Will Justin Timberlake Sing for your Coen Brothers and sisters in 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

As Moviefone happily mentioned on Friday, Justin Timberlake was formerly a relatively effective music artist. Who understood, right?! Wonderful his acting performances throughout the past few years (both positive and negative hey, 'Love Guru'!), it's sometimes easy to forget that JT is certainly a proficient singer, accountable for top Top-40 singles in the last decade. ("Cry Us a River": still awesome.) Which is why Timberlake's potential participation inside the Coen brothers's 'Inside Llewyn Davis' so intriguing: the film is among the '60s folk scene in NY's Greenwich Village, and Timberlake could find themselves playing a folk music artist if he accepts the Oscar-winning brothers's offer. Translation: cell phone industry's colliding! Variety reviews that Joel and Ethan Coen have extended an offer to Timberlake to star as Carey Mulligan's onscreen husband, a singer named Jim. Oscar Isaac ('Drive') plays the titular Davis, a fighting NY music artist who can't settle the debts despite immense talent. Hardly any other particulars are known presently, but considering simply how much music the Coens found in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' it seems logical you may anticipate 'Inside Llewyn Davis' being chockablock with tunes. With Timberlake and Mulligan -- who not only sang with Belle & Sebastian, but supplies a show-stopping performance of "NY, NY" in 'Shame' -- aboard, you will probably have an interest the soundtrack. [via Variety] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

'Boots' takes Friday B.O.

Judging by early Friday grosses, "Puss in Boots" will take the top spot at the weekend box office. Observers say the Paramount-Dreamworks Animation 3D pic should gross in the mid-thirties. Depending on how Friday-night crowds turn out, though, the film could see slightly higher earnings of around $38 million. For comparative numbers, "Puss in Boots" was tracking below DWA's 2010 fall entry "Megamind," which opened to $46 million during the weekend of Nov. 5. Twentieth Century Fox's "In Time," with an expected three-day perf of $12 million to $13 million, should beat FilmDistrict's "Rum Diary." B.O. observers expect Johnny Depp-toplined "Diary" to gross between $6 million and $8 million -- not surprising given the film's limited target demo. Some tracking services from earlier this week suggested the pic could earn between $8 million and $11 million, based on the popularity of Johnny Depp. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

Brent Hoff, Malcolm Pullinger win Film Independent grant

Film Independent has announced this year's Sloan Producers Grant recipient and selected nine projects for its 11th annual Producers Lab, sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The fifth annual Sloan grant of $25,000 was awared to Brent Hoff and Malcolm Pullinger for their film "El Diablo Rojo." Grant is dedicated to developing films about science and technology from commerical production to global distribution. In "El Diablo Rojo," a marine biologist and his team discover a super swarm of El Diablo Rojo squid and risk their lives to save it from ecological disaster. The filmmakers attached to the nine projects, including "El Diablo Rojo," will attend the free seven-week L.A.-based producers lab, which aims to help filmmakers improve their craft and move current projects into production. The other selected projects are Megha Kadakia's "A Day With Dandekar," Anil Baral's "Ethel," Angela C. Lee's "Lee," Shrihari Sathe's "Man With Van," Rikki Jarrett's "Pit," Gil Kofman and Stacy Raskin's "Raw," Jonathan Sheldon's "Televisionaries" and Anna Kerrigan's "Three." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Mitsuko Provides (Hara go kore nande)

A "Mitsuko Provides" Film Partners production. (Worldwide sales: Pony Canyon, Tokyo, japan.) Created by Hiroshi Kogure, Sachiko Sone, Yuichi Shibahara. Directed, compiled by Yuya Ishii.With: Riisa Naka, Aoi Nakamura, Ryo Ishibashi, Keiko Saito, Miyoko Inagawa. (Japanese, British dialogue)Although transported by Riisa Naka's powerful perf like a demon-may-care pregnant lady, "Mitsuko Provides" is definitely an awkward Japanese comedy that frequently feels as though hard labor. Helmer Yuya Ishii's rising-star status was cemented this past year using the frequent fest play of "Sawako Decides," that also featured an idiosyncratic femme, which latest effort follows the fest route of his earlier endeavors. But commercial prospects inside or outdoors Japan look harsh. Mitsuko Provides Potential kicked out, pregnant Mitsuko (Naka) telephones her Tokyo, japan-dwelling parents, striving to convince them she's not nearby but nonetheless residing in the U.S. She finds digs in the pub where she was raised after which reconnects together with her childhood acquaintances so she will increase their lives, whether or not they enjoy it or otherwise. Script's central conceit is the fact that Mitsuko comes with an inner tranquility, but in reality she just bullies everybody. While Naka's performance creates smiles, the general effect is a script not aware of their internal contradictions. Helming includes a boxy tube look, with tech credits to complement.Digital camera (color, HD), Yukihiro Okimura editor, Naoichiro Sagara music, Takashi Watanabe production designer, Tomoyuki Maruo. Examined at Busan Film Festival (A Window on Asian Cinema), March. 13, 2011. (Also working in london, Tokyo, japan, Vancouver film festivals.) Running time: 109 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Desplat named top composer at Ghent

