 The latest high-profile film to debut at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival is Inside Llewyn Davis by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, a movie I know many around these parts are greatly looking forward to. I’m more lukewarm on the Coen Brothers overall, but this one is of interest to me. The first wave of Tweets have come in, and most of the movie-goers at Cannes are pleased with what they’ve seen. After the jump you can see some of the initial reactions, and again thanks to Matt Singer of Criticwire. Take a look below.
Read more on ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ Captivates the crowd at Cannes!…
 This is the type of news that more likely than not is based only somewhat in fact (charitably), but word has recently been going around that the folks behind the James Bond franchise have been talking to Christopher Nolan about him taking over from Sam Mendes to direct the 24th Bond flick. The intriguing thing is, Nolan apparently is listening and has some level of interest. More likely than not, this won’t wind up happening, but can you imagine if it did? Skyfall was a Bond film that definitely had more than a bit of The Dark Knight influencing it, so imagine a movie that was full on of that ilk and by the helmer of that franchise himself? It could turn out to be rather epic. After the jump you can find out a bit more, but for now at least this is just a really cool rumor.
Read more on Is Christopher Nolan Considering James Bond?…
David Mamet’s Blackbird will be a present-day conspiracy thriller that dives into the mystery behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. In what sounds like a sequel to Argo, Cate Blanchett has been signed to star as Janet, a Hollywood visual effects artist who also happened to do work for special ops agencies. After her grandfather dies, she apparently uncovers secrets that might solve the puzzle behind the Kennedy assassination. Blackbird is being produced by SBS Productions who will handle worldwide sales for the film.
Read more on David Mamet’s JFK Assassination Thriller ‘Blackbird’ Adds Cate Blanchett…
 The adaptation of fairy tale musical Into the Woods is ramping up towards it’s fall production with a ton of casting announcements coming our way. Earlier this week it was announced that Chris Pine, reaching the ubiquitous phase of his career, was in talks to join the film as one of the Princes, along with Jake Gyllenhaal. Emily Blunt and Christine Baranski have also joined the previously announced cast of Meryl Streep as the Witch and Johnny Depp as the Wolf. Read more on Pine, Gyllenhaal, Blunt and Baranski heading ‘Into the Woods’…
 After delighting audiences and critics with his Oscar-winning drama A Separation (2011), Asghar Farhadi’s follow-up film The Past with Tahar Rahim and Berenice Bejo were on the top of many anticipated lists for the year. As the film just played at the Cannes Film Festival, reactions started pouring in with very positive notices.
Judging by the initial reactions, Farhadi might find himself in Screenplay contention once more with possibilities for Picture, Director, and even Actress for Berenice Bejo, the Oscar-nominated actress from Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist (2011). The 41-year-old director (can you believe he’s only 41?) was nominated for Original Screenplay and won Foreign Language Film despite a poorly placed US release that many found problems with. Many believe, a Best Picture contender, the film could have been.
I’m intrigued.
Here are some Twitter Reactions:
Read more on Positive Reactions Pour in for Asghar Farhadi’s ‘The Past’ from Cannes Film Festival…
 Not sure how some are going to take this but the Weinstein Company has just announced production on the sequel to Oscar-winning hit, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). The film is called Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II – The Green Destiny and Michelle Yeoh will reprise her role as Yu Shu Lien. Ang Lee will not be returning to direct however and the baton will passed over to Yuen Wo Ping, who was a choreographer on Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004). Also joining the cast will be Donnie Yen, who will be playing Silent Wolf.
