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Gossip

Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

It can turn you on, or turn on you.

Sex, deception and rumour detonate when fellow university students and roommates Derrick (James Marsden), Jones (Lena Headey) and Travis (Norman Reedus) collaborate on their new journalism class assignment: identifying the link between news and gossip. But when their class project goes frighteningly out of control, it puts friendships, the future - and lives - in jeopardy.

One night at a wild off-campus party, Derrick stumbles onto the perfect subject matter for the gossip assignment when he spies Naomi (Kate Hudson) - a beautiful, wealthy and chaste freshman - drunk and locked in the arms of her boyfriend, Beau (Joshua Jackson). Although Naomi's determined attitudes on sex are well known, the trio nonetheless manufactures and plants a rumour that she and Beau have slept together.

Once this incendiary piece of gossip is released onto the fertile environment of the university campus, it immediately explodes beyond their expectations and control, with even Naomi's friend, Sheila (Marisa Coughlan), getting swept up by the turn of events and helping to spread the story. But when the police arrest Beau for date rape, Jones, Travis and Derrick become trapped by their malignant creation. Suddenly, their game has become deadly serious - and when the secret past of one of the three surfaces, their friendship enters an intensely dramatic new phase.

Starring Eric Bogosian, Marc Hickox, Sharon Lawrence as Detective Kelly, Edward James Olmos and Timm Zemanek as the high school principal. Written by Gregory Poirier, directed by Davis Guggenheim.

Cinematic intelligence sources

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Roadshow Films

Intelligence analyst

Secret Agent Acid Thunder

Theatrical report

Something new! Something original! Amazing! I actually like the idea, plus, it has a great story and excellent promotion. Outstanding!

(Hollywood take note: when you make a good movie, it gets good reviews!)

Gossip reminds me a little of films like FX and FX2 where the good guys know who the bad guys are but that doesn't make it any easier for them to win. I didn't know what they were doing until the very end, and I've read so many books (just ask any of my former employers) that I can pick the ending by the second chapter.

Gossip is still stuck in the "Made in the USA" rating rut but the spudster is overwhelmed to see something new for a change.