At The Movies

Saving Mr. Banks
Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) spent twenty years in pursuit of the film rights to P.L. Travers' (Emma Thompson) popular novel, Mary Poppins, a quest he began in the 1940s as a promise to his two daughters. When Travers travels from London to Hollywood in 1961 to finally discuss Disney's desire to bring her beloved character to the motion picture screen, Disney meets a prim, uncompromising sexagenarian not only suspect of the impresario's concept for the film, but a woman struggling with her own past. During her stay in California, Travers reflects on her childhood in 1906 Australia, a trying time for her family that not only molded her aspirations to write, but one that also inspired the characters in her 1934 book. None more so than the one person whom she loved and admired more than any other her caring father, Travers Goff (Colin Farrell), a tormented banker who, before his untimely death that same year, instills the youngster with both affection and enlightenment (and who would be the muse for the story's patriarch, Mr. Banks, the sole character that the famous nanny comes to aid). While reluctant to grant Disney the film rights, Travers comes to realize that the acclaimed Hollywood storyteller has his own motives for wanting to make the film-which, like the author's, hint at the relationship he shared with his own father.
 

On DVD

CBGB
CBGB looks at New York's dynamic punk rock scene through the lens of the ground breaking Lower East Side club started by eccentric Hilly Kristal (Alan Rickman) in 1973 originally as a home for "country, bluegrass and blues" (thus the club's name) and which showcased cutting edge bands through its closing in 2006. The Talking Heads, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Blondie, The Dead Boys, Bad Brains, Green Day, Soul Asylum, The Police, Bruce Springsteen, Everclear, George Thorogood, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, The Black Crowes, The Flaming Lips, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The B-52s, The Runaways, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tool and The Wallflowers are just some of the thousands of bands that played the club over the years.
 

The Buzz...

Jamie Chung just might star in her own fairy tale in 2014! The Once Upon a Time actress is engaged to boyfriend Bryan Greenberg. The bride to be reportedly said "yes" to the Flock of Dudes actor over the holidays in San Francisco, just days before celebrating the new year together in Turks and Caicos, where Jamie hit the beach and showed off her bikini body.

For the first time in a long time, exes Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were seen hanging out together. The 19 year old pop singer and the brunette beauty were photographed riding segways around The Oaks, a gated community in Calabasas where Biebs currently resides, and apparently caused a traffic jam. A Twitter user, who captured the snapshots of the former Hollywood couple during their rendezvous, shared the pics on the social media website and also gave a little play by play of what went down.

If you hadn't made a fitness-related New Year's resolution yet, prepare to. Jane Seymour and her Jan. 13 cover of Closer Weekly have come to make you feel bad about your body. The 62 year old former Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman star graces the cover in a hot pink bikini, rocking a body that women have her age would likely die for. "God, I'm in better shape now in some ways than I was when I was doing the Bond film" Seymour rubs it in, referring to 1973's Live and Let Die. "I don't do major fasts or work out crazily every day. I hope I can inspire people! I just want to be as healthy as I can be for as long as I can."

Duck Dynasty is getting in the gun business. The gun maker Mossberg has teamed with Duck Commander, the company owned by Duck Dynasty's Robertson clan, to release nine different shotguns, as well as two semiautomatic rifles and a semiautomatic pistol. Per the report, patriarch Phil Robertson (who was recently in some hot water for his anti-gay remarks) is featured with his sons in four video ads for the new guns on Mossberg's web site. In one of the spots, Phil says, "Do you know what makes me happy, ladies and gentlemen? To blow a mallard drake's head smooth off."

The Make It Right Foundation, the nonprofit founded by Brad Pitt to aid in the environmentally friendly rebuilding of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward after Hurricane Katrina, is considering legal action against the supplier of some of the wood used on 30 of the homes that have gone up, according to the Big Easy edition of The Advocate. Spokeswoman Taylor Royles told the paper that some of the glass-infused wood used to build outdoor steps and decks has already begun to rot despite a 40-year guarantee of its durability.

Good news for whichever film walks away with the Producers Guild of America crown: Oscar may be next. The influential group named its nominees for the 25th Annual PGA Awards, taking place Jan. 19 at the Beverly Hilton and while none of the 10 films that made the cut in and of themselves are a major surprise, the list of snubs is notable. First, however, the expected: American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave, which are tied for most Golden Globe nominations this year with seven apiece, are both up for what is formally called the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures. Gravity, a huge critical and box office hit, is also in the running.

Jessica Simpson has her eyes on one goal for 2014: looking her absolute best in her wedding dress! The mother of two opened up about her New Year's resolutions in a recent advertisement for Weight Watchers. "I think if you do set resolutions for yourself, it shouldn't be something grand. I think it should just be about getting started on something and see if you can stick with it." The beautiful blonde also said told People that her upcoming nuptials to fiancé Eric Johnson are serving as a perfect deadline for getting into her best shape yet.

A new guest is checking in to Bates Motel. Alias veteran Michael Vartan is joining the cast of the A&E drama series in Season 2, according to TV Guide. The actor will play the role of George, a recent divorcee who courts Norma's (Vera Farmiga) affections after meeting her at a party thrown by his sister.

The NFL on Fox has never been bigger than this season, as the net is enjoying its most watched campaign in the 20 years since it began televising the league in 1994. With Nielsen data in for Week 17 action on Sunday, including the pivotal Green Bay Chicago matchup, the NFL on Fox averaged 21.2 million viewers for the 2013 season — up 8% from 2012 (19.7 million) and surpassing 2010 (20.11 million), which had been the previous best for the network. The NFL on Fox has now delivered its four most watched seasons in the last four years, as the league has never been more popular. This year’s Fox action drew 25% more viewers than it did five years ago (17.0 million in 2008) and 36% more than 10 years ago (15.6 million in 2003)

A lawyer who blew J.K. Rowling’s cover when she wrote a detective novel under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith has been fined 1,000 pounds ($1,650) and received a written warning from a British legal watchdog.

Reclaiming the crown, Warner Bros. was No. 1 in global market share in 2013 with $5.04 billion in global ticket sales. It's only the second time a Hollywood studio has hit that mark (Paramount achieved the milestone in 2011). And in a first, both Warner Bros. and Disney crossed $3 billion in revenue at the international box office.