The full press release is down below. Read more on Production Starts on Sequel to ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’…
 Much like last year, since there’s no official Awards Circuit presence over at the Cannes Film Festival, I plan to bring you the initial reactions to some of the high profile movies making their debuts. First up we have Sofia Coppola’s latest film The Bling Ring, which stars Emma Watson and features in its cast folks like Kirsten Dunst, Leslie Mann, and more. So far, it’s opened to a mixed bag of initial reactions on Twitter (along with a few officially posted reviews). You can find a sample of those quick responses after the jump (Thanks to Matt Singer at Criticwire for finding these for his initial report), but stay tuned for much more on The Bling Ring…
Read more on Twitter Reactions Erupt for Sofia Coppola’s ‘The Bling Ring’ From Cannes!…
Summit Entertainment has released a new still for their highly anticipated new film, Divergent. The Descendants’ Shailene Woodley stars in this futuristic, dystopian tale in which she leaves her people to join a rival group. The film is based on the popular young adult novel by Veronica Roth. After the jump, have a look at an image from a point in the story when Tris (Woodley) begins her initiation into the Dauntless faction. Divergent also stars Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, and Maggie Q, and has a March 21, 2014 release date.
Read more on New Image From Summit Entertainment’s ‘Divergent’ Starring Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet…
 Stuart Beattle’s upcoming horror/thriller I, Frankenstein was announced as being pushed back to 2014 this past April. The film, that stars Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, and Mirando Otto, has just released the poster for your viewing pleasure. From the producers of Underworld, the film is based on the comics by Kevin Grevioux, which he co-adapts with Stuart Beattle.
Check out the full poster down below. The film opens January 14, 2014. Read more on First Official Lenticular Debut for ‘I, Frankenstein’…
 Fans of Paul Thomas Anderson have another reason to smile today, as besides the fact that his next film Inherent Vice is getting pre-production going, the collectible art company Mondo, has announced a special series they’re doing on all of Anderson’s films. From Hard Eight all the way to There Will Be Blood (one can only assume they’ll be one done for The Master at some point in the future), they’re all pretty sensational and will be available to own this week. Take a look at the press release and links to the images after the jump. I’d imagine some of you will be putting in orders ASAP (or starting to save up, as one of them is rather expensive), and I don’t blame you one bit. I have the one for Boogie Nights here in the post for you to see as a sample, and they’re all just as interesting as this one.
Read more on Mondo Announces a Special Poster Series on Paul Thomas Anderson!…
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse is adapting Rosalie Ham’s novel, The Dressmaker, for Embankment Films and has signed Academy Award winner Kate Winslet on to star as Tilly, a woman who returns to her hometown after being accused of murder to make amends with her mother. Productions is to begin this fall, and you can read a little more about Winslet’s role after the jump.
Read more on Kate Winslet to Star in Jocelyn Moorhouse’s ‘The Dressmaker’…
 Only days after the official trailer premiered, Lee Daniels’ upcoming film The Butler with Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey has shifted its release date according to Deadline.
The film was originally scheduled to drop October 18 and has now been moved to August 16. Does this mean the Weinstein Company has lost faith in their potential Oscar vehicle or was it a strategic move to get their film noticed sooner? Who knows? There was a mixed reaction to the trailer from critics and viewers so perhaps it was damage control on their part. Read more on The Weinstein Company Moves ‘The Butler’ to August 16!…
Categories: News Tags: Cuba Gooding Jr., forest whitaker, James Marsden, Jane Fonda, John Cusack, Lee Daniels, Liev Schreiber, mariah carey, melissa leo, news, Oprah Winfrey, Release date, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, The Butler, the weinstein company, vanessa redgrave
 With no shortage of films to decide between, besides the ones that were being offered and he turned down, Ben Affleck is in a pretty enviable position. Not only is he courted for nearly every big project out there, especially from Warner Brothers, but he can more or less decide to make whatever he wants. Well, he’s decided on what movie is next for him, and it’s going to be another adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel. It’s called Live By Night and pre production has officially begun. It’s another collaboration with WB, so I’m sure they’re getting their awards campaign going as I write this. After the jump you can learn a little more about the book, but I know I’m definitely looking forward to this one.
Read more on Ben Affleck Decides on ‘Live By Night’ for his Next Directorial Project!…
 A film that is already on Oscar’s radar before it even opens is Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station starring Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer. Terence gave positive feedback about the film out of the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. While the buzz is high for the film’s chances during awards season, this is one of many films the Weinstein Company has on their plate in 2013. Other notable acquired films include August: Osage County, which had a trailer released recently, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, and the Grace Kelly biopic, Grace of Monaco with Nicole Kidman. The film won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award back in January.
