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Leonardo DiCaprio Could Star In The Next Steve Jobs Movie

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leonardo dicaprio

Sony is wooing Leonardo DiCaprio to play Steve Jobs in the next movie about the Apple co-founder's life, reports The Wrap.

However, it's not a sure thing yet, in part because Sony is still working on lining up a director.

For now, the only certainty is that the screenplay was written by Aaron Sorkin based on Walter Isaacson's best-selling biography, the only  biography that Jobs authorized.

That probably means the screenplay is fantastic.

Sony had tried to get director David Fincher ("The Social Network") onboard, with Christian Bale to star, but apparently those talks broke down. Sony is now in talks with Danny Boyle to direct ("Slumdog Millionaire"), too, according to The Wrap.

Bale seems like a natural fit to play Jobs. But DiCaprio, who has become known for Oscar-nominated performances that never win, would be appealing, too.

SEE ALSO: GoPro's billionaire CEO shares this awesome advice for success: 'You are your own worst enemy'

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The Supreme Court Case That Could Change The Future Of TV Begins Today

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Live TV streaming startup Aereo is going to the Supreme Court today to defend itself against a lawsuit by broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC.

The hearings haven't started yet, but there's already a line outside the Supreme Court. It's probably mostly journalists and other media folks, but the case has become a signal for the future of TV and streaming online media.

Here's a photo tweeted by CNN's Brian Stelter:

Networks are suing Aereo because they say the startup is violating copyright by retransmitting live broadcast television. Aereo says it's working under existing regulations by assigning each of its subscribers an antenna and transmitting the content over the Internet.

If Aereo loses the case, the company will likely have to shut down. It could also prevent other companies from trying similar streaming media startups that would disrupt the current cable/satellite TV subscription model.

MORE ON AEREO: How the Aereo case could completely change the TV industry

SEE ALSO: A complete guide to how Aereo works

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These Might Just Be The 5 Best Things About Canada

TV Networks Are So Scared About This App, They're Taking It All The Way To The Supreme Court

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Aereo, a service that lets you stream live broadcast networks like NBC, CBS, and ABC, is the focus of a big Supreme Court case today that could determine the future of TV.

The networks are suing Aereo, claiming it violates copyright laws. If the networks win the case, Aereo will likely have to shut down.

What is Aereo and how does it work? 

The company assigns each subscriber an antenna that can access programming broadcast for free over the air.

The antennas look like this. They're stored in Aereo's server centers in the local markets Aereo serves:

Chet Kanojia Aereo CEOAereo then streams that content to your device over the Internet. Aereo costs $8 a month but is available only in a handful of U.S. cities right now.

Here's what it looks like when watching live TV:

aereo app on ipadYou can also record shows in a virtual DVR and stream them later. Aereo gives you a limited amount of storage, but you can pay for more if you want to store a lot of video.

aereo app on ipadTo get started with Aereo, head to Aereo.com. The service works within your Web browser, not a separate app. It also works on just about any smartphone, tablet, or PC.

Here's a quick tour of how it works.

Here's the main menu for Aereo. There's a channel guide on the right side that tells you what shows are playing live.



Tap a show to get more details. Press the play button to start streaming it live.



The show starts playing in a window on the left. It's live, but delayed a few seconds because the signal has to process through Aereo.



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'MAD MEN' vs. REALITY: Compare Don Draper's Ads With Those That Actually Ran In The 1960s

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kodak-carousel-madmen

One of the most exciting things about "Mad Men" is seeing the creative process Don Draper and his team go through to come up with the ad campaigns that determine the very fate of Sterling Cooper & Partners.

Throughout the show's six seasons, these campaigns have featured major brands like Playtex and American Airlines.

Despite the best efforts of Don Draper, Peggy Olson, and the rest of the team, however, their ads are often not much better than the ads their fictional clients were running in real life during the '60s. Sometimes, in fact, Sterling Cooper's ads were much worse. 

Take a look and judge for yourself ...

Don Draper's Season 1 pitch for the Kodak Carousel remains one of the show's most poignant moments.



The real first ad for the Carousel, which debuted in 1962, wasn't as high-minded as Draper's, but it did explain what the product does.



Sterling Cooper's ad for Samsonite plays on the fact that nobody likes an empty suitcase.



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Aaron Sorkin Says His Steve Jobs Movie Won't Be What You Expect

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Aaron Sorkin tribeca film festival panel

"Jobs" screenwriter Aaron Sorkin was tight-lipped about Sony's upcoming Steve Jobs film Monday night during a discussion we attended at the Tribeca Film Festival but he did give a few hints as to what audiences can expect.

First of all, "it's not a biopic," as we had previously been told.

Sorkin explained, "It’s not the story of Steve Jobs — it’s something much different than that."

