John Higgins dies at 71

John Higgins, an actress, director, producer and dialect coach, died November. 11 of dental cancer in Fremont, Calif. He was 71.Australia-born Higgins made his professional acting debut using the Old Globe Theater in North Park and made an appearance in 16 Shakespeare plays in repertory on the four-year period. He made an appearance Off Broadway in "Desire Underneath the Elms" with George C. Scott as well as in the celebrated manufacture of "Six Figures looking for a writer,Inch directed by William Ball. Moving to London in 1970, he carried out using the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as in the initial West Finish productions of "The Boys within the Band" and "Fortune and Men's Eyes." In 1974 Higgins gone to live in Gauteng, where he directed and behaved using the Market Theater. In 1975, he directed "Of Rodents and Males," with Ken Gampu, the very first government-approved multiethnic production in South African history, in the Lakeside Theater. In 1977, he directed the anti-apartheid play "Survival," with Seth Sibanda and David Kekana the development together with towards the U.K., Russia and also the U.S. Coming back to California within the late '70s, John directed the U.S. premiere of "The Biko Inquest," a play concerning the South African activist, in the Globe in North Park, and also the world premiere of Ken Kesey's "The Further Inquiry." Throughout the eighties Higgins divided his time between England, the U.S. and Australia, pointing new works "Two With no Cause" (plays by Michael Weller and Israel Horovitz) in Sydney in addition to Charles Marowitz's "The Shrew" and Woodsy Allen's "God" working in london. In 1990, he directed a questionable musical manufacture of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," occur the Haight-Ashbury District of Bay Area from the turbulence from the sixties Civil Privileges Movement. Within the the nineteen nineties, he directed plays and musicals in Bay Area and Sacramento for that Eureka Company, the Spreckles Arts Center, Next Phase and also the Alcazar Theater. Higgins also made an appearance in greater than a dozen movies, including "Phar Lap" and "The Newest,Inch as well as on TV.Since coming back to Australia in 2000, he offered being an acting and dialect coach for the kind of Chris Hemsworth and Rose Byrne. He trained in the Ensemble Galleries, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Stables Theater and Company B. He was along the way of planning a revival of his musical on Bob Dylan known as "Words and Music," and creating an up-to-date version of "Midsummer Night's Dream," when he learned he'd cancer. John Edward Higgins Junior. was created in Sydney, the boy of the American father and Australian mother. John and the more youthful brother, filmmaker Colin Higgins ("Harold and Maude," "Foul Play"), gone to live in the U.S. and settled in Atherton, Calif. John Higgins received a b -.A. from San Jose Condition U. as well as an acting diploma in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art working in london, and that he offered within the U.S. Navy in early sixties. He's made it by his mother and siblings Gary, John, Craig and Dennis.Specifics of an event honoring Higgins' existence, to become held sometime following the year, is going to be offered at Professorjohnhiggins.com. John's brother John might be arrived at at higginsb28@yahoo.com Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

The Very Best Movie Quotes of 2011: From 'The Hangover Part II' to 'Midnight in Paris,' the very best 11 in '11

Another year of movies has passed by some were good, a great deal were bad -- but the number of were truly memorable? You realize you have had your lasting film experience if you find yourself estimating it non-stop, even several weeks after it's come and gone within the theaters. To celebrate the entire year which was 2011, Moviefone has come up with our listing of the eleven best movie quotes of the season. The Very Best 11 Movie Quotes From 2011 11. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/night time-in-paris/10036438/primary"> 'Midnight in Paris' </a>10. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/tower-heist/52240/primary">'Tower Heist'</a>9. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/attack-the-block/10056611/primary">'Attack the Block' </a>8. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/the-hangover-2/38948/primary">'The Hanogver Part 2' </a>7. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/5050/1417783/primary">཮/50' </a>6. 'Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows: Part IIƋ. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/hobo-with-a-shotgun/10038378/primary">'Hobo Having a Shotgun' </a>4. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/horrible-bosses/10038375/primary">'Horrible Bosses' </a>3. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/crazy-stupid-love/10052074/primary">'Crazy, Stupid, Love.' </a>2. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/the-muppets/1390395/primary">'The Muppets' </a>1. <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/bridesmaids/10035125/primary">'Bridesmaids' </a> See All Moviefone Art galleries » Did we omit your preferred movie lines? Let's hear your picks for top quotes of 2011 . [Photo: Warner Bros.] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Men In Black 3' Trailer Hits, 'Drive' Sequel Speeds Ahead

