With his parents (Nick and Nina) George Clooney arrived at the United Nations and was greeted with “oohs” and “ahs” from dozens of people, mostly women, who crowded the lobby entrance for a glimpse and cell phone picture of him.Clooney obtain the duty of promoting the world body’s peacekeeping missions after conducting his own campaigns for an end to the 4 1/2-year war in Darfur and generate more humanitarian aid for the millions caught up in the conflict. As the ninth U.N. peace envoy, Clooney was selected for his talent to focus public attention on critical international political and social issues.Other messengers of peace are Jane Goodall, Michael Douglas and Princess Haya of Jordan. 

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A funny, moving romantic drama about the power of love and family, Lionsgate’s “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns” marks another winning portrayal of life by writer/director/actor Tyler Perry (“Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “Madea’s Family Reunion”) and features a return to the big screen by Madea, the indomitable, law-breaking, fun-loving grandma.A single mother living in inner city Chicago, Brenda (Angela Bassest) has been struggling for years to make ends meet and keep her three kids off the street. But when she’s laid off with no warning, she starts losing hope for the first time – until a letter arrives announcing the death of a father she’s never met.

Desperate for any kind of help, Brenda takes her family to Georgia for the funeral. But nothing could have prepared her for the Browns, her father’s fun-loving, crass Southern clan. In a small-town world full of long afternoons and country fairs, Brenda struggles to get to know the family she never knew existed…and finds a brand new romance that just might change her life.Based on the popular stage production of the same name, “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns” is a charming story about the joys of family, and the possibility of second chances.  “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns” was written and directed by Tyler, and produced by Reuben Cannon. 

Trailer

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Comic Relief: The Greatest… And The Latest DVD collection plays host to the best 20 years of Comic Relief and includes uncensored performances from COMIC RELIEF 2006, which helped raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims and animal rescue operations. Join Billy Crystal, Whoopi, Robin Williams and the rest of the world class comedians as they throw their best stuff at a national disaster.  Featuring the greatest and the latest from Lewis Black, Dane Cook, John Candy, Jennifer Coolidge, George Carlin, Mike Epps, Jim Carrey, Susie Essman, Dave Chappelle, D.L. Hughley, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Eugene Levy, Richard Lewis, George Lopez, Jon Lovitz, Bill Maher, Howie Mandel, Dennis Miller, Dudley Moore, Catherine O’Hara, Jeremy Piven, Harold Ramis, Carl Reiner, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Rita Rudner, Bob Saget, Gary Schandling, Martin Short, Sarah Silverman, Jon Stewart, Fred Willard, Steven Wright and more!   

Comic Relief is a uniquely American dynamic, created by comedy writer/producer Bob Zmuda as a way of using laughter to elicit generosity.  For the past two decades Comic Relief has been uniting the comedy community with some of society’s most relevant causes and pressing needs. In its 20th Anniversary year, Comic Relief put on an effort to help raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims and animal rescue operation. The DVD includes interviews with the performers.  

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Get your barf bags ready - Paramount Pictures is already planning a sequel to J.J. Abrams’ “Cloverfield.”  According to Variety, Matt Reeves is in early talks with the company to direct the sequel.

According to Variety, the timing of the projects will depend mainly on how fast Paramount can complete discussions with Reeves, and how long it will take Abrams and writer Drew Goddard to come up with another monster story.

In other news, Reeves has also just made a deal with GreenStreet Films to direct “The Invisible Woman.”  The “Cloverfield” sequel, however is likely to be his next film, in which case “Woman” will come after.  Reeves wrote the script for “The Invisible Woman”, and is producing it with Abrams and GreenStreet’s John Penotti, Fisher Stevens and Tim Williams.

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The Weinstein Co. has picked up North American distribution rights to Woody Allen’s latest film, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, a romantic comedy/drama starring Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Kevin Dunn, and Rebecca Hall.

The film tells the tale of Vicky and Christina, two Americans vacationing in Barcelona, who become part of a chain of romances involving an artist and his crazy ex-wife.  When the film previewed in Santa Monica in November, a steamy menage a trios scene between Bardem, Cruz, and Johansson was the talk of the town.

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, which is scheduled for a 2008 release, marks Woody Allen’s sixth partnership with Bob and Harvey Weinstein.

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ComingSoon.net has snagged the exclusive debut of the new poster for Universal Pictures’ “Leatherheads”.  The film opens in theaters on April 4th, and stars George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski, and Jonathan Pryce. You can check it out here.

And, if you haven’t already caught the trailer for “Leatherheads”, visit this earlier post we did here at Screenhead about the film.  It also features a quick synopsis of the film, so you know what you’re getting into.