"He’s a fascinating guy — part hero, part antihero," Sorkin says of the former Apple CEO. "I don’t want to say that much tonight. I don’t want to make any news or make anyone feel like I approached the movie in a different way. I’m going to make the movie speak for itself. But he’s a fascinating guy surrounded by fascinating people, and he had very interesting relationships with the people in his life."

Sorkin, who has finished the script (based on Walter Isaacson's best-selling biography) and handed it into Sony, added that the Jobs movie is the seventh film he's written, but "It's one of the few times I've written what I set out to write."

He added, "It will be up to the audience whether it’s good or not." Sorkin says the film will start shooting in the fall.

Just before Monday night's discussion with Sorkin began, news broke that Sony is wooing Leonardo DiCaprio to star as Jobs in the film, with "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle possibly attached to direct. The duo previously worked together on 2000's "The Beach."

"The Social Network" director David Fincher was previously reported to be directing, but that deal allegedly fell apart after Fincher demanded $10 million upfront and control over how the movie would be marketed.  

Christian Bale was Fincher's top pick to play Jobs, but the previously rumored casting sounds like a no-go now that Fincher is out  leaving an open spot for "The Wolf of Wall Street" actor.

SEE ALSO: Leonardo DiCaprio Could Star In The Next Steve Jobs Movie

SEE ALSO: David Fincher Won't Direct Steve Jobs Movie After Alleged $10 Million Demand

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Aaron Sorkin Apologizes To Fans For 'The Newsroom'

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Aaron Sorkin Olivia Munn Jeff Daniels The Newsroom

HBO's "The Newsroom" seems to just now be hitting its stride after getting off to a rocky start in 2012.

And for that, writer Aaron Sorkin is sorry.

“I’m going to let you all stand in for everyone in the world, if you don’t mind. I think you and I got off on the wrong foot with 'The Newsroom' and I apologize and I’d like to start over,” Sorkin told the crowd at a Tribeca Film Festival discussion on Monday.

Sorkin further explained:

“I think that there’s been a terrible misunderstanding. I set the show in the recent past because I didn't want to make up fake news and I wanted the option of having the terrific dynamic of the audience knowing more than the characters. That can be exciting. I wasn't trying to teach professional journalists a lesson or try and persuade you of anything. When I write about politics it's because there's a treasure trove of great stories that can happen. I was treating the newsroom the same way you would treat a law firm or an emergency room. I like writing romantically and trying to balance it with realism so it seems attainable."

Aaron Sorkin

As Sorkin spoke to the crowd, he revealed it was the first time ever that he had not been present onset when one of his show's was shooting. Sorkin was the subject of a Tribeca Film Festival discussion Monday as "The Newsroom" was shooting an episode about the 2014 Boston Marathon in California.

Despite years writing for shows like "Sports Night," "The West Wing," and "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip," Sorkin insists, “I haven’t become an expert in anything. I’m not sophisticated when it comes to politics, when it comes to journalism. I’m not as smart as the characters are. I want to make it clear: I don’t know nothin."

Instead, Sorkin says, "When I have to write about something I don't understand, I write about it phonetically."

But while Sorkin just finished writing his seventh film based on Walter Isaacson's best-selling Steve Jobs biography  he says that writing for TV is much harder.

"In TV, the schedule is so fast and ferocious," Sorkin explains. "There are air dates that have to be met. You have to write when you're not writing well and then the camera shoots at it. For 'The Newsroom,' we shoot my first drafts."

"There isn't a single episode of television I don't wish I could go back and write again," he revealed.

But as "The Newsroom" enters season 3 this fall, Sorkin says he's just starting to hit his stride with the HBO show.

“I feel like I’m just now starting to learn how to write it. I’m very proud ofThe Newsroom. I have the time of my life working with the people that I work with, but there is a learning curve and unfortunately, those lessons are learned in front of several million people. Again, that’s what you sign up for. I wish that I could go back to the beginning of 'The Newsroom' and start again and replicate what you have with a play, which is a preview period… But I’m feeling really good about how the third season is going. I’ll look back on it fondly and proudly and wish I could get every scene of every episode back so that I could do it all over again.”

While continuing to be self-deprecating, Sorkin revealed one show he admires: "I'm crazy about 'Breaking Bad' — but I wouldn't know how to write an episode of 'Breaking Bad.'"

SEE ALSO: Aaron Sorkin Says His Steve Jobs Movie Won't Be What You Expect

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'24' Miniseries May Not Be The End Of The Show

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24 live another day jack bauer

When "24" returns to Fox next month, it may not be the last time we see Jack Bauer on screen.

During a conference call Thursday with "24: Live Another Day" executive producers Manny Coto and Evan Katz, Coto said while the upcoming miniseries is indeed a one-off it doesn't mean we couldn't see another season or event series for "24."

