I discovered the Primp & Prep site!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hpnotiq for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

With New Year’s Eve approaching, I know I am not the only one looking forward to getting for a fabulous night out. Well, ladies, don’t you wish you knew of the perfect site to help you and your friends, to make sure that you’ll be hitting your favorite night spots in style? What I am talking about is a website that helps you get that great energy going before your night gets started. Well, I am here to share exactly that with you right now – Introducing Hpnotiq Primp & Prep.

Hpnotiq Primp & Prep is where a girl can find everything she needs to get her party on. To make every evening out on the town memorable for girls, Hpnotiq’s Primp & Prep site offers tone of expert tips on how to get your make up done just like your favorite celebrity, how to do your hair just right for an occasion, how to make the best and classiest cocktails using Hpnotiq liqueurs in a jiffy and how to pick out the best outfits to suit your personality and body type.

This website is for women and about women. It has a comfortable feel to it. The colors are perfect and the topics are things that interest me. I admit I went straight to the make-up video to "Master The Cat Eye".  Followed by a Taylor Swift song!  With Hpnotiq Harmonies Pandora link you can get your hair down music up!

The best part of the site is all the great recipes they share for you to enjoy your favorite flavor of Hpnotiq. The Blue Breeze is one of our favorites to get the night started.

So this holiday season, enjoy a girl's night out and get primped & prepped with Hpnotiq!

Remember: you must be 21 years or older to drink alcoholic beverages and as always, please remember to drink responsibly.

I Always love getting ready with my girls to hit downtown and now it's going to be even better cause I discovered the Primp & Prep site! So, make sure you check the site out next time you and your girls get ready to hit the town!

No nonsense tights and leggings are affordable!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of No nonsense for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love shopping for new clothes and accessories, so I was thrilled when I got the chance to try out the No nonsense tights and leggings.  Both were black “the perfect staple for my wardrobe” and could be used in a variety of ways. What I loved most was that they were both extremely comfortable! Comfort is a priority for me. When selecting an outfit or making a purchase, the overall comfort of the potential purchase is deal maker or deal breaker for me.

Now that we are nearing the heart of winter, it is really important to dress warmly. I often find myself snubbing the skirts and dresses in my closet and opting for pants and sweaters, but I am missing out on some really great pieces that way. So, I turn to leggings and tights; incorporating these into my winter wardrobe has helped me wear some of my very favorite winter outfits without losing comfort. No nonsense enables women to update and change out any look by simply adding some stylish, colorful and affordable leg-wear.

Here are a few of my favorite outfits that look great with tights and leggings:

The great thing about wearing tights and leggings are they are a quick, easy and comfy way to get dressed and still look cute and pulled together by simply throwing on an oversized cardigan, sweater or shirt. Quick, easy and comfy are all needed for moms on the go and running errands on the weekend.

No nonsense tights and leggings are affordable!

No nonsense products are available online, as well as in both food/drug and mass retail stores. You can like the No nonsense on Facebook and follow them on Twitter too for giveaways! They actually just signed on Jill Martin to be a brand ambassador, which is pretty cool. She is stylish, modern and knows how to make the most out of every outfit in her closet without spending a fortune.

refrigerators in cold countries!

 

SNOW BEER

Do people in the cool countries keep refrigerator?

I was taking out the food from the fridge to warm for dinner and it clicked my mind that there are ice cold places and do they keep a fridge to preserve food? then it cam to my mind that here we have people from all over the world and they will tell me what they do..so what say?

Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.

the Ants go in a line!

I see the ants go in a line and when i studied it well, i came to see that they stop and communicate in their language and then they carry on. They do the same for all the ants they meet going in the opposite direction. I think they are hellowing each other..haha.. I have noticed this all the time. 

Every spring we get ants in our driveway which eventually come into our house.  Here are ten things you didn’t know about ants:

1. Intelligence - Ants are smarter than you think.  They are the animal with the largest brain (250,000 cells) in proportion to their body size,

2. Agriculture - Ants began farming 50 million years ago.  They use horticultural techniques like spreading manure to enhance the growth of their crops.

3. Warfare -  Ants are the greatest insect killers on earth, even killing their own kind.

4. Numbers -  One tenth of the world’s animal tissue is composed of ants.  The biomass of ants is equivalent to the biomass of people.

5. Supercolonies -  Their colonies stretch for hundreds of miles and reach 20 feet deep.  They contain millions of nests.

6. Lifespan - Workers live only 45 to 60 days.  However, the queen ant can live up to 20 years.  The colony dies within months of the queen’s death.

7. Carnivores -  Africa and Asia have Driver Ants.  A colony can be composed of up to 20 million of them.  They kill insects and spiders on their own.  However, as an army, they can kill lizards, snakes and even chickens.  They can attack and kill a tethered horse and have even been used as a form of execution for enemy soldiers.

8. Ranchers – Ants farm, gather, hunt and raise other insects.  For example, honey ants feed off the secretion of aphids. They protect aphids, destroying their predators’ eggs (ex. Ladybugs).

9. Slavery – Ants raid nests of other ants and steal their pupae.  The eggs hatch and they use the new ants as slaves (ex. The Amazon ants raid the Formica ant colonies.)

10. Castes – The queen is the founder of the colony; she produces other ants.  The males inseminate the virgin queen.  The workers forage, care for the brood, repair and defend the nest and care for the queen.

    11.  Bonus:  Power – Ants can lift anywhere from 20 to 40 times their bodyweight. 

What do you think they are doing when they are stopping while on a way in a line? 

have you noticed ants this way?

Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.

Feud: Piers Morgan vs. Kelsey Grammer

Piers Morgan has been on a major Twitter rant against Kelsey Grammer.

The Boss star was about to go on Morgan's CNN talk show Wednesday night but decided at the last minute not to appear. "Kelsey Grammer was supposed to be on my show now but ran out of the building. Strange," Morgan tweeted. He then offered an explanation: "So, Kelsey Grammer saw a photo of his ex-wife Camille (Grammer) in the open to our show and legged it. Extraordinary. Never had this happen before." "Piers needs to take responsibility for what he did to Kelsey," Grammer's rep told The Hollywood Reporter, confirming the statement to Lifeline Live. "It's called accountability." He didn't specifically mention for what Morgan should be held accountable. Grammer had a bitter split from wife Camille after 13 years of marriage. He told Oprah last month that so much has come between them that it is "impossible" for them even "to pretend to be civil." Meanwhile, Morgan has continued to tweet about the no-show.

