Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) may have one of the best-known faces in the world, but that doesn’t mean he is recognized everywhere, even in Washington.
Washington Sports Club employee Takehia Wheeler was manning the front desk to scan members’ identification cards Friday morning when the presidential candidate walked in with his entourage. The gym opened a month ago in the Columbia Heights district.
“He came in and walked past me,” Wheeler told In The Know. “I was like, ‘Sir, you need to come back.’ ”
Wheeler said Obama looked familiar, but she didn’t recognize him. So she asked for his ID card.
“I said, ‘What’s your last name?’ He said ‘Obama,’ ” Wheeler explained. “I said, ‘So what’s your first name?”
Then she laughed because it was at that point that Wheeler realized who she was talking to. How did she make amends? By saying, “Sorry, Mr. Future President!”
Yippee!! I've been holding my breath, hoping that this one would be good. And now, an absolutely RAVE review has come from London, where Mamma Mia has its world premiere today. We get it in the US July 18. The Hollywood Reporter:
No matter how many blockbusters there are, Universal Pictures' screen version of the global hit stage musical "Mamma Mia!" is the most fun to be had at the movies this or any other recent summer.
Teenage boys may be glued to the latest action adventure, but the rest of the family will be having a rollicking good time and dancing in the aisles to Swedish pop group ABBA's irresistible songs. It's a delightful piece of filmmaking with a marvelous cast topped by Meryl Streep in one of her smartest and most entertaining performances ever.
Was there any doubt that Morgan Freeman was always cool and groovy? Here he is as the Easy Reader from the Electric Company days with Rita Moreno. Hat tip: Movie Moron
Before Morgan Freeman was cast as Q in Batman Begins, before he played God, the President, or drove Miss Daisy, he was just another jobbing actor. In fact, he was kinda a hippie. And he liked to sing.
Wanted did huge business at the box office in America.
The movie made $51.1 million and
- Wanted was the biggest opening of a live action film in Jolie's career - It turned out to be the best June opening ever for an R-rated movie, beating Knocked Up's $30.6M, and the 6th highest R-rated opening of all time - The studio expected only a $35+M opening, so the film did much better than anticipated - Angie proved she is a big draw: Cinemascore said the main reasons given for choosing to see Wanted were the action (67%) and Jolie (61%).
I haven't seen it yet as I was at a family reunion this weekend. Tomorrow I have a date with James!!
The LA premiere of Hellboy II: The Golden Army happened this weekend, and Guillermo del Toro appeared on Jimmy Kimmel. He talks about The Hobbit, Hellboy II and shows one of his famous notebooks filled with drawings of the monsters of Hellboy II. I cannot wait to see what he does with the Hobbit!
George Clooney does hilarious commercials for Martini. The latest one is above. Thanks to Darling Diva for letting me know about it, and she also posted our favorite one. The classic below:
Ben Barnes (of Prince Caspian) was in Edinburgh to promote his film Bigga Than Ben at the film festival. More exceedingly yummy pics here. Oh, heck, I can't resist showing one more.
Perez Hilton posted this with the headline: Want More Gerry?
The producers of '300' were interviewed by Collider.com.
They announced they’re working on a new Blu-ray edition of the film and they dropped a bomb…they’re trying to make a sequel/prequel to the film.
At first I didn’t believe them, but later in the night I spoke to Zack Snyder again (interview is here) and he confirmed what they said. He said Frank Miller is working on a new story of some kind and if they all really like it they’ll make it!
Not only is Oscar buzz already growing about Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker, but….
Reports are coming in that the pre-sales for the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, are selling out. Fast!
Theaters are having to add extra screenings at night just to accommodate. Fandango is also reporting that dozens of showtimes for the film have already been sold out.
The movie isn't even set to open until Friday July 18th!
Several movie theaters will be showing the movie at 12:01am on Thursday/Friday night. Many have even added 3:00am showings due to consumer demand.
Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News was invited by J. J. Abrams into the editing room of the new Star Trek movie. He saw about seven minutes of footage, and especially loves the casting of Karl Urban as McCoy and that of Spock. Read the whole thing here.
I got a sense of what JJ is up to. He’s very much reinventing it – the way Robert Wise did – and at the same time – he’s directing the actors with an energy and an aliveness that we haven’t seen. This was exciting, yet strange and it felt somehow… real.
Huffington Post: MTV interviewed "Hancock" star Will Smith and he discussed his desire to portray Barack Obama in a future biopic, claiming his ears make him perfect for the role. Just last month Michelle Obama said her celebrity crush was Will Smith.
