The 37th annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony aired on television last night, and the musicians recognized were Sting and Al Green. They were both treated to covers of their songs by a cadre of famous musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, and Bruno Mars. The cast of Stings musical The Last Ship even came out during Mars Police medley. Springsteen covered I Hung My Head, a song from Stings 1996 album Mercury Fallen that has also been covered by Johnny Cash. Back when Springsteen was given the honor in 2009, Sting performed The Rising, so things have come full circle. Watch Springsteens and Mars performances below.
Three teams the 49ers, Falcons and Bears have asked to interview Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Can Adam Gase become the answer to the enigma that is Jay Cutler?
The Chicago Bears are curious enough to interview the Broncos offensive coordinator.
The Bears became the third team to formally consider Gase for their head coaching position, joining the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers.
Those three teams have one thing in common: Talented quarterbacks who have led their teams to at least one conference championship game but are coming off disappointing seasons. Cutler has been perhaps the NFLs most underachieving quarterback the past three years.
A first-round draft choice of the Broncos in 2006, Cutler earned a Pro-Bowl berth in 2008. But when the Broncos fired longtime coach Mike Shanahan after the 2008 season, Cutler demanded to be traded both in the days before and weeks after the team hired Josh McDaniels as their new coach and head of football operations.Dealt to Chicago in 2009, Cutler helped the Bears reach the NFC championship game in 2010 and he was playing well in 2011, winning five games in a row when he suffered a season-ending thumb injury. He has been erratic since, throwing 66 touchdown passes in the past three years, but also 44 interceptions.
Still, the Bears gave him a contract extension that paid him $22.5 million this season and hes virtually guaranteed to make about $15.5 million in 2015.
Cutler would pose a unique challenge for Gase, who worked closely the past three seasons with Peyton Manning, the Broncos meticulously prepared star quarterback. Gase was the Broncos quarterbacks coach in 2012 and offensive coordinator in 2013-14.
Manning averaged 43.7 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions in his past three seasons while leading the Broncos to records of 13-3, 13-3 and 12-4.
Ryan led the Falcons to the 2012 NFC championship game, in which they lost to Colin Kaepernicks 49ers. Ryan compiled a 56-22 record in his first five seasons as a starter but is 10-22 in his last two seasons.
Kaepernick was 21-8, including playoffs, in his first two seasons as the 49ers starter, but was 8-8 this season as he fell from the 10th-rated passer in 2013 to 20th this season.
Gase has been working with the Broncos offense this week in preparation for the teams second-round AFC playoff game next week Sunday, Jan. 11. However, thanks to having a first-round bye, the Broncos are off Thursday, Friday and Saturday before reconvening Sunday at Dove Valley.
Gase will conduct his interviews during the off days with contingents from the Bears, Falcons and 49ers meeting him here in the Denver area.
The Bears have hired former NFL general manager Ernie Accorsi to oversee their search for a new coach and GM. Broncos general manager John Elway has called Accorsi his front-office mentor.
The Falcons are using former Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns executive Joe Banner as a consultant for their coaching search. Banner was with the Browns last year when the team courted Gase to fill their head coaching vacancy. Gase withdrew from consideration and the job went to Mike Pettine.
The 49ers coaching search is headed by owner Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke. Gase worked for both in 2008 when he was the 49ers offensive assistant to offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Gases work as an offensive coordinator includes an NFL record 606 points and 55 Manning touchdown passes in 2013, and a midseason shift to greater run balance in 2014 as the Broncos still finished second in scoring at 30.1 points per game.
The "Big Bang Theory" star spoke about equality in an interview with Redbook for the magazine"s February 2015 issue. When asked if she considers herself a feminist, she responded in the negative.
"Is it bad if I say no?" she asked. "It"s not really something I think about. Things are different now, and I know a lot of the work that paved the way for women happened before I was around ... I was never that feminist girl demanding equality, but maybe that"s because I"ve never really faced inequality."
She then went on to discuss the gender roles in her household with husband Ryan Sweeting, whom she married in a surprise ceremony on New Year"s Eve last year after a whirlwind romance.
"I cook for Ryan five nights a week: It makes me feel like a housewife; I love that. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I like the idea of women taking care of their men. I"m so in control of my work that I like coming home and serving him. My mom was like that, so I think it kind of rubbed off."
Cuoco, 29, is currently one of the highest-paid actresses on television after inking a three-year contract with CBS for $1 million per episode for Seasons 8 through 10 of "The Big Bang Theory."
"All I think about is what it means for my family and knowing there is security for all of us," she told Redbook. Adding: "I remember always hoping I could help take care of [my parents] because they took such good care of me. Knowing I"ll be able to just brings tears to my eyes."
Read more from Cuoco"s interview in the February 2015 issue of Redbook, on newsstands Jan. 6.
DRAMATIC ENDING TO CHICAGO BEARS-GREEN BAY PACKERS GAME (1984) Packers Clinch NFC North With Win
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A heating pad wrapped around his sore left calf, Aaron Rodgers could only watch helplessly on television monitors in the locker room as the Detroit Lions surged closer to his Green Bay Packers.
There was only one place that he wanted to be -- back on the turf with the rest of the Packers while they tried to secure a fourth straight NFC North title.
Green Bay"s franchise quarterback is limping into the playoffs with a smile. Rodgers threw two touchdown passes to Randall Cobb, Eddie Lacy gashed Detroit"s defense for 100 yards, and the Packers celebrated another division championship with a 30-20 victory Sunday.
Rodgers will appreciate a week off after the win, as the Packers (12-4) earned a bye. Detroit (11-5) starts the postseason at Dallas next Sunday. Green Bay will next play on the following Sunday.
More from ESPN.com
Aaron Rodgers" inspirational performance Sunday was important to give the banged-up quarterback a week off as the Packers claimed another division title, Rob Demovsky writes. Story
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NFC playoffs Q&A: John Clayton examines the top questions heading into the NFC playoffs, including whether anybody has a chance to dethrone the Seahawks. Story
"It"s clearly an MVP performance -- another MVP performance -- by Aaron Rodgers," coach Mike McCarthy said. Rodgers won the award in 2011.
Rodgers was carted to the locker room after tossing his first score to Cobb late in the second quarter. He tweaked the calf during last week"s win at Tampa Bay.
This injury came in a different spot in the calf, Rodgers said. He came up limping again.
In the locker room while getting treatment, Rodgers said he was thinking about "if I could finagle myself to go back in the game."
He hobbled back on to the field in the third quarter with the game tied at 14.
"I just felt like if I got in there, it might give us a little jolt," Rodgers said.
The jolt soon followed. A seven-play, 60-yard drive ended with a 13-yard score to Cobb for a 21-14 lead. The Packers didn"t look back.
Rodgers plunged across the goal line from 1 yard with 8:45 left to help Green Bay regain a two-touchdown lead. "MVP! MVP" chanted adoring fans while light snow dusted Lambeau Field.
Rodgers finished 17 of 22 for 226 yards. He was out of the game for about a seven-minute stretch between the second and third quarters. In between, Calvin Johnson had touchdown catches of 4 and 20 yards on consecutive drives to help the Lions roar back from a 14-0 deficit.
Detroit hasn"t won a division title since 1993. It hasn"t won a road game against the Packers since 1991. For a few moments while Rodgers was out, it looked like both those streaks might end.
Instead the Packers were victorious again at Lambeau and finished the regular season 8-0 at home.
The Lions drew within 30-20 with 1:45 left after Matthew Stafford connected with Theo Riddick for a 6-yard touchdown. But Riddick"s 2-point conversion run failed, Tramon Williams recovered the ensuing onside kick and Green Bay ran out the clock.
Stafford finished 20 of 41 for 217 yards.
