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Sofia Coppola Sets Next Movie in Legendary Hollywood Hot Spot

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:00:58 -0700

I can't believe it's been nearly three years since Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette came out, and I'm happy to learn she's getting back to making movies - this time set in the present day at a famed hotel.

Titled Somewhere, her next movie centers on "a bad-boy actor stumbling through a life of excess at the Chateau Marmont. With an unexpected visit from his 11-year-old daughter, he is forced to reexamine his life."

Stephen Dorff will play the actor and Elle Fanning will play his daughter. I'm a little surprised by the Dorff casting because one of the last things I remember seeing him in was in a Britney Spears video. Landing the lead in a Sofia Coppola movie is a big deal and might signal a Mickey Rourke-like comeback for Dorff. He's also set to appear in the much anticipated Public Enemies.

I'm also intrigued by the Chateau Marmont setting because there is so much Hollywood lore associated with the place. Despite how glamorous it looks on the outside, it's also a symbol of the dark side of fame. John Belushi tragically died of a drug overdose there, it's where Lindsay Lohan took refuge after her 2007 arrest for drunk driving, and it's where Jim Morrison of The Doors suffered major injuries after dangling from a drain pipe (he was trying to jump off the balcony of the hotel). Definitely a good spot to explore Hollywood excess, that's for sure.

What do you think of this casting? Do you like the idea of a new Coppola movie set in the Chateau Marmont?

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Movie Preview: Phoebe in Wonderland

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:30:57 -0700

One of my saddest moments at Sundance this year was not being able to get into a screening of Phoebe in Wonderland, which looks like a darkly whimsical, adorably bizarre film all about the incredible imagination of a little girl. The girl at the heart of it is Phoebe (played by Elle Fanning), who is talented, gifted, and obsessed with a powerful fantasy life. She has trouble with her rule-filled world, and finds relief and inspiration in her quirky teacher (Patricia Clarkson). Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman play Phoebe's frustrated parents.

We already got a tiny taste of the movie, which opens in limited release Sept. 12, and this new trailer for it makes me a little weepy (perhaps it's the use of both "Everybody Hurts" by REM and "Imagine"). To see it for yourself, read more.

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Dakota Fears Head Shave, Drops Out of My Sister's Keeper

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:28:31 -0800

Stop the presses! The Fanning sisters - yes, both Dakota and Elle - have dropped out of the film adaptation of Jodi Picoult's novel My Sister's Keeper. Now Abigail Breslin will play the role of Anna (previously given to Elle), the girl who sues her parents for medical emancipation. Sofia Vassilieva is in talks to take Dakota's role of Kate, Anna's sick older sister.

According to Variety, "Sources said Dakota Fanning balked at a request that she shave her head for the role and both sisters withdrew abruptly."

Hooray for Abigail Breslin! There was some uneasiness about the Fannings playing these sisters in the first place, and now, well, Dakota can keep her hair and we can see Breslin take this role and run with it. This project, which is dear to many hearts due to the sentimental subject matter, deserves good casting choices.

Now all we need is someone to replace Cameron Diaz as the girls' mother. Who would you choose for that role?

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Behind the Scenes at Sundance: The Photobooth, Take 2

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:30:44 -0800

With my time at Sundance nearing its end, I figured I would check back in with the photobooth to see which new stars had stopped by for their festival portraits. Not surprisingly, what I found was a whole new bucket full of cute.

Luke Wilson, Adrianna Barraza, and Radha Mitchell from Henry Poole is Here, which I was lucky enough to see, finally took their turn at the photobooth, as did Mischa Barton, who's here for Assassination of a High School President. Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, and Elle Fanning melted my heart with their shots for Phoebe in Wonderland - I mean, they got Elle a box to stand on! And then there are Matthew Perry and Lauren Graham, hamming it up as they promote Birds of America.

Want to check out the gorgeous, quirky, vibrant shots for yourself? Just read more.

View 35 Photos ›

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Sundance Spotlight: Phoebe in Wonderland

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:30:00 -0800

I am so thrilled to go to Sundance this year, and I can't wait to see as many movies as possible while I'm out there! For the next few days I'll be highlighting some of the films I'm most curious to see. Today's spotlight: Phoebe in Wonderland.

Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, and Patricia Clarkson come together in Phoebe in Wonderland, what looks like a tender childhood drama all about that period of time during one's youth when it's painful to accept that the real world is, sadly, nothing like a fairy tale. The plot description states, "Confounded by her clashes with the rule-obsessed world around her, Phoebe (Fanning) seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher (Clarkson), even as her brilliant but anguished mother (Huffman) looks to Phoebe herself for inspiration."

You can check out a scene from Phoebe in Wonderland in which this brilliant/anguished mother has a heart-to-heart with her daughter if you read more.

Bauer-Griffin

My Sister's Keeper Gets Fanninged - Twice

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:25:25 -0700

Well, for all of you who were none too pleased by the casting choice of Cameron Diaz in the film adaptation of My Sister's Keeper, this news may not help: Elle and Dakota Fanning have been cast to play the two sisters in the film.

Elle Fanning will play Anna, the girl who sues her parents for medical emancipation, while Dakota will take on the role of Anna's sick older sister Kate. Cameron Diaz is playing their mother. According to Variety, "The girls are younger than they were in [Jodi] Picoult's novel, but a decision was made to cast them younger because it was age-appropriate for Diaz."

Oh, Nick Cassavetes. What are you doing?!

Fans of the book, what do you think of this news?

Fanning photos source

Elle Fanning, Nathan Lane to Star in The Nutcracker

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 14:10:04 -0700

In yet more movie news of the weird, Variety is reporting that Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" will be turned into a "$65 million fantasy musical," and will star Elle Fanning, Nathan Lane and John Turturro. The article continues:

Titled "Nutcracker - The Untold Story," the movie is based on the fairy story that inspired the ballet. Tim Rice is contributing lyrics to eight new songs using Tchaikovsky's scores, from "The Nutcracker" itself and from his concertos and symphonies.

Lane gifts the Nutcracker doll to Fanning in 1920s Vienna and Turturro plays the evil Mouse King. Kevin Phipps, art director of "Troy" and "V for Vendetta," is supervising the visuals and the sets.

The article also states that the movie is privately funded because the filmmakers assumed distributors would be wary of a script that is dependent upon so much CGI. So, it could be awesome because there is no giant distributor breathing down their necks and they have free reign, or it could just be weird. I'm envisioning something like the Narnia Chronicles, though I hope that's not how it turns out. Do you think this "Nutcracker" will turn out well?

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