"It's possible certainly," said Coto. "Obviously, it will depend on eyeballs that tune in, but one thing to keep in mind is that we all came back to tell this one last story — this one last day of Jack Bauer's life. If there's more beyond, we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

When the show returns, Coto says the 12-episode miniseries will follow a similar format to "24: Redemption," a made-for-TV movie that aired on FOX in 2008. 

The film took place between the sixth and seventh seasons in real time over the course of two hours. Similarly, the 12-part miniseries will take place over 12 hours.

"There's no difference in the way we are treating this show itself," says Coto. "All you're doing is presenting 12 hours out of a 24-hour period, but the episodes themselves are real time as 'Redemption' was and as the original series was."

At the moment, Coto says there's nothing planned past the mini-series event, but "24" fans can still hold out hope.

"Nothing is impossible," added Coto. "We are treating this season as a one-time miniseries event. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The ending could be the end of '24' for good if you look at it that way." 

"24: Live Another Day" airs on FOX Monday, May 5. 

SEE ALSO: "24" producers explain one of fan's strangest questions: When Jack Bauer goes to the bathroom

AND: Everything you need to know about the return of "24" to Fox

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Want To Be The Next Don Draper? Here's How To Quit Your Job For A Career In Advertising

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jon hamm don draper

The hard-playing, swashbuckling work life seen Sunday nights on "Mad Men" is one that's easy for people with less glamorous desk jobs to be envious of, and indeed, aspire to.

While the three-martini lunches and cigarette smoke might have gone away, the glitz of working for major brands and the creative thrill of of seeing your work on television remain.

And in speaking with people at several agencies, we've learned what to do if you want to ditch your boring office job for a life in advertising. 

Those looking for inspiration to make a career shift should look no further than Everette Cooke, a former attorney who quit his boring job drawing up contracts at a production company in 2010 to enter the advertising world. Now, he works at one of the industry's hippest agencies, Los Angeles-based 72andSunny.

There, he works on the Google account as a liaison between the tech giant and 72andSunny's creative writers and designers.

"I definitely feel much differently coming in to work now than I ever did as an attorney. I never really liked going to work," Cooke said. "What's been great has been the free flow of things here. It's more like jazz than classical music, where you're just reading the sheet music."

Cooke is one of a number of employees at 72andSunny to come from outside the industry. The agency's roster also includes a former school teacher, a former emergency room nurse, and a former soldier in the Israeli army.

Angela Hannam, group director of recruiting at CP+B, said that the heightened role of technology in the industry had opened up even more opportunities for people from nontraditional backgrounds to join the industry.

Several of the agency's successful interns hadn't even realized their design and programming skills could be used in advertising before they came to CP+B.

"I believe anyone can be successful here if you're willing to put in the time, you’re ambitious, you’re passionate, you have that creative energy, and you can be flexible," Hannam said. "Some of the people who have come in and really thrived were maybe new to advertising, but they just didn’t give up, and I think that’s the key."

Jason Harris, president of the digital agency Mekanism, said he prefers new creatives to come from a portfolio school, where students spend either one or two years honing their craft and creating practice ads to show prospective employers.

"You need to have a portfolio to see the thinking and the work," Harris said. "It doesn’t have to be work that ran, but you have to be able to see the concepts."

Hannam said that in addition to looking for portfolio school graduates, CP+B also seeks out people in other creative fields, like film directors, who've shown the ability to tell stories on film or in print.

She also stressed that CP+B employees are encouraged to involve themselves with all aspects of the business that strike their fancy, meaning their creative ideas could find their way into CP+B's work regardless of their official roles at the company. 

Evin Shutt, 72andSunny's chief operating who herself worked in education before moving to advertising, said these fresh perspectives can enhance the quality of an agency's creative work.

"I love that the person who comes from law and is a brand manager might be super passionate about art, and they’re going to look at it in a different way than a creative who is an art director by trade,” she said.

At the very least, it beats writing contracts all day.

"There are nights where you’re working really late, but there’s a really nice feeling that I have because I used to be miserable that I was at my job at 6:15 p.m," Cooke said. "Now, I can be working longer hours or having a bad day, but I actually like this job. I know that because I've had a job I didn't like." 

SEE ALSO: 'MAD MEN' vs. REALITY: Compare Don Draper's Ads With Those That Actually Ran In The 1960s

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Another Justice League Superhero Will Appear In The ‘Batman / Superman’ Movie

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cyborg ray fisherWhen the Batman/Superman movie hits theaters in 2016, the superheroes will be joined by Wonder Woman and another DC superhero, Cyborg.

Variety reports theater actor Ray Fisher has been cast as the Justice League superhero in the currently untitled film.

You may recognize Fisher as one of the young actors who was recently reported to be a frontrunner for the lead in “Star Wars.”