"It's right here," Smith said, holding up his legendarily prominent ears, which are not unlike Obama's lobes. "That's the key. That's the key. America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind. And America just loves the ears."
Smith is ready to take on the role, "As soon as he (Obama) writes the end of the story."
WENN: Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal is baffled by the criticism he has received for taking on roles portraying homosexual characters, because he considers it "cool".
The Latin hunk has played gay men in director Pedro Almodovar's La Mala Educacion (Bad Education) in 2004 and kissed Diego Luna in 2001's Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother, Too).
And he insists he is unabashed about his on-screen past, because it should not have any implication on his acting credentials.
He says, "It's so cool. I don't see what all the fuss is about playing gay characters. When I did Y Tu Mama Tambien, I was asked, 'Don't you worry about what people will say to you in the street?' It seemed like it was such a huge deal.
"Why would it be an issue for me? I think it is a very American thing. In Mexico, no one has given me any s**t for playing gay roles, for playing a transvestite, whatever. They don't confuse the actor with the role. I mean, they don't think Al Pacino's a cop!"
Bernal also admits he is unfazed by nudity - and can't understand why his peers would make such a fuss about disrobing for any movie.
He adds, "Whenever an actor or actress says, 'I won't do nudity unless the story demands it', they're the first people to take their kit off! 'I would only do it for artistic reasons.' Yeah right! Come on, there's nothing artistic about it, but I don't have a problem with it either."
WENN: A cheeky Nashville, Tennessee radio DJ was left speechless when Nicole Kidman showed up with his lunch on Tuesday.
The pregnant actress phoned in to radio host Gerry House's WSIX-FM show from her car to compliment her husband Keith Urban on his skills as a father-to-be, and when the DJ asked the Aussie to pick up a salad for him she obliged.
Urban, who was an in-studio guest on the show, was attempting to play down his role in Lamaze classes when Kidman called in and introduced herself as, "This is Keith's wife!"
She said, "Keith has been doing Lamaze lessons, he is selling himself short... He has been very good at it."
Kidman added she was on her way to the radio station to pick her husband up but she was stuck in traffic, prompting cheeky House to serve up his lunch order.
The actress burst into the studio 30 minutes later with the DJ's salad, prompting the stunned host to insist he'll never be able to eat it.
He stammered, "I have no intention of eating this. Are you kidding? Lunch delivered by Nicole Kidman? I'm having it bronzed!"
Heath Ledger is getting a fond tribute from his collaborators on "The Dark Knight."
The end credits of the "Batman Begins" sequel include a farewell note to Ledger, who died in January from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs; and to special-effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed last September in a stunt-car accident.
"In memory of our friends Heath Ledger & Conway Wickliffe," reads the tribute included in the credits.
I can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker. Miles from Jack Nicholson's broadly funny take on the role in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, Ledger takes the role to the shadows, where even what's comic is hardly a relief. ...If there's a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976's Network, sign me up. Ledger's Joker has no gray areas -- he's all rampaging id.
Nicole Kidman graces the cover of the latest issue of Vogue with several pics from the set of Australia. I love you Annie Liebovitz!
For Kidman, Australia is a dream project. She gets to perform with Jackman, who thrilled her by being big enough to sweep her up into his arms ("That's movie-star stuff—and I'm not tiny!"). She gets to be at the center of a movie about her country shot in the grand manner of a David Lean—as Jackman says, "There'll never be an Australian movie like this again."
Unreal. "I may have some very conservative personal feelings but I feel you have the right to live your life differently. I may think that what you do, Anderson, is gonna put you in Hell, but I'm gonna defend your right to get there," - Al Sharpton, to Anderson Cooper, on the air. See the clip here.
Guy Ritchie is back in his old stomping ground with RocknRolla. The Lock, Stock... and Snatch director has returned to the world of dodgy dealers, shady scams and back-stabbing that made his name, with a story of a tale of Russian mobsters running amok in the Big Smoke.
This is the BEST news I've had all day!! He's back! I may be able to see more of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau speaking English on TV with that adorable accent this fall. I'm doing cartwheels inside. Hollywood Reporter:
"New Amsterdam" star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is staying at Fox as the star of the network's two-hour sci-fi pilot "Virtuality."
"Virtuality" is set aboard Earth's first starship, which is equipped with advanced virtual reality modules. Coster-Waldau will play mission commander Frank Pike, a born leader.
Virtuality is from Battlestar Galactica executive producer Ronald D. Moore who co-wrote the pilot, which is being directed by Peter Berg (director of the upcoming superhero satire Hancock).
