Now that the Divergent sequel Insurgent has found its screenwriter – Jane Got a Gun scribe Brian Duffield — it’s time we start talking about what we hope to see in the film. (Even though Divergent – which stars Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet — is currently in production and won’t be released until next March, it’s never too early for these discussions, right?)
Much like Divergent, it seems like Insurgent was designed to be a movie: with big action sequences and many different original locations your imagination has probably already created a perfect dystopian Chicago for you to think about. Note to Duffield: below are five scenes we already can’t wait to check out in the film version of Insurgent.[Obvious spoiler alert if you haven't yet read the book!] READ FULL STORY »
In The Butler, Forest Whitaker plays Cecil Gaines, who proudly serves tea at the White House to seven U.S. presidents, Democratic and Republican, while the segregated country he grew up in shudders with inevitable — and often violent — progress. Directed by Lee Daniels (Precious) and co-starring Oprah Winfrey as Gaines’ beloved wife, The Butler is based on the true story of Eugene Allen, who came to the White House in 1952 and became a favorite of many of the first families who called 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home.
The film is loaded with famous faces, and the historical icons they’re playing makes the new trailer impossible not to make some snap judgements about the casting: Robin Williams as Ike! John Cusack as Tricky Dick! READ FULL STORY »
, Zach Galifianakis’ Funny or Die talk show, is known for getting a little weird. So it certainly wasn’t a surprise when James Franco dropped by and things took an odd turn. Galifianakis started by asking him some standard insulting questions. “Of all the art projects you’ve done, what has made people roll their eyes the hardest?” “127 Hours — is that how many hours you look in the mirror per day?” Franco played along with his trademark low-energy that was most famously on display at the Oscars (which he did in fact host, despite what Galifianakis says).
But after belittling Franco for a few minutes, the chat was interrupted by the Lonely Island guys, who’ve got a new song to drop (featuring Franco). It’s about spring breakkkkk — but also marriage equality. Two things that naturally go together, provided you don’t think about it too hard. Plus, Edward Norton!
Google’s homepage Doodle today, on what would have been Bass’ 93 birthday (he passed away in 1996), starts with disjointed text bars that spell out ‘Google’ as a nod to Psycho. When viewers click play they are taken through a Google-ized spin on some of Bass’ most famous works: the addict’s arm from The Man With the Golden Arm, the eye from Vertigo, the streets of New York from West Side Story, and many others.
Check out the full 81-second reel below, set to Dave Brubeck’s classic “Unsquare Dance.” Can you name all the movie references? READ FULL STORY »
Cinema lost a living legend today with the passing of Ray Harryhausen, the maestro of stop-motion special effects. Inspired as a teenager by King Kong, Harryhausen spent his career creating monsters drawn from myth and pseudo-science that took hold of the popular imagination. If anything, Harryhausen’s work looks even better now that we’re so firmly in the digital-effects era — we can better appreciate the artistry that went into creating his gorgeously terrifying creatures. Here’s a quick rundown of my ten favorite Harryhausen beasties.
10. Talos from Jason and the Argonauts
The striking thing about several of the creatures on this list is how much emotion Harryhausen fit into their faces — the way the monsters actually seem to be “acting.” And then there’s Talos, the living statue, who pretty much defined the “emotionless killing machine” look until The Terminator came along. READ FULL STORY »
With Iron Man 3‘s $175 million opening weekend, the summer box office race has officially begun. From now until Labor Day, expect a huge turnout at the theaters for the tentpole releases this season.
EW staffers Grady Smith, Darren Franich, Mike Bruno, Jeff Labrecque and Denise Warner each give their expert* picks for the top 10 movies at the box office this summer. See them below, and then use our ranking tool to predict your own top 5! READ FULL STORY »
Lindsay Lohan has a few more confessions from a broken heart.
Before — finally – checking herself into court-mandated rehab for 90 days, Lindsay Lohan sat down with Piers Morgan for a Q&A just published in the U.K.’s Daily Mail. There’s nothing fans or critics haven’t heard before about how or why her life got so off track (she hits on sad but well-worn topics such as her dad selling a recording of her complaining about her mom, the stolen necklace she says was a misunderstanding, and how everyone — even court judges — “believe the rumors”), but it is rather interesting to hear Lohan discuss what the media has been opining about for years (EW reached out to reps for Lohan and Morgan, who didn’t respond to a request for comment). Read on for Lohan’s side of the story when it comes to drinking, drugs and (mandatory) rehab. READ FULL STORY »
May has arrived, spring has (sort of) sprung, and we are officially smack dab in the middle of finale season. We’re also coming up on some of the biggest movie releases of the year. Basically, it’s an exciting time to be an entertainment junkie, folks! So here is what we’ve rounded up for you this week. Whether you’re a Rihanna fan, an avid reader of YA novels, a country music fan, or a Gleek, we’re here to make sure you get the most out of your week … entertainment-wise. The rest is up to you.
MONDAY Rihanna 777, 8 p.m., Fox
Catch an up-close-and-personal look at life on the road with Rihanna in this documentary about her November 2012 tour, in which she traveled to seven countries for seven concerts in seven days (get it?) to promote her seventh studio album, Unapologetic. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for a Chris Brown cameo … or maybe we shouldn’t.
TUESDAY Golden by Lady Antebellum hits record stores
Lady Antebellum’s fourth studio album marks their return to the sound that fans fell in love with — think “Need You Now.” From upbeat tracks to emotional ballads, this record is sure to please fans. But if you’re looking for something a little more outside-of-the-box, we hear good things about The Great Gatsby soundtrack, which also drops Tuesday.