DesplatFor the 3rd year consecutively, Alexandre Desplat was honored using the film composer of the season kudo in the World Soundtrack Honours on Saturday, the culmination from the 38th Ghent Film Festival in Belgium.The award is presented for any body of labor over the year before, as well as in Desplat's situation, that incorporated his scores for "The King's Speech," "The Tree of Existence" and 2 "Harry Potter" movies. Desplat, an Oscar nominee four of history 5 years, can also be in contention this season for his music in "The Ides of March" and "Carnage."Throughout a night time devoted towards the late publicist Ronni Chasen, her client Hendes Zimmer, received the initial score award for "Beginning." Randy Newman won for original song, "We Belong Together," from "Toy Story 3," and Alex Heffes was presented with the invention of the season kudo for "The Very First Grader" and "The Rite." A.R. Rahman was handed the general public Choice Award for "127 Hrs." The Sabam Award for the best Youthful European Composer visited Gabriel Heinrich. Contact Steve Chagollan at steve.chagollan@variety.com

Sino VOD bandwagon

"Mr. Popper's Penguins" is one of several films that 20th Century Fox will offer on VOD in China beginning next month. McCabeWith companies looking to grow the video-on-demand market in China, they're starting to lock down deals with Hollywood, with 20th Century Fox the latest of the majors to make its homevideo titles available in the region.Fox Home Entertainment has inked a deal with Joy.cn to provide new releases and library fare to the website's pay-per-view service Hollywood Theater. Site launched in 2008.New films can be viewed for 5 yuan (about 80), while older pics can be viewed for 3 yuan (50).The price may seem low, but it proved necessary in a country known for rampant piracy. "If you want to take away all barriers to do something legitimate, fighting piracy with a good price point can be pretty effective," said Jamie McCabe, executive VP or worldwide PPV, VOD and electronic sell through for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.First slate of Fox titles to go live on Joy.cn next month as new releases include "Black Swan," "127 Hours," "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son," "Cedar Rapids," "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules," "Gulliver's Travels," "Monte Carlo," "Mr. Popper's Penguins," "Water for Elephants" and "Win Win."There will also be about 100 titles available from the Fox library. Joy.cn also has films from Sony and Disney.Fox becomes the third studio in a year to lock down VOD pacts in China, eyeing the 1.3 billion population there as a major potential revenue source for PPV coin.Until now, the studios had been worried about their films being pirated in the region, which has lost them tens of millions per title in the past. But the VOD offerings have pledged to thwart piracy with anti-piracy technology in order to land more content.Fox already brokered a deal with Chinese online video service Sohu Video to license 400 films over the next three years. Sony had a deal with VOD provider Anyplex to provide films via the on-demand service through Internet connected integrated digital TV (iDTV) and a set-top boxes. It's had a VOD presence in China since 2005.And Warner Bros., in June, inked a deal with pay-TV service YOU On Demand to provide PPV titles, starting with the "Harry Potter" franchise, through cable and IPTV services in China. "There are a lot of companies that are in the VOD business in China," said McCabe, who recently met with 16 of the firms while on a trip to the country. "We wanted to make sure we reward those who are doing the right thing and have a good service," McCabe said. Joy.cn "checked a lot of the boxes."That includes deploying anti-piracy methods.Piracy once ran rampant in Korea, but when legitimate services launched to take advantage of the high-speed internet available there, the country became "our third or fourth biggest market in the world," McCabe said. "Intuitively, you could say, 'Let's give up and focus our energies elsewhere,' but when there are good services, good content and an attractive price," consumers will show up. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