Lisa Lampanelli loses 80 pounds

Have you seen Lisa Lampanelli's slimmed-down bod?

The Celebrity Apprentice alum is showing it off in the new issue of In Touch.

Lampanelli, 51, explains that she lost 80 pounds after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in April, after hitting a high of 248 pounds.

According to WebMd.com, during the surgery a large part of the stomach is removed leaving a thin vertical sleeve, or tube, that is about the size of a banana.

Tolkien's 'Hobbit' celebrates 75th anniversary

No need to wait for Peter Jackson and his movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey to arrive on Dec. 14: Middle-earth mania has already hit bookstores. Friday marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's immortal tale about the great adventure of furry-footed Bilbo Baggins.

Written by Tolkien, a British professor, for his four children and published in 1937 with a 1,500-copy first printing, it's the story of how a stay-at-home hobbit very fond of hearth and home ends up venturing forth with 13 dwarves and a wizard named Gandalf to retrieve treasure stolen by a savage dragon. The prelude to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit has been translated in to more than 50 languages and has sold 100 million copies worldwide.

Eastwood, Timberlake bond over baseball and golf

Justin Timberlake didn't leave anything to chance when pursuing the part of Johnny "The Flame" Flanagan alongside Clint Eastwood in Trouble with the Curve.

Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake co-star in the baseball-themed 'Trouble With the Curve.'
After all, the role of the former ball player with radio-booth aspirations seemed tailor-made for The Social Network star's on-screen energy.

Timberlake even shot an audition tape for director and longtime Eastwood producing partner Robert Lorenz to show the acting legend."I saw the tape, he was terrific," says Eastwood, 82.But sitting with his co-star at Beverly Hills' Culina restaurant, wearing a jacket over a casual golf shirt, Eastwood admits there were other factors that made him excited about bringing Timberlake on board -- the guy is one heck of a golfer."If (Timberlake) had been a lousy player it would have been, 'He can't play the role.' " Eastwood says with a smile, causing Timberlake to bust out into laughter."He might be great on the tape, but what's his handicap?" Timberlake, 31, retorts.EMPTY-CHAIR SPEECH: Eastwood doesn't like 'making fun' of Obama Eastwood -- cautious in the wake of his "empty chair" speech which continues to reverberate nationally as Curve opens Friday -- points out that he is only joking about the mandatory golf skills.

Which wild card 'AGT' acts are going to semis?

America's Got Talent's results show moved four wild card acts into the semifinals.

"It's gonna be intense," said host Nick Cannon. He introduced judges Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne (who gave her signature heart gesture with her hands) and Howard Stern (who tried to make a more sweeping heart gesture).

"We're going to have to work on that," Nick told him.

First group on stage: Sebastien, Bandbaz Brothers and Ben Blaque. Advancing: Sebastien "El Charro De Oro." Said the mariachi kid, "It feels real good to let America know that even though I'm a small package like Jackie Evancho, I'm able to have a big voice like she does."

Jessica Simpson shares new baby shots

There's no need for the paparazzi to scurry after an elusive photo of Jessica Simpson's baby.

The fashion mogul/singer/actress/Weight Watchers spokeswoman and, of course, new mom, is sharing several beautiful black-and-white shots of baby Maxwell Drew, who is four months old.

One features the adorable little girl with a big grin in her father's arms. Simpson captioned it: "Daddy's 33rd birthday!"

Oprah talks kissing Forest Whitaker

We're sure Stedman won't mind...

Oprah Winfrey has been smooching Academy-Award winning actor Forest Whitaker -- but it's all in the name of work. The media mogul stars as Whitaker's wife in the upcoming film The Butler. "I felt pretty good about it, let me just say. Forest is a good kisser, how about that? Thank you, Keisha Whitaker," says Oprah in an interview today with CBS This Morning.

She sat down with Charlie Rose, Norah O'Donnell and her own BFF Gayle King to chat about the film, leadership, education, philanthropy and more. Among the highlights:

Sneak peek at Emmys Green Room

The scene backstage at the Emmys is hardly a collection of folding chairs and dusty sofas. This year, the the Audi Green Room partnered with fashion designer Derek Lam to provide a chic, black-tie worthy space which will likely welcome stars like Jon Hamm, Sofia Vergara and host Jimmy Kimmel. Want more of a peek at what goes on while stars prepare for the stage? Emmys.com and ABC.com will host a "Backstage Live" simulcast during the awards show from this space.

Fall music: Artists flying under the radar

ZZ Ward debuts her album 'Til the Casket Drops' on Oct. 2.

As fall's abundance of new music spills out over the season, it's easy for lesser-known bands to get submerged in all the noise. USA TODAY's Korina Lopez picks a few releases that might be worth a spin.Ssion, Bent (Released Sept. 18)The hook: Sexy, shimmering electro-pop with plenty of nightclub swagger makes gender-bending artist Cody Critcheloe a fun find.For fans of: Scissor Sisters, Pet Shop Boys 

Don't call Tim Allen 'sensitive'

Funnyman Tim Allen sounds pretty serious these days.

"Oh, please, don't say sensitive," he tells AARP The Magazine. It will kill my image!"

The actor/comedian, 59, who stars in ABC sitcom Last Man Standing (returning in November) and currently has a new stand-up act playing in Las Vegas, has been sober for 14 years. In 2006, he married Jane Hajduk, 45, and their daughter, Elizabeth, is now 3. (He has another daughter, Katherine, 23, from a previous marriage.)

Rockers' 50th anniversaries are going quietly

Fifty years after launching their careers, three of rock music's most celebrated acts are doing little to celebrate.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones perform at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., in 2006.

Bob Dylan, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones each passed the half-century mark this year with none of the fanfare typically accorded such milestones. The Eagles have grand 40th anniversary plans for 2013, and the Beach Boys saluted their 50th with this year's reunion album and ambitious world tour.So where's the confetti for Dylan, the Fab Four and the Stones?They don't need it, says Josh Jackson, Paste magazine editor in chief. "There are no artists bigger or more iconic," he says. "They're still in the public eye.