What you should know about Cyborg

cyborg

Cyborg, aka Victor Stone, is half man and half machine saved by his father after an accident left him injured. 

While Cyborg’s mostly known as a member of DC Comic’s “Teen Titans” which includes superheroes like Batman’s sidekick Robin, Cyborg has also been a member of the Justice League. 

Cyborg's role is thought to be a minor as Warner Bros. is expected to be working up to a "Justice League" movie to compete with Disney's monster Marvel cinematic universe on screen.

Previously, Warner Bros. announced Jesse Eisenberg will join the cast as iconic Superman villain Lex Luthor. "Fast and Furious" actress Gal Gadot will play Wonder Woman / Diana Prince.

“Argo” screenwriter Chris Terrio is working on the screenplay based on one by David S. Goyer. Goyer previously worked on the stories for Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy.

The “Batman / Superman” movie is currently set for a May 6, 2016 release

SEE ALSO: The 75-year evolution of the batsuit

AND: Why it's a terrible idea for Warner Bros. to release "Batman vs. Superman" the same weekend as "Captain America 3"

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John Oliver Says Goodbye On 'The Daily Show' By Proclaiming HBO Is Way Better

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After Stephen Colbert bid farewell to Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" Wednesday night, it was John Oliver's turn to revisit his old stomping grounds Thursday and say goodbye as his new show, "Last Week," premieres on HBO this Sunday.

Stewart lured Oliver back by using a fake British correspondent — Oliver's former gig.

"A British correspondent?" Oliver exclaimed as he stormed the scene, outraged. "She's from bloody Southern California!"John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily Show"We had to get you over here somehow," said Stewart. "Would you like to sit down and catch up?"

The two were genuinely happy to see each other.John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily ShowStewart even made the Brit feel at home by offering him some tea.

John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily Show"You look great," Stewart told Oliver, who replied, "I know I do, Jon, well you remember how I looked four months ago when I left here."John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily ShowAs for why he looks so good, Oliver says, "Remember, I am only doing one show a week now! And you know what that means? I get to go outdoors every day and see the um — what's it called again? — sun!"

He continued, "And then instead of being stuck in the office, I'm spending time with my um ..." "Dealer!" Stewart offered, to which Oliver replied, "wife."

"And I've been doing that thing where you lie down on a cushion and everything goes black for eight hours!" adds Oliver, to which Stewart proclaims "Peyote!"

"Sleep!" Oliver corrected.

John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily Show"So, you like it over there at HBO, huh?" asks Stewart.

"Are you kidding me? Paid cable is amazing!" Oliver proclaims. "No advertisers, you can do whatever you want!"John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily ShowOliver pointed out that "THIS ["True Detective"] is one of HBO's hit shows. I watched the whole season eight times and I have no idea what he's talking about!"True Detective Matthew McConaughey"I'm telling you Jon, HBO will let me say whatever the f--- I want! Wait, what's that bleeping noise?"John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily Show"Oh, we here at basic cable bleep out the cursing," Stewart reminds him. 

"Oh, you poor, sad f---," Oliver replies perfectly. "HBO lets me curse my f------ a-- off. And the nudity, Jon! I am pantless in my first three episodes."

"I get it, I get it!" Stewart says. "HBO is a wonderland of expletives and a forest of dongs."John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily Show"Oh, you've seen 'Games Of Thrones' then?" Oliver deadpans, to which both exclaim, "Booyah!"John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily Show"That reminds me," says Oliver. "I'm late for my hot giraffe-oil massage with Peter Dinklage."John Oliver Jon Stewart Daily ShowWatch the full, funny clip below:

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert Surprises Jon Stewart To Say Goodbye On 'The Daily Show'

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LAST CHANCE: Save $1,000 To Attend IGNITION With Jeff Bezos

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Jeff Bezos Launches Bezos Center For Innovation In Seattle

The fifth annual IGNITION: Future of Digital conference is Dec. 1-3 in New York City. Don't miss your chance to hear from industry leaders such as Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Adobe's Ann Lewnes, and Accel Partner's Jim Bryer with a special early-bird ticket price that expires next week.

Register here before next week and save $1,000.

IGNITION speakers include:

  • Jeff Bezos, Amazon
  • Jim Breyer, Accel Partners
  • Ann Lewnes, Adobe
  • Gene Munster, Piper Jaffray
  • Ian Rogers, Beats Music
  • Kevin Ryan, Gilt Groupe
  • John Sculley, Sculley Brothers
  • Sonny Vu, Misfit Wearables
  • And more!