The Lions head home at least with the comfort that they had clinched a playoff berth regardless of Sunday"s outcome -- just the second playoff appearance since 2000.
"We"re 11-5, and it"s a new season," coach Jim Caldwell said. "None that stuff matters. We"ve got to look forward."
They could have accomplished so much more if not for some painful mistakes.
After blocking Mason Crosby"s 52-yard field goal attempt, the Lions lost the ball when Stafford fumbled on what looked like an aborted handoff to Joique Bell. The Packers cashed in with Rodgers" 1-yard sneak.
"It was just on our part, self-inflicted wounds, and we know that," cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "But kudos to them, they did make plays -- enough plays to win this ballgame."
Rodgers felt more pain after Detroit"s 305-pound defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh, stumbled back and stepped on Rodgers" lower left leg while the quarterback was on the ground at the end of a play. There was no penalty, and Rodgers tried to shove Suh back as the defender walked away.
Suh had cleared out of the locker room by the time reporters were allowed in after the game. Caldwell said he didn"t think it was an intentional act.
Rodgers said referee Walt Anderson told him he thought Suh was blocked into the quarterback. McCarthy didn"t see the play, but heard enough from others to be unhappy with Suh.
"There"s no place for that," McCarthy said. "I don"t understand it, frankly."
Game notesRodgers finished the season with a 112.2 passer rating and is the only player in NFL history to register a 100-plus rating in six consecutive seasons. ... WR Jordy Nelson had six catches for 86 yards, and set a franchise record with 1,519 yards for the season. ... Bell finished with 60 yards on 13 carries. ... The Lions allowed a season-worst 152 yards on the ground.
First Take - New England Patriots Beat San Diego Chargers
It is little consolation for the Chargers.
But of course, they"ll take it.
After being eliminated from playoff contention Sunday with a 19-7 loss to the Chiefs, the team was slated for the No. 18 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. The final game of the NFL regular season changed that. The Chargers now have the No. 17 pick, the Chiefs dropping one spot to 18th overall.
An official announcement to that effect was made Monday. The league released the draft order for all 20 non-playoff teams.
For such squads, overall record determines draft order. Strength of schedule is the first tiebreaker used to separate ones with the same record; the Chargers and Chiefs both finished 9-7.
The Chiefs this year played the Steelers, whose Sunday night win over the Bengals boosted Kansas City"s opponent winning percentage to .512. That is the same as the Chargers" strength of schedule.
A divisional tiebreaker is next applied. Because Kansas City swept San Diego in the teams" two meetings, San Diego has the higher draft pick of the two.
ESPN First Take - Bengals vs Steelers - Which Team Will Win AFC North ? | First Take
The candidates to pick up the slack if LeVeon Bell goes missing from the Steelers lineup for their playoff game Saturday night at Heinz Field are various. Among them: Josh Harris, Dri Archer, Will Johnson.
Or, how about the Steelers defense?
That once-dominant area of football in Pittsburgh has reappeared even before its season of transition ended. They might need it to continue if the Steelers are to get past the Baltimore Ravens and deeper into the playoffs.
Just as the offense was and did for the most part carry the banner as its defense reorganized and took a step backward this season, a suddenly revived defense might be able to lend a hand in a time of need without their team MVP in Bell.
That defense helped deliver a second consecutive victory and AFC North Division championship Sunday night with its patchwork secondary providing all three turnovers in a 27-17 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. This came one week after the defense rose up to defeat Kansas City, 20-12, and has not given up more than 21 points in the month of December, in which the Steelers won four in a row.
The defense played huge all day, Ben Roethlisberger said Sunday night. We didnt do enough offensively, we didnt make enough plays and our defense bailed us out. It was fun to watch our defense play at a very high level and get turnovers.
That defense has nine sacks in the past two games and four turnovers, including the two interceptions by cornerback Brice McCain and the fumble Sunday by A.J. Green caused by cornerback Antwon Blake. McCain saved a score with his first interception and set up a score with his second. Blakes forced fumble late in the game prevented the Bengals from tying it or possibly taking the lead.
Those two were nowhere in the secondary plans as the season began but injuries and poor performances by others moved them up the ladder. McCain replaced Cortez Allen at cornerback and Blake moved into the nickle defense with the combination of Allens demotion and the injury to Ike Taylor.
We knew we could play, but we had a lot of good players in this secondary, McCain said of their low position on the depth chart early in the season. We were just waiting for our time.
The Steelers list both as 5 feet 9; with starter Willie Gay at 5-10, they might have the smallest front three cornerbacks in the league.
Now thats some bang for your buck, coach Mike Tomlin shouted at McCain Sunday night in the locker room, either referencing his height, the minimum-wage one-year contract he signed with the Steelers as a free agent or both.
But Tomlin is correct. McCain helped save their 17-9 victory in Jacksonville with a late pick-6 when the Steelers were leading by one. He and Gay tied for the team lead with three interceptions, the first time any of their defensive backs had as many as three since Troy Polamalus seven in 2010.
Brice has little-man syndrome, claimed 6-5 defensive end Cam Heyward. Hes very hard on himself. Blakes got it, too. I give him a hard time. Those guys really stepped up.
Guilty, McCain responded to Heywards charge.
I do. Im very hard on myself because I know whats at stake. I work hard every day because I am a smaller corner. So I got to be perfect every time. If I aint perfect, I have to be 90 percent if not 100.
I practice every day on what people say I cant do. They say I cant jump, say I cant play big receivers, Im going to work on my jumping ability. I can really jump so I wouldnt really worry about that.
The secondary has almost completely turned over since the start of the season. Only free safety Mike Mitchell remains. Former starters Ike Taylor and Polamalu have missed the past two games with injuries and there is doubt whether they will return to start even if healthy. Will Allen started the past two games for Polamalu at strong safety and four of the past seven games.
The secondary has come alive under the current personnel.
Weve taken our lumps and theyve remained singularly focused and theyve stayed together, Tomlin said of the new secondary. We havent allowed the adversity to divide us and weve gotten stronger because of it. Theyre playing with better confidence and theyre making plays.
Its just the natural maturation process when you dont let outside forces interrupt it and you stay singularly focused on growth and development and the opportunities at hand. I give them credit for doing that. I think their play and our play has been on the upswing because of it.
No update on Bell
The Steelers provided no update on the condition of Bells right knee. Tomlin revealed Sunday night that it was hyperextended and that structurally it appears to be fine so well see if h**l be available to us here in our next game.
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com and Twitter @EdBouchette.
Reaction to Kyle Orton Replacing E.J. Manuel in Buffalo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP/CBS4) Former Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton told the Buffalo Bills on Monday that he plans to retire.
The surprise decision places further emphasis on the teams offseason need to address whats long been an unsettled position.
The Bills announced Ortons decision a day after the 10-year journeyman led Buffalo (9-7) to a season-ending 17-9 win at New England. He played for the Broncos from 2009 to 2011, when he was released and picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Its just a family decision, and Ive decided to get home and be a dad and call it a day, Orton said, in a statement released by the team.
The announcement was made shortly after the Bills held end-of-season meetings with their players. Despite enjoying its first winning season since a 9-7 finish in 2004, Buffalo missed the playoffs to extend the NFLs longest active postseason drought to 15 years.
The 32-year-old Orton declined to speak to reporters while making a brief appearance at his locker, where he picked up a few of his belongings.
In electing to retire, Orton is passing up the chance to make a $5.4 million base salary he was due next year.
His departure also leaves Buffalo with a veteran hole to fill at quarterback, which the team sought to address by signing Orton to a two-year contract a little more than a week before the start of the season.
Initially signed to help mentor EJ Manuel, Orton wound up replacing the second-year player after a 2-2 start.
