“We’re not trying to tell people how to think, were just bringing up a factual piece and raising a debate.”
– George Clooney
Back in 2002 film superstar George Clooney surprised a good chunk of the world with his directorial debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Now he’s generating major Oscar buzz for his latest effort, Good Night, and Good Luck.
The film chronicles the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow, Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee, starring David Strathairn as Murrow and Clooney himself as Fred Friendly, Murrow’s producer.
This film has major resonance with Clooney since his father Nick Clooney was a TV newscaster for many years and often invited George into the studios at the age of five.
“In those movies my job is to seduce the audience into the movie and into some kind of empathy and understanding for the characters.”
– David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg is the brilliant auteur behind such films as The Fly, Naked Lunch, Crash and Spider. His latest film, A History of Violence, may finally be the one that takes him to the Academy Awards. Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke it stars Viggo Mortensen as a pillar of a small town community who runs a diner and lives a happy and quiet life with his wife [Maria Bello] and two children. Their lives are forever changed when Mortensen thwarts an attempted robbery and is lauded as a hero by the media, attracting the attention of some mobsters (Ed Harris) who believe he is someone else.
“I read everything, which is unfortunate because it’s probably corrosive to my brain and to my spirit. If you spend all day ready screenplays, something happens that’s profound and regrettable. Sometimes I want to do something that they don’t want me to; they’d rather have somebody who means more at the box office. My taste is without category. I don’t judge a script because it’s coming from a studio. I read it openly, hoping that there will be something in there galvanizing for me.”
– Holly Hunter
Nine Lives is a fascinating movie broken up into nine scenes that seem unrelated at first but as you continue to watch you will find that they are all connected sometimes by certain characters and always by themes of isolation and regret. Writer/director Rodrigo García makes it even more powerful by shooting each of these scenes all in one take. This is Holly Hunter’s second collaboration with Rodrigo García after the film Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her.
The Avengers is just over a week away, and the last batch of promotional material has hit. A new scene from the movie was released, as well as a behind the scenes video. Director Joss Whedon gave more insight to the movie and why you should see it during an interview with some collegiate newspapers this past week.
During an MTV interview with Samuel L. Jackson, the actor described his vision of a S.H.I.E.L.D movie. His casting leaves out Agent Coulson which has again given rise to the rumor that he will die in The Avengers, and even possibly be recreated as Vision. Whedon previously went as far to say they would change his background so he was created by Tony Stark. Could Coulson become Vision? Could Vision be Marvel’s secret unnamed movie for 2013? Guess we have to wait till May 4 to know for sure.
The Dark Knight Rises has been all but forgotten in the wake of excitement for The Avengers. Now, they plan to capitalize on that by releasing their trailer before The Avengers. Christopher Nolan is really pushing the IMAX release with over an hour of IMAX footage. A ‘reliable source’ at Cosmic Booknews who saw the first showing says it is better than The Dark Knight. In a similar vein, Tom Hardy recently compared Bane to the Joker to show why he was worthy to come after the Clown Prince.
While the superhero movies are fighting it out for the summer box office crown, Peter Jackson is using The Hobbit to advance film production everywhere. Jackson has shot the first half of The Hobbit: An Enexpected Journey at 48 fps (frames per second). Current industry standard is 24 fps. Because Hobbit is looking to be such a major movie event, many theaters will be forced to upgrade their equipment to show the film. This paves the way for other filmmakers, who will be able to shoot movies at 48 fps without fear of the theatres not having the equipment to show them.
Before Watchmen will hit comic stands everywhere in June. You don’t have to wait till then to get an idea of what’s in store however. Twenty-one illustrations and concept art pieces were leaked this past week. The leaked images include costume designs for most of the characters, including some you wouldn’t expect like Hooded Justice. There are also a few full page sketches.
Premiering on April 27th on EPIX is With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story. Just before its release, a sneak peek was let out to show fans what’s in store. The documentary covers the life of comic book legend, Generalissimo Stan Lee.
New photos have landed on the Ender’s Game production blog. The pics now include: Ender’s room, the neck implants, and a simulator. The Ender’s Game movie is scheduled for release in November 2013.
Would you like a new Star Trek series? Well whether you get one is apparently up to J.J. Abrams. The creator of Pushing Daisies, Brain Fuller, was really gung-ho about pitching the idea. Now Fuller says that if a Star Trek series were to happen, it would be after the next movie and Abrams would be in command. J.J. Abrams has apparently become ‘the guardian of Trek’ and nothing will happen without his input.
“When I started in the 1970s I was only into music recorded before 1935. So I was a freak. I’m closer to some weird film/music nerd than like some punk or Goth.”
– Danny Elfman
When one talks about the greats in movie music composing the name Danny Elfman invariably comes up. His collaborations with Sam Raimi, Gus Van Sant and the creation of The Simpsons unmistakable theme song have made his name synonymous with great works.
However, it’s his collaborations with visionary director Tim Burton that has brought him his most acclaim. From his starring role in The Nightmare Before Christmas to his Oscar nominated score for Big Fish, their names have been eternally linked.
Now they have collaborated again on the score and original songs for Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. Not only did Elfman create a wonderful and romantic score but he wrote and sang one of the best songs in the film, “Remains of the Day,” as the skeleton man Bonejangles.
“Don’t come near me with a knife!”
– Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley is one of the hottest actors in Hollywood. Her most popular roles haven’t given her much of a chance to prove her talent. When the latest film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice is released, Knightley in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, is going to surprise everyone who saw her as an action star in Pirates of the Caribbean and King Arthur.
“I feel like for some of the girls that I’m their voice.”
– Evan Rachel Wood
At the young age of 18 Evan Rachel Wood already has a resume most actors would die for. Since her breakout role in the movie Thirteen she’s worked with James Woods, Cate Blanchett and Vanessa Redgrave.
Her latest role is the evil and manipulative Kimberly Joyce in the Heathers-like Pretty Persuasion. Kimberley will stop at nothing to become famous. She convinces her two best friends to join her in a sex scandal campaign against their befuddled teacher, Mr. Anderson. She entangles the entire Beverly Hills community in her carefully woven web of seduction and deceit.
