The Hollywood News

Thandie Newton forgot to act in disaster film 2012

2009-11-13T11:52:57Z

Thandie Newton "forgot" to act in her new movie.

The '2012' actress - who plays the US president's daughter in the big-budget blockbuster - was mainly kept out of the action adventures in the disaster epic, but became overwhelmed during the frantic scenes she was involved in.

She said: "The only really big action scenes I was involved in were two water sequences - one where I'm in a corridor and this huge tidal wave comes bursting down towards us. It was amazing but I forgot to act because gallons of water were rushing down from floor to ceiling towards me.

]]> "The director had to shout 'cut' and all the water went down. I don't even know where it drained to. Then 10 minutes later we did it again and the water comes rushing round the corner, blasting down the set."

Although she enjoyed working on the movie, the 37-year-old star admits it left her drained.

She added to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "On '2012' when I'd finished a scene I'd go back to my trailer and just collapse. There were huge sets, lots of cameras and it was kind of exhausting."

Nicolas Cage just has to act

2009-11-13T10:07:45Z

Nicolas Cage said he acts "out of necessity".

The 'Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans' actor said he is driven to work so hard at his profession because it helps him to "channel" his energy so he doesn't "implode".

The actor - who is presently facing financial difficulties after being handed an unpaid tax bill of $6 million - said of his latest film: "At the time I was doing all this, I was being driven out of necessity, and out of trying to find new ways to express myself, because I had a lot of stuff going on.
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He also compared the 'Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans' with the original film which it draws from, 1992's 'Bad Lieutenant', which starred Harvey Keitel in the role as Terence McDonagh - a corrupt police officer and drug addict who wreaks havoc in his city.

Nicolas added: "The movies stand apart, and they're both originals but for different reasons. To me, the Abel Ferrara movie is much more of kind of a religious program, where Harvey's character's going through all sorts of Catholic guilt. Whereas with this one is he gets existential, and there is no guilt."

James Cameron would work with Kate again, but possibly not Leo

2009-11-13T09:58:51Z

James Cameron would love to work with Kate Winslet again, but isn't sure about Leonardo DiCaprio.

The director - who worked alongside Kate and Leonardo when they played the lead roles in 'Titanic', one of the highest grossing films of all time - said he loved the way 'The Reader' actress worked.

He told Playboy magazine: "I'd certainly work with Kate Winslet again; she's very talented.
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He also revealed he was not particularly interested in making the shipwreck disaster film, and did it largely for the money.

He added: "I made Titanic because I wanted to dive to a shipwreck, not because I particularly wanted to make the movie. 'Titanic' was about 'f**k you' money."

Cameron has recently finished Sci-fi adventure 'Avatar', which is set for release in December.

Harvey Keitel joins Little Fockers

2009-11-13T00:23:09Z

Harvey Keitel has joined the cast of Little Fockers, the third film in the Meet The Parents franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson are returning, along with newcomers Jessica Alba and Laura Dern, so says the trade.

Keitel will play a contractor employed by Stiller's character in the film, which is directed by Paul Weitz and produced by Jane Rosenthal and Jay Roach.
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David Koepp moves to action with Premium Rush

2009-11-12T12:07:03Z

David Koepp, the writer of such films as Mission Impossible and director of other like Ghost Town, which starred Ricky Gervais, will helm Premium Rush, a new big-budget action film over at Columbia Pictures.

Koepp wrote this script too, with collaborator John Kamps.

The film centers on a twentysomething New York City bike messenger who picks up an envelope at Columbia U. A dirty cop is desperate to get his hands on the envelope and chases the bike messenger throughout the city, according to Variety.

Robert Pattinson says Twilight is like a virus

2009-11-12T12:01:18Z

Robert Pattinson says 'Twilight' is like a "virus".

The actor - who plays vampire Edward Cullen in the movie franchise - is amazed at the response he's had from fans around the world to the latest instalment, 'New Moon'.

He said: "We went to Japan earlier on in the year. There wasn't that much of a reaction - but last week when we went again, it suddenly exploded, the same as in England.

"I don't know how, it just explodes so quickly. It takes seven months to take hold - it's like a virus."

]]> The British star has also claimed he works as hard as a "doctor" because acting calls for unsociable hours.

He explained: "I've been working so much this year that it's almost like living in an alternate reality. You're doing doctor hours. Every doctor I've ever spoken to says the same thing, that you have no idea what's going on other than working. You're away from your family and friends, and all that stuff."

