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Movie News: Penn, Fiennes, Swinton, "Thor," and More

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:30:16 -0700

There's a lot happening in the film world today! So much so that some of the more intriguing projects are making up one whole post. Check out the film buzz in Tinseltown today . . .

What's Wrong With Virginia: One of Dustin Lance Black's next projects after winning the Oscar for penning the Milk screenplay will be directing Liam Neeson and Jennifer Connelly in What's Wrong With Virginia, which Black also wrote. In the film, "Connelly will play the charming but psychologically disturbed mother of a 16-year-old son. Her 20-year clandestine love with a sheriff (Neeson), who is running for the state senate, is tested when her son begins a relationship with his daughter."

This Must Be the Place: Speaking of Milk, Oscar-winner Sean Penn is in talks to star in Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino's first English-language feature film, This Must Be the Place. If finalized, Penn will play "a wealthy rock star who becomes bored in his retirement and takes on the quest of finding his father's executioner, an ex-Nazi war criminal who is a refugee in the US."

For news about Thor, a Shakespeare adaptation, more emotional dramas and an "embarrassing" comedy, read more.

Thor: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth (pictured, top left) is in talks to play Thor in Marvel Studios' feature film adaptation of the character. Set to open May 20, 2011 and directed by Kenneth Branagh, the story follows the Norse god of thunder as he "develops a protective affinity for humans after his father Odin banishes him to Earth, in order to teach him a lesson in humility. From then on, he's often seen wielding his massive hammer and fighting alongside the Avengers (comprised of Iron Man, the Hulk and Captain America)."

Coriolanus: The wonderful Ralph Fiennes will make his directorial debut with an adaptation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, "a study of the way power corrupts, set in the early years of the Roman Republic." Fiennes will play the lead role and he is now joined in the cast by William Hurt, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jessica Chastain.

After the Wedding: Sound familiar? Danish director Susanna Bier's drama is getting an English-language remake with Tom Wilkinson and Camilla Belle now attached to star. The movie follows "an expatriate social worker who runs a Mumbai orphanage on a tight budget and receives a mysterious multimillion-dollar donation from a Western businessman." The director of the remake, Michael Caton-Jones, says, "It's a simple yet terrifically emotional story that asks us deep questions about our lives, families, and responsibilities."

We Need to Talk About Kevin: Yet another Oscar-winner, Tilda Swinton, is lining up a new project. Based on the novel by Lionel Shriver, this movie will tell the story of "a smart, educated New York mother who does her best to raise a son she never wanted in the first place. He turns out to be extremely difficult and is at the center of the woman's marital breakdown before going on a killing spree at his high school with a crossbow."

Terms of Embarrassment: Now this one sounds funny. Written by (and possibly starring) Rita Wilson, the comedy "revolves around a middle-aged couple who wind up attending the same college as their son."

Source

Sam Mendes' "Relationship Comedy" Gets A Title - And Allison Janney!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:35:53 -0700

Update: As of Dec. 9, this movie is officially titled Away We Go.

This project already had so much going for it: Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) directing, a script by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida, John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph playing the lead characters and Toni Collette recently cast in a supporting role. Now, the previously untitled "relationship comedy" has gotten a title - and Allison Janney!

In the tentatively titled This Must Be the Place, Janney will play "a loud, brassy, decidedly un-PC woman who admittedly has a few screws loose. She reunites with a former employee in Phoenix, where the expectant mother/employee (Rudolph) begins a tour of the country with her husband (Krasinski) to find the best place to raise their child."

Now, while I still can't wait for Mendes' adaptation of Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, I'm also insanely curious to see how he does with this comedic material and phenomenal cast. Also in Janney's future is a role in an Eddie Murphy movie A Thousand Words in which she'll play Murphy's boss, "a savvy, money-grubbing head of a literary agency."

Source

Buzz In: What Are Your Hopes For the Mad Men Season Finale?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:30:26 -0800

Tonight, the third season of Mad Men wraps up, and there couldn't be more characters and plotlines on a precipice. Last week, Betty told Don she doesn't love him anymore and got a marriage proposal from Henry, and Pete was looking close to leaving Sterling Cooper. The season has also been building up other situations that may come to a head tonight, such as Joan and Roger's relationship, Salvatore's unjustified firing, and the casting aside of Don's latest mistress, Suzanne, who seems to me to be a bit unstable.

There's rarely a happy ending on this show, but for some reason, I'd still really like to see Don fight for Betty; now that she knows he was Dick Whitman, they could have a chance to start over in a more honest place. In the meantime, I hope they resolve the Sal plot and bring him back - he has to come back! As does the show's resident bombshell, Joan Holloway, whom I predict must be returning to either the office - or to Roger's arms. These are my hopes for the season finale tonight; what are yours?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Melrose Place Getting a Makeover - Ashlee Simpson Is Out!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:30:39 -0700

Just two months after Melrose Place's debut comes the news that the producers are looking to make over the low-rated series - which means that both Ashlee Simpson and Colin Egglesfield are out.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, executive producers Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin reveal that Simpson was always supposed to leave after episode 12. Quiet-but-psycho Violet and recovering alcoholic Auggie will depart with the Sydney murder mystery (which must mean that one of them is definitely the murderer, right?) in January. The hope is to make the show lighter and more fun after the homicide is wrapped up, and though they're losing two characters, several new ones will show up, including Heather Locklear's Amanda Woodward and a new doctor in the complex.

What do you think of this news? Had Violet and Auggie outstayed their welcome at 4616 Melrose Ave.? Do you think these improvements can save the show?