Birds and words and other back-to-school adventures

For young readers who are back in school already or headed there soon, USA TODAY recommends four books that deal with all kinds of classroom drama.

Send your kids back to school with 'Ralph Tells a Story,' 'Marco Goes To School,' 'Third Grade Angels' and 'My Teacher.

Fiona Apple arrested

We can now add Fiona Apple to the list of celebs who have been busted at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint.
The singer-songwriter was arrested for hashish possession on Wednesday at a West Texas town after a Border Patrol drug-sniffing dog detected marijuana in her tour bus, reports the AP. Apple spent Wednesday night in the county jail and was released Thursday on a $10,000 bond. Hudspeth County sheriff's office spokesman Rusty Flemming says Apple "had a little tiny amount of pot and hash." Marijuana possession in small amounts is a misdemeanor, while hashish in any quantity is a felony in Texas.

Dee Snider objects to Ryan’s use of his song

Dee Snider wants Paul Ryan to stop it.
In a statement posted on the musician and reality TV star's official website, Snider has expressed his objection to the GOP vice presidential candidate's use of his Twisted Sister song We're Not Gonna Take It
during his campaign appearances.
The statement reads:

I emphatically denounce Paul Ryan's use of my song We're Not Gonna Take It

as recorded by my band Twisted Sister. There is almost nothing on which I agree with Paul Ryan, except perhaps the use of the P90X.
View the original article here

Lady Gaga on Prince Harry: 'LOOKS FIT'

Everyone's wild about Harry today.

The prince's naked photos are the talk of, well, the world.
Timeline:  From adorable royal to party boy

Among those weighing in: Lady Gaga, who wrote on Twitter,

HOLY MOTHER HARRY LOOKS FIT. hope no ones mad at him for that, I'm certainly not #RoyalsArePeopleToo

NBC's Games-manship is working for new series so far

NBC leaned on the record-setting Summer Olympics to gain traction for its new fall lineup — and so far, so good.

'Animal Practice,' starring Justin Kirk, left, as a veterinarian, reached an average of 12.8 million viewers in a special airing during the Olympics' closing ceremonies.

In its perennial quest to escape the ratings cellar, the network previewed two new sitcoms on Olympics nights, and opened a reality show and Season 2 of fantasy drama Grimm the day after closing ceremonies.
"Given where we are, we felt it was imperative to take advantage of the Olympics performance," says NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke.

Angelina Jolie's daughter lands Disney role

With Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as the parents, you had to figure one of the Jolie-Pitt kids would go into the family business.

The Walt Disney Studios confirmed today that Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, twin to Knox (they turned 4 last month), will play a minor role as the child version of Princess Aurora opposite her mother in Maleficent
.

'Real Housewives' star Leakes is a grandmother

Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes might have to pack away a few pairs of her Christian Louboutin heels if she's going to chase after her new granddaughter.

In an interview with In Touch magazine, Leakes shows off her little bundle of joy, Bri'asia, who was born in June. "I always wanted to have a girl," she says, "and now I have one! She's just adorable."

But it wasn't an easy road to grandmotherhood, Leakes says. Her 22-year-old son Bryson didn't even tell her he and his girlfriend were expecting!

Largest python on record

A 17.5 foot python, the largest one on record in Florida, was captured in the Florida Everglades this week. It had 87 eggs in it ready to be born. Mostly peoples' discarded pets, the reptiles are not native to Florida, but have flourished there. Scientists originally predicted the freezing winter of 2010 would eradicate the snakes. Obviously, they were wrong. The pythons have eaten most of the fox, bobcats, and opossums in the Everglades.

Will Kristen Stewart show at Toronto fest?

The final batch of must-see titles has been released by the Toronto International Film Festival, the largest such event in North America that runs Sept. 6-16.

Topping the list: Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as a cult leader and Joaquin Phoenix as his new recruit.More:  Robert Pattinson emerges

David Beckham underwear ad

David Beckham knows a thing or two about showing off some skivvies, and now he's back to model them off in his second ad campaign for H&M.

The David Beckham Bodywear for H&M line, designed by the soccer star himself, reflects Beckham's personal style with a focus on quality, fit, function, comfort and design. The line includes boxer briefs, trunks, briefs, woven boxers, T-shirts, henleys, and pajama bottoms and long johns.

Shia LaBeouf blasts Hollywood studios

Biting the hand that feeds you is no big deal when you're an angsty, rich, young star.

Enter Shia LaBeouf who's sounding off about the ills of the studio system with some not-so-nice words. LaBeouf, 26, shot to fame as the lead in the Transformers film franchise, which he now decries as movie-making at its worst.

Jennifer Aniston is engaged to Justin Theroux

Jennifer Aniston is engaged to Justin Theroux, her publicist, Stephen Huvane, confirms.

"Justin Theroux had an amazing birthday on Friday, receiving an extraordinary gift when his girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston, accepted his proposal of marriage," People.com reports an unnamed rep for Theroux as saying.
Aniston, 43, and Theroux, 41, began dating in May 2011.

The news comes on the same weekend that media excitement grew about a possible wedding between Angelina Jolie and Aniston's ex, Brad Pitt.

The World's scariest pool

I don't care how safe they say it is. You couldn't pay me enough to find out. A Holiday Inn in Shanghai has a pool on the 24th floor. A large section of the pool extends out past the building's edge.

Jennifer Garner cherishes 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green'

