In the wake of suffering a severe brain injury one week ago as a result of a devastating car crash, it’s being reported today that Anne Heche has tragically passed away.
The actress was just 53 years old, leaving behind two children.
“Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit,” Heche’s reps said in a statement. “More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life’s work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love. She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light.”
Heche had been in a coma since the crash in L.A.’s Mar Vista neighborhood on Friday, August 5. She had been under investigation for reportedly driving under the influence.
Anne Heche debuted on the scene back in the 1990s on the television series “Another World,” subsequently...
The actress was just 53 years old, leaving behind two children.
“Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit,” Heche’s reps said in a statement. “More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life’s work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love. She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light.”
Heche had been in a coma since the crash in L.A.’s Mar Vista neighborhood on Friday, August 5. She had been under investigation for reportedly driving under the influence.
Anne Heche debuted on the scene back in the 1990s on the television series “Another World,” subsequently...
- 8/12/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Allied (Robert Zemeckis)
That thing we can’t take for granted: a film whose many parts – period piece, war picture, blood-spattered actioner, deception-fueled espionage thriller, sexy romance, and, at certain turns, comedy – can gracefully move in conjunction and separate from each other, just as its labyrinthine-but-not-quite plot jumps from one setpiece to the next with little trouble in maintaining a consistency of overall pleasure. Another late-career triumph for Robert Zemeckis,...
Allied (Robert Zemeckis)
That thing we can’t take for granted: a film whose many parts – period piece, war picture, blood-spattered actioner, deception-fueled espionage thriller, sexy romance, and, at certain turns, comedy – can gracefully move in conjunction and separate from each other, just as its labyrinthine-but-not-quite plot jumps from one setpiece to the next with little trouble in maintaining a consistency of overall pleasure. Another late-career triumph for Robert Zemeckis,...
- 2/17/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
The struggle for racial equality in America, the careers of cinematographers, directors, and photographers, the immigration crisis, music as celebration and grief, and strange conspiracies — these were just a few of the places and stories that this year’s documentary offerings brought us. With 2016 wrapping up, we’ve selected 20 features in the field that most impressed, so check out our list below and, in the comments, let us know your favorites.
13th (Ava DuVernay)
Following the stunning Selma, which conveyed a present-tense urgency sorely lacking in many biopics and radically distributed screen-time away from Dr. King to communicate the collectivity inherent to any reform movement, Ava DuVernay has shifted her rhetorical approach, but her anger remains. Whereas Selma was emotive and explosive, 13th is lucid and level-headed, gradually and methodically making a case that black incarceration is actually just a reconfigured and rebranded form of slavery. Sticking to conventional but...
13th (Ava DuVernay)
Following the stunning Selma, which conveyed a present-tense urgency sorely lacking in many biopics and radically distributed screen-time away from Dr. King to communicate the collectivity inherent to any reform movement, Ava DuVernay has shifted her rhetorical approach, but her anger remains. Whereas Selma was emotive and explosive, 13th is lucid and level-headed, gradually and methodically making a case that black incarceration is actually just a reconfigured and rebranded form of slavery. Sticking to conventional but...
- 12/20/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Author: The Jt Leroy Story (Jeff Feuerzeig)
Author: The Jt LeRoy Story relives the literary hoax of the early aughts, the truly weird and out of control tale of Jt LeRoy. An allegedly gender-fluid HIV positive son of a West Virginia truck stop hooker, he rose to the heights of indie stardom befriending the likes of Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, Lou Reed, Michael Pitt, Billy Corgan and filmmakers Gus Van...
Author: The Jt Leroy Story (Jeff Feuerzeig)
Author: The Jt LeRoy Story relives the literary hoax of the early aughts, the truly weird and out of control tale of Jt LeRoy. An allegedly gender-fluid HIV positive son of a West Virginia truck stop hooker, he rose to the heights of indie stardom befriending the likes of Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, Lou Reed, Michael Pitt, Billy Corgan and filmmakers Gus Van...
- 12/9/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
This is a reprint of our review from the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. There appear to be two Gus Van Sants. There’s the groundbreaking indie/arthouse guy, who kicked off his career with “Drugstore Cowboy” and “My Own Private Idaho,” directed the enormously entertaining “To Die For,” and won the Palme D’Or at Cannes for “Elephant,” one […]
The post Gus Van Sant’s ‘The Sea Of Trees’ With Matthew McConaughey Is A Contrived & Phony Drama [Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Gus Van Sant’s ‘The Sea Of Trees’ With Matthew McConaughey Is A Contrived & Phony Drama [Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
- 8/24/2016
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Now that the summer is cooling down, we’re entering perhaps the best time of year for cinephiles, with a variety of festivals — some of which will hold premieres of our most-anticipated 2016 features — gearing up. As we do each year, after highlighting the best films offered thus far, we’ve set out to provide a comprehensive preview of the fall titles that should be on your radar, and we’ll first take a look at selections whose quality we can attest to. Ranging from acclaimed debuts at Sundance, Cannes, and more, we’ve rounded up 25 titles that will arrive from September to December (in the U.S.) and are all well worth seeking out.
As a note, these didn’t make the cut, but you can see our reviews at the links: White Girl (9/2), Other People (9/9), London Road (9/9), Goat (9/23), Sand Storm (9/28), Do Not Resist (9/30), The Birth of a Nation (10/7), Desierto...
As a note, these didn’t make the cut, but you can see our reviews at the links: White Girl (9/2), Other People (9/9), London Road (9/9), Goat (9/23), Sand Storm (9/28), Do Not Resist (9/30), The Birth of a Nation (10/7), Desierto...
- 8/22/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Before Kristen Stewart, James Franco, Helena Bonham Carter, and writer-director Justin Kelly turn it into a narrative drama, this fall the documentary Author: The Jt LeRoy Story will arrive. Acclaimed since its Sundance premiere, Jeff Feuerzeig’s documentary follows a writer and actor who fooled the world with a man who identifies as transgender, tricking the rich and famous in Hollywood, the fashion world and elite literary circles. Ahead of a September release, the first trailer has now arrived.
We said in our review, “Author: The Jt LeRoy Story relives the literary hoax of the early aughts, the truly weird and out of control tale of Jt LeRoy. An allegedly gender-fluid HIV positive son of a West Virginia truck stop hooker, he rose to the heights of indie stardom befriending the likes of Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, Lou Reed, Michael Pitt, Billy Corgan and filmmakers Gus Van Saint and Asia Argento...
We said in our review, “Author: The Jt LeRoy Story relives the literary hoax of the early aughts, the truly weird and out of control tale of Jt LeRoy. An allegedly gender-fluid HIV positive son of a West Virginia truck stop hooker, he rose to the heights of indie stardom befriending the likes of Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, Lou Reed, Michael Pitt, Billy Corgan and filmmakers Gus Van Saint and Asia Argento...
- 7/20/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Like all classic movies, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho has had its fair share of copycats over the years. One of them is the 1995 film Let’s Say It’s Fate (original title: Kader Diyelim), which came from Turkey. It predates Gus Van… Continue Reading →
The post Learn the History of 1995’s Turkish Musical Psycho Remake appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Learn the History of 1995’s Turkish Musical Psycho Remake appeared first on Dread Central.
- 4/18/2016
- by David Gelmini
- DreadCentral.com
Author: The Jt LeRoy Story relives the literary hoax of the early aughts, the truly weird and out of control tale of Jt LeRoy. An allegedly gender-fluid HIV positive son of a West Virginia truck stop hooker, he rose to the heights of indie stardom befriending the likes of Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, Lou Reed, Michael Pitt, Billy Corgan and filmmakers Gus Van Saint and Asia Argento (both would “adapt” works by LeRoy). An anonymous experiment originally conducted by Laura Albert, the myth grows out of control when she hires Savannah Knoop, her sister-in-law, as an avatar. The real Laura Albert had been described by media accounts as a Brooklyn housewife, but here director Jeff Feuerzeig dives deeper.
A sweeping first-hand account of the bizarre saga as told by Albert, Author: The Jt LeRoy Story is wildly entertaining and truly stranger than fiction, even perhaps the fiction Albert wrote as LeRoy.
A sweeping first-hand account of the bizarre saga as told by Albert, Author: The Jt LeRoy Story is wildly entertaining and truly stranger than fiction, even perhaps the fiction Albert wrote as LeRoy.
- 2/5/2016
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
This year's Denver Film Festival has a diverse lineup of killer films both small and large. To select just ten meant I had to strain out promising titles like Lucifer, shot on tondoscope and directed by the provocative Gus Van Den Berghe, or special presentations like Mia Madre by Italian director Nanni Morreti. You should see those and all the films on this list, and more -- the roster's dense. You can view the 38th Denver Film Festival schedule in its entirety here. The Festival will run from November 4th to the 15th.
Mustang - Following a village scolded scandal, 5 Turkish sisters face intense constraints in their conservative home. This imprisonment takes hold at the start of their sexual development, exacerbating the stunt, and catalyzing a rebellion into motion.