The CW, 'Easy A' Scribe to Play Truth or Dare

David Livingston/Getty ImagesBert V. Royal The CW is getting ready to play Truth or Dare. The young-skewing network has picked up Dare, a script from Sherlock Holmes producer Dan Lin and Veronica Mars EP Jennifer Gwartz revolving around a group of five twentysomethings who are forced to play a deadly game of Truth or Dare while trying to discover who is behind the game and how to stop it. Easy Awriter Bert V. Royal is attached to pen the hourlong action-thriller from Lin Pictures and Warner Bros. Television. The deal continues Lin's relationship with Warner Bros. Television, where he has an overall deal. Last year, Lin developed Poe, a supernatural period crime procedural exploring how Edgar Allen Poe's most famous stories came to be. ABC produced the pilot but ultimately passed on the drama in May. Lin has a string of big-screen features in development, including The Bodyguard remake. The Sherlock Holmes sequel is set for a Christmas release. Gwartz's credits lend themselves well to the action-drama: she cut her teeth on the Tales From the Crypt 1990s TV series and was an executive producer on Cupid as well as a co-EP on Starz's Party Down. Royal, meanwhile, penned the Emma Stone starrer Easy A and is in development on the feature A Thousand Words or Less Lin is repped by WME; Royal is repped by Paradigm, R.E.D and Hansen Jacobson. Dare marks the latest in a string of thrillers in the development pipeline. Fox developing a half-hour project based on the Zombieland feature; the CW also is in development on the supernatural thriller based on DC Comics' Deadman with Supernatural creator Eric Kripke attached. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit The CW TV Development

Milan court rejects charges against Silvio

ROME - A Milan court on Tuesday ruled against indicting Silvio Berlusconi in a tax fraud case centered around multimillion-dollar Hollywood movie rights purchased by the Italian premier and media mogul's Mediaset TV empire. But the court did indict Berlusconi's son, Mediaset VP Pier Silvio Berlusconi, as well as Mediaset chairman Fedele Confalonieri and nine other defendants in the so-called Mediatrade case The long-simmering case centers around an alleged scheme to inflate the price of TV rights to a large volume of U.S. movies bought by Mediaset's Mediatrade unit from Hollywood studios, including Paramount and Fox, via offshore companies, evading tax and creating a slush fund. The trial is set to start Dec. 22 in Milan. In throwing out the case Milan magistrate Maria Vicidomini ruled that Silvio Berlusconi had not committed an offense. In a statement Mediaset said the trial will also prove the innocence of Berlusconi fils, Confalonieri and the other defendants. Silvio Berlusconi's legal woes are now lighter, though he still faces three trials in Milan on charges including corruption, tax fraud, and accusations that he paid for sex with an underage girl. Berlusconi, who has proclaimed his innocence in all three active cases and claimed to be a victim of politically motivated prosecutors, has faced 25 trials since becoming a pol in 1994, but has either been acquitted or let off because the statute of limitations expired. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

The Artist & Hard Times: Lost On Long Island Take Top Prizes At Hamptons Film Fest

The Artist from director Michel Hazanavicius earned the Audience Award (Narrative) while Marc Levin’s Hard Times: Lost on Long Island was honored with the Audience Award (Documentary) to pace winners at the 19th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival announced tonight. Also taking home an Audience Award was Two’s a Crowd from directors Jim Isler and Tom Isler (for Best Short), while The Fairy – directed by Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon — was selected as winner of the Golden Starfish Narrative Feature Award. The Golden Starfish for Best Documentary went to Fellipe Barbosa’s Laura. Other winners included: The Strange Ones, from directors Christopher Radcliff and Lauren Wolkstein (Short Documentary Jury Winner); Without, from director Mark Jackson (Kodak Award for Best Cinematography and the Wouter Barendrecht Pioneering Vision Award); andYou’ve Been Trumped, from director Anthony Baxter (Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award forSocial Justice). The Narrative Jury also awarded a special jury mention to Joshua Marton’s The Forgiveness of Blood. Previously announced winners included Small, Beautifully Moving Parts from directorsAnnie Howell and Lisa Robinson (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize), and The Bully Project from director Lee Hirsch (Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution). 2011 Breakthrough Performer recipients included Sleeping Beauty starring Emily Browning; Melancholia featuring Alexander Skarsgard; Cracks in the Shell, with Stine Fischer Christensen; Another Happy Day starring Ezra Miller; The Descendants with Shailene Woodley; and Like Crazy starring Anton Yelchin.