It's Tuesday, which means it's DVD new release day. There haven't been many notable new releases lately, but today is a banner day.
Number one on my list of DVD's you need to add to your Netflix queue is In Bruges. I was lucky enough to see its world premiere at Sundance in January. It opened this spring in theaters but didn't seem to make much of a splash. I thought in Bruges was fantastic and it was my favorite film of the festival. Very funny, very violent and sometimes shockingly gory. Great dialog and interesting script by Oscar winning (short film) director Martin McDonagh, who is known for his award winning plays in Ireland. Colin Farrell was brilliant in the film. He was very funny, cries several times and then is shockingly violent and explosive showing an extensive range in the film. I thought the role fit him very well, one of his best in years, and really showcased him. Ralph Fiennes cracked me up because he usually plays so highbrow, and this role was with a low class accent and kind of a thug character. Brendan Gleeson was his usual wonderful character actor self. My husband and I still quote dialog from this film to each other. Our favorite exchange between Brendan and Colin:
Ken: Ray, you are about the worst tourist in the whole world. Ray: Ken, I grew up in Dublin. I love Dublin. If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me but I didn't, so it doesn't.
It's in the trailer here:
Persepolis, the amazing Oscar nominated animated film is also out today, and Definitely, Maybe with adorable Abigail Breslin and Ryan Reynolds is worth a rental.
I had been avoiding watching Gone Baby Gone. I had ordered it from Netflix before the Oscars, so that I could watch Amy Ryan's nominated performance. The subject matter of a missing person, for reasons many of you know, just had me picking up another movie to watch each time, and leaving this one in the envelope. My friend Janene saw it recently, and told me I must watch it, that it was a really excellent film. Finally, this weekend, I did watch it, and it was everything she said and more. It is a truly fantastic film. Ben Affleck won an Oscar for screenwriting back in the Good Will Hunting days, and one forgets with all the schlock movies he started to act in that the man has talent. It was wonderful to see him hit the ball out of the park with his directorial debut, and he co-wrote the script as well, adapting the book by the same author as Mystic River.
This film has such a sense of place, the story of a missing young girl set in South Boston. Ben Affleck got local people to do walk on parts in the movie, and it really does add into the whole atmosphere. The cast is superb. Casey Affleck continues to amaze me, Michelle Monaghan (Made of Honor) is starting a fine career, Amy Ryan definitely deserved her Oscar nom for the part of the mother of the missing young girl, and you've got the stalwarts: Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. This is a dark movie, yes, but the plot has lots of twists and turns. You leave the film wondering if the main character made the right decision. I give this film three and a half stars and urge you to see it. Watch the trailer here.
I have never watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother, so I had no idea who the star, Jason Segel of Forgetting Sarah Marshall was when I saw the film last week. It had the brand stamp of "produced by Judd Apatow", and therefore you kind of know what you're in for. Something raunchy, laugh out loud funny and not just a little bit sweet. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is all those things and Jason Segel is not only a very good writer, but he is one brave man. (I didn't realize till the credits that he also wrote the film.) You've probably heard by now that one of the opening scenes has Peter (Segel) standing full frontal nude as his girlfriend Kristen Bell (of Heroes) breaks up with him. FULL frontal and hilarious. Yes, this is an R film, but can you remember a guy being naked in a film showing all since, well, Richard Gere in American Gigolo? Mark Wahlberg's prosthetic schlong in Boogie Nights doesn't count. I whispered to my friend "Equal time!!", and it's about time, dammit! Peter's girlfriend Sarah keeps asking him to get dressed, and he refuses, saying if he puts his pants on then it will be real that she's leaving him.
Peter is devastated by the breakup, and goes to Hawaii on vacation to forget, but guess who is at the same resort with her British rocker boyfriend. Minor characters are played by actors from the Apatow stable -- Paul Rudd as a hilarious stoner surfing instructor, and Jonah Hill as restaurant host and uber fan of the rocker. The breakout performance is Russell Brand as rocker Aldous Snow. I have never seen this actor before, and let me tell you, this guy will be getting some major work from this film. He is a riot, and even Peter can't hate him.
My friend put her finger on the whole movie. She said as the credits were rolling, "That was a chick movie! Peter acted just like a chick would to a breakup." It's very true. This is a movie about a guy, but in reversing the roles it could have been the plot of any number of chick flicks, which was interesting. Also, I found it interesting that even though it's a broad comedy, no one was a stereotype, and you can't fully hate or dislike anyone. Even the ex-girlfriend, who in many movies would be a two-dimensional bitch, has real reasons for the breakup. And her rocker promiscuous boyfriend even Peter says is too cool to hate.
