POPCORN REEL NEWS                                                                                 


June 16, 2008
"The Incredible Hulk" Runs Wild, 54 Million Times Over

According to estimates released yesterday by Exhibitor Relations, "The Incredible Hulk" made $54.5 million at the box office in the U.S. and Canada, taking top spot and bouncing "Kung Fu Panda" into second place.  Final numbers will be released today.
 

May 15, 2008
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Donates $100,000 to Myanmar Relief

In a statement released this morning, Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, announced that the HFPA had donated $100,000 to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres to aid the relief effort in Myanmar in the wake of the deadly cyclone there.  "The tragedy that has happened to our world neighbors in Asia is unfathomable, and two million people have been displaced in addition to the thousands who have perished," said the  HFPA president.  "Although our charitable contributions are usually devoted to scholarships and film preservation, we realize that our international organization must contribute whatever money we can immediately to help the millions of victims of this terrible catastrophe.  We urge the Hollywood community and the public at large to contribute as well."
 

May 12, 2008
"Iron" Is Kind; another weekend, another top gross in North America

"Iron Man" easily fended off the new film "Speed Racer" with an impressive $50.5 million to maintain its hold on the number one spot at the North American box office.  "Iron Man", directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey, Jr., has now made a total of $177.1 million, according to estimates released by Exhibitor Relations yesterday.  "Speed Racer" edged out fellow debutant "What Happens In Vegas" for second place, with $20.2 million versus $20 million.  Rounding out the top five were "Made Of Honor" ($26.2 million cumulative gross) and "Baby Mama" ($40.3 million).  Final figures from the weekend will be released today.


May 5, 2008

"Iron"-clad, in $100 million ways

The new Robert Downey, Jr. film "Iron Man", directed by Jon Favreau, stormed to the top of the North American box office in its opening weekend, with a staggering $100.8 million, according to estimates by Exhibitor Relations.  Final figures will be released later today.

April 1, 2088
"21" is no snake eyes at the summit of the box office in North America

"21", the poker-playing gambling drama, topped the box office with approximately $24 million this past weekend, according to final numbers released by Exhibitor Relations.  The film, released by Sony Pictures, stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth ("Superman Returns"), Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Spacey, and is based on a novel that is based on a true story.

March 24, 2008
Who?  Who!  "Horton" Hears Ka-Ching at the North American Box Office

"Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who" topped the box office chart for the U.S. and Canada this past holiday weekend, staying at the summit in its second weekend in release.  The animated feature with the voices of Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Seth Rogen among others, tallied $25.1 million for a cumulative gross of $86.4 million, according to figures released yesterday by Exhibitor Relations.  By this coming weekend it will become the first film released in 2008 to cross the $100 million mark.  In second place was "Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns", with an impressive gross of $20 million in its opening weekend.  The film, which stars the director Mr. Perry, Angela Bassett, and former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Rick Fox, was not screened for the press, as is the custom with Mr. Perry's films, but as is the custom with his films continued to post strong numbers despite being on almost 2000 fewer screens than "Horton".  "Browns" had the highest per-screen average of the weekend of the top ten films, with $9,975 per screen.  Mr. Perry's film was the third to be released in thirteen months.  Last year he had "Daddy's Little Girls" and "Why Did I Get Married?" released on Valentine's Day and October 20 respectively.


March 19, 2008  popcorn express news audio
Arthur C. Clarke, "2001" author, passes away at age 90

Arthur C. Clarke passed away yesterday in Sri Lanka due to breathing complications, it was reported.  Mr. Clarke was best known for his science fiction novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was adapted by Mr. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick into the feature film of the same title.  (More details)

March 19, 2008
Anthony Minghella, film director, passes away at age 54

British-born filmmaker Anthony Minghella passed away yesterday morning at a London hospital following surgery.  He suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage.  Mr. Minghella was the director and writer of such films as "Breaking and Entering", "The English Patient" (which won nine Oscars in 1997) and "The Talented Mr. Ripley".  He also produced these and other films, including his own film "Cold Mountain".  Mr. Minghella was most recently an executive producer on the Oscar-winning film "Michael Clayton" and appeared in front of the camera as an interviewer in the Oscar-winning film "Atonement", which was released on DVD yesterday in the U.S. and Canada.  (More details)


March 10, 2008  popcorn express news audio
"10,000 B.C." Tops The North America Box Office For March 7-9

Roland Emmerich's "10,000 B.C." exceeded expectations to finish at the summit of this past weekend's box office in the U.S. and Canada, grossing over $35 million dollars in its opening weekend.  The film is released by Warner Brothers.

March 10, 2008
"Touching Home" To Have Its World Premiere at the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival

As part of the upcoming film festival's Spotlight: Cinema By The Bay series, "Touching Home", the debut feature film from self-taught filmmaking identical twin brothers Logan Miller and Noah Miller, will have its world premiere in San Francisco on April 26.  "Touching Home" stars Ed Harris and Robert Forster among others, in a story about familial struggles of the working class in small town America.  The Miller twins wrote, produced, directed and acted in the film.  They, as well as other selected cast members, are expected to attend the world premiere, to be held at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema.  The 51st San Francisco International Film Festival runs from April 24 through May 8.
 

March 7, 2008  popcorn express news audio
"Notorious" Gets Set To Film Later This Month

Yesterday Fox Searchlight Pictures announced that "Notorious", the motion picture based on the life of rapper Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace, will begin production on March 24 in the five boroughs of New York City.  George Tillman, Jr., director of such films as "Soul Food" and "Men Of Honor", will direct "Notorious", which stars Angela Bassett as Voletta Wallace, the mother of the late rapper who was slain in 1997.  Also in the film is Derek Luke ("Antwone Fisher", "Lions For Lambs" and the forthcoming Spike Lee film "Miracle At St. Anna").  Mr. Luke will play Sean P. Diddy Combs, while Anthony Mackie ("She Hate Me") will play Tupac Shakur.  Jamal Woolard, a Brooklyn native, as was Mr. Wallace, will play the rapper known as The Notorious B.I.G.  Mr. Woolard, who has never acted before on the big screen, was found by Fox Searchlight during a year-long, worldwide search to portray the late rapper.

March 6, 2008  popcorn express news audio
Patrick Swayze diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

The 55-year-old star of the immensely popular films "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to published reports released yesterday.

March 6, 2008
2007 a year for record U.S. box-office ticket sales, according to the MPAA

The Motion Picture Association of America yesterday released its U.S. box-office receipt totals for 2007, which revealed a record-breaking year at the U.S. box office, with a total of over $9.6 billion in ticket sales, a record for a single calendar year in the U.S.  The total was a 5.4% increase over 2006.  Although admissions in 2007 were roughly equal to those of the prior year, the MPAA attributed higher ticket prices for the increase in total receipts.  The average price of a movie ticket in the U.S. is now about $6.88.

March 6, 2008
Ciaran Hinds joins cast of "Race To Witch Mountain"

"Race To Witch Mountain" now has a bad guy in Ciaran Hinds, who will join the cast playing a villain.  The film already has Dwayne Johnson in a starring role.  Mr. Hinds can currently be seen on the big screen in North America in the Oscar-winning film "There Will Be Blood" and will appear in "Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day",  which opens in the U.S. and Canada tomorrow, while Mr. Johnson's next big screen appearance will be in the June comedy "Get Smart".  Mr. Johnson can currently be seen on DVD in "The Game Plan" and was last seen on the big screen in the film "Southland Tales".

March 6, 2008
New "Wanted" Trailer Wants Your Attention

"Wanted", the action-fantasy film opening in North America on June 27, has recently released its latest trailer on its website at www.wantedmovie.com.  The film stars James McAvoy (currently on the big screen in "Atonement" and "Penelope"), and Oscar winners Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie.

March 5, 2008  popcorn express news audio
The Weinstein Company to produce the forthcoming Bob Marley film "No Woman No Cry"

The Weinstein Company will produced the first-ever feature film on the life of reggae musician, activist and megastar Bob Marley, the film production company announced in a press release yesterday.  The film "No Woman No Cry", based on the autobiography of the same name (with the subtitle "My Life With Bob Marley) written by Rita Marley, the widow of Mr. Marley (who died at age 35 in 1981), will also be produced by Rudy Langlais, and written by Lizzie Borden. No director for the film has been announced, but more details are expected shortly.  In a statement, Rita Marley, who will also serve as an executive producer on the film, said in part, "I wrote my book to tell my story -- of the dreams we shared and those days we spent living and believing in our hope.  I saw it and now we get to tell it through our movie.  I’ve waited a long time to tell this story, about growing up in Jamaica and meeting Bob and making our music and falling in love and making our family.  All that, and all that we went through went into this.  Now is that time.  This is my story."

March 5, 2008
In Hollywood, growing concerns about a possible Screen Actors' Guild strike

On the heels of last month's end to a four-month strike by the Writers' Guild of America, concerns are growing in Tinseltown about the possibility of an actors' strike by the Screen Actors Guild, which is in the process of engaging in talks with the unions for a new contractual agreement.  George Clooney, speaking last month on E! Entertainment Television's red carpet pre-Oscars show voiced some cautious optimism, saying that he hoped that something can get done prior to the deadline of June 30, after which the Guild has said that it would strike if a satisfactory deal had not been reached.  New feature film production has slowed, and privately, according to Variety, some unnamed talent agency personnel have expressed worry about film production shutting down almost completely, with the impossibility of completing a film from start to finish before the June deadline.

March 5, 2008
Sundance Institute's Short Films Now Available For Free

Today,  The Sundance Institute announced that five new short films are available right now for free at www.sundance.org.  The comedy "A Slip In Time", directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris of "Little Miss Sunshine"; Jody Hill's "Learning to Skateboard", about a corporate worker's journey to liberate himself from the everyday by learning to skateboard; "¡La Revolucion De Igoudala!" about the filtering of a man's passionate message in different mediums, directed by "Better Luck Tomorrow" filmmaker Justin Lin; Maria Maggenti's "Los Viajes De King Tiny", a Los Angeles story about a small dog who explores the streets of the city of Angels by himself while his owner is working; and "Reno", directed by Cory McAbee, about a traveling singing cowboy's braggadocio to a store security camera.  In a statement, John Cooper, Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival and Creative Director for Sundance Institute, said in part, "The experience that we've had through our shorts initiatives, including commissioning these five films for the Sundance Global Short Film Project and creating one-of-a-kind distribution partnerships with iTunes, Netflix and Xbox  for Festival shorts, is that there is a vast global audience for these films."  


March 4, 2008  popcorn express news audio
The Next Coen Brothers film "Burn After Reading" To Open on September 12

Focus Features yesterday announced the release date in the U.S. and Canada for the Coen Brothers' next film entitled "Burn After Reading".  The film, an espionage noir-comedy, will hit theaters in North America on September 12.  John Malkovich stars as a CIA agent who has been ousted and whose memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two bumbling Washington D.C. gym employees who seek to make a profit from it.  "Michael Clayton" Tilda Swinton plays the wife of the Malkovich character.  The film also stars Richard Jenkins, George Clooney, Frances MacDormand and Brad Pitt.

Last month the Coen Brothers won best picture, director, adapted screenplay Oscars for "No Country For Old Men", which hits DVD shelves in the U.S. and Canada on March 11.  Javier Bardem also won an Oscar for best supporting actor, playing relentless killer Anton Chigurh in the film.