Orton provided an initial spark in going 3-1 in his first four starts before he and the offense sputtered down the stretch. He finished 7-5 with 3,018 yards passing with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Minus Orton, the Bills are left with two quarterbacks on their roster, Manuel and Jeff Tuel, who spent the entire season on the practice squad.
Manuel has two years left on his contract. The 2013 first-round picks future as the teams long-term starter, however, remains in question after he was benched and lost the confidence of coach Doug Marrone.
Rather than considering playing Manuel against New England after the Bills were eliminated from playoff contention, Marrone stuck with Orton by saying the veteran gave Buffalo the best chance to win.
Receiver Robert Woods wasnt entirely caught off guard by Ortons retirement, noting the quarterback had hinted at the possibility in recent weeks.
Hed talk about it here and there, just joking around, `Its my last get-around, guys," Woods said. I gained a lot of knowledge from him. Im happy for him. Were thankful for him.
Running back Fred Jackson was surprised.
Huh, I didnt know anything about it. This is the first time Im hearing about it, Jackson said. Thats his choice. Obviously, he was a guy who did some things for us this year, stepped in and played a major role in what we were able to accomplish. We wish him well.
The Bills were already thought to focus on upgrading the position this offseason in free agency or through a trade. Their options, however, are somewhat limited when it comes to the draft.
Buffalo doesnt have a first-round pick after trading it to Cleveland in May to move up five spots for the right to select receiver Sammy Watkins fourth overall.
Quarterback shuffles are nothing new in Buffalo.
The Bills havent had a starter last beyond three years since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired following the 1996 season. Including Orton, the Bills have now had 11 quarterbacks start at least eight games over the past 18 seasons.
Orton was at best considered a stop-gap measure for Buffalo.
He was already contemplating retirement in mid-July when he was cut by the Dallas Cowboys after failing to attend the teams spring minicamps.
With a 42-40 record as a starter, Orton was Chicagos fourth-round pick in 2005.
More Broncos Stories
-By JOHN WAWROW,AP Sports Writer
(TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Some users, especially those on Twitters Android app, were unable to use the service. Others reported seeing tweets from a year ago.
While its unclear what caused the error, one Twitter user looked into the login process and found that Twitters server seemed to think the date was December 29, 2015.
Twitter acknowledged the issue in a post on its Status blog last night. The issue was due to a bug in our front end code, which has been patched, the company said, and apologised for the problems.
The site and apps seemed to be working this morning.
Many users were locked out of Twitter on Saturday, too, with tweets not showing up on feeds or the site failing to load at all.
Joe Cocker, 70, the raspy-voiced soul singer who became a sensation after performing at Woodstock, died on Dec. 22, 2014.
Actress and former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley Collins died on Dec. 9, 2014. She was 77.
Actor Ken Weatherwax, who played the child character Pugsley on "The Addams Family" television series in the 1960s, died on Dec. 7, 2014. He was 59.
Rolling Stones collaborator and Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan died on Dec. 3, 2014. He was 69.
Saxophonist Bobby Keys, a lifelong rock "n" roller who toured with Buddy Holly, played on recordings by John Lennon and laid down one of the all-time blowout solos on the Rolling Stones" "Brown Sugar," died on Dec. 2, 2014. He was 70.
Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the iconic Mexican comedian known as Chespirito who wrote and played the boy television character "El Chavo del Ocho" that defined a generation for millions of Latin American children, died on Nov. 28, 2014 at age 85.
Mike Nichols, Oscar-winning director of "The Graduate" and husband of ABC News" Diane Sawyer, died on Nov. 18, 2014 night at the age of 83.
Jimmy Ruffin, the Motown singer whose hits include "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Hold on to My Love," died on Nov. 17, 2014. He was 78.
Ken Takakura, a Japanese actor who played alongside American stars such as Tom Selleck and Michael Douglas, died on Nov. 10, 2014. He was 83.
Glen A. Larson, the writer and producer behind well-loved TV series such as the original "Battlestar Galactica," ""Knight Rider," ""Magnum, P.I." and "Quincy, M.E.," died on Nov. 14, 2014. He was 77.
Singer Henry Jackson, who was better known as Big Bank Hank of the Sugarhill Gang, died on Nov. 11, 2014. He was 57.
Flamenco guitarist Manitas de Plata, who sold nearly 100 million records worldwide and broke boundaries for Gypsy musicians, died on Nov. 5, 2014. He was 93.
Tom Magliozzi, right, the iconic co-host of NPR"s "Car Talk" for nearly 35 years, died on Nov. 3 at the age of 77.
Wayne Static, the lead vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist for the heavy metal band Static-X, died on Nov. 1, 2014 at 48.
Actress Elizabeth Norment, who played Frank Underwood"s secretary, Nancy Kaufberger, on Netflix"s "House of Cards," died on Oct. 13 at age 61.
Jack Bruce, bassist and lead vocalist for the 1960s rock band Cream, died on Oct. 25, 2014. He was 71.
John Holt, the reggae musician best known for his hits "Stick By Me" and "Ali Baba," died on Oct. 19, 2014, at the age of 69.
Tim Hauser, the founder and singer of the Grammy-winning vocal troupe The Manhattan Transfer, died on Oct. 16, 2014. He was 72.
Elizabeth Pena, the versatile actress who shifted between dramatic roles in such films as "Lone Star" and comedic parts in TV shows like "Modern Family," died on Oct. 14, 2014. She was 55.
Former "Saturday Night Live" star Jan Hooks died on Oct. 9, 2014. She was 57 years old.
Tony Award-winning actress Marian Seldes, who was a Guinness Book of World Records holder for most consecutive performances, died on Oct. 6, 2014. She was 86.
Paul Revere (center), the organist and leader of the Raiders rock band, died on Oct. 4, 2014. He was 76.
Emmy-winning actress and nightclub singer Polly Bergen, seen here with Carl Reiner, died on Sept. 20, 2014. She was 84.
Richard Kiel, the towering actor best known for portraying the steel-toothed villain Jaws in a pair of James Bond films, died on Sept. 10, 2014. He was 74.
Gerald Wilson, the dynamic jazz musician whose career spanned more than 75 years, died on Sept. 8, 2014. He was 96.
Comedienne Joan Rivers, who reveled in skewering celebs with cutting remarks and a caustic wit, died on Sept. 4, 2014 at 81.
Jimmy Wayne "Jimi" Jamison, the lead singer of the 1980s arena rock band Survivor, died on Aug. 31, 2014.
Acclaimed actor and Oscar-winning director Sir Richard Attenborough, whose film career on both sides of the camera spanned 60 years, died on Aug. 24, 2014. He was 90.
Don Pardo, television and radio announcer best known as the voice of NBC"s "Saturday Night Live," died on August 18, 2014. He was 96.
Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall, star of films such as "To Have and Have Not" and "Key Largo," died on Aug. 12, 2014. She was 89.
Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died on Aug. 11, 2014. He was 63.
Charles Keating, a British-born Shakespearean actor who became an award-winning American soap opera star on "Another World," died on Aug. 9, 2014. He was 72.
Scream queen Marilyn Burns, who starred in the original 1974 "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and appeared in two sequels, died on Aug. 5, 2014. She was 65.
d**k Smith, the first makeup artist to win an Academy Award for lifetime achievement, died on July 30, 2014. He was 92.
Prolific TV producer Robert Halmi, Sr., who worked on more than 200 programs and miniseries, died on July 30, 2014. He was 90.
Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi, who was considered one of the most authoritative interpreters of Verdi"s operas, died on July 25, 2014 at the age of 90.
Actor James Garner, whose whimsical style in the 1950s TV Western "Maverick" led to a stellar career in TV and films such as "The Rockford Files" and his Oscar-nominated "Murphy"s Romance," died on July 20, 2014. He was 86.
Actress Skye McCole Bartusiak, who was best known for playing the youngest daughter of Mel Gibson"s character in the film "The Patriot," died on July 19, 2014. She was 21.
