Cinecast: Soderbergh to Direct a Play, Shia Isn't Famous, Ebert Doc
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Columbia Pictures, FOCUS, IFC Films, Lionsgate, Action, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Distribution, Filmmaking, New Releases, Trailers, Upcoming Releases,
+ Ocean's Eleven director Steven Soderbergh is set to make his debut as a theater director for an off-Broadway play starring Chloe Moretz. Titled The Library, the play - which was penned by Side Effects writer Scott Z. Burns - centers on the subject of gun violence.
+ Staying true to his previous Twitter announcement about retiring, Shia LaBeouf has now exclaimed on the social networking site that he's no longer famous.
+ The upcoming Roger Ebert documentary, Life Itself, is set to debut at Sundance this Sunday.
+ Filming Fifty Shades of Grey continues in Vancouver as new photos of Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan on set have been released.
+ You might hate her on American Horror Story, but the new trailer for Adult World might make you fall for Emma Roberts, who plays an aspiring poet trying to "cut the umbilical cord" by getting a job at an adult bookstore.
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Shia LaBeouf Took Acid for 'Countryman' Role
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Action, Romance, Comedy, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases,
Shia LaBeouf took hallucinogenic drugs to understand his role in The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman.
The 26-year-old actor portrays Charlie Countryman in the hard-hitting movie which sees his character get embroiled with criminal gang while trying to be with the girl of his dreams Gabi Banyai (Evan Rachel Wood). In one scene Charlie is high on acid - otherwise known as LSD - and he was so worried about being able to accurately portray the experience he experimented with the illegal high.
When asked by MTV News if he took acid to get in the right headspace for the movie, Shia replied, "Just 'cause I'm scared. I've never done acid before." Shia made the decision to take the drug after sending tapes of his attempts to convey his character while high to Evan and taking her criticisms on board.
"I remember sending Evan tapes ... trying to conjure this and sending tapes and Evan being like, 'Yeah, that's good, but that's not, but this is, but that ain't.' Not like she's the expert on set. I'm just saying you reach out to friends and you sort of gauge where you're at. So I was sending tapes around. I'd get 50 per cents from people, and that starts creeping me out, and I got really nervous," he explained.
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Cinecast: Brittany Murphy's Final Film Finished, Anne Cries Over Catwoman
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Biopics, Drama, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Distribution, Scripts, Upcoming Releases,
+ Three years following Brittany Murphy's death, the actress' final film, Something Wicked, is complete. An independent thriller directed by Darin Scott, the movie currently seeks a distributor.
+ When asked whether or not she would bring Catwoman back to the big screen, Anne Hathaway was ecstatic about the thought. She also cried at a press conference over talking about the idea of saying goodbye to the catsuit.
+ Judd Apatow becomes the third guest editor for Vanity Fair - appropriately for their first Comedy Issue. The three covers for the magazine - which comes out in December - feature a number of Apatow's regular actors, including his wife Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Kristin Wiig, and Will Ferrell.
+ Matt Damon has confirmed that he has been cast in George Clooney's latest directorial effort, The Monuments of Men.
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Quote of the Day: Paul Rudd on Celebrity Status
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Weinstein Company, Comedy, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,
"Someone set up an appointment for a groomer today! I had a grooming before I came over here, which means I got makeup and hair. It took about five minutes -- I probably needed more -- but I've never had that at Sundance...I feel like I was in a dog show. Like, grooming?"
-- Actor Paul Rudd, who was at Sundance promoting his latest film My Idiot Brother, comments on the perks of being a bigger star.
(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)
Read More | E!
First Look: KStew and Dakota Rock Out in The Runaways
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Biopics, Drama, Independent, Music, Period, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Trailers, Upcoming Releases, Videos,
We've seen Kristen Stewart get into character as Joan Jett for the biopic The Runaways—now we actually get to see her flex those vocal chords in the teaser trailer for the film.
The atypical coming-of-age story focuses on Joan Jett's relationship with band mate Cherie Currie, played by Stewart's New Moon co-star Dakota Fanning. While there is no release date as of yet, the movie is expected to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Are you buying Stewart's and Fanning's portrayals of the teenage rockers?
Read More | Hollywood Crush
Getting Into Character: Kristen Stewart Strips Down
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Drama, Independent, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,
While her
co-star Robert Pattinson is starring in another star-crossed love story called Remember Me, Kristen Stewart is stripping down opposite James Gandolfini in Welcome to the Rileys.