We'll explore all the hot topics in digital today, including:

  • Wars of the Worlds
    Deep dives into the 2015 outlooks for Apple, Google, and Facebook
  • Mobility, Mobility, Mobility
    Follow the eyeballs
  • Monkeys in the Middle
    Brands go straight to consumers: What happens to everyone else?
  • Media Snacking, Ad Blindness, and Social Blurt
    Coming to terms with the new normal audience
  • Get With the Program(matic)
    Real-time trading plus massive data: Will automation turn the CPM tide?
  • Size Matters
    Do publishers have to be platforms?
  • It's the (Customer) Data, Stupid 
    Who's going to own it?

The agenda includes high-level interviews and discussions, an hourly break to network and caffeinate, extended lunch and breakfast, sponsored workshops, and cocktail receptions. Register now, save a grand. See you in December! 

register

P.S. If you're interested in sponsorship opportunities at IGNITION, contact ignition@businessinsider.com.

Follow @BI_Events on Twitter for IGNITION updates.

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Director Filmed 3 Actors Over 12 Years For Incredible Coming Of Age Movie

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Boyhood

In 2002, director Richard Linklater began filming then-six-year-old actor Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, and Patricia Arquette — and then periodically shot scenes over the next 12 years. 

The result is an incredible coming-of-age film in which we actually see the main character grow up  and his parents age  on screen.

Watch Coltrane transform below:

Boyhood

Linklater, who is the director behind the somewhat similar "Before Sunrise" trilogy, explained his unorthodox process to Indiewire:

"You know, every year I had a year to think up the next part, based on everything that had gone before. So by year four, I’ve got three years that I can look at, that are edited, that we’ve been working on, and I can feel where it’s going and where it wants to go. I was stuck with this kind of architecture but yet within that the décor, the details were always being reworked, being found. That’s kind of how I work on any movie, there’s always a strong outline, a structure and then within that structure, a certain looseness to work with the actors," he explained. "It makes you keep working—the night before, I want to have the great idea that keeps the scene interesting. I want to leave myself open to that."

"Boyhood" opens on July 11th. 

SEE ALSO: 15 Movies You Should See This Summer

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JOB OF THE WEEK: Director/VP of Media

Critics Are Trashing Kate Upton And Cameron Diaz's New Movie 'The Other Woman'

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cameron diaz kate upton the other woman

Cameron Diaz's new movie starring Leslie Mann and Kate Upton, "The Other Woman" is out this weekend.

In what appears to be a modern-day version of "The First Wives Club", Carly (Diaz), Kate (Mann), and Amber (Upton) seek revenge on the guy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, "Game of Thrones") who has been romancing all three of them — and more — while married to Kate.

So far, the reviews are pretty brutal with the film sitting at 25% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Here are a few:

The New York Times

“This female revenge comedy is so dumb, lazy, clumsily assembled and unoriginal, it could crush any actor forced to execute its leaden slapstick gags and mouth its crude, humorless dialogue (by the first-time screenwriter Melissa K. Stack).” 

NJ.com:

“Nick Cassavetes, who hasn't had a hit since ‘The Notebook,’ directs as deftly as if he were wearing boxing gloves. Scenes are overlit — the photography does Diaz no favors — the sound editing is awful and music cues are scored with a sledgehammer … The only thing missing from this steaming casserole, in fact, is the one crucial ingredient: A sense of humor.” 

The NYPost: 

“‘The Other Woman’ is a weak adultery rom-com in which the most authentic performance comes from a non-housebroken Great Dane.” 

“Cassavetes also relies heavily on tired visual shorthand. We know Carly is a career woman because she wears all black and stilettos; we know Mark is an alpha male because he drives a sports car. We know Upton’s the eye candy because she’s running down the beach in slow motion, “Baywatch”-style.” 

Time Out: 

“There’s a strong whiff of ‘The First Wives Club’ and an even a sprinkling of ‘Working Girl’ here – but instead of updating the genre, ‘The Other Woman’ rehashes it, bringing little more than a few giggles and a dash of glamour to the table.” 

A similar sentiment by many outlets is that Kate Upton’s presence in the film appears to be simply just for “eye candy."

the other woman

NYT:

"Amber [Upton] is crassly shoehorned into the movie to provide jiggling eye candy for boys." 

NPR: 

“It is a film that features a vomiting scene, a farting scene, a huge dog taking an extravagant, full-view dump on an apartment floor, the aforementioned diarrhea and nipple segments, a joke — the approach of which is visible from space — when a man is sexually humiliated by a transgender woman, and plenty of appreciative ogling of Kate Upton's caboose.”

The Hollywood Reporter

"Upton does what she's called upon to do, look great in a bikini, and rarely has more than one line to speak at a time."

Instead, a few suggest Nicki Minaj’s brief role is the best part of the film.  

Time: 

“All three women are less watchable and amusing that [sic] Nicki Minaj as Carly’s legal assistant Lydia. Here’s someone who enjoys a job she doesn’t feel the need to excel in — ‘It’s like having a hobby that pays well’ — and dispenses the working-girl wisdom that ‘Selfish people live longer.’”