Broadway icon and TV actress Elaine Stritch died on July 17, 2014. She was 89.
Texas blues icon Johnny Winter, who rose to fame in the late 1960s and "70s for his energetic performances and musical collaborations including with childhood hero Muddy Waters, died on July 16, 2014. He was 70.
Lorin Maazel, a world-renowned conductor whose prodigious career included seven years at the helm of the New York Philharmonic, died on July 13, 2014. He was 84.
Tommy Ramone, 65, a co-founder of the seminal punk band the Ramones and the last surviving member of the original group, died on July 12, 2014.
British actor and boxer Dave Legeno, who played the werewolf Fenrir Greyback in three Harry Potter films, died on July 6, 2014 while hiking in Death Valley National Park. He was 50.
Actor Bob Hastings, who won fans on the 1960s sitcom "McHale"s Navy" as Lt. Carpenter, died on June 30, 2014 at 89.
Paul Mazursky, the innovative and versatile writer and director who showed the absurdity of modern life in such movies as "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" and "An Unmarried Woman," died on June 30, 2014. He was 84.
Actor Meshach Taylor, 67, who was best known for playing Anthony Bouvier on the hit TV show "Designing Women," died on June 28, 2014.
Bobby Womack, an R&B singer-songwriter who influenced artists from the Rolling Stones to Damon Albarn, died on June 27, 2014. He was 70.
Mary Rodgers, the composer of the 1959 musical "Once Upon a Mattress" and the author of the body-shifting book "Freaky Friday," died on June 26, 2014. She was 83.
Actor Eli Wallach, who worked for decades in TV, movies and on stage and made a lasting impression as the scuzzy bandit Tuco in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," died on June 24, 2014 at the age of 98.
Grand Ole Opry member Jimmy C. Newman, who was known for mixing Cajun and country music, died on June 21, 2014. He was 86.
Lyricist Gerry Goffin, 75, who penned such hits as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," ""(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," ""Up on the Roof" and "The Loco-Motion," died on June 19, 2014.
Horace Silver, a pianist, composer and band leader with a tireless inventiveness who influenced generations of jazzmen with his distinctive hard bop sound, died on June 18, 2014. He was 85.
Jimmy Scott, a jazzman with an ethereal man-child voice who found success late in life with the Grammy-nominated album "All the Way," died on June 12, 2014. He was 88.
Legendary broadcaster Casey Kasem, who was best known for his work on the "American Top 40" radio show, which he hosted from 1970 to 1988, and again from 1998 until 2004, died on June 15, 2014. He was 82.
Actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee died on June 11, 2014. She was 91.
Comic actress Ann B. Davis, who played the devoted housekeeper Alice on the television sitcom "The Brady Bunch" and won two Emmy awards as the forever-single secretary Schultzy on "The Bob Cummings Show," died on June 1, 2014 at age 88.
Gordon Willis, the cinematographer responsible for stirring camera work in such film classics as the "Godfather" trilogy and "Manhattan," died on May 18, 2014.
Jerry Vale, the beloved crooner known for his high-tenor voice and romantic songs in the 1950s and early 1960s, died on May 18, 2014. He was 83.
Leslie "Les" Carlson, an actor best known for his role as Barry Convex in the sci-fi classic, "Videodrome," died on May 3, 2014. He was 81.
English actor Bob Hoskins, who is best known for his roles in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "Hook," died on April 29, 2014. He was 71.
Kevin Sharp, a country music singer who recorded multiple chart-topping songs and survived a well-publicized battle with cancer, died on April 19, 2014 at the age of 43.
Ultimate Warrior, a 54-year-old professional wrestler who was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, died on April 8, 2014.
Phyllis Frelich, a Tony Award-winning deaf actress who starred in the Broadway version of "Children of a Lesser G*d," died on April 10, 2014. She was 70.
Mickey Rooney, an award-winning actor and Hollywood legend who appeared in more than 300 films and TV programs, died on April 6 at the age of 93.
John Pinette, renowned stand-up comedian who appeared in the final episode of the hit TV show "Seinfeld," died on April 6. He was 50.
Actress Kate O"Mara, who was best known for her role as Caress Morell, the scheming sister of Alexis Colby in the 1980s primetime soap opera "Dynasty," died on March 30 at the age of 74.
David Brockie, who as "Oderus Urungus" fronted the heavy metal band GWAR, died on March 23, 2014. He was 50.
Patrice Wymore Flynn, Hollywood actress and widow of swashbuckling screen legend Errol Flynn, died on March 22. She was 87.
In this file photo, actor James Rebhorn attends "The Box" premiere at the AMC Lincoln Square on Nov. 4, 2009 in New York City. Rebhorn died on March 21, 2014. He was 65. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
L"Wren Scott, a noted fashion designer and model, died on March 17. She was 49.
Comedian David Brenner, who became one of the most frequent visitors to Johnny Carson"s "Tonight" in the 1970s and "80s, died on March 15, 2014. He was 78.
George Donaldson, the lead singer of Celtic Thunder, died on March 12, 2014. He was 46.
Legendary voice-over artist Hal Douglas died on March 7, 2014 at the age of 89, due to complications from pancreatic cancer.
In this file photo, Harold Ramis attends a SCTV panel discussion in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Second City at 1616 N. Wells Avenue on December 12, 2009 in Chicago. Ramis died on Feb. 24. He was 69.
Maria von Trapp, the last surviving member and second-eldest daughter of the musical family whose escape from n**i-occupied Austria was the basis for "The Sound of Music," died on Feb. 18, 2014. She was 99.
In this 1978 photo taken by Janet Macoska and released by Devo, Inc., the band Devo, from left, Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, kneeling, Jerry Casale, Bob Casale and Alan Myers pose for a photo. Bob Casale died on Feb. 17, 2014 at the age of 61.
Ralph Waite attends at "The Waltons" 40th Anniversary Reunion The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on September 29, 2012 in Los Angeles. Waite died on Feb. 13. He was 85.
In this file photo, actor Sid Caesar arrives at the Arclight Cinema for the 40th Anniversary screening of the movie "It"s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" on October 16, 2003 in Hollywood. Caesar died on Feb. 12, 2014. He was 91.
Actress Shirley Temple Black accepts the Life Achievement Award onstage during the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2006 in Los Angeles. She died on Feb. 10 at the age of 85. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
In a Jan. 19, 2014 photo Philip Seymour Hoffman poses for a portrait at The Collective and Gibson Lounge Powered by CEG, during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Hoffman died on Feb. 2. He was 46. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP)
This May 5, 2006, file photo shows Pete Seeger in Beacon, N.Y. The American troubadour, folk singer and activist Seeger died Jan. 27, 2014, at age 94. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
FILE - This Oct. 2, 1978 file photo shows Russell Johnson, as the professor, posing during filming of a two-hour reunion show, "The Return from Gilligan"s Island," in Los Angeles. Johnson died Jan. 16, 2014, at his home in Washington State. He was 89. (AP Photo/Wally Fong, File)
This 1970 photo released by courtesy of Sony Pictures Television shows, back row, from left, cast members, Shirley Jones, Dave Madden, David Cassidy, Susan Dey, and front row, from left, Brian Forster, Danny Bonaduce and Suzanne Crough of the television series, "The Partridge Family." Madden, who played the child-hating agent on the hit 1970s sitcom, died on Jan. 16, 2014, at age 82. (AP Photo/Copyright CPT Holdings Inc, Courtesy Sony Pictures Television)
In this 2010 file photo, actress Juanita Moore attends the TCM Classic Film Festival screening of a "A Star Is Born" at Grauman"s Chinese Theater. She died on Jan. 1, 2014. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Continua la sfida per la vetta tra Meghan Trainor e Taylor Swift. Anche questa settimana a prevalere la cantante esordiente. Il suo singolo All about that bass ha infatti ottenuto un incremento dei points complessivi pari al 11%, questo grazie alla salita nello streaming (2-1, +19% e in radio (6-3, +19%). Taylor Swift per non si arrende e incrementa del 22% il suo punteggio complessivo grazie alle vendite (+10%), alle radio (7-4, +11%). Discorso a parte merita lo streaming dove il brano salito del 58% per via di molteplici fattori: un video virale di giovani del Kentucky che fanno finta di cantare la canzone, un video di un pap e sua figlia che ballano il pezzo e poi i Shake it off Outtakes Video pubblicati sul canale VEVO della cantautrice.