LOS ANGELES – America's most relatable celebrity mom, Jennifer Garner, has just made an unremarkable solo entrance at her favorite watering hole, Tavern, where the actress recently shared an anniversary dinner with her husband, Ben Affleck. By Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Jennifer Garner could relate to her maternal character in the movie 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green,' out Wednesday.
By Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Jennifer Garner could relate to her maternal character in the movie 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green,' out Wednesday.
She waves from the hostess stand, slides into her seat and orders a skim latte. Her brown eyes aren't glazed, but they should be: Baby Samuel, 5 months, issued a 3 a.m. wake-up call last night. "I'm seven hours into my day, but it's looking up," she says in her characteristically upbeat tone.Minutes later, Cougar Town co-creator Bill Lawrence strolls in with her keys, joking that parking cars is his new VIP service. Before her no-fuss arrival, Garner had been attempting to park on the street, with the latest swarm of paparazzi informing her that it was street-cleaning day. Lawrence gallantly offered to re-park her car, relieving Garner, momentarily, of the flashing cameras."One of my first early jobs, I did a tiny role on (Lawrence's) Spin City," Garner says. "I worked with Stephen Colbert, and I ended up babysitting for him — he had an even smaller role." This is a slice of the odd life of Garner, who, by all accounts, is the most "normal" movie star you'll ever share a fruit plate with.In The Odd Life ofTimothy Green, out Wednesday, she plays Cindy Green, one half of a childless couple who has run out of ways to conceive. At wit's end, she and her husband, Jim (Joel Edgerton), split a bottle of wine and dream up attributes ("Picasso with a pencil") of the perfect child they'll never have. Overnight, the Greens are magically gifted with 10-year-old Timothy (CJ Adams), who embodies all of their handwritten notes.The magic sprinkled over breakfast today is a result of Garner's resplendent candor. Makeup-free, Garner, 40, credits her cute black dress to a stop at her longtime stylist's, Rachel Zoe. She smiles wryly at the mention of her much-touted relatability quotient."It's because I always look like I'm wearing the first thing I could find, which is the truth," she says. "I don't understand how you can make breakfast, feed a baby, get hair braided, get a lunch put together and get an outfit on. And I don't have that gift anyway, to just put something on and have it look good. I just wasn't born that way."Garner's toughest critics are of the pint-size variety. "My kids have a lot to say about the appearance of how I look naked," Garner says with a laugh, describing the three to four workouts she has been squeezing in with a trainer a week to lose her last 5 pregnancy pounds. In past pregnancies, "I've always kind of eaten what I wanted and gained 40 pounds," she says. "And it's a bummer to gain that much weight and then (have to lose it). But this time, I didn't want to gain that much weight, so I was really super-careful. And I gained 60." She shrugs and smiles, the universal what can you do?"Jen's just such a regular girl," says Edgerton, extolling her "kindness" and "uncomplicatedness.""Everything you feel about her on-screen in this movie or in Juno… that's just her nature."Says director Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life): "I've never met an actor who cares more about each member of the crew, who's more thoughtful in the gifts she gives." He wanted to instill the journey of being a parent in the film, which warns to be careful what you wish for. In Timothy Green, Hedges says, Garner is "Lucille Ball-funny, but then she comes around and breaks your heart."As a new parent to Timothy, who arrives under a cloak of E.T.-like magic, curiously caked in garden dirt with green leaves sprouting from his ankles, Garner's character becomes a helicopter mom, smothering and worrying constantly. "She's willing to go to those places that are certainly unflattering and extreme," Hedges says.Garner recognized the universality in Cindy Green and fought to play her. "I also floundered so much in the beginning," she says, recalling watching her and Affleck's lives change with the birth of their first daughter, Violet, now 6, and "falling in love again" with Seraphina, now 3."Now," she says, sharing a photo of her chubby-cheeked, blue-eyed baby boy, "I just have crazy, crazy baby love." Adding a boy to the family, so far, hasn't changed much, Garner says. "My husband says that I'm different with him, but I think I've always been crazy about babies. But he thinks that. What does he know?" she jokes.Suddenly, Affleck calls and Garner apologizes as she answers; he's flying from shooting Runner, Runner in Puerto Rico. "Hi, sweetie," she says, learning he'll be home for dinner. "The girls are going to lose their minds," she says to him.Cooking with Ben and JenAt the Affleck-Garner house, "something is in the oven or about to come out of the oven," Hedges says. "You just kind of don't want to leave.""When I first met her, I went to her house in L.A., and she was experimenting with making roast chicken," says Jim Field Smith, who directs her in Butter, an indie film due this fall. "And she had made, like, five different types of chicken using different recipes and insisted that I try a little piece of all of them."("As it happened, they were all perfect," he quips.)Garner and Affleck, 39, have a his-and-hers October in store; Butter, Garner's off-center comedy about an acid-tongued butter carver's wife, will be released a week before Affleck's newest directorial effort, Argo. The couple regularly screens the other's work. "I've seen (Argo) 15 times," Garner says. "Every cut."Married seven years, both have "gotten better at it," she says. "It's really fun. I probably am up in his grill less about stuff. I don't think I'm a particularly controlling person, but I probably work less to make things fit a mold in my head. And he exceeds my expectations anyway."What lies outside their Brentwood gates, however, is a study in the darker side of fame.Garner's everyday activities are, like many Hollywood moms', excessively photographed. In her case, it's "every day," from 7 a.m. until bedtime, she says cautiously. Celebrities complaining about paparazzi is a tricky business, and not something she likes to "give energy to." In her world, nannies at the park act as tipsters. Garner shares a photo showing 14 photographers pressed sardine-like against a pottery shop's glass storefront, a row of lenses aimed straight at her.Outwardly, she keeps calm, smiling, she says, for her children. "So inside, I rage, and outside, I go through it. I mean, life is good. I cannot complain. I would give anything for my kids not to be exposed, not to have to deal with this." At this, her eyes water, but she steadies herself. "It's just constantly a choice. Is it better for them to get (photographed) in the parking lot of this place but for me to be with them? It's just something that I try my best to navigate."Leaving L.A. could help, "but it's complicated," Garner says. "Then we would be separated so much more."Says Edgerton: "When she says that family and being a mum is more important than being a movie star, she really means it. I know that the paparazzi are a big concern to her. … She's very concerned about protecting her kids. She handles it exceptionally well considering that they go as far as trying to provoke her."A choosy working momIf only she could call upon Butter's devilishly mannered Laura Pickler, whose spiteful verbiage is delivered with relish by Garner. "Butter is kind of the other side of my personality," says Garner, who produced the R-rated comedy that features Hugh Jackman as her lover, Olivia Wilde as a stripper and Ty Burrell as her philandering husband. "Like, The Odd Life of Timothy Green is me, it's the nice side of me, and Butter is the naughty side of me." She raises an eyebrow and grins. "But it's not me, obviously, because she's a horrible person, but I love that she's horrible. It's so much fun."It has been tough for Garner to decide on a next role. "I definitely get pickier with every baby," she says. "But I do still want to work." And Affleck is "really pro-me working. I think he thinks I'd go crazy if I didn't, which is probably true."Coffee drunk, toast eaten, Garner stops on her way out to chat with fellow mom Reese Witherspoon, who's dining nearby. Outside, cameras wait.But for Garner, Timothy Green was worth the trip. "I feel an evangelical need to let people know that they have to see this film. This movie is for people who don't leave the house very often, but this is so worth their while. I get it. I don't leave the house very often, but I would for this."For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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Studio: Kristen Stewart not dropped from 'Snow White' sequel

Alex Bailey, AP
The affair between 'Snow White and the Huntsman' star Kristen Stewart, center, with co-star Chris Hemsworth, left, and the film's director, Rupert Sanders, right, won't stop the production of a sequel, Universal Pictures says.