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back on the extraterrestrial beat today with a brand new "Men in Black 3" trailer that comes equipped with Josh Brolin's note-perfect TLJ impersonation. Keep reading for all those details, as well as first word on a sequel to the novel that Ryan Gosling's "Drive" was based on, and much more in today's Dailies! 'Men In Black' Trailer Premieres After ten years, the Men In Black are back with a trailer that looks decidedly like the two previous movies. The preview mostly sets up the storys main arc, and ends with a twist that everyone already knows about. Check it out for the return of Will Smith after a three year absence from the movies and for an example of perfect casting. 'Drive' Sequel Novel Coming In April The book that spawned the brilliant summer surprise is getting a sequel. James Sallis, the author of the original Drive novel has announced that its follow up, Driven, will hit shelves in April of next year. If you havent read the first book, its definitely worth a look. It will take you two days tops, and should stave off your craving for head stomping until the Blu-ray comes out in January. George Clooney Sets His Sights on Smothers Brothers Movie George Clooney and his production company, Smokehouse, have snapped up the rights to a book chronicling the careers of the Smothers Brothers. Tom and Dicky Smothers were television comedians in the late 1960s and became icons of the counter-culture movement during their short run on TV. Smokehouse will produce the movie with Sony Pictures. There is no word yet on whether Clooney will either direct or star in the film. Leonardo DiCaprio Project Tops Annual Black List Every year, Hollywood insiders vote on the best unproduced screenplays floating around Tinsel Town. This year a proposed Leonardo DiCaprio project took the top slot in a landslide victory. The Imitation Game is the story of Alan Turring, one of the mathematicians responsible for breaking Nazi code in World War II, but who was later persecuted for being a homosexual. When Warner Bros. bought the script back in October, DiCaprio was rumored as the front-runner for the role of Turring. Other scripts mentioned on the list include Chewie, a retelling of the making of Star Wars from the perspective of Peter Mayhew and Quentin Tarantinos Django Unchained. Tell us what you think of today's Dailies in the comments section and on Twitter!

'New Year's Eve' 'Saturday Evening Live' Sketch Sets All-Star Love Story Against Apocalypse (VIDEO)

.publish-content img Since it calculates, possibly there has been lots of stars in 'New Year's Eve' to have interaction audiences. The Garry Marshall-directed film acquired just $13.7 million in the last weekend, underneath the outlet day grosses of 'Valentine's Day.' (Sorry relevant for this news, 'What you may anticipate When you're Expecting'!) If possibly 'New Year's Eve' featured Came Barrymore, Alan Alda, Cuba Gooding Junior., Al Roker, Christina Aguilera, Paulie Walnuts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg as well as the finish of humanity! No less than that's exactly what the great folks at 'Saturday Evening Live' presented through the Katy Perry-situated edition, which mocked 'New Year's Eve' -- despite, or even because, mind author Seth Meyers really appears inside the underwhelming romcom. Good job, everyone! Watch it above and mind to America online TV for further about 'SNL.' Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Variety reveals Company company directors to check out

