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  • Netflix Knows You’ve Been Accessing Foreign Content Illegally


    International viewers who have previously found ways around Netflix‘s restrictions on certain content may have their work cut out for them from now on: The streaming service has reportedly been fixing vulnerabilities in an effort to cut illegal access to its U.S.-exclusive content from foreign countries.

    According to CNN Money, restrictions from country to country are in place thanks to licensing agreements with movie and television studios. But viewers abroad have been able to trick Netflix servers in the past by using a virtual private network, or VPN, to obscure their location and gain access to internationally-blocked content.

    Unfortunately for them, Netflix has caught on to that trick, and has begun blocking more international access in recent days, with users reporting on social media sites and Reddit that their VPNs no longer work with the service. Netflix claims that its terms of service have not been altered, but there appears to be some sort of deliberate action on its part to curb the illegal streaming, and CNN Money reports that that’s because studios are complaining that their copyright agreements with Netflix have been violated.

    “Our policies have not recently changed,” Netflix spokesman Marlee Moseley told CNN Money. “Virtually crossing borders to use Netflix is a violation of our terms of use because of content licensing restrictions, and we employ standard measures to prevent this kind of use.”

    It seems that people who want to watch things illegally will always find a way — but in this case, Netflix may no longer be an option.

    [via: CNN Money, h/t Paste]

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  • Scarlett Johansson to Star in ‘Ghost in the Shell,’ Continuing Action Streak

    Friends Of Rockaway 2nd Annual Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser
    Scarlett Johansson has been on an action flick roll lately, with high-profile parts — and big box office bank — in films like “The Avengers,” “Lucy,” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Now, the actress is set to continue that streak as the lead in a live-action adaptation of popular anime comic and film “Ghost in the Shell.”

    Variety reports that Johansson had recently been approached to take the role, but was unsure; now, the trade writes, the actress has accepted the part.

    According to Variety, “The story follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime.”

    Rupert Sanders (“Snow White and the Huntsman”) is directing the flick for DreamWorks. Variety reports that DreamWorks head honcho Steven Spielberg has been trying to get a “Ghost in the Shell” remake greenlit for some time, and Johansson’s involvement should speed along the process.

    The actress will next be seen in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

    [via: Variety]

    Photo credit: Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images

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  • Here Are the 2014 PGA Awards Film and Television Nominees


    The Producers Guild of America announced Monday its list of film and television nominees for its 2014 awards, and the list is as notable for its omissions as it is for its selections.

    Among the films in the running for the top prize — known formally as the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures — are “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “Foxcatcher,” “Gone Girl,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” “Nightcrawler,” “The Theory of Everything,” and “Whiplash.”

    But it’s the films that were left off the list that had awards season prognosticators in a tizzy Monday. “Selma,” “Unbroken,” and “Into the Woods” all failed to score nominations, leading some to wonder if those movies’ Oscar chances have dimmed significantly.

    On the television front, “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” “Fargo,” “The Normal Heart,” “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,” and “Sherlock” all scored nominations in the long-form television category. Those series join the previously-announced nominees in the episodic television category, which includes “Breaking Bad,” “Downton Abbey,” “Game of Thrones,” “House of Cards,” and “True Detective.”

    The complete list announced Monday — including the PGA’s nominated animated features — is below. (The full list, including previously announced nominees, can be found here.) The awards will be presented at a ceremony on January 24.

    FILM NOMINEES:

    The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:

    American Sniper (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    Producers: Bradley Cooper, p.g.a., Clint Eastwood, p.g.a., Andrew Lazar, p.g.a., Robert Lorenz, p.g.a., Peter Morgan, p.g.a.

    Birdman (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole

    Boyhood (IFC Films)
    Producers: Richard Linklater, p.g.a., Cathleen Sutherland, p.g.a.

    Foxcatcher (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Producers: Megan Ellison, p.g.a., Jon Kilik, p.g.a., Bennett Miller, p.g.a.

    Gone Girl (20th Century Fox)
    Producer: Ceán Chaffin, p.g.a.

    The Grand Budapest Hotel (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    Producers: Wes Anderson & Scott Rudin, Jeremy Dawson, Steven Rales

    The Imitation Game (The Weinstein Company)
    Producers: Nora Grossman, p.g.a., Ido Ostrowsky, p.g.a., Teddy Schwarzman, p.g.a.

    Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
    Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy

    The Theory of Everything (Focus Features)
    Producers: Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

    Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster

    The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

    Big Hero 6 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
    Producer: Roy Conli, p.g.a.

    The Book of Life (20th Century Fox)
    Producers: Brad Booker, p.g.a., Guillermo del Toro, p.g.a.

    The Boxtrolls (Focus Features)
    Producers: David Bleiman Ichioka, p.g.a., Travis Knight, p.g.a.

    How To Train Your Dragon 2 (20th Century Fox)
    Producer: Bonnie Arnold, p.g.a.

    The LEGO Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    Producer: Dan Lin

    TELEVISION NOMINEES:

    The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television:

    American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)
    Producers: Brad Buecker, Dante Di Loreto, Brad Falchuk, Joseph Incaprera, Alexis Martin Woodall, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Jennifer Salt, James Wong

    Fargo (FX)
    Producers: Adam Bernstein, John Cameron, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Michael Frislev, Noah Hawley, Warren Littlefield, Chad Oakes, Kim Todd

    The Normal Heart (HBO)
    Producers: Jason Blum, Dante Di Loreto, Scott Ferguson, Dede Gardner, Alexis Martin Woodall, Ryan Murphy, Brad Pitt, Mark Ruffalo

    The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (PBS)
    Producers: To Be Determined

    Sherlock (PBS)
    Producers: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, Beryl Vertue, Sue Vertue

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]

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  • National Society of Film Critics Awards Top Honors to Obscure Indie ‘Goodbye to Language’

    Swiss film director Jean-Luc Godard atte
    The National Society of Film Critics has always been an offbeat bunch, awarding prizes to more obscure films than flashier organizations like the Academy or the Hollywood Foreign Press. This year’s crop of awards were no different, with the organization giving its top honor to an obscure indie film that most mainstream moviegoers probably never heard of.

    “Goodbye to Language,” an offbeat, 3-D movie from filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, was awarded Best Picture, beating out awards season favorite “Boyhood” by one vote. (Unlike most other organizations, the National Society of Film Critics releases its voting totals alongside its list of winners.)

    Other winners selected by the society include Timothy Spall (“Mr. Turner”) for Best Actor, Marion Cotillard (“The Immigrant” and “Two Days, One Night”) for Best Actress, and Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”) for Best Director. A partial list of winners, along with their vote tallies, is below; the full list is available here.

    The National Society of Film Critics does not host an awards ceremony; winners will be sent commemorative scrolls.

    BEST PICTURE
    Goodbye to Language – 25
    Boyhood – 24
    Birdman – 10
    Mr. Turner – 10

    BEST DIRECTOR
    Richard Linklater, Boyhood – 36
    Jean-Luc Godard, Goodbye to Language – 17
    Mike Leigh, Mr. Turner – 12

    BEST ACTOR
    Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner – 31
    Tom Hardy, Locke – 10
    Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel – 9
    Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice – 9

    BEST ACTRESS
    Marion Cotillard, The Immigrant and Two Days, One Night – 80
    Julianne Moore, Still Alice – 35
    Scarlett Johansson, Lucy and Under the Skin – 21

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
    J.K. Simmons, Whiplash – 24
    Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher – 21
    Edward Norton, Birdman – 16

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
    Patricia Arquette, Boyhood – 26
    Agata Kulesza, Ida – 18
    Rene Russo, Nightcrawler – 9

    BEST SCREENPLAY
    Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel – 24
    Alejandro Iñárritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo, Birdman – 15
    Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice – 15

    BEST NONFICTION FILM
    Citizenfour – 56
    National Gallery – 19
    The Overnighters – 17

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
    Dick Pope, Mr. Turner – 33
    Darius Khondji, The Immigrant – 27
    Fabrice Aragno, Goodbye to Language – 9

    [via: National Society of Film Critics, h/t Vulture]

    Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images

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  • Stuart Scott, Longtime ESPN Anchor, Dies at 49

    Obit Stuart Scott Stuart Scott, a veteran ESPN anchor and “SportsCenter” staple, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 49.

    Scott started his ESPN career in 1993, helping usher in the fledgling ESPN2 network, and quickly made a name for himself thanks to his signature style and instant-classic catchphrases, including “Boo-Yah!” and “As cool as the other side of the pillow.” According to an obituary posted by ESPN.com, Scott was both popular and divisive in his early years at the network, with ESPN president John Skipper remembering that the anchor “changed everything.”

