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Reese and Jake's Roman Rendition Reunion

PopSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:15:01 -0700

Reese and Jake were all smiles this weekend at a photocall and premiere of Rendition at the Rome Film Festival. Of course no photos of these two would be complete without a comment about their maybe/maybe not relationship, and naturally they kept us guessing once again. Despite Reese and Jake's good looks and star power, Rendition didn't rake in the dough at the box office this weekend. Hey, maybe Reese and Jake managed to make a romantic getaway out of the trip to make themselves feel better.

Lots more of Reese and Jake showing off their different outfits and funny faces so just read more

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Rendition: Seeing Both Sides of the Coin

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:10:21 -0700

As it happens, Rendition was recently voted the audience favorite (best narrative feature) at the Mill Valley Film Festival. And yet, the movie hasn't exactly been embraced by critics. This is not unusual, and most times when there is a division between audience and critical opinion, I lean toward one side or the other. In this case, however, I can see both sides of the coin.

The film is either a suspenseful, mysterious drama, or it's a pithy, just barely skin-deep examination of a real-life issue that deserves a closer look than Rendition provides. The somber issue at the heart of the story (the U.S. condoning the seizure and torture of suspected terrorists without allowing them their normal legal rights) is either an important and thorny debate that people should know about no matter what, or it's something that is upsettingly trivialized when used like this, as shallow entertainment. The "twist" at the end is either a clever device that works well to make viewers gasp and feel smart, or it's a last-ditch attempt to make a not-great movie more interesting. To see more of what I mean, read more

The story follows the Egyptian-born Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally), who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years, was educated in the U.S. and has a green card. Returning to the U.S. from a business trip to South Africa, Anwar is seized, questioned and ultimately flown to an unidentified country in Northern Africa, where he is brutally tortured for information. Anwar's cell phone is apparently linked to a known terrorist who is suspected in a recent suicide bombing that killed a CIA officer. The torture is overseen by both a young, green analyst Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) as well as a seasoned interrogator Abasi (Igal Naor).

Meanwhile, Anwar's very pregnant wife Isabella (Reese Witherspoon) is growing frantic because of her husband's disappearance and solicits the help of an old flame (Peter Sarsgaard) who works for a senator. He informs her that Anwar was taken in on account of "extraordinary rendition," a U.S. policy by which suspected terrorists can be sent to other countries and tortured without legal consequences. Meryl Streep plays the official who oversees such processes with a callous self-righteousness. Adding to this American political drama is a star-crossed love story between Abasi's daughter and her dangerous lover. All storylines ultimately intersect.

Interestingly, that there are two drastically different ways to view this movie is in keeping with the issue itself. Many folks justify rendition as a way to weed out the bad guys, send a message to their friends and crack down on the few to save the many. The idea is that it "protects America" at the expense of a few bad apples (and some innocent apples that fall through the cracks). Or, rendition is an unfair process, and if you can imagine one of your loved ones being ripped away from you for no apparent reason, tortured and stripped of his rights, it wouldn't seem like such a noble thing. Both sides think they're right. I understand why the filmmakers may have wanted to make this movie. At the same time, I have zero desire to ever see it again, and I'm not quite sure that I would recommend it as a great film. If you're curious, see the movie and decide for yourself.

Photos courtesy of New Line

Reese Rules the Rendition Red Carpet...& Jakey Too

Molly — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:23:42 -0700

As expected (but still unfortunately) Reese and Jake keep their maybe-lationship a question mark, avoiding each other on the red carpet at last night's L.A. Rendition premiere. On the day that her divorce was finalized, she had a subdued Reese smile on her face - but we all know she's tougher than letting anything get to her in public. She kept it predictable and pretty in a little strapless cocktail number while Jake should really really shave that beard soon. Maybe for that upcoming space movie, he needs to be a scruffy astronaut? Rendition doesn't come out for another week, but if that somehow leads to more of these ones on the red carpet, sounds good to me. Maybe, just maybe Reese and Jake are inching closer to one another at these events? Yeah, right.

To see more pictures of everyone at the premiere just read more

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Images include Alan Arkin, Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep, Gavin Hood, Aramis Knight, Omar Metwally and Don Gummer.

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Reese, Jake & Peter's Highs, Lows Of Rendition

Molly — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:00:19 -0700

Reese, Jake and Peter showed off a range of emotions (well, Reese and Jake did at least) at the press conference preceding the Toronto Film Festival premiere of Rendition today. From laugh-y to broody, there were many different feelings going around. It's to be expected when the film at hand is so heavy and all the actors seem so sweet. Naturally Reese looked cute, Jake looked hot and Peter looked handsome - go figure. Now, I just wonder how they'll pose when they walk down the red carpet. Hopefully Maggie is there to support her husband and brother, but...is a couple of Reese and Jake shots asking too much?

