The Tony Awards Will Be Chock Full of Your Favorite Actors as Presenters

I, for one, can’t wait for the Tony Awards. It’s by far the best of the awards shows hands down.

Get ready for this list of actors who are set to appear on the 67^th Annual Awards show hosted by Neil Patrick Harris:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Sigourney Weaver, Anna Kendrick, Zachary Quinto,  Sally Field, Audra McDonald, Cyndi Lauper, Alan Cumming, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Megan Hilty, Andrew Rannells, Jane Krakowski, Matthew Morrison, Laura Benanti, Steven Van Zandt, Hal Prince, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barrett Foa and Mike Tyson.  Read more

Review: ‘Billy Elliott’: ‘He Could Be a Star’

Up until last night, I’d never seen Billy Elliot the Musical.

I know. I’m such a bad theatre geek.

I’ll also admit that I’ve never seen the movie either. That’s two strikes against me, right?

But, there’s no third strike because I thought the show, currently playing at the San Diego Civic Center, was great.

The story is set in the 80′s around a miners strike in Northern England. Young Billy Elliot (Mitchell Tobin in the performance I saw) is living with his striking father (Rich Hebert) and brother (Cullen R. Titmus) when he stumbles on an unknown talent after boxing class: ballet. As he struggles with the idea that boys aren’t supposed to do ballet, the chance to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London appears and he’s got to figure out what to do. With the prodding of his ballet teacher and the eventual of understanding of father and community, he makes the leap and heads to London. Read more

SXSW Review: ‘Drinking Buddies’

I’ve had drinking buddies in my drinking career but none like Olivia Wilde. In fact, if I had a drinking buddy as attractive, smart and cool as the character she plays in Joe Swanberg‘s new film, Drinking Buddies, I’d be slamming a few back with her right now.

In the film, Wilde plays Kate. She works for a craft brewery, has a decent enough boyfriend (Ron Livingston) and is best friends with her co-worker, Luke (Jake Johnson). Luke is dating Jill (Anna Kendrick), who is a total catch.

The things is…. Kate and Luke are perfect for each other. They have everything in common, finish each others sentences and just plain old love being around each other. Things is, neither of them realize this until both couples go away for a weekend getaway. Read more

Review: ‘A Lie of the Mind’ / ‘Miss Julie’ at the Sargent Theatre (NYC)

When people I know in theater ask me what growing company I think has its act together (horrible pun not intended), The Seeing Place is always the first that comes to mind.  I’ve always promoted their work not only because the quality of the performances are among the strongest that I’ve seen but also because the company presents its work at a price ($12 a ticket) that is lower than anyone else’s in town (and this being New York, it’s the biggest theater town there is!) I know I’m not the only one who’s noticing — I have seen the audiences have grown over the two and a half years I have been reviewing The Seeing Place productions. 

Nonetheless, such consistent quality performances have resulted in high expectations whenever I walk into the Sargent Theatre, The Seeing Place’s home for the last few seasons.  For fans of quality indie theatre, this month The Seeing Place is offering two plays: Sam Shepard‘s A Lie of the Mind and August Strindberg‘s Miss Julie.  I’m happy to report neither show disappoints, keeping The Seeing Place’s winning streak going.

A Lie of the Mind is Shepard’s most decorated play and tells the grisly saga of husband and wife Jake (Brandon Walker) and Beth (Erin Cronican).  Jake, who is so prone to anger that the expression “short fuse” doesn’t even do him justice, has beaten his wife to the point that she suffers from brain damage.  As both retreat to their families afterward, each has deep paranoia issues directed at their family members after a series of past family betrayals.  Much of the blame can be put on the shoulders of Jake’s mother Lorraine (Janice Hall), who is apologetic for Jake’s actions and sees her son as blameless, and Beth’s parents, Baylor (Alan Altschuler) and Meg (Mary Lahti), with Baylor being so selfish and hard-headed that he longer seems to know what love is and Meg a ball of worry and confusion.  Also adding to the family drama are Jake’s brother Frankie (Jason Wilson) and sister Sally (Magan Wiles) and Beth’s brother Mike (Philip Lakin). Read more

First Set of SAG Award Presenters Announced

The Screen Actors Guild Awards have announced it’s first couple of presenters for its 19th annual ceremony.

Bradley Cooper, Viola Davis, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Justin Timberlake and Sigourney Weaver will be presenters they announce today.

First-time SAG Awards nominee Bradley Cooper is recognized this year for his lead role in David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” and as a cast member in the film. In addition to “Playbook,” Cooper had three other films in release in 2012: “The Words,” “Hit and Run,” and “The Place Beyond the Pines.” In May, he’ll be seen in “The Hangover Part III” and later this year will star opposite his “Playbook” co-star Jennifer Lawrence in the suspense drama “Serena.” He’ll also reunite with Russell to work on the director’s film about the Abscam scandal, also starring Christian Bale. Read more

The Best and Worst Films of 2012

It’s that time of year where everyone and their alcoholic uncle are giving you their list of the best and worst films of 2012. So, we here at Daily Actor are jumping in, minus our drunk uncle.