Saturday, November 14th, 9:15 @ United Artists Pavillion
Sunday, November 15th, 12pm @ United Artists Pavillion
Stinking Heaven- Filmed with the gnarly...
Mustang - Following a village scolded scandal, 5 Turkish sisters face intense constraints in their conservative home. This imprisonment takes hold at the start of their sexual development, exacerbating the stunt, and catalyzing a rebellion into motion.
Saturday, November 14th, 9:15 @ United Artists Pavillion
Sunday, November 15th, 12pm @ United Artists Pavillion
Stinking Heaven- Filmed with the gnarly...
- 10/31/2015
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Aaron Hunt)
- Cinelinx
Summer may be over, but with this year marking the 35th anniversary of Friday the 13th, it's never too late to visit the lake. Ahead of the event's November 4th start date, the folks behind the Denver Film Festival have announced the first wave of programming, including a special November 13th 35mm screening of Sean S. Cunningham's monumental slasher film.
Press Release: October 9, 2015 (Denver, Colo.) - The Denver Film Festival (Dff), produced by Denver Film Society (Dfs), announced its first wave of programming. Recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region's premier film event, the festival will feature a focus on Polish Cinema, sidebars for CinemaQ, CineLatino, Late Night and Women+Film, as well as robust Shorts Packages and Music Spotlight programming.
"In keeping with our long and rich tradition of presenting the best in Eastern European cinema, we at the Denver Film Festival are proud to announce that this year's...
Press Release: October 9, 2015 (Denver, Colo.) - The Denver Film Festival (Dff), produced by Denver Film Society (Dfs), announced its first wave of programming. Recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region's premier film event, the festival will feature a focus on Polish Cinema, sidebars for CinemaQ, CineLatino, Late Night and Women+Film, as well as robust Shorts Packages and Music Spotlight programming.
"In keeping with our long and rich tradition of presenting the best in Eastern European cinema, we at the Denver Film Festival are proud to announce that this year's...
- 10/14/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
This “seed-funded” drama from Gus Van den Bergh is the final part of his religious triptych following Little Baby Jesus of Flandr and Bluebird and is also the first film to adopt the new, circular Tondoscope format: a device created specifically for this production in which a catadioptric mirror places the image within a sphere
The post Lff 2015: Lucifer Review appeared first on HeyUGuys.
The post Lff 2015: Lucifer Review appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 10/7/2015
- by Daniel Goodwin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Matthew McConaughey's latest film has been booed at Cannes Film Festival.
Sea of Trees, which also stars Naomi Watts, was panned by critics after its debut on Friday (May 15).
Critics took to Twitter to vent their feelings after the credits rolled:
Sea Of Trees: Dimestore mysticism of a highly maudlin and unpleasant order, passionately and deservedly booed. #Cannes
— Scott Foundas (@foundasonfilm) May 15, 2015
Sea of Trees? More like Sea of Oh Please #ItGotBooed
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) May 15, 2015
First loud boos of #Cannes2015 for Gus Van Sant's The Sea Of Trees. Guy next to me was hissing as credits rolled.
— Nigel M. Smith (@nigelmfs) May 15, 2015
The Gus Van Sant drama follows a man (McConaughey) who travels to Japan's famous 'Suicide Forest' with the intention of taking his life.
Transformers: Age of Extinction actor Ken Watanabe stars as a man who also intends to take his own life and the pair try to save each other.
Sea of Trees, which also stars Naomi Watts, was panned by critics after its debut on Friday (May 15).
Critics took to Twitter to vent their feelings after the credits rolled:
Sea Of Trees: Dimestore mysticism of a highly maudlin and unpleasant order, passionately and deservedly booed. #Cannes
— Scott Foundas (@foundasonfilm) May 15, 2015
Sea of Trees? More like Sea of Oh Please #ItGotBooed
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) May 15, 2015
First loud boos of #Cannes2015 for Gus Van Sant's The Sea Of Trees. Guy next to me was hissing as credits rolled.
— Nigel M. Smith (@nigelmfs) May 15, 2015
The Gus Van Sant drama follows a man (McConaughey) who travels to Japan's famous 'Suicide Forest' with the intention of taking his life.
Transformers: Age of Extinction actor Ken Watanabe stars as a man who also intends to take his own life and the pair try to save each other.
- 5/16/2015
- Digital Spy
There appear to be two Gus Van Sants. There's the groundbreaking indie/arthouse guy, who kicked off his career with "Drugstore Cowboy" and "My Own Private Idaho," directed the enormously entertaining "To Die For," and won the Palme D'Or at Cannes for "Elephant," one of a quartet of fascinating experimental pictures. This guy even got a major studio to finance a shot-for-shot remake of "Psycho" that was basically an art project. Then there's the other one. The mainstream Gus Van Sant, who got started with the Oscar-winning "Good Will Hunting," and has since made, to increasingly diminishing returns, films like "Finding Forrester," "Milk," "Restless," and "Promised Land," movies that could have come from just about anyone — more Ron Howard than Gregg Araki. Read More: First Look At Matthew McConaughey And Ken Watanabe In Gus Van Sant's 'Sea Of Trees' His latest, "The...
- 5/15/2015
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Join us for Screen’s Cannes line-up live blog…Cannes 2015Full line-upNEWS: Cannes Competition shows attempt to shake things upCOMMENT: surprises and no-shows
Ever so quiet from the film PRs this morning. Is there something going on that we should know about?
Yes, yes, of course….it’s that sacred event: Cannes lineup day!
Time to put to bed weeks of speculation about the chosen few and reveal which films have made it into the most prestigious film festival competition known to man.
You can follow the entries as they come in here or stick with me for some idle speculation and gossip punctuated with genuine near-insight.
[Cannes is currently showing a very jaunty and occasionally stirring promo video of the fest. Very ‘Euro’].
Onto business….
Most prediction stories kept it tight, only mentioning about 75 possible entries. Every auteur from here to Timbuktu seems to have been tipped for a slot…
Screen towers did its own crystal ball gazing in the shape of Melanie Goodfellow’s excellent and comprehensive piece:
In case you don...
Ever so quiet from the film PRs this morning. Is there something going on that we should know about?
Yes, yes, of course….it’s that sacred event: Cannes lineup day!
Time to put to bed weeks of speculation about the chosen few and reveal which films have made it into the most prestigious film festival competition known to man.
You can follow the entries as they come in here or stick with me for some idle speculation and gossip punctuated with genuine near-insight.
[Cannes is currently showing a very jaunty and occasionally stirring promo video of the fest. Very ‘Euro’].
Onto business….
Most prediction stories kept it tight, only mentioning about 75 possible entries. Every auteur from here to Timbuktu seems to have been tipped for a slot…
Screen towers did its own crystal ball gazing in the shape of Melanie Goodfellow’s excellent and comprehensive piece:
In case you don...
- 4/16/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Join us for Screen’s Cannes line-up live blog…Click here for the line-up of titles as they are announced
Ever so quiet from the film PRs this morning. Is there something going on that we should know about?
Yes, yes, of course….it’s that sacred event: Cannes lineup day!
Time to put to bed weeks of speculation about the chosen few and reveal which films have made it into the most prestigious film festival competition known to man.
You can follow the entries as they come in here or stick with me for some idle speculation and gossip punctuated with genuine near-insight.
[Cannes is currently showing a very jaunty and occasionally stirring promo video of the fest. Very ‘Euro’].
Onto business….
Most prediction stories kept it tight, only mentioning about 75 possible entries. Every auteur from here to Timbuktu seems to have been tipped for a slot…
Screen towers did its own crystal ball gazing in the shape of Melanie Goodfellow’s excellent and comprehensive piece:
In case you don’t know Mel...
Ever so quiet from the film PRs this morning. Is there something going on that we should know about?
Yes, yes, of course….it’s that sacred event: Cannes lineup day!
Time to put to bed weeks of speculation about the chosen few and reveal which films have made it into the most prestigious film festival competition known to man.
You can follow the entries as they come in here or stick with me for some idle speculation and gossip punctuated with genuine near-insight.
[Cannes is currently showing a very jaunty and occasionally stirring promo video of the fest. Very ‘Euro’].
Onto business….
Most prediction stories kept it tight, only mentioning about 75 possible entries. Every auteur from here to Timbuktu seems to have been tipped for a slot…
Screen towers did its own crystal ball gazing in the shape of Melanie Goodfellow’s excellent and comprehensive piece:
In case you don’t know Mel...
- 4/16/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
The Official Selection of the 68th Cannes Film Festival in full.
At a press conference at the Ugc Normandie movie theatre on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux revealed 44 films selected for inclusion in this year’s festival, which runs May 13-24.
As previously announced, Emmanuelle Bercot’s Standing Tall (La Tête Haute), will be the opening film on May 13.
Also previously announced, the competition jury will be presided over by former Palme d’Or winners Joel and Ethan Coen.
