1-20 of 43 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
22 October 2009 6:39 PM, PDT | blogs.suntimes.com/ebert | See recent Roger Ebert's Blog news »
Tina Mabry's "Mississippi Damned," an independent American production, won the Gold Hugo as the best film in the 2009 Chicago International Film Festival, and added Gold Plaques for best supporting actress (Jossie Thacker) and best screenplay (Mabry). It tells the harrowing story of three black children growing up in rural Mississippi in circumstances of violence and addiction. The film's trailer and an interview with Mabry are linked at the bottom.
Kylee Russell in "Mississippi Damned"
The win came over a crowed field of competitors from all over the world, many of them with much larger budgets. The other big winner at the Pump Room of the Ambassador East awards ceremony Saturday evening was by veteran master Marco Bellocchio of Italy, who won the Silver Hugo as best director for "Vincere," the story of Mussolini's younger brother. Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Filippo Timi won Silver Hugos as best actress and actor, »
- Roger Ebert
13 October 2009 9:30 AM, PDT | Hitfix | See recent Hitfix news »
When we covered the possibility of Steven Spielberg directing "Matt Helm" a few months back, I thought it had real potential. As I said back then, I grew up in a Matt Helm household. My dad introduced me to these books, whether he meant to or not, by virtue of the stacks of them all over the house. This series, The Destroyer, Fleming's Bond, McDonald's McGee... those are the classics I was raised on. I'm not sure Spielberg's sensibility would have totally meshed with the Helm series, but if he could make something with the savage integrity of "Munich," he might have nailed it... »
7 October 2009 2:18 AM, PDT | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »
Top Ten Working American Directors
A list like this is tricky to the point of madness. However, I'm going to save you the trouble by saying it right here, right now: Most of the choices on this list are obvious. There's a reason why certain names continually pop up whenever conversation drifts toward great American films. So there. I said it.
Yet, how do you weigh the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, a genius who delivered some of the all-time greatest films, but fizzled out 25 or so years ago, against a filmmaker like Woody Allen who has worked consistently for decades churning out both brilliant gems and disposable time wasters? How do you compare either of these directors against an auteur such as Spike Jonze who has only opened two films so far, but both are masterpieces?
In the end I just went with my gut. I knew there were »
- David Frank
28 September 2009 8:21 PM, PDT | FilmSchoolRejects.com | See recent FilmSchoolRejects news »
If there's one storyline present in almost every other movie here at Fantastic Fest it's the old 'mad scientist kidnaps people and links them surgically lips to ass in an effort to create the first human centipede' plot. God, when is that trend gonna run it's course anyway? The second most common theme here though is revenge. People are wronged. And then they get bloody payback. The best of the bunch this year comes from the land of the rising sun and the murdered dolphins, and it's actually two films... Hard Revenge Milly and it's sequel, Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle. Both films are under an hour each with the first one releasing last year followed by it's sequel this year. A family is targeted by a handful of punks who kill the husband and carve out the wife's torso like she was a yellow grapefruit. Oh, and they also light the couple's baby on fire then »
- Rob Hunter
8 September 2009 5:59 AM, PDT | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »
The 13th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards, presented by Starz, are pleased to announce their craft honorees for this year's Hollywood Awards. The festival and awards will mark their return on October 21 for a weeklong series of screenings, competitions and awards.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins, A.S.C., will receive the "Hollywood Cinematographer Award," Composer Alexandre Desplat, Bmi, will be given the "Hollywood Film Composer Award," editor Dana Glauberman, A.C.E., will be honored with the "Hollywood Editor Award," production designer Rick Carter, A.D.G., will receive the "Hollywood Production Designer Award" and costume designer Colleen Atwood, C.D.G., will be honored with the "Hollywood Costume Designer Award."
The Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on October 26, 2009.
