Terminator 5 will probably be rated R

A quick update round the Terminator 5 project today, with financier Megan Ellison verifying the film will represent returning for the R-rated mindset in the original film."We're not able to really tell everybody anything about Terminator," mentioned Ellison on her behalf account Twitter feed, "BUT it'll be an R rated film as God and James Cameron intended."It's news that will come just like a relief to fans in the franchise, particularly following a blood stream and thunder was well toned lower for recent instalment Terminator: Salvation.Hopefully this excellent news will rapidly be supported with a comment verifying a completely new director. Fast Five's Justin Lin was attached to the position, before obligations to a different Fast & Furious movie meant he was instructed to stop.We've also got unsure on casting at this time around, although we won't be alone in wanting that Arnold Schwarzenegger will participate in some capacity. Terminator 5 is tentatively prone to arrive in the course of 2014.

Rihanna Tweets Photo of New Tupac-Inspired Tattoo

Rihanna, Tupac Shakur Rihanna has decided to pay tribute to Tupac Shakur - with a tattoo.The Barbados native tweeted a photo of her new ink Wednesday, with the caption "All these b------ screaming that 2pac back #THUGLIFE." The tattoo, which is scrawled across her fingers, reads "THUG LIFE" in what appears to be white or pink ink.Check out photos of RihannaTupac, the legendary rapper who was murdered in 1996, had the same words tattooed on his stomach.Earlier that day, she tweeted a photo of herself with tattoo artist Mark Mahoney, the owner and principal tattoo artist atShamrock Social Club in Hollywood.The 23-year-old songstress has a slew of other tattoos, including a gun on her side and stars on her back and neck.

Juma brings Israeli 'Ring' to States

Another Israeli format could be coming to U.S. shores. Juma Entertainment has picked up Stateside rights to reality skein "With This Ring" from Tel Aviv-based development and distribution shingle Armoza Formats. "With This Ring," now in its third season in on Israeli TV, features three couples attempting to overcome their marital woes. The show's twist is that the host is the only point of contact between the couples and therapist. Viewers will watch the couples interacting with this host and the host interacting with the therapist, but the couples and therapist never meet. Robert Horowitz, Lewis Fenton and Avi Armoza are set as exec producers. Showtime's highly rated series "Homeland" was originally based on an Israeli program "Hatufim" and fellow pay cabler HBO got three seasons out of psychiatrist drama "In Treatment." Also, NBC is currently running episodes of Israeli gameshow import "Who's Still Standing?" Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

WGA Nominees Introduced

The Authors Guild of America, West and Authors Guild of America, East have introduced their nominees for top scripts of 2011, and it is an incredible group. So happy that does not only "Bridesmaids" snuck in to the Original Script category, however the wonderful "50/50" and "Mutually Beneficial,Inch too. Not surprisingly, "Night time in Paris" and "Youthful Adult" complete the course.In Modified Script, there have been no real surpries. Oscar management "The Descendants," "Hugo," "Moneyball," and "The AssistanceInch all received nods. Additionally, "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo" gained a place.You need to note certain films weren't qualified because of the peculiar WGA rules. Included in this are challengers like "Drive," "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Beginners." CONTINUE Reading through ON Behind The Curtain