Competition
Jury chair: Joel Cohen, Ethan Coen
Dheepan (working title), Jacques AudiardA Simple Man (La Loi Du Marché), Stéphane BrizéMarguerite And Julien, Valérie DonzelliThe Tale Of Tales (Il Racconto Dei Racconti), Matteo GarroneCarol, Todd HaynesThe Assassin (Nie Yinniang), Hou Hsiao HsienMountains May Depart (Shan He Gu Ren), Jia Zhang-KeOur Little Sister (Umimachi Diary), Hirokazu Kore-EDAMacbeth, Justin KurzelThe Lobster, Yorgos LanthimosMon Roi, MaïwennMia Madre, Nanni MorettiSon Of Saul (Saul Fia), László NemesYouth, Paolo SorrentinoLouder...
At a press conference at the Ugc Normandie movie theatre on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux revealed 44 films selected for inclusion in this year’s festival, which runs May 13-24.
As previously announced, Emmanuelle Bercot’s Standing Tall (La Tête Haute), will be the opening film on May 13.
Also previously announced, the competition jury will be presided over by former Palme d’Or winners Joel and Ethan Coen.
Competition
Jury chair: Joel Cohen, Ethan Coen
Dheepan (working title), Jacques AudiardA Simple Man (La Loi Du Marché), Stéphane BrizéMarguerite And Julien, Valérie DonzelliThe Tale Of Tales (Il Racconto Dei Racconti), Matteo GarroneCarol, Todd HaynesThe Assassin (Nie Yinniang), Hou Hsiao HsienMountains May Depart (Shan He Gu Ren), Jia Zhang-KeOur Little Sister (Umimachi Diary), Hirokazu Kore-EDAMacbeth, Justin KurzelThe Lobster, Yorgos LanthimosMon Roi, MaïwennMia Madre, Nanni MorettiSon Of Saul (Saul Fia), László NemesYouth, Paolo SorrentinoLouder...
- 4/16/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Add Matthew McConaughey to the list of top actors appearing in luxury automobile campaigns with Hollywood pretensions. McConaughey has entered a multiyear deal to appear in a series of TV and digital ads for Lincoln. The first spots, shot in and around Austin, where the native Texan McConaughey lives, are directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, who helmed 2011's Ryan Gosling-Carey Mulligan art house thriller Drive. Car companies are increasingly hiring A-list actors and directors to create elaborate filmed campaigns that are more ambitious in scope than the 30-second commercials for Mercedes narrated by Jon Hamm that first started airing in 2010. Earlier this year, BMW aired three spots directed by Gus Van Zant,
read more...
read more...
- 8/21/2014
- by Michael Walker
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Michael Pitt is the rare actor who, after 15 years in the business (including a stint on Dawson's Creek), remains idiosyncratic and whole. Clocking most of his time with independent filmmakers and esteemed names like Gus Van Sant, Michael Haneke, and Bernardo Bertolucci, Pitt remains a stranger to the throes of studio movies — Murder by Numbers and The Village being rare exceptions. He has never been forced to fit a star mold. His collaborators wouldn't have it any other way. One hundred percent undistilled Pitt ranges from brooding intensity to lunacy of every color. He does what he does, and he does it well. The maturation of television worked in his favor; Boardwalk Empire and NBC's Hannibal have Hollywood sheen and artistic souls. One might describe Pitt the same way.In I Origins, Pitt skews closer to "leading man" territory than ever before. His character, Ian Gray, is a dapper...
- 7/18/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Vulture
Red Spirit Lake is psychotronic filmmaker Charles Pinion’s second feature film, shot entirely on video in the early ’90s and featuring several superstars of the Cinema of Transgression movement, such as Richard Kern and Tessa Hughes-Freeland.
The film — available on DVD from the filmmaker — is a wildly evolutionary step up from Pinion’s first feature, the raucous skater punk horror flick Twisted Issues. Below, we discuss Red Spirit Lake‘s production.
Underground Film Journal: Not to get ahead of ourselves, but it sounds like a lot of Killbillies eventually got transformed into We Await.
However, you must have been so soured on the Killbillies experience at the time that you wanted to move onto something completely different. But also, I would suppose that having been involved in at least attempting to mount a major production inspired you to make Red Spirit Lake more — well, it’s hard to find the right word for it,...
The film — available on DVD from the filmmaker — is a wildly evolutionary step up from Pinion’s first feature, the raucous skater punk horror flick Twisted Issues. Below, we discuss Red Spirit Lake‘s production.
Underground Film Journal: Not to get ahead of ourselves, but it sounds like a lot of Killbillies eventually got transformed into We Await.
However, you must have been so soured on the Killbillies experience at the time that you wanted to move onto something completely different. But also, I would suppose that having been involved in at least attempting to mount a major production inspired you to make Red Spirit Lake more — well, it’s hard to find the right word for it,...
- 6/9/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This weekend sees the wide releases of J.A. Bayona's well-received, heart-tugging tsunami drama "The Impossible," starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, and of Gus Van Sant's divisive fracking drama "Promised Land," starring co-screenwriters Matt Damon and John Krasinski. Michael Apted's "56 Up," the most recent installment in his documentary series following Brit everypeople from age seven onwards, is getting glowing reviews from critics, while Kelly Anderson's gentrification examination "My Brooklyn" is also sitting well on the Tomatometer. Spare yourself from "Texas Chainsaw 3D." "The Impossible" Dir. Juan Antonio Bayona, Spain | Summit | Cast: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland | 79% Fresh | Time: "I hesitate to use this term, since it is so often equated with hokey, but The Impossible is life-affirming." | Toh! Interviews Watts and McGregor. "Promised Land" Dir. Gus Van...
- 1/4/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
Watch new clips and interview videos from Gus Van San's Promised Land, starring Matt Damon. Get feedback from stars Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt, Hal Holbrook and helmer Gus Van Sant for Focus Features' Promised Land. The drama opens in theaters on December 28th, followed by an expansion from January 11th, 2013. In this contemporary drama, corporate salesman Steve Butler (Matt Damon) arrives in a rural town with his sales partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand). With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski) who counters Steve both personally and professionally.
- 12/8/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch new clips and interview videos from Gus Van San's Promised Land, starring Matt Damon. Get feedback from stars Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt, Hal Holbrook and helmer Gus Van Sant for Focus Features' Promised Land. The drama opens in theaters on December 28th, followed by an expansion from January 11th, 2013. In this contemporary drama, corporate salesman Steve Butler (Matt Damon) arrives in a rural town with his sales partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand). With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski) who counters Steve both personally and professionally.
- 12/8/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Claudette Colbert, Alla Nazimova, Marion Davies, Charles Boyer: Cinecon 2011 Thursday September 1 (photo: Alla Nazimova) 7:00 Hollywood Rhythm (1934) 7:10 Welcoming Remarks 7:15 Hollywood Story (1951) 77 min. Richard Conte, Julie Adams, Richard Egan. Dir: William Castle. 8:35 Q & A with Julie Adams 9:10 Blazing Days (1927) 60 min. Fred Humes. Dir: William Wyler. 10:20 In The Sweet Pie And Pie (1941) 18 min 10:40 She Had To Eat (1937) 75 min. Jack Haley, Rochelle Hudson, Eugene Pallette. Friday September 2 9:00 Signing Off (1936) 9:20 Moon Over Her Shoulder (1941) 68 min. Dan Dailey, Lynn Bari, John Sutton, Alan Mowbray. 10:40 The Active Life Of Dolly Of The Dailies (1914) 15 min. Mary Fuller. 10:55 Stronger Than Death (1920) 80 min. Alla Nazimova, Charles Bryant. Dir: Herbert Blaché, Charles Bryant, Robert Z. Leonard. 12:15 Lunch Break 1:45 Open Track (1916) 2:00 On The Night Stage (1915) 60 min. William S. Hart, Rhea Mitchell. Dir: Reginald Barker. 3:15 50 Miles From Broadway (1929) 23 min 3:45 Cinerama Adventure (2002). Dir: David Strohmaier. 5:18 Discussion...
- 9/2/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Akira Kurosawa, one of the greatest directors of all-time is no stranger to adaptations, some of his best works are from previous sources. Two well known examples being High and Low as an adaptation of Ed McBain’s King’s Ransom and Yojimbo is based on Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest. Adaptions and remakes though, that’s like comparing apples and some lesser fruit.
Many of his movies have at one time or another been in development as a remake, most of his work didn’t belong to just one studio, that is until Splendent Media came along recently and picked up the remake rights to 26 of Kurosawa’s films including Yojimbo, Dreams, Kagemusha, Ran, and Rashomon. In addition, Variety also reports Splendent now owns 24 films Kurosawa wrote but didn’t direct and 19 unproduced screenplays. [official site]
With his work being remade quite well before (A Fistful of Dollars, The Magnificent Seven...
Many of his movies have at one time or another been in development as a remake, most of his work didn’t belong to just one studio, that is until Splendent Media came along recently and picked up the remake rights to 26 of Kurosawa’s films including Yojimbo, Dreams, Kagemusha, Ran, and Rashomon. In addition, Variety also reports Splendent now owns 24 films Kurosawa wrote but didn’t direct and 19 unproduced screenplays. [official site]
With his work being remade quite well before (A Fistful of Dollars, The Magnificent Seven...
