Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed
Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.Play Video
Paul Bettany Has No Movie Formula
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Drama, Thrillers, Celeb News, Filmmaking, New Releases, Scripts
Paul Bettany believes that making a good movie is about guess work.
The British actor - who has starred in films including A Beautiful Mind, The Secret Lives of Bees and Iron Man - believes there is no guaranteed way to make a successful film, and he admits many people were surprised at the success of his latest work Margin Call.
"I've never seen more shocked faces. Because nobody could quite believe it had come together so well. I thought it was bright and well-written, which is rare, and it was 17 days of filming so I just thought, 'This is a good punt.' It's just proof that you never know. People are always trying to work out the formula for making a movie that is well-regarded, but it's like looking at f**king tea leaves."
Paul stars alongside Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto and Kevin Spacey in the movie, and he admits it "changed" him because it showed him how professional a set could be: "This movie changed me in that it reminded me of all the reasons why I first became an actor. I can't make movies that I don't care about any more."
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George Clooney Couldn’t Relate to Character
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: 20th Century Fox, Drama, Comedy, Celeb News, New Releases
George Clooney couldn't relate to his character in The Descendants. The 50-year-old actor plays Matt King - a wealthy man who sets out with his two daughters to find the lover of his ailing wife - in the drama and though he had little in common with his alter ego, he doesn't think that is important.
George - who won Best Actor for his role in the movie at last weekend's Golden Globes - said, "This guy is really going through a phase in his life where he wants to do right by everyone, and I don't know that that would be part of my make-up. He's caught p in a strange place in his life and career. I enjoyed playing the character but I don't know that I can relate to him. But part of my job is to do what is asked of me in the script and not have to worry about whether it pertains to me or not. You don't have to actually shoot heroin to play a drug addict, you know."
He also admitted he fears repeating the same career choices over and over and would regard not varying his decisions as a professional "failure": "My biggest fear is doing the same things 10 years from now. That would be a failure. It's something you have to constantly reassess, and asking yourself what you are going to do next makes it a good long full journey."
Kate Winslet: ‘Male Role Would Be Ultimate Challenge’
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Awards, Casting, Celeb News
Kate Winslet wants to play a man. The 36-year-old actress - who earlier this week won a Golden Globe for her performance in TV mini-series Mildred Pierce - is keen to take on a part of someone as the opposite gender, previously done by stars including Cate Blanchett and Glenn Close, because she believes it would be the "ultimate challenge."
"I would like to one day play a man. That is something that I do know. I don't know what kind of a man, I don't know whether it will ever happen, but I do know I would be really interested because I think that would probably be the ultimate challenge."
Kate has previously claimed she would love to take on the part of the late Dame Elizabeth Taylor - a role both Angelina Jolie and Lindsey Lohan have coveted - and admits the possibility is a massive undertaking: "It's a massive undertaking for anybody who should be fortunate enough to get that part."
Daniel Craig Has ‘No Desire’ to Escape Bond
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: MGM, Action, Mystery, Sequels, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Upcoming Releases
Daniel Craig has "no desire" to "escape" James Bond. The British actor - who will portray the iconic British spy for the third time in Skyfall and is rumored to have signed up for an additional five movies - thinks if he signed up for anything radically different in between films, people would accuse him of trying to stop himself being typecast.
"I don't think, 'This will look good next to that...' If that's what you do, you're inhibiting yourself against instinct, which is just wrong. Of course I could [play a role like a child killer]. Whether I'd want to is another matter. I think it would smack slightly of, you know, 'Oh, he's only doing that to get away from Bond.' I've got no desire to escape the role. I love playing Bond - it's fantastic."
Despite his love of playing Bond, Daniel admits he almost quit the franchise when studio MGM ran into financial difficulties, causing delays to the next film in the series: "There was that long hiatus where Bond maybe wasn't happening. I'd got it into my head that if it went another two years on top of the two-year gap we'd already had, then they should probably find someone else. And I should think about getting on with things."
Rooney Mara: Dragon Tattoo Made Me More Masculine
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Columbia Pictures, Action, Adaptation, Mystery, Thrillers, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, New Releases
Rooney Mara says appearing in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has made her less feminine. The 26-year-old actress admits aspects of playing the rebellious Lisbeth Salander in the new movie stayed with her and has changed her style.
"Before I got the part I was definitely more feminine and girlie. I wore a lot of pale shades and I haven't really rediscovered that yet. I've kept with the black and dark colors."
In the movie, Rooney's psychologically-damaged character exacts revenge on her rapist, but despite the graphic nature of some of her scenes, the actress insists they didn't affect her because of the physical transformation she underwent for the role: "Because Lisbeth looked so different to me with the tattoos and piercings, it just never really felt like me so I didn't feel strange or embarrassed."
As part of her research, Rooney spent two months in Sweden - where the story is set - before the filming began and found the experience very helpful: "It was incredibly helpful because you can't really understand the characters until you've spent part of a winter there. For me, the cold and the dark were really difficult to overcome."