Photo courtesy of The CW

The Boys Are Back: A Quiet Film With a Few Heart-Tugs

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:30:26 -0700

Has Clive Owen - a man who's best known for playing con artists, spies, and other brooding alpha males - gone soft? It appears so, and he's surprisingly good at it. In The Boys Are Back Owen plays Joe Warr, a recently widowed sports reporter raising two boys in the Australian wilderness. And thanks to his understated performance, what could've been an overwrought tearjerker worthy of a made-for-cable movie turns into something quietly moving.

Based on the memoir The Boys Are Back in Town by Simon Carr, the film opens with Joe driving on the beach with his son Artie. Did I mention Artie is sitting on the hood of the car with Joe at the wheel?! Parental guidelines haven't been a priority in the Warr household ever since Joe's wife passed away from cancer. Now, he has to explain her death to Artie, while his older son Harry from his first marriage moves into the house. Left to their own devices, the two boys play soccer in the hallway, zip line across the yard, and even defrost a chicken in the bathtub.

Typical parenting? Not so much. For more on the film, read more.

These moments of chaos are fun to watch and add levity to the heavier subject matter, but the movie really shines in the conversations that Joe has with his sons as he helps them grieve - Artie for his mother; Harry for a childhood void of a father. Neither boy really knows how to mourn his loss, but then again, neither does Joe. Instead, he relies on the parental guidance of his deceased wife in the form of visions and voice-overs to help rebuild his family. (This felt very heavy-handed to me, but luckily it was really the only part of the film that crossed over into overly contrived.)

Does it seem out of place to have man's man Owen pillow fight with a 6-year-old and shed tears? A bit. But because he almost seems uncomfortable with the sentimentality, he ends up playing the role with the light touch needed for the part.

The young actors who play his sons are brilliant, even at times stealing the spotlight right out from underneath him. (Not an easy feat when you act - and look - like Owen.) Their performances feel very real despite their ages, and they give us some of the film's most tender moments.

I also must mention the fourth character of the film: the Australian landscape. Oscar-winning director Scott Hicks (Shine) beautifully captures the countryside from sweeping fields to oceanside beaches strewn with rocks, and when paired with music by Icelandic group Sigur Ros, every frame feels almost like a sleepy dream.

All in all, The Boys Are Back is a nicely done portrait of the relationships between fathers and sons. It's not out to be a huge blockbuster, but if you appreciate a good character study kind of film, it's a solid choice for a subdued Saturday afternoon.

Photos courtesy of Miramax Films

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:30:44 -0700

I unveiled my Scariest Movie Bracket! Vote for the scariest movie of all time and you could win a collection of freaky flicks.
I kept tabs on the ladies of Mad Men and told you where they'll be appearing next.
Jessica Alba and Leonardo DiCaprio scored new movie roles, while Matt LeBlanc made plans for his next TV show where he'll play himself.
Rachel Bilson may very well be "the mother" on HIMYM!
Buzz Battle! BuzzSugar editors debated whether or not Kristin Cavallari makes a good lead for The Hills.
The wedding bells are getting louder! I gave you a video sneak peek of Jim and Pam's wedding on The Office.
A Stephen King story is being made into a TV series, so I made a list of my favorite Stephen King adaptations.
Huh? It was announced that James Franco is going to appear on General Hospital, and the world collectively scratched their heads.
The beotch is back: We got to see Heather Locklear on the set of Melrose Place, filming scenes as Amanda Woodward.
The Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev chatted about True Blood, Twilight, and her own vamp show.
I hooked you up with my October Must Haves, including movies, music, and TV coming out this month.

House Rundown, "Epic Fail"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:30:16 -0700

While last week's episode of House was an awesome look at the inner workings of House the man, it was nice to get back to the medical drama that we know and love, even if it wasn't quite business as usual. It's interesting to see what happened while House was away, and it's also fun to see how House was coping with being away.

Did you watch? What did you think? Let's discuss some of the key moments (spoilers ahead!) when you read more.

Was anyone else thrown off by the video game starting? For a few seconds I thought my TiVo had recorded the wrong show. I must admit though, I loved the ridiculous gaming scenes, especially when they come back later with our fave doctors as characters.
What did you think of Foreman as boss? Do you think he has the chops to run the department? It didn't surprise me that he jumps at the chance, although I hated how he suddenly doesn't want to listen to Thirteen.
While we're on the subject of Foreman and Thirteen, can I just say that I find their pairing totally forced? Were you surprised when he fires her at the end? I literally yelled at my TV when he did. Wouldn't you break up with him if you were in her place?
Speaking of Thirteen, did you catch her Jeremy Piven mercury poisoning joke? If not, then as she said, go Google it. Or just read about it here
What did you think of Wilson and House's cooking class brodate? It was hands-down my favorite moment of the evening. I just love their old married couple dynamic. Also, what about all the food House is making? I'm going to have to get my gal YumSugar to whip me up some of that ragu.
I know I just said that the brodate was my favorite moment, but how can I not mention the scene with Cuddy in the kitchen? I loved it when the random Chinese lady tells Cuddy to kiss him or get out.
I was glad to see that Dr. Nolan is still on the show. I find him to be such a calming presence in the rest of chaos, and hope we get to see these therapy sessions for a little while longer.
Did you love the twist at the end? I knew that there's no way they could the department without House. Although when Foreman had the breakthrough over pruned fingers, I wondered if it was possible to solve a medical mystery without an epiphany.

Well folks, what did you think? I thought it was a strong return for the show, and I can't wait for next week's episode. How long will House stay clean? And I wonder how long the old gang (Cameron, Chase, and Foreman) will be around. Especially since we know that Jennifer Morrison is leaving the show. I also wonder if Thirteen and Taub will show up again. Something tells me they will, but then again, the writers have proven to be great at throwing us off, so we'll all just have to tune in and find out.

Photo courtesy of Fox