- 8/23/2011
- by Graham
- City of Films
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: Sony Pictures Classics has unveiled a full trailer for Gus Van Sants’ “Restless,” which stars rising talent Mia Wasikowska (“The Kids Are All Right”) in a wistful, tragic romance. The hi-def trailer can be found on Yahoo! Movies, and we’ve also posted it below:
Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Ryo Kase, Schuyler Fisk and Jane Adams star in this graceful adaptation of Jason Lew’s stage play “Of Winter and Water Birds.” The film screened in Cannes to mixed reviews as it told the story of a haunted teen who falls for a girl recovering from intense chemotherapy.
Larger audiences will get a chance to see it when it tests the waters in limited release on Sept. 16.
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News...
Hollywoodnews.com: Sony Pictures Classics has unveiled a full trailer for Gus Van Sants’ “Restless,” which stars rising talent Mia Wasikowska (“The Kids Are All Right”) in a wistful, tragic romance. The hi-def trailer can be found on Yahoo! Movies, and we’ve also posted it below:
Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Ryo Kase, Schuyler Fisk and Jane Adams star in this graceful adaptation of Jason Lew’s stage play “Of Winter and Water Birds.” The film screened in Cannes to mixed reviews as it told the story of a haunted teen who falls for a girl recovering from intense chemotherapy.
Larger audiences will get a chance to see it when it tests the waters in limited release on Sept. 16.
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News...
- 7/8/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
There are two Gus Van Sants. One makes abstruse and fascinating oddities like Gerry and Last Days and Paranoid Park, and the other is a bit more commercial and brought us Good Will Hunting and Milk. Restless looks like it's been directed by the latter, and a new trailer is online over at Yahoo.The fact that it might be heading for a wider audience than Elephant doesn't mean it's not peculiar-sounding on paper though. Details were sketchy when the project was first announced, and you can kind of see why, given that it's a teen romance, but one that involves a terminally ill cancer patient and a funeral-crasher whose best friend is the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot. We might expect a blub-fest, but weirdly, the trailer makes it seem rather feel-good. Possibly that's down to the music, and possibly it's the sweet-looking performaces from Henry Hopper and...
- 7/8/2011
- EmpireOnline
The line up for the 64th Cannes Film Festival was announced today in Paris. Some of the familiar faces headed to the South of France this year include the Dardenne brothers, Nicolas Winding Refn, Pedro Almodovar and Terrence Malick who all have films in competition. Jodi Foster‘s The Beaver and Rob Marshall‘s installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will play out of competition. While Gus Van Stant, Bruno Dumont and Sean Durkin will have films in Un Certain Regard.
The complete list of titles are below. The Cannes Film Festival will take place May 11-22.
Competition:
“La Piel Que Habito” (The Skin that I Live In), directed by Pedro Almodovar
“L’Apollonide,” directed by Bertrand Bonello
“Drive,” directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
“Footnote,” directed by Joseph Cedar
“Ichimei” (Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai), directed by Takashi Miike
“Le Havre,” directed by Aki Kaurismäki
“Hanezu No Tsuki,...
The complete list of titles are below. The Cannes Film Festival will take place May 11-22.
Competition:
“La Piel Que Habito” (The Skin that I Live In), directed by Pedro Almodovar
“L’Apollonide,” directed by Bertrand Bonello
“Drive,” directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
“Footnote,” directed by Joseph Cedar
“Ichimei” (Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai), directed by Takashi Miike
“Le Havre,” directed by Aki Kaurismäki
“Hanezu No Tsuki,...
- 4/14/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Gus Van Sant's "Restless" will open Un Certain Regard at the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival May 12. The film's honor comes after a long and, yes, restless journey that included canceled release dates, changes in distributors and indescision on the film's title. In making the announcement, Cannes said only that the film "examines the relationship between two teenagers, played by Mia Wasikowska and Henry Hooper." In 2003, Gus Van ...
- 4/13/2011
- Indiewire
We haven't mentioned the Berlinale at all in the heat of Oscar week. So let's do that, shall we? Better late than never. The festival closes tomorrow but the awards were handed out over the past two days.
"Nader and Simin: A Separation" Golden Bear
Asghar Fahradi, who got a lot of Oscar buzz a couple years back (though no nomination) for About Elly, won this year's Golden Bear for Nader & Simin: A Separation (2011). The Hollywood Reporter explains the film like so.
Farhadi's drama traces the breakup of a Iranian family set against the political tensions in Tehran. While not overtly political, Nader and Simin is starkly critical of conditions in Iran, notably the country's huge class divide. It was widely tipped to win Berlin's top prize, not least because of the current upheaval in the Middle East.
Fahradi dedicated his prize to jailed filmmaker Jafar Panihi who was also...
"Nader and Simin: A Separation" Golden Bear
Asghar Fahradi, who got a lot of Oscar buzz a couple years back (though no nomination) for About Elly, won this year's Golden Bear for Nader & Simin: A Separation (2011). The Hollywood Reporter explains the film like so.
Farhadi's drama traces the breakup of a Iranian family set against the political tensions in Tehran. While not overtly political, Nader and Simin is starkly critical of conditions in Iran, notably the country's huge class divide. It was widely tipped to win Berlin's top prize, not least because of the current upheaval in the Middle East.
Fahradi dedicated his prize to jailed filmmaker Jafar Panihi who was also...
- 2/19/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
#91. Restless Director: Gus Van SantWriter(s): Jason LewProducers: Brian Grazer, Bryce Dallas Howard and Ron HowardDistributor: Columbia Pictures The Gist: This is about a teenage boy (Henry Hopper) and girl (Mia Wasikowska) who share a preoccupation with mortality. Schuyler Fisk will play Wasikowska's sister while other new cast members include Chin Han playing a doctor treating the girl, Ryo Kase as the spirit of a World War II kamikaze pilot who regularly visits the boy and Jane Adams as the boy's aunt.....(more) Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jane Adams, Schuyler Fisk, Henry Hopper and Ryo Kase List Worthy Reasons...: Admittedly, I'm pretending I haven't seen the film's trailer and pretending that I know nothing about Columbia Pictures snubbing the 2010 calendar or canceling the pegged January date. Based on the Black List script, lensed by the great Harris Savides and directed by Gus Van Sant (the Good Will Hunting not...
- 1/10/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Year: 2010
Directors: Gust Van Den Berghe
Writers: Gust Van Den Berghe & Felix Timmermans (novel)
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Rick McGrath
Rating: 7 out of 10 (average)
Little Baby Jesus of Flandr is one helluva wacko arthouse flick, even for wacko arthouse flicks. You’ll find out why in a minute. It’s also a vague retelling of the story of the Three Magi, and appears to either celebrate a romantic, naturalistic version of Christianity, or is a not-so-subtle dig at how the power of religious ceremonies can influence the mind. That either/or choice seems to be at the heart of this oddly fascinating flick.
Writer/director Gus Van den Berghe concocted Little Baby Jesus (Lbj) as an extension of his film school graduation project. Seeing as it wowed them at Cannes, I’m guessing he passed. The original story is a 1924 play by Felix Timmermans, a Flanders writer obsessed with religious themes,...
Directors: Gust Van Den Berghe
Writers: Gust Van Den Berghe & Felix Timmermans (novel)
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Rick McGrath
Rating: 7 out of 10 (average)
Little Baby Jesus of Flandr is one helluva wacko arthouse flick, even for wacko arthouse flicks. You’ll find out why in a minute. It’s also a vague retelling of the story of the Three Magi, and appears to either celebrate a romantic, naturalistic version of Christianity, or is a not-so-subtle dig at how the power of religious ceremonies can influence the mind. That either/or choice seems to be at the heart of this oddly fascinating flick.
Writer/director Gus Van den Berghe concocted Little Baby Jesus (Lbj) as an extension of his film school graduation project. Seeing as it wowed them at Cannes, I’m guessing he passed. The original story is a 1924 play by Felix Timmermans, a Flanders writer obsessed with religious themes,...
- 8/12/2010
- QuietEarth.us
If there is ever a literary figure that has needed a documentary, it’s one William S. Burroughs, the author of such films as Naked Lunch, which later joined the Criterion Collection as an adaptation directed by David Cronenberg.
Well, thanks to Oscilloscope Laboratories, we will get a chance to see the man’s life on the big screen.
According to indieWire, the distributor has picked up the North American rights to release Yony Leyser’s documentary, William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, which premiered at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival.
The film will hit theaters this fall, which will be followed by a DVD release, along with a broadcast television release on PBS’ Independent Lens series in late 2010/early 2011. It features interviews ranging from John Waters to Iggy Pop, with the likes of Gus Van Sandt, Patti Smith, and the aforementioned Cronenberg, and is narrated by Peter Weller.
Well, thanks to Oscilloscope Laboratories, we will get a chance to see the man’s life on the big screen.
According to indieWire, the distributor has picked up the North American rights to release Yony Leyser’s documentary, William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, which premiered at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival.