Nicki Minaj si conferma alla 3 con Anaconda, questo nonostante abbia perso la cima della streaming songs chart (-5%). Questo calo compensato dalle radio dove il brano aumenta del 10%. Le vendite rimangono sostanzialmente stabili. Guadagna ancora una posizione Black Widow di Iggy Azalea ft Rita Ora. La canzone ha dei buoni piazzamenti in tutte le singole categorie: nona in radio, quinta nelle vendite e nello streaming. Scende alla 5 Bang Bang, ma il brano sta salendo in radio (16-13, + 22%).
Come avete visto anche questa settimana tutta la top 5 tinta di rosa: troviamo infattisolo donne, complessivamente esse sono 7 (Nicki Minaj compare 2 volte).Alla 6 rimane stabile il primo uomo: Sam Smith con Stay with me. A seguire c Break free di Ariana Grande. Grazie a Shake it off, Bang Bang e Break free, Max Martin ha per la quarta settimana consecutiva 3 singoli da lui co-scritti o co-prodotti in top 10. Forte della risalita nelle vendite, passa alla 8 Maps dei Maroon 5.Ritorna a scendere Rude dei MAGIC!, torna in top 10 Boom Clap, il singolo di Charli XCX il secondo pi passato in radio. Esce dopo un po di settimane dalla top 10 Chandelier di Sia. Il brano sta calando in radio.
Guadagnano una posizione Dont tell Em e Bailando a scapito diRather Be e Am I wrong. Nuovo peak per Habits (stay high) di Tove Lo. Sembrano prossime a lasciare la top 20 due grandi hits come Fancy e Problem, Sale alla 18 Hot Boy. Rimane stabile alla 20 Burnin it down di Jason Aldean.
LOS ANGELES The first film adaptation of Veronica Roths Divergent novels was one of the most popular new Hollywood franchises of 2014, grossing more than $150 million at the domestic box office.
Now, fans can close out the year with a look at the much-anticipated sequel, Insurgent, which is due out March 2015.
Shailene Woodley reprises the role of Tris, a teen living in a dystopian future where people are divided into categories based on character attributes. Tris and her fellow divergents, who dont fit into any of the categories, continue their struggle to survive as Jeanine Matthews (played by Kate Winslet) hunts them down.
A trailer released this week shows a greater emphasis on action scenes this go-around. Fans of the trilogy might also notice that Tris has a pixie cut in this installment, even though the characters hair is not that short in the book.
Woodley says director Robert Schwentke granted her request to keep her naturally short hair which she cut for her role in another young adult novel adaptation, The Fault in Our Stars instead of wearing a wig.
I think wigs always look wiggy, especially in an action movie, Woodley told Buzzfeed.
LeBron James Full Highlights 2014.12.19 vs Nets - 22 Pts, 9 Assists
LeBron James is returning to his former home for the holidays. In anticipation of the Cleveland Cavaliers playing against the Miami Heat on Christmas Day, the Miami Herald asked fans to change some of the lyrics to Santa Claus Is Coming To Town for James.
The tone among most entries reminded Heat players to not take it easy on their former teammate. Some lyrics emphasized good etiquette among Heat fans, such as, You better not whine, you better not boo, and memorable moments of his time with the team. Even a few fans from Ohio contributed their own versions.
But not all of the verses showed a fondness for James. Locals did share lines with stinging remnants of his departure this year, ending the first stanza with LeBron James is a disloyal fraud and LeBron James is breaking ex-fans minds.
Read some of our favorite submissions on Page 2D. You can submit your lyrics for LeBron James Is Coming To Town and read other entries through the Public Insight Network.
PSN still down = #MesaBabble (Things to do when back, Engrams, Crota and more bable)
While the past few weeks have been terrible, horrible, and, in some cases, very bad for Sony, many PlayStation customers haven"t paid too much mind to the Japanese company"s ongoing suffering. Instead, Sony"s customers been almostexclusivelyconcerned with one question: When will PlayStation Network finally make its return?
Sony hasn"t been able to give a direct answer. In response, websites likeIs The PlayStation Network Back Up?" have been created to monitor the restoration"s progress. Sparsely decorated with social media buttons and advertisements (some of which are PlayStation-related, curiously) the site is clearly a move tocapitalizeon both the eagerness and fatigue surrounding the outage.
And its not alone. Another PSN status site, "Is PSN Still Down?", also offers a clear and disappointing answer to the question. A third, "Is PSN Up Yet?, goes in a different direction, reappropriating an Internet meme in its similarly-simpleresponse.
None of the sites, of course, can predict when the PlayStation Network will return. Nor, apparently, can Sony, which planned to restore the service before the end of last week. But the company"s plans were dashed as the news broke that its Sony Online Entertainment services were also affected bysecurityintrusions.
"We were unaware of the extent of the attack on Sony Online Entertainment servers, and we are taking this opportunity to conduct further testing of the incredibly complex system," wrote Sony Communications DirectorPatrick Seyboldon Friday, acknowledging the yearning of PlayStation owners to return to online play. In the end, Seybold failed to give customers any information as to when the PlayStation Network will be restored.
FIFA 15 | PACK OPENING 6.0 BOXING DAY | DoctorePoLLo
Despite fears that increasing competition from online retailers would temper the Boxing Day chaos, stores across Edmonton were packed with customers looking for big savings.
Youve maybe got to park a little further away from the store, bear the cold and the long lines, but if youre going to save some money, you have to pay the price somehow, said Darrick Aube, who was still smiling about saving $400 on his new 60-inch flat screen television as he loaded it into the back of his truck with help from his father, Brian Aube.
Both say they usually avoid the chaos of Boxing Day shopping, but the savings this year were simply too good to pass up.
It was busy in there, but it wasnt bad, said Brian, outside of the Best Buy on Stony Plain Road. We were in and out of there in maybe 15 or 20 minutes.
The lines of cars trying to get into West Edmonton Mall stretched for blocks in all directions, but shoppers at Kingsway Mall managed to cut through the crowds to rack up some savings.
I call this a suicide walk, laughed Angus Cameron, feeling lucky to get out in one piece as he helped Tammy Steeves pick up a Doctor Who themed mini-fridge for Steeves daughter.
Sisters Madison Mercer, 12, and Summer Mercer, 16, were more than willing to brave long lines and crowds in order to help stretch their Christmas spending money.
I think its worth running through people rather than spending twice as much, said Madison, whose best score of the day was purchasing pair of pants for $19 that usually retail for $55 dollars.
I didnt think it was going to be this good for deals, added Summer, who spent her budget on clothes and gift cards. It was crazy, but it was fun.
Danielle Duguay seized the opportunity to purchase a new pricey winter jacket she has been coveting at half the price.
I saw it a while back, but it was too expensive. Then they put it on a really good deal, she said, adding that in order to take full advantage of Boxing Day sales, patience is the key.
Debbie Delorme and 13-year-old Izabella Delorme, have turned Boxing Day shopping into an annual mother-daughter tradition.
I knew where I wanted to go so we didnt have to waste time, because I dont like big crowds, said Izabella, grinning ear-to-ear while showing off a new pair of winter boots bedazzled with rhinestones that she got for a fraction of the regular cost.