I really liked this movie, and highly recommend it. I give it three and a half stars. It was already playing at the cheap theater in our town, but is definitely one to watch for on DVD. Jason Segel is a talented writer as well as an actor, and I just read that he is penning a new Muppet Movie! Jason will be rejoining Paul Rudd in I Love You Man out in 2009.
Watch the Reel Geezers on Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They didn't both love the film, but caught the exact same chick flick vibe that we did. Watching them discuss the nude scene is a riot! Warning -- Spoilers in their review!
Too funny. Ann Curry gets James McAvoy talking about kissing scenes, and he says he can't ever be "in the moment." "If we had a kissing scene in this interview, I would hope we'd both be professional." Ann gives a goofy look and head shake into the camera and says, "No, I'd totally throw you on the ground!" Love it! Crush much, Ann?
What is with Gerry and his love of shiny suits? When in Italy, I guess. Just Jared reports on his visits to the fashion shows in Milan:
Gerard Butler rubs shoulders with designer Donatella Versace backstage at the Versace Summer Fashion Show during Milan Fashion Week 2009 in Italy on Saturday.
The 38-year-old Scottish stud sat front row at the Versace show next to a huge celeb line-up: producer/rapper Jermaine Dupri, his boo Janet Jackson, designer Tom Ford, actor Rupert Everett, Allegra Versace (Donatella’s daughter), Vogue Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Men’s Vogue editor Jay Fielden and actor Dominic Cooper.
Later in the day, Gerard was seen sitting front row next to Anna Wintour at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show (Menswear Spring/Summer 2009). This is Wintour’s inaugural trip to Milan for the men’s shows. Wintour will also make a cameo at a Men’s Vogue event hosted in honor of Gerard.
New movie coming out, and you know what that means! Press tour! For all my James McAvoy fellow fans, I thought I'd give you the heads up on James' scheduled TV appearances this week. Tomorrow, Monday 6/23, James will be on the Today show and The Daily Show. On Friday, 6/27, the day Wanted comes out, he is scheduled to be on Craig Ferguson. Whoo hoo! The two Scots will be a blast.
Fourthgradegladiators have taken this pivotal scene from No Country For Old Men, and re-dubbed Javier Bardem's deep ominous voice for a high-pitched effeminate one. The poor old gas station owner's dumbfounded looks still fit. Hat tip: List of the Day
If you've never seen the original scene, here it is.
Now this is what I'm talking about. The other picture from Game I posted earlier this week left me going meh. Just look at the arms on him! Suh-weet! The plot summary from /Film:
The story takes place “in the not too distant future.” Kabel (Gerard Butler), a death row inmate, has unwittingly become a pop culture hero. Every week, millions worldwide tune in online to watch him and hundreds of other convicts battle in Slayers, an ultra-violent multi-player online game invented by technological genius Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall). To the wealthy young gamer who controls his every move, Kable is just a sim (simulation) character. To the resistance group that opposes Castle’s games as high-tech slavery, he is a critical element in their battle to take down the inventor. Caught in the crosshairs of two opposing forces and under the command of a teenager’s remote device, Kable must use his extraordinary fighting skills to escape the game, bring down Castle and overthrow the system. Game is currently scheduled for a TBA Fall 2008 release.
Cyd Charisse passed away this week at the age of 86. Here are two of my favorite scenes from the movie Band Wagon with Fred Astaire. Damn, but the woman could dance! Rest in peace.
IHT: Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, caught wearing something ugly?
Lagerfeld sports a fluorescent yellow reflective safety vest — along with his signature dark suit and sunglasses — in a new French road safety campaign. The caption reads, "It's yellow, it's ugly, it doesn't go with anything, but it could save your life."
The campaign was launched Wednesday. French drivers will soon be required to keep security vests and flashing red warning triangles in every car. Drivers will have to use the vest and triangle every time they pull over with an emergency, according to France's road security division.
Fines of up to €135 ($209) will go into effect Oct. 1 as incentive for drivers to take Lagerfeld's fashion advice.
You can't always trust the British press, but there's a rumor out that Christian Bale and Russell Crowe might have a repeat of their 3:10 to Yuma matchup in Nottingham.
Christian Bale, soon to be seen as the caped crusader in The Dark Knight, is in talks about donning the jolly Lincoln Green outfit of Robin Hood, where he will be part of a menage a trois between Russell Crowe's Sheriff of Nottingham and Sienna Miller's Maid Marian.