The film will hit theaters this fall, which will be followed by a DVD release, along with a broadcast television release on PBS’ Independent Lens series in late 2010/early 2011. It features interviews ranging from John Waters to Iggy Pop, with the likes of Gus Van Sandt, Patti Smith, and the aforementioned Cronenberg, and is narrated by Peter Weller.
- 6/4/2010
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Being middle-aged woman does not prevent Madonna from flaunting her body. In the upcoming issue for Interview magazine, the 51-year-old singer shows off her skin by donning a black revealing lingerie in one of the photos.
In another image, the mother of three is seen wearing an eyepatch and a lace glove. In the cover of the magazine and some other pictures taken by photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Madonna is seen either holding a crucifix or slipping it into one of her boots.
The next edition of the publication which will hit newsstands on May 11 will additionally feature Madonna who is interviewed by director Gus Van Saant. Beside talking about her work in Malawi, she will also discuss her new movie project "W.E." in which she is set to direct.
The full interview with Madonna and her pictures in Interview magazine can be seen the publication's official website.
In another image, the mother of three is seen wearing an eyepatch and a lace glove. In the cover of the magazine and some other pictures taken by photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Madonna is seen either holding a crucifix or slipping it into one of her boots.
The next edition of the publication which will hit newsstands on May 11 will additionally feature Madonna who is interviewed by director Gus Van Saant. Beside talking about her work in Malawi, she will also discuss her new movie project "W.E." in which she is set to direct.
The full interview with Madonna and her pictures in Interview magazine can be seen the publication's official website.
- 5/4/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
I spent all of last week divulging some of films that I expect to be in Cannes this year, and Screen Daily happened to do the same. There are a good number of films that are mentioned of both sites' lists, but I mention about twenty films that the trade makes no mention of, and of course they have got a long list as well of films that I either passed on as potential selections or I was totally oblivious as to their existence. - I spent all of last week divulging some of films that I expect to be in Cannes this year, and Screen Daily happened to do the same. There are a good number of films that are mentioned of both sites' lists, but I mention about twenty films that the trade makes no mention of, and of course they have got a long list as well...
- 3/27/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
First time filmmakers rarely get the chance to showcase a first film in the main comp - its the sidebars that handle plenty of first works and I think it'll be the same this year, but even Un Certain Regard section can be stingy on first time efforts (last year only a pair of films made it in that sidebar). Below we have a handful of filmmakers who have previously directed films but have never showcased the most prestigious film fest...example Golden Lion winning Peter Mullan - First time filmmakers rarely get the chance to showcase a first film in the main comp - its the sidebars that handle plenty of first works and I think it'll be the same this year, but even Un Certain Regard section can be stingy on first time efforts (last year only a pair of films made it in that sidebar). Below we...
- 2/17/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
It may be a studio project, but my feeling is this may be closer to his indie work, than Finding Forrester. He employs Harris Savides for his specialty theme: coming-of-age films. I'll also be curious about the new batch of actors whose lineage is tied to seminal American actors (Dennis Hooper and Sissy Spacek). - #88. Restless Director: Gus Van SantWriter(s): Jason LewProducers: Brian Grazer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ron HowardDistributor: Columbia Pictures. The Gist: Based on an original screenplay by Jason Lew, this is about a teenage boy (Henry Hopper) and girl (Mia Wasikowska) who share a preoccupation with mortality. Schuyler Fisk will play Wasikowska's sister while other new cast members include...(more) Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper and Schuyler Fisk. Why is it on the list?: It may be a studio project, but my feeling is this may be closer to his indie work, than Finding Forrester.
- 1/11/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Samuel Goldwyn Films know a thing or two about making a buck with faith-based dramas - the Kirk Cameron starring tale Fireproof made an astounding thirty-three million at the box office. No need in pointing out that there is a good segment of the population in red states portion of the U.S. who don't mind mixing the movie-going experience with some of the lessons learned on Sunday mornings, but I think a couple of prayers might be needed for this "message" film - Samuel Goldwyn Films know a thing or two about making a buck with faith-based dramas - the Kirk Cameron starring tale Fireproof made an astounding thirty-three million at the box office. No need in pointing out that there is a good segment of the population in red states portion of the U.S. who don't mind mixing the movie-going experience with some of the lessons learned on Sunday mornings,...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
Once in a while, one has to try something new when it comes to films. Unlike Toronto Stories, which is another anthology movie I'd recommend, Paris, je t'aime uses a rather different approach while showing as much audacity as its Canadian counterpart. All in all, the film is a rather enjoyable gem.
First of all, to put it shortly, Paris, je t'aime uses 18 short segments directed by internationally acclaimed directors. Of course, each segment takes place in a different district of Paris. In each segment, the directors, through their own vision, offer their own interpretation of the meaning of love in none other than the most romantic city in the world.
Obviously, the first praise that you'd like to offer for this film is certainly its photography. Without looking like a postal card, Paris, je t'aime has no difficulty to capture the city's beauty in order to fit it into...
First of all, to put it shortly, Paris, je t'aime uses 18 short segments directed by internationally acclaimed directors. Of course, each segment takes place in a different district of Paris. In each segment, the directors, through their own vision, offer their own interpretation of the meaning of love in none other than the most romantic city in the world.
Obviously, the first praise that you'd like to offer for this film is certainly its photography. Without looking like a postal card, Paris, je t'aime has no difficulty to capture the city's beauty in order to fit it into...
- 9/1/2009
- by noreply@blogger.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
The gay rights movement has always been pockmarked with "traitors" from within (Roy Cohn, anyone?), but the treachery always came from the right, not the left. That all changed a few days ago when Perez Hilton posted x-rated pics of Dustin Lance Black, a beloved, rising star in the movement. Black won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Milk, Gus Van Zandt's ferociously moving bio-pic. He burst into the limelight with a poignant acceptance speech aimed at lonely, isolated gay kids. Before we get to the betrayal by the bleached Brutus, three things you should know about Black:He's hot. He's eloquent. He's hot.Did I mention he's hot? Cuz he's really hot. See my best-of pic collection here (Sorry, all G-rated. I'm not going to aid and abet Hilton's betrayal). Heat factor aside, Perez...
- 6/17/2009
- by Mike Alvear
- Huffington Post
After over a decade of marriage, which is pretty much "'til death" in Hollywood (actually, even in "regular couple" marriages nowadays), Sean Penn has filed for legal separation from Robin Wright Penn according to Extra. This comes just two days after the pair celebrated their 13th anniversary. Something tells us they weren't really "celebrating." Penn filed for divorce once already in 2007, but the couple reunited several months ago. However, reports of trouble started brewing once again when Sean Penn failed to thank his wife in his Best Actor Oscar acceptance speech in February. He had won the award for his role as Harvey Milk in Gus Van ...
- 4/29/2009
- by By Actress Archives
Image via WikipediaWhat do the stories of a young Mumbai man winning millions of ruppies, a man living his life backwards from old age to youth, the grilling of a disgraced former president, an illiterate Nazi guard, and the first openly gay man to be elected to major office have in common.
They are all nominated for Best Picture.
The Oscar nominations came out today in the shadow of the second day of the Obama Presidency, and among those getting a nod is the bio pic of Harvey Milk, the slain gay rights activist and city supervisor of San Francisco. Milk is nominated for eight awards total. Most notably, it has been nominated for best original screenplay. Dustin Lance Black grabbed the nod for what is his very first major screenplay, a nod which normally goes to veteran screenwriters. It also garnered a best actor nod for Sean Penn who played Harvey Milk,...
They are all nominated for Best Picture.
The Oscar nominations came out today in the shadow of the second day of the Obama Presidency, and among those getting a nod is the bio pic of Harvey Milk, the slain gay rights activist and city supervisor of San Francisco. Milk is nominated for eight awards total. Most notably, it has been nominated for best original screenplay. Dustin Lance Black grabbed the nod for what is his very first major screenplay, a nod which normally goes to veteran screenwriters. It also garnered a best actor nod for Sean Penn who played Harvey Milk,...
- 1/23/2009
- by Sei
- LezGetReal.com
Ms. Thompson praises Milk: Milk is far better than I was expecting it to be, even after reading Todd McCarthy’s positive review. It had been described to me as small, political, an acting vehicle for Sean Penn. It’s far more than that. First of all, Dustin Lance Black’s script is as lean and disciplined as Gus Van [...]...
- 11/5/2008
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
- #7. MilkDirector: Gus Van SantWriters: Dustin Lance BlackProducers: Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks and Michael LondonDistributor: Focus FeaturesThe Gist: Written by Dustin Lance Black, this is about the San Francisco politician Harvey Milk (Penn) slained by Dan White (Josh Brolin) the rival politician and supervisor who shot Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone to death at City Hall. Hirsch has been cast as gay rights activist Cleve Jones, an intern and close ally of Milk's, who went on to found the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. James Franco will play Scott Smith, Milk's lover and campaign manager.Fact: Bryan Singer had a competing project The Mayor of Castro Street - now pretty much dead in the water.See It: Pitching itself as a film by the director of Good Will Hunting, the trailer tries to reach out to the masses -- but the colors and framing of some
- 9/5/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
NEW YORK -- For those ready to move past the endless stream of dark dramas from fall 2007, get ready for a new barrage -- from the 1960s, the 1940s and the 1780s.