"We are honored to have these exceptionally talented artists honored for their outstanding work and creative vision at this year's festival, »
7 September 2009 4:05 PM, PDT | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener in Capote
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics As I said in my What I Watched column on Sunday, I finally got around to watching the 2005 and 2006 Truman Capote films, Capote and Infamous. The first earned five Oscar nominations and one win for Phillip Seymour Hoffman who played the eccentric author to the delight of many. The second was released just over a year later to absolutely no attention whatsoever. This isn't a surprise. Technically Capote is a better film and was deserving of its nomination of Hoffman in the lead role, but to say it is a quality Best Picture candidate, Director or Adapted Screenplay is pushing it, but also comes in large part due to what I perceive to be a poor year in quality film. I mean, Munich was a Best Picture contender and Crash came out on top. Yikes. However, my commentary »
- Brad Brevet
27 August 2009 7:50 AM, PDT | ScreenRant.com | See recent Screen Rant news »
In November last year we heard of the sad passing of the great novelist and screenwriter (amongst other things), Michael Crichton, who was responsible for such works as Jurassic Park (both the novel and screenplay), The 13th Warrior (novel) and Twister (screenplay). He wrote 27 fiction novels in his 40-plus years of writing, two of them unpublished.
And so, it seems fitting that Crichton’s long-time collaborator, Steven Spielberg, is going to develop one of those yet-unpublished novels into a movie: Pirate Latitudes.
USAToday reports that Spielberg has already tapped writer David Koepp - who co-wrote Jurassic Park’s screenplay with Crichton - to pen the script for Pirate Latitudes. Spielberg is planning on producing the adaptation, and will possibly direct as well. The acclaimed director has called the story a, “real page-turner that already seems suited for the big screen.” Check out the full quote from him:
“Michael wrote a »
- Ross Miller
18 August 2009 5:20 PM, PDT | DreadCentral.com | See recent Dread Central news »
The name Moritz Bleibtreu might not roll off your tongue, but no doubt you've seen his work in such widely divergent films as Run Lola Run, Munich, and (my personal favorite) Das Experiment. Interestingly, as Das Experiment undergoes an American remake, Bleibtreu is about to embark on a redux of his own: The classic German legend Faust with director Oskar Roehler at the helm.
According to today's Variety, Bleibtreu is the first cast member signed for Roehler's adaptation for Tele Muenchen Group and its production subsidiary Clasart. The two men have worked together three times already so it's obvious they have developed quite a good rapport.
Faust itself has been inspiring authors, filmmakers, dancers, musicians, playwrights, and more for centuries. In its simplest form, it's the story of a man who makes a pact with the Devil (aka Mephistopheles, to be played by Bleibtreu) in exchange for knowledge. It should »
- The Woman In Black
17 August 2009 7:15 AM, PDT | PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news »
After a private Mediterranean cruise with 12 pals that sailed from Aug. 12 through 16 along the French Riviera, Leonardo DiCaprio got an early jump on Labor Day by going back to work Monday in Paris for his latest movie, Inception, directed by Dark Knight's Christopher Nolan and which started shooting in London last month. Trade reports have described Inception as a contemporary sci-fi action thriller set within "the architecture of the mind." But for DiCaprio and his costars, La Vie En Rose Oscar winner Marion Cotillard and Juno Oscar nominee Ellen Page, the setting was one of the more recognizable bridges on the Seine. »
- Peter Mikelbank and Stephen M. Silverman
5 August 2009 8:47 AM, PDT | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »
On August 14 the romantic drama, The Time Traveler's Wife will transcend time in theaters nationwide. This film stars Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston, Jane McLean and it's directed by Robert Schwentke. To celebrate this release we are giving away Picnic Blankets, Travel Note Books, T-shirts and much more! Check out a full listing of prizes below.
We're giving away the following prizes to various winners:
- The Time Traveler's Wife Women's Pink Double-v T-Shirt with Clock Print & Title
- The Time Traveler's Wife Travel Note Book
- The Time Traveler's Wife Key Chain
- The Time Traveler's Wife Sticky Note Set
- The Time Traveler's Wife Picnic Blanket
- The Time Traveler's Wife Clock Paperweight
Tons of winners! Tons of prizes! Enter today!