March 4, 2008  editorial
Marion Cotillard's Alleged 9/11/01 Comments Cause Stir

Newly-minted Best Actress Oscar winner Marion Cotillard has found herself in a little hot water for comments she allegedly made about September 11, 2001.  In an interview she had been quoted as saying that the U.S. government itself destroyed the World Trade Center towers because they were a "money-sucker".  She had also been quoted as saying that the U.S. government may have been involved in a conspiracy to engineer the events of that tragic day and that she had doubts about the official story being laid out by the current U.S. administration. 

Ms. Cotillard, 29, winner of the Oscar for "La Vie En Rose" last week, has said that the quotes in the interview were taken out of context.

 

(February 22, 2008)  Hugo Weaving joins "The Wolfman"

Hugo Weaving has joined the cast of "The Wolfman".  He will play Detective Aberline, according to Variety magazine.  The film, which will start lensing next month, is directed by Joe Johnston and will also star Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro, as the title character.  Universal Pictures will distribute the film.

(February 20, 2008)  Will.i.am joins cast of "Wolverine"

Variety magazine reported today that The Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am will join the cast of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", the X-Men spinoff movie being directed by "Tsotsi" and "Rendition" director Gavin Hood.  Will.i.am plays John Wraith.  Ryan Reynolds will play Deadpool, while Taylor Kitsch will play Gambit.  The cast is rounded out by Hugh Jackman in the title role once again, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston and Lynn Collins.  The film will be shot in such locales as Australia, New Zealand and New Orleans.  "Wolverine" is scheduled for a May 1, 2009 release -- the same month that "Star Trek" is set to open.
 

(February 19, 2008)  Deadline day for Oscar voters

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences voters (almost 6,000 strong) will have to turn in their ballots no later than 5p.m. today Pacific U.S. time.  There are just five days until the 80th Annual Academy Awards this Sunday at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.  The ceremony stars at 8:30p.m. Eastern/5:30p.m. Pacific U.S. time on Sunday, February 24, and will be televised live in over 220 countries.
 

(January 31, 2008)  Josh Brolin almost guaranteed to play George W. for Stone

Variety reported yesterday that Josh Brolin was in the process of ironing out the last details to play the current U.S. president in Oliver Stone's biopic "Bush", which will begin filming in April, with an eye toward a November release, while the 43rd president is still in office.  Reportedly, Mr. Stone has said that he will be "fair" in his portrayal of the president, but added that the film will trace Mr. Bush's roots as a drug-addict and underachiever and his evolution into becoming the world's most powerful human being.  Mr. Brolin will play Mr. Bush immediately after wrapping filming on Gus Van Sant's "Milk" in which he plays Dan White, a colleague and assassin of San Francisco Board Supervisor Harvey Milk, played by Sean Penn.  Mr. Brolin can currently be seen in two Oscar-nominated films: "No Country For Old Men" and "In The Valley of Elah".

(January 14, 2008)  Golden Globe film wins for "Atonement" and "Sweeney Todd"

In last night's Writers' Guild strike-affected Golden Globes, "Atonement" won best motion picture drama and "Sweeney Todd" won best motion picture comedy or musical.  In the acting awards on the film side for drama, top lead acting honors went to Julie Christie for "Away From Her" and Daniel Day-Lewis for "There Will Be Blood", while on the motion picture comedy/musical side, the respective lead acting awards were won by Marion Cotillard ("La Vie En Rose") and Johnny Depp ("Sweeney Todd").  In the supporting acting categories, Cate Blanchett scored a mild surprise over Amy Ryan, winning for "I'm Not There", while Javier Bardem was awarded the prize for "No Country For Old Men".  Julian Schnabel's film "The Diving Bell and The Butterfly" won for best foreign language film, and Mr. Schnabel won for best director.  Best screenplay honors went to Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for "No Country For Old Men", while "Ratatouille" won best animated feature film.  The Globes, awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are traditionally considered a pre-cursor for the Oscar nominations and awards.  Oscar watch now officially gets underway and will heighten following Oscar nominations, to be announced on January 22.
 

(January 8, 2008)  Sundance 2008 Jury Members Announced

This morning the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Jury members for the six juries handing out awards for competing films were announced:

U.S. Dramatic Competition: Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Harron, Diego Luna, Sandra Oh and Quentin Tarantino.

U.S. Documentary Competition: Michelle Byrd, Heidi Ewing, Eugene Jarecki, Steven Okazaki and Annie Sundberg.

World Dramatic Competition: Shunji Iwai, Lucrecia Martel and Jan Schuette.

World Documentary Competition: Amir Bar-Lev, Leena Pasanen and Ilda Santiago.

American and International Short Films: Jon Bloom, Melonie Diaz and Jason Reitman.

Alfred E. Sloan Prize: Alan Alda, Michael Polish, Evan Schwartz, Benedict Schwegler and John Underkoffler.

The winners of the six prizes will be announced on January 26 at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah.
 

(January 8, 2008)  Goodbye Golden Globes

Last night Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, announced that this year's Golden Globes ceremony will be cancelled due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.  Instead, a one-hour press conference will be televised, in which the winners in 25 categories of film and television nominees will be read out, on NBC television this Sunday, the day the full awards were scheduled to be held.

(January 4, 2008)  "Michael Clayton" to arrive on DVD in time for Oscars

Variety reports that Tony Gilroy's "Michael Clayton" will arrive on DVD in the U.S. and Canada on February 19, five days before the Academy Awards are held.  Joining "Clayton" on DVD shelves on the same day will be "In The Valley of Elah" and "Lust, Caution".  The week before, on February 12, "Gone Baby Gone" and "Into The Wild" will be released, and on February 5, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and "Across The Universe" will find a home on DVD.  Each of the mentioned films are expected to be Oscar contenders.
 

(January 3, 2008)  Mathieu Almaric to play main villain in new Bond film

Mathieu Almaric, who played Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby in "The Diving Bell And The Butterfly", will play the main bad guy in the new Bond film, according to published reports.  The new Bond film opens on November 7 and is directed by "Monster's Ball" and "Kite Runner" director Marc Forster.
 

(January 3, 2008)  Golden Globes and WGA partner up

Yesterday Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, announced that the Golden Globes and the WGA were working out an agreement to allow writers to return to work to write for the awards show, which is now going forward on January 13 as scheduled, and without picket lines.


(January 2, 2008)  Sacha Baron Cohen has inked Hoffman role

According to Variety, Sacha Baron Cohen will play Abbie Hoffman in "The Trail of The Chicago Seven", which will reportedly be Steven Spielberg's next film.  A report in a British newspaper linked the London-born actor to the film.  Cohen can currently be seen in "Sweeney Todd".  Spielberg is in post production on the new "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", which opens on May 22.
 

(January 1, 2008)  Happy New Year!

(December 18, '07)  "Valkyrie" moves back in 2008

Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" is being moved backwards in the 2008 film release calendar from June 27, 2008 to October 3, 2008, it was announced yesterday.  The director needs to film a sequence which explains how Claus Von Staffenberg (played by Tom Cruise) lost his eye and his right hand while fighting on the African continent, and the sequence will be shot in February.  The film has otherwise wrapped production.  Mr. Cruise plays a Nazi officer who in real life engineers a plot to assassinate his leader Adolf Hitler during the 1940's.  "Valkyrie", the second film from the Wagner-Cruise-revamped United Artists studio, will now be released as an awards season contender for next year.
 

(October 31, '07)  Hollywood Foreign Press Association Makes a Golden change for 2009

Today the HFPA announced that an immediate rule change will take effect for the Golden Globe Awards held in January 2009.   Foreign language films that have the U.S. as the country of origin for its production will be eligible for Best Motion Picture instead of Best Foreign Language Film category, HFPA president Jorge Camara said in a statement released this morning.

(October 30, '07)   Lee Daniels Makes a "Push"

Producer-director Lee Daniels (producer of the Oscar-winning "Monster's Ball" and director of "Shadowboxer") will direct his second feature film beginning next month in New York City.  "Push" is the story of an obese and illiterate Harlem woman who is pregnant with her second child.  The woman, Clareece, is at a crossroads and decides to look at an alternative path in life.  "Push" which starts filming very soon, will mark the feature film debut of rock star Lenny Kravitz.  Gabourney Sidibe makes her big screen debut as Clareece.  Mo'Nique ("Shadowboxer") and Paula Patton ("Deja Vu") also star.  "Push" is adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name, authored by Sapphire.

(October 30, '07)    Moore of the Wright-Penn and Ryder celluloid stuff

Next April in Connecticut, Rebecca Miller will direct "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" from her own novel, about a devoted woman whose husband has an affair with a younger woman.  The devoted woman explores her own hidden desires but suffers the consequences.  The film stars Robin Wright-Penn, Julianne Moore and Wynona Ryder.
 

(October 26, '07)  John Travolta To Join Denzel Washington in "Pelham" remake

Variety Magazine reports that John Travolta is currently in negotiations to join Denzel Washington in a remake of the 1970's film "The Taking of Pelham 123", to be directed Tony Scott.  When the formalities of the contract talks are ironed out, Travolta will sign on to play the lead hijacker of a New York City subway train, with Denzel Washington as the man who stands in his way.  Mr. Travolta (most recently in "Hairspray"), who has played several bad guys (in "Broken Arrow", "Face/Off", "Swordfish", "The Punisher") will get to play another here.  Mr. Washington has worked with Tony Scott on a number of occasions ("Crimson Tide", "Man On Fire", "Deja Vu") and will be seen next week across America in Ridley Scott's "American Gangster".  Ridley is the older brother of Tony.
 

(October 18, '07)  Bringing Out The Wolves in 2009

Oscar-winning director Gavin Hood, whose "Rendition" opens across the U.S. and Canada tomorrow, will begin filming "Wolverine", the spin-off from the "X-Men" series at the end of 2007.  Hugh Jackman stars in the film, reprising the role from the films directed by Bryan Singer ("X-Men" and "X-2") and Brett Ratner ("X-Men: The Last Stand".)  Liev Schreiber is reportedly in talks to also star in the film, which will be released on May 1, 2009.


(October 18, '07)   Cast set for "Trek"

J.J. Abrams (director of "Lost" and "Alias", director of "Mission: Impossible III") will begin shooting "Star Trek" in November, with a big cast that includes Zachary Quinto as Spock, Karl Urban as Bones McCoy, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Eric Bana as Nero, and Chris Pine as Captain Kirk.  The film is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2008 across North America.


(October 18, '07)   Busy Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger (Oscar-winner of "L.A. Confidential") will next be seen in the independent film "While She Was Out" and will shoot a film with Billy Bob Thornton called "The Informers" later this month.  Basinger will also star opposite fellow Oscar-winner Charlize Theron in screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga's debut as a film director in "The Burning Plain", which begins filming next month in New Mexico.  Arriaga wrote the screenplays for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's films ("Amores Perros", "21 Grams", "Babel") and also wrote the script for "Burning".


(October 17, '07)  Mill Valley Marvelous!

"Rendition" and "Autism: The Musical" were voted audience favorites at the recently-concluded Mill Valley Film Festival in Northern California.  "The Kite Runner" was also a success at the Festival.

(October 17, '07)  Julia Feted

Julia Roberts was celebrated at Cinematheque's tribute to her.  Stars ranging from the likes of Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks to Sally Field and Natalie Portman and director Mike Nichols turned out to honor her and give remarks.  The tribute will air in the U.S. on the AMC cable television network on December 5.
 

(September 6, '07)   Brad Pitt attacked by a "fan" in Venice

The actor was attacked by a fan who attempted to embrace him, putting her arms around his neck during a stop for autographs on Sunday.  Pitt was not injured.  More on the story, plus video, appears here.

(August 30, '07)  Pierce Brosnan to play some "Topkapi"

Liz Smith of Variety magazine reports that Pierce Brosnan will be playing polo in a film he calls "The Topkapi Affair".  The film will be released by MGM.  The former Bond 007 will star and produce the film.

(August 30, '07)  Zellweger and Connick thrilled to be "Chilled"

Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr. will be in the comedy film "Chilled In Miami", which will be directed by Danish writer-director Jonas Helm.  The film is about a businesswoman from Miami who is transferred to Minnesota's backwoods.  The film will begin shooting in January in Miami, with the Canadian city of Winnepeg doubling as Minnesota.   Tracey Edmonds is among the producers of the film.

(August 30, '07)  "The Informers" call on Basinger and Thornton

Kim Basinger and Billy Bob Thornton will join Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns") and Ashley Olsen as cast members on the upcoming film "The Informers".  The film, to be directed by Gregor Jordan is set during one week in 1983 and features seven intersecting stories in Los Angeles.  "Informers" is based on novelist Bret Easton Ellis ("American Psycho") writings of short stories about a diverse collection of characters.  Production on the film begins in October in Los Angeles, as well as in Buenos Aires and Uruguay.

(August 29, '07)  "Born" gives birth this October in a North American theatrical release

The popular documentary "The Business Of Being Born", which examines the history of child birth in the U.S. from the early 1900's and advocates natural childbirths via midwives as an alternative, will be released theatrically in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles in October.  The documentary, which is directed by Abby Epstein and executive produced by Ricki Lake, whose own childbirth is chronicled in the film, screened earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, to overwhelming demand and response.

(August 29, '07)  Zack Snyder an "Illustrated Man"

The director of "300" will begin work on "The Illustrated Man", a remake based on the short stories by Ray Bradbury.  Snyder is already getting ready to direct "Watchmen".

(August 29, '07)  "Lions For Lambs" to open the AFI Fest

The Robert Redford political drama starring Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise, will mark its North American debut at the American Film Institute's AFI Fest 2007, which runs from November 1 through 11.  The film will be shown on November 1 at the ArcLight's Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles.  The film opens in the U.S. and Canada on November 9.

(August 29, '07)  Owen Wilson recuperating after suicide attempt
 
Owen Wilson is reportedly in stable condition and resting following a suicide attempt over the weekend, according to published reports.  The star of such films as "The Wedding Crashers", "You, Me and Dupree", and the upcoming "The Darjeeling Limited", apparently tried to slash his wrists.  Wilson was found by his older brother Andrew, who promptly called police and paramedics.

(August 28, '07)  Lucas off to a flier with Ridley for "Red Tails"

"Red Tails", the story of the Tuskeegee Airmen, the all-African-American fighter pilot U.S. regiment in World War Two, will be written by John Ridley, who recently finished the screenplay for "L.A. Riots", which Spike Lee is expected to direct.  George Lucas, who wrote the story for "Red Tails", gave Ridley the reins to write the screenplay for the yet-to-be filmed action drama, after reading the "Riots" script.  The "Star Wars" director who has been a strong admirer of the history of the Tuskeegee Airmen, will finance and exec produce the film, which has yet to find a director.  Lucas is busy on the fourth "Indiana Jones" film as a producer for Steven Spielberg.  The film is currently in production and will open next May.

(August 26, '07)  Ang Lee's "Lust" too hot for the MPAA

The Motion Picture Association of America has given Ang Lee's new film "Lust, Caution", about love and espionage in Shanghai during wartime, an NC-17 rating (absolutely no children under 17 allowed.)  The film opens selectively in the U.S. on September 28 and expands in October to other U.S. cities.  Focus Features will release the film domestically.  "Lust" producer James Schamus has said that neither he nor Focus will appeal the film's rating and that therefore it will be released as an NC-17 picture.


(August 26, '07)   John Singleton involved in a car fatality on Thursday

John Singleton, the director of such films as "Boyz N The Hood" and "Four Brothers", and producer of films like "Hustle & Flow" and the just-released "Illegal Tender", was involved in a fatal car accident in Los Angeles.  He was driving and a woman ran out in front of him before he could apply the brakes.  The woman, 57, died shortly thereafter.  According to published reports, Singleton was neither speeding nor under the influence.  The director stopped and waited for police to arrive, and Singleton will not be charged. 

(August 23, '07)  Carla Gugino joins the cast of "Righteous Kill"

When the cameras start rolling next month on "Righteous Kill" Carlo Gugino will join Robert De Niro and Al Pacino as a crime-scene investigator with a dubious background, who is involved with De Niro's character.  De Niro and Pacino play New York City police detectives who team up to solve a high-profile crime.  Gugino will be seen alongside Denzel Washington as his wife in the Ridley Scott film "American Gangster", opening in November in the U.S.

(August 23, '07)  Justin Timberlake joins Mike Myers in "Guru"

Mike Myers' comedy "The Love Guru", which starts filming next month in Toronto, will have Justin Timberlake in the mix as the latest cast member to join Marco Schnabel's film.  Verne Troyer, Jessica Alba and Romany Malco are already signed on.

(August 23, '07)  The 32nd Toronto International Film Festival unveils full line-up

The Toronto International Film Festival officially unveiled its full line-up yesterday, with new films from Renny Harlin, Michael Moore, Woody Allen, The Cohen Brothers, Gus Van Sant, Peter Greenaway and many others.  More on the festival soon.  The festival takes place from September 6 through September 15.

(August 22, '07)  Eva Mendes catches "The Spirit"

Eva Mendes joins Frank Miller's "The Spirit", a film about a detective who fakes his own death so that he can fight crime anonymously.  Miller ("Sin City') writes and directs a cast which also includes Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson.  The film will be released in the U.S. and Canada via LionsGate in 2009.

(August 22, '07)  Brothers and Allen

Tim Allen will star in "Brothers" about a racially-mixed pair of adopted brothers forced to team up after being framed for a crime.  Allen will co-write with Matt Carroll.  Allen has been working and wrapping up on numerous film projects, including talks to star again in the sequel to the hit film "Wild Hogs".

(August 22, '07)  Cube ices a "Comeback"

Ice Cube (aka O'Shea Jackson) will star in and produce "Comeback", based on a true story of the first female quarterback in the American boys' high school football team in the history of Pop Warner football.  The Pop Warner tournament was the stage for eleven-year-old Jasmine Plummer, who was the first female player in it.  Cube will play the uncle of the character of Miss Plummer and a former high school football star.  Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst has been attached to direct the film.

(August 20, '07)  Eleven extras injured on "Valkyrie" set in Germany

Reuters reported that eleven people were injured when they fell off the back of a truck during the filming of "Valkyrie", the new Bryan Singer film starring Tom Cruise.  All are expected to recover and return to the set.  "Valkyrie" is about the real-life attempt by a Nazi colonel Claus von Stauffenberg to kill Adolf Hitler in 1944.  Cruise plays the colonel.  The film is expected to open next August in U.S. and Canadian theaters.

(August 20, '07)  Kidman dons a Nazi guise, too

Nicole Kidman will play a woman on trial for Nazi war crimes in the film "The Reader", which will begin shooting very soon.  Ralph Fiennes will play the younger man infatuated by her, unaware of her alleged atrocities.  The film is directed by Stephen Daldry, who directed Kidman to her Oscar-winning role in the 2002 film "The Hours".  Kidman is now on screen in "The Invasion".

(August 20, '07)   Biggs man on dating campus

"Batchelor No. 2", the Lionsgate comedy by Howard Deutsch now filming in Boston, has added a new cast member: "American Pie" star Jason Biggs.  He joins Dane Cook, Kate Hudson and Alec Baldwin.

(August 20, '07)   Acting ensemble in "Victoria'

"The Young Victoria" has added Paul Bettany and Thomas Kretschmann to its cast.  The film is about Lord Melbourne, who helped Queen Victoria handle the royal reigns at the start of what was to be 64 years on the royal throne in England.  Emily Blunt stars in the title role.  Bettany plays Melbourne, while Kretschmann ("The Pianist") plays Victoria's uncle, the rapacious King Leopold of Belgium.  Other cast members for the film, which began shooting last Monday: Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent and Rupert Friend.  The film is directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

(August 20, '07)   IFC's North American "Mistress"

IFC Films has purchased the North American rights to "The Last Mistress", a drama by French director Catherine Breillat.  The film is expected to be released in theaters and on pay-per-view television on the same day.  "Mistress" will also feature at the 45th New York Film Festival next month.


(August 16, '07)  Sid Ganis re-elected as Academy president

Sid Ganis, the Brooklyn, New York-born film executive, has been re-elected to another term as president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.  It is his third term.  Tom Hanks was elected as the Academy's vice-president.


(August 16, '07)  A Plum "Trucker"

Plum Pictures, the all-women film producing company, will produce the independent film "Trucker", which will star Michelle Monaghan as a truck driver who suddenly has to take charge of her estranged young daughter after her ex-husband (Benjamin Bratt) falls ill.  Monaghan obtained a license as a tractor-trailer truck driver especially for the film, prior to its financing, as a tribute to her own excitement and belief in and about the film.  James Mottern, who wrote the script, will make his feature film directing debut with "Trucker", which will also star Joey Lauren Adams, among others.  Plum Pictures also produces the upcoming films "Grace Is Gone" starring John Cusack, and "Great Wall Of Sound", both of which screened at Sundance in January.


(August 16, '07)   New York Film Festival line-up

The 44th edition of this venerable festival arrives in late September and unveiled its line-up yesterday.  "Persepolis" is the closing night film.  More on the festival line-up soon.

(August 14, '07)  Nigeria expels "immoral" actors

An eight-minute video of an actor naked with her boyfriend, shot via a cell phone, has circulated in the Muslim north of Nigeria and prompted an expulsion of all "immoral" actors, by the movie industry body located there, according to Reuters.  The actor herself (whose name has not been released) has gone into hiding, according to Reuters' report yesterday.  The clip, intended strictly for private use, has found its way to numerous cell phone users.  A magazine in the country has said that this was the first instance of indecent exposure involving Hausa-Fulani persons in the public realm in Nigeria.  Nollywood, the highly-successful home video industry, is located in the less conservative Christian south of Nigeria.  The Kano region's Filmmaker Association has expelled 17 actors (unconnected to the cell phone video) believed to have engaged in "immoral and lewd" acts.

(August 13, '07)  The Life of Biggie Smalls, on the big screen

Late rapper and hip-hop legend Christopher Wallace, aka The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, will have his life behind the scenes and beyond his music chronicled on the big screen by director George Tillman, Jr. ("Men Of Honor", "Soul Food") who will direct a biopic on Mr. Wallace.  The hip-hop artist from New York City was gunned down in Los Angeles in the mid-1990's.  The biopic is being done with the blessing of the Wallace family, several of whom are involved in the film's production.  Expect the film to arrive in theaters either in late 2008 or in the early part of 2009.

(August 10, '07)  "Mr. Big" to have big screen "Sex"

Chris Noth has signed on to the big screen version of "Sex In The City", which will begin shooting in New York City in October.  He will reprise his role as smarmer-charmer and heartbreaker Mr. Big.  The main cast members of the HBO television series (Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall) will also star in the film, which is to be released by New Line Cinema and will be directed and written by one of the series' producer-writers Michael Patrick King.

(August 2, '07)  "Shrek" makes a fourth (and fifth) trek

The fourth installment of the animated feature film "Shrek" franchise will be released in North America on May 10, 2010.  The runaway success of the first three films, including the most recent "Shrek The Third" this year (over $720 million worldwide), made the decision for a fourth a no-brainer for Dreamworks Animation.  No word yet on just how many of the cast members will return.  According to Variety, Jeffrey Katzenberg announced during an earnings call that there will also be a fifth "Shrek".

(August 2, '07)   Jingle with Singleton, Berry and Thornton

John Singleton will return to the director's chair after a few years away, to direct "Tulia", the Lionsgate film.  "Monster's Ball" actors Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton will reunite to play the leading roles in the film, with Berry as the title character of the legal drama motion picture.

(August 2, '07)    A "300" sequel to start filming this Fall

Zack Snyder, whose "300" was a big hit worldwide and was released this week on DVD in North America, will be filming a sequel to the film this Fall.  He is currently working on starting up the direction of the film "Watchmen", which will be released on March 9, 2009.

(August 1, '07)  Singing to the sights and sounds of "Hairspray"

Adam Shankman's film has had audiences tapping, dancing and applauding with delight at movie theaters.  Now, beginning on Friday in at least 30 cities in the U.S., audiences can start singing too.  New Line Cinema this week announced special sing-along screenings of "Hairspray".  Special prints that will include on-screen lyric subtitles for each song in the film.  One hundred theaters in the U.S., including in cities such as New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, will have the special prints of the hit film, for one week only.  In a press release issued on Monday, Russell Schwartz, New Line's President of Domestic Marketing said, "this is another great way to celebrate the spirit of the film."  So far "Hairspray" has held its own at the box office, becoming the highest opening ever for a musical in North America box office history with $27 million on its debut weekend last month.  The film stars John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden and Brittany Snow.  More details on the events page shortly.
 

(August 1, '07)  Ricky Gervais retires "Early"

Variety reports that British comedian and actor Ricky Gervais will star in the upcoming Warner Brothers film comedy "Early Retirement".  The film is about a middle-aged man who retires from his job to spend more time with his family. 

(July 26, '07)   "Lives" actor Ulrich Muhe passes at age 54

The actor Ulrich Muhe, whose tremendous performance in "The Lives Of Others" won him the Best Actor award at the European Film Awards last year, has passed away in Germany.  He was 54.  Muhe, who played Gerhard Wiesler in Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's Oscar-winning film this year in the U.S., was being treated for stomach cancer.  He passed away at his home on Sunday.  Muhe, who had attended the Oscars back in February, is survived by his wife and two kids, as well as a child from a previous marriage.


(July 26, '07)    Heinrich Fischer, father of Claudia Fischer, passes away

Reports from various publications confirm that Heinrich Fischer, father of supermodel and actor Claudia Fischer, has passed away in France of a heart attack.  He was 70.  According to Starpulse, he was on a golf course playing a round with friends when he collapsed on Tuesday in the German-France border town of Bitche.  Mr. Schiffer was a retired lawyer and is survived by his wife, and four children, including Claudia.  The supermodel who lives in London with "Stardust" director-husband Matthew Vaughn, will be in France today.  Arrangements are being made to have a private funeral in Germany.
 

(July 25, '07)  Jim Carrey just says yes to "Yes"

The opportunistic Jim Carrey accepts the invitation to "Yes Man", a story about a man that just can't turn anything down.  Carrey will begin filming the film, to be directed by Peyton Reed ("The Break-Up") in October.  "The Number 23" star has a multitude of film opportunities over the last few months, including "I Love You, Philip Morris", "A Christmas Carol", "Solar Buddies", "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!"  (Tim Burton), "Me Time", and "Horton Hears A Who".  Carrey also ankled two projects: "A Little Game" and "Used Guys".

(July 25, '07)   Salt of the earth for Cruise?

Tom Cruise may or may not be starring in "Edwin A. Salt", based on the novel Kurt Wimmer spy novel, which Terry George ("Hotel Rwanda") is in negotiations with Columbia Pictures to direct.  Cruise, who is currently in Germany filming Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie", would play a CIA officer accused of being a spy for the Soviets by a defector.  Cruise will next appear on the big screen in "Lions For Lambs" in North America opposite Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in the Redford-directed political drama, on November 9.


(July 25, '07)   Schumacher to remake?

"The Number 23" director Joel Schumacher is currently in negotiations to direct the American remake of "Breaking News", about an opportunistic police inspector who milks the defeat of his own police officers a the hands of bank robbers for ratings on live broadcast television news.  Schumacher's next film is the horror flick "Town Creek".

(July 17, '07)  "Mandy Lane" a goner for Weinstein

"All The Boys Love Mandy Lane", a horror film that had been scheduled to open this Friday, has had its North American distribution rights sold by The Weinstein Company to German film distributor Senator Entertainment.  "Mandy Lane" had not screened for the press nor advertised in the U.S. and now Senator, which picked up the German distribution rights last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, will release the film in the U.S. and Canada early in 2008.   Production just wrapped on Senator's new acquisition "Fireflies In The Garden", directed by Dennis Lee.  The film features a cast that includes Willem Dafoe, Julia Roberts, Carrie-Anne Moss and Emily Watson.

(July 17, '07)   Jared Leto's a "Mr. Nobody"

Jared Leto will star as a 120-year-old man reminiscing about romance and marriage real and imagined in the romantic film drama directed by Jaco Van Dormael, a Belgian making his English-language debut.  Sarah Polley, the Canadian actor who made her directing debut earlier this year with "Away From Her", will co-star as the wife of Leto's character.

(July 11, '07)  Kevin Spacey in "Superman" sequel

The thespian and double Oscar winner will star in the sequel to Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" as Lex Luthor once again.  According to Variety, Spacey will film for six weeks after next April.  The new film, "Superman: Man Of Steel" is expected in 2009.  Spacey is currently filming in London on the production "Telstar", directed by Nick Moran based on the director's play about Joe Meek, the gay, tone-death music producer-songwriter from England.  Mr. Spacey will play Major Banks, Meek's financier.


(July 11, '07)   Feet don't fail me now!  A new "Footloose"

Zac Efron, who will have plenty to dance about very soon in "Hairspray", will start filming a new version of "Footloose".  Twenty-three years after the smash hit that starred Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer, the new film will be directed by Kenny Ortega.


(July 11, '07)    Drac's back

Alex Proyas will direct "Dracula Year Zero" about the origins of Vlad The Impaler.  The film is being produced by Michael De Luca for Universal Pictures.  No word yet on any casting.

(July 9, '07)    Kevin Costner gets the "Swing" of things

Variety also reports that Kevin Costner joins the cast of the political comedy "Swing Vote", which begins filming in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 23.  Costner plays a working class father whose vote will decide the U.S. presidential election.  Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, George Lopez, Stanley Tucci and Madeline Carroll round out the cast.  Joshua Michael Stern directs.


(July 9, '07)      Phil Donahue's "Body Of War" set to make festival appearance

Phil Donahue, the American TV talk show host, has co-directed "Body Of War", a documentary about the missteps and relentless pushing for the Iraq invasion.  Variety reports that the doc is especially critical of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who reportedly repeats White House talking points while in the Senate.  The film also looks at a wounded U.S. soldier from Iraq who returns stateside to try to adjust back to civilian life.  "Body Of War", also directed by Ellen Spiro, is expected to be an entry in either the Venice or Toronto film festivals later this year.

(June 23, '07)   Morgan Freeman to play Nelson Mandela on the big screen

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman will next play Nelson Mandela, former political prisoner and president of South Africa, in an upcoming film entitled "The Human Factor", based upon the upcoming book by John Carlin of the same name, with the additional subtitle "Nelson Mandela and the game that changed the world."   Anthony Peckham, the South African screenwriter who penned "Don't Say A Word", adapted the Carlin book into a screenplay.  Freeman will co-produce along with Lori McCreary and Mace Neufeld.  Freeman can currently be seen as God in "Evan Almighty" and will next be seen in "Feast Of Love" this Fall in the U.S.  Freeman recently wrapped filming on Rob Reiner's "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson.


(June 23, '07)   Tom Cruise to play a Nazi general in his next film

Tom Cruise will next appear on the big screen this November in the U.S. and Canada in Robert Redford's "Lions For Lambs" as a U.S. senator up against Meryl Streep and Mr. Redford.  Following that he will play a Nazi general under the command of Hitler in "Valkyrie".  According to The Huffington Post, the actor (or at least the production company) has hired a prosthetics expert.  Mr. Cruise's character will lose limbs and an eye in the film, which will be directed by Bryan Singer ("X-Men", "X-Men 2", "Superman Returns".)


(June 23, '07)   Film critic suffers a fatal heart attack during screening of "A Mighty Heart"

The headline may be a cruel joke or filed under "stranger than fiction", but the sad truth is that Anderson Jones, 38, a former film critic for such media outlets as E Online and CNN Headline News, died from a fatal heart attack in Los Angeles on Thursday night at a promotional screening of the new Angelina Jolie film at the ArcLight Theater.  According to Variety, Mr. Jones, who last freelanced at publications like Emmy mag and Lavender, had health problems.



(June 23, '07)  Toronto International Film Festival line-up taking shape

The event is not until September, but the Toronto International Film Festival line up is emerging.  Films like the Palm D'Or-winning film "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" will be screened, as will David Cronenberg's new film "Eastern Promises" and the Coen Brothers' film "No Country For Old Men".  "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", Shekhar Kapur's follow-up to his original "Elizabeth", will once again star Cate Blanchett in the title role, Francois Girard's "Silk", with Keira Knightley, Jeremy Podeswa's "Fugitive Pieces", Hou Hsiao Hsien's "Flight Of The Red Balloon", and Bruce McDonald's "The Tracey Fragments" are all being screened at this year's Toronto Film Fest, which unspools from September 6 through 15.

(June 21, '07)   Kate Hudson to star in "Bachelor No. 2"

Kate Hudson will star with Dane Cook in the romantic comedy "Bachelor No. 2", it was revealed yesterday.  Cook can currently be seen on the big screen in "Mr. Brooks".  "Bachelor is about a man hired by other men who have been dismissed by ex-girlfriends to date them taking them on nightmare dates in order to effect a return to the prior man they dumped.  Cook's character becomes entangled with his best friend's ex-girlfriend.  The film will begin shooting in August in Boston and is directed by Howard Deutsch and written by Jordan B. Cahan.


(June 20, '07)   But Jim Broadbent says yes

"Indiana Jones 4" which opens next summer (May 2008) will feature Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent as a Yale University professor.  The film started filming on Monday in New Mexico according to Variety.  Steven Spielberg is at the helm once again, with George Lucas producing once again.  "Indiana Jones 4" will be Spielberg's first film in three years.  His last was "Munich".  Next year, Lucas will also release his new "Star Wars" film in May.

(June 8, '07)     Sean Connery says no

Sean Connery reportedly will not appear in next year's "Indiana Jones 4".  Director Steven Spielberg had tried to get the Scottish acting legend, who appeared in "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade" back in 1989.


(June 8, '07)     Tea Leoni jumps to "Ghost Town"

Leoni joins Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear in a comedy about a dentist who dies for seven minutes during a colonoscopy.  Kinnear plays a ghost, who begs the dentist (Gervais) to break up the imminent marriage of the ghost's widow (Leoni).  David Koepp will write and direct.  Leoni will next appear in "You Kill Me", directed by John Dahl, on June 22 in the U.S.
 

(June 8, '07)     "Unstoppable" Campbell?

"Casino Royale" director Martin Campbell is in talks to direct "Unstoppable", a film about a runaway train packed with deadly toxic chemicals.  "Live Free Or Die Hard" screenwriter Mark Bomback will pen the "Unstoppable" screenplay.
 

(June 7, '07)     Spike Lee to direct World War Two drama in Italy

Filmmaker Spike Lee will film an adaptation of novelist James McBride's book "Miracle Of St. Anna", about a true story about four black American soldiers from the U.S. Army's 92nd All-Black Division who were trapped in a Tuscan village in 1944 while fighting against the Nazis and facing racism from their own superiors.  McBride will pen the screenplay of the film, which will be shot next year at World War Two locations in Tuscany.  The film will be produced by Luigi Musini and Roberto Ciccuto and will be a big-budget film.  Said the director in an interview with the Italian publication La Repubblica on Wednesday: "I met a black veteran who fought at Iwo Jima, and he told me how disappointed he was that there was not even one Afro-American (soldier) in Clint Eastwood's two films."  Last week, Spike Lee and Paramount Pictures were able to secure Wesley Snipes to play the legendary James Brown in a biopic that Lee will likely direct sometime next year or in 2009.

(June 7, '07)     Tyler Perry to film "Meet The Browns"

The director who has helmed the films "Diary Of A Mad Black Woman", "Madea's Family Reunion" and most recently this year's "Daddy's Little Girls", will direct and star in "Meet The Browns", about a single mother who meets with the family of the father she never knew.  The film is based on Mr. Perry's own stage play and will begin production later this summer in Atlanta at Perry's own studios.  Perry's film "Why Did I Get Married", will be released by LionsGate on November 16.  Earlier this year Perry signed a multi-year film production deal with LionsGate.
 

(June 7, '07)     All in the "Same" boat

Naomi Watts is set to star in "We Are All The Same" based on Jim Wooten's book about the true story of Gail Johnson, a white South African woman who adopts a black child with AIDS and travels the world to give voice to his plight and raise awareness.  Keir Pearson, who co-wrote "Hotel Rwanda", is adapting Wooten's book for the big screen.  Wooten is a ABC News Nightline correspondent.  Next on the big screen for Watts: "Eastern Promises", directed by David Cronenberg.


(June 7, '07)      Bourne Again: Damon and Greengrass

While "The Bourne Ultimatum" arrives in theaters in August, the film's star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass are expected to collaborate on a film adaptation of "Imperial Life In The Emerald City", according to Variety.  The film is about the invasion of Iraq, based on Rajiv Chandrasekaran's book.  Damon is expected to play a composite character based on people in the book.  Damon will appear onscreen starting tomorrow in the U.S. in "Ocean's Thirteen".
 

(June 4, '07)     Jim Carrey loves "Phillip Morris"

And lest anyone be confused, the Morris here is NOT the tobacco company (which has one less 'l' in its first name than the title of the upcoming film does.)  Mr. Carrey will star in the bleak and edgy comedy about the fact-based story of a married man who is incarcerated and falls in love with his cellmate in a Texas prison.  When the cellmate is released, Mr. Carrey, who plays Steven Russell, attempts four escapes from the prison to be by the cellmate's side.  The movie, titled "I Love You, Phillip Morris", is written by the same team that brought the world "Bad Santa".  According to published reports, the film was pitched to studios as "Catch Me If You Can" meets "Brokeback Mountain".


(June 4, '07)     It's "Year One" for Jack Black

Jack Black will next star in "Year One", a comedy which will be directed by Harold Ramis, with Judd Apatow producing.  Ramis appeared in Apatow's current hit comedy "Knocked Up".  "Year One" will be executive-produced by Owen Wilson.

(May 31, '07)    Abigail Breslin's "American Girl Mystery" Starts Today

The "Little Miss Sunshine" Oscar-nominee stars in Patricia Rozema's "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery", which begins filming today in Toronto for the next five weeks.  The film, written by Ann Peacock ("Chronicles Of Narnia") is about a smart, resourceful ten-year-old Kit Kittredge who grows up during the ADepression Era in Cincinnati in 1934.  The cast includes Glenne Headly, Joan Cusack, Jane Krakowski, Chris O'Donnell, Julia Ormond, Wallace Shawn and Stanley Tucci.  "Kit Kittredge" will be produced by HBO Films, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, American Girl president Ellen L. Brothers, in association with Red Om Films' Lisa Gillan.  Red Om Films' Julia Roberts will be the film's executive producer, while Terry Gould and Marisa Yeres will serve as co-producers for the film, which will be released on July 2, 2008 in North America by Picturehouse.


(May 30, '07)    Aaron Eckhart to start "Traveling"

Aaron Eckhart is set to play a widower whose grieving is translated into a book that makes him a major phenomenon.  The film, "Traveling", will start filming early in 2008.
 

(May 29, '07)    Keira Knightley to play Princess Diana?

Reports say that the "Pirates" star is reportedly the number one choice to play Princess Diana in a film about the late Princess of Wales' life.  A book entitled Diana And The Paparazzi is reportedly being bid on for movie rights.  Stay tuned.

(May 29, '07)    Lindsay Lohan, Rosario Dawson, Channing Tatum join "Poor Things"

The trio have joined the Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis in Ash Baron Cohen's "Poor Things" the comedy based on real-life accounts of senior citizen con-games, crimes and swindles.  The film begins lensing tomorrow.  Lohan can currently be seen in "Georgia Rule", and Dawson in "Grindhouse", and the upcoming "Descent" (not to be confused with the horror movie.)
 

(May 25, '07)    Matt Damon to Jason Bourne: No Mas

This week at Cannes, Matt Damon made it clear: no more "Bourne" for him.  Saying at a press conference for "Ocean's Thirteen" that he is finished with playing Jason Bourne in the "Bourne" films.  Robert Ludlum's books have been successfully translated into big box-office hits on the big screen, and while Mr. Damon anticipates that the August 3 U.S. release of "The Bourne Ultimatum" will cement the series with another worldwide response in movie houses.  Mr. Damon's character is a focal point of "Ocean's Thirteen", which features the additions of Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino.  Steven Soderberg's film opens on June 8 in the U.S.
 

(May 22, '07)    Hugo Chavez gives Danny Glover $18 million to finance "Toussaint"

In a recent visit to Venezuela, embattled president Hugo Chavez gave actor-activist Danny Glover $18 million to finance Mr. Glover's directing debut about the Haitian slave revolt against the French colonialists in the 1800's.  Toussaint L'Ouverture led fellow enslaved Haitians to overthrow invading French forces in the first successful revolution and independence by enslaved blacks in their land of Haiti, the country due south east of the U.S. and Cuba.  The epic film will begin filming in Venezuela and South Africa soon, and is reportedly set to star Don Cheadle, Angela Bassett and Wesley Snipes.  Mr. Glover will next be seen in "Bamako", which opens on Friday, June 1 in the U.S.
 

(May 20, '07)    Robert De Niro and Al Pacino on the big screen together again

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro will share prolonged screen time in the upcoming film "Righteous Killing" as police detectives teaming up to hunt down a serial killer.  Avi Lerner, studio head of Millennium Films, the independent film production company based in Los Angeles, said that the New York-based actors will be on screen "for virtually the whole film", which is expected to begin filming in New York and Connecticut in August.  Mr. De Niro and Mr. Pacino shared screen time in Michael Mann's 1995 film epic "Heat" as adversaries, and were in the same film though not at the same time, in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather Part Two". 
 

(Apr. 28, '07)    "Grind"-ing separately in the U.K. and elsewhere: "Death Proof" and "Planet Terror"

The Weinsteins (Bob and Harvey) will be releasing "Grindhouse" as two separate entities in all other countries.  In the U.S. this month, "Grindhouse" fared poorly at the box-office as a double-bill lasting over three hours with both "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof".  Now the two films will be released separately outside the U.S.  "Death Proof" will be released in the U.K. on September 21.  "Planet Terror" is expected to follow later in the year.  "Death Proof" directed by Quentin Tarantino, will be shown in competition at next month's 60th Cannes Film Festival in an extended version of the theatrical release that was in U.S. theaters.


(Apr. 28, '07)    Frank Langella in talks to star as Richard Nixon in Ron Howard's film adaptation

Ron Howard's film "Frost-Nixon", an adaptation of Peter Morgan's London play about the famous interview between British television news interview legend David Frost and former U.S. president Richard Nixon, will begin filming in August, and Frank Langella is expected to reprise his role as the president from the play in which he starred.  Michael Sheen is expected to reprise his role from the play for Mr. Howard's new film.  Sheen plays Frost.  Sheen played prime minister Tony Blair in Stephen Frears' "The Queen", which Mr. Morgan also scripted.


(Apr. 27, '07)   Jack Valenti passes at age 85

The supremo behind the Motion Picture Association of America passed away yesterday following complications suffered from a stroke in March.  Jack Valenti was a close White House aide to U.S. president Lyndon Johnson in the 1960's and earned a reputation for being one of the most loyal servants in the Johnson Administration.  Mr. Valenti, who was born in Texas, started a public relations firm which had done work for Johnson prior to Valenti's appointment as a staff aide to Johnson.  Valenti graduated from high school at the tender age of 15, and went on to get an MBA degree from Harvard.  As an Army Air Corps pilot he flew more than 50 combat missions during World War Two. 

Mr. Valenti uncharacteristically criticized Oliver Stone's "JFK" film in 1992, while still head of the MPAA.  The MPAA itself continues to be controversial, with its ratings for movies hotly debated by many filmmakers whose films have been given ratings that were viewed as harsh or by some standards, weaker than deserved (in the case of highly violent fare.)  Mr. Valenti had a decorated career and spearheaded changes in the way that movies were viewed prior to awards consideration, banning screeners because of piracy fears, prompting protestations from some independent filmmakers.  The ban was eventually lifted via a court-ordered injunction, however.  Valenti was the recipient of the French Legion of Honor award for his work and endeavors in the motion picture industry.

Mr. Valenti is survived by his wife, three children and two grandchildren.


(Apr. 27, '07)   X-Men spin-offs: "Magneto", "Wolverine"

Both X-Men characters are being made into specific character vehicles.  After "Wolverine" was announced earlier last year (Hugh Jackman will retain his "X-Men" role as the title character), yesterday came news that "Magneto" will be directed by David Goyer, who penned the script for "Batman Begins" and will also help shape the "Magneto" script.  The next year or so will be a big one for Marvel Comics-based superhero films.  Next week, "Spider-Man 3" opens worldwide; on June 15 ("The Rise Of The Silver Surfer" opens) and next year (May 2, 2008) "Iron Man" (Robert Downey, Jr. and Terrence Howard) opens, as does the new "The Incredible Hulk" (June 13, 2008) movie.

(Apr. 26, '07)   Just take "All of Me": Queen Latifah to star in a remake

Queen Latifah will star and executive produce a remake of the 1984 hit comedy "All Of Me", which starred Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin and was directed by Carl Reiner.  The film was about an heiress who inhabits the body of a successful attorney.  Adam Shankman is expected to direct the new film.  Shankman has previously directed Queen Latifah in the hit comedy "Bringing Down The House", in which she starred alongside Steve Martin, and in the upcoming comedy-musical "Hairspray", with John Travolta, which opens on July 20.


(Apr. 26, '07)   Don Granger tapped as United Artists head of production

Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner have tapped Don Granger as the head of production for United Artists in its continuing efforts to revitalize and reinvigorate the film company.  One of UA's first releases will be this November's "Lions For Lambs", which will star Cruise, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, with Redford directing.


(Apr. 26, '07)   Clint Eastwood to be honored by Film Independent

On June 28, actor, producer, composer, writer and director Clint Eastwood will be honored by Film Independent at the Los Angeles Film Festival.  The two-time Oscar winning best director recipient will receive the Spirit Of Independence Award.  Said Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent: "We are thrilled to celebrate this remarkable artist for his independent voice and daring career choices that have been an inspiration to filmmakers and film lovers alike."  Tony Bennett, who is the subject of a documentary that Mr. Eastwood executive produced, will present the director with the award.

(Apr. 25, '07)   Alec Baldwin says goodbye to CAA

Alec Baldwin has decided to release CAA (Creative Arts Agency) from its representation of the actor, who has been having a sensational last 12 months with performances in last year's "The Departed" and "The Good Shepherd".  Earlier this year, Mr. Baldwin won a Screen Actors Guild award for his role in the television series "30 Rock".  Last week, Mr. Baldwin's dirty laundry was aired publicly when someone released a recording of a voice message in which the actor laced into his 11-year-old daughter with an angry tirade, which was also aimed at ex-wife Kim Basinger.  Baldwin has since apologized.  He has not sought any subsequent representation for his film, stage and screen career.


(Apr. 25, '07)   "Spider-Man 3" web-guarded by Sony

Recent reports suggested that "Spider-Man 3" had already been pirated on DVD in China.  The discs apparently do not work.  Sony Pictures issued a press release stating that the film had not been pirated and that there have not been any sales, or instances of pirated copies of the new film on the Internet.  "Spider-Man 3" open in parts of Asia and Europe on May 1. 



(Apr. 23, '07)    "Disturbia" stays on top of the North American box office this past weekend

Suburbia remained the place to be over the weekend of April 20-22 as "Disturbia" stayed at number one for the second consecutive weekend.  The Shia LeBeouf-David Morse starrer scared up another $13 million over the weekend.  "Fracture" was the only new film to break into the top five, finishing with just over $11.2 million.  This coming weekend, films like "The Invisible" and "Next", which stars Nicolas Cage, are expected to be a strong challenge to "Disturbia" before "Spider-Man 3" hits the big screen worldwide on May 4.


(Apr. 23, '07)      Jean-Pierre Cassel dies at age 74

One of France's most renowned actors died on Sunday after a long illness.  Jean-Pierre Cassel, who was also a singer and a dancer, was 74.  He was in such films as Luis Bunuel's classic 1972 satirical comedy-drama "The Discreet Charm of The Bourgeoisie" and the Agatha Christie inspired "Murder On The Orient Express" and appeared in numerous Philippe De Broca comedies in the 1950's and '60's.  He is the father of actor Vincent Cassel and father-in-law of Italian actor Monica Bellucci.  He is also survived by two other children, Cecile and Matthias.


(Apr. 23, '07)     Holy Smoke House!  It's All By George as Clooney secures rights via Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers secured the rights to Rachel Boynton's political documentary "Our Brand Is Crisis".   George Clooney's Smoke House production company will produce, with the possibility that the Oscar-winning actor will also star and direct.


(Apr. 23, '07)    "Best Time" for Miller

Sienna Miller (most recently seen in "Factory Girl" in the U.S.) will star in "The Best Time Of Our Lives", which will begin shooting next month in Wales.  Originally, Lindsay Lohan was set to star but she and the film's financiers could not agree on terms.  The film, which is to be directed by John Maybury, also stars Keira Knightley (of the "Pirates" trilogy), Cillian Murphy ("The Wind That Shakes The Barley") and Matthew Rhys. 


(Apr. 20, '07)   Sequel to "Sisterhood"

A sequel to the hit 2005 film "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" is set to start production in June, according to Warner Brothers, which released the original film.  Each of the cast members from the 2005 film, including America Ferreira, are in talks to return for the second film.  "Something New" director Sanaa Hamri will direct the sequel.


(Apr. 19, '07)   The 60th Cannes Film Festival Unveils Its Lineup

Today the Cannes Film Festival unveiled its complete line-up for its 60th edition which begins on May 16.  As expected, Wong Kar-Wai's first English language film, "My Blueberry Nights" opens the festival.  Twenty-one films are in competition, including at least six entries from American filmmakers.  Sixteen films will be in the Un Certain Regard competition, including Carmen Castillo's "Calle Santa Fe" and Barbet Schroeder's "L'Avocat De La Terreur".  In the short film competition are eleven entries from ten countries, with two films from the U.S.  Screening out of competition are three American films: Michael Moore's "Sicko", a documentary on the U.S. healthcare system, Steven Soderberg's "Ocean's Thirteen" and Michael Winterbottom's "A Mighty Heart", based on Marianne Pearl's book about the assassination of her husband Daniel Pearl, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, in Pakistan in 2002.


(Apr. 19, '07)   TNT and TBS re-up for the 14th Screen Actors Guild Awards

The Screen Actors Guild Awards will again be simulcast on American cable television networks TNT and TBS, next January 27, Steve Koonin (president of Turner Entertainment Networks) and Doug Allen (the national executive director of SAG) announced today.  TNT has broadcast the Screen Actors Guild Awards since 1998, and TBS has simulcast the awards for the last two Guild Awards shows.  The contract to broadcast and simulcast the awards was renewed for another year.  The nominations for the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be announced on Thursday, December 20, 2007.


(Apr. 18, '07)   Ashley Judd makes a "Crossing"

Ashley Judd joins the cast of The Weinstein Company film "Crossing Over".  The immigration U.S.-Mexico border crossing drama also stars Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, Sean Penn and Cliff Curtis.  Judd will play an immigration defense attorney who tries to arrange the adoption of a Nigerian girl.  The film is set in Los Angeles.  "Crossing Over" is directed by Wayne Kramer and will begin shooting in L.A. this month. 


(Apr. 18, '07)   For Joel Schumacher, it's one if by "Inland"

The illustrious director Joel Schumacher who last directed "The Number 23", will next direct "Inland Saints", with Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing.  "Inland Saints" is a contemporary urban love story and drama about two teenagers from different backgrounds finding love against all expectations and obstacles.


(Apr. 18, '07)   For Bana and McAdams, it's about "Time"

Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams will be defying time in the upcoming film "The Time Traveler's Wife", directed by Robert Schwentke.  The film, adapted from the best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger is about a Chicago librarian who when under duress and stress travels to other times and places.  The film is expected to begin filming in August.  New Line Cinema is releasing the film in the U.S.


(Apr. 18, '07)   Jett set for "Neon"

Floria Sigismondi will write and direct "Neon Angels", a gritty, hard-edged independent film about The Runaways a 1970's all-woman rock band that featured such future hit-making musicians as Joan Jett.  The Runaways were titillating and talented musicians whose success abroad outweighed their success in America, as many in the U.S. were distracted by their racy clothing.  The film is expected to get an R-rating.  Joan Jett will be one of the film's executive producers.


(Apr. 17, '07)    "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End" to have its World Premiere at Disneyland

"Pirates" fans should mark Saturday, May 19 on their calendars, for that is the date that the new "Pirates" film has its World Premiere -- which will be a star-studded event to benefit and raise $3 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The film will show at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.  All of the new film's major stars (Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Chow Yun-Fat, Naomie Harris, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Jonathan Pryce) are expected to attend.  Individual tickets for the World Premiere and the gala celebration of the film, priced at $1,500 per ticket, are available for the public to buy here.


(Apr. 17, '07)    Denzel engages "The Great Debaters"

Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington will next month begin directing "The Great Debaters", which he and fellow Oscar winner Forest Whitaker will star in.  The Weinstein Company film is based on the real-life events that took place when an unheralded small-town debate team from East Texas that eventually challenges Harvard's championship debaters.  Mr. Whitaker is from East Texas.  "The Great Debaters" begins filming next month in Louisiana.  Denzel Washington will next be seen in "American Gangster" in November, and Forest Whitaker will star in several films, including "Winged Creatures".  Mr. Washington made his directorial debut with "Antwone Fisher" in 2002.


(Apr. 17, '07)   "My Blueberry Nights" likely to open the upcoming Cannes Film Festival

Wong Kar-wai's first English language film, "My Blueberry Nights" is expected to be the opening night film for the 60th Cannes Film Festival on May 16.  The film stars Grammy-Award winning artist Norah Jones, Oscar- winner Rachel Weisz, and Oscar-nominees Jude Law and Natalie Portman (both of whom were last seen onscreen together in Mike Nichols' "Closer".)  The opening night film and all other films for this year's Cannes Film Festival will officially be announced on Thursday.


(Apr. 17, '07)    Isaiah Washington to star in "The Least Of These"

Isaiah Washington, whose anti-gay comments caused his banishment from the award-winning hit TV show "Grey's Anatomy", will star in an independent film thriller called "The Least Of These."  He will play a troubled Catholic priest.


(Apr. 17, '07)    "Child" play: Ridley Scott wins the right to direct "Child 44"

The director of the forthcoming November release "American Gangster", Ridley Scott yesterday acquired the rights to the yet-to-be published debut novel by Tom Rob Smith, "Child 44".  The book will be published sometime next year.  The film is set in Russia during the time of Stalin and involves a secret police member who is framed for treason by a colleague.  He launches his own rogue investigation of a series of child killings while on the run with his estranged wife, risking capture and death in the process.  Meanwhile, Scott's next directing project is "Penetration", based on the book "Body Of Lies", by David Ignatius.  "Penetration" is about modern day espionage, intelligence operations and terrorism.  The film is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio, and is adapted by Oscar-winning scribe William Monahan ("The Departed").  "Penetration" begins shooting in August.
 

(Apr. 17, '07)   Chow Down and Out of "Red Cliff"

Due to the failure of a bond company to guarantee his agreement Chow Yun-Fat, soon to be seen in the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" has left the set of John Woo's big-budget film "Red Cliff" after three days of filming.   Woo will direct around the absence of the film's leading man.


(Apr. 17, '07)   "Spider-Man 3" spins its web in Japan

Yesterday "Spider-Man 3" had its gala red-carpet World Premiere in Japan, as Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Thomas Haden Church and various other cast members attended.  American golf star Michelle Wie also attended, as did Bulgarian-born sumo wrestling sensation Kotooshu.  "Spider-Man 3" opens in Japan and several other Asian countries on May 1, and in France, Germany and several other European countries also on May 1, with its North American debut on May 4.


(Apr. 17, '07)   "Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day" lenses this week in the U.K.

The comedy "Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day" begins filming this week in the U.K., announced Focus Features CEO James Schamus yesterday.  The Oscar-winning actor Frances McDormand stars as the title character.  Set in 1939, Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, is unfairly terminated from her job but gets swept up in high-soceity affairs when applying for a new job.  McDormand co-executive produces the film, which is directed by Bharat Nalluri (director of the television mini-series "Tsunami: The Aftermath".)  The film adapted from a novel by Winifred Watson, also stars Amy Adams, Ciaran Hinds, Shirley Henderson, and Lee Pace, among others.


(Apr. 17, '07)   It's a date!  The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards date is set

Yesterday it was announced that the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be held on Sunday, January 13 in Los Angeles.


(Apr. 17, '07)   In AIDS awareness event in New Delhi, Richard Gere's long kiss sparks protests

Richard Gere apologized yesterday for his repeated and prolonged kisses (last Sunday) of Shilpa Shetty, the 31-year-old Bollywood actor who won Britain's "Celebrity Big Brother" television contest during the much-publicized episodes of racism that she suffered on the show earlier this year.  Shetty said that Gere was re-enacting his scenes from "Shall We Dance?", which he starred in with Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon, and meant no offense.  He apologized to Shetty and asked for her to apologize on his behalf to the media and to people who found his actions offensive.  Protests occurred throughout parts of India, where some burned both actors in effigy and made death threats to the actors.  The AIDS awareness event was done to promote safer sex among the population of India's truck drivers among whom HIV-AIDS infection rates have been rapidly increasing.  The truckers reportedly have sex with prostitutes and then infect their wives at home.  "No condoms, no sex," the 58-year-old Gere during the event.


(Apr. 17, '07)   Outside Man: Clive Owen to star in "The International"

The Oscar-nominee Clive Owen (who starred in last year's "Inside Man") will play an Interpol agent investigating coruption at international banking institutions, in the action-thriller which starts filming in September.  The film is expected to be released late next year or in 2009.


(Apr. 16, '07)    Bruce Banner, meet Edward Norton

Edward Norton, the Oscar-nominated actor last seen in the film "The Painted Veil" in December in the U.S., will play Bruce Banner and Hulk in "The Incredible Hulk", which begins filming this summer in Toronto and will be in theaters on June 13, 2008.  The new "Hulk" movie -- which has no relation to Ang Lee's film entitled "Hulk" from 2003 -- will be directed by Louis Leterrier.  Mr. Norton will next be seen in "Pride And Glory", opposite Colin Farrell.


(Apr. 16, '07)   And the Companion Of The Order Of Australia Goes To . . .

. . . Nicole Kidman.  Last Friday, Kidman was awarded the Companion Of The Order Of Australia at Government House in Canberra, for her efforts to promote women's health and her acting in films.  The award is the equivalent of a knighthood in England.  It is Australia's highest honor, given for an Australian citizen's "eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large."


(Apr. 15, '07)   Rachel Weisz bails on "The Mummy 3"

Due to a scheduling conflict, Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz ("The Constant Gardener") has had to drop out of the third "Mummy" film, which is scheduled to be released next year.  Weisz had played the wife of Brendan Fraser's character in the first two films.


(Apr. 15, '07)   "Disturbia" in suburbia -- number one superb-ia

"Disturbia" soared in its opening weekend at the North American box-office for the weekend of April 13-15 with a $23 million gross.  The film stars Shia LaBoeuf, who will next be seen in "Transformers" and will also be in next year's "Indiana Jones 4".


(Apr. 15, '07)   "Bean" there, done that

"Mr. Bean's Holiday" has been stupendous at the international box office -- after just three weeks it has grossed $127 million.  The film edged out the worldwide smash "300" over the Easter holiday, returning to the top spot with $18 million (vs. $14.8 million for "300".)  "Holiday" stars Rowan Atkinson and will open in the U.S. in September or October.


(Apr. 14, '07)   Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway "Get Smart"

"Get Smart", the film based on the popular television series, has just started filming, Warner Brothers announced earlier this week.  Steve Carell ("Little Miss Sunshine" and the upcoming "Evan Almighty") and Anne Hathaway ("The Devil Wears Prada" and the upcoming "Becoming Jane").  Carell will star as Maxwell Smart and Hathaway will star as Agent 99.  Other stars include Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Agent 23 and "Little Miss Sunshine" Oscar-winner Alan Arkin as the Chief of Control.


(Apr. 14, '07)   Shia LaBeouf joins the cast of "Indiana Jones 4"

The actor, who stars in the new film "Disturbia", will join the cast of the Steven Spielberg-directed and George Lucas-produced "Indiana Jones 4", it was announced this week.  The film which is set to begin filming within the next two months, is expected to have both Cate Blanchett and Ray Winstone joining Harrison Ford.  LaBeouf is rumored to be playing Indiana Jones' son.  Reportedly Sean Connery is being coaxed by Spielberg to return as Indiana's father.  The long-awaited sequel opens in May 2008.


(Apr. 7, '07)    "Spider-Man 3" will make its U.S. premiere in Queens, New York on April 30 as part of the Tribeca Film Festival

In what is reported to be the first-ever film premiere spectacle in Queens, New York, the Tribeca Film Festival announced earlier this week that the Spider-Man character Peter Parker's hometown of Queens, New York would be the place where the U.S. premiere of "Spider-Man 3" will occur on April 30.  The film's lead stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will be joined by a marching band and will stop in at each of the 14 screens of the UA Astoria 14 -- all of which will be holding special previews of the film.  Some 3,000 total audience members are expected to populate the theater for the screenings ahead of the May 4 worldwide release date.  "Spider-Man 3" will also be unspooling simultaneously in New York City's four other boroughs of The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island.  Ticket information for the other boroughs will be available shortly and The Popcorn Reel will announce it here.  The film is directed by Sam Raimi.  The Tribeca Film Festival is based in New York City and is in its sixth year and was founded by Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff and Robert De Niro.  This year's Tribeca Film Festival takes place from April 25-May 6. 


(Apr. 6, '07)     Disney and Keith don't mix

Disney executives are apparently not happy at alleged remarks made by Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones and have decided to curtail his publicity for the upcoming "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End", in which he appears in a cameo role as Captain Jack Sparrow's father.  The Los Angeles Times reported that Disney execs were uncomfortable at Mr. Richards' remarks.  In an interview published in British magazine New Music Express (NME) the venerable Rolling Stone guitarist and vocalist, whose extensive drug use is no secret, is quoted as saying, "the strangest thing I've tried to snort?  My father.  I snorted my father.  He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow.  My dad wouldn't have cared . . . It went down pretty well, and I'm still alive."  Keith Richards later stated that the comments he made were a joke and added on the Rolling Stones' official website that "the complete story is lost in the usual slanting. . . I wouldn't take cocaine at this point in my life unless I wanted to commit suicide."

(Apr. 5, '07)     Martin Scorsese at Cannes' 60th birthday

The Oscar-winning director will be attending the 60th Cannes Film Festival as part of a special ceremony honoring him as guest of honor.  "The Golden Compass" which opens worldwide on December 7 will have selected scenes shown, while a U2 concert documentary by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington is expected to be shown and is up for sale.  Several other films are expected to show, including Michael Moore's upcoming film "Sicko", and Wong Kar-Wai's "My Blueberry Nights", Paolo Morrelli's "City Of Men" (a sequel to Fernando Meirelles' "City Of God") and Jiang Wen's "The Sun Also Rises", starring Joan Chen, as well as new films by Gus Van Sant ("Paranoid Park") and Woody Allen ("Cassandra's Dreams".)  Films definitely on the docket are "Ocean's Thirteen" and Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof" (as part of the "Grindhouse" double-bill), among others.

(Apr. 3, '07)     Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin together on "Mim's Island"

Oscar-winner Foster and Oscar-nominee Breslin will star in "Mim's Island", an adventure fantasy about a girl (Breslin) whose father she accompanies to a remote island in the South Pacific suddenly goes missing.  The girl facilitates an electronic communication with a person that she thinks is a character from the book but is an author who is a reclusive figure.  Foster will play the author.  The film will start shooting this summer and will be released in the U.S. by 20th Century Fox.


(Mar. 29, '07)    Mr. Whitaker fathering Miss Jennifer Hudson?

Jennifer Hudson is in talks to star as the daughter of Forest Whitaker's character in Rowan Woods' "Winged Creatures", about the survivors of a brutal murder-suicide.  Hudson is currently recording her debut album, scheduled for release in the U.S. this fall.  Both Hudson and Whitaker won Oscars last month for their acting in "Dreamgirls" and "The Last King of Scotland" respectively.

(Mar. 29, '07)    Helen Mirren to join the cast of the "National Treasure" sequel

Oscar winner Helen Mirren will join the cast of "National Treasure: The Book Of Secrets", the Jon Turteltaub-directed sequel to the 2004 film starring Nicolas Cage.  The film focuses on treasure hunter Ben Gates' (Cage) attempts to uncover the truth behind the assassination of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln.  Ed Harris plays the villain in the Disney production, which is filming right now and will be released in North America on December 21.  Mirren will play Ben Gates' mother Emily Appleton.  Diane Kruger (Mr. Harris' co-star in "Copying Beethoven") returns, as do Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel. 

(Mar. 29, '07)    Ray Winstone signs on to "Indiana Jones 4"

Ray Winstone, the British actor who played Jack Nicholson's right-hand man Mr. French in "The Departed" will play the sidekick to Harrison Ford in the forthcoming Indiana Jones film, which Steven Spielberg will helm once again.  Cate Blanchett will also be in the film, but there's no word on whether Sean Connery will reprise his role as Indiana's father.  The film will be released in May 2008.

(Mar. 29, '07)   Jim Carrey talking "Me Time"

Jim Carrey is currently in talks to star in the 20th Century Fox comedy "Me Time" about a stay-at-home dad who is busy writing a novel about his great-great grandmother.  Most recently, Carrey was seen in "The Number 23", a box-office disappointment.  He is scheduled to begin filming "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!" with director Tim Burton in the near future, once a script rewrite has been completed.

(Mar. 29, '07)    Spike Lee to be honored by Major League Baseball in the U.S.

This Saturday (March 31) filmmaker Spike Lee will be one of three recipients of the inaugural Beacon Award in Memphis, Tennessee, prior to a spring training baseball inaugural Civil Rights Game between St. Louis and Cleveland (which will be shown on ESPN Sports cable television.)  "The Beacon of Change is given to someone who's changing the consciousness; it's given to that person who's driving people to think about issues," said Sylvia Lind, coordinator of the awards program and senior manager of Minor League Operations.  "[Lee] doesn't just throw things out there and make people laugh . . . [h]e wants to make people think.  He thrives on being controversial, making people address issues that they might not be comfortable thinking about."  The two other recipients of the Beacon Award will be Vera Clemente, the widow of baseball legend Roberto Clemente, and the late Buck O'Neil, the Negro League Baseball legend who recently passed away.

(Mar. 29, '07)   Mark these "Diaries" for September 7

"The Nanny Diaries", the film directed by husband and wife team Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman (who both directed "American Splendor") is being pushed back to September 7 for its U.S. release.  The film will be debuting at the Venice International Film Festival during the first week of September.  The Weinsteins (Harvey and Bob) produced the "Diaries" and MGM will distribute the film in the U.S.


(Mar. 28, '07)    Forest Whitaker and "The Night Watchman"

Forest Whitaker (who won the Best Actor Oscar last month for "The Last King Of Scotland") is in talks to star with Keanu Reeves in "The Night Watchman", based on James Ellroy's novel which Mr. Ellroy also adapted for the big screen.  David Ayer (director of "Harsh Times", writer of "Training Day") will direct the story of an elite Los Angeles Police Department unit which fights gang violence, drug crime and murders.  Reeves plays the one elite unit member who questions the unit's overzealous tactics.  If Whitaker stars, he will play the captain of the elite unit.  The film is scheduled to begin production on May 21.
 