Studios are preparing to unleash a hailstorm of period movies -- in broad terms, films set in an era other than the current -- in the fall, at times turning the multiplex circa 2008 into a veritable cinematic museum.
The films range from large studio productions (Universal/Clint Eastwood's 1920s missing-child drama "Changeling" and Fox/Baz Luhrmann's World War II epic "Australia") to specialty releases (Searchlight's midcentury Southern tale "The Secret Life of Bees" and Miramax's 1960s Catholic-school drama "Doubt"). They veer from costume dramas (the 18th century Keira Knightley quill-and-wig extravaganza "The Duchess") to political sagas (Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon") to 1950s family dramas (the Sam Mendes-Leonardo DiCaprio collaboration "Revolutionary Road") to biopics (Gus Van Sant's "Milk") to yet more WWII throwbacks (Ed Zwick's "Defiance", Mikael Hafstrom's "Shanghai" and Spike Lee's "Miracle at St. Anna").
"It seems like Hollywood is merging with the History Channel," media critic Robert Thompson noted wryly.
The latest wave of period movies is notable for several reasons. These movies are coming all at once -- scores of pictures crammed into a period of just 10 or 12 weeks. The stakes and expectations are higher because the overall number of fall specialty releases is expected to be down by as much as 25% from the nearly 70 titles released last year.
Studios are preparing to unleash a hailstorm of period movies -- in broad terms, films set in an era other than the current -- in the fall, at times turning the multiplex circa 2008 into a veritable cinematic museum.
The films range from large studio productions (Universal/Clint Eastwood's 1920s missing-child drama "Changeling" and Fox/Baz Luhrmann's World War II epic "Australia") to specialty releases (Searchlight's midcentury Southern tale "The Secret Life of Bees" and Miramax's 1960s Catholic-school drama "Doubt"). They veer from costume dramas (the 18th century Keira Knightley quill-and-wig extravaganza "The Duchess") to political sagas (Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon") to 1950s family dramas (the Sam Mendes-Leonardo DiCaprio collaboration "Revolutionary Road") to biopics (Gus Van Sant's "Milk") to yet more WWII throwbacks (Ed Zwick's "Defiance", Mikael Hafstrom's "Shanghai" and Spike Lee's "Miracle at St. Anna").
"It seems like Hollywood is merging with the History Channel," media critic Robert Thompson noted wryly.
The latest wave of period movies is notable for several reasons. These movies are coming all at once -- scores of pictures crammed into a period of just 10 or 12 weeks. The stakes and expectations are higher because the overall number of fall specialty releases is expected to be down by as much as 25% from the nearly 70 titles released last year.
- 6/18/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Drillbit Taylor, the latest comedy from the Judd Apatow laugh factory, is a relatively lame exercise that never achieves comic traction. Revolving around a trio of uber-geeks and a high school bully, the movie unfolds in fits and starts, never sure what the joke is.
But this might not matter. The Apatow brand and marquee name of Owen Wilson ensure a good opening. The performances are likable and in some instances possess enough charm to cause undemanding viewers to overlook script deficiencies. Business should hit the middle range or above for teen comedies.
The Apatow formula -- the veteran team of Susan Arnold and Donna Arkoff Roth also is aboard as producers -- leans heavily on extreme situations. A guy can't just be a virgin; he must be a 40-year-old virgin. So in Drillbit Taylor, the bully can't just be a guy going through adolescent sadism; he must be a certifiable psychopath. And the geeks can't just be geeks; they must be corpulent, skinny or tiny.
On Day 1 of their high school career, scrawny, bespectacled Wade (Nate Hartley), chubby Ryan (Troy Gentile) and peewee Emmit (David Dorfman) run afoul of fearsome Filkins (Alex Frost, who has now polished the role of homicidal teen he launched in Gus Van Sant's Elephant). Things crescendo to where the trio must interview personal bodyguards. The one they settle on -- the only one they can afford -- is Drillbit (Wilson).
Drillbit is a complete phony, a homeless bum whose only expertise consists in begging and scamming for money. He figures these kids are good for a few hundred bucks, but his fellow tramps -- who unaccountably hang out in a cafe in the trendy Santa Monica Mall -- urge him to milk this gig for all its worth. This assures that he and his diminutive charges link up often enough to become sentimental buddies.
One problem in the script by frequent Apatow collaborators Kristofor Brown and Seth Rogen is that Drillbit -- an AWOL Army vet with psychological and motivational problems who seemingly couldn't protect even himself -- never fits comfortably into the comic setting. Where's the joke here? Wilson goofs his way through an illogical role, where one minute he showers naked on the beach and the next he masquerades as a substitute teacher, taking over a different classroom each day and romancing a lonesome fellow teacher (Leslie Mann). For that matter, all adults -- the unconcerned principal, clueless parents and Drillbit's fellow bums -- are ill-conceived cartoons.
The film never allows its young heroes to show any cleverness. Aren't geeks supposed to think their way out of their dilemmas? A climactic fight is simply absurd. When a samurai sword gets introduced into the rumble, the film's tenuous grasp of any sort of reality comes undone.
Steven Brill's direction serves only to emphasize the uncertain, implausible nature of the sitcom. And happy endings seldom feel as false as this one. The lesson here is that every factory turns out "seconds," including the Apatow one.
DRILLBIT TAYLOR
Paramount
An Apatow and Roth/Arnold production
Credits: Director: Steven Brill
Screenwriters: Kristofor Brown, Seth Rogen
Story: Edmond Dantes, Kristofor Brown, Seth Rogen
Producers: Judd Apatow, Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth
Executive producer: Richard Vane
Director of photography: Fred Murphy
Production designer: Jackson De Govia
Music: Christophe Beck
Co-producer: Kristofor Brown
Costume designer: Karen Patch
Editor: Thomas J. Nordberg
Cast:
Drillbit Taylor: Owen Wilson
Lisa: Leslie Mann
Emmit: David Dorfman
Don: Danny McBride
Ronnie: Josh Peck
Ryan: Troy Gentile
Wade: Nate Hartley
Filkins: Alex Frost
Running time -- 102 minutes
MPAA rating PG-13...
But this might not matter. The Apatow brand and marquee name of Owen Wilson ensure a good opening. The performances are likable and in some instances possess enough charm to cause undemanding viewers to overlook script deficiencies. Business should hit the middle range or above for teen comedies.
The Apatow formula -- the veteran team of Susan Arnold and Donna Arkoff Roth also is aboard as producers -- leans heavily on extreme situations. A guy can't just be a virgin; he must be a 40-year-old virgin. So in Drillbit Taylor, the bully can't just be a guy going through adolescent sadism; he must be a certifiable psychopath. And the geeks can't just be geeks; they must be corpulent, skinny or tiny.
On Day 1 of their high school career, scrawny, bespectacled Wade (Nate Hartley), chubby Ryan (Troy Gentile) and peewee Emmit (David Dorfman) run afoul of fearsome Filkins (Alex Frost, who has now polished the role of homicidal teen he launched in Gus Van Sant's Elephant). Things crescendo to where the trio must interview personal bodyguards. The one they settle on -- the only one they can afford -- is Drillbit (Wilson).
Drillbit is a complete phony, a homeless bum whose only expertise consists in begging and scamming for money. He figures these kids are good for a few hundred bucks, but his fellow tramps -- who unaccountably hang out in a cafe in the trendy Santa Monica Mall -- urge him to milk this gig for all its worth. This assures that he and his diminutive charges link up often enough to become sentimental buddies.
One problem in the script by frequent Apatow collaborators Kristofor Brown and Seth Rogen is that Drillbit -- an AWOL Army vet with psychological and motivational problems who seemingly couldn't protect even himself -- never fits comfortably into the comic setting. Where's the joke here? Wilson goofs his way through an illogical role, where one minute he showers naked on the beach and the next he masquerades as a substitute teacher, taking over a different classroom each day and romancing a lonesome fellow teacher (Leslie Mann). For that matter, all adults -- the unconcerned principal, clueless parents and Drillbit's fellow bums -- are ill-conceived cartoons.
The film never allows its young heroes to show any cleverness. Aren't geeks supposed to think their way out of their dilemmas? A climactic fight is simply absurd. When a samurai sword gets introduced into the rumble, the film's tenuous grasp of any sort of reality comes undone.
Steven Brill's direction serves only to emphasize the uncertain, implausible nature of the sitcom. And happy endings seldom feel as false as this one. The lesson here is that every factory turns out "seconds," including the Apatow one.
DRILLBIT TAYLOR
Paramount
An Apatow and Roth/Arnold production
Credits: Director: Steven Brill
Screenwriters: Kristofor Brown, Seth Rogen
Story: Edmond Dantes, Kristofor Brown, Seth Rogen
Producers: Judd Apatow, Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth
Executive producer: Richard Vane
Director of photography: Fred Murphy
Production designer: Jackson De Govia
Music: Christophe Beck
Co-producer: Kristofor Brown
Costume designer: Karen Patch
Editor: Thomas J. Nordberg
Cast:
Drillbit Taylor: Owen Wilson
Lisa: Leslie Mann
Emmit: David Dorfman
Don: Danny McBride
Ronnie: Josh Peck
Ryan: Troy Gentile
Wade: Nate Hartley
Filkins: Alex Frost
Running time -- 102 minutes
MPAA rating PG-13...