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Paul Haggis (“In the Valley of Elah” and “Crash”) and Michael Nozik signed a deal with United Artists. Haggis and Nozik will produce and Haggis will write and direct projects for the revived label, which recently struck a deal with the WGA. First up will be “Ranger’s Apprentice,” which Haggis will produce with Nozik and write as a potential directing vehicle. Project is based on the fantasy series by Aussie author John Flanagan. The series is about the adventures of an orphan named Will who becomes an apprentice ranger and fights to keep the mythical kingdom of Araluen safe from invaders, traitors and other dangers with the help of his master Halt. UA and Hwy61 also optioned the Joseph Weisberg novel “An Ordinary Spy.”

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Parents of preschool children two ”Little Einsteins” DVDs are coming your way February 19, 2008. Check out the titles and synopsis.

HANDY MANNY: FIXING IT RIGHT

Hop up and jump into fun with Handy Manny and his loyal, lovable talking tools. Working together, they’ll get the job done before you can say, “Gracias, mi amigo!” Cheer on Manny and his tools as Rusty heroically overcomes his fear of heights to lead the team, repair a jungle gym, and make a grateful new friend. Pat surprises everyone, including himself, when he’s the one who finds a clever solution to a really big problem. And Dusty solves the oh-too familiar mystery — “Where do socks go?” — when a clothes dryer seems to be “eating” them. Join Manny and his gregarious gang of can-do helpers and you’ll discover how cooperation and creative thinking make “Fixing It Right” great for preschoolers. Bonus Features: 1. “Fix It With Handy Manny” Set-Top Game

LITTLE EINSTEINS: RACE FOR SPACE.

Rev up Rocket and soar full speed ahead into action-packed, music-powered adventures! Join Leo, June, Quincy, Annie and Rocket on a mission to rescue the Three Little Piggies when their airplanes spin out of control. Can Rocket fly fast enough and far enough to bring the Piggies all the way home? Only with your help! Journey with the “Little Einsteins” as they zoom to outer space on their most thrilling voyage ever! Then, get ready to race around the globe against the world’s greatest flying machines. But look out! Big Jet is up to his old tricks. And he’ll do anything to win the trophy. Whether your preschooler is exploring the ancient city of Machu Picchu, whooshing past stars or planets, or searching for hidden treasure in Hawaii, “Race for Space” is a first-class ticket to nonstop entertainment for your kids!

Bonus Features: 1. “Rocket Around-The-World Activity” – “Learn How Different Tempos Drive The Music, And Help Guide Rocket Through The Sahara Desert, Hawaii And The Swiss Alps” 2. Bonus Shorts – “Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol” — “Race For Safety”; “Buckle Down For Safety”

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Oliver Stone nabbed the money he needs to start filming “Bush” in April. It looks like Josh Brolin will play President Bush.

QED, the production and financing company started three years ago by Bill Block, Paul Hanson and Elliot Ferwerda, finances “Bush.” “Whether you love Bush or you hate him, he has changed the world forever,” Block told Daily Variety. “He’s a subject of fascination to the rest of the world, no matter how you feel about him, and Oliver has put together a very complete and complex characterization of his life. Josh Brolin has the range and depth to reveal this character’s amazing journey to the ultimate power seat.”

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Synopsis

On his way to work one day, Joel (Bodhi Elfman) is impaled through the chest by a three-foot arrow. But it doesn’t harm him. And it won’t come out. So Joel has to learn to deal – both with his newfound protrusion, and his own painful loneliness. He tries to go to work, to date women, but no one seems ready to accept his strange flaw. Little does he know, his life is about to change forever…  Background In early 2004 Screenwriter Milena Ferreira, and her husband, Producer – Nathan Lorch, came up with the original story of “Struck.” On a romantic trip to Northern California Milena was “struck” by this idea of doing it as a short film. The concepts all of a sudden flowed together seamlessly and the short script was written two days later.A week later the idea was pitched to friend and director Taron Lexton, who loved it and wanted to help see it made. From there the Producing team of Taron (TXL Films) Nathan, and Milena (625 Productions) was born. The team then grew to include Casting Director and Producer Leslie Brown, and actor Bodhi Elfman as the lead. Each of them brought to the table their unique talents and strengths as artists as well as their individual contacts in the Industry. A crew was gathered made up of friends and professionals that each knew. 

Within a couple weeks the cast was set to include many name actors who were all on board out of their love for filmmaking and as an artistic collaboration for the film festival scene. The film was shot in late June of 2007 and completed in post-production in January of 2008.

Struck’s Trailer

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