To see more of Reese, Jake & Peter sitting around just read more

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Reese Loves Her Rendition Co-Stars, Ryan Not So Much

Molly — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:01:43 -0700

This fall promises a lot of great movies, but one of the ones I'm most excited for is Reese and Jake's Rendition. So I was more than happy to learn that Miss Witherspoon got the honor of gracing the cover of EW's Fall Movie Preview and she looks gorgeous doing it. Definitely check out the video after the jump of Reese during the shoot and talking about making the movie -- she is so cute when she says how honored she was to work with Meryl Streep. I can't wait to see these fabulous actresses together on screen.

As for her other costar and maybe beau, Jake, she stays pretty quiet which is more than can be said for her jerky ex-husband. Apparently he doesn't want Jake around his kids and chose to say this using a "crude Brokeback Mountain remark." Ugh, he just lost about a million hot points in my book. As for Ryan's love life, word is he's back to seeing Abbie Cornish. To see the video of Reese talking about Rendition just read more

In case you missed it, check out the preview for Rendition here.

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 08:00:31 -0700

Exciting news of the week: Sophie Kinsella's novel Confessions of a Shopaholic will be made into a movie.
Speaking of excitement, I got up close to John Krasinski so check out my interview with him. I also recently talked to Rose Byrne and she's cool, too.
Now that you know the differences between the two movies Reservation Road and Revolutionary Road, check out the trailer for Reservation Road.
I'm weighing in on the Emmy nominations all month. This week I mull over the nominations for Supporting Actor in a Comedy and Supporting Actress in a Comedy.
Backstreet's back... um, all right. Take a listen to their new single "Inconsolable" and tell me what you think.
Rumor has it Kristen Bell might guest star on "Lost" next season.
So many trailers, so little time. Check out Reese Witherspoon in the thrilling Rendition, scare yourself with the trailer for Halloween, and then have your heartstrings pulled by The Kite Runner.
There is an album of music from "Flight of the Concords" and you can hear that album online right now.
If you could recast Sixteen Candles, which actors would you choose?

Movie Preview: "Rendition"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:30:39 -0700

Three reasons to be excited about Rendition, Reese Witherspoon's latest film:

The story - a woman (Witherspoon) tries to find out what's happened to her missing husband, who is being tortured at a faraway prison on suspicion of being a terrorist - looks tense and captivating, and I'm always glad to see Reese tackle a dark, serious role.
Director Gavin Hood, who won an Oscar for his 2005 foreign language film Tsotsi, clearly knows his stuff.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Saarsgard also star.

Add in Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin, and Rendition starts to seem like a film to keep an eye on this fall. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters on Oct. 12, but you can watch the trailer now if you read more

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Jake Doesn't Have Super Powers Just Yet

PopSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:39:43 -0700

Jake suited up with some serious shades while working on Rendition in Morocco. Unfortunately, the recent rumors about Jake ditching the business attire for a superhero suit have been put to rest, for now. Screenwriter John August, who is signed on to adapt the Captain Marvel character into a screenplay, has denied that Jake (or anyone) was approached for the role. We're disappointed with this recent development, but our hopes are high that the casting director will keep Jake in mind when the time comes. We can't think of anyone we'd rather see in a cape and tights!

Jake may not be saving the world on the big screen just yet, but as reader Lindsb pointed out, he's one of the growing number of celebs getting involved in saving the environment in real life. Yay, Jake!

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Reese Takes Comfort in Her Uggs

PopSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:01:19 -0800

Clearly Reese is moving right along with her life. She made her first public appearance to honor her idol Dolly Parton last weekend. She even coached Jessica through her flub at the event which is really odd since she supposedly bashed the blonde newlywed at one point. Anyway, while her personal life may be experiencing a hiccup, her career is still going strong. Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin have joined the cast of Rendition, the film that Reese is filming with Jake. Reese seems to be holding together pretty well. Shopping in cozy clothes and Uggs always helps.

More cute pics of Reese running around so read more

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Check This: UK Apologizes for Facilitating US Renditions

LibertySugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:57 -0800

The government of the United Kingdom apologized this week for facilitating two renditions carried out by the United States. A rendition is the covert transportation of a terror suspect to a third-party country or US detention center. The UK's Foreign Secretary apologized to parliament after records revealed that US planes, carrying terror suspects, twice landed in the UK dependent territory of Diego Garcia to refuel, apparently without UK permission.

British leaders in the UK previously denied any involvement, after being assured by the US that UK territory had not been involved. The UK government and opposition have not accused the US of purposefully deceiving the UK.

One of the suspects has been released, while the other is being detained at Guantanamo Bay. CIA Director Mike Hayden insisted that torture was not involved. The Director of Amnesty International UK came out calling rendition "a polite way of talking about kidnapping and secret detention".

Do you think renditions deny suspects international human rights, such as the right to a fair trial, or are they necessary in the war on terror?

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