Cannes Day 3 May 17, 2008
Posted by movies in : Cannes Film Festival 2008 , add a commentCannes Film Festival is famed for bringing hard hitting movies to a wider audience with such a film last year 4month, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, a Romanian picture about illegal abortion.
And after the hype of Kung Fu Panda has ebbed away this year is no different as Friday featured two pictures that may hit a raw nerve with Cannes cinema go-ers.
First up Sean Penn used his position as head of the Film Festival jury to back new documentary The Third Wave.
With the likes of Natalie Portman and controversial filmmaker Michael Moore at it’s premiere on Friday The Third Wave, directed by Alison Thompson is a low budget documentary filmed by those who went to volunteer in Sri Lanka in 2004 after the tsunami.
The film focuses on three volunteers who, without the aid of the government, began the clean-up operation by looking for bodies and setting up their own infirmary.
The second film to shake up the Cannes audience was Ari Folman’s animation Waltz With Bashir.
This Israeli picture depicts the massacre of the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon in 1982.
The film’s main character is director Ari Folman himself who realises that there are major parts of his life, his experience as an Israeli soldier during the Lebanon war of the eighties, missing from his memory.
Ari decides to meet up with old friends and comrades to discover the truth about this time and about himself.
Folman unflinchingly depicts what young men do in a time of war and the atrocities of which humans are capable as well as pointing the finger at those he deems responsible.
Despite not having American distribution when premiered Waltz With Bashir is in the running for the Palme d’or.
Cannes Day 2 May 16, 2008
Posted by movies in : Cannes Film Festival 2008 , add a commentCannes Film Festival: Day 2
Alongside Brad Pitt the actress was in town to promote her animation movie Kung Fu Panda, which got it’s premiere last night.
But all the talk was about the revelation that Jolie is to give birth to twins after Jack Black let it slip during an interview to promote the movie.
The actress was forced to reveal that she and partner Pitt will become parents for the fifth and sixth time on 19th August, she did keep the sex of the unborn twins a secret.
She was joined on the red carpet by co-star and funny man Jack Black, who arrived at the festival the day before surrounded by forty people in giant panda suits.
“Kung Fu Panda” features Jack Black as Po the Panda, a lowly waiter in a noodle restaurant, who is a kung fu fanatic but whose shape doesn’t exactly lend itself to kung fu fighting.
In fact, Po’s defining characteristic appears to be that he is the laziest of all the animals in ancient China.
That’s a problem because powerful enemies are at the gates, and all hopes have been pinned on a prophesy naming Po as the “Chosen One” to save the day
A group of martial arts masters are going to need a black belt in patience if they are going to turn this slacker panda into a kung fu fighter before it’s too late.
Dustin Hoffman will voice the role of Shifu, the by-the-book and tough-as-nails Kung Fu master, who has been given the unenviable task of turning the undisciplined Po into a kung fu fighter.
Jackie Chan will lend his voice to Master Monkey, a strong, agile and dedicated kung fu warrior, who serves as a daily reminder to Po of everything he is not … yet.
Ian McShane (Deadwood) will be the voice of the villainous Tai Lung, a ferociously powerful snow leopard, who breaks out of prison, intent on using his kung fu skills to destroy the Valley of Peace
Kung Fu Panda is the last est Dreamworks animation project and it is hoped that it will emulate the success of the previous Shrek movies.
The film was well received by critics at the press screening of the film when it earned a standing ovation.
This is the first of two movies for Angelina Jolie as she will also star in Clint Eastwood’s new picture Changeling, which is competing for the Palme d’Or.
Day 2 at Cannes - With the official screening of A Christmas Carol And a Crystal Diamond Surprise party hosted by Chopard, Cannes has started with a bang. We find Lisa Voice mingling at the GQ party at the 3-acre Mint Villa with some of the Cannes entrepreneurs…..
Lisa voice with Lord Brian Kelly (MTV Presenter)
Cannes Day 1 May 16, 2008
Posted by movies in : Cannes Film Festival 2008 , add a comment-DreamWorks Animation kicked off the 61st annual Cannes Film Festival today with an outbreak of “Pandamonium,” as Jack Black, star of DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming June 6th release “Kung Fu Panda,” arrived at the Carlton Hotel pier in style…emerging from a water taxi to be greeted on the pier by nearly 40 true-to-size Po-s, his on-screen persona and hero of the film’s title.
Black and the other “kung fu pandas” posed for a barrage of photojournalists and camera crews, signaling that the celebrity- and film-fueled glitter of the 2008 Festival had officially begun.
Black’s arrival at the Carlton will serve as merely the beginning of the “Kung Fu Panda”-monium set to sweep Cannes, as the DreamWorks Animation release is slated for its worldwide premiere, screening out of competition tomorrow night, May 15th, at 7:30pm at the nexus of the Festival, the Palais.
The pre-screening red carpet arrivals will spotlight Black and some of his “Kung Fu Panda” co-stars Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu along with KFP filmmakers directors John Stevenson and Mark Osborne, producer Melissa Cobb, and screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger and DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg, who will be joined by friends and some of the biggest celebrities in attendance at this year’s Fest.
Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black) is the biggest fan of kung fu around…which doesn’t exactly come in handy while working every day in his family’s noodle shop. When he’s unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po’s dreams become reality and he joins the world of kung fu to study alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five: Tigress (Academy Award® winner Angelina Jolie); Crane (Emmy winner David Cross); Mantis (Emmy nominee Seth Rogen); Viper (Emmy/SAG nominee Lucy Liu); and Monkey (international superstar Jackie Chan) under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu (two-time Oscar® winner Dustin Hoffman). But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung (Emmy/Golden Globe winner Ian McShane) is headed their way, and it’s up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a kung fu master into reality? Po puts his heart into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.
Kicking off the film festival is Blindness by Fernando Meirelles, Brazilian director who brought us City of God, starring Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Sandra Oh.
Gael Garcia Bernal, Danny Glover and Julianne Moore were all on the red carpet for the screening of the film and were joined by Cate Blanchett and Sean Penn.
However the talk of the evening was Jack Black let slip that his Kung Fu panda co-star Angelina Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt were expecting twins.
The lovely Vicki Michelle staying at the prestigious Hotel Du Cap here in Cannes for the 2008 film festival, pictured here with music producer Lisa Voice.
Vicki has recently been seen in Emmerdale and is soon to start rehearsals for the national tour of Allo Allo stage play.
The stage play was promoted by the enormous response last year and producers decided to take the cast on a national tour. She is now in Cannes to discuss a future movie venture - watch this space!
Ewan McGregor In Talks For Angels and Demons April 25, 2008
Posted by movies in : Casting News , add a comment
- Ewan McGregor is currently in talks to star in Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dan Brown’s hit book Angels and Demons.
A prequel to The Da Vinvi Code, Angels and Demons follows Robert Langdon, once again being played by Tom Hanks, as he tries to stop a plot by the Illuminati to destroy the Vatican.
McGregor’s role would be the Catholic Church insider who help Langdon holt the Illuminate’s plot.
This news comes just days after Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer landed the role of Vittoria Vetra, who helps Langdon after her father is murdered.
Zurer beat of competition from Academy Award nominee Naomi Actress for the role.
- Nick Stoller and Judd Apatow have reunited, after working together on new comedy forgetting Sarah Marshall, for Get Him to the Greek.
The film follows a college graduate insurance adjuster who accompanies a rock star from London to the greek in LA.
Stoller will write and direct the project that will star Apatow favourite Jonah Hill and comedian turned actor Russell Brand.
- American actress Moon Bloodgood is currently in talks to star in the lead female role in the latest installment of the terminator frnachise - Terminator Salvation.
Bloodgood will star as a long serving member of John Connor’s, played by Christian Bale, resistance team.
Principle photography is expected to get under way on 5th May and will be released next year.
- It has been reported that Virginia Madsen has signed to appear in Mira Nair’s Amelia alongside Hilary Swank and Richard Gere.
The film is the biopic of Amelia Earhart an American aviation pioneer, author and women’s rights advocate.
The film will revolve around Amelia’s (swank) relationship with George Putnam (Gere), her publisher, promoter and eventual husband.
Madsen will play Putnam’s first wife Dorothy Binney.
Shooting is expected to get underway later this month.
- Matrix star Carrie Anne Moss has joined the cast of romantic comedy Hanging Out Hooking Up Falling In Love.
The movie follows a man who, with the help of his eighteen year old son, tries to woo back his wife, played by Moss, who has left him.
Already cast for this project is Richard E Grant, Janeane Garofalo and Jenna Elfman.
Shia LaBeouf Joins Dark Fields April 16, 2008
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-Young actor of the moment Shia LaBeouf has reportedly signed up to star in Dark Fields.
Directed by The Illusionist’s Neil Burger the film is based on Alan Glynn’s 2002 novel and is being labelled as a techno thriller.
The script which has been adapted by Hairspray’s Leslie Dixon will star LaBeouf as a man who finds a pill that boosts his intelligence.
This summer Labeouf will star in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
- Hollywood badboy Colin Farrell has signed on to star in Triage, directed by Danis Tanovic.
Farrell will be joining Christopher Lee and Paz Vega and will revolve around a photojournalist after he returns home from a dangerous job.
Filming is expected to get underway later this month running into June in location including Spain and Ireland.
- American actress Natalie Portman is to star in a new big screen adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.
Directed by John Maybury Portman will play Catherine Earnshaw who embarks on an ill-fated love affair with Heathcliff.
Portman beat off the likes of Lindsay Lohan and English actress Keira Knightley for the role, it’s rumoured that Maybury initially wanted an English actress for the role.
The role of Heathcliff is yet to be cast but it’s believed that Irish actor Colin Farrell is favourite for the part.
-The casting of Disney’s Prince of Persia:Sands of Time rumbles on as Jake Gyllenhaal is now believed to be in the frame for the lead role.
This comes just a week after news broke that Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom had beaten off Zac Efrom for the role in the trilogy, a deal reportedly worth $40 million.
The games is an adaptation of the popular video game franchise and filming on the project is expected to get underway later this summer.
There has been no confirmation from the studio as to who has been cast the lead role.
-Demi Moore has landed roles in both Bunraka and Happy Tears.
In Happy Tears, which is to be directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, she will star alongside Parker Posey as a woman who is sick of caring for her dementia suffering father.
Bunraku will team her with Josh Hartnett and Woody Harrelson as a woman who is forced to marry a warlord.
Filming on Happy Tears gets underway later this month.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Helen Mirren Joins The Last Station April 9, 2008
Posted by movies in : Uncategorized , add a comment- Academy Award winning actress Dame Helen Mirren is to star in The Last Station which is shooting now in Germany.
The film, which is directed by Russian filmmaker Andrei Konshalovski, is a historical drama based on the latter years of writer Tolstoy’s life.
Mirren is set to play his wife Sopia who is angered by her husband’s decision to give his book royalties to charity.
- 3:10 to Yuma and Puccini for Beginners actress Gretchen Mol has joined Luke Wilson for new film Blowtorch.
The film, which has been written and will be directed by Mike Million, follows two professors who are fighting it out for the same permanent spot on a college faculty roster.
Filming gets underway in Philadelphia next week.
- Pride and Prejudice actress Rosamund Pike and Pitch Black star Rhada Mitchell have joined Disney’s The Surrogates.
The film is based on Robert Venditti’s graphic novel and will also star Bruce Willis.
Directed by Jonathan Mostow the film is expected to start shooting in Boston later this month.
- Diane Keaton has signed up to star in road trip comedy The Widows’ Adventure.
The film will revolve around two widowed sisters who go on an unlikely trip from Chicago to Los Angeles.
The project is currently looking for a director.
- PS I Love You actor Jeffery Dean Morgan has joined All The Good Things alongside Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst.
The eighties drama follows a New York real estate mogul (Gosling) who becomes involved with a girl (Dunst) from the poorer side of town.
Morgan is expected to play the detective who investigates the disappearance of Dunst’s character.
Filming begins later this month in Connecticut.
- Little Miss Sunshine actress Toni Collette has joined Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes’ as yet untitled comedy.
According to the Hollywood Reporter Collete will play a professor and friend of a couple who are looking for a place to settle down and start a family.
Filming gets underway later this month.
New Hancock Image April 3, 2008
Posted by movies in : Pictures , add a commentThis summer Will Smith returns to the big screen as superhero Hancock who causes more trouble than he solves.
Here is a new images from the film released this summer.
Hugh Jackman To Star In Nowhere Man March 25, 2008
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-Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman is to star in Nowhere Man, the latest comic book to be adapted for the big screen.
While the plot is being kept under wraps the film will be set in a futuristic world where humanity’s privacy has been traded for safety.
The actor, who is best known for his role in the X-Men movies, will also co-write the script with marc Guggenheim.
 -Jon Header and Dax Shepard have signed up to appear in Disney’s When in Rome , which will star Veronica Mars’ Kristen Bell.
Production is expected to get under way in the next few weeks filming in New York and Rome. David Diamond and David Weissman have written the script and will direct the project.
The film revolves around Beth (Bell) who, despite being successful in her job as a real estate agent, she is unlucky in love.
When in Rome for her sister’s wedding she becomes inundated with suitors after picking up coins from the legendary
‘fountain of love.’
-Sopranos actor James Gandolfini has reportedly singed to star in Tony Scott’s remake of The Taking of Pelham 123.
The film will also star Academy Award winner Denzel Washinton and John Travolta.
Gandolfini is expected to play the mayor of New York who is pressurised into trying to end a crisis that has left a crowed subway carriage being held at ransom.
-British actress Jemma McKenzie-Brown has secured a role in High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
The relatively unknown actress, whose work includes The Amazing Mrs Pritchard for the BBC, beat off 1,000 other actor for the role as a sophomore ‘Wildcat’ in the movie.
Original cast members Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens return to their roles for the final and big screen instalment of the surprise hit musical franchise.
Filming is expected to get underway this month for a release later this year.
-Sideways and Shoot ‘Em Up actor Paul Giamatti has signed up to star in Tony Gilroy’s Duplicity.
The corporate thriller also stars Tom Wilinson and Julia Roberts as well as reuniting Giamatti with his Shoot ‘Em Up co-star Clive Owen.
The film centres on ex lovers Roberts and Owen who are forced to join forces while working as spies for rival firms.
Director Tony Gilroy was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director at this year’s Oscars for his wok on Michael Clayton which starred George Clooney.
The Wolfman First Image March 20, 2008
Posted by movies in : Pictures , add a commentIn 2009 actor Benicio Del Toro will star as The Wolfman alongside Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt.
Here is the first image from the project.
Wall-E Pictures March 19, 2008
Posted by movies in : Pictures , add a commentPixar’s latest movie Wall-E makes it into cinemas this summer and here are two new images from the film.
 