Choked (Gasi)

A Korean Academy of Fine Arts presentation in association with CJ Entertainment of a Korean Academy of Fine Arts production. (International sales: CJ Entertainment, Seoul.) Produced by Kafa Film. Directed, written by Kim Joong-hyun.With: Um Tae-goo, Kil Hae-yeon, Yoon Chae-young, Park Se-jin, Yoon Su-ah.Stifling, repetitious atmosphere and a confusing script about two women arguing over a debt dull the impact of the robust perfs in "Choked." Film-school grad Kim Joong-hyun makes a generally auspicious bow here, but pic lacks the polish of other prominent student films, like "Member of the Funeral" and "Bleak Night," which have made a splash in Busan's New Currents strand. A Euro fest tour awaits. After a weight-loss-product pyramid scheme goes awry, charming middle-aged mother Hee-su (Kil Hae-yeon) goes on the lam, leaving her debts to her grown son, Youn-ho (Um Tae-goo). Volatile divorcee Seo-hee (Park Se-jin) is determined to recover the money owed, and is convinced Youn-ho is shielding his mother. Authentic thesping captures the essence of characters caught in a loop of blame and irresponsibility, and the actors' frequent explosions of hysteria and violence impress. But lack of dramatic progress suggests writer-helmer Kim is as stuck as his characters in terms of where to go with the story, and his docu-like style and near-sepia HD lensing make for a draining and ultimately unrewarding experience.Camera (color, HD), Lee Jin-keun; editor, Park Young-sam; music, Kim Mok-in; production designer, Hur Seo-hyung. Reviewed at Busan Film festival (New Currents), Oct. 13, 2011. Running time: 99 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

New Teaser For 11-11-11 Online

The gateway will open, and...Slightly peculiar this: in keeping with the general oddness of the film, the marketing campaign for 11-11-11 seems to be running backwards. We've already had a full trailer, but now here's a new 11-11-11 teaser. We almost didn't think it worth mentioning, but then the punchline made us laugh. You'll need to enter your date-of-birth, due to its NSFW-ness.Previous clips have been all-over-the-place weird, which perhaps explains the straightforward voice-over and jokiness here, although there's not much in the way of actual footage. What we know to expect is a surreal barrage of numerological horror strangeness,heralding what we're told is an entity from another world arriving on Earth through Heaven's eleventh gate on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 2011.Michael Landes is the guy with the hard luck story who gradually realises that a pair of elevens is cropping up all over the place, portending Something Bad. The director is Darren Lynn Bousman though (Saws II, III and IV, and Mother's Day) so this should have more meat on its bones than eitherKnowing or The Number 23.11-11-11 is released in the US, of course, on November 10.

Google Wrapping Up Groundbreaking Deals To Launch 25+ Professionally Produced YouTube Channels: Debut In January

EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that Google has put Hollywood on notice to keep mum as it prepares to announceitsbig plan to redefine YouTube with 25 or so channels that will offer professionally produced news, information and entertainment. Google plans to spend an estimated $150M for the services — top tier channels would get about $5M apiece.I’m told that the search giant wantsto unveil its initial slate of channels by the end of this month. They’d go live in January.YouTube is gearing up to announce additional channels in January that would be up around April.Partners expected in the the first round includeWarner Bros., ShineReveille, BermanBraun, FremantleMedia,and skate boarder Tony Hawk.But Google has insisted that partners sign non-disclosure agreements — and has warned that those identified publicly before things are official might be cut out of the announcement. There’s also lots of skittishness because Google will control the promotion and ad sales for many of the channels. Google plans to recoup its investments from ad sales, and then split revenues with the content producers. But Google’s still engaged in severalsimultaneous negotiations as content providers look to strike different deals. For example, major studios and networks insisted on using their own ad teams — in part to avoid conflicts with their existing TV or Web advertisers.In another major concession, Google has agreed to let content providers retain ownership rights to their productions. Although Google’s still trying to keep details of the project under wraps, CEO Larry Page told analysts in an earnings call yesterday that YouTube is well positioned to help content creators “find the right users, and get paid both through advertising and directly. And so I think that’s just a logical place for us to be in, and a logical place where you’ll see a lot of activity in general.”