You can still get some pretty good deals, you just have to look around sometimes, said Debbie, who recommends staring early and knowing where you want to go to get the most out of your shopping experience.
PARKING . . . I"LL PASS
While Boxing Day sales werent hard to find at West Edmonton Mall on Friday, parking definitely was, with lines of cars stretching for blocks in all directions.
You should have hired police officers to direct traffic. Its insane, tweeted a frustrated @whoisalbert.
While stores in North Americas largest mall open two and a half hours early to accomodate seasoned bargain hunters, @DKSkittle39 tweeted out a warning about parking just past 7 a.m.
Already a line up to park at [West Edmonton Mall]! Wonder if any of the expectant mother spots are still open, she posted.
Oh, its not THAT busy, tweeted @Conal_Mac, using the sarcastic hashtag #ClosestParkingSpotWasInSpruceGrove.
Despite the fact that West Edmonton Mall boasts the largest parking lot in the world, with enough space to accomodate 20,000 vehicles, the promise of big savings at over 800 stores was easily enough to overwhelm them, with the @Official_WEM twitter account suggesting overflow parking early in the afternoon.
Im #insane thats the only reason I would be at west edmonton mall on #BoxingDay, tweeted @MissyHollyAnn.
He was one of a generation often called America"s greatest and this is the story of how Louie Zamperini survived a crash and spent 47 days at sea, and spent 2.5 years in a Japanese prison camp and remained "Unbroken"
Is an epic in the grand tradition of World War II movies.
The book that inspired this brought tears to my eyes but the film didn"t move me quite as much though. I find it remarkable that Angelia Jolie, a movie star with just one film to her credit as a director, can make a movie of such depth, complexity, and scope.
"I wanted to know how he grew as a man and how he endured," Jolie said.
Jack O"Connell as "Louie" heads a fine cast, and the film benefits from having so few of the actors be well known to us and makes it all the more believable.
Never more so than with the inspired choice of Japanese rock star Miyavi to play the evil "Watanabe"
More than half a century separates this one from the conflict in Iraq, but "American Sniper" is an equally compelling war movie and it also tells a true story.
"I"m willing to meet my creator and answer for every shot I took," said Chris Kyle, in the movie.
Chris Kyle became one of the most famous sharp-shooters in American history and one of the best over four tours of duty that produced a best-selling book about his experiences.
Bradley Cooper gives one of his best performances as a man caught between his duty to his country and to his wife played by Sienna Miller.
Some high-profile Oscar contenders have Christmas releases this year, including director Rob Marshall"s musical Into the Woods;Ava DuVernay"shistorical drama,Selma;Clint Eastwood"s biographical film American Sniper; and Angelina Jolie"s Unbroken. Here, the editors of these movies describe their work. (Warning: Some spoilers follow.)
For Unbroken, editors Tim Squyres and William Goldenberg said they had to find a balance while telling the heroic true story of WWII vet and Olympian Louie Zamperini. That included balancing epic and quiet moments, and in the case of a tricky scene during which Zamperini is lost at sea on a raft for more than a month, conveying "tedium and boredom without being tedious and boring."
"There was a lot more stuff on the raft. You have to hit the action beats and suggest the stuff in between," says Squyres, who brought experience trimming a film about someone lost at sea he earned his second Oscar nomination in 2012 for Life of Pi.
Read more Oscars: "Boyhood," "Whiplash" Editors Reveal Their Secrets
Squyres added that the pace of the scene also had to fit into the overall structure of the film, which includes scenes of Zamperini with his family, buddies on the base and at various POW camps. "[The raft scene had to] give you time to get one feeling, or the transition to another feeling wouldn"t be meaningful."
The editors also had to calibrate scenes that take place at Japanese prison camps, which needed "enough brutality shown or implied so that you understand he"s overcoming it but not so much that the experience of watching the film becomes brutal," Squyres explains, adding, "We took some away; we played some off camera."
Goldenberg added that the editing was also about letting the audience experience the story from Zamperini"s point of view, which benefited from the performance of Jack O"Connell. "There was so much story depth [in the performance]," said Goldenberg, an Oscar winner for Argo. "He"s a super talented guy."
Wyatt Smith, who cut Rob Marshall"s adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods, explained that "the challenge of editing anything musical is it"s very unnatural to be singing. Rob tries to work with the actors to make it most natural. The hardest is entering the song, finding the moment. You have to pace it so it comes naturally. Also, the dialogue should never double up on what"s in the song."
Read more "Into the Woods": How Disney Tiptoed Around Johnny Depp"s Creepy, Sexualized Song
Into the Woods features various fairy-tale characters in interweaving storylines, something Smith said was a "blessing and a curse" when it came to the editing. "The first song is a 15-minute musical number," he said. "All of the storylines and characters come at you incredibly quickly, almost at an action pace.
"The movie naturally moves so quickly, and you reach what you would think is the end, happily ever after," he continued. "Then it gets very slow and very dark, so pacing was tricky. [If the change is too abrupt,] it could feel like you were watching a different movie and take you out of the film."
"We went to dark visually and with the performances," Smith said, adding that multiple departments contributed to the transition. "We reordered some scenes and added narrative, and musically there were some [new] arrangements. And visual effects did a transition shot."
Selma centers on Martin Luther King Jr. and the voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.
"If you pick it apart, it"s a real human story within this historical drama," says editor Spencer Averick. "It"s a story about a man and his inner conflicts and his fight for human rights. It was important to balance personal, intimate filmmaking in this epic story."
To do this, the big "action" sequences maintain a lot of close-ups. "Specifically on the bridge scene, on b****y Sunday, getting inside the characters as they are running for their lives," Averick said.
See more Making "Into the Woods" With Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt
This sequence was filmed on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where the police attacked demonstrators during the 1965 march, but Averick and DuVernay strayed from the script when editing to give it added emotion. "Originally, we had b****y Sunday, and then after [the scene was] finished, we showed people watching on their TVs at home," Averick explained. "It was good, but there was something missing. Ava and I are constantly rewriting in the editing room. We decided to see how we feel if we intercut the scenes sort of time jump around with people watching it and their reaction to each club and hit. Once we juxtaposed a few images together, it was evident quickly that this was the way to do it."
American Sniper opens with the subject of the film, Navy SEALChris Kyle whose skills as a sniper made him a hero by saving countless lives in Iraq at his post when he observes a woman and children walking, then notices the woman is concealing something, then sees her hand a grenade to a 10-year-old boy, presumably intended for use to attack nearby American troops.
His struggle to make a quick decision as to whether he should pull his trigger provides plenty of character development as well as tension in the film"s first minutes. "It"s built by the performance of the actors and the length of the cuts. The tension really picks up when you see the women hand the boy the grenade and then cuts back to a close-up of Kyle (Bradley Cooper) watching," said Oscar-winner Joel c*x (Unforgiven), who edited the film with Gary Roach, an Oscar nominee and fellow longtime Eastwood collaborator.
Added Roach: "Kyle"s checking with his superior people, asking if they see what going on. They say its up to him [whether to fire]. In the story of Chris Kyle, this is maybe going to be his first kill and he is looking at a 10-year-old boy and [presumably] his mother. And he is struggling, trying to balance his emotions with what he is trained to do."
The Imitation Game - clip #3 - Alan Turing explains "Christopher" The Virginian-Pilot December 26, 2014
AMERICAN SNIPER
Bradley Cooper stars as Chris Kyle, the famed Navy SEAL often called the most lethal sniper in Navy history. Clint Eastwood directs this tale of Kyles war exploits and the challenges of escaping the war once he returned home. R (132 mins.)
