The Beverly Hills Hotel played host to the International Press Academy’s 16th annual Satellite Awards on Sunday night, a lively evening which saw prizes handed out recognizing the year’s best entertainment in film and television. After red carpet arrivals and some spirited cocktail conversation, the awards show proceeded at a nice clip before being capped off by a sumptuous dinner. Some of the winners’ names were familiar just kicked-off awards season — Alexander Payne’s Hawaiian-set “The Descendants” was named Best Picture, as it also was recently by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association – but perhaps the biggest winner of the night was Nicolas Winding Refn’s neon-lit, criminally overlooked “Drive,” which sadly…

Title: The Descendants Directed By: Alexander Payne Written By: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, based on Kaui Hart Hemmings’s novel Cast: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Patricia Hastie, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greeg If our currently somber economic conditions have been caused in part by the selling of housing to people who cannot afford it, such is not the case in Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants.” Payne, whose “Sideways” had us remember Paul Giamatti’s quote “Don’t give me merlot,” this time constructs a man who is expected to sell land for housing to large developers with deep pockets and with little chance of default. Given the…

A discussion and review the week’s new movie release from your favorite entertainment and celebrity website. Hello everyone, this is episode 21 of the Movie Night Podcast. This week Rudie Obias and Perri Nemiroff discuss the new film from Alexander Payne, “The Descendants,” and the forth installment of the “Twilight Saga,” “Breaking Dawn – Part 1,” directed by Bill Condon. Subscribe on iTunes or Download and Listen Here. “The Descendants” features George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Patricia Hastie, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer and Robert Forester “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” features Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Peter…

With ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager heading towards a fifth season, it’s safe to say that the show’s star, Shailene Woodley, has made quite the name for herself. However, as much success as the actress has found in the television industry, she admits, “Features is where my heart is.” Well, turns out her heart is leading her in the right direction because not only is her first big screen effort an Alexander Payne film starring George Clooney, but Woodley is downright fantastic in it. She plays Alexandra King, Matt King’s (Clooney) eldest daughter. While she’s away at school, her mother gets into a terrible jet skiing…

Title: The Descendants Directed By: Alexander Payne Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer There are two types of tearjerkers, the kind that merely tug on the typical heartstrings using formulaic tactics and the kind that earn the emotional reaction not by resorting to methods that guarantee watery eyes, rather by creating a situation that’s endearing simply because it feels real. The Descendants treats its tender subject matter with the utmost care and while the result may be a sadness that’s tough to shake, the film also offers a stirring degree of hope, leaving you with something The Descendants prides itself on…

It’s most certainly not a surprise to see Judy Greer in yet another movie, as the actress tends to keep particularly busy, but Alexander Payne’s The Descendants? As my fondest memories of Greer include here iconic comedic performances in films like Jawbreaker and 13 Going on 30 as well as her TV show Miss Guided, which left us far too soon, seeing her pull the reigns on what comes so naturally to her and amp up the drama wasn’t just a nice surprise, but a notably successful effort, too. The Descendants stars George Clooney as Matt King, a Hawaii resident who’s shocked to discover that his beloved wife is in…

Fox Searchlight is getting ready to adapt writer-cartoonist Daniel Clowes’ latest graphic novel ‘Wilson’ for the big screen. The book follows the title character, who is a self-loathing unemployed man who makes himself and everyone around him miserable all the time. Director Alexander Payne is at the top of the list to helm the project. Paul Giamatti has been suggested for the title role, though neither the director nor the cast has been decided yet. Clowes is expected to write the film’s script. If ‘Wilson’ is brought to the big screen, it would be the third movie based on one of Clowes’ works. His comic book ‘Ghost World’ was adapted…

According to The Hollywood Reporter, John C. Reilly is joining the Ed Helms-led cast of “Cedar Rapids” from Fox Searchlight. Miguel Arteta is helming the ensemble road-trip comedy. Phil Johnston wrote the script. Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor and Jim Burke are producing via their Ad Hominem Enterprises banner. The story follows a wholesome and naive small-town Wisconsin man played by Helms who must represent his insurance company at the big-time and big-city regional conferance in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after his role model dies. Reilly’s character, a family man, is also is attending the conference, but sees it as a vacation away from home who is taking the opportunity to cut…