World War Z Faces Real Gun Drama

Anti-terrorist team raids weapon storeWhile the experience while watching camera of Kaira Pitt's latest, World War Z, involves people running fromOreliminating nasty undead types, the drama behind it's turning to be just like intense. The most recent incident? A load of weapons that were planned to be used through the production continues to be confiscated by Hungarian government bodies included in an anti-terrorism mission. And also the real trouble with the guns? Works out that rather than the securely neutralised good examples that will avoid anybody getting hurt, the photographers remained as greatly functional. "Today a personal plane introduced guns covered with a parcel from the company for an individual [in Budapest," stated Hajdu Janos, director from the Anti-Terrorism Unit inside a statement acquired through the Warmth Vision Blog. "Guns such as these are highly illegal to move even when these were used as stage guns, which hopefully they were not." Whoops does not really start to pay for it...It is not the very first problem to possess befallen to adaptation of Max Brook's sprawling zombie conflict tome. Fans from the book have previously were not impressed with the script's change to some more positive story which finds Pitt's UNworker now knee-deep in fighting the undead menace. Plus, based on Us Weekly, the film, with Marc Forster in the helm, has become over budget and behind schedule after getting already shot in Glasgow. Pitt is apparently "furious" though we'll be taking that certain having a hefty serving of salt since Us Weekly is not exactly noted for the searing precision in the confirming on any celebrity problem...

Handley boards 'Of Men and Mavericks'

"Battle: Los Angeles" thesp Taylor Handley has joined the cast of Fox 2000 and Walden Media's "Of Men and Mavericks," helmer Curtis Hanson's surfing pic starring Gerard Butler. Story follows a chapter in the real life of Jay Moriarty (Jonny Weston), a world champion surfer from Northern California who made his reputation surfing Marvericks north of Half Moon Bay before dying in a diving accident at age 22. Butler plays local surfing legend Frosty Hesson, who mentored and trained Moriarty. Elisabeth Shue and Abigail Spencer co-star as Moriarty's mother and Hesson's wife, respectively. Handley will play Sonny, a bully who never follows the surfer's code and threatens anyone who tries to "steal" his wave. His contempt gives way to others' open admiration for Moriarty. Hanson will direct from a script by Kario Salem and Brandon Hooper. Hanson and Hooper are also producing with Mark Johnson and Jim Meenaghan. Butler is exec producing with his manager Alan Siegel. Fox 2000 will co-finance and handle domestic distribution for the pic, which starts production later this month in Santa Cruz. Handley, who recently appeared in "Skateland," just wrapped the lead in the sci-fi thriller "Mentryville." He's repped by Paradigm and Booh Schut Company. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

The Simpsons Cast Near to Signing Deal But Exactly How Much Can They Make?

The Simpsons It appears such as the Simpsons may continue their hijinks on Fox. The cast from the longest-running prime-time scripted series is near to signing an offer, which keeps them around the air for just one more year, based on the Hollywood Reporter. The brand new deal will not reduce their salaries around the 45 percent pay cut Fox initially required, but it won't include any revenue pay. The Simpsons' Harry Shearer: I am prepared to have a 70 % pay cut in return for profits On Monday, it had been reported the stars - Serta Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Cruz, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer - suggested a 30 % pay cut in return for half the normal commission from the show's back-finish profits, including distribution and retailing. But that provide was quickly declined through the network. Early Friday, Shearer spoke out against Fox, saying he'd have a pay cut as huge as 70 % to be able to obtain a share from the sitcom's hefty profits. Shearer stated there have been "virtually no conditions to which the network would consider permitting me or the stars to talk about within the show's success." Fox gives Simpsons stars an ultimatum The show's producers have previously decided to salary cutbacks, but a number of them curently have deals including compensation from back-finish profits. The deadline - Friday at noon - for Fox's ultimatum for that cast to go ahead and take pay cut or even the show is going to be canceled has transpired, without response in the stars or even the network.