- 3/20/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- #7. Milk Director: Gus Van SantWriters: Dustin Lance BlackProducers: Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks and Michael London Distributor: Focus Features The Gist: Written by Dustin Lance Black, this is about the San Francisco politician Harvey Milk (Penn) slained by Dan White (Josh Brolin) the rival politician and supervisor who shot Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone to death at City Hall. Hirsch has been cast as gay rights activist Cleve Jones, an intern and close ally of Milk's, who went on to found the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. James Franco will play Scott Smith, Milk's lover and campaign manager. Fact: Bryan Singer had a competing project The Mayor of Castro Street - now pretty much dead in the water. See It: Van Sant is coming back to the type of fair that will get him the same sort of attention as Gw Hunting did. I say see
- 2/1/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
- #48. Paranoid Park Director/Writer: Gus Van SantProducers: David Allen Cress, Charles Gilibert, Nathanaël Karmitz and Neil Kopp (Old Joy) Distributor: IFC First Take The Gist: Based on the novel by Blake Nelson, this is set in the world of Portland's skateboarders, it's about a teenage kid "who accidentally kills a security guard and has to figure out what to do when police start to investigate the death". Fact: Van Sant and Christopher Doyle reunite after having last worked on Psycho. See It: Continues in the same excellent wave as his past three films: Gerry, Elephant and Last Days (Read review here). Release Date/Status?: Picked up at Cannes - this is almost one year to the date since it received its premiere. Van Sant fans circle the date of March 7th. ...
- 1/30/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
UPDATED 5:21 p.m. PT Nov. 27, 2007
Film Independent's 2008 Spirit Awards took on an international accent as nominees were announced Tuesday. Best feature noms went to the French-language "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and the Pakistan-set "A Mighty Heart", while the starring duo of Tony Leung and Tang Wei of the Shanghai drama "Lust, Caution" both figure in the top acting categories.
But Americana also ruled as "I'm Not There", Todd Haynes' kaleidoscope deconstruction of the work of Bob Dylan, led the field. With four nominations, including best feature, director and supporting noms for Cate Blanchett and Marcus Carl Franklin, it also was named the inaugural winner of the Robert Altman Award, recognizing Haynes, casting director Laura Rosenthal and the ensemble cast.
While the Spirit Awards focus on American independent film, a film can qualify if at least one U.S. citizen or permanent resident is credited in two or more of the categories of writer, director or producer, which opened the door for this year's globetrotting noms.
In addition to "I'm Not There", "Diving Bell", a film told from the point of view of a stroke victim, and "Mighty Heart", the dramatization of the search for kidnapped journalist Daniel Pearl, the other contenders in the best feature category are "Juno", a comedy about an unintended pregnancy, and "Paranoid Park", the account of a teen who accidentally kills a man.
Four of the best film nominees saw their helmsman nominated for best director: Haynes ("I'm Not There"), Jason Reitman ("Juno"), Julian Schnabel ("Butterfly") and Gus Van Sant ("Paranoid"). But instead of Michael Winterbottom for "Mighty Heart", the fifth slot went to Tamara Jenkins -- who also was nominated for best screenplay -- for the family drama "The Savages".
"There wasn't a dominant genre or even a film. It was a mix of emerging filmmakers and veteran filmmakers like Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes. I felt like it was a wide spectrum of talent in all areas," FIND exec director Dawn Hudson said at the ceremonies that Lisa Kudrow and Zach Braff hosted at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles.
"You want all these films to gain some momentum," she added. "There's such a glut of films this season that you hope that this will shine a spotlight on these lower-budgeted films that are so deserving."
The best actress contenders are Angelina Jolie for portraying Mariane Pearl in "Mighty Heart"; Sienna Miller, seen as a soap actress facing off with a journalist in "Interview"; Ellen Page, who appears as the pregnant teen in "Juno"; Parker Posey, who finds herself embarking on an affair in "Broken English"; and Tang, who becomes entangled in love and espionage in "Lust".
Nominated as best actor are Pedro Castaneda, who plays an undocumented farm worker "August Evening"; Don Cheadle, who stars as a radio host in "Talk to Me"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose character struggles with an ailing father in "Savages"; Frank Langella, who appears as the older half of a May-December relationship in "Starting Out in the Evening"; and Leung, who plays a spy in "Lust".
Still, several performances that have excited critics failed to make the cut: Among the missing were Ryan Gosling ("Lars and the Real Girl"), Laura Linney ("Savages"), Nicole Kidman ("Margot at the Wedding"), Keri Russell ("Waitress") and John Cusak ("Grace Is Gone").
Along with Blanchett, who seems to channel Dylan in "Not There", the nominees for best supporting female are Anna Kendrick ("Rocket Science"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("Margot"), Tamara Podemski ("Four Sheets to the Wind") and Marisa Tomei ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead").
Best supporting male nominee Franklin plays a young musician who calls himself Woody Guthrie in "Not There". In the nominees circle, he joins Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Talk to Me"), Kene Holliday ("Great World of Sound"), Irfan Khan ("The Namesake") and Steve Zahn ("Rescue Dawn").
Screenplay nominees are Ronald Harwood ("Butterfly"), Jenkins ("Savages"), Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner ("Starting Out"), the late Adrienne Shelly ("Waitress") and Mike White ("Year of the Dog").
In the adjoining category of best first screenplay, the nominees are Jeffrey Blitz ("Rocket Science"), Zoe Cassavetes ("Broken English"), Diablo Cody ("Juno"), Kelly Masterson ("Devil") and John Orloff ("Mighty Heart").
The Spirits also recognize films made for less than $500,000 with its John Cassavetes Award.
Film Independent's 2008 Spirit Awards took on an international accent as nominees were announced Tuesday. Best feature noms went to the French-language "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and the Pakistan-set "A Mighty Heart", while the starring duo of Tony Leung and Tang Wei of the Shanghai drama "Lust, Caution" both figure in the top acting categories.
But Americana also ruled as "I'm Not There", Todd Haynes' kaleidoscope deconstruction of the work of Bob Dylan, led the field. With four nominations, including best feature, director and supporting noms for Cate Blanchett and Marcus Carl Franklin, it also was named the inaugural winner of the Robert Altman Award, recognizing Haynes, casting director Laura Rosenthal and the ensemble cast.
While the Spirit Awards focus on American independent film, a film can qualify if at least one U.S. citizen or permanent resident is credited in two or more of the categories of writer, director or producer, which opened the door for this year's globetrotting noms.
In addition to "I'm Not There", "Diving Bell", a film told from the point of view of a stroke victim, and "Mighty Heart", the dramatization of the search for kidnapped journalist Daniel Pearl, the other contenders in the best feature category are "Juno", a comedy about an unintended pregnancy, and "Paranoid Park", the account of a teen who accidentally kills a man.
Four of the best film nominees saw their helmsman nominated for best director: Haynes ("I'm Not There"), Jason Reitman ("Juno"), Julian Schnabel ("Butterfly") and Gus Van Sant ("Paranoid"). But instead of Michael Winterbottom for "Mighty Heart", the fifth slot went to Tamara Jenkins -- who also was nominated for best screenplay -- for the family drama "The Savages".
"There wasn't a dominant genre or even a film. It was a mix of emerging filmmakers and veteran filmmakers like Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes. I felt like it was a wide spectrum of talent in all areas," FIND exec director Dawn Hudson said at the ceremonies that Lisa Kudrow and Zach Braff hosted at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles.
"You want all these films to gain some momentum," she added. "There's such a glut of films this season that you hope that this will shine a spotlight on these lower-budgeted films that are so deserving."
The best actress contenders are Angelina Jolie for portraying Mariane Pearl in "Mighty Heart"; Sienna Miller, seen as a soap actress facing off with a journalist in "Interview"; Ellen Page, who appears as the pregnant teen in "Juno"; Parker Posey, who finds herself embarking on an affair in "Broken English"; and Tang, who becomes entangled in love and espionage in "Lust".
Nominated as best actor are Pedro Castaneda, who plays an undocumented farm worker "August Evening"; Don Cheadle, who stars as a radio host in "Talk to Me"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose character struggles with an ailing father in "Savages"; Frank Langella, who appears as the older half of a May-December relationship in "Starting Out in the Evening"; and Leung, who plays a spy in "Lust".
Still, several performances that have excited critics failed to make the cut: Among the missing were Ryan Gosling ("Lars and the Real Girl"), Laura Linney ("Savages"), Nicole Kidman ("Margot at the Wedding"), Keri Russell ("Waitress") and John Cusak ("Grace Is Gone").
Along with Blanchett, who seems to channel Dylan in "Not There", the nominees for best supporting female are Anna Kendrick ("Rocket Science"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("Margot"), Tamara Podemski ("Four Sheets to the Wind") and Marisa Tomei ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead").