Nothing is signed for Bale, but director Ridley Scott is exceedingly keen to cast him.
Costume fittings begin next week, so he'll be either in or out by then. Vanessa Redgrave and William Hurt are also in discussions about being in the film, which is called Nottingham.
Please, God, let this rumor be true. Bale and Crowe were amazing playing against each other in 3:10 to Yuma!
J. J. Abrams presented a NY Times article to Paramount studio execs, and five days later had developed a deal to produce Mystery on Fifth Avenue.
The Times feature, which ran Thursday and was written by reporter Penelope Green, describes an Upper East Side luxury apartment on Fifth Avenue that the occupants had redesigned to include hidden compartments, messages, puzzles, poems, codes and games for their four preteen kids.
The parents, Steven Klinsky and Maureen Sherry, are Wall Street financial experts and purchased the 4,200-square-foot, 1920s co-op with views of Central Park in 2003 for $8.5 million. Soon after, they hired young architectural designer Eric Clough, who devised an elaborately clever "scavenger hunt" built into the apartment that involved dozens of historical figures, a fictional book and a soundtrack. (Many of the secrets were included without the parents' knowledge, either.)
I agree with Ain't It Cool. It looks like it will be fun to see Liam Neeson kick some ass when his daughter's been kidnapped.
I do like the idea of a kidnapping drama in which a father refuses to fork over his daughter's ransom because he can kick ass like nobody's business. I don't imagine that approach boasts a huge success rate, but it's a helluva lot more exciting than going on the local news and offering $2 million for the head of Gary Sinise.
Last Oscars, the songs category had three songs nominated for one film. "Enchanted" had the songs: "Happy Working Song," "So Close" and "That's How You Know."- a feat that may never be repeated. The winner of best original song was "Falling Slowly," from "Once."
The number of original songs that can be nominated from a single movie will now be limited to two, according to a rule change by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The academy's governors approved the change late Tuesday.
"Dreamgirls" also had three songs that were nominated. That year, the Oscar went to "I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth."
After recent protests by some Oscar voters, the current two screenings of the eligible song clips (held in New York and Los Angeles) will be supplemented by DVDs of those clips, which will be made available to music-branch members unable to attend the screenings.
I haven't seen a movie savaged like the reviews for Love Guru in some time. Mike Myers has a reputation for being difficult, and one wonders if this movie is truly this awful, or there is a little bit of payback here.
The character of Pitka is enough for a recurring "Saturday Night Live" sketch, if the episodes were typical "SNL" sketch length. But we're talking 15 or 20 minutes of decent material. The movie runs a little longer than that.
"The Love Guru" is so relentlessly juvenile as to merit a new twist on the PG-13 rating -- one that strongly cautions not only those under 13 but anyone much above it, too.
And just in case you think it's only high-brow critics who hate it, here is what Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool has to say:
Unfuckingbelievably unspeakably awful. THE LOVE GURU is astonishingly rancid. There's a part of me, that wants THE LOVE GURU to make like 75 Million opening weekend. Why? So that the entire - giant film going audience marks Mike Myers' death as a comedian.
Reviews of this film are nearly universally grotesquely negative - and with good reason. With this film, Myers puts a shotgun in the mouth of comedy and kills it. This isn't merely a bad film, but a painful experience that you keep telling yourself to leave. However, I have a very strong belief in witnessing the terror. People had to survive the Holocaust to hold those responsible, responsible. This film isn't as bad as the Holocaust. Nothing could be. But in the realm of film going experiences - it's a third trimester abortion. It is a pregnant woman smoking a cigarette and drinking a Coors Light.
Well, alrighty then. Guess I won't be running out to see it this weekend!
My brother works for the company that created this Gogo service. He just sent me this review by Walt Mosberg, the Personal Technology columnist for the WSJ. The last bastion of off-grid freedom may be over. Full article here
How did I not hear about this project before? Yesterday, it was announced that Sienna Miller (Alfie) had signed on to play Maid Marion in Ridley Scott's upcoming Nottingham. Russell Crowe had already been slated to play not Robin Hood, but in a rethinking of the legend, the good Sheriff of Nottingham. The film will have a love triangle not between Robin Hood, Maid Marion and King John, but with the Sheriff of Nottingham. I've been digging for a little more on the story and found this quote from producer Brian Grazer:
‘Nottingham’ is the ‘Gladiator’ version of Robin Hood,” super-producer Brian Grazer told MTV News about the upcoming twisted tale from the “American Gangster” tag team. “I think it will have the same propulsion that ‘Gladiator’ had - the same adrenaline hits.”