Robert, 23, recently admitted he finds it strange being a heartthrob, especially because he receives attention from women of all ages.

He explained: "Recently I've had less direct contact with people because there's way more security and stuff on set. But I always find it funny when older people come up to me. There was a woman the other day who must have been in her 90s! And they say exactly the same things as 12-year-old girls. That is kind of bizarre."

Sam Raimi is auditioning for The Black Cat role in Spider-Man 4

2009-11-12T11:42:28Z

Sam Raimi has reportedly been auditioning female actresses to play The Black Cat in 'Spider Man 4'.

The director has met with actresses Rachel McAdams and Romala Garai, but is still casting the femme fatale role for the female character, who is expected to become a new love interest for Spider Man.

A source told website HeyUGuys.co.uk: "There are a number of actresses currently being considered for the role, but this at least confirms that Hardy is going to be in the film."

]]> The character has reportedly been modified from the original daughter of a cat burglar to be the daughter of the new editor of the Daily Bugle - the paper where Spiderman is a photographer - and the source suggested that he could also be a villain.

Meanwhile Bruce Campbell recently confirmed he will have "a major part" in the next film in the series and claimed it would begin filming in January.

The Blu-Ray Review: Bruno

2009-11-12T11:35:17Z

With 2006's Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen's style of Candid Camera-style comedy reached the mainstream. The film earned $128 million and became something of a cultural phenomenon.

Cohen's problem: the success of the Borat character made a sequel impossible. Much of the film's appeal came from the way that "Borat" interacted with real people. Though clearly some - much? - of it was staged, enough of the movie generated laughs via the mixture of character and reality that a challenge emerged. Cohen couldn't venture into the world as Borat and expect people to believe him anymore. ]]>
Many expected Borat level receipts for Brüno, but they failed to emerge. It ended up with a smidgen under $60 million, but that was a heavily "front-loaded" take; the flick earned more than half its final gross during its opening weekend. Borat did well due to great word of mouth, but Brüno clearly didn't benefit from the same kind of popular support.

Given the film's style, doesn't have much of a plot. After a fashion show disaster, the designers blacklist Brüno and he loses his TV program. Rather than retreat, Brüno heads to America. The movie documents his adventures as he and his assistant's assistant Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten) go to LA so he can try to become a major star.

I suspect I could've simply duplicated my review of Borat and called it a day, as Brüno hews very closely to its predecessors format. It takes on a faux documentary style as it follows Brüno's non-PC adventures. This means plenty of allegedly real-life encounters.

Which again becomes a major distraction - or it could be if you have any actual interest in the material. When I watched Borat, I found it impossible to suspend disbelief because I constantly wondered what was real and what was fake.

That was less of a concern during Brüno because I found myself even less interested in the footage. At least Borat had a novelty factor in its favor, but Brüno feels like little more than a minor reworking of its predecessor. Both use various conceits to get their leads among "real people" - most of whom will be offended by the shenanigans of Brüno/Borat - and they even enjoy similar story arcs and scenes. As in Borat, Brüno finds an excuse to put its lead on his own, and the wrestling scene reminds me an awful lot of the rodeo sequence from Borat.

The déjà vu factor might not be as bothersome if the movie provided laughs. Brüno scores the occasional chuckle, but too much of it just isn't very funny. Cohen has real talent, but here he's too preoccupied with attempts at outrageousness. Cohen goes un-PC just for its own sake, and the gags lack bite.

Oh, I suppose that some will argue that Brüno makes a point about society. In particular, it picks on homophobic tendencies. Of course, it does so in the easiest way possible. Rather than attempt to expose homophobia in less likely quarters, it focuses on anti-gay sentiment among religious fanatics and rednecks.

Does it shock anyone that those groups aren't wild about gays? I kind of doubt it, so Brüno doesn't exactly expose any hidden truths. Instead, it just takes the easy road to predictable laughs.

The film fares a little better when it pokes fun at show business. In maybe the movie's best bit, it shows a new program in which Brüno and a co-host examine celebrity sonograms and rate them. That gag gives us a biting take on the celebrity gossip industry and demonstrates actual cleverness. However, even then, the film goes too far when it has the pair vote to "keep it or abort it". It's a funny bit until it goes down the totally tasteless path.

I hope that the film's disappointing box office returns means we don't get more of Cohen's faux documentary films. The man has plenty of talent but he'd be better off making a more conventional flick. Borat wasn't very good either, but Brüno establishes that this particular well has run dry.