Five Favorite Meryl Streep Performances

Five Favorite Meryl Streep Performances By Christy Lemire December 29, 2011 Photo by Timothy Clary/Getty Images LOS ANGELES (AP) How do you choose the best Meryl Streep performances? It's like trying to decide what kind of ice cream is best it's pretty much always going to be great, and while there may be a couple flavors you don't like as much, you're never going to say no to ice cream. Usually, you'll actively seek it out, and you'll be glad you did.That tortured metaphor helps set up an analysis of Streep's staggeringly esteemed career, with her latest transformative wonder her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcherin "The Iron Lady" in theaters this weekend. Weirdly, Streep finds herself in the role of sentimental favorite as a potential Oscar nominee; while she has more nominations than any other actor or actress in Academy Awards history with 16, she hasn't won since "Sophie's Choice" nearly 30 years ago.So instead of choosing her "best" performances, I'll go with my five favorites. Dig in: "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979): It's a supporting role, one which earned her the first of her two Academy Awards the film won five Oscars total, including best picture but she is completely in control of every scene in which she appears. This and "The Deer Hunter" provided early glimpses of the greatness to come, but here she's in the tricky position of playing someone we should hate from the start: a housewife who walks out on her workaholic husband (Dustin Hoffman) and their young son (Justin Henry). As a wife and mother of a little boy myself now, it seems unfathomable. But Streep turns a character who could have been a monster into a fully realized woman with needs and complexities, and somehow makes her a sympathetic figure. "Sophie's Choice" (1982): The accent, the agony: This performance set the standard for Streep's wholly convincing immersive abilities, and it earned her the Academy Award for best actress. As a beautiful Polish refugee with a haunting secret, Streep is both beguiling and heartbreaking. This is a larger-than-life figure from William Styron's novel but Streep makes her tantalizingly real in delicate ways. And the moment when she has to make the choice of the film's title is just devastating. That's partly because of the matter-of-fact way it's shot and edited, but mainly it's because of her reaction the vivid transformation she undergoes within just a few minutes. "Adaptation." (2002): What makes this performance so irresistible is that Streep isn't so obviously "acting." She lets loose, takes chances and genuinely seems to be enjoying herself. She's smack in the middle of writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze's giddy, trippy funhouse, playing writer Susan Orlean, whose book "The Orchid Thief" stumped the real-life Kaufman (in real life and as played by Nicolas Cage) when it came time for him to turn it into a screenplay. Susan herself is fascinated with an orchid breeder played by an Oscar-winning Chris Cooper. While she's a serious author full of insecurities at the film's start she doesn't know how to feel passionately about anything the way she eventually chooses to seize upon pleasure and love is disarming. "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006): Streep is just withering here. That monologue about the significance of the color cerulean alone makes this movie worth watching. But the entire performance is a delightful reminder that, when given the chance, she can be a master of biting comedy. As Miranda Priestly, a towering, Anna Wintour-style fashion magazine editor, Streep could have been a cartoony caricature of high style and low manners. Instead, Streep finds the subtlety within her character's cruelty and brings her brilliantly brings her to life. She steals the entire thing away from young Anne Hathaway, who has the benefit of youth and Patricia Field as her costume designer and who is, theoretically, the star. "Mamma Mia!" (2008): This may seem like a weird choice. It did for Streep, as well. But while this ABBA-palooza can be cringe-inducing, Streep is just radiant. "Adaptation." suggested what it looks like when she gets a little goofy, but here we finally get a chance to see her let loose entirely, and she's clearly having a blast. Watching the woman who is considered the greatest actress of our time writhing around in overalls on top of a barn or belting out numbers in a sparkly, spandex jumpsuit and platform boots is a hoot. Streep was a fan of the Broadway show, which is obvious. And as she'd demonstrated in bits and pieces in previous films including Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion" she really can sing. We're still searching for that elusive thing Streep doesn't do well.