The first trailer has dropped exclusively from Yahoo! and it features what is sure to be a tension filled film full of emotion. Displayed prominently in the trailer is the talented and beautiful Melonie Diaz, an actress that garnered my attention in Dito Montiel’s classic film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006). Michael B. Jordan, best known for his performance as Steve Montgomery in Chronicle (2012) has taken the lion’s share of citations from critics that have seen it. If he is as good as many say he is, perhaps the summer release will give him enough time to gain momentum until the Oscar nominations. Very early to tell but if I had a guess, I think he may result in the same manner of Derek Luke when he wowed critics, quietly I might add, for his performance in Phillip Noyce’s Catch a Fire (2006). Nevertheless, I’m on board for the film and can’t wait to see it.
The film opens July 16th. Read more on ‘Fruitvale Station’ Trailer Shows a Promising Michael B. Jordan for Oscar Consideration!…
 Ladies and gentleman, the first business deal of the Cannes Film Festival had gone down, and it doesn’t even involve a film playing at Cannes! Yes, Warner Brothers has stepped up and acquired the writing and directing debut of one Ryan Gosling. The film is called How To Catch a Monster and interestingly enough is still shooting, so the WB must really like what they’re seeing so far. I’m a huge Gosling fan as we all know, so this is very pleasing to me. After the jump you can see what we know about the movie so far, but my guess is this could be one of the studio’s 2014 releases, unless it winds up being a late 2013 awards player. We’ll know more as the festival and year itself progresses.
Read more on Warner Bros. Acquires Ryan Gosling’s Directorial Debut ‘How To Catch a Monster’…
 August: Osage County is one of the most anticipated films of the Oscar season given it’s ensemble cast led by Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts and award winning pedigree (it won the Tony and the Pulitzer Prize). Today on GMA, the Weinstein Company debuted the trailer giving everyone the first look at the material since the test screening held in March. The trailer, while establishing all of the main players, is a more subtle affair, choosing to not play up the acidic wit of Lett’s writing or the really big confrontations, although you do get a glimpse of the dinner scene. Check it out after the jump!
Read more on Watch the first trailer for Weinstein Oscar contender ‘August: Osage County’…
Categories: News, Trailer Tags: Abagail Breslin, August: Osage County, benedict cumberbatch, Chris Cooper, Dermont Mulroney, Ewan McGregor, John Wells, Julia Roberts, Julianne Nicholson, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Meryl Streep, Misty Upham, news, Oscar hopeful, Sam Shepard, the weinstein company, Tracy Letts, trailer
We have some exciting new concept art and first look footage from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new film, Big Hero 6, due out in 2014. Big Hero 6 will be an action/comedy animated feature about Hiro Hamada, a brilliant robotics prodigy who gets involved in a criminal plot that might destroy the high-tech city of San Fransokyo. Hiro must then join forces with a makeshift group of crime fighters to save their city. The film is inspired by the Marvel comic of the same name and is slated to hit theaters November 7, 2014. Have a look at the footage and stills after the jump.
Read more on First Image from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2014 Feature ‘Big Hero 6′…
Along with its previously announced program of indie films, the Los Angeles Film Festival has just added special screenings of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and Pixar’s summer feature of Monsters University. The highly anticipated, potential summer blockbusters continue LA Film Fest’s tradition of mixing high-profile movies with more independent films.
Read more on LA Film Fest Adds ‘Man of Steel,’ ‘Monsters University’ to Lineup…
As we reported a couple weeks ago, Richard Madden – who plays the King of the North Robb Stark on HBO’s Game of Thrones - has officially been cast as the Prince Charming opposite Lily James in Disney’s upcoming live action version of Cinderella. Cate Blanchett will play the evil stepmother with Kenneth Branagh directing. How do you feel about the film’s casting so far?