The Time Traveler's Wife is based on the best-selling book about a love that transcends time. Clare (Rachel McAdams) has been in love with Henry (Eric Bana) her entire life. »
3 August 2009 9:35 PM, PDT | CinemaSpy | See recent CinemaSpy news »
Since her performance in The Notebook, (arguably the chick flick of the decade), actress Rachel McAdams has been crowned the new queen of romance. Up until now, Australian actor Eric Bana has been better known for his macho Alpha-male portrayals in movies like Hulk, Munich and Star Trek. The two seem an unlikely combo to bring a beloved romance from page to screen. But that’s exactly what they’ve done.
The duo will grace screens nationwide on August 14 in the film adaptation of Audrey Niffenger’s bestseller (written by Ghost scribe Bruce Joel Rubin), The Time Traveler’s Wife. Bana is Henry, a man born with a unique genetic mutation that allows (or rather forces him) to time travel back and forth to the most important moments of his life. On many of his trips, Henry is drawn to Claire (McAdams), a beautiful child who develops into a stunning »
31 July 2009 12:20 AM, PDT | The Scorecard Review | See recent Scorecard Review news »
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, Jonah Hill
Running Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: July 31st, 2009
Plot: An actor/comedian (Sandler) enlists the help of a young talent (Rogen) to write jokes for him on what may be his last comedy tour ever.
Who’s It For? Anyone who has been hooked into the Apatow Universe by whatever Funny movie he previously helped create will certainly enjoy this one.
Expectations: Considering Apatow’s high track record, I was hopeful that this was going to be as humorous as it was touching, while also giving an honest look at the current state of comedy.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Adam Sandler as George Simmons: Helping to create the aura of honesty within Funny People, Simmons is vastly self-reflective of Sandler’s career path (Simmons even made comedy albums in »
- Nick Allen
28 July 2009 1:55 PM, PDT | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
"Funny People" producer Barry Mendel on his Breakthrough: "I decided to become the most well versed person in the room."
By Barry Mendel (to Eric Estrin)
Historically, few Hollywood agents have become successful film producers, and probably none in the past 50 years has done better than Barry Mendel, whose Judd Apatow film “Funny People” opens this week. Twice nominated for Oscars, (“The Sixth Sense,” “Munich”), Mendel began agenting as a way to learn the business while figuring out his true path. He talked with Eric Estrin about how he landed his first client -- and which line from “Rushmore” sums up his life.
I was in bands when I was young, and I moved to L.A. in hopes of mak... »
- Lew Harris
28 July 2009 1:51 PM, PDT | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
By Barry Mendel (to Eric Estrin)
Historically, few Hollywood agents have become successful film producers, and probably none in the past 50 years has done better than Barry Mendel, whose Judd Apatow film “Funny People” opens this week. Twice nominated for Oscars, (“The Sixth Sense,” “Munich”), Mendel began agenting as a way to learn the business while figuring out his true path. He talked with Eric Estrin about how he landed his first client -- and which line from “Rushmore” sums up his life.
I was in bands when I was young, and I moved to L.A. in hopes... »
- Lew Harris
22 July 2009 10:50 AM, PDT | www.canmag.com | See recent CanMag news »
Eric Bana got to show his true self in Funny People. He.s actually a comedian, though Americans only know him from dramas like Hulk, Munich and Troy. And he gets to use his true Australian voice.
Leslie Mann Talks Funny People
.Originally, he was American,. Bana said. .The character was pretty similar but he was American. I just during conversations with Judd [Apatow] and Barry [Mendel] the producer, I just said, 'I think I can make him more interesting if he's Australian. There's no real reason for him to stay American.. Judd was open to that and I promised him he'd be just as good if not funnier if he was Australian..