Variety features its 10 Company company directors to check out list, representing up-and-coming helmers whose early work signifies promising careers ahead.The choice includes Zal Batmanglij ("Appear of My Voice"), Valerie Donzelli ("Commitment of War"), Gareth Evans ("The Raid"), Philippe Falardeau ("Monsieur Lazhar"), Gerardo Naranjo ("Miss Bala"), Matt Piedmont ("Casa p mi padre"), Michael R. Roskam ("Bullhead"), Lynn Shelton ("Your Sister's Sister"), Benh Zeitlin ("Monsters in the Southern Wild") and filmmaking duo Mike "Mouse" McCoy and Scott Waugh, also called the "Bandito Brothers and sisters," former stuntmen whose "Act of Valor" stars actual Navy Shuts in the ground-breaking actioner.Four in the helmers were also attracted onto represent their property nations inside the Oscar language category: Donzelli's French "War" was selected for your opening evening slot of Experts Week at Cannes Canadian Falardeau recently acquired everyone else prize for "Monsieur Lazhar" within the Whistler film fest Naranjo revealed Mexican thriller "Miss Bala" at Cannes and Roskam's Belgian debut "Bullhead" remains winning honours at both art- and genre-film fests.Many of the movies continue being traveling the festival circuit. No less than five will screen in the users hand Springs sprocket opera the next month, while later within the month of the month of january, another five are likely to Sundance, where Zeitlin's "Monsters" is positioned to preem in narrative competition.Profiles from the organization company directors look in Daily Variety on Jan. 6. Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com

Don't Think Trailer Blasts In

The Chemicals block-rocking concert filmChemical Brothers concert flick Don't Think is shaping up to be an eyeball disco for music fans of all ilks. Director Adam Smith used 20 cameras to do for the Chemicals what Jonathan Demme did for Talking Heads and looks like giving the clubbing generation its own Stop Making Sense. Check out the trailer below to see what we mean.Smith, who's been designing visuals for The Chemical Brothers since their Dust Brother days 18 years ago, shot the duo on one night at Japan's Fuji Rock festival. Fifty hours of footage were then edited down into a maelstrom of dance music, eyepopping visuals and, as the director puts it, "moments of joy, fear and mad escapism"."Normally at concert films it's just people gurning into the camera", Smith tells Empire, "but this was different. We put five or six cameras just in the audience - little Canon 5Ds - and had little signs on the cameras telling people not to look at the cameras, just to enjoy the show. And they did exactly that."According to the director, the visual dimension is the game-changer that'll keep even dance music agnostics happy: "It's a big cinematic experience. Even if you're not a Chemical Brothers fan, you'll go see their show and I hope the film has the same effect." Don't Think gets a wide screen release on February 1 so you won't even have to brave the Glastonbury mud to see your favourite electronic masters in action.

Bird, Cruise fete 'MI4' preem in Dubai

Tom Cruise, right, attends the Dubai fest for the preem of Pars Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. There were no hints of an economic crisis this year at the eighth Dubai Film Festival, which pulled out all the stops for the world preem of Paramount's "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" at its opening soiree.Global industryites gathered in the city's Madinat Jumeriah resort on Wednesday night for the event, attended by helmer Brad Bird and cast members Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Anil Kapoor.Opening the high-octane actioner in Dubai was fitting: much of the fourth pic in the $2 billion franchise was lensed in the city, with Cruise, known for performing many of his own stunts, dangling off the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, in one scene.But festgoers, including UAE vice president and prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had to wait for the privilege.The fledgling fest, like many of its counterparts, experienced organizational difficulties and the program ran nearly an hour late.The cast joined Bird, the pic's exec producers and scribes on stage to unveil the film, with Bird thanking the people of Dubai for "helping us make what was a very demanding shoot."Veteran Egyptian thesp Gamil Ratib, who starred in "Lawrence of Arabia," and Indian composer A.R. Rahman both received lifetime achievement awards.Following the screening, attendees meandered over to the beach for an after party that ran until the early hours. While rain drizzled on the glitterati -- an unusual occurrence for the desert region -- it didn't dampen the mood or the spectacular fireworks display.Fest runs until Dec. 14. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com