Here's a clip of her in the film.

Despite the reviews, the film is set to win the box-office weekend with an estimated $16.5 million.

Now, watch a trailer for the film.

SEE ALSO: 15 movies you should see this summer

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Disney Is Going To Nuke All The 'Star Wars' Books And Comics Fans Have Been Enjoying For Decades (DIS)

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star wars empire strikes back

Lucasfilm, which is now owned by Disney and is working on a new trilogy of "Star Wars" movies, announced Friday that it's essentially killing off the vast series of books, comics, and video games that have spun off the original "Star Wars" movies.

Most of that extra material, commonly referred to as the Expanded Universe, explains what happens after "Return of the Jedi," the third movie in the original trilogy that ended with Darth Vader's death.

Disney's new trilogy of "Star Wars" movies will begin with "Episode VII" and will be the official sequels to "Return of the Jedi." In order to keep the storyline fresh and exciting, Disney decided to throw out the events that happen in the Expanded Universe and start over. After all, what would be the point of watching the new movies if we already know what's going to happen thanks to the Expanded Universe?

Moving forward, Lucasfilm/Disney will have a group of people tasked with making sure future Star Wars cartoons, books, comics, video games, etc. fall within the official storyline. That official storyline now only includes the six existing "Star Wars" movies, Episodes I through VI, and the "Clone Wars" cartoon series that aired on Cartoon Network.

All the other Expanded Universe material that has been published over the years will continue to exist, but will be rebranded under the "Star Wars Legends" banner. They're fun and interesting stories, but readers should note they do not reflect the official storyline that will take place in all future "Star Wars" material produced from now on. However, Lucasfilm did say some elements from the Expanded Universe like certain characters and organizations might make it into future "Star Wars" movies, books, etc.

Note that in the announcement it says "Lucas always made it clear that he was not beholden to the EU [Expanded Universe]."

"Episode VII" will premiere on Dec. 18, 2015. There will be two more movies, "Episode VIII" and "Episode IX", after that.

The Expanded Universe really got cranking once it became clear George Lucas wasn't going to make any sequels to "Return of the Jedi." That gave sci-fi writers the right to license "Star Wars" and its characters to come up with what happens to Luke Skywalker and crew after the final movie. But when Disney announced it was buying Lucasfilm in 2012 and planned to make a new "Star Wars" trilogy, it didn't make sense for the company to adhere to the Expanded Universe material.

Here's a video from Lucasfilm explaining the changes:

Here's the announcement from Lucasfilm:

For over 35 years, the Expanded Universe has enriched the Star Wars experience for fans seeking to continue the adventure beyond what is seen on the screen. When he created Star Wars, George Lucas built a universe that sparked the imagination, and inspired others to create. He opened up that universe to be a creative space for other people to tell their own tales. This became the Expanded Universe, or EU, of comics, novels, video games, and more.

While Lucasfilm always strived to keep the stories created for the EU consistent with our film and television content as well as internally consistent, Lucas always made it clear that he was not beholden to the EU. He set the films he created as the canon. This includes the six Star Wars episodes, and the many hours of content he developed and produced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. These stories are the immovable objects of Star Wars history, the characters and events to which all other tales must align.

Now, with an exciting future filled with new cinematic installments of Star Wars, all aspects ofStar Wars storytelling moving forward will be connected. Under Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy's direction, the company for the first time ever has formed a story group to oversee and coordinate all Star Wars creative development.

"We have an unprecedented slate of new Star Wars entertainment on the horizon," said Kennedy. "We're set to bring Star Wars back to the big screen, and continue the adventure through games, books, comics, and new formats that are just emerging. This future of interconnected storytelling will allow fans to explore this galaxy in deeper ways than ever before."

In order to give maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience, Star Wars Episodes VII-IX will not tell the same story told in the post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe. While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded. Creators of new Star Wars entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe. For example, elements of the EU are included in Star Wars Rebels. The Inquisitor, the Imperial Security Bureau, and Sienar Fleet Systems are story elements in the new animated series, and all these ideas find their origins in roleplaying game material published in the 1980s.

Demand for past tales of the Expanded Universe will keep them in print, presented under the new Legends banner.

On the screen, the first new canon to appear will be Star Wars Rebels. In print, the first new books to come from this creative collaboration include novels from Del Rey Books. First to be announced, John Jackson Miller is writing a novel that precedes the events of Star Wars Rebelsand offers insight into a key character's backstory, with input directly from executive producers Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, and Greg Weisman.

And this is just the beginning of a creatively aligned program of Star Wars storytelling created by the collaboration of incredibly talented people united by their love of that galaxy far, far away....