WEDNESDAY Amazon Original Pilots, amazon.com Check out Amazon’s slew of original pilots, watch them for free, and then vote for which pilot you want to be developed into a series. Voting goes through mid-May so act now! Our recommendation: Alpha House, starring John Goodman as a D.C. senator.
THURSDAY Community, 8 p.m., NBC — OR – Glee, 9 p.m., Fox
So many season finales, so little time. Whether you want to spend your night laughing or tapping your feet is up to you, but when it comes to Glee, regionals always provides a good show. Plus, will Blaine go through with proposing to Kurt?!
FRIDAY The Great Gatsby opens in theaters
Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of the classic novel is finally here, and it promises to be a visual experience that will leave you feeling one of two things: absolutely in awe or absolutely confused. But one thing is certain: With Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Toby Maguire in the lead roles, the party’s attendees are sure to be as pretty as the parties themselves.
SATURDAY The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey The next big YA novel is here, and it focuses on a brave young female character and what happens to her when the world is invaded by aliens. Oh, and there’s a love interest. More importantly, Sony has already made a deal to launch what Yancey predicts will be a trilogy to the big screen.
SUNDAY Once Upon a Time, 8 p.m., ABC — OR – Revenge, 9 p.m., ABC — OR – Survivor, 8 p.m., CBS It is an epic three-way battle of finales, and thanks to our best friend, DVR, we don’t have to choose. But if you do have to choose, we hear that big things are going down in Revenge‘s final hour.
Iron Man 3 opens this weekend with plenty of giant explosions to delight audiences and usher in the unofficial start of the Summer Movie. But in other multiplexes there’s another film down the hall, What Maisie Knew, that tells a very different but every bit as destructive story.
Henry James wrote the story this film — directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel — is based upon in 1897. That his tale of a divorced, selfish pair of parents who use their young daughter spitefully in order to hurt the other still feels realistic and resonates over a century later is either really sad or maybe darkly comforting depending on how you want to look at it.
In this new retelling set in modern day New York (where “Maisie” is very much a believable little girl’s name), Julianne Moore plays a charismatic, troubled, moody rocker and Steve Coogan is a charming but constantly traveling father. Through a series of events each parent takes a new spouse — Alexander Skarsgård and Joanna Vanderham, respectively. Onata Aprile plays poor Maisie, a sweet and watchful child who is an unwitting witness to her parent’s bad behavior. (Here is Chris Nashawaty’s review of the film.)
It got me thinking about a genre of film that I’ll just call the Divorce Movie. A marriage unraveling is a terrible thing — even more so when kids are involved — but on the upside, it’s given us some very very very good movies. Here are my personal three favorites.
3. The War of the Roses: Danny DeVito directed this 1989 dark comedy starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner (a far cry from their Romancing the Stone days) as Barbara and Oliver Rose, a couple that “met great” but didn’t stay that way. As their marriage falls apart, things get increasingly dark and no one, not even the family pets, are safe (not the pâté!) .
2. Kramer vs. Kramer: You have to ready yourself emotionally before watching this one, but it’s always worth it. Dustin Hoffman plays Ted, a workaholic who is blindsided when his wife Joanna (Meryl Streep) leaves him and their young son, Billy. When she returns, a bitter custody battle takes place and this 1979 film really foresaw a changing attitude about parental guardianship. The script, by writer/director Robert Benton, is sparse and terrific and everyone in it is wonderful. This film earned Meryl Streep her first Oscar — and it won four others at the 52nd Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor for Hoffman, and a double Best Director and Best Screenplay for Benton.
1. The Squid and the Whale: Noah Baumbach’s 2005 film, my very favorite Divorce Movie, is one that has sent many of my peers — children of the 1980s — running straight to the therapist’s couch. Set in 1986 Park Slope, Brooklyn, Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney are writers (one on the way up, the other on the way down) who separate after unbearable tension and infidelity. Their two sons, Frank (Owen Kline, son of Kevin) and Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) are left to shuttle back and forth in a mind-blowing custody agreement that has them at one house, “Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Thursday.” (This would seem ludicrous except that I remember friends who had such arrangements.) Each kid starts to act out in his own way and while this movie has many very funny lines, it’s also a heartbreaker. (In a recent New Yorker profile, Baumbach recalls showing the movie to his mother and “began sobbing and had to leave the screening room.”)
So, is there a Divorce Movie that speaks to you? Any big fans of Bye Bye Love or The Story of Us who want to weigh in here? Take it to the comments!
With Iron Man 3 setting opening-day records in China, it’s become imperative for every Hollywood tentpole to pay homage to the world’s second-biggest movie market. At last month’s Beijing Film Festival, Paramount and Transformers 4 went decidedly all-in with their own China strategy. Not only will Michael Bay shoot scenes in China for the next installment in his robot franchise, now starring Mark Wahlberg, but the sure-blockbuster announced that it will also include speaking roles for the four Chinese actors who survive a new TV reality show.
The competition has already begun online and organizers expect approximately 80,000 contestants will enter for the chance to play a Kung Fu fighter, sexy lady, computer geek, or precocious Lolita-type. Correctly titled the Transformers 4 Chinese Actors Talent Search Reality Show and scheduled to air on Chinese television in June, the show will feature a panel of six judges led by former AMPAS president Sid Ganis and Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
But what exactly is the panel going to be judging? A story in the Hollywood Reporter hinted that the enormous field of candidates would be winnowed down by online voting after “auditions and testing.” What will the criteria be? And how will the judges articulate what they want and don’t want to see from the finalists? READ FULL STORY »
