MTV's #8 Movie Of The Year Is '50/50'

I kept fearing "50/50" would take a left turn onto Sappy Boulevard, plod past Preachy Junction and come to a rest in a town populated by "Dying Young," "Autumn in NY" and "Sweet November," where everyone learns pat lessons and becomes better people (except for those who die; those unfortunate folks just help us learn something about ourselves before they pass into the Great Cheesy Beyond). "50/50" is a movie about cancer, after all, about a young man with the disease. At a certain point star Seth Rogen would have to cease being Seth Rogen, and the whole film would become some YA version of "Beaches," right? Wrong, wrong, wrong. Based on writer Will Reiser's own experiences and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young radio producer suffering from a rare form of cancer, "50/50" pulls off the magic trick of staying consistently funny, sweet, affecting and real and never, ever cheesy. For all these reasons and more, "50/50" lands at #8 on MTV's Best of 2011 Movie list. As Rogen, who produced the film and plays Gordon-Levitt's best friend (and happens to be Reiser's close pal), told us back in September, "We'd always talk about how it's not a creative challenge to take something depressing and make something depressing out of it. To us, it was much more interesting to take something that's inherently depressing and try to make something really, really funny out of it." "50/50" joins "Attack the Block" (#10) and "The Descendants" (#9) on our Best of 2011 list. All week long, we'll be counting down our list in the lead up to our Best of 2011 Movies live stream on Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET. During the show, we'll revel the top five. Don't miss it! Related: #10 Movie of the Year: "Attack the Block" #9 Movie of the Year: "The Descendants" All this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year!

Will Ferrell Stars in Advertisements for Old Milwaukee Beer Free Of Charge

Will Ferrell Will Ferrell must love beer -- more particularly, Old Milwaukee. That Old School star agreed to come in a number of spots for that parent firm Pabst Brewing Co. in September - free of charge. They are only running on local TV in Davenport, Iowa, based on Business Insider. But that has not stopped them from going viral online. Browse the advertisements:

'Ender's Game' Eyes Hailee Steinfeld For Petra

Hailee Steinfeld is one lucky lady. After impressing audiences with "True Grit" last year, she missed out on being cast in "The Hunger Games" and has only been cast in relatively under-the-radar projects. But now all that is about to change. Variety is reporting that Steinfeld is in talks to play Petra Arkanian in the upcoming adaptation of "Ender's Game." Petra is the most significant female character in the story, and also acts as Ender's right-hand woman. This would hands down be Steinfeld's biggest role to date if she ends up agreeing to it, and also would likely launch her into her first franchise. This follows the news that Asa Butterfield will play Ender and Harrison Ford is being considered for the role of Colonel Hyrum Graff, which means the casting process is quickly getting underway. Neither Steinfeld nor Ford's participation in the film are set in stone, but it would be a good career move for both of them to join the project. With the roles of Ender, Petra and Graff potentially squared away, there are still some other big roles left to cast. The biggest of them is Bean, a character who ends up getting his own side series in the "Ender" universe. He is a younger recruit than Ender in the Battle School, but just as smart and apt for his job. There are also Ender's older siblings Peter and Valentine Wiggins to cast, as well as the rest of his Battle School peers. It will be interesting to see if director Gavin Hood ends up continuing to cast well-known actors, or if he starts looking for some unknowns to fill the roles. More on "Ender's Game" in today's Talk Nerdy To Me! Do you think Steinfeld will be a good addition to "Ender's Game"? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Box Office Report: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' and 'Muppets' Rule Thanksgiving

Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn--Part 1 topped the Thanksgiving eve box office with $12.5 million, while Disney's new family film The Muppets came in No. 2 with $6.6 million million.our editor recommendsBox Office Preview: 'The Muppets' Likely to Win Thanksgiving Family FeudFamily Feud: November's Biggest Box Office Battles, Weekend-by-Weekend New Movie Reviews: 'Hugo,' 'The Muppets,' 'My Week With Marilyn' Hitting TheatersMartin Scorsese Talks 'Hugo,' Recurring Nightmares and How His 12-Year-Old Rules the RoostRelated Topics•Twilight Wednesday's grosses suggest that Breaking Dawn -- with a domestic gross of $171.5 million -- will land in the high $50 million range for the five-day holiday stretch. In a victory for Disney, The Muppets has a strong shot at hitting $40 million for the five days. Starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams opposite the iconic puppets, the family film cost a modest $45 million to produce and is designed to introduce a new generation to the brand. PHOTOS: 'The Muppets' Red Carpet Arrivals Warner Bros. holdover Happy Feet Two bested Sony and Aardman's new family film Arthur Christmas, grossing $2.9 million, compared to $2.4 million for Arthur. Sony believes that Arthur, costing $85 million to produce, will have especially strong legs, even if it starts slow. Happy Feet Two should hit $20 million for the five days; Arthur is hoping for the same. Muppets earned a stellar A CinemaScore, while Arthur earned an A-. PHOTOS: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Black Carpet Arrivals Martin Scorsese's critically acclaimed new 3D film Hugo came in No. 8 on Wednesday after opening on 1,277 theaters, only a third of the location count of Muppets and Arthur Christmas. Projections show the film grossing $12.5 million for the five days, in line with expectations. Paramount, which is distributing Hugo, believes the film will play older than traditional family films, as well as to more sophisticated audiences. By opening on a smaller number of screens, Paramount is looking to build word-of-mouth heading into the heart of awards season. Hugo, Muppets and Arthur Christmas have all received great reviews. Alexander Payne's The Descendants, starring George Clooney, expanded nicely, grossing $985,000 on Wednesday as it moved into a total of 390 theaters across the country. The film came in No. 10, and its domestic cume is now $2.5 million. Michelle Williams specialty film My Week with Marilyn opened Wednesday in 123 theaters, grossing $155,000 for a location average of $1,256. The Weinstein Co. is distributing the film. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Red Carpet's Top 10: Twilight: Breaking Dawn Premiere Related Topics Box Office Happy Feet 2 The Muppets

Jerry O'Connell, Jonah Hill and Josh Groban to Co-Host 'Live! With Kelly'

Getty ImagesJerry O'Connell and Jonah Hill Live! With Kelly features four guest co-hosts, who'll join Kelly Ripa round the morning talker.our editor recommendsFirst 'Live!' Episode After Regis Philbin's Departure Draws Good RatingsJerry Seinfeld Joins Kelly Ripa on First 'Live' Broadcast Sans Regis Philbin Jerry O'Connell and singer-actor Josh Groban will return to co-host alongside Ripa, while Dwts professional Derek Hough and Jonah Hill will probably be making their debuts. O'Connell, presently starring in Broadway's Seminar, will have the following day of Thanksgiving. Site visitors for your episode include Castle star Nathan Fillion and Glee's Jane Lynch. Groban will occupy his chair for three days from 12 ,. 7-9, where site visitors includes Zac Efron, Neil Gem, Charlize Theron and Abigail Breslin. Hill, an expert producer on Fox's Allen Gregory and recently starring in Moneyball, co-hosts the 12 ,. 6 hour. Nicole Kidman, Emily Van Camping and chef Richard Blais visit for just about any chat. Hough co-hosts 12 ,. 5, when Burn Notice's Jeffrey Donovan and Martha Marcy May Marlene actress Elizabeth Olsen visit. Neil Patrick Harris joins Ripa beginning November. 28 for just about any days time. Jerry Seinfeld co-situated from November. 21-23. Jerry O'Connell Jonah Hill Josh Groban Live! With Kelly

This Is What Happens When Rappers Review The Muppets

If you’d rather forgo the lengthy critical reviews of this weekend’s The Muppets and instead know whether or not you’ll stay awake during Jason Segel’s big-screen revival of Jim Henson’s beloved characters, NextMovie has the video review for you. It features Brooklyn-based rappers M.O.P., who impressively do not mention Segel’s name once but do call out Chris Cooper’s rapping skills (or lack thereof) and compare Miss Piggy to “a not-so-hot Nicki Minaj.” Click through for the fresh, direct and vaguely insulting (to Miss Piggy) take on The Muppets. Get More: For more from NextMovie: Trailers | Movies | DVD & Blu-Ray For more of NextMovie’s “Rappers Review” series, enjoy the Immortals, Bad Teacher, Hangover Part II and Sucker Punch installments. The Muppets hits theaters tomorrow. [via NextMovie]

FEINBERG FORECAST: 'The Artist,' 'The Descendants,' 'The Help' Atop Best Pic Area