Best supporting male nominee Franklin plays a young musician who calls himself Woody Guthrie in "Not There". In the nominees circle, he joins Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Talk to Me"), Kene Holliday ("Great World of Sound"), Irfan Khan ("The Namesake") and Steve Zahn ("Rescue Dawn").
Screenplay nominees are Ronald Harwood ("Butterfly"), Jenkins ("Savages"), Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner ("Starting Out"), the late Adrienne Shelly ("Waitress") and Mike White ("Year of the Dog").
In the adjoining category of best first screenplay, the nominees are Jeffrey Blitz ("Rocket Science"), Zoe Cassavetes ("Broken English"), Diablo Cody ("Juno"), Kelly Masterson ("Devil") and John Orloff ("Mighty Heart").
The Spirits also recognize films made for less than $500,000 with its John Cassavetes Award.
- 11/28/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
UPDATED 6:36 p.m. PT Nov. 27
Film Independent's 2008 Spirit Awards took on an international accent as nominees were announced Tuesday.
Best feature noms went to the French-language "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and the Pakistan-set "A Mighty Heart", while the starring duo of Tony Leung and Tang Wei of the Shanghai drama "Lust, Caution" both figure in the top acting categories.
But Americana also ruled as "I'm Not There", Todd Haynes' kaleidoscope deconstruction of the work of Bob Dylan, led the field. With four nominations, including best feature, director and supporting noms for Cate Blanchett and Marcus Carl Franklin, it also was named the inaugural winner of the Robert Altman Award, recognizing Haynes, casting director Laura Rosenthal and the ensemble cast.
While the Spirit Awards focus on American independent film, a film can qualify if at least one U.S. citizen or permanent resident is credited in two or more of the categories of writer, director or producer, which opened the door for this year's globetrotting noms.
In addition to "I'm Not There", "Diving Bell", a film told from the point of view of a stroke victim, and "Mighty Heart", the dramatization of the search for kidnapped journalist Daniel Pearl, the other contenders in the best feature category are "Juno", a comedy about an unintended pregnancy, and "Paranoid Park", the account of a teen who accidentally kills a man.
Four of the best film nominees saw their helmsman nominated for best director: Haynes ("I'm Not There"), Jason Reitman ("Juno"), Julian Schnabel ("Butterfly") and Gus Van Sant ("Paranoid"). But instead of Michael Winterbottom for "Mighty Heart", the fifth slot went to Tamara Jenkins -- who also was nominated for best screenplay -- for the family drama "The Savages".
"There wasn't a dominant genre or even a film. It was a mix of emerging filmmakers and veteran filmmakers like Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes. I felt like it was a wide spectrum of talent in all areas," FIND exec director Dawn Hudson said at the ceremonies that Lisa Kudrow and Zach Braff hosted at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles.
"You want all these films to gain some momentum," she added. "There's such a glut of films this season that you hope that this will shine a spotlight on these lower-budgeted films that are so deserving."
The best actress contenders are Angelina Jolie for portraying Mariane Pearl in "Mighty Heart"; Sienna Miller, seen as a soap actress facing off with a journalist in "Interview"; Ellen Page, who appears as the pregnant teen in "Juno"; Parker Posey, who finds herself embarking on an affair in "Broken English"; and Tang, who becomes entangled in love and espionage in "Lust".
Nominated as best actor are Pedro Castaneda, who plays an undocumented farm worker "August Evening"; Don Cheadle, who stars as a radio host in "Talk to Me"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose character struggles with an ailing father in "Savages"; Frank Langella, who appears as the older half of a May-December relationship in "Starting Out in the Evening"; and Leung, who plays a spy in "Lust".
Still, several performances that have excited critics failed to make the cut: Among the missing were Ryan Gosling ("Lars and the Real Girl"), Laura Linney ("Savages"), Nicole Kidman ("Margot at the Wedding"), Keri Russell ("Waitress") and John Cusack ("Grace is Gone").
Along with Blanchett, who channels Dylan in "Not There", the nominees for best supporting female are Anna Kendrick ("Rocket Science"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("Margot"), Tamara Podemski ("Four Sheets to the Wind") and Marisa Tomei ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead").
Best supporting male nominee Franklin plays a young musician who calls himself Woody Guthrie in "Not There". In the nominees circle, he joins Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Talk to Me"), Kene Holliday ("Great World of Sound"), Irfan Khan ("The Namesake") and Steve Zahn ("Rescue Dawn").
Screenplay nominees are Ronald Harwood ("Butterfly"), Jenkins ("Savages"), Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner ("Starting Out"), the late Adrienne Shelly ("Waitress") and Mike White ("Year of the Dog").
In the adjoining category of best first screenplay, the nominees are Jeffrey Blitz ("Rocket Science"), Zoe Cassavetes ("Broken English"), Diablo Cody ("Juno"), Kelly Masterson ("Devil") and John Orloff ("Mighty Heart").
The Spirits also recognize films made for less than $500,000 with its John Cassavetes Award.
Film Independent's 2008 Spirit Awards took on an international accent as nominees were announced Tuesday.
Best feature noms went to the French-language "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and the Pakistan-set "A Mighty Heart", while the starring duo of Tony Leung and Tang Wei of the Shanghai drama "Lust, Caution" both figure in the top acting categories.
But Americana also ruled as "I'm Not There", Todd Haynes' kaleidoscope deconstruction of the work of Bob Dylan, led the field. With four nominations, including best feature, director and supporting noms for Cate Blanchett and Marcus Carl Franklin, it also was named the inaugural winner of the Robert Altman Award, recognizing Haynes, casting director Laura Rosenthal and the ensemble cast.
While the Spirit Awards focus on American independent film, a film can qualify if at least one U.S. citizen or permanent resident is credited in two or more of the categories of writer, director or producer, which opened the door for this year's globetrotting noms.
In addition to "I'm Not There", "Diving Bell", a film told from the point of view of a stroke victim, and "Mighty Heart", the dramatization of the search for kidnapped journalist Daniel Pearl, the other contenders in the best feature category are "Juno", a comedy about an unintended pregnancy, and "Paranoid Park", the account of a teen who accidentally kills a man.
Four of the best film nominees saw their helmsman nominated for best director: Haynes ("I'm Not There"), Jason Reitman ("Juno"), Julian Schnabel ("Butterfly") and Gus Van Sant ("Paranoid"). But instead of Michael Winterbottom for "Mighty Heart", the fifth slot went to Tamara Jenkins -- who also was nominated for best screenplay -- for the family drama "The Savages".
"There wasn't a dominant genre or even a film. It was a mix of emerging filmmakers and veteran filmmakers like Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes. I felt like it was a wide spectrum of talent in all areas," FIND exec director Dawn Hudson said at the ceremonies that Lisa Kudrow and Zach Braff hosted at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles.
"You want all these films to gain some momentum," she added. "There's such a glut of films this season that you hope that this will shine a spotlight on these lower-budgeted films that are so deserving."
The best actress contenders are Angelina Jolie for portraying Mariane Pearl in "Mighty Heart"; Sienna Miller, seen as a soap actress facing off with a journalist in "Interview"; Ellen Page, who appears as the pregnant teen in "Juno"; Parker Posey, who finds herself embarking on an affair in "Broken English"; and Tang, who becomes entangled in love and espionage in "Lust".
Nominated as best actor are Pedro Castaneda, who plays an undocumented farm worker "August Evening"; Don Cheadle, who stars as a radio host in "Talk to Me"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose character struggles with an ailing father in "Savages"; Frank Langella, who appears as the older half of a May-December relationship in "Starting Out in the Evening"; and Leung, who plays a spy in "Lust".
Still, several performances that have excited critics failed to make the cut: Among the missing were Ryan Gosling ("Lars and the Real Girl"), Laura Linney ("Savages"), Nicole Kidman ("Margot at the Wedding"), Keri Russell ("Waitress") and John Cusack ("Grace is Gone").
Along with Blanchett, who channels Dylan in "Not There", the nominees for best supporting female are Anna Kendrick ("Rocket Science"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("Margot"), Tamara Podemski ("Four Sheets to the Wind") and Marisa Tomei ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead").
Best supporting male nominee Franklin plays a young musician who calls himself Woody Guthrie in "Not There". In the nominees circle, he joins Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Talk to Me"), Kene Holliday ("Great World of Sound"), Irfan Khan ("The Namesake") and Steve Zahn ("Rescue Dawn").
Screenplay nominees are Ronald Harwood ("Butterfly"), Jenkins ("Savages"), Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner ("Starting Out"), the late Adrienne Shelly ("Waitress") and Mike White ("Year of the Dog").
In the adjoining category of best first screenplay, the nominees are Jeffrey Blitz ("Rocket Science"), Zoe Cassavetes ("Broken English"), Diablo Cody ("Juno"), Kelly Masterson ("Devil") and John Orloff ("Mighty Heart").
The Spirits also recognize films made for less than $500,000 with its John Cassavetes Award.
- 11/28/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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