Adrienne Shelly

I've been perusing the long list of interesting-looking movies scheduled for this year's Tribeca Film Festival, which starts this week. Some of them, like Serious Moonlight, are starting to earn some buzz, and I'm anxious to find out what festivalgoers think once they've screened.

This movie looks interesting but no matter what happens, I'll always have bittersweet associations with it. Serious Moonlight will mark Cheryl Hines's directorial debut, and she worked with a screenplay written by the late Adrienne Shelly who was tragically murdered just before her movie Waitress opened in theaters. So while I'm obviously looking forward to more material from the wonderful Shelly, it's also another reminder of her untimely death.

But back to why this movie looks so good. First, the cast: Kristen Bell, Meg Ryan, Justin Long, and Timothy Hutton? Yes, please! Then there's the movie's description:

After she arrives at her country home for a romantic weekend getaway, things don't go exactly as planned for high-powered Manhattan lawyer Louise (Meg Ryan): Her husband of 13 years, Ian (Timothy Hutton), tells her he's leaving her for a younger woman (Kristen Bell). Soon Ian finds himself held captive by an oddly cool Louise, who explains that she won't release him until he commits to working on their marriage.

I love the idea of a movie about a woman kidnapping her cheating husband. What say you? Interested in learning more about this one?

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• The Big Bang Theory has been renewed for two seasons and Two and a Half Men for three. — TV.com
• Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will direct a film adaptation of Gayle Forman's upcoming novel, If I Stay, for Summit Entertainment. — Zap2It
• Elle Macpherson is returning to acting with a recurring role on CW's drama pilot Beautiful Life. — The Hollywood Reporter
• Universal has picked up a romantic-comedy script titled Merman about a merman who comes to land so he can win back his mermaid fiancee, who has left him for a real man. — Variety
• The widower of the late Adrienne Shelly (writer-director of Waitress) will develop and produce The Morgan Story, a screenplay for a family drama that Shelly left behind. — AP
• In Treatment will return to HBO on April 5. — Zap2it
• Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones will join Ben Affleck in the dramatic movie The Company Men. — ComingSoon
• Lily Collins, daughter of Phil, will guest-star on 90210 at the end of the season. — The Hollywood Reporter
• Justin Long will star in the romantic-comedy Going the Distance, which will be directed by American Teen director Nanette Burstein. — ComingSoon
• Mary J. Blige has signed on to star alongside Taraji P. Henson in I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Tyler Perry's upcoming film. — Variety

Photos courtesy of CBS

• According to ComingSoon, the Star Trek movie has been pushed from December of 2008 to May 8, 2009.
• Gossip Girl is back April 21, and Reaper also gets more episodes this spring; more details on the CW's returning shows are at The Futon Critic.
• Rashida Jones will join Paul Rudd in the romantic comedy I Love You, Man, writes Variety.
• The man who admitted to murdering Waitress writer/actress/director Adrienne Shelly has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, the Associated Press reports.
• Hollywood Reporter has news that the indie romantic comedy Baby on Board has just added six new cast members, including Heather Graham, Lara Flynn Boyle and 90210's Ian Ziering.
• NBC has renewed Chuck and Life for the Fall, while CBS has renewed 11 of its series, Zap2it reports.
• According to Hollywood Reporter, William Faulkner's 1948 suspense novel Intruder in the Dust will be adapted for film once again.
• Variety reports that Ellen Page and Cillian Murphy will star together in the psychological thriller Peacock.
• The video game Guitar Hero is releasing an Aerosmith-focused edition, Billboard writes.
• And finally: There might be a reality show about the obscure Olympic sport of curling, USA Today reports (scroll down to the third item).

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This news has tugged on the ol' heartstrings today: Cheryl Hines has signed on to direct the last screenplay Adrienne Shelly created before her tragic death last year. Shelly wrote, directed and starred in last year's wonderful romantic comedy Waitress, but she was murdered before the film was released. Hines also starred in Waitress alongside Keri Russell.