Told from the Sheriff’s point of view, the new movie centers around a familiar - yet very different - set of characters, director Ridley Scott said, revealing that his story begins when a legend first walks into history.
“Richard the Lionheart is on his return from the Crusades [when] he took an arrow in his neck and died,” Scott said of the flick’s set-up. “His brother, John, [becomes king.]”
John, known in his own life as John Lackland (because as the youngest son he didn’t get any inheritance) “was actually pretty smart,” Scott insisted. “[But] he got a bad rap because he introduced taxation. So he’s the bad guy in this.”
Meanwhile, “You’ve got the returning Nottingham who is the right hand man of Richard and witnesses Richard taking the arrow,” Scott revealed. “And so he comes back to England to carry forward Richard’s dream about England.”
The Sheriff, then, strives to do right while caught in the middle of two wrongs – on one side a corrupt and unpopular King who orders him to arrest outlaws, on the other the outlaw himself who threatens to rouse the public in popular anarchy.
Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe have been powerful partners before in films like Gladiator and American Gangster. Not so much in The Good Year, but it looked like they had fun in France drinking wine! Fingers crossed that Nottingham is one of their better film partnerships.
Yippee!!! The Variety reviewer loves Wanted and everyone's performance in it!
"Wanted" devilishly ups the ante to a new level in adapting violent graphic comics to the bigscreen. By confidently grafting nastily creative, high-tech new ways to kill people onto traditional dramatic themes involving professional assassins and family revenge, Kazakhstan-born Timur Bekmambetov assures himself the distinction of becoming the first modern director to emerge from Russia to carve a high profile in Hollywood. Relentless, in-your-face action and a classy cast led by a beefed-up James McAvoy and a heavily tatted Angelina Jolie combine to promise powerful B.O. prospects worldwide for Universal.
And about James McAvoy:
The diminutive McAvoy might have seemed an unexpected choice for this sort of kickass role, but the always inventive thesp proves he's got a bit of Russell Crowe in him as he brandishes an impressive amount of muscle, grit and anger. He may be one of those rare actors who can do just about anything.
This film is written by Diane English of Murphy Brown fame, and stars an amazing cast. It's a remake of the George Kukor film from 1939 and has taken English a tortuous 15 years to get to the screen. Even though the film was only made for $16.5 million, it is slated currently for only a limited release on September 12. Why isn't the studio capitalizing more on the wave of Sex and the City? Nikki Finke thinks it's because Warner Bros is run by a woman-hater:
Jeff Robinov (who keeps maintaining he was just joking when he said he didn't want to make any more motion pictures with women as the leads) recently screened The Women and didn't like it. "It's not Sex In The City. It's just not that kind of movie," a studio insider insisted to me. Puh-leeze, who indeed wants a low-budget $16.5 million chick flick written, directed and produced by one of the biz's greatest women's comedy writers of seminal Murphy Brown fame... That stars quality "name" actress like Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Bette Midler, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Debi Mazur, Joanna Gleason, Carrie Fisher, Lynn Whitfield and Cloris Leachman... That reworks the original so it takes place in the broadcasting world and an ashram-like retreat where Meg plays a fashion designer and wife and mother, Eva the skanky mistress, and Annette the deliciously two-faced BFF and so on...
I think this film looks like fun, and what a cast!
Andrew Sullivan tipped me off to this incredible series of portraits by Sam Taylor-Wood, all showing Men of Hollywood crying. There are several more portraits here. He said some men started crying before he had his camera ready, and some found it very difficult.
I just started crying watching this. Tim Russert must be so proud of his son, Luke. I can't believe he held it together doing a wonderful 15 minute interview with Matt Lauer, since I couldn't watching it. Tim Russert's memorial service will be tomorrow and televised on MSNBC from the Kennedy Center.
This is the first picture out on the internets of Gerry in Game. It doesn't look like a nice press still to me. Meh. Call me unimpressed till we see some good pics. I'm still looking forward to the film!
From List of the Day Blog: These are actual English subtitles from movies made in Hong Kong, and this list is probably one of the funniest things I've read in a while.
