Trailer: Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan & Isla Fisher

Like all Baz Luhrmann films, I love the look of this film. The colors and costumes look perfect. The cast is great and I’m totally looking forward to it.

Why wasn’t this around when I was in High School? Anyone remember having to watch that dreadful Robert Redford version?

The Great Gatsby: From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. The filmmaker will create his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before, in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role. “The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super-rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Elizabeth Debicki, Amitabh Bachchan
Writers: Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce

In Theaters: December 25th  Read more

Ewan McGregor on His ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’ Character and Learning How to Fish

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen may already be the frontrunner for oddest movie title of 2012, but the film, which is based on the novel is not a comedy but a dramatic romance about introducing the sport of fly-fishing to a desert nation.

While that sounds impossible, you obviously haven’t seen enough movies if you don’t realize that many films are about making the impossible possible.  Ewan McGregor plays “Britain’s leading fisheries expert,” and he explains how he created his persona for the very scientific character.

McGregor did much to develop the character, which started with changing his voice.  He says, “My own voice is a little too laid back for Fred, so we made it a bit more uptight.  And there’s a posh-sounding Scottish accent that’s really fun to play.” 

After that, however, McGregor had to move on to an even bigger challenge: learning how to fish.  He confesses, “I hadn’t really done much fishing before.  I did some when I was a kid and some in (the Tim Burton film) Big Fish.  I love the idea of being outside but I’m ultimately not that interested in catching a fish…that’s the trouble.” Read more

Biography: Lauren Ambrose

With extensive experience in theater, television and film, Lauren Ambrose is one of the most versatile and poised actors of her generation.

Ambrose recently had a recurring role on the critically acclaimed Starz series Torchwood: Miracle Day as the ambitious and ruthless public relations practitioner, Jilly Kitzinger.  Torchwood: Miracle Day, a spinoff of the U.K. hit television show Doctor Who, premiered on Starz on Friday, July 8, 2011, and is an adaptation of the BBC Worldwide Productions franchise for American audiences.

Ambrose’s recent film credits include the independent film Think of Me, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is awaiting further distribution. Directed by Bryan Wizemann, the film stars Ambrose as a struggling single mother living in Las Vegas who must decide how to give her child the best life possible, even if it means giving her up.  The heartfelt portrayal garnered Ambrose a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead. Read more

Trailer 2: ‘Wrath of the Titans’ starring Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes & Liam Neeson

Wrath of the Titans: A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Worthington) –the demigod son of Zeus (Neeson)–is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades (Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramirez), switch loyalties and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Cast: Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Danny Huston, Edgar Ramirez, Bill Nighy, Toby Kebbell, Rosamund Pike

Writers: Dan Mazeau, David Leslie Johnson

In Theaters: March 30th Read more

Biography: Denzel Washington

Two-time Academy Award®-winning actor Denzel Washington is a an constantly on the move. Never comfortable repeating himself or his successes, Washington is always in search of new challenges and his numerous and varied film and stage portrayals bear this out.

From Trip, an embittered runaway slave in Glory, to South African freedom fighter Steve Biko in Cry Freedom; from Shakespeare’s tragic historical figure Richard III to the rogue detective, Alonzo Harris, in Training Day, Washington has amazed and entertained us with a rich array of characters distinctly his own.

In 2010, moviegoers were treated to two very different sides of Washington when he starred in Tony Scott’s fast- paced thriller Unstoppable, and in the Hughes brothers’ dystopian vision, The Book of Eli, which Washington also produced. The Book of Eli grossed more than $38 million in its opening weekend.

In 2009, Washington was directed by Tony Scott in the respected remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, also starring John Travolta.

In late December 2007, Washington directed and co-starred with Academy Award®-winning actor Forest Whitaker in The Great Debaters, a drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in Texas who in 1935, inspired students from the school’s debate team to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Read more

Jessica Chastain to Make Her Broadway Debut in ‘The Heiress’

Jessica Chastain will make her Broadway debut this fall in The Heiress.

The play is based on the classic Henry James novel Washington Square and became an Academy Award-winning film.  Written by Ruth Goetz & Augustus Goetz, the show will be directed by Tony Award® nominated playwright and director Moisés Kaufman and will open in the Fall of 2012 at a theatre to be announced.

This production marks 17 years since the celebrated play was last seen on Broadway.  The original production premiered on Broadway in 1947 at the Biltmore Theatre.

A Juilliard graduate, Chastain’s stage work includes the title role of Salome, opposite Al Pacino, Othello at the Public Theater and Rodney’s Wife at Playwrights Horizons.

Paula Wagner, one of the producers said of Chastain: “I was immediately struck by Jessica’s talent and skill when I saw her on stage opposite Al Pacino in Salome. She is an actress with that rare ability to transition effortlessly between the stage and screen. Moisés Kaufman had the vision to see Jessica as the perfect actress to play one of the great psychologically complex female characters.”  Read more

Trailer: ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’ starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: From the director of Chocolat and the Oscar-winning(R) screenwriter of Slumdog Millionaire comes the inspirational comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. When Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realize a sheikh’s (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, he immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable. But when the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a “good will” story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.

Director: Lasse Hallström

Cast: Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked

In Theaters: March 9th, 2012
Read more

What’s Next for Michael C. Hall and Will ‘Dexter’ Have a Happy Ending: “I don’t think we’re in that territory”

Season six of Dexter ended Sunday with its usual flair for the dramatic and shocking—its fans have come to expect no less from the serial-killer protagonist, played by Michael C. Hall. 

In an interview with Parade, Hall notes that the finale provided “some pretty fundamentally earthshaking things,” but the actor isn’t so sure about the ultimate fate of his character.

Showtime recently announced that the popular series will end after two additional seasons.  Hall speculates that the show’s finale will not end in typical happily-ever-after fashion.  Hall says, “I don’t know about a happy ending.  I think the question is what happens to him.  Is he done in?  Does he do himself in?  Does he get away with it?  But even if he gets away with it at this point, there have been a lot of ramifications for his behavior already.  What the final verdict will be for him specifically, I can’t say.  As for a happy ending, I don’t think we’re in that territory.”  Read more

‘Super 8′ Casting Director Kidnapped and Molested Young Boy in 1996

It was recently discovered that a Hollywood casting director involved with the placement of children in movies like Super 8, School of Rock and upcoming flick The Three Stooges once spent five years in prison for kidnapping and molesting an eight-year-old boy in the Seattle area 15 years ago.

Jason James, registered as a California sex offender under the name Jason James Murphy, has been working in Hollywood since moving there in 2005.

“It’s shocking and it’s devastating, not just as a filmmaker but as a father and someone who is entrusted to make sure that everyone I work with, especially children, are safe,” said Super 8 director and co-producer J.J. Abrams of Murphy’s transgressions. “To think that someone like this was among us is unthinkable.”  Read more

‘Billy Elliot, The Musical’ to play Final Broadway Performance in January

After playing 40 previews and 1,304 regular performances, the 2009 Tony Award winning musical, Billy Elliot, will play it’s last show Sunday, January 8th, 2012.

This comes as kind of a shock because I had just read that the producers were looking for ways to revamp the long-running show. Adding new blood in the way of actors, taking away most of the cursing and getting rid of the slang that most American tourists couldn’t understand. Guess that idea came and went rather fast.

It’s always sad when show comes to an end – the crew are out of jobs, musicians looking for their next gig and the actors are lining up auditions. It did have a nice long and very successful run.

The press release is below.   Read more

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