The movie, Serious Moonlight, is described as a dark comedy that "centers on a high-powered female attorney who learns that her husband is about to leave her for another woman, then prevents him from doing so by binding him to the toilet with duct tape. The wife's plan becomes complicated when the couple's home is besieged by robbers."

Hines, who many know from her role as Larry David's wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm, said, "I feel a great sense of pride to be directing this film. I had such respect for Adrienne and the work she did. And I love her writing so much. That tone is really in my wheelhouse."

Aside from enjoying her use of the word "wheelhouse," I absolutely love Cheryl Hines, as much or more than I loved Waitress (which was a lot), so I can't wait to see what she does with Shelly's material. We need more female-helmed comedies like these!

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise. From industry executives (like United Artists bigwig Paula Wagner) to household names (like Angelina Jolie), the list spotlights some strong, smart, intriguing ladies. For the next few Wednesdays I'll focus on some of the women who I find particularly noteworthy as well.

Listed under the "Filmmakers" category, Adrienne Shelly was the driving force behind the funny, heartwarming romantic comedy Waitress, which I loved. Not only writing and directing it, Shelly also played the role of Dawn, who ultimately finds love with an unusual man. As Dawn, Shelly's adorable, goofy and endearing, sensitive, cute and honest. On-screen she's completely lovable. Off-screen, she created one of my favorite films of 2007 so far. To find out why, and more about Adrienne Shelly, read more

Happy Mother's Day, Buzz readers! For all you mothers, enjoy your day! And for all you daughters, have fun pampering the moms and mother figures in your lives.

This week I had some special posts in honor of this holiday:

• If you're hankering to see a wonderful girl movie with your mom, check out The Waitress with Keri Russell, and today at participating theaters you can get a free pie and other goodies at Waitress screenings!
• Who are your favorite mother-daughter teams on TV?
• Let's also celebrate all those mother figures from TV and movies who take care of children that are not biologically their own.
• This week's Movie Night features three movies with strong, amazing moms.

Still looking for a special way to celebrate Mom this Sunday? Fox Searchlight, the studio behind the clever, funny film Waitress, has cooked up something very cool. On Sunday, 100 theaters around the country will sponsor special screenings of Waitress and offer bags of goodies, including a pre-baked Sara Lee pie, to everyone who attends.

Check the list of theaters here, and if it's playing in your area, you can invite your mom — or favorite mother-figure — with an e-card right from the site.

I love this idea. Waitress is a a lovely "female film" — not "chick flick," please — and just the right way to celebrate the loving, powerful women in your life.

Not long ago, the New York Times published an article wondering why Hollywood is "short on female power," stating that while there are some "female films" out there, it's still a "boys market." Agreeing with half the article (the "boys market" part), Cinematical writer Monika Bartyzel responded specifically to a female producer's comment bemoaning the fact that there aren't as many Devil Wears Pradas or The Break Ups thusly: "Maybe that's because women are more than flipping crazy ex-girlfriends or girls starving their already-thin frame to fit into the latest fashions? Could it be, perchance, that women want films that give them more credit?"

I wholeheartedly agree with Bartyzel's indignance, and, happily, I think movies like Waitress could be the kind of "female films" we need: films that are funny, creative and not too "floofy" (to borrow Bartyzel's term). To see what I mean, read more

Way back around Sundance time I told you about Waitress, a sweet little indie film about love and pie. It stars Keri Russell as diner waitress Jenna who bakes pies and gives them endearing names. Unhappily married, she tries to come to terms with her new-found pregnancy when a new man comes to town, turning her little ol' life upside down.

Waitress was directed by Adrienne Shelly who died tragically last November when she was murdered by a 19-year-old construction worker. Thus, the fact that Waitress is being applauded by critics is bittersweet — Shelly would have been so pleased. In her honor, Shelly's husband Andy Ostroy started The Adrienne Shelly Foundation which benefits female filmmakers. The movie opens in select cities this Wednesday May 2. Check out my review later this week, and for now you can watch the trailer if you read more