1. I am damn unsatisfied to be killed in this way.
2. Fatty, you with your thick face have hurt my instep.
3. A normal person wouldn't steal pituitaries.
4. Take my advice, or I'll spank you without pants.
5. Who gave you the nerve to get killed here?
6. Quiet or I'll blow your throat up.
7. You always use violence. I should've ordered glutinous rice chicken.
8. I'll fire aimlessly if you don't come out!
9. I have been scared shitless too much lately.
10. I got knife scars more than the number of your leg's hair!
11. Beware! Your bones are going to be disconnected.
12. The bullets inside are very hot. Why do I feel so cold?
13. This will be of fine service for you, you bag of the scum. I am sure you will not mind that I remove your manhoods and leave them out on the dessert flour for your aunts to eat.
14. Yah-hah, evil spider woman! I have captured you by the short rabbits and can now deliver you violently to your gynecologist for a thorough extermination.
15. Greetings, large black person. Let us not forget to form a team up together and go into the country to inflict the pain of our karate feets on some ass of the giant lizard person.
"Because all other countries are inferior to us. And we should start as many wars as we need to keep it that way." "Because women just can't be trusted to make decisions about their own bodies. Never, ever, ever." "I just don't feel I deserve health insurance."
One of my favorite YouTubers is HappySlip. She makes very inventive videos where she plays all the members of her Phillipino family. She has been collaborating with another famous YouTuber, KevJumba, a high school kid who is one of the top watched comedians on the site. Here's their latest collaboration:
My brother just introduced me to this very cool online book swap.
We are a group of readers who share books with each other (NOT just paperbacks) for nothing more than the cost of postage! You can learn more about this exciting site by flipping through our PaperBackSwap book.
I just joined today, and have mailed out four of my paperbacks. You just pay the postage to send the books, and then you get a credit that you can use to have someone else mail you a book you want. I have stacks of books to get rid of, and I like that they'll be going to someone who really wants them. I spend so much on Amazon, this could really save me some bucks!
OMG Witchiepoo!!IESB.net reports on two more possible Krofft movies after Land of the Lost:
Sid and Marty Krofft bringing back H.R. Pufnstuf and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters to the big screen.
The IESB was able to speak with legendary television producers Sid and Marty Krofft who revealed a few of their classic kid's television shows will next be seen in your local theater. One of their most popular series is currently getting the big screen treatment, Land of the Lost is currently in production starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel.
When asked which, if any, of their other classic TV properties is in line, Marty Krofft said, "We are working on it, we are close on Pufnstuf and Sigmund." When asked what studio he was working with, Krofft could only say that he was days from finalizing with a particular studio.
I saw EVERY episode of both! To refresh your memory:
Irony Goes Viral WENN: A comedy sketch that aired during the MTV Movie Awards in which Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. talk about making a viral video for their upcoming Tropic Thunder movie was pulled off YouTube after it became a viral video itself. According to several tech websites, YouTube removed the video after receiving a "takedown notice" from Viacom, MTV's parent. The takedown was originally reported by the website BeyondMadisonAvenue.com, which commented that it appeared to be "the epitome of irony. A viral video about virals not being allowed to go viral." Viacom, which has sued YouTube for $1 billion alleging copyright infringement, apparently has not demanded that the video be withdrawn from other video websites, including FunnyOrDie.com (which is where I found it!)
Former Dr. Who star Christopher Eccleston is set to travel back in time again as aviator Amelia Earhart's final co-pilot.
The British actor will play opposite Hilary Swank, Ewan McGregor and Richard Gere in forthcoming biopic Amelia.
He'll portray Earhart's navigator Fred Noonan, who was with the famous aviator when she disappeared over the Pacific while attempting to circumnavigate the globe in 1937.
I adored Eccleston as Dr. Who, and I've been hoping to see him on the big screen. Swank I think will be perfect as Amelia Earhart. Coolio!
Who knew? Andrew Sullivan pointed me to this fascinating article about the history of vibrators in The TimesOnline:
“People never expect that the Science Museum has over 40 examples of vibrators,” says Katie Maggs, its assistant curator of medicine. Indeed. The product leaflets of these machines claimed they cured not just hysteria but also deafness, polio and impotence. No doubt dropped arches, halitosis and dandruff were in there somewhere, too. These machines were advertised everywhere. Good Housekeeping ran a “tried and tested” on vibrators in 1909, claiming they brought a glow to the face.
Great article in the TimesOnline about the upcoming Mamma Mia! I didn't recognize that Stellan Skarsgard of Beowulf is in Mamma Mia!!
Reports from early test screenings are universally positive - the audiences who have seen it at a secret showing in San Diego came out raving about the transfer of the musical to the big screen.
The surprise?