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Occupy movement is alive and well on big screen

Batman villain Bane (Tom Hardy) brings the fight directly to Wall Street in 'The Dark Knight Rises.'Ron Phillips, Warner Bros. PicturesAs the one-year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement approaches Sept. 17, the former sites of nationwide protests are mostly silent. Entertainment One via AP
Robert Pattinson plays a financier who must navigate his limousine through mobs of protesters in 'Cosmopolis,' opening Friday.
Entertainment One via AP
Robert Pattinson plays a financier who must navigate his limousine through mobs of protesters in 'Cosmopolis,' opening Friday.
But in movie theaters, the voices of the 99-percenters are just starting to get loud.Last month, the ultimate occupier, Bane, led his forces against the Gotham City elite in The Dark Knight Rises— taking over the stock exchange. On Friday, Cosmopolis hits theaters, with Robert Pattinson as a financier whose limousine navigates through mobs of angry protesters.And on Sept. 14, Arbitrage opens, with Richard Gere playing a crooked billionaire trying to complete the sale of his trading empire with cooked books.The messages may be a little tardy, but filmmakers say the sentiments still resonate. "There's usually a bit of a time lag," says Cosmopolis director David Cronenberg. "But the desire to be topical and press a few buttons is always there. Filmmakers are always looking for a source of energy."Christian Bale, who plays wealthy industrialist Bruce Wayne (and Batman) in The Dark Knight Rises, was amazed that the Christopher and Jonathan Nolan-written script actually had foreseen the protest that exploded a few New York blocks from where they were shooting."By the time we were finished, it was like, 'How did you know?' " Bale said at a news conference in June. "It had become very topical."Likewise, Cosmopolis, adapted from Don DeLillo's prescient 2003 novel of the same name. When protests started on Wall Street eight years later, Cronenberg was shooting remarkably similar scenes at a Canadian sound studio."It was the weirdest coincidence and a bit spooky," Cronenberg says.The crowds in the film vandalize Pattinson's limo, brandish a dead rat and cause mayhem. But like the real occupiers, the Cosmopolis protests fizzle by movie's end."I have no doubt that people are still as outraged about the things as they were a year ago," Cronenberg says. "But there's only so much energy you can generate for something like that."That energy also can be directed at Abitrage's Gere, who represents the 1% poster boy to the dissatisfied."We are all frustrated by what happened to our economy," says director Nicholas Jarecki. "People want to know: Why did everything have to go down the drain? We tried to humanize this story."Even teenage dance movies got the protest bug this summer. The Step Up franchise became Step Up Revolution, and beautiful protesters busted some anti-rich dance moves to stop a greedy Miami developer. Their weapon: a dance flash mob at an investors meeting."People have a sense of helplessness. With the economy, it's a scary time," says producer Jennifer Gibgot, explaining the rad plot. "People want to feel control, like the power is back to the people."For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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This fall, Hollywood will be going by the books

Didn't read the book? Not to worry. A flurry of movies pegged to best-selling books — both classic and contemporary — arrive in theaters this fall and winter, primers for those who never quite made it through the real deal.
'The Paperboy' by Pete Dexter is one of the many books being adapted into films this fall. It stars Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey.
'The Paperboy' by Pete Dexter is one of the many books being adapted into films this fall. It stars Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey.
English majors will love Emily Brontë's romantic Wuthering Heights (Oct. 5); Tolstoy's tale of adultery, Anna Karenina, starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law in the tragic novel's 13th movie adaptation (Nov. 16); and Les Misérables, the musical with Hugh Jackman (Dec. 14). That's just the beginning:• J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, directed by Peter Jackson and arriving Dec. 14•David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, starring Tom Hanks (Oct. 26)•Jack Kerouac's On the Road (Dec. 21) Leo Tolstoy's tragic classic 'Anna Karenina' stars Keira Knightley and Jude Law. Out Nov. 16, it's the novel's 13th movie adaptation.•Yann Martel's Life of Pi, starring Tobey Maguire (Nov. 23)•Pete Dexter's The Paperboy, with Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey (Oct. 5).What's going on? "A cynic would say this is a case of unoriginality, coupled with the pursuit of commerce," says Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box-office division of Hollywood.com. "Of course, books provide a plentiful source, picture-perfect for producers, writers and studio executives to exploit … and with a built-in concept and title already attached."All could be Oscar bait, too. Six of the nine nominees for last year's best picture were based on books:•The Descendants The first installment in Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s tale 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' arrives Dec. 14. This is the movie tie-in book cover.•Hugo•The Help•Moneyball•War Horse•Extremely Loud & Incredibly CloseDergarabedian says there's nothing wrong with the trend — "so long as the movies are good."He cites the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Harry Potter series as examples of well-made movies from books. "The Twilight books have also spawned one of the most successful movie franchises of all time," he says. "The final installment (Nov. 16) is certain to be a massive worldwide hit."Fans of investigator Jack Reacher will not be disappointed, either, when the aptly titled Jack Reacher, adapted from One Shot, the ninth book in Lee Child's best-selling series, arrives in theaters Dec. 21, starring Tom Cruise.It's not a one-way street, either. Books often see a bump in sales when a movie tie-in edition arrives in bookstores."A movie with a Hollywood talent as big as Tom Cruise presents an amazing opportunity for the entire Jack Reacher franchise," says Libby McGuire, publisher of Ballantine Bantam Dell.And coming next summer: F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic, The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. It had been set for a Christmas Day release but was moved.For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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Foster defends Stewart in anti-media essay