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Five Favorite Meryl Streep Performances By Christy Lemire December 29, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Timothy Clary/Getty Images LOS ANGELES (AP) How do you choose the best Meryl Streep performances? It's like trying to decide what kind of ice cream is best it's pretty much always going to be great, and while there may be a couple flavors you don't like as much, you're never going to say no to ice cream. Usually, you'll actively seek it out, and you'll be glad you did.That tortured metaphor helps set up an analysis of Streep's staggeringly esteemed career, with her latest transformative wonder her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcherin "The Iron Lady" in theaters this weekend. Weirdly, Streep finds herself in the role of sentimental favorite as a potential Oscar nominee; while she has more nominations than any other actor or actress in Academy Awards history with 16, she hasn't won since "Sophie's Choice" nearly 30 years ago.So instead of choosing her "best" performances, I'll go with my five favorites. Dig in: "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979): It's a supporting role, one which earned her the first of her two Academy Awards the film won five Oscars total, including best picture but she is completely in control of every scene in which she appears. This and "The Deer Hunter" provided early glimpses of the greatness to come, but here she's in the tricky position of playing someone we should hate from the start: a housewife who walks out on her workaholic husband (Dustin Hoffman) and their young son (Justin Henry). As a wife and mother of a little boy myself now, it seems unfathomable. But Streep turns a character who could have been a monster into a fully realized woman with needs and complexities, and somehow makes her a sympathetic figure. "Sophie's Choice" (1982): The accent, the agony: This performance set the standard for Streep's wholly convincing immersive abilities, and it earned her the Academy Award for best actress. As a beautiful Polish refugee with a haunting secret, Streep is both beguiling and heartbreaking. This is a larger-than-life figure from William Styron's novel but Streep makes her tantalizingly real in delicate ways. And the moment when she has to make the choice of the film's title is just devastating. That's partly because of the matter-of-fact way it's shot and edited, but mainly it's because of her reaction the vivid transformation she undergoes within just a few minutes. "Adaptation." (2002): What makes this performance so irresistible is that Streep isn't so obviously "acting." She lets loose, takes chances and genuinely seems to be enjoying herself. She's smack in the middle of writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze's giddy, trippy funhouse, playing writer Susan Orlean, whose book "The Orchid Thief" stumped the real-life Kaufman (in real life and as played by Nicolas Cage) when it came time for him to turn it into a screenplay. Susan herself is fascinated with an orchid breeder played by an Oscar-winning Chris Cooper. While she's a serious author full of insecurities at the film's start she doesn't know how to feel passionately about anything the way she eventually chooses to seize upon pleasure and love is disarming. "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006): Streep is just withering here. That monologue about the significance of the color cerulean alone makes this movie worth watching. But the entire performance is a delightful reminder that, when given the chance, she can be a master of biting comedy. As Miranda Priestly, a towering, Anna Wintour-style fashion magazine editor, Streep could have been a cartoony caricature of high style and low manners. Instead, Streep finds the subtlety within her character's cruelty and brings her brilliantly brings her to life. She steals the entire thing away from young Anne Hathaway, who has the benefit of youth and Patricia Field as her costume designer and who is, theoretically, the star. "Mamma Mia!" (2008): This may seem like a weird choice. It did for Streep, as well. But while this ABBA-palooza can be cringe-inducing, Streep is just radiant. "Adaptation." suggested what it looks like when she gets a little goofy, but here we finally get a chance to see her let loose entirely, and she's clearly having a blast. Watching the woman who is considered the greatest actress of our time writhing around in overalls on top of a barn or belting out numbers in a sparkly, spandex jumpsuit and platform boots is a hoot. Streep was a fan of the Broadway show, which is obvious. And as she'd demonstrated in bits and pieces in previous films including Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion" she really can sing. We're still searching for that elusive thing Streep doesn't do well.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Money for nothing? Sounds good to me