SEE ALSO: The new "Star Wars" film will cost at least $175 million to make

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Baby Prince George 'Enhanced' With Photoshop On Magazine Cover

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Prince George  Kate Middleton and Prince William's first offspring  is just 9 months old and already being "digitally enhanced" with photoshop on magazine covers.

As PageSix points out, George boasts "emerald green eyes, rosier cheeks and stronger strawberry-blond-tinged hair and brows" on the magazine's cover, but inside photos reveal "darker brown eyes and paler cheeks."

A spokesperson at Us Weekly didn't deny the enhancement, stating, “The original image used for the Prince George cover was dark and bluish in tone and needed to be given an overall color shift for printing purposes."

But the magazine rep counters, "By no means did we go in and alter the color of his eyes or cheeks."

Judge for yourselves below:

Prince George airbrush

SEE ALSO: Director Filmed 3 Actors Over 12 Years For Incredible Coming-Of-Age Movie

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Kate Upton And Cameron Diaz's 'The Other Woman' Is Essentially 'The First Wives Club'

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"The Other Woman" hits theaters this weekend, but you may have seen something similar before — at least according to the trailer.

The Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton-starring comedy is essentially a modern day "First Wives Club."

In "The Other Woman," the women strike up an unlikely friendship after figuring out they're involved with the same man and plot to get revenge. In 1996's "The First Wives Club," Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Bette Midler set out to get revenge against their individual ex-husbands.

Here's how the two story lines go down.

Once the women figure out they're being cheated on, they bond and spy:

The other woman binoculars spying

First Wives Club Spying

As a result of what they see, they get drunk and sad:

The Other Woman bar

Goldie Hawn First Wives CLub

Once sober, they vow to take revenge. This involves scheming in a car:

The Other Woman Cameron Diaz Kate Upton Leslie Mann

First Wives Club old cell phone

There's a whiteboard on which the women write the steps in their plan. Progress is made!The other woman white board cameron diaz

First Wives Club Diane Keaton white board

Mission accomplished over lunch at a fancy NYC restaurant. Cheers!The other woman cheers

First Wives Club

First Wives Club cheers

Watch both trailers and judge for yourselves below:

SEE ALSO: Critics Are Trashing Kate Upton And Cameron Diaz's New Movie 'The Other Woman'

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Amazon Prime Versus Netflix Versus Hulu Plus: Which Should You Pay For?

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Streaming Competition

Amazon recently announced a new deal with HBO that will give its Prime members access to a large selection of the network's classic content, making Amazon's Instant Video catalog a whole lot more attractive to potential subscribers. 

This new deal — plus the company's recent influx of original content — are making Amazon a realistic contender in the TV and movie streaming service wars. So, it's time for a throwdown: Which streaming service should rule your screen, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, or Hulu Plus? 

Let's dive into some of the details:

Price:

Netflix subscriptions currently cost $7.99 per month, but that price will rise by $1 or $2 for new members later this quarter. Existing members will keep their current price for a "generous" period of time. Assuming the $2 increase, Netflix will soon cost $119.88 per year. 

Amazon Prime membership costs $99 per year (or about $8.25 per month), but also includes unlimited, free two-day shipping on many items. You also get access to the company's growing selection of streaming TV shows and movies.

Hulu Plus costs $7.99 per month or $95.88 per year. We haven't heard of any upcoming price increases and don't expect to since Hulu can keep prices low by showing advertisements along with its programming. Netflix and Amazon don't show you ads.

Cheapest option: Hulu Prime is the cheapest streaming service, though only by a smidge. 

Interface:

We decided to compare the desktop interface of each of these services, even though they each have a their respective apps for phones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming boxes, etc.

One of the best parts about Netflix's desktop UI is how visual and personalized it is. One of the first categories you see is "Top Picks" for you, which makes it easy to find new content. Plus, Netflix lets you create different profiles, so if you share your service with a roommate or family member, you can make sure that your recommendations are true to what you actually watch. Although you can only sort by genre from the menu, scrolling through your home-page will reveal some of Netflix's signature quirkily-specific recommendation categories, like "Romantic movies featuring a strong female lead."

Netflix

Amazon's Prime Instant Video interface isn't the best for quick, easy discovery. On the one-hand, you have more way more ways to filter your content options: You can search by genre, mood (like bleak, touching, or offbeat), theme (like tough guys, or obsession), actor, or director. If you have a specific idea or what you're looking for, you'll have no trouble. But, on the desktop version at least, there's no personalized recommendations (though we did get them on the iPad app), so it's harder to find something new quickly when you don't know what you want. Plus, you don't get as much info about each individual show when you hover over it as you do on Netflix. 

Finally, because Amazon's catalog includes tons of titles that aren't included for free with Prime, you need to remember to check the "Prime" box when you're searching, or you could be disappointed when you find something that you don't actually have access to. 