Charlize Theron is really a Mean Girl within the First Trailer for 'Young Adult'

With trailers for 'Extremely Noisy & Incredibly Close' and 'My Week With Marilyn' getting first showed within the last week, precious couple of year-finish prestige releases remain an overall total mystery. Now, using the new trailer for Jason Reitman's 'Young Adult' getting just first showed, a different one bites the dust. (Ball's inside your court, 'In the Land of Bloodstream and Honey'!) The Diablo Cody-scripted dramedy follows a children's book author-cum-adult Mean Girl (Oscar champion Charlize Theron) who returns to her home town to stalk a now-married former senior high school flame. Let us stop attempting to make fetch happen watching ahead. Initial ideas, in staccato form: Theron-as-Rachel McAdams from 'Mean Girls' in fifteen years? Yes, please. Crisp and puncturing dialogue thanks to the always-great Ms. Cody? Yes, please. Dark comedy, which -- when the script comments are accurate -- will get even more dark? Yes, please! The final time Cody and Reitman partnered it had been for that sunshine-y 'Juno' for everyone concerned -- including Theron, inside a role that on first blush appears more suited to someone like Kristen Wiig -- be excited 'Young Adult' certainly is not that. 'Young Adult' has gone out 12 ,. 9. Watch in HD at Apple. [via Not Far Off] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Microsoft Ink Multiple TV Content Deals for Xbox 360 360 Live

Microsoft has had another step toward its goal of creating its Xbox 360 360 gaming console probably the most helpful and ubiquitous box within the family room.our editor recommendsE3 Daily Dispatch: Microsoft introducing Live TV and Voice-Controlled Entertainment to Xbox 360 360 Ubisoft Offers Free Tom Clancy Video Game On Wednesday, the program maker stated it's struck handles some three dozen designers and marketers of TV content from 20 nations, including Bravo, Comcast, Cinemax Go, FiOS and SyFy, for live as well as on-demand tv shows. Customers will still require a subscription to some traditional provider of TV, however the Xbox 360 360 Live service will place the content on multiple TV screens without resorting to several boxes, and it'll make finding shows simpler. PHOTOS: Netflix's 10 Most Leased Movies ever The service, available around Christmas, uses the Kinect gaming device to get rid of the requirement for multiple controllers for switching between live TV, on-demand shows or doing offers. Rather, TV is going to be controlled through voice control or arm motions, so no complicated button-sequences to fumble with. Here's how Microsoft referred to that part of the Xbox 360 360 upgrades in the announcement on Wednesday: "Using voice search with Bing on Xbox 360, easily look across a number of top quality services and take part in the programming you would like without ever raising a finger. Getting trouble finding last evening's episode from the Office? It's now merely a voice command away. Just say 'Xbox, Bing, Work and Xbox 360 finds it." Related Subjects Comcast Microsoft Cinemax Work Bravo SyFy Xbox 360

Everybody's a critic

If there's one thing film students love more than watching movies, it's sharing their opinions of movies. Just Seen It, started by recent U. of Southern California film school graduate David Freedman, allows a team of recent USC grads and current masters and doctorate film students to do just that. The Just Seen It group writes, shoots and produces short reviews of films and TV shows a la Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper's "At the Movies." Putting a contempo spin on those shows, Just Seen It caters to a younger demo with online video reviews and a three-part rating system: see it, stream it or skip it. Shot in the way you'd expect film students to break down a movie they've just seen -- over drinks with a few close friends -- Just Seen It reviews major movies and new TV shows and champions "hidden gems," lesser-known shows and films near and dear to their hearts. Some recent reviews include "Moneyball," which earned a "See It!" and "Contagion," which got a "Stream It!" In December, Freedman, who now works for Bill Mechanic's Pandemonium shingle, and his friends were looking to fill the void left by the now-defunct "At the Movies." There "wasn't a really intelligent and entertaining and contentions movie show," on TV, he said. They shopped the idea for a Just Seen It TV show around and found a cable network that was interested. The net eventually backed out, but Freedman and his friends didn't give up. Now JustSeenIt.com has about 40,000 hits per week, 500 registered users, and the team just posted the 100th review to the site. Though the Internet is home to Just Seen It for now, Freedman one day hopes to see Just Seen It on TV. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Watch Harry Potter 7 Online Free