Being Aussie in the film also meant he added his real obsession with .footie. to the film. .I live and breathe my club and the film has great irony because right now »
21 July 2009 7:11 AM, PDT | MTV Movie News | See recent MTV Movie News news »
Eric Bana, RZA, Anna Faris also walk the red carpet.
Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen at the "Funny People" premiere in Hollywood on Monday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Hollywood — When your first two movies are "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up," it's hard to top yourself. But Monday night at Hollywood's famed Cinerama Dome, Judd Apatow brought some very "Funny People" along to the premiere of his latest directorial effort — and admitted to feeling some extra love for the film's semi-autobiographical characters.
"These are terrible people; we're good people," grinned the filmmaker, who based much of the film on the days when he and Adam Sandler were roommates and struggling comedians. "But there are elements that are similar to us, in that we love comedy and hanging out with comics — and now that we're older, we're trying not to become [Sandler's bitter character] George."
Attendees on the star-studded, somewhat »
17 July 2009 9:03 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »
Director J.J. Abrams. reimagining of Star Trek took in more than $375 million worldwide at the big screen, and now it is set to beam to DVD and Blu-ray on November 17th from Paramount Home Entertainment with single and two-disc DVD edition and a three-disc Blu-ray edition. Starring a hot young cast including Chris Pine (Carriers), Zachary Quinto (.Heroes.), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Karl Urban (The Bourne Supremacy), John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle), Anton Yelchin (Terminator Salvation) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), the global smash hit also features seasoned actors such as Eric Bana (Munich), Bruce Greenwood (National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Winona Ryder (Girl, Interrupted) and the original Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy. »
- Patrick Luce
16 July 2009 3:03 PM, PDT | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »
While the DVD hasn't officially been announced yet, it seems some details have come forth about one of the year's biggest hits on DVD. It seems that Variety has gotten a hold of the DVD and Blu-ray details for the forthcoming Star Trek DVD, which will apparently hit the shelves on November 17.
The trade is reporting that the film will be released in a two-disc DVD set and a three-disc Blu-ray set, both of which will include a new state-of-the-art feature right on the disc's packaging. Dubbed "augmented reality," the packaging will be fitted with a device that, if you hold the packaging up to any normal webcam, the packaging will unlock a special hologram that comes up on the computer screen. Users will have to log in to a website to access the feature, but they can take a virtual tour of the decks of the U.S.S. »
6 July 2009 10:34 PM, PDT | GetTheBigPicture.net | See recent Get The Big Picture news »
Some more signs are pointing to a possible fifth Indiana Jones movie as early as 2011. Talk of the cinquel has never gone away from the time the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opened last summer. Harrison Ford has been open to donning the fedora another time, and during his Transformers press responsibilities, Shia Labeouf said that Steven Spielberg had "cracked" the idea for a script.
That doesn't mean very much on its own, because in addition to Spielberg and Ford having their say over a finished script, there's always George Lucas and whatever staff of writers comes together on the story. Let's hope, for the sake of the Indiana Jones legacy, that a quality idea bubbles to the surface pretty soon so that we don't wait too long for an inferior product. Again.
A source tells The Insider (via Worst Previews) that Ford is keeping himself in shape in anticipation »
- Colin Boyd
24 June 2009 7:02 AM, PDT | Cinematical | See recent Cinematical news »
Daniel Craig may have his own limited edition popsicle, but he's having a tough time choosing his next film role. After branching away from Bond with Defiance (a lot less 007 than most people give it credit for) and Munich, his next effort at ducking typecasting might be Jim Sheridan's Dream House. Might.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Craig is in early talks to star in Sheridan's psychological thriller, which would steer him clear of "Whatever, all he plays are vigilantes" talk. House centers on a family man who moves the wife and kids to an idyllic small town, and obviously the perfect house of the film's title. But you know what happens when you move to those dreamy small towns and those perfect Victorian houses ... they're haunted! Our hapless hero finds himself contending with the former occupants of the house, who hang around thanks to being brutally murdered.
As »
- Elisabeth Rappe
1-20 of 43 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
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