Read more on Richard Madden from ‘Game of Thrones’ to be Prince Charming in Disney’s Live-Action Cinderella…
 Terence and I were speaking about big-time musicals that are in need of the movie musical treatment. Especially since the announcement of “Guys and Dolls” becoming a new film, I remain less than satisfied that they went that route first. “Pippin,” which has just been nominated for 10 Tony Awards, is a lavish and beautiful show that is finally moving forward with Writer James Ponsoldt that has just signed on to write the adaptation. I was a part of the show during my college years and I’m very excited to see it on the big screen. Ponsoldt wrote and directed last year’s indie-hit Smashed (2012) with Mary Elizabeth Winstead. This year, he will release The Spectacular Now with Shailene Woodley which has already generated raves out of the Sundance Film Festival.
No director or lead has signed on yet but this throwing my two sense in, Baz Luhrmann would have been perfect for this given the musical’s artistic nature. After mixed reviews coming in for The Great Gatsby, not to sure if he’s in the running anymore. Hopefully they won’t choose anyone too predictable like Bill Condon or Rob Marshall. Now too old, Ewan McGregor would have had his winning performance of his career as Pippin, now, I’m not sure who could fit into it.
Hopefully this means they’re ready to move forward on other big-time musicals like “Damn Yankees!” or “Miss Saigon” which Lee Daniels owns the rights to and is rumored to be moving forward with American Idol Season 11 Runner-Up Jessica Sanchez. Nothing has been confirmed yet.
Check out the full press release down below.
Read more on James Ponsoldt to Adapt ‘Pippin’ for the Weinstein Company!…
 CBS Films recently announced that the newest Coen Brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis, would have a December 6 release date, right in the heart of awards season (after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival). This bodes well for those (including myself) who have the film in their Best Picture predictions, as well as the film’s overall Oscar chances (especially in the Original Screenplay field). The film – both written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen – is set in 1960s Greenwich Village at the height of the folk music era that brought us great music from legends like Bob Dylan and Neil Young. The cast includes Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, and F. Murray Abraham. Have a look at a few new images from the film after the jump. This is one I can’t be more excited about!
Read more on New Images from the Coen Brothers’ New Film ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’…
The 14th annual Golden Trailer Awards - which honor excellence in film marketing - were presented this weekend. Disney walked away the big winner of the affair – hosted by Rob Schneider and Aisha Tyler - with films like Iron Man 3, Wreck-It Ralph, Brave, Monsters University, and The Avengers all taking home awards. Have a look at the full list of winners after the jump.
Read more on Disney Prevails at the 2013 Golden Trailer Awards…
 For the first time in nearly a decade (and honestly one of the rather rare times for his career on the whole) Steven Spielberg will be directing a film that’s not predominantly a period piece. Yes, for his next outing in the director’s chair, the Beard has opted to make the biopic of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, known as the most lethal sniper in United States military history. Scribe Jason Hall is adapting Kyle’s autobiography American Sniper, and as if Spielberg directing isn’t enough, he’s got Bradley Cooper in the lead role as well! Cooper actually picked up the rights to this book at one point, so it’s clearly a passion project for him, and now could be a future awards contender as well. After the jump you can see a little more about the book, but I’m very eager to see Cooper work with Spielberg and how the filmmaker chooses to bring this particular story to the big screen. They were competitors of sorts last season, but a team up could lead to even more awards glory for both. If it’s as good as I think it might be, then it could really turn out to be a winner. Read on below for more…
Read more on Steven Spielberg’s next movie will be ‘American Sniper’ with Bradley Cooper!…
 Lost a bit in the announcement by the Academy that they’re opening up voting to full membership for the Best Documentary Short and Best Foreign Language Feature categories (a welcome change for the former that I hope one day applies to Features as well, and an iffier one for the latter) is a nugget about the rules for Best Picture. Essentially, the status quo is remaining, so those of you hoping to go back to five nominees (or the minority who want a mandatory ten back in place like I do) are out of luck for now. Honestly, I’m happy that they’re not making a change for the sake of change. The way they vote has some issues, but the number of films that get nominated isn’t the issue. This kind of tinkering has become more and more common, and while nothing here is going to change a whole lot, I’m not upset with anything that Oscar decided on. Read on below for more…
Read more on Academy Keeps Current Rules for Best Picture!…
|