The Blu-ray Grades: Picture B+/ Audio B/ Bonus B

Brüno appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this Blu-Ray Disc. Despite some challenges provided by a variety of filming conditions, the flick usually looked very good.

The vast majority of the time, sharpness seemed satisfying. Most of the movie appeared concise and detailed. When the film went with lower quality cameras for its "undercover" shots, it became less precise, but that was inevitable, so I didn't mind these lapses. No issues with jagged edges or shimmering appeared, and the only edge haloes that showed up resulted from some video artifacts. Source flaws were absent; some graininess occurred, but that was a minor concern.

Colors tended to be satisfying. The movie went with a natural palette that only became a little iffy during those shots with lower quality equipment. Most of the film exhibited lively hues. Blacks were dark and dense, while shadows usually seemed fine; again, the shooting conditions occasionally meant things were a bit iffy, but they were good most of the time. This wasn't reference material, but it was strong enough for a "B+".

I also liked the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack of Brüno. Music offered the most involving material, as effects played a fairly minor role. Most of those elements came from on-the-spot recording, so they didn't do much to open up the spectrum. However, music used all five channels well. The track spread the tunes and score around the room in a pleasing manner that added life to the proceedings.

Audio quality was solid. Again, music was the best aspect of the track, as the tunes always sounded lively and full. Speech was consistently concise and crisp, without edginess or other issues. Effects didn't have much to do, but they appeared acceptably accurate. Nothing here dazzled, but the track deserved a "B".

In terms of extras, we get an enhanced commentary from actor/writer Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles. What makes it "enhanced"? Occasionally, Cohen and Charles halt the movie to tell extended stories about various scenes. This means that the commentary runs about 27 minutes longer than the movie itself.

During the track, Cohen and Charles discuss sets and locations, cast and performances, staging and shooting various sequences, censorship issues, music and costumes, challenges staying incognito, and various tales from the production. The commentary is substantially more interesting than the movie itself. Cohen and especially Charles tend to congratulate themselves a little too much, as they tell us about the flick's social commentary and insight.

Otherwise, this is an entertaining glimpse at the unusual production. They let us know the details of how they staged the various sequences and set things straight about who was and wasn't in on the joke. I'm not sure I believe all of their claims, but I still appreciate the information. We find a consistently enjoyable chat here.

Next we find scads of Alternative/Deleted/Extended Scenes. Added together, these areas give us 21 sequences; in total, they run one hour, nine minutes and six seconds. Given the amount of footage found here, I won't discuss all of it. We get alternative subjects for some existing scenes. For instance, we see interviews with Pete Rose and LaToya Jackson instead of Paula Abdul, and we find a few other conservatives instead of Ron Paul.

Possibly the most significant deleted sequence shows an alternate break-up between Diesel and Brüno. This occurs during an interview with a white supremacist, and it extends into a sequence with some football players. Most of the sequences cover fairly familiar territory; they include a variety of different subjects but don't veer away from the material seen in the final film.

This means that if you like Brüno, you'll enjoy these scenes, and if you don't... well, you're largely out of luck. Actually, even though I didn't care for the flick, I think some of the clips offer entertainment. In a weird way, the footage is funnier when taken out of the flick's semi-story-based framework; it comes across as somewhat less contrived. The cut scenes won't win over any new fans, but there's some good stuff here.

Finally, we find an Interview with Hollywood Agent Lloyd Robinson. In the film, he attempts to get Brüno various show business jobs. During this five-minute and 32-second clip, Robinson talks about his limited awareness of Borat and his experiences as an unwitting comedic foil in Brüno. Robinson has a good sense of humor about the shoot, so he offers a nice perspective on the flick.

The apparently inescapable Digital Copy shows up here as well. With this, you can transfer the film onto a portable viewing gadget or a computer. Yabba dabba doo!

After the huge success of Borat, most thought Brüno would be another hit. Nope - it made less than half of its predecessor's take and sank like a stone. Hopefully that means the US public has wised up and decided that Sacha Baron Cohen's style of guerilla comedy is more interested in being crude than it is in being funny. The Blu-ray provides very good picture plus solid audio. It doesn't feature a ton of supplements, but the included components are interesting. While this is a nice release, I don't care for the movie itself, so I can't recommend Brüno for anyone who doesn't already dig the flick.

Reviewed by Colin Jacobson, DVDMG.com.