That Meryl Streep, at 58, is athletic, has a big voice - clear, true and strong - and delivers the goods on Abba's classics without a trace of embarrassment. It is, obviously, her first musical, and the deep thinkers in Hollywood are amazed by the way she is apparently happy to demolish her reputation as a serious-minded Oscar-winning grande dame.
And yet Streep, who is known for her hard-to-live-with perfectionism and love of tricky bits of acting technique and odd accents, emerges from this film as a woman who is accomplished at physical comedy and actually funny when the occasion demands.
'Meryl is very good - it's a revelation,' says one who has seen the film, in which she plays Donna, the mother of a bride-to-be who is confronted by three potential fathers on the eve of her nuptials.
It transpires that Streep saw the stage show in New York with her daughter as a birthday treat and wrote a fan letter to the producers afterwards.
When it came to casting the movie, the letter was remembered and she was approached. They called and said: "You probably won't be interested, but…"
I said: "Are you crazy? I would love to do this." It was a done deal,' said Streep.
There seems to have been a little on-set rivalry and tension between the men - not to mention anxiety - about how they were doing so far out of their usual leading-man comfort zones. It's a long way from playing Darcy to belting out Dancing Queen.
Brosnan, who, of course, played James Bond, was discomfited to be filming musical numbers at Pinewood directly after Daniel Craig's Casino Royale wrapped.
'I looked in the mirror and there was 007, and he was getting ready to expose himself to possible ridicule. 'One of my fears was that I'd be strutting across the carpark in sequined tights and I would bump into Daniel looking very Bond-like. It never happened, I'm pleased to say, but it was a recurring nightmare.'
Firth, though, seems to be the most embarrassed of all of them by the undignified performance he has given.
Firth said his singing voice was 'somewhere between a drunken apology and a plumbing problem'.
He added that the scene in which the three men appear in Lycra catsuits was particularly mortifying.
'There are bulges where there should not be bulges and no bulges where you wish there were.'
But still, being a hero has its perks. And this is McAvoy’s other confession. Yes, in the line of duty, he has had to kiss Angelina Jolie.
“It’s the only physical contact we have in the entire film other than when she beats me up – which she does a lot.”
Puckering up with the most famous lips in Hollywood was, he insists with a hint of a sigh, “Just another day, and the same old shit as usual. ‘Oh God, I hope she doesn’t think I’m getting off on this and I hope she doesn’t think I’m trying to… whatever.’ And she’s doing the same. So it’s always weird. Always strange, never nice.”
And here's something I hadn't heard before about his family:
James McAvoy was raised in one of Glasgow’s nominally rougher housing estates. After his parents (mum a psychiatric nurse, dad a roofer) split when he was seven, McAvoy and his sister went to live with their grandparents. For all the seeming unusualness of this domestic situation, he’s told me of the stable and loving environment provided by his hard-working grandparents. They kept him on a tight leash until he was 15, at which point, after hearing a talk by actor-director David Hayman at his school, he began to explore the idea of being an actor. Bit parts in Hayman’s The Near Room, First World War drama Regeneration and (on his first trip to London) The Bill led to a place at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. In 2000 he moved to London and pretty much hasn’t stopped working since.
He remains close to his grandparents and his mum, often lauding them for their support. But his background has offered negative lessons too: after he received the Rising Star Award at the 2006 Baftas, his estranged dad popped up in the papers, selling his story and – much to McAvoy’s revulsion – photos of the actor as a boy. McAvoy hadn’t spoken to him in some 12 years. “I can’t really be bothered with it,” he said afterwards of his dad’s tabloid-mediated offer of an olive branch. “If I was less secure in myself, I might be more interested. But I know what made me, I know why I am the way I am.”
I am unbelievably choked up about this shocking news. I am a political junkie and I just loved the relish with which Tim Russert covered the political game. When he said "We now have a Democratic nominee," weeks ago, it carried such weight. Washington will never be the same, and I can't even imagine who will try to fill his shoes at Meet the Press. He was only 58 and died on the job of a massive heart attack at the Washington bureau, after returning from a vacation to Italy with his wife and his son Luke, who had just graduated from college. My prayers are with his family, and his whole extended family at NBC and in Washington.
Matt Damon walks to the set of his new movie, The Informant, in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The film, directed by Steven Soderbergh, stars Damon as Mark Whitacre.
Sarah Silverman, still feel the same way about Matt? LOL
I love movies and the Oscars are my Super Bowl. I am also a news and political junkie. This blog is eclectic, as I come across all sort of interesting things as I web surf. I post news about upcoming films and my own movie reviews.