Fox Searchlight Below is my latest assessment of all of the high-profile Oscar groups, along with commentary by whatOrthat has negative and positive momentum at this time in most of these. I welcome your opinions inside the comments section in the finish in the publish. BEST PICTURE Management The Artist (The Weinstein Company, 11/23, PG-13, trailer) The Descendants (Fox Searchlight, 11/23, R, trailer) The Help (Disney, 8/12, PG-13, trailer) Evening amount of time in Paris (The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics, 5/20, PG-13, trailer) Moneyball (Columbia, 9/23, PG-13, trailer) War Equine (Disney, 12/25, PG-13, trailer) Very Noisy and very Close (Warner Bros., 12/25, PG-13, trailer) The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo (The brand new the new sony, 12/21, R, trailer) J. Edgar (Warner Bros., 11/11, R, trailer) Margin Call (Kerbside Sights, 10/21, R, trailer) Major Risks The Ides of March (The brand new the new sony, 10/14, R, trailer) Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Focus Features, 12/9, R, trailer) Hugo (Vital, 11/23, PG, trailer) The Tree of Existence (Fox Searchlight, 5/27, PG-13, trailer) Shame (Fox Searchlight, 12/2, NC-17, trailer) Beginners (Focus Features, 6/3, R, trailer) The Iron Lady (The Weinstein Company, 12/30, PG-13, teaser) Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2 (Warner Bros., 7/15, PG-13, trailer) Options Inside the Land of Blood stream and Honey (FilmDistrict, 12/23, R, trailer) 50/50 (Summit, 9/30, R, trailer) My Week with Marilyn (The Weinstein Company, 11/23, R, trailer) Youthful Adult (Vital, 12/9, R, trailer) Carnage (The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics, 12/16, R, trailer) Super 8 (Vital, 6/10, PG-13, trailer) Drive (FilmDistrict, 9/16, R, trailer) We Bought a Zoo (last century Fox, 12/23, PG, trailer) This timely little indie's gutsy day-and-date release plan has paid out off in spades, while using film raking in considerable dough and having a hot subject of dialogue among both industry affiliates and everybody's intelligentsia. Nobody seems quite certain in what this film "is" -- an honours contender, purely commercial, or neither -- as well as the announcement that it's going to have a very "country wide commercial sneak" four days before its actual release is not reassuring news. BEST DIRECTOR Management Alexander Payne (The Descendants) Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) Woodsy Allen (Evening amount of time in Paris) Steven Spielberg (War Equine) Tate Taylor (The Help) Major Risks Stephen Daldry (Very Noisy and very Close) David Fincher (The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo) Bennett Burns (Moneyball) Clint Eastwood (J. Edgar) Terrence Malick (The Tree of Existence) Martin Scorsese (Hugo) George Clooney (The Ides of March) Options Steve McQueen (Shame) J.C. Chandor (Margin Call) Tomas Alfredson (Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) Phyllida Lloyd (The Iron Lady) Jason Reitman (Youthful Adult) Roman Polanski (Carnage) Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) It needed guts with this particular old-school filmmaker to try out a technique like 3-D the first time within the career at 69, but his efforts relating to this family film are increasingly being met with lots of praise in the type of 3-D pioneer James Cameron (read here) and Time magazine's Richard Corliss (read here). Fairly or else, the growing consensus seems being this is not among his "major works" (think Unforgiven, Mystic River, and Big Baby), but rather the newest in the more recent string of films that have left a little more being preferred (Changeling, Gran Torino, Invictus, and Hereafter). BEST ACTOR Management Jean Dujardin (The Artist) George Clooney (The Descendants) Kaira Pitt (Moneyball) Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) Michael Fassbender (Shame) Major Risks Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March) Gary Oldman (Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) Woodsy Harrelson (Rampart) Ryan Gosling (Drive) Ernest Gordon-Levitt (50/50) Paul Giamatti (Mutually Advantageous) Options Thomas Horn (Very Noisy and very Close) Difficulties (The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo) Take advantage of Fiennes (Coriolanus) Demian Bichir (A Far Greater Existence) Owen Wilson (Evening amount of time in Paris) Jeremy Irvine (War Equine) Zachary Quinto (Margin Call) Matt