Kristen Stewart fans may have forgotten that the Twilight
actress starred opposite Jodie Foster in the 2002 thriller Panic Room, but Foster's impassioned essay about the ills of Hollywood should be a vibrant reminder.
In her piece, which she wrote for The Daily Beast
, Foster recalls the close bond she forged while filming with a then-11-year-old Stewart, who played her daughter in the film.
"In 2001 I spent 5 months with Kristen Stewart on the set of Panic Room
mostly holed up in a space the size of a Manhattan closet. We talked and laughed for hours, sharing spontaneous mysteries and venting our boredom. I grew to love that kid."
MORE: Studio says Stewart not dropped from 'Snow White' sequel
Her love for "that kid" has endured through the years, so much so that Foster vehemently scolds gossip-hungry fans, paparazzi and the celebrity media, unleashing on them in the essay for building up and tearing down stars. (Stewart, 22, who's dating her Twilight
co-star Robert Pattinson, 26, is currently embroiled in a scandal after being caught kissing her married Snow White director Rupert Sanders, 41.)
She writes candidly:

"We've all seen the headlines at the check-out counter. 'Kristen Stewart Caught.' We've all thumbed the glossy pages here and there. 'Kris and Rob a couple?' We all catch the snaps. 'I like that dress. I hate the hair. Cute couple. Bad shoes.' There's no guilt in acknowledging the human interest in public linens. It's as old as the hills. Lift up beautiful young people like gods and then pull them down to earth to gaze at their seams. See, they're just like us. But we seldom consider the childhoods we unknowingly destroy in the process."

Foster, 49, goes on questioning whether she would survive as a young actress in this era of paparazzi and social media and TMZ, asking, "Would I drown myself in drugs, sex, and parties? Would I be lost?"
She then shares some of her memories of Stewart, including a possible reference to a home video of the actress as a young girl, full of happiness. Foster juxtaposes that image with the current public persona of Stewart as a sullen, awkward, unsmiling young star.

"A beautiful young woman strides down the sidewalk alone, head down, hands drawn into fists. She's walking fast, darting around huge men with black cameras thrusting at her mouth and chest. 'Kristen, how do you feel?' 'Smile Kris!' 'Hey, hey, did you get her?' 'I got her. I got her!' The young woman doesn't cry. (Expletive) no. She doesn't look up. She's learned. She keeps her head down, her shades on, fists in her pockets. Don't speak. Don't look. Don't cry."

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Big ideas fail to sprout in well-meaning 'Timothy Green'

Maybe those who believe in sticky-sweet miracles will have an easy time sitting through The Odd Life of Timothy Green. By Phil Bray, Disney
'The Odd Life of Timothy Green,' starring Jennifer Garner, left, CJ Adams and Joel Edgerton, gives a good effort but can't overcome sappy sentimentality and gaping plot holes.
By Phil Bray, Disney
'The Odd Life of Timothy Green,' starring Jennifer Garner, left, CJ Adams and Joel Edgerton, gives a good effort but can't overcome sappy sentimentality and gaping plot holes.
But for many it will be hard to overlook the unfortunate combination of mawkish sentimentality and gaping plot holes that characterizes this well-intentioned film.There's certainly a place for suspending disbelief in films steeped in magical realism. Drama/comedy fables such as Big and 13 Going on 30 effectively transported viewers to their whimsical alternate reality. But Timothy Green (**½ out of four; rated PG; opens today nationwide) feels more predictable than other-worldly.Devoted married couple Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim (Joel Edgerton) have been unable to conceive, despite a host of procedures. To honor their efforts, they write a list of wishes for the child they dreamed of having. The traits they cite include bravery, big-heartedness, honesty to a fault and being musically "rocking." They bury this list ritualistically in a box in their garden in the scenic small town of Stanleyville, USA.Later that night, in the midst of a freak storm, a sweet-natured, mud-slathered 10-year-old boy knocks at their door. He acts a little odd and has leaves growing out of his legs, but otherwise he's like a regular kid. He does seem particularly fond of the garden and raises his arms to bask in the sun at unlikely moments. It's no coincidence that the couple's last name is Green.Flummoxed only briefly, Cindy and Jim embrace this wide-eyed boy and alternately celebrate and smother him. Strangely, no one in their town questions the sudden appearance of a new child. He's clearly there to impart his earthy wisdom and teach adults important life lessons.The Odd Life of Timothy Green
**1/2 out of four
Stars: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Dianne Wiest, Rosemarie DeWitt, David Morse, Common, Shohreh Aghdashloo
Director: Peter Hedges
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: PG for mild thematic elements and brief language
Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Opens today nationwide
There's a calculated quality here that is off-putting and surprising, given that it was directed and co-written by Peter Hedges, who wrote the masterful What's Eating Gilbert Grape and nimbly adapted About a Boy from Nick Hornby's novel. CJ Adams as the sprout-turned-boy is winning in a role that couldn't have been easy for an 11-year old to play. Garner is convincing as a warm-hearted, if tense, mom and Edgerton is also likeable. But naysayers like David Morse as Jim's dad, Ron Livingston as Jim's boss and Rosemarie DeWitt as Cindy's sister are little more than caricatures.The film touches on bigger issues such as helicopter parenting and coping with an emotionally distant father. Subplots are packed in, including the economic woes of a town powered by a pencil factory that is struggling with layoffs. What Timothy Green does best is capture the sadness of infertility, celebrate the eccentricities of an endearing child and probe the longings, fears and worries of parents.Still, this fable about a magical child undoubtedly worked better on paper, allowing for more introspection and emotional exploration. Mostly, The Odd Life of Timothy Green feels contrived , if undeniably sweet.For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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Mature heroes in action, despite the creaks