The Top 10 Films of the 2012

1) Zero Dark Thirty
You’ve know doubt heard all of the hype on this film that stars Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke, and guess what? It lives up to it and then some. The film, about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, proves once again that director Katheryn Bigelow is a true force. Definitely a must see!

2) Argo
This has been out for a while now and if you haven’t seen it yet, my question is: Why not? In a story where most of us know the ending, Director Ben Affleck manages to ramps up the suspense and forces you to sit on the edge of your seat.

3) Killing Them Softly
Starring Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini and a handful of wonderful character actors, this film tanked at the box office. I can see why: most scenes involved just 2 people in a room talking… and talking… and talking. Boredom for some, but for those us who cherish actors and their craft, you will love it. Watch this and get schooled.

4) Hello I Must Be Going
Anytime Melanie Lynskey has a starring role in a film, that’s a good thing. Director Todd Louiso‘s story of a divorced woman who is forced to move back in with her parents and then starts a relationship with the young son of her fathers business partner is funny, touching and a showcase for Lynskey.

5) Starlet
The film stars Dree Hemingway (yes, of that Hemingway family) as Jane, an up-and-coming porn star who forms an unlikely friendship with the elderly Sadie (80-year-old newcomer Besedka Johnson). Director Sean Baker knocks it out of the park with this small, intimate (very intimate) film.  Read more

19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations

The nominees for the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced early this morning by an energetic Busy Philipps (Cougar Town) and Taye Diggs (Private Practice).

The only WTF of the awards is that Christoph Waltz wasn’t nominated in the Supporting Actor category for Django Unchained. Screeners weren’t sent to the nominating committee because the film wasn’t finished in time but I do know that it was screened. The committee should be ashamed of themselves because his performance 1,000 times better than Robert De Niro‘s for Silver Linings Playbook or Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards® will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT).

The nominees are below.  Read more

Frank Langella: “There are, for some reason, more parts available to me in these years than I ever thought would be”

I saw Robot and Frank back in July and it’s still among my favorite films of 2012 (check out my review here!)  That is entirely because of Frank Langella, who turns in yet another wonderful performance as an a former jewel thief in the near future whose son gets him a robot companion to assist him as he suffers from memory loss.  In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Langella talks about how he feels about still getting great roles at his age and how he managed to act against the “robot.”

Langella confesses that he feels blessed that he continues to get such high-quality work at his age.  He says, “It’s a very rewarding feeling. For the most part, I’ve really tried to choose things that would cause me to grow as an actor. I’m 74, and there are, for some reason, more parts available to me in these years than I ever thought would be. I’ve been very lucky. Also, I like first-time directors; I don’t think I’d work as much if I didn’t.”  Robot and Frank is the first film directed by Jake Schreier, and Langella points out that he enjoys working with first-time directors because, “Their enthusiasm is infectious.” Read more

Angus T. Jones Finds Religion and Asks Fans, “Please Stop Watching ‘Two and a Half Men’”

What is in the water over at Two and a Half Men? Whatever they are serving, I hope Jon Cryer doesn’t partake because I really like that guy.

Angus T. Jones, who plays the Half part on the show (ok, his character is named Jake Harper), has just asked everyone to stop watching the hit CBS show.

“If you watch Two and a Half Men, please stop watching Two and a Half Men. I’m on Two and a Half Men, and I don’t want to be on it. Please stop watching it, and filling your head with filth,” he said.

Jones recently re-discovered religion and now, after being on the show since 2003 and scoring more money than you and I will ever make in our lifetime, he’s sorry for filling audiences heads with “filth.”

He goes on to say that he want’s the fan’s of the show to “do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you’ll have a decision to make when it comes to television.”

Jones, who was recently named one of the Top 10 Richest Teen Celebrities, should just keep his mouth shut, enjoy his money and time on set and fade into oblivion as he’s sure to do once the show is over.

I can’t wait to see show creator Chuck  Loree‘s vanity card at the end of the next new episode.

Watch the video below. Read more

Starring Alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the New Off-Broadway Play, ‘If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet,’ Annie Funke talks about the Show and Struggling with Her Weight

After accepting her body image issues, actress Annie Funke has landed in the arms of Jake Gyllenhaal (well, as his costar) in the Off-Broadway production of If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet.

“He’s told me a few times, ‘When we go out there, whatever happens, we have each other’s back in this,’” Funke told The New York Post.

The actress, who has long struggled with her weight, admitted to being bullied when she was younger.  “There’s a pressure to be thin, in Hollywood and everywhere,” Funke said.  “I’ve been on every fad diet and my weight goes up and down, and I spent so much of my life wishing I’d fit into a size ten.  But my journey’s been the opposite.  The weight’s actually been a blessing!”

After appearing as an understudy for Tracy Turnblad in Haispray, Funke lost more than 60 pounds.  “It was really interesting to try to find work in a new type,” she said.  “In fact, it was a struggle, so I’ve since put some of the weight back on.” Read more

Next Page »