    “He didn’t just push the envelope,” added sports radio host and former ESPN anchor Dan Patrick. “He bulldozed the envelope.”

    Numerous tributes from fans, colleagues, athletes, and celebrities poured in for Scott Sunday, including remembrances from Michael Jordan, former co-anchor Rich Eisen, and President Barack Obama.

    “Twenty years ago, Stu helped usher in a new way to talk about our favorite teams and the day’s best plays,” Obama said in a statement. “For much of those twenty years, public service and campaigns have kept me from my family — but wherever I went, I could flip on the TV and Stu and his colleagues on SportsCenter were there. Over the years, he entertained us, and in the end, he inspired us — with courage and love.”

    Scott was diagnosed with cancer in November 2007, and went on to face two more recurrences of the disease. He accepted ESPN’s Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPYS on July 16, 2014, and gave an impassioned speech about his fight.

    “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer,” Scott said. “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”

    Scott is survived by his two daughters, Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15.

    [via: ESPN]

    Photo credit: John Shearer/Invision/AP

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  • Listen: Pharrell Resurrects N.E.R.D. For ‘SpongeBob SquarePants: Sponge Out of Water’


    Once upon a time, Pharrell Williams would produce songs for some of hip hop’s biggest guns. These days, though, he seems to be writing new music exclusively for movies made for children. Last year he was responsible for the phenomenally ear-wormy “Happy,” and this year he’s been snuck into the Oscar race with a song for “Paddington.” Today, too, comes word that Williams has resurrected his arty pop rock band N.E.R.D. (who had minor hits with “Lapdance” and “Everybody Nose”) for the forthcoming “SpongeBob SquarePants: Sponge Out of Water.” And it’s pretty great (you can listen to it below via All Hip Hop).

    Chad Hugo, Williams’ partner in The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., talked to Variety about the new material (they’re contributing two more songs: “Sandy Squirrel” and “Patrick Star”). “We’re trying not to think too much in a cartoon sense,” Hugo told Variety, “but more just like a psychedelic, otherworldy type of thing. If you want to draw a parallel, maybe think of what the Beatles did with ‘Yellow Submarine.’”

    And, honestly, it’s easy to get that vibe from the song, especially with its gently psychedelic, sing-song-y tone and the backing party vocals. Ah, N.E.R.D., it’s been too long. Hopefully this means more new material soon.

    “SpongeBob SquarePants: Sponge Out of Water” opens on February 6th.

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  • Revenge Season 4 Episode 11 Recap: ‘Back In Black’

    Daniel Grayson died during “Revenge’s” completely insane mid-season finale, an event so tragic that our holiday break was spent stuffing yule logs into our faces in mourning. In case you need a quick refresher, poor Daniel was wandering around the beach outside Emily Thorne’s house (as ya do) when he made the mistake of going inside only to get shot by corrupt FBI Agent Kate Taylor. The good news is that Jack “Worst Cop Ever” Porter showed up and killed Kate, but the bad news is that Daniel’s most definitely dead –– and now Victoria’s having a hysterical meltdown all over the place. In other words, it’s time for revenge!

    Emily Buries The Lead While David Buries The Body

    Lest you’ve forgotten due to one too many shots of holiday eggnog, David Clarke owes a bunch of money to a nefarious Canadian arms dealer named Malcolm Black, and the situation has only worsened now that Malcolm’s daughter (aka Agent Taylor) has been killed. Turns out her murder could cause Malcolm to go nuts and destroy everyone in The Hamptons, so David does what any dad would do: he forces Emily to babysit her arch nemesis (aka his lover Victoria) while he cleans up their mess. Too bad he doesn’t clean up his beard while he’s at it. Help us help you, buddy.

    Unfortunately, David’s plan isn’t without its flaws, because the entire Hamptons police force show up to question Emily. She’s forced to concoct a story wherein Daniel showed up drunk, smashed a planter through her window, and then attacked her –– forcing her to shoot him in self defense. Too bad Jack’s partner isn’t buying it. Officer Ben decides that there’s more to Emily’s story than meets the eye, so he questions his former crush about why Daniel didn’t have any defensive marks on his body. Oh, and he drops the bombshell that Danny Boy was about to be a dad. Feelings. So, does Officer Ben believe Emily’s story? That remains to be seen.