They might be creaky, but they keep on kicking. By Frank Masi, Lionsgate
Young at heart: Sylvester Stallone, 66, and Dolph Lundgren, 54, star in 'The Expendables 2.'
By Frank Masi, Lionsgate
Young at heart: Sylvester Stallone, 66, and Dolph Lundgren, 54, star in 'The Expendables 2.'
In The Expendables 2, the high-octane drama is served up by men of a certain age: Jean-Claude Van Damme, 51, and Chuck Norris, 72, join a team headed by Sylvester Stallone, 66, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 65, and Bruce Willis, 57.The caper, opening Friday, is one of several films highlighting mature action heroes.The filmmakers behind The Avengers could have gone in any age direction when recasting Dr. Bruce Banner, but they went with salt-and-pepper-haired Mark Ruffalo, 44, as the Hulk's world-weary alter ego, joining Robert Downey Jr., 47 (Tony Stark/Iron Man).And Liam Neeson, 60, who has found new career life as an action star, kicks his way on-screen in Taken 2 (Oct. 5.)"The cycle has come around again from the time when all the leading men were 16 to 24," says Expendables 2 director Simon West (who is just past the half-century mark himself). "People are loving that we have these guys on the other side of 40 doing it all now. The Expendables is sort of the epiphany. You couldn't get more mature heroes than that."A big reason behind the success: Audiences react positively to vulnerability, a topic the film explores amidst the nostalgic bravado."Age is something that affects everybody, and it makes the guy even more of a hero that he's on his back foot and might not make it," says West. "Yet they are still slugging it out."In Taken 2, Neeson's retired CIA agent looks like "the guy next door who can help fix the roof," says director Olivier Megaton, 47. "But this just gives the surprise to the audience when he reacts like an action hero."The key advantage for the characters with hard years behind them: experience."I'd be more worried if a 50-year-old guy was after me rather than a 25-year-old," says The Expendables' Dolph Lundgren, 54. "You know a 50-year-old is smarter, will wait and will get you."Especially if he has some moves left. Van Damme wears reading glasses and happily list his ailments ("my knees, my hips, my back"), but he's still doing his own spin kicks. "The lungs are not as good. But I train so hard," says Van Damme. "Doing this is like drinking a glass of water."For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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Kirk Douglas is 'Spartacus,' in more ways than one

''I've seen it,'' Kirk Douglas told the crowd before the screening of 'Spartacus.' ''It's a good picture.''Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS – There is only one Spartacus. Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
Kirk Douglas was honored at Monday's screening of 'Spartacus' at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
Kirk Douglas was honored at Monday's screening of 'Spartacus' at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles.
But at Monday night's screening of this 1960 historical epic, the entire sold-out Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences audience jumped to its feet as the film's star and executive producer, Kirk Douglas, took the stage.Many raised their fists in the air, shouting the iconic line from the film: "I am Spartacus."Douglas, 95, who played the slave who led a revolt against the corrupt Roman Empire in the Oscar-winning film, said he had never seen a greeting like that before. "But I like it," he said, beaming.The academy event, part of "The Last 70mm Film Festival," was centered on a new print of the Stanley Kubrick-directed film, which also starred Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov.But when Douglas sauntered onto the stage under his own power wearing a casual suit and Vans sneakers, the event turned into a tribute to the legendary actor."When you're 95, you don't look forward," said Douglas, still a nimble interview despite the speech effects of a severe stroke in 1996. "You look backward and take inventory."Most of the inventory Douglas covered on Monday — and during a lively interview at his Beverly Hills home before the event — concerned the making of the film covered in his 10th book, I Am Spartacus: Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist (Open Road, 2012).Douglas, who owned his own movie production company at the time, worked with Dalton Trumbo, a writer who had spent a year in jail and had been blacklisted during the McCarthy era. At first, Trumbo wrote by his stage name, Sam Jackson.But Douglas and the filmmakers ensured that Trumbo received a screenwriting credit for his role in the movie."I was young enough to be impulsive, so I used his name on the credits," Douglas said. "The sky didn't fall, but the blacklist was over.""The blacklist was a terrible time," he added. "It wrecked the lives of so many people."Though critics have said Douglas' role in Trumbo's return from the blacklist was overstated, it earned him a special award from the Writers Guild of America in 1991. More recently, George Clooney praised the actor in the foreword to Douglas' book."Kirk Douglas is many things," Clooney wrote. "But he is, first and foremost, a man of extraordinary character. The kind that's formed when the stakes are high."Douglas warned that the McCarthy days are not too far gone."It was more divisive during that time," he said. "Fear is a terrible thing. It makes you do awful things. Now it's not communists, but fear of terrorists."But on Monday, he was able to laugh about some of the old times, even how studio executives were concerned about the length of the loincloths in the movie. He also laughed about asking his son Michael Douglas to help out with his latest book."When I asked Michael to do the audio version, he said, 'You mean you couldn't get George Clooney?' "Douglas left before the movie started to catch a celebratory dinner with Michael and his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones. "I've seen it," Kirk Douglas told the crowd. "It's a good picture."For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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DVD Extra: Get up to speed with NBC series 'Grimm'

Homicide detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) always seemed more intuitive than usual, even for a cop. As it turns out, the title character of the NBC series Grimm has the inherited ability to see mythical creatures, hiding in plain sight and, often, committing crimes among humans. Scott Green, NBC
Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), left, and partner Hank Green (Russell Hornsby) investigate paranomal crimes in 'Grimm.'
Scott Green, NBC
Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), left, and partner Hank Green (Russell Hornsby) investigate paranomal crimes in 'Grimm.'
The second season premieres Monday at 10 p.m. ET, and the five-disc Grimm: Season One (2011-12, Universal, not rated, $60; Blu-ray, $70) is out on home video just in time to catch up on his story so far. Burkhardt comes from a long line of Grimms, who are tasked with keeping the multitude of supernatural beings collectively known as Wesen in check. Nick gets help from his partner, Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby), who, like Nick's girlfriend, Juliette Silverton (Bitsie Tulloch), is unaware of his true calling.He also gets assistance from good friend Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), a reformed creature with insight into the supernatural community. Among other prominent characters are Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz), Nick's boss and, secretly, a powerful Wesen; Sgt. Wu (Reggie Lee), a colleague of Nick and Hank's; and Rosalee Calvert (Bree Turner), who runs a Wesen spice shop.Nick's Aunt Marie (Kate Burton), who revealed to him his heritage, left him a trailer crammed with all manner of ancient weapons, devices and artifacts to aid him in keeping the evil beasts at bay. The creatures take a variety of forms with a wide range of traits and powers. For example, some use powerful pheromones to seduce victims, while others emit fatal ear-splitting sounds. There are some that harvest human organs from still-living victims, and there's a black-widow type that maintains their vitality by sucking the life out of young men.The eerie show, from the producers of Buffy the VampireSlayer and Angel, draws inspiration for both stories and creatures primarily from the Brothers Grimm (Wilhelm and Jacob), who published more than 200 German folk tales in the early 1800s. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Nightingale, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and The Pied Piper are among the stories given scary, modern twists. The 22 episodes also draw upon British, American, Japanese and Latin fables.Grimm, which is filmed on location in and around Portland, Ore., earned its first Emmy nomination (outstanding stunt coordination) with the season-closing episode The Woman in Black. Bonus features include deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, a guide to the fantasy world of Grimm, a behind-the-scenes look at the makeup and special effects, audition tapes and Grimm collector cards. The Blu-ray set also has an interactive book with information about various creatures on the show.On Monday's premiere episode, titled Bad Teeth, Nick has to deal with the unexpected arrival of his believed-to-be-dead mother and find a way to wake Juliette from her coma.For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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Gallery: This week at the movies

