of, but nevertheless: 'Shame' is all about sex addiction and the way it might eat away inside a person's soul. 'Black Swan' is about a dependancy perfectly, one compounded because Portman's Nina is certifiably crazy. (Still, nobody cuts their fingernails like Nina unless of course obviously they have a-rooted perfectionist issues.) Possibly she and Brandon can make a great couple -- whether or not this wasn't for the annoying mortal wound within the finish of 'Black Swan.' [Photo: Fox Searchlight] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook