Inland/Movies

August 2009 Archives

Oscars: Best Picture voting gets a confusing makeover

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 31, 2009 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Voting for the Best Picture Oscar nominees will now have voters ranking the 10 films in order of preference, rather than simply voting for a single nominee.

The announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences came two months after the decision to expand the category from five to 10 nominees.

The process calls for PricewaterhouseCoopers to first determine if one nominee has more than 50% of the first-place votes and then begin eliminating the films which are ranked first on the fewest number of ballots. When a film is eliminated, the film ranked second on those ballots will be accorded a first-place vote until a single film has more than 50%.

Source: Variety

Why we shouldn't freak out over Disney-Marvel deal

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 31, 2009 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

To comic book fans, the news that Disney has bought Marvel Entertainment may be creating anxiety attacks. The thought of Spider-Man and Thor cozying up to Mickey and Minnie is enough to give some Marvel fan boys and girls hives.

CinemaBlend.com gives five reasons to stay calm and explains how Disney won't destroy everything you've loved about comics.

1. Disney owns Miramax. Disney owned Miramax when it put out "Pulp Fiction." The studio is not afraid of being edgy.

2. Disney owns Pixar. Movies made since the 2006 merger include "Ratatouille," "Wall-E" and "Up." John Lasseter was put in charge of animation. The studio is unafraid of creative license.

3. Disney knows from marketing. Imagine Iron Man and Spider-Man under the watch of a company that has made sure that every girl under the age of 10 has a Hannah Montana-themed something.

4. Disney really wants boys to pay attention. With the exception of "Cars," Disney hasn't been able to tap into a young boy market, and they have no cachet among teens. There's no way they will scare off Marvel's core fan base of teen boys by cleaning up Tony Stark or toning down the action in Spider-Man. The studio is well aware of you, fanboy, and you are their golden calf and will not be sacrificed.

5. Disney still has John Lasseter. This applies to the realm of straight-to-DVD animated Iron Man adventures, in which Tony Stark fights Tinkerbell or some nonsense. As head of Disney Animation, Lasseter has done away with the bad treatment of Disney's characters. This is a studio with more respect for its characters than it used to have.

Behind the Scenes Filmmaker Series for Sept.1

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 28, 2009 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Stunt work is the topic for the Sept. 1 Palm Springs International Film Society's "Behind the Scenes" Filmmaker Series. Stuntman/stunt coordinator and second unit director Terry Leonard is the featured guest this time around. He has worked on films including "Fast & Furious 2 through 4," "Firewall," "The Forgotten," "Rush Hour," Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," "Grindhouse," Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Planet of the Apes."

Being dragged under a truck, driving off a waterfall and being blown up in helicopters are all in a day's work for this legendary stuntman. He's a Gold Card member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and broke into stuntwork on westerns with the John Wayne-John Ford family of stuntmen in films such as "El Dorado." He's worked being the camera for the past three decades as one of the most respected second unit action directors. He's a winner of the World Stunt Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award and inductee into the Motion Picture Stuntman's Hall of Fame.

This event is at 7 p.m. on Sept. 1 at the Rancho Mirage Public Library, and is free. The library is at 71-100 Highway 111. For more information, call 760-341-7323.

Movies releasing Aug. 28

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 28, 2009 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Taking Woodstock (R) - A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969. Directed by Ang Lee. Starring Henry Goodman, Edward Hibbert, Imelda Staunton, Demetri Martin, Kevin Chamberlin.

Halloween II (R) - From director Rob Zombie, the murderous rampage of Mike Myers continues. Starring Tyler Mane, Brad Dourif, Chris Hardwick, Mark Christopher-Lawrence, Jeffrey Daniel phillips, Scout Taylor-Compton.

The Final Destination (R) - Teens tempt death again in the fifth installment of the hit horror franchise. Directed by David R. Ellis. Starring Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano, Haley Webb, Mykelti Williamson, Krista Allen.

Big Fan (R) - The life of a parking garage attendant is turned upside down after an altercation with his favorite player on the New York Giants. Directed by Robert Siegel. Starring Patton Oswalt, Kevin Corrigan, Marcia Jean Katz, Michael Rapaport, Gino Caferelli.

The September Issue (PG-13) - A behind-the-scenes look at legendary Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the most powerful and polarizing figure in fashion. Directed by R.J. Cutler. Starring Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Grace Coddington, Patrick Demarchelier, Oscar De La Renta.

Still Walking (not rated) - Fifteen years after the death of their youngest brother, squabbling siblings reunite at their parents' home to remember. Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda. Starring Kazumi Kawaashiro, Yutaka Shigenobu, Takeo Hisamatsu.

Courtesy movies.yahoo.com

Spielberg to complete Michael Crichton's mission

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 28, 2009 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Steven Spielberg is developing a film out of a posthumously published novel by the late Michael Crichton, USA Today reports. "Pirate Latitudes" is an adventure story set off the coast of Jamaica in 1665.

DreamWorks Studios describes the novel as the story of "a daring plan to infiltrate Port Royal, one of the world's richest and most notorious cities, and raid a Spanish galleon filled with treasure."

Click here for the full story.

Movie Fund set to close housing unit for the aged

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 27, 2009 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This week the residents of a long-term care unit and associated hospital in the San Fernando Valley received word from the site's operator, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, that it would close both by the end of the year. The residents, including elderly movie stars, character actors, directors, crew members and others, are being offered the fund's help in finding a new home or otherwise relocate.

Read the entire story from the New York Times here.

LACMA's film program will continue

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 27, 2009 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Variety reports that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's film program - which was set to end this fall - has received $150,000 in gifts that will ensure it continues operations through next summer.

The program lost $1 million over the past 10 years and announced on Wednesday it had received gifts of $75,000 each from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Time Warner Cable, in partnership with Ovation TV. Time Warner Cable and Ovation TV have made an in-kind contribution of more than $1.5 million to market the program.

Click here for the full story from Variety.

Upcoming SoCal filming locations

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 27, 2009 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Want a glimpse of your favorite actor or actress? Check out these locations on the dates noted.

"Brothers and Sisters" will be filming at 1640 Lombardy Road, Pasadena - 8/28.

"Southland" will be filming at 570 Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena - 8/28.

"Parks and Recreation" is filming at 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena on 8/31. They are filming at 1539 E. Howard St. and around Washington Boulevard, Orange Grove and Lake Avenue, Pasadena on 9/1 as well.

"Big Love" will be filming at 1792 E. Walnut St., Pasadena on 9/1.

"Chuck" will be filming at 506 W. Grand Ave., Los Angeles on 9/1 from 8 am to 12 am, 92 from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and 9/3 from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Oliver's Arrow ("Inception," starring Leonardo DiCaprio) will be filming at 1745 E. 7th St., Los Angeles on 9/3, 9/4, 9/9 and 9/11.

Courtesy OnLocationVacations.com

George Lucas named as 2009 CA Hall of Fame inductee

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 26, 2009 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

From StarWars.com - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver released the names of the 2009 inductees to The California Museum's California Hall of Fame. Pat Splinter, Chair of The California Museum's California Hall of Fame committee and Museum trustee, announced the names in a video posted on the Museum's Web site, CaliforniaMuseum.org. In its fourth year, the California Hall of Fame has continued the tradition of honoring legendary people who embody California's innovative spirit and have made their mark on history.
The 2009 California Hall of Fame inductees are: comedian Carol Burnett, former Intel CEO Andrew Grove, governor and U.S. senator Hiram Johnson, decathlete and philanthropist Rafer Johnson, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, philanthropist and peace activist Joan Kroc, film-maker George Lucas, football commentator John Madden, gay rights advocate Harvey Milk, artist Fritz Scholder, author Danielle Steel, fitness and bodybuilding champion Joe Weider, and Air Force test pilot General Chuck Yeager.
Click here for the entire story.

Spinal Tap film debuts on iTunes

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 25, 2009 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From UPI - The mock rock band Spinal Tap's new short film, "Stonehenge: 'Tis a Magic Place," is available for download exclusively on iTunes, its producers said.

Shorts International and INgrooves announced Tuesday it had released the clip in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the cult classic film, "This is Spinal Tap," starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer.

"The 7-minute short marks iTunes' first original film, where Spinal Tap, having put Stonehenge on the map in their legendary song about the world heritage site, pay their first visit to the monument," the companies said in a news release.

"We're excited about this opportunity to partner with iTunes and INgrooves to distribute cutting-edge content to film lovers and Spinal Tap fans throughout the world," Carter Pilcher, chief executive of Shorts International, said in a statement.

"We all jumped at the opportunity to participate in a novel and ground-breaking way with Spinal Tap," added Robb McDaniels, president and chief executive officer of INgrooves. "The resulting short movie is simply spectacular and the culmination of months of hard work for all involved."

Ian McKellen says 'Hobbit' is scripted and cast

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 24, 2009 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sir Ian McKellen showed up at this weekend's marathon screening of Peter Jackson's three "Lord of the Rings" movies at London's BFI IMAX cinema. He dropped this news:
He is re-reading The Hobbit, because he will return as Gandalf. He expects to start shooting in March 2010 in New Zealand. He expects his copy of the script within a month. Bilbo is cast, he knows who it is, and says fans will be pleased.

Courtesy latinoreview.com

Qatar's Tribeca wants to create a regional film hub

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 24, 2009 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Doha Tribeca Film Festival, Qatar, Dubai's first film event, wants to create a hub for regional filmmakers in the Gulf Arab state, through education initiatives and community involvement, according to a story from Reuters.

New York's Tribeca Film Fest was founded by Robert De Niro after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Qatar is the first venue to host the event outside its home country.

The festival starts Oct. 29 and will host approximately 30 films, 8 to 10 of which will be of Middle Eastern Arab films.

Click here for the full story.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus: Heath Ledger's Final Film

By

Barbara McLean

on August 18, 2009 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When he died, Heath Ledger was filming one of the mind-bending sagas from Terry Gilliam called "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"

After his death, some high-powered actors, including Johnny Depp, stepped in to finish the movie.

It is now being released. Here is the trailer.

Robert Redford Wants To Kill Abe Lincoln

By

Barbara McLean

on August 18, 2009 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Steven Spielberg still isn't making his Lincoln movie, but Robert Redford is.THR says he's directing The Conspirator, a historical drama about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by that Civil War era Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth.

Redford's film will focus primarily on Mary Surratt, an alleged conspirator of Booth's. Surrat was a Washington boardinghouse owner and Confederate sympathizer who allegedly supplied Booth and his crony David Herold with weapons after they shot Lincoln and fled to her tavern.

The Conspirator seems to be approaching the Lincoln thing from right angles where Spielberg's movie sounded more like a straight up biopic. The film's producers are still casting but word is that James McAvoy is one of their top targets to play one of the movie's male leads.

Source: Robert Redford Wants To Kill Abe Lincoln

Warner Brothers Celebrating 70th Anniversary of "Wizard of Oz"

By

Barbara McLean

on August 12, 2009 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Warner Bros. is celebrating the 70th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz" with events that are anything but munchkin-sized. Among the many special events taking place to celebrate the anniversary of the American classic include the release of brand new Ultimate Collector's Editions, a one-night-only event in theaters, and a special Emerald Gala.

On Wednesday, September 23rd, over 400 theaters across the country will present "The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event" with a newly remastered digital presentation of "The Wizard of Oz." The special also includes a special introduction from classic film historian Robert Osborne and interviews and behind-the-scenes footage in the featurette, "We're Off to See the Wizard."

On Thursday, September 24th, Manhattan's Tavern on the Green will host the Emerald Gala, which will include performances by Ashanti and Lorna Luft, daughter of Judy Garland. The entire grounds will transform into the Emerald, complete with a winding Yellow Brick Road. Members of the national tour company of the Wizard of Oz will also appear to perform acts, as well as five of the original actors who played the "munchkins" in the 1939 film.

On Saturday, September 26th, Warner Bros. will host a special, star-studded screening of "The Wizard of Oz" in New York City. It will take place at the Alice Tully Hall as part of this year's New York Film Festival.

The events all lead up to the September 29th release of "The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Editions" which will release on DVD and for the first time ever on high definition Blu-ray. The collector's editions will be packed with bonus features and collectibles.

"Warner Home Video is proud to be part of the year-long celebration of this cinematic treasure. When I viewed this Blu-ray version, it was like seeing and hearing the film for the very first time. You're brought into Dorothy's adventure so profoundly that all the endearing Oz characters and unforgettable songs resound as never before," said Ron Sanders, President,Warner Home Video.

Courtesy All Headline News

Actress Charlyne Yi was IE resident

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 7, 2009 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Explaining her idea for making "Paper Hearts," actress Charlyne Yi ("Superbad") tells Rachel Syme of The Daily Beast that she was working in Fontana at Wal-Mart and commuting to Los Angeles to do shows and "hanging around with all these older men who hadn't really found love yet and it depressed me. And I don't drink or go to bars, so I remember thinking, how am I ever going to meet anyone? You can't exactly clink a Shirley Temple and meet guys."

So Yi started asking strangers in Los Angeles about love ("a result of a quarter-life crisis and extreme overreaction") and realized she was getting incredible stories. "I met this one couple who had been married for years and discovered an old picture in an attic," she says. "They had been at the same party when they were young and never met! I got all kinds of amazing anecdotes, and I thought, so many movies about love are fictional, what if we went on the road and made one that is real? I originally intended to make a simple documentary, just full of interviews."

Click here for the entire interview.

Most anticipated movies for 2010

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 7, 2009 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top10kid.com has a list of their Most Anticipated Movies for 2010. It's an odd mix of movies.
Prince of Persia comes in at number 10, starring Jake Gyllenhall. It's a Disney movie based on the game of the same name. Click on this link to read the rest.

The movies on their list that I really want to see include Iron Man 2, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1 and depending on the cast, The A-Team.

Director John Hughes dies at 59

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 6, 2009 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Writer and director John Hughes ("Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Home Alone,") has died today in Manhattan from a heart attack while taking a morning walk. He was 59.

Hughes was born in Lansing, Mich. in 1950. His career began as an advertising copywriter in Chicago, according to a statement from his publicist, Paul Bloch.

"His films helped launch countless careers and revealed to a global audience the humor, sensitivity and nuances of everyday people in the suburbs of Chicago," according to the statement.

In the last 10 years, Hughes stepped back from his film career to spend more time with his family on a farm in northern Illinois, the publicist said.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, two sons and four grandchildren.

Read more about Hughes here.

Vanessa Franko remembers the music of his films in the AudioFile Blog.

Theron, Basinger movie premiering on DirecTV

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 6, 2009 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From Hollywood Reporter - In a move that adds a wrinkle to the traditional film-distribution model, DirecTV will debut "The Burning Plain," starring Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger, as a video-on-demand (VOD) offering nearly a month before the film's theatrical release.

The satellite network said Wednesday it will launch the Guillermo Arriaga-directed drama August 21 as a DirecTV Cinema offering in HD and standard definition.

The film, unveiled almost a year ago at the Venice International Film Festival, won't hit theaters until September 18 through Magnolia Pictures, 2929's distribution arm. It then will play simultaneously on DirecTV at reduced prices.

The film depicts two parallel stories running side by side: Theron plays a bed-hopping woman on the run from something in her past; Basinger plays an ill-fated married mother of four.

In reviewing the film at Venice, The Hollywood Reporter described it as "an ambitious, visually handsome production which fails to ignite."

New movies opening Aug. 7

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 6, 2009 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

BIG BUDGET FILMS

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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (PG-13) Action-oriented thriller about an elite team of gadget-equipped, military spies who venture to the ends of the Earth in search of the international arms dealer (Christopher Eccleston) masterminding a diabolical plot to plunge the planet into complete chaos. Supporting cast includes Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Arnold Vosloo and Sienna Miller.

Julie & Julia (PG-13) Nora Ephron directs this lighthearted bio-pic merging the memoir of celebrated chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) with that of her biggest fan, a suburban housewife (Amy Adams) who tried to cook 524 of her idol's famous recipes in a single year. With Jane Lynch, Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina.

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Paper Heart (PG-13) Romantic comedy revolving around a jaded young woman (Charlene Yi) who meets the guy of her dreams (Michael Cera) while traveling across the country interviewing people for a documentary she's making about the meaning of love. Cast includes Seth Rogen, Jake M. Johnson and Paul Rust.

A Perfect Getaway (R) Horror flick about a newlywed couple (Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich) whose backpacking honeymoon on Hawaii turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival when they discover that psychopaths are stalking and slaughtering tourists camping out on the beaches. With Timothy Oliphant, Kiele Sanchez and Marley Shelton.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

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Beeswax (Unrated) Quirky ensemble comedy, set in Austin, Texas, centering on a couple of identical twins, one, a wheelchair-bound paraplegic (Maggie Hatcher), the other, a clothing store owner (Tilly Hatcher) who rekindles a romance with an ex-lover (Alex Karpovsky) in order to get legal help with a lawsuit filed against her by her business partner (Anne Dodge).

Bliss (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama based on Omer Zulfu Livaneli's incendiary best seller about a 17-year-old rape victim (Ozgu Namal) whose mortified Muslim parents (Emin Gursoy and Sebnem Kostem) ask her cousin (Murat Han) to perform an honor killing when she refuses to commit suicide after her loss of chastity. (In Turkish with subtitles)

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Cold Souls (PG-13) Paul Giamatti plays himself in this droll, sci-fi dramedy about an off-Broadway actor with performance anxiety who travels from New York to Russia to retrieve his medically-extracted soul from the ambitious, soap opera actress (Dina Korzun) who borrowed it. Cast includes David Strathairn, Emily Watson and Katheryn Winnick.

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I Sell the Dead (Unrated) Horror comedy, set in 19th C. Ireland, chronicling a condemned grave robber's (Dominic Monaghan) confessing his and recently-beheaded partner's (Larry Fessenden) exploits to a priest (Ron Perlman) en route to the guillotine.

Smile 'Til It Hurts (Unrated) documentary revisits the rise of Up with People, the cult-like, faith-based singing sensation sponsored in the '60s and '70s by the Religious Right as a politically-conservative alternative to rebellious rock and roll.

Courtesy theloop21.com

InlandSocal Movies is on Facebook - become a fan

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 5, 2009 4:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Become a fan of our Facebook page, InlandSocal Movies. Give us your reviews, upload your photos, read our Twitter feed and more!

Just click here:

InlandSocal Movies on Facebook

A new vampire movie - 'Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant'

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 5, 2009 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

From Trailer Addict - "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend, got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That's the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty.

Newly undead, he joins the Cirque Du Freak, a touring sideshow filled with monstrous creatures from a snakeboy and a wolfman to a bearded lady (Salma Hayek) and a gigantic barker (Ken Watanabe). As Darren flexes his newfound powers in this dark world, he becomes a treasured pawn between the vampires and their deadlier counterparts. And while trying to survive, one boy will struggle to keep their brewing war from devouring what's left of his humanity.

The movie releases Oct. 23.

Click here for the trailer, courtesy of Moviefone.

This week on DVD

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 5, 2009 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

DVDs released Tuesday, Aug. 4 include "Race to Witch Mountain," "Making Music," and "Fatal Attraction." Here's what they offer:

"Race to Witch Mountain" - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars as a Las Vegas taxi driver who gets himself into more than he bargained for when he picks up two teen runaways, Sara and Seth. Not only do the pair possess supernatural powers, they're desperately trying to escape dangerous agents of the government, mobsters and even extraterrestrials. Thrust into an unexplainable adventure, they discover that the only chance to save the world lies in a secret place in the middle of the Nevada desert: Witch Mountain.

Special Features - Deleted scenes, bloopers, Dyle & Cole Sprouse: Blu-Ray is Suite!, Learn how to take your favorite movies on the go, Backstage Disney: Which Mountain (Blu-Ray)

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"The Soloist" - Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx star in the inspiring true story of Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez, who discovers Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a former classical music prodigy, now homeless and playing his two-stringed violin on the streets of L.A. As the jaded reporter endeavors to help the troubled genius find his way back, a unique friendship is formed, one that transforms both their lives.

Special Features - Commentary by director Joe Wright, An Unlikely Friendship: Making The Soloist, Deleted scenes, Kindness Courtesy and Respect: Mr. Ayers + Mr. Lopez, One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles

"Obsessed" - Idris Elba and Beyonce Knowles are a couple who find their idyllic life threatened by Ali Larter's dark obsession. When successful financial advisor Derek Charles settles into a new Los Angeles neighborhood with his loving wife and young son, everything seems perfect. But when Lisa, the firm's beautiful new temp, starts stalking Derek, his career and his marriage - everything he's worked so hard for - are placed in serious jeopardy.

Special Features - Playing together nicely, Girl fight!, Obsessed: Dressed to kill

Paralyzed surfer doc opens Malibu Fest

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 4, 2009 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From Hollywood Reporter - Mark Jacobs' "Jesse's Story" - a documentary about surfer Jesse Billauer, who suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury but continued surfing - will be the opening night film at the 10th annual Malibu Film Festival. The fest runs from Thursday through Saturday at the Malibu Cinemas and the Ocean Avenue Screening Room in Santa Monica.

The documentary also features Christopher Reeve, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Bob Hurley, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and Shane Dorian with music by Johnson, Harper, Jason Mraz and G. Love.

Domestix, the Beverly Hills-based domestic sales company, is handling the film.

Carla Gugino joins cast of 'Sucker Punch'

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 4, 2009 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Carla Gugino is the latest to join the cast of Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch." The all-girl cast includes Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone and Abbie Cornish. The story is a 1950s-set tale of a girl confined to a mental institution by her evil stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. She and her friends enter an alternate reality where they begin planning an escape.

The "actors are currently in fight training and the studio is readying a fall shoot in Vancouver," according to a studio spokesman. Snyder has called it "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns."

Sounds a bit awesome!

Courtesy THR and FirstShowing.net

Hugh Jackman to portray P.T. Barnum

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 4, 2009 9:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hugh Jackman will star as P.T. Barnum in "The Greatest Show on Earth," a musical by Twentieth Century Fox. The story will focus on Barnum as a showman who hoaxes a gullible public as he creates the three-ring circus that made him famous, as well as his infatuation with singer Jenny Lind, who will be played by Anne Hathaway. She teamed with Jackman during his opening Oscars number.

Five movies to skip this year

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 4, 2009 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Film.com has their list of the five worst movies of 2009 so far.
They are: 5. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," 4. "Confessions of a Shopaholic," 3. "Dance Flick," 2. "New in Town" and 1. "I Love you, Beth Cooper."

What do you think? Do you agree with their list or do you have one of your own? What movies would you steer folks away from?

I thought "New in Town" wasn't bad, a schlocky, fish-out-of-water romantic comedy, but that's what Renee Zellweger does best. Harry Connick Jr. makes the film watchable.
Click here to find out why they didn't care for these flicks.

PSIFS screening of 'Cold Souls' Aug. 4

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 3, 2009 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The Palm Springs International Film Society and Samuel Goldwyn Films present a special member screening of "Cold Souls," Aug. 4 at 7 p.m., at Regal Cinemas (789 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs).

The surreal comedy stars Paul Giamatti who portays an actor with the same name. Stumbling upon an article in The New Yorker about a high-tech company that extracts, deep-freezes and stores people's souls, Giamatti very well might have found the key to happiness for which he's been searching. But complications arise when he is the unfortunate victim of "soul-trafficking." His journey takes him all the way to Russia in hopes of retrieving his stolen soul from an ambitious but talentless soap opera actress.

Visit www.coldsoulsthemovie.com/#/home for the trailer and movie's web site.

For more information about the PSIFS, visit www.psfilmfest.org

'New Moon' nude scene rumor not true

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 3, 2009 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" Director Chris Weitz released a statement shooting down the rumor about a Volturi nude scene being added to the movie, started by Jamie Campbell-Bower:

"I would like to put everyone's mind at rest and let them know that the Volturi are not naked! Jamie has what you might call a dry sense of humor and almost managed to convince me -- which is why he's such a good actor. Anyway, be assured that, even though we do want the look of the Volturi to be a bit of a surprise, they are always -- as in the book! -- fully clothed."

So, "New Moon" fans, you'll have to settle for the Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner topless scenes.

Spielberg to direct 'Harvey'

By

Carrie McDermott

on August 3, 2009 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Variety reports that Steven Spielberg will direct "Harvey," about a man who befriends a 6 1/2-foot tall invisible rabbit. Jimmy Stewart starred in the original film in 1950, based on an adaptation of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Production is scheduled to start early next year. The project will be a co-production of 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks, the first pic under the latter's new incarnation.

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