Amazon Instant Video

Once you sign into your Hulu Plus account, you'll be quickly directed to a list of the shows that you usually watch, so diving into your addiction to Modern Family couldn't be easier. Hulu Plus, like Netflix, has a list of top recommendations for you based on other shows that you've shown interest in, though it also puts more of a focus on content that is popular on the site at any given time. The site also lets you sort by network, which is helpful if you know that you really like Comedy Central or CW shows, for example. 

Hulu

Although each of the user interface's had their perks, Netflix wins out because of its ability to support multiple profiles, the amount of info you get about a show just by hovering over it on the home-page, and the ultra-specific recommendation categories.

Selection:

LifeHacker did a really interesting analysis of which streaming service offers the best selection back in March. The site looked at the top 250 TV shows as ranked by IMDB, and checked which service offered which shows. It also highlighted the top 25 most popular shows (none of the top 25 changed in light of Amazon's new HBO deal). Head over to LifeHacker to see their infographic, but here's the gist:

Netflix has more than twice the streaming selection of Amazon Instant Video when it comes to the 250 hottest TV shows. Although Hulu Plus streams more current-running episodes, it has fewer of the hottest shows than Netflix or Amazon overall. Netflix has the most exlusive content. 

frank underwood president house of cardsOriginal shows:

Here are the original TV shows that you need to sign-up to watch. Although each service also has several "exclusive" shows, these ones are strictly pegged "original." 

Netflix: "Orange is the New Black," "House of Cards," "Hemlock Grove," "Lilyhammer," "Bad Samaritans," "The Ropes," and "Arrested Development" (season four only)

Amazon Prime: "Alpha House," "Betas," "Mozart in the Jungle," "Wishenpoof!" "The After," "Bosch," "Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street," and "Transparent"

Hulu Plus: "Quick Draw," "The Awesomes," "Deadbeat," "The Wrong Mans," "Behind the Mask," "Up to Speed," "Spoilers with Kevin Smith," "Battleground," "A Day in the Life"

Best original shows: At this point, there is much, much more hype around "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black" than any of the other shows on this list. However, several of Amazon and Hulu's shows are just getting started (or haven't even aired yet), so there's still time for one of them to come out with a huge hit. 

watching tvWhere are the crowds: 

Want to know what all your friends are watching? Here are the numbers for each service. 

Netflix: 35.67 million subscribers 

Amazon Prime: "At least" 20 million people use Prime, but we have no real indication on how many use Prime Instant Video, other than that the company said in its Q1 earnings call that video streams nearly tripled in the last year

Hulu Plus: 5 million subscribers, as of December

Most popular: Netflix is the most popular service

Unique Offerings:

Comparing these services only on the above criteria wouldn't cover the whole story. Each service has something extra on its side.

It needs to be noted that Netflix is really trumping the competition when it comes to original programming. "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black" both attracted huge audiences. Not to mention, that the creator of the popular show Arrested Development just signed on to do another new Netflix show. 

Amazon Prime membership offers tons of great content, but its biggest draw could still be the free, two-day shipping that it offers for lots of products. If you're a big Amazon shopper, it's almost a no-brainer to sign-up for Prime, because you're canceling out a lot of the shipping costs that could otherwise add up fast. Although the HBO content that Amazon will be getting on May 21 isn't as "hot" as other shows on Netflix or Hulu Plus, there are lots of extremely high-quality, well-reviewed series like "The Wire" and "Flight of the Concords" for viewers to dive into. If you buy a lot of stuff on Amazon, Prime is worth it. And you can't complain about getting a bunch of free stuff to watch to boot.

If you want to watch the latest episodes of your favorite popular shows, Hulu Plus is the place to go. Although you can binge-watch entire seasons of shows, Netflix and Amazon generally have to wait several months before they can stream the latest seasons. For example, on Netflix you can watch all of season two of "New Girl," but you have to wait until the whole third season is released a month or so after it ends, while you can watch the five latest episodes of "New Girl" on Hulu Plus right now. Still, you have to deal with commercials just like you do with regular TV.

Conclusion

Even with all the facts in front of us, it's hard to make an over-arching statement on which streaming service is best for everyone. Hulu Plus is the top choice for getting the newest episodes, but Netflix has the most entertaining original series and greatest selection of hot shows. Netflix has the best user and recommendation experience overall. If you're just looking for TV and movies, we're leaning towards Netflix as the best choice. 

However, because Amazon Instant Video is just one aspect of Amazon Prime, and Netflix, and Hulu Plus are still relatively inexpensive, it doesn't have to be a case of either/or. If you spend a lot of money on Amazon and you want to diversify your TV selection, Prime is worth the money. 

One other thing is for certain, too: If you still pay-full price for cable, then you may need to consider cutting the cord.

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Don't Be Afraid To Cancel Cable — Here's How To Get All The Programs You Love

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