BIG EYES
Tim Burton takes us through this true story of Margaret Keane, the artist whose paintings of big-eyed women made her family rich and notable. The catch: Her husband took all the credit. PG-13 (105 mins.)
THE IMITATION GAME
Alan Turing was the genius who cracked the Nazis Enigma Code during World War II. The British mans life became more troubled than triumphant after the public learned he was gay. PG-13 (114 mins.)
UNBROKEN
Louis Zamperini has the life story of an epic movie: The American was an Olympic running champion who survived a plane crash into the Pacific during World War II, was rescued by Japanese soldiers and tortured in a POW camp. Angelina Jolie directs the film thats been teased on TV for what feels like months. PG-13 (137 mins.)
WILD
Reese Witherspoon shed the glamour she was known for a decade ago to play a woman trying to escape her troubled romances and drug habits by hiking 1,100 miles up the West Coast. R (115 mins.)
The movie is based on the 2010 nonfiction book by Laura Hillenbrand about a U.S. Olympic track star who survives a plane crash during World War II only to be taken prisoner by the Japanese.
Copyright 2014 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
Now to a current movie - when a book sells as many copies as Lauren Hillenbrand"s "Unbroken" has sold, you had to think a film was coming. And the day has arrived. Here"s Kenneth Turan"s review.
KENNTH TURAN, BYLINE: The true story of Louie Zamperini"s life is filled with so much incident and drama. It seems that it couldn"t all have happened to one man. It did. But all the incidents haven"t made it into the film version of "Unbroken," and that creates a problem. The film, briskly directed by Angelina Jolie, begins with Zamperini"s h**l raiser childhood. As played by top young British actor Jack O"Connell, Zamperini channels his fury into distance runner and gets good enough to make the 1936 U.S. Olympic team. As he starts the journey to Berlin his brother gives him some advice he took to heart.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "UNBROKEN")
ALEX RUSSELL: (As Pete) Louie, a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory. Remember that.
TURAN: World War II derails Zamperini"s running dreams. As an Army Air Corps bombardier, he is shot down over the Pacific and endures a soul-destroying 47 days on a raft before a Japanese vessel picks him up and sends him to the first of a series of nightmare-ish prison camps. The black heart of that nightmare was the Japenese soldier known as the Bird, played by Japanese rockstar Miyavi, a man who made inflicting an endless series of beyond-sadistic punishments on Zamperini his life"s work.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "UNBROKEN")
MIYAVI: (As Mutsushiro) You are enemies of Japan. You will be treated accordingly. Look at me. Look me in the eye.
TURAN: In real life, Zamperini"s postwar story has a tremendous ending. He endures years of alcoholism and PTSD before a religious awakening, inspired by Billy Graham, changes his life. Yet, the film relegates this drama to a few brief seconds of text on screen. This decision wreaks havoc with the stories equilibrium making "Unbroken" into a drama about torture, not redemption. The result is a film we respect more than love, and that"s a wasted opportunity.
GREENE: That"s the voice of Kenneth Turan. He reviews movies for the Los Angeles Times and also for MORNING EDITION.
Copyright 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to NPR. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR"s prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.
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Could You Pass The Turing Test? I do have steel screws in my ankle, so I"m practically RoboCop.
Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Three-and-a-half Leons from Blade Runner out of five.
Brief Plot Synopsis: Genius mathematician breaks enemy code, gets s**t on by government for his troubles.
Tagline: "Behind every code is an enigma."
Better Tagline: "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto."
Not So Brief Plot Synopsis: In the dark days of World War II (before America went over and won the war single-handedly), Allied supply convoys bound for England were routinely ravaged by n**i U-boats. Key to stopping this was the breaking of the German Enigma code. Enter Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), leading a group of MI6-recruited code breakers including sole woman (and Turing"s eventual wife) Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). Unfortunately for Turing, his accomplishments were later deemed secondary to his sexual orientation, since "indecency with a male" remained illegal in the UK until 1967.
"Critical" Analysis: The Imitation Game is a very good movie, that"s an average calculation, because it"s two-thirds adequate, one-third phenomenal.
The "adequate" portion consists of just about everything up to the breaking of the code by the team at Bletchley Park (there are also flashbacks to Turing"s childhood), most of which is standard biopic stuff. Turing and company -- including Matthew Goode as Hugh Alexander -- experience setbacks, false starts, and various personality conflicts, largely caused by Turing"s utter lack of interest in making friends. But apart from Cumberbatch"s performance and a few chuckles courtesy of Goode, what director Morten Tyldum gives us is perfectly competent, if not always stirring cinema.
This changes after Enigma is broken. For the first time, the group has to move to theory to application, realizing that even though they"ve solved the greatest cryptographic problem of all time, they"re unable to tell more than a handful of people, and can"t even use the information to save British troops as that would tip off the Germans that their transmissions were being decoded.
But the most powerful scenes come after the war, in the 1950s, when Turing is arrested (and ultimately convicted) for homosexual behavior. His treatment is appalling, as Clarke comes to the grim realization -- which Turing has known all along -- that the life of a "poofter" was one not worth acknowledging, even by the government he helped save from annihilation.
Much of the goings-on at Bletchley and in Hut 8 have been excised/modified to make the narrative more sinewy, but early hardships suffered by Turing as a schoolboy as well as the difficulties he encounters with not just British military leadership (in the person of Game of Thrones" Charles Dance) but his own co-workers help complete our portrait of the man, and Cumberbatch gives a performance that is, by turns, awkward, triumphant, and heartbreaking.
If there"s a real complaint here, it"s the way Tyldum insists on presenting the latter era investigation into Turing as a whodunit: i.e. was Turing a spy? Regardless of your knowledge of actual events, the diversion is unnecessary, and attempts to throw a dramatic curve ball where none is needed.
There are quite a few movies coming out this holiday season, and in my opinion The Imitation Game is the best of the bunch. Engaging, touching, and heavy with real-world consequences, it"s a h**l of a story.
Then again, I haven"t seen The Interview yet, so who knows?
If you"ve been tracking Santa tonight you know two things -- he"s over the United States, and you better get to sleep fast.
Children throughout the world have been following Santa Claus on the Google Santa Tracker and the Norad Santa Tracker 2014 today, and the latest radar reports have St. Nick and his sleigh getting closer to the United States.
NORAD tracked Santa on radar near Augusta, Maine at 10:04 p.m. and then on to Atlanta and further south to Birmingham sometime before midnight Christmas Eve.
You can follow Santa"s progress on the NORAD Santa Tracker 2014 here and the Google Santa Tracker here.
As of late Wednesday, Santa had delivered 5,215,694,793 presents to children in cities including London, England, Marseille, France and Kingston, Jamaica, according to the NORAD Santa Tracker 2014.
At 9:50 p.m. (CT) NORAD had a visual of Santa as he left Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
While Santa is on everyone"s radar tonight, the North American Aerospace Defense Command -- which has been tracking Santa"s Christmas Eve flight for 59 years -- estimates that Santa will arrive in Alabama at 11 p.m.
If you"d like to track Santa"s global mission click on the NORAD map below:
Keurig"s too-hot coffee machines stung by recall - Fortune
Keurig Green Mountain is recalling more than 7 million coffeemakers after the Vermont-based company found out that its Mini Plus brewers could overheat and spray hot liquids on users. In North America there have been over 100 reports of injuries caused by the machines, 90 of which were in the U.S. according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Does this affect travelers?
A few years ago, you may have noticed these mini coffee brewers starting to pop up in hotel rooms. Keurig was the perfect answer to weary travelers who wanted a cup of joe in the comfort of their hotel room without resorting to pricey room service or nasty instant powder. A quick survey of Las Vegas hotels--which may be representative of hotels across the U.S. in terms of prices and amenities--shows Keurig has been a popular choice among hotels.