    Also, if you’re wondering what happened to Kate’s body, David shoves it in the back of the creepiest van ever and then dumps it in an undisclosed location. Good times!

    Nolan and Jack Geek Out And Save The Day… Almost

    Time To Check In On Nolan, who unlike everyone else on this show, hasn’t murdered anyone lately. Instead, our favorite billionaire spends this episode being super nerdy! Not only does Nols wipe Agent Taylor’s phone so Malcolm can’t find her, he snags the FAA locators for all of Malcolm’s private planes (which is apparently super useful). Meanwhile, Jack takes a break from being literally the worst policeman in the history of policemen to help Nolan clean out Agent Taylor’s hotel room, which means Emily’s tracks are officially covered!

    So, how’s Victoria doing now that her son has been murdered? Not good, but at least she’s not dead (remember when David tried to poison her last week?). This Queen Bee spends most of the episode mourning the loss of her child, but she does find time for some plotting and scheming (naturally!), and asks Southern socialite Louise Ellis to sneak into Nolan’s house and steal the incriminating envelope she’d given Agent Taylor a few weeks ago. Way to cover your stiletto tracks, Victoria!

    Of course, this episode doesn’t end with everything tied up in a neat bow –– far from it. Nolan learns that Malcolm has traveled to Miami, where it appears as though he’s promptly murdered thanks to David telling some mutual enemies about his arrival. Unfortunately, Malcolm is very much alive and makes a bee line for North Hampton where he wastes no time killing Detective Alvarez. So yeah –– we’re pretty sure he’s coming for Emily –– and he’s not alone. Even Margaux wants to see this girl dead as recompense for Daniel’s death! Watch your back, Miss Thorne, because M&M have a shiv with your name on it.

    And now for some burning questions….

    1. Will Margaux find out the truth about Daniel’s death? She certainly has the power to investigate….
    2. Seriously, how many more terrible decisions can Jack make before he’s fired?
    3. Will David Clarke eventually go through with his plan to kill Victoria?
    4. We’re worried about this Malcolm Black fellow… who will he stab in a random parking lot next?
    5. Will Ben find out the truth about Emily and sell her out to the police?
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  • Superhero Movie Mistakes

    Like pretty much every movie, superhero flicks are sometimes littered with continuity errors and visible gaffes (e.g. harness wire). So, here are some of the most noticeable superhero movie mistakes, proving that no franchise is invulnerable.

    Per usual, all photos courtesy of MovieMistakes.com

  • Anthrax is on the’Game of Thrones’ Mixtape

    Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax Perform At The Gibson Amphitheatre
    “Game of Thrones” is already pretty metal, what with all the swords and dragons and George R.R. Martin’s beard, but the mixtape for next season will really take things to a new level. Last season’s mixtape, “Catch the Throne,” relied primarily on hip hop artists for songs that riffed on “GoT” themes and used samples from the show.

    However, this year things are gonna get a little hairy. Anthrax’s Scott Ian, whose impressive goatee rivals GRRM’s, has revealed that his band will be contributing a song to this year’s “Catch the Throne” mixtape, as per Facebook.

    Scott Ian told Metal Hammer Magazine that writer, executive producer, and showrunner DB Weiss is a big fan of Anthrax. He said, “I asked Dan, ‘Hey man, what would be the possibility of us recording the drums for the next album in the throne room?’ Like we bring a mobile studio and set up the drums, mic everything and record in here. He says, ‘Oh my God, that would be the sickest thing ever. We know the guys that can make that possible.’

    “All of you out there who watch ‘Game Of Thrones,’ much like me, probably think it’s a very metal TV show. And just know: the reason for that is that one of the creators is a huge metalhead.”

    Anthrax’s next album will come out in 2015. “Game of Thrones” will return on this spring.

    [Via Metal Hammer, EW]

  • You Can Stay at ‘Downton Abbey’

    Downton Abbey
    PBS

    Highclere Castle, which is practically its very own character on the PBS show, is already open for walking tours, but now you can spring for your very own overnight stay at the on-site London Lodge. The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon have spent several years and plenty of cash renovating the buildings just north of the main estate.

    London Lodge boasts a working fireplace, as well as more modern amenities like Wi-Fi and TV. It will be open for Valentine’s Day weekend, and then select weekends after the castle opens for tours on Easter. Rooms start at $540 a night. The fifth season of the show premieres in the US on January 4th on PBS.

    [Via CNTraveler]

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