While the paparazzi managed to snap up some pictures of her on set a few months ago, images of a considerably less-clothed KStew have been released (more after the jump). Stewart plays the role of Mallory, a 16 year-old stripper who gets caught in the middle of one man's (Gandolfini) personal journey to recovering from the death of his daughter.
The independent drama is scheduled to debut at the Sundance Film Festival this January. No word yet as to a theatrical release date.
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Read More | MTV
Sundance Films Available for Free
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Independent,
For most of us, getting tickets to Sundance screenings is just as hard as getting access to Barack Obama's inauguration. Fortunately, we can set aside the Uggs and watch several of this year's films from the comfort of our warm homes.
Late last week, a list of entries from the 2009 festival were made available as free downloads. The ten short films - "representing a variety of countries, styles, genres, and stories" - can all be accessed through iTunes.
Act quick! The titles will only be offered through January 25th.
Read More | MTV Movies
Gregg, Rockwell, and Huston Bring Choke to Silver Screen
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: 20th Century Fox, Adaptation, Independent, Romance, Satire, Comedy, Casting, New Releases, Scripts,
What do you get when you mix an elderly, female Tyler Durden with a choking con artist and a recovering compulsive masturbator? Clark Gregg's dark, vulgar comedy with a surprisingly big heart, Choke.
Being a fan of the novel from which the film is based (written by Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk), I was overwhelmed with geeky fan-girl joy when I read that Choke was to be translated into film. That was three years ago. After nearly waiting an excruciating year after hearing about its premiere at Sundance, the indie film with an all-star cast helmed by writer/director/actor Clark Gregg is finally hitting theaters this weekend, and it certainly will not disappoint movie-goers. That is, unless, the trailer fooled you into believing that the film is a romantic comedy.
Romantic? In a punk rock way. Comedic? Most definitely. Chick flick? Far from.
Regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the novel, Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) wonderfully brings Victor Mancini to life as the med school drop-out sex addict who pays for his mother's hospital bill by choking in restaurants. Anjelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums) and Kelly MacDonald (No Country for Old Men) round off the supporting actresses as Mancini's mother and the new, attractive doctor who assumes care for her. Clark himself makes an appearance as High Lord Charlie, Mancini's anal-retentive boss at a colonial theme park, where Mancini works as a historical interpreter (a job, as we're reminded in the film, which is not to be confused with a tour guide).
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Palahniuk's Film Choke Finally Set to Release in August
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Classics, Independent, Political, Romance, Comedy, Awards, Celeb News, Distribution, Filmmaking, Scripts, Upcoming Releases,
Both film and book nerds alike have been watching cult author Chuck Palahniuk's every move since Fight Club was released in theaters. While all of his novels are fully capable of becoming both marketable and move theater-friendly, his fourth novel, Choke, has finally seen the light of day past the production floor. With Fox Searchlight having bought the film for $5 million and it winning a Best Ensemble Cast jury award at Sundance, the Choke crew and Palahniuk fans everywhere cannot be more ecstatic about the film's release date of August 1, 2008.
Although the film is Clark Gregg's directorial debut, he has certainly been no stranger to the industry nor the project, having gone through numerous obstacles to get his adaptation onto the big screen. His script is so good that even Palahniuk himself has done nothing but award it praise. With Palahniuk's seal of approval and a lead cast including Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, and Kelly Macdonald, nothing can go wrong, right?
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Chuck Palahniuk's Official Site
DVD REVIEW: God Grew Tired Of Us
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Documentary, DVD Reviews,
Every once in a while you are fortunate enough to watch a movie that really shakes you to your core. Afterwards, you feel compelled to grab any and everyone you see to tell them about it. I had that experience just last week—and since then, my friends have had to bear the brunt of my enthusiasm.
Earlier this year, I caught a Nightline piece about the film, God Grew Tired of Us. This documentary about the 'Lost Boys of Sudan' was having it's Los Angeles premiere. But the road to completion required a lot of celebrity assistance along the way. Actor Dermot Mulroney sought Brad Pitt's help when his director friend (Christopher Quinn) was running low on funds. Pitt provided financial assistance and took on an executive producer role. Nicole Kidman also contributed as narrator after being asked by actress Catherine Keener.
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Read More | Nightline