Presentation:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio:
English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Spanish DTS 5.1
French DTS 5.1
English DVS Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:
English
Spanish
French
Closed-captioned
Supplements Subtitles:
English
Spanish
French

Runtime: 82 min.
Price: $39.98
Release Date: 11/17/2009

Bonus:
• "Enhanced Commentary" with Director Larry Charles and Actor/Writer Sacha Baron Cohen
• Alternative/Deleted/Extended Scenes
• "Interview with Hollywood Agent Lloyd Robinson" Featurette
• Digital Copy

The original Murdoch, Dwight Schultz will appear in the new A-Team

2009-11-12T11:28:02Z

Dwight Schultz is making a cameo appearance in the new 'A-Team' movie.

The actor - who starred as 'Howlin' Mad' Murdoch in the original cult 1980s TV series - has been filming scenes for the big-screen remake and has heaped praise on his successor, Sharito Copley, for his portrayal of the character.

A statement on Dwight's official website said: "We are pleased to inform you all that Dwight has actually already been working in Vancouver, where he has played a cameo role in 'The A-Team movie.

]]> "Sharlto Copley, the South African actor who plays Murdoch, is according to Dwight: 'brilliant beyond words'.

"Dwight has seen his screen test and he stated: that honestly, if Sharlto is given an opportunity to do what I saw in that test, Murdock will be better than ever!'

"Sharlto has been very kind to him on the set and Dwight must say that he has been treated very well".

In the new movie, Sharlto's Murdoch is joined in the dastardly team of mercenaries, by Liam Neeson playing Hannibal Smith, 'Rampage' Jackson who will take the role of BA Baracus and Bradley Cooper, who is set to portray Templeton 'Faceman' Peck.

It is unknown whether any of the other original stars will make cameo appearances.

John Travolta and Tom Cruise: The next Butch and Sundance?

2009-11-12T11:01:49Z

John Travolta and Tom Cruise are keen to remake 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'.

The 'Pulp Fiction' actor has been talking to Tom Cruise about the possibility of re-shooting the classic cowboy adventure, which contributed to establishing Paul Newman and Robert Redford as classic Hollywood actors in the titular roles.

John said: "Someone came up with a good idea - it was a remake of 'Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid' - and there was a rumor that we were gonna do that, and I said to Tom, 'It's not a terrible rumor, it's not a bad idea.'"

]]> Tom and John - who are both dedicated members of the bizarre sci-fi cult Scientology - have reportedly already met with scriptwriters and the film may be made by Tom's United Artists Studio.

Tom is said to be keen to take on the role of bank robber Sundance, while John is keen to reprise Robert's role of The Kid.

The film is reportedly special to Tom and earlier this year a source said he was excited by plans to remake the film.

A source said: "Butch and Sundance is a labor of love for Tom. He was eight years old when he saw the original and it made an impression that has stayed with him all his life. He can't wait to get to work."

"It has been a pet project of his that has been on the back-burner for years. But now he's ready to go, and will most likely happily eschew the enormous salary that he normally commands."

What do you think? Vote in our poll to tell us if you think that this is a good or bad idea....

Review: Paranormal Activity

2009-11-12T10:53:44Z

Adam Mast reviews this Halloween's box-office sensation.

Does the thrifty new ghost story Paranormal Activity really live up the hype? Is it one of the scariest movies ever made? In my humble opinion, the answer to both questions is no but this is still an extremely entertaining film and well worth seeing, especially if you have the opportunity to experience it with a big crowd. Paranormal Activity sort of plays like Poltergeist by way of Blair Witch.

]]> The set up is simple. A woman named Katie is convinced that she's being haunted by a supernatural presence. In an effort to get to the root of the problem, Katie's significant other (a likable Micah Sloat) buys a video camera and sets it up at night hoping to catch the apparent supernatural force in action. What Katie and Micah discover is...well, you'll see. Director Oren Peli reportedly shot Paranormal Activity in less than a week, and for under $15,000. Taking these facts into consideration, this film is quite inspirational, particularly for those who are interested in making a movies. Stylistically, this picture takes the "this is real" approach. The entire film is shot from the perspective of Micah's video camera, but Paranormal Activity avoids the motion sickness inducing camera work of similarly shot projects. For a picture like this to be truly effective, the actors have to sell the material and for the most part, newcomers Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat are up to the task. There are a couple of moments when Featherston slightly overplays the proceedings, and Mark Fredrichs' stilted, almost laughable performance as a paranormal expert drains the film of realism whenever he's on screen (thankfully, he only appears in two scenes). I also could have done without the out of place ending. An ending that isn't at all consistent with the rest of the picture. An ending that one of my all time cinematic heroes - Steven Spielberg - reportedly came up with. Overall however, Paranormal Activity is a fun ride. It has a nice slow build, and Peli is able to terrify the audience through simple techniques. One moment, during the final act of the picture, there's a late night happening that actually made the hair on my neck stand on end. This isn't the classic some might lead you to believe, but the film offers up several effective scares, and Peli's ability to get a lot of mileage out a very small budget is admirable.