Charlie Sheen made a lot of money as the star of Two and a Half Men, but he also cashed in as part of his settlement to leave the show.For years, I've written about people in Hollywood being paid exorbitant sums not to work. Executives fired with years remaining on contracts. Producers paid penalties because a pilot or series didn't get ordered. Actors signed to lucrative holding deals that amounted to nothing.Until recently, though, it never occurred to me this might be an option in newspapers. Then I saw reports that outgoing NY Times CEO Janet Robinson will be paid almost as much next year ($4.5 million) not to work for the company as she would have had she stayed in her job.Granted, Robinson's in management, but that's still a very Hollywood-style exercise in something-for-nothing from the Old Gray Lady. Moreover, it follows lavish severance packages to the former CEO of Gannett, which publishes USA Today, and execs at Tribune.Had I known this was even a possibility, I'd have explored auctioning off my non-services ages ago.So here's a thought -- or really, more like an alternative-universe fantasy, a la "It's a Wonderful Life" -- just in time for the holidays: Pool resources if necessary, and make an offer to put me out of your misery.To those who find my reviews obnoxious, ill-informed and occasionally mean-spirited (and you're out there; I have emails to prove it), it shouldn't take that much to exile me to a beach somewhere. My needs -- unlike my midsection, developed through painstaking years of cheesy food and sedentary TV viewing -- are relatively modest, especially by the standards of, say, what it took to un-employ Charlie Sheen.Without much prodding, I can think of several reality-TV producers who would welcome the opportunity to put me out to pasture -- and a couple of them could probably foot the bill out of petty cash. Either that, or from whatever dazzling pawn-shop/storage/gold-mining "finds" are unearthed during their shows.By the way, let's not be selfish and limit this proposal to me. My guess is there's a whole assortment of cranky critics and journalists who would happily keep their lacerating pans and pushy questions to themselves under the proper circumstances.So forget pay-or-play deals. Ante up, and a lot of ink-stained wretches would contentedly pass the time playing with Wii consoles, and watching black-and-white classics on TCM.Consider this one instance where ill-gotten Hollywood cash will actually buy you something tangible: Peace on Earth and good will toward men? Well, no, but at least less bad will toward absurd plot twists, groan-inducing punch lines and staged "spontaneous" moments.In short, by compensating critics not to criticize, you'd really be getting some bang (and by bang, I mean the serenity of absolutely no bang) for your bucks. How often can you say that?Early in my career, I vividly remember a senior executive getting unceremoniously dumped by his network (OK, ABC), and mentioning to one of his colleagues that it seemed like a shame."Are you kidding?" he asked. "Everybody should get fired like that just once."Although far too many journalists have been downsized in recent years, relatively few have experienced what it feels like to be fired "like that." At the risk of speaking for them, I'm confident many would be willing to learn.Wasteful? Maybe, but an accepted (if occasionally griped about) cost of doing business.As they say in latenight infomercials, there's more! Beyond just promising not to review your shows, I won't even watch them. In fact, I'll throw in that part as a bonus if you order right now.Oh sure, I hear naysayers and skeptics insisting how much we'd miss having platforms to vent our opinions, which is certainly true. Yet as much as I love the job, I don't relish the prospect of watching a few dozen midseason pilots between now and the Rose Bowl so much that I couldn't conjure another way to spend the time if pressed (and not incidentally, unburdened by concerns about mortgage payments).Conversely, I suspect many in Hollywood would secretly miss reading critical venom directed at others -- especially friends and neighbors -- but hey, you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. Contact Brian Lowry at brian.lowry@variety.com

Martin Freeman talks The Hobbit

Total Film recently flew to New Zealand to catch up with Martin Freeman, Peter Jackson, et al, on set of epic Lord Of The Rings prequel, The Hobbit.When we asked lead Freeman about the burden of taking on the title role of Bilbo Baggins, he replied with trademark humility: "I honestly don't feel that pressure, no.""I really, really don't. Of course, it is Bilbo's journey, but I didn't write it. I'm not directing it... It's not my film. It's Peter's film."Though Freeman seems like perfect casting for the diminutive hero (and despite PJ saying "there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us"), commitments to BBC TV drama Sherlock almost kept him from the role."I was sad but I thought, 'I'll just hate whoever plays Bilbo'," he told us with a wry smile.On the challenges of starring in such a vast production, he added: "The hardest thing is staying 'up' and peppy when you're covered in snot or mud, day after day... I'm sure there's more to come.""So far, what we've filmed has been more comic than heavy. I keep asking Pete [Jackson], 'When are we going heavy?' He assures me it's coming!"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on 14 December 2012.For more on The Hobbit, get the new issue of Total Film magazine, which hits newsstands on 22 December 2011.Click here to subscribe to Total Film magazine.Click here to get Total Film magazine on iPad and iPhone from Apple Newsstand.