(Mar. 28, '07)   "Pirates" trailer flies high worldwide

Walt Disney Pictures estimated that a worldwide audience of over 350 million viewers watched the new trailer for the upcoming "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End" last week, either on broadcast television or online.  Within the U.S. alone, an excess of 22 million people watched the trailer on March 19, during the ABC television show "Dancing With The Stars".  After the broadcast on American television more than 13 million fans from over 30 different nations watched the trailer online in the following 24 hours.  A day after that, the number had reached greater than 25 million.  Japan alone had 52 million viewers watching the "Pirates" trailer on broadcast television.  Buena Vista Pictures Marketing President Jim Gallagher commented: "While we expected a good degree of anticipation and enthusiasm for the new trailer -- the final figures for viewers across the globe over the past few days have truly exceeded our wildest expectations."


(Mar. 27, '07)   Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon to duke it out again?

The two dueling stars of "The Departed" may star together in "The Fighter", conditional upon their approval of a rewrite of a current script by Paul Attanasio.  "The Fighter" is about the rise of Boston's famed fighter "Irish" Micky Ward, who won the world lightweight boxing title with the assistance of his formerly downtrodden brother.  Darren Aronofsky is in talks to direct the film for Paramount Pictures.  If everything goes according to plan the film may begin filming in Massachusetts as early as this summer.


(Mar. 27, '07)   The Law of Sleuthing

Jude Law will star in the forthcoming "Sleuth" which has just finished filming.  Mr. Law and Michael Caine (who starred in the original Oscar-nominated 1972 film) will star in Kenneth Branagh's new film, which is an updated edition of Anthony Shaffer's original play.  Harold Pinter wrote the script for the new film.  Recently Paramount Pictures International picked up distribution rights for "Sleuth" for several countries, including the U.K. and South Africa.


(Mar. 26, '07)   Francis Ford Coppola is back directing after ten years

The legendary filmmaker will be seen on big screens this fall in North America thanks to Sony Pictures Classics, which acquired the North American distribution rights to "Youth Without Youth", Mr. Coppola's first feature film since "The Rainmaker" (1997).  The film is billed as a World War Two parable and stars Tim Roth as an elderly professor whose revitalization and heightened skills, perception and intelligence makes him a target of the Nazis.  Shot in Romania over the course of a year and a half, Mr. Coppola directed, produced and wrote the script, adapting it from Romanian author Mircea Eliade's novella.  The director describes the film as "a love story wrapped in a mystery."


(Mar. 26, '07)   Jet Li and "Mummy 3"

Jet Li will play the villain in the next "Mummy" film, with Rob Cohen slated to direct.  The story will be set in ancient China before moving into the World War Two era of the mid-20th century.  Mr. Li is in development to star with Jackie Chan in an untitled film, and will be on the big screen soon with "Rogue", an action thriller with "Transporter" star Jason Statham (who also had a cameo in "Collateral.")


(Mar. 26, '07)   "Creature" features

Add Jeanne Tripplehorn ("The Firm", "Basic Instinct") and Embeth Davidtz ("Schindler's List", Fallen") to the growing list of star actors in Rowan Woods' independent film.  "Winged Creatures", about the aftermath of the lives of several people who witness a brutally violent murder suicide and its effects on those who help the traumatized witnesses, will also star Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce and Kate Beckinsale ("Click", "Much Ado About Nothing.")


(Mar. 25, '07)   From one Warner Brothers CGI number one film to another

The Warner Brothers film "300" ( a computer graphics interface film) was replaced with another Warner CGI film at the top of the North American box-office for the weekend of March 23-March 25, with "TMNT", a revival of the previously-flagging live-action series of the 1990's.  "TMNT" resonated with audiences, grossing over $25 million.  "300", a mega-hit on IMAX screens in the U.S. and Canada, fell to number two with $20 million, while "Shooter", starring Mark Wahlberg (directed by "Training Day"'s Antoine Fuqua) came in third with $14 million.  "Reign Over Me" (Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle) came in eighth but had the fourth highest per-screen average of any film in the top ten.


(Mar. 23, '07)   Harry Potter once, Harry Potter twice . . .

Today it was announced that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson would reprise their roles in the final two films of the "Harry Potter" series ("Half-Blood Prince" and "The Deathly Hallows".)  The trio, which play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively, have been on board for all five previous "Potter" films and have enjoyed immense success as a result, starting out as pre-adolescents and unfolding as young adults as the series progresses, literally growing up before the world audience's very eyes on the big screen.  The films have all been released by Warner Brothers, as will this summer's "Order of The Phoenix" (July 13) and the final two films to follow.


(Mar. 23, '07)   Steven Spielberg's Space Adventure

While it won't be in theaters for at least four or five years, Kevin Nolan will be writing the script for Steven Spielberg's "Interstellar", about space explorers who travel through a worm hole and into another wholly new dimension of time and space.  Mr. Spielberg has plenty to keep him busy, as June sees the start of production on the fourth "Indiana Jones" film (Harrison Ford and Cate Blanchett will star).  Mr. Spielberg is likely to follow that film with the direction of a film about Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War, based upon American historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's book.  The director is tapping Liam Neeson to play Abraham Lincoln.  Mr. Neeson starred in Spielberg's Oscar-winning 1993 film "Schindler's List."
 

(Mar. 23, '07)   "Titanic" stars reunite in upcoming film production

Oscar nominees Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet will reunite in "Revolutionary Road" a forthcoming film about an American suburban couple with children whose true desires clash with the pressures of conformity following the post-war era of the mid-1950's.  Sam Mendes (Oscar-winner of "American Beauty" and the husband of Ms. Winslet), will direct and co-produce the film, which Dreamworks will release in the United States.

  
(Mar. 22, '07)   Add film director to Russell Crowe's resume

Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe will make his directing debut with the film "Bra Boys", based on the documentary narrated by Crowe about an underground surfing community in Australia.  Brian Grazer will produce the Universal Pictures film, with "Collateral" screenwriter Stuart Beattie writing the script.  Mr. Crowe has wrapped filming on Universal's "American Gangster" with Denzel Washington (the film opens in the U.S. on November 2) and Lionsgate's "3:10 To Yuma", with Christian Bale.
 

(Mar. 22, '07)    Robin Williams to be feted at the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival in May

Robin Williams, the Chicago-born actor who resides in San Francisco, will be honored by the San Francisco Film Society on May 3 with the Peter J. Owens Award, an award honoring acting brilliance, independence and integrity.  San Francisco's famed Castro Theater will host a public event on May 4 at which Mr. Williams will appear.  Film clips, an onstage interview and a screening of the 1990's Oscar-winning film "The Fisher King" will take place on May 4 at the Theater.  The San Francisco International Film Festival takes place on April 26 and runs through May 10


(Mar. 22, '07)  Tim Burton to be feted at the Venice Film Festival in September

In September director Tim Burton will be honored with a lifetime career achievement award at the Venice Film Festival, which will also honor him with a "Tim Burton Day".  The event will take place on September 5.  The inventive director has directed such films as "Corpse Bride", "Beetlejuice", "Edward Scissorhands", "Ed Wood", "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Batman."


(Mar. 22, '07)   Oscar's 80th Birthday

The 80th Annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2008, it was announced yesterday.  The nominations for the Awards, held each year by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, will take place on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. 


(Mar. 22, '07)   "Casino Royale" DVD 007 £7 bargain in England superstore

In the United Kingdom, Asda Supermarket, one of Britain's largest supermarkets sold the "Casino Royale" DVD recently for a 007 price of just (£7) seven pounds ($11.50 US).  The sale helps to curb piracy, despite the objections of the releasing studio for the film in the U.K.  Not surprisingly, thousands of DVDs have flown off Asda's shelves since the sale -- part of the superstore's "Why Pay More" campaign -- began on Monday, March 19.  The £7 sale on "Casino Royale" DVDs at Asda Supermarkets continues in the U.K. through Sunday, March 25.  Several other Bond 007 films are available for the same price at Asda during the same time period, including "Dr. No", "Diamonds Are Forever", "The Spy Who Loved Me", and "Die Another Day", the second most successful film in the Bond series after "Casino Royale".  Asda's chief executive Andy Bond -- yes, that's his name -- said recently, "with a price like this, we're definitely 'licensed to thrill' our customers."


(Mar. 21, '07)   Cruise and Singer in World War Two epic thriller

Tom Cruise will star in his first United Artists film after his starring role in UA's "Lions For Lambs" this November 9 in the U.S.  Cruise will begin filming an untitled World War Two thriller this summer.  Bryan Singer ("Superman Returns") will direct the war film, which will be Cruise's first war film since his Oscar-nominated "Born On The Fourth Of July" role in 1989.  The film is expected to be released either in the summer or fall of 2008 in the United States.  The film is based on actual events surrounding the Germans and Hitler during WWII.  Mr. Singer is also getting ready to do the sequel for "Superman Returns" for Warner Brothers, which will film shortly after production on the World War Two film is complete.  The "Superman Returns" sequel is expected to be released sometime in 2009.
 

(Mar. 21, '07)   The Devil Wears Victoria

Emily Blunt, memorable in last year's "The Devil Wears Prada" will star as Queen Victoria in "The Young Victoria", a film to be directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.  Oscar-winning producer Graham King and Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese (both for "The Departed") will produce the "Victoria" film.  The film will focus on Victoria's romance with Prince Albert, with whom she had nine children.  Julian Fellowes, Oscar-winning writer for "Gosford Park", will write the script for "The Young Victoria".  Miss Blunt will be in at least five other films over the next year or two, including "Charlie Wilson's War", with Tom Hanks, and "The Jane Austen Book".
 

(Mar. 21, '07)    The Hornet To Sting The Big Screen

Columbia Pictures and producer Neal H. Moritz have nabbed the property rights to "The Green Hornet".  The original radio series about a millionaire publisher by day turned masked crime fighter by night, will hit the big screen as a feature film.  "The Green Hornet" was also a live action series on television in the 1960's and has taken on numerous incarnations and actors attached to star in would-be film projects (including Jet Li, George Clooney, Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Wahlberg) over the years.  The writing phase of the film should begin within the next few weeks.
 

(Mar. 15, '07)   Five star Don

Don Cheadle will star, produce and direct a biopic on the live of jazz legend Miles Davis.  The film will be one of five projects that Cheadle will star in or be involved in bringing to the big screen.  More on the "Don Phenomenon" soon.


(Mar. 12, '07)  The financial power of "300"

Zach Snyder's "300" thundered into the top spot at the North American box office in its opening weekend, grossing at least $70 million dollars according to estimates this past weekend.  Apparently the one-hour adjustment for Daylight Savings Time and terrific weather in some parts of the U.S. did not forestall viewers, whom made the film's opening gross a record for a film released in March in the country.  "300" is based on a graphic comic book novel developed by Frank Miller ("Sin City").  The film stars Gerard Butler, Lena Headey and Dominic West. 

(Mar. 12, '07)  Ralph Nader and "An Unreasonable Man"

Long-time U.S. consumer advocate Ralph Nader was in San Francisco over the weekend, courtesy of a live video satellite hook-up following a showing of a documentary on him called "An Unreasonable Man", which is now playing in several U.S. cities.  "It's no puff piece on me," Nader said from his location in his home state of Connecticut.  "Eric Alterman and some others made sure of that," he added.  Alterman is a writer at The Nation magazine, and in the documentary is a bitter critic of Mr. Nader.  A more detailed report on Nader's satellite appearance will appear soon on The Popcorn Reel.


(Mar. 8, '