Damon (We Bought a Zoo) He's been beating the pavement around anybody this honours season, and -- even if his character in this film has turned off some female voters, who feel he's unapologetically misogynistic -- he themselves can be a hard guy not to like. Though virtually nobody who is not concentrating on the film has seen the film yet, the thrill that we'm hearing could it be's the Rooney Mara show, which whether or not this scores any acting jerk it'll be one on her behalf, not Craig. BEST ACTRESS Management Viola Davis (The Help) Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) Rooney Mara (The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo) Major Risks Charlize Theron (Youthful Adult) Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia) Keira Knightley (A Dangerous Method) Tilda Swinton (We must Discuss Kevin) Michelle Yeoh (The Lady) Options Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre) Ellen Barkin (Another Happy Day) Felicity Manley (Constantly) Adepero Oduye (Pariah) Rachel Weisz (The Whistleblower) Vera Farmiga (Greater Ground) This actress' incredible portrait of Margaret Thatcher as both a thrilling middle-aged and diminishing senior citizens lady has become passionate acclaim from virtually everyone which has seen it since its unveiling the other day, which is certain to bring her accurate documentation-stretching 17th Oscar jerk. The film which performance -- easily the marriage factor relating to this -- seem to become diminishing within the discussion because the second mental/sex-centric drama -- Shame, which stars Michael Fassbender -- steps the main attraction. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Management Christopher Plummer (Beginners) Max von Sydow (Very Noisy and very Close) Albert Brooks (Drive) Jeremy Irons (Margin Call) Kevin Spacey (Margin Call) Major Risks Stanley Tucci (Margin Call) Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady) Jonah Hill (Moneyball) Armie Hammer (J. Edgar) Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn) Patton Oswalt (Youthful Adult) Ben Kingsley (Hugo) NEW Tom Hanks (Very Noisy and very Close) Options Christoph Waltz (Carnage) John C. Reilly (Carnage) Nick Nolte (Warrior) John Hawkes (Martha Marcy May Marlene) Andy Serkis (Rise in the Planet in the Apes) Kaira Pitt (The Tree of Existence) Viggo Mortensen (A Dangerous Method) George Clooney (The Ides of March) Christopher Plummer (The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo) NEW Handful of expected the 27-year-old -- which has almost exclusively labored in frat-pack comedy right before this venture (with Cyrus being the primary one notable exception) -- to have their own around he did opposite Kaira Pitt in this film, the honours campaign that's presently being elevated. This performance has not been seen by virtually anybody not concentrating on the film, but is mentioned being incredibly brief -- almost a cameo, really -- and substantially overshadowed by veteran von Sydow's. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Management Octavia Spencer (The Help) Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) Berenice Bejo (The Artist) Jessica Chastain (The Help) Jesse McTeer (Albert Nobbs) Major Risks Sandra Bullock (Very Noisy and very Close) Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) Vanessa Redgrave (Coriolanus) Carey Mulligan (Shame) Evan Rachel Wood (The Ides of March) Judy Greer (The Descendants) Jodie Promote (Carnage) Options Kate Winslet (Carnage) Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Existence) Marion Cotillard (Evening amount of time in Paris) Elizabeth Reaser (Youthful Adult) NEW Emily Watson (War Equine) Kim Wayans (Pariah) Judi Dench (J. Edgar) Scarlett Johansson (We Bought a Zoo) Many a young actress remains recognized in this category, which one assessments off plenty of important boxes: she's pretty, charming, and humble (see her profile/pic inside the new EW, not online) -- and in addition it never affects to own George Clooney experimenting saying fantastic causes of you. As strong from the perf since this is in the truly great actress, the film that's offered -- that can take classic Shakespeare and sets it within our day -- just is not everyone's bag and is not lighting a fire place inside the bellies of even people to whom it's. BEST Modified Script Management Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash (The Descendants) Tate Taylor (The