Plot: Eight years have elapsed since Gotham has seen the caped crusader. His alter ego, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), has become a recluse, mired in sadness and loss. But he is drawn out of his self-imposed exile by a cagey cat burglar and a masked terrorist who threatens Gotham’s safety.
PG-13; 2 hours, 45 minutes
Upside: What stands out most, particularly on IMAX screens, is the film’s gorgeous cinematography. Plus, Ann Hathaway offers a charmingly fresh take on Catwoman — less feline (no purring, thankfully) and more acrobatic, playful and assertive than previous incarnations.
Downside: The number of characters is excessive.

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'Bourne' rises as 'Dark Knight' falls

The Bourne Legacy raced to an easy win at theaters this weekend, dethroning Batman and defeating two comedic presidential candidates — all without Jason Bourne showing up. Mary Cybulski, AP
Jeremy Renner takes over from Matt Damon in the successful series.
Mary Cybulski, AP
Jeremy Renner takes over from Matt Damon in the successful series.
The reboot of the Matt Damon spy franchise collected a better-than-expected $40.3 million, according to Hollywood.com.Analysts projected the film, starring Jeremy Renner as the government's newest super soldier, to make approximately $30 million.While the opening doesn't compete with Damon's last spy entry — his Bourne Ultimatum opened to $69.3 million in 2007 — the debut could be enough to warrant another film with Renner as the anchor."Given that Jeremy Renner is just starting his career as an action hero, there is plenty of room for growth here," says David Mumpower, analyst for Boxofficeprophets.com.Fans and critics were mixed on the movie, which featured multiple references to Jason Bourne but not a cameo by Damon. About 53% of critics gave it a thumbs-up, while 64% of audiences liked it, say pollsters Rottentomatoes.com. The movie scored a B with audiences, says survey firm CinemaScore.Reviewers were a little kinder to the Will Ferrell-Zach Galifianakis political comedy The Campaign, which took second place with a strong $27.4 million, about $2 million above projections. Roughly 67% of critics recommended the movie, compared with 64% of fans, Rottentomatoes says."As we have seen with Ted, popular comedies have a tendency to excel indefinitely," Mumpower says. "The timeliness of The Campaign during this election season could lead to its lingering in the minds of consumers over the next couple of months."The Dark Knight Rises fell from the top spot for the first time in three weeks, taking third place with $19.5 million. The movie should pass $400 million by next weekend.The romantic comedy Hope Springs, starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, opened in fourth place with $15.6 million, meeting most analysts' projections.Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days rounded out the top 5 with $8.2 million.Final figures are due today. Ticket sales remain 4% ahead of last year's pace, while attendance is up 2%, Hollywood.com says.For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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With 'Copper,' BBC America lands Stateside

BBC America's first original scripted series tackles a decidedly un-British subject: Civil War-era Manhattan. BBC AMERICA/Cineflix
Toppers: Bordello madam Eva Heissen (Franka Potente) and Det. Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones).
BBC AMERICA/Cineflix
Toppers: Bordello madam Eva Heissen (Franka Potente) and Det. Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones).
Copper, from producers Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson (Homicide: Life on the Streets), is due Aug. 19 (10 ET/PT). The 10-episode first season, set in 1864, stars Tom Weston-Jones as Kevin Corcoran, an Irish immigrant detective (and war veteran) in New York's sketchy Five Points neighborhood, whose daughter has been killed and wife has gone missing.As he battles crime and solves the mystery of what became of his family, he relies on connections to two fellow veterans from the Union Army: Matthew Freeman (Ato Essandoh), an African-American doctor in an emerging northern Manhattan, and Robert Morehouse (Kyle Schmid), the son of a wealthy industrialist on the already fashionable East side. All share a secret from their war days.Also anchoring early episodes are Eva Heissen (Franka Potente), the madam of a bordello, and Annie Reilly (Kiara Glasco), a young girl forced into prostitution."The scale of it is what kind of daunted me at first," says Weston-Jones, a Welsh-British actor raised in Dubai and playing an Irish immigrant in 19th-century America. "It can be a little bit scary to go into something when you're a little bit of an outsider. I found it nothing but a challenge, but I like challenges." The subject appealed to Fontana, a longtime New Yorker, because of its "parallels to where we are now: racism, the whole question of immigration — in this case it's the Irish and Germans instead of Latinos and Asians — the poverty, the misuse of children, when you look at what happened at Penn State."The season ends with President Lincoln's re-election, but in the last stretch of the war, "you get a sense of how the city was struggling after the draft riots to re-emerge," he says. "And I think we went through that after September 11."But if there are parallels to modern-day themes, the police work harkens instead to lawless Westerns. "It is the anti-CSI in the sense of there is no DNA, there's no machines," Fontana says. "It's all about the detectives having to use their minds and really assess the situation. There wasn't even a morgue in Manhattan at that point."The doctor's untested methods seemed, to the cops, "scientific nonsense. So it's fun to have to be able to do the detective stuff without relying on any of the current information we have."Corcoran, a prototypical John Wayne, isn't averse to shooting suspects point-blank, striking a familiar theme for producers of such material as Oz and Homicide. "With my shows, it's always about that moral conflict and that moral confusion," Fontana says.Copper was first developed at AMC several years ago, but "a show that's about the quintessential immigrant experience of the melting pot of New York … felt like such appropriate material" for BBC America's first original drama, says general manager Perry Simon. "It still embodies everything BBC stands for but still has an American voice."Even if it's filmed in Toronto.For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
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