But before you give up on your in-room caffeine ritual, keep in mind that the recall only affects one model from Keurig"s lineup. Keurig has been aggressive in entering the hospitality market, and what"s in your room may be a completely different model altogether.
A representative from the Hilton Garden Inn brand, which announced its partnership with Green Mountain with much fanfare last year, for instance, confirmed to us that the popular business chain does not use the particular model that is being recalled.
Rest assured that if your hotel room has the problematic coffee maker that spews hot liquid, the management has taken it out--or at least should have. If you"re still uneasy, there"s always that Starbucks across the street.
Josh Smith - 25 points vs Nuggets Full Highlights (2014.10.29)
The Detroit Pistons announced the release of veteran forward Josh Smith Monday morning.
The 6-foot-9 Smith averaged 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 39.1 percent from the field this season. Smith joined the Pistons as a free agent in July of 2013 from the Atlanta Hawks.
Dolly Parton"s Dollywood has been sued over a Tennessee woman"s injury. Tedi and Derryl Brown claim Tedi was on a swing ride called the Waltzing Swinger when she fell out of her seat and hit the concrete floor 10 feet below, head first. A new lawsuit claims she suffered broken bones and prolonged brain damage. The couple blames Parton"s theme park for allegedly ignoring wet weather"s impact on safety, and seeks $475,000 in damages. Read more at TMZ.
Modern Christmas classic "Love Actually" got the spoof treatment from "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend, but nobody saw the skit because it was cut for time. "SNL" performer Pete Davidson plays the role of Andrew Lincoln (yes, "The Walking Dead" actor was that guy in the movie) using cue cards to tell Keira Knightley she"s "perfect," only Davidson instead tells Amy Adams "without hope or agenda" that he loves hot dogs, ham and her b**t. Creepy or sweet (or funny)? You be the judge:
Speaking of Adams, the "Big Eyes" star was snubbed by the "Today" show for refusing to discuss the recent Sony hacking scandal in an interview. Multiple reports say the 40-year-old actress was upset they wanted to ask about a cyberattack "that had nothing to do with her," and NBC responded by canceling the segment. The Weinstein Company said they "firmly stand behind Amy Adams," while others wondered about a double-standard -- her "American Hustle" co-star Bradley Cooper wasn"t asked about Sony during an interview about his new movie "American Sniper." Read more at the Daily Mail.
"Suicide Squad" co-stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie heat up the latest trailer for "Focus," an upcoming "comedy-caper-love story. The pair, who sparked rumors of an affair over their on-screen chemistry, star as two con artists who reunite three years after splitting for one last heist. Written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa ("Crazy Stupid Love," "Bad Santa"), "Focus" opens Feb. 27, 2015.
And Jimmy Fallon recruited One Direction to sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with classroom instruments on Monday"s "The Tonight Show." The late-night host, The Roots and the British boy band all donned ugly Christmas sweaters and took turns singing about being "naughty or nice" with a little funk. 1D fans are wondering why poor Zayn didn"t get a solo, though, but he sure rocked the triangle:
More Buzz: Charlie Sheen"s "Anger Management" series canceled after 100 episodes (E!) Robin Williams helped "Night at the Museum" teen actor get a prom date (DM) Emily Blunt says she"ll do a "Devil Wears Prada" sequel if everyone returns (E!) Marvel casts Mike Colter as Luke Cage on Netflix series (NY Daily News) Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer rejected Gwyneth Paltrow for lack of degree (THR) NYC theater group plans live read of "The Interview" on Dec. 27 (Slash Film) Watch Wiz Khalifa"s fun new "You & Your Friends" video with Snoop Dogg (BB) Cameron Diaz flashes coy smile, diamond ring amid engagement rumors (DM) Miley Cyrus DJs a holiday party in festive nipple pasties and tinsel wig (E! News) Iggy Azalea, Azealia Banks feud grows as T.I. and Q-Tip enter the fray (NYDN) "OITNB" star Diane Guerrero to pen memoir about parents" deportation (HuffPo) Report: New "Pee-Wee Herman" movie will be a Netflix production (Slash Film) Meet Taylor Swift"s high school boyfriend who left her for her friend (Daily Mail) Pharrell"s lawyer to YouTube: Remove our songs or face $1B lawsuit (Billboard) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wonders if he should do "Dancing With the Stars" (NYDN)
AM Buzz is a weekday morning feature on syracuse.com where we"ll post the latest in viral videos, trending topics, celebrity gossip and entertainment news.
Demetria McKinney: Actress Talks "RHOA" Rumors & New Music from #NYFW!
Demetria McKinney, Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo)
Demetria McKinney, the 35-year-old actress (Tyler Perrys House of Payne) and aspiringsinger, is the latest addition to the Real Housewives of Atlanta. She makes her debut on the show Sunday, December 21 at 8pm on Bravo, and shes already picked sidesDemetria is joining forces with Cynthia Bailey. Does that mean Metria will get involved in the drama between former BFFs Cynthia and NeNe Leakes? Thats like asking, does NeNe Leakes make money every time she blinks. Of course Metrias going to get involved!Of the ongoing feud between Cynthia and NeNe, McKinney said: I think NeNe needed to see what shes losing in a friend like Cynthia. Cynthia is one of the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful people I have ever met. Hmmm, sounds like Metria ison her way toreplacing NeNe as Cynthias new BFF.
We would warn Metria to brace herself for some serious shade from the other housewives, as is customary on the show, but it sounds like shes ready. She compared her debut on the show to her first time on a n**e beach. We hope thats a hint about afuture episode. You know Kenya Moore will be the first one to strip down!
Joe Cocker dies aged 70 | Joe Cocker dead 70 years old
By Eric Kelsey
Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:32pm EST
(Reuters) - Joe Cocker, whose distinctive raspy voice and soulful musical renditions made him a favorite of his peers with hits like Beatles" cover "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "You Are So Beautiful," died on Monday. He was 70.
The British rock singer, famous for flailing his arms during performances, lost a long battle with lung cancer, said his label, Sony Music Entertainment, in a statement.
The Sheffield-born Cocker"s rocky but ultimately successful career took him from working-class pubs in Northern England to the Woodstock festival in 1969, to the top of the charts in the 1980s.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney credited Cocker for giving "With a Little Help from My Friends," a mid-tempo melody, a whole new life.
"It was just mind blowing, totally turned the song into a soul anthem and I was forever grateful to him for doing that," McCartney said in a statement, calling the fellow Englishman a "lovely northern lad."
His explosive, at times unintelligible performance of that song at Woodstock helped him break through to larger audiences in what Rolling Stone magazine called "one of the most iconic sets from the legendary festival."
Cocker lived in Crawford, Colorado, and released nearly 40 albums as he toured the world during a career spanning five decades.
The Grammy winner was born into a working-class family and worked as a plumber while pursuing his singing career.
He was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at Buckingham Palace in 2011.
"Goodbye and G*d Bless to Joe Cocker from one of his friends peace and love. R.," tweeted Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.
In the early 1970s Cocker"s "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour and live album cemented his success. In 1974, "You Are So Beautiful," co-written with Billy Preston, was a big hit. It was voted the fourth-most popular love song in a U.S. online poll in 2013.
In a memorable sketch in 1976, Cocker joined John Belushi as he parodied the singer"s spasmodic style on the popular late-night comedy show "Saturday Night Live."
Cocker"s career path was punctuated by struggles with alcohol and drugs.
In 1982, his career took off again with "Up Where We Belong," a duet with Jennifer Warnes for the film "An Officer and A Gentleman." The song earned Cocker his only Grammy and an Oscar for its writers.
His last studio album "Fire It Up" came out in 2012.
Cocker is survived by wife Pam, brother Victor, a stepdaughter and two grandchildren. He and his wife set up the Cocker Kids" Foundation to support local Colorado youth.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Reaney; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Mary Milliken)