Help) Stan Chervin, Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian (Moneyball) Richard Curtis, Lee Hall (War Equine) Eric Roth (Very Noisy and very Close) Major Risks Steven Zaillian (The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo) George Clooney, Grant Heslov (The Ides of March) Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan (Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) John Logan (Hugo) Hossein Amini (Drive) Options Pedro Almodovar (The Skin Home Is) Roman Polanski (Carnage) Christopher Hampton (A Dangerous Method) Cameron Crowe, Aline Brosh McKenna (We Bought a Zoo) John Logan (Coriolanus) BEST ORIGINAL Script Management Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) Woodsy Allen (Evening amount of time in Paris) Dustin Lance Black (J. Edgar) Mike Mills (Beginners) J.C. Chandor (Margin Call) Major Risks James Ward Byrkit, John Logan, Gore Verbinski (Rango) Diablo Cody (Youthful Adult) Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) Tom McCarthy, Joe Tiboni (Mutually Advantageous) Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy Mae Marlene) Abi Morgan, Steve McQueen (Shame) Terrence Malick (The Tree of Existence) Options Will Reiser (50/50) Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) James Ellroy, Oren Moverman (Rampart) Drake Doremus, Ben You'll be able to Manley (Constantly) Rob Nichols (Take Shelter) Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady) J.J. Abrams (Super 8) Dee Rees (Pariah) BEST ANIMATED FILM (FEATURE) Management Rango (Vital, 3/4, PG, trailer) The Adventures of Tintin (Vital, 12/21, PG, trailer) Cars 2 (Disney, 6/24, G, trailer) Happy Foot 2 (Warner Bros., 11/18, PG, trailer) Puss in Boots (DreamWorks, 11/4, PG, trailer) Major Risks Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks, 5/26, PG, trailer) Rio (last century Fox, 4/15, G, trailer) Arthur Christmas (The brand new the new sony, 11/23, PG, trailer) Options Alvin as well as the Chipmunks: Nick-Wrecked (last century Fox, 12/11, TBA, trailer) Winnie the Pooh (Disney, 7/15, G, trailer) The Smurfs (The brand new the new sony, 7/29, PG, trailer) The Lion of Judah (Animated Family Films, 6/3, TBA, trailer) BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM (FEATURE) Management Project Nim (Kerbside Sights, 7/8, PG-13, trailer) Buck (IFC Films, 6/17, PG, trailer) In case your Tree Falls (Oscilloscope, 6/22, TBA, trailer) Bill Cunningham NY (Zeitgeist Films, 3/16, TBA, trailer) Fight for Brooklyn (TBA, 6/17, TBA, trailer) Major Risks Better Our World (Bullfrog Films, 8/26, TBA, trailer) Hell and Again (Docurama Films, 10/5, TBA, trailer) Pina (Sundance Selects, 12/23, TBA, trailer) Sing Your Song (Cinemax Documentary Films, 9/2, TBA, trailer) Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (Cinemax Documentary Films, TBA, TBA, trailer) Options I Had Been Here (Danger Signal Delivering, 9/?, TBA, trailer) Undefeated (The Weinstein Company, 2/10, TBA, TBA) Semper Fi: Always Faithful (TBA, TBA, TBA, trailer) Under Fire: Journalists in Combat (TBA, TBA, TBA, trailer) Jane's Journey (First Run Features, TBA, TBA, trailer) BEST Language FILM Management A Separation (Iran) Which Side We Proceed Now? (Lebanon) Le Havre (Finland) A Simple Existence (Hong Kong) In Darkness (Belgium) Major Risks Monsieur Lazhar (Canada) Commitment of War (France) Footnote (Israel) Pina (Germany) The Flowers of War (China) Happy, Happy (Norwegian) Terra Firma (Italia) Sonny Boy (Netherlands) Superclasico (Denmark) Options Bullhead (Belgium) Black Bread (The nation) Postcard (Japan) Omar Destroyed Me (Morocco mole) The Turin Equine (Hungary) Not such a long time ago in Anatolia (Chicken) Montevideo: Taste from the Dream (Serbia) Morgen (Romania) BEST ORIGINAL SCORE Management The Artist (Ludovic Bource) War Equine (John Williams) Hugo (Howard Shoreline) The Adventures of Tintin (John Williams) Very Noisy and very Close (Alexandre Desplat) Major Risks The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross) Mess Tailor Soldier Spy (Alberto Iglesias) The Help (Thomas Newman) Super 8 (Michael Giacchino) Harry Potter as well as the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Alexandre Desplat) The Ides of March (Alexandre Desplat) Options Moneyball (Mychael Danna) Jane Eyre (Dario Marianelli) A Dangerous Method (Howard Shoreline) The Skin Home Is (Alberto Iglesias) Evening amount of time in Paris (Stephane Wrembel) Nathan Larson (Margin Call)