Quote of the Day: Noomi Rapace on Lisabeth Salander
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Action, Adaptation, Mystery, Remakes, Thrillers, Celeb News, Filmmaking
"I felt like she lived in me... My Lisbeth was my Lisbeth. I gave her my life and my soul for one-and-a-half years, and then I was finished. I’m so done with her... My whole body was just kind of throwing Lisbeth out of me. I was like, I don’t know who I am anymore! It’s almost like you’re coming out of a… It’s like you’ve loaned yourself to someone else."
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows actress Noomi Rapace, reflecting on her portrayal of Lisabeth Salander in the original adaptations of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series.
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Gary Oldman Excited to Play an Englishman
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: FOCUS, Period, Political, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, New Releases
Gary Oldman signed up for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy so he could be an Englishman.
The British actor - best known for his eccentric roles including Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series and Commissioner Gordon in the latest Batman films - was delighted to leave his Hollywood home to head for the UK to work on the project because he felt like it was "proper."
"It is always a lot of fun coming back to England and doing things like Harry Potter and Batman, but really they are fantasy worlds, so it is nice to come and do something like Tinker Tailor, something proper. Actually, it was also nice to come back and play an Englishman."
He also admits another reason he was glad to play the role of spy George Smiley in the film was because of the all-star cast: "I was just very flattered to be asked to play George Smiley at all. I mean, really, just to be involved in a film like this would've been fantastic. You've got John Hurt, Colin Firth, Kathy Burke, all these terrific actors, and it's just a delicious part."
Elijah Wood Confirmed for Hobbit Role
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: MGM, New Line, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases
It has been confirmed that Elijah Wood will appear in The Hobbit.
The 29-year-old actor, who played Frodo Baggins in the Lords of the Rings film franchise, will definitely appear in the forthcoming movie prequel, despite his character not featuring in the original J.R.R. Tolkein novel.
Producers are rumored to have written the film with an opening sequence in which Frodo begins to read about his uncle Bilbo Baggins' adventures.
A statement by Elijah's representatives confirmed his involvement and also revealed that he is set for a busy few months as he will also feature in a TV mini-series of Treasure Island alongside Eddie Izzard. "Wood is confirmed to star in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, to be shot in New Zealand. In addition, he has signed on to play Ben Gunn in Stewart Harcourt's adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island alongside Eddie Izzard. The two part/ four hour miniseries will be airing on Sky TV in the UK," the statement read.
Filming for The Hobbit - which will be split into two parts and also stars Martin Freeman and Cate Blanchett- is due to begin in New Zealand next month.
Daniel Radcliffe Undergoes Psychological Preparation
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Adaptation, Foreign, Horror, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases
Daniel Radcliffe is seeing a psychologist to prepare for a new film role.
The Harry Potter star is taking research for his new movie horror thriller The Woman In Black so seriously he is seeing a specialist with expertise in grief and loss to prepare as best he can, drawing on the loss of his own grandmother Elsie.
“The preparation has been difficult. Daniel is filming a mature, complex role and wants to understand his character’s emotion,” a source said.
Daniel plays young lawyer Arthur Kipps in the movie, a young man who must visit the estate of a deceased client, later discovering he is not alone in the property. The movie - based on the book by Susan Hill - is being adapted by Kick-Ass screenwriter Jane Goldman and My Little Eye scripter James Watkins.
Daniel, 21, previously admitted he was “excited” by the movie, his first since completing work on the Harry Potter series: “I am incredibly excited to be part of The Woman In Black. Jane Goldman’s script is beautifully written - both tender and terrifying in equal measure. It is thrilling to be working with James Watkins. From his brilliant work on Eden Lake and also having met him and heard his vision for the film, I know he will make a fantastic film.”
The movie, which is being shot in 3-D, is due for release in 2011.
Angelina Jolie Wanted Mr. and Mrs. Smith Sequel
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: 20th Century Fox, Action, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Scripts
Angelina Jolie wanted to star in a Mr. & Mrs. Smith sequel, but there was no original plot idea. The actress, who met Brad Pitt on the set of the 2005 movie, admits she and the actor had considered reprising their roles as married assassins but were not happy with any of the potential storylines they were presented with.
“People have tried to come up with a sequel. And it’s strange: do we have kids in the movie? We’ve thought about that, but it becomes personal now that we actually have kids. And if we work on it, we pull from our own life, which is funny to us, but you feel strange sharing too much. We did ask somebody to look into Mr. & Mrs. to see if they could crack a sequel, but there wasn’t anything original. It was just, Well, they’re going to get married, or they’ve got kids, or they get separated. Never great.”
The Salt star, however, admitted she would love to work with Brad again, but doesn’t think people would want to see them play a couple:
Click to continue reading Angelina Jolie Wanted Mr. and Mrs. Smith Sequel
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