Grade: B

Jim Carrey has blasted Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie

2009-11-10T12:28:23Z

The 'Christmas Carol' star appeared on US chat show 'Chelsea Lately' stating he wanted to cut some celebrities down to size, branding them "spoiled brats".

When host Chelsea Handler suggested he start with Tom Cruise, Jim replied: "Oh, set before me a meal - oh my God! A Christmas feast!"

He sarcastically added: "Tom Cruise - let me see - one of the hardest working people I've ever seen and, like, a total gentleman and *******. What a jerk!"

]]> He was much keener on Chelsea's next suggestion, Brad Pitt, however.

Jim, 47, jokingly said: "Well you really can't say anything about Brad Pitt. Angelina Jolie? Oh yeah, so she's the problem for sure, we're ok with him, seriously, because he can do no wrong."

Jim also said that despite appearing in 'A Christmas Carol' as central character Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past , present and future, he doesn't have any paranormal connections himself.

Referring to his partner, model Jenny McCarthy, he added: "I don't really have that connection. Jenny is very much more connected to the ghostly realm. She sees things every once in a while, she'll yell, 'There's a naked wrinkled man in the bedroom, I think he might be dead and looking for the other side'."

'A Christmas Carol' is in cinemas now.

Len Wiseman to direct 'end of the world' thriller Nocturne

2009-11-10T11:51:53Z

Underworld and Die Hard 4.0 helmer Len Wiseman is to next direct Nocture, a new film about the end of the world.

The Hollywood Reporter says that the film is based on an original idea about a group of people who survive the end of the world and the mystery surrounding how they got to that position.

The project is set up at Fox, who are currently looking at hiring writers.

Another 'end of the world' flick, 2012, hits cinemas this weekend.

Mel Gibson was too short to play James Bond

2009-11-10T10:34:35Z

The 'Braveheart' star's 5ft 9in frame was deemed unsuitable to make a convincing portrayal of the iconic British spy - who is currently played by Daniel Craig - while producer Albert R 'Cubby' Broccoli was also concerned that he was too famous for the role.

Scriptwriter Tom Mankiewicz - who wrote James Bond favourites 'The Man With The Golden Gun' and 'Live And Let Die' - said: "At one point Mel Gibson wanted to play Bond. And Cubby was against it. Cubby first of all had a thing about tall people.

"Bond had to be tall. And so Mel Gibson was too short. But he was a big star.

]]> "Somebody at United Artists said to me, 'Call him and tell him Mel Gibson would be great.' And Cubby said, 'I don't want to make a Mel Gibson movie, I want to make a James Bond movie.'"

While Mel was desperate to portray James Bond, fellow Hollywood star Gerard Butler recently insisted he would never want to take on the role.

He said:"I enjoy doing an array of films. If I was to play Bond, that would quickly stop. How likely would I be accepted doing those roles after having played Bond?

"People outside of movies think it would be amazing to play 007, but as an actor you think, 'Well I don't know because from then on...'

"You do a lot of movies as Bond and you'd become even more synonymous with the role. I think Daniel Craig is a great Bond and good for him, but I would much rather create a role from nothing."

Justin and Jessica: Friends with benefits?

2009-11-10T09:42:54Z

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are reportedly just "friends with benefits".

The 'SexyBack' singer - who is rumoured to have split from the stunning actress in September after two-and-a-half years together - has decided he still wants Jessica involved in his life so makes sure they meet regularly.

A source said: "Justin was very clear with Jessica that he didn't want to be in a serious relationship with her anymore where he wasn't able to date other people. Jessica took the news very hard, but once she calmed down and they started talking again, he convinced her to stay friends who hook up, without all the pressure of a relationship."

]]> "Justin gets the best of both worlds. He doesn't have to lose Jess as a lover or a friend, but he's free to explore other relationships."

It was reported the couple split because Justin was not ready to make a commitment and settle down.

Meanwhile, Justin has been granted a three year restraining order against an obsessed fan.

Karen McNeil was found on the star's Los Angeles property on October 22, along with her belongings, and refused to leave.

Now a judge has ruled she must stay 100 yards away from Justin, his home and his vehicle, and is prohibited from contacting him in any way.