Sydney becomes Tinseltown for a night

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 28 November 2008 by Ben

When Hollywood came to town for the Australia premiere at Greater Union George Street recently, CINE BUZZ TV was there with Darren McMullen grabbing Hugh Jackman for a chat and talking all things outback, romance plus the buzz the film has created for our country. With the closure of one of Sydney's main streets, thousands of fans flocked to the premiere in the hope of catching a glimpse of Australia's biggest celebrities. They weren't disappointed! Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight cast set to return- including Taylor?

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 28 November 2008 by Don

All the key cast of Twilight have signed on for the sequel New Moon, which is due to start shooting next March, ready for release in 2010. That's according to USA Today and MTV, although Entertainment Weekly casts doubts on whether Taylor Lautner (pictured) will return as werewolf Jacob, considering the 16-year-old is shorter and more boyish-looking than the way Stephenie Meyer described the character. ''We are definitely talking and thinking about it right now,'' Erik Feig... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Lots of Aussies love Baz's Australia; Yanks not so much

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 28 November 2008 by Don

At the risk of hastily jumping to conclusions, I think it's fair to say a sizable number of Aussies are enjoying Baz Luhrmann's Australia, while Yank audiences are less enamoured. The historical drama/romance rang up nearly $1.4 million here on Wednesday and about $1.2 million yesterday: a strong but not stellar start for the much-hyped movie. Especially considering the $200 million epic seems to appeal chiefly to women aged 30 plus and middle-aged folk, who are not inclin... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Slumdog Millionaire: a nugget among life's rubble

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 28 November 2008 by Don

Slumdog Millionaire offers no stars or glitz, just an inspiring, rags-to-riches story of an illiterate orphan teenager from the slums of Mumbai. Danny Boyle's movie is being touted as a dark-horse favourite for the best picture Oscar, alongside much higher-profile contenders such as The Dark Knight, the Brad Pitt/Cate Blanchett starrer The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the Meryl Streep drama Doubt and Kate Winslet/Leonardo DiCaprio's Revolutionary Road. Launched on Novem... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

And it's goodbye from Don

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 28 November 2008 by Don

This is my final week as a contributor to the blog. It's been a real pleasure and a privilege to have brought you news, gossip, critiques and interviews on the world of cinema this year. Thanks very much for your support and comments. I'm leaving to pursue other interests, while remaining in the industry I love. ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Jen and Owen: laughs and tears in Marley and Me

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 28 November 2008 by Don

When the producers of Marley and Me sent Jennifer Aniston a copy of the book on which it's based, she didn't want to read it. She knew it was about a couple and their neurotic pooch, and, like many actors, didn't fancy playing second fiddle to an animal. Then she read John Grogan's book, which reduced her to tears and she quickly realized it isn't a silly story about the world's worst dog. Starring Aniston and Owen Wilson, the comedy/drama follows the couple over... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

We go one on one with Daniel Craig

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 27 November 2008 by Ben

CINE BUZZ TV's Darren McMullen sat down with Bond, James Bond recently to talk all things action, travel and women. Mr Daniel Craig talks about the latest adventure in the Bond franchise, Quantum Of Solace, which is setting box office records worldwide. What's it like to be JAMES BOND? Where on earth do they film all of the exotic scenes from the films? Has life changed after becoming 007? It's all here. Watch the Intervi... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Baz and Bryan: together again in Australia

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 27 November 2008 by Don

When Bryan Brown starred in Aussie movie Winter of our Dreams back in 1981 with a starstruck teenage wannabe actor in a supporting role, neither could have imagined they'd be working together, on a much, much bigger scale, all these years later. The newcomer was Baz Luhrmann, then 18, who didn't have much of a future in front of the camera (he did appear in six episodes of A Country Practice), but he certainly made his mark behind the camera. A fan of Brown's ever since the... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Twilight's Jackson Rathbone strikes up a new tune

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 27 November 2008 by Don

While most of the stars of Twilight are likely to be inundated with offers, Jackson Rathbone had already figured out what he'll be doing for the next few months: pursuing his musical career. Jackson, who plays Jasper, and his jazz/rock band 100 Monkeys are set to release their first EP and album, and will have a regular gig at the L.A. bar called the 24K Lounge. Not that he'll be neglecting acting. The 23-year-old plays a hippie in the Rob Schneider comedy Big Stan, now sc... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Kate Winslet presses her claims for Oscar gold

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 27 November 2008 by Don

Could an Oscar, which has eluded Kate Winslet ever since her breakthrough role in Titanic, finally be within her grasp? Some pundits believe she has a strong chance of taking the best actress honours this year, with performances in two movies likely to appeal to Academy voters. In Revolutionary Road, she re-teams with Leonardo DiCaprio in the tale of an unhappy couple in the 1950s who move to France to try to save their marriage. Her character April is "steely, ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Hugh and Nicole steam up the screen in Australia

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 by Don

When Hugh Jackman wached Australia for the first time with his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, he was understandably a bit nervous. How would Deb react when his character, the Drover, has his first long, passionate kiss with Nicole Kidman's Lady Sarah Ashley? To Hugh's relief, Deb, a friend of Nicole's for 15 years, leaned over and told him, "That – was – great!" As one reviewer has noted, their on-screen romance looks pretty steamy, stemming, no doubt, from the genui... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

New Moon: bigger, darker and scarier?

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 by Don

If you enjoy the movie Twilight, chances are the follow-up, New Moon, will be even more exciting and eventful. The sequel promises to be a much bigger, darker and more elaborate movie, filled with werewolves, Bella being attacked by Jasper, a near-suicidal Edward retreating to Rome, Laurent travelling to Alaska, and an expanded role for Jacob as a lover and fighter. Director Catherine Hardwicke has said she expects New Moon will cost twice as much as the first movie, which... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Reese and Vince create sparks in Four Holidays

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 by Don

Reese Witherspoon laughs at internet rumours that she and Vince Vaughn didn't hit it off during the filming of Four Holidays. For the actress who's had to get used to tabloid speculation and scrutiny after her marriage break-up, it was just another case of false reporting. "Every co-star I ever work with I'm either having an affair with him, I'm about to get married to him, we're having a baby or we absolutely cannot stand each other," she says. The truth is she ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Jennifer Carpenter loved being in Quarantine

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 by Don

Jennifer Carpenter doesn't like horror movies-- which sounds a bit rich for an actress who starred in the chilling The Exorcism of Emily Rose and plays the sister of a serial killer in TV's Dexter. But she has a neat answer on why she took the lead role in Quarantine, a remake of a Spanish horror movie. "I think people who like horror movies, like to see people who don't like to be scared be scared - and I'm one of them," she says. Besides, Quarantine appealed to... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Twilight's Dr Cullen had the prescription for a hit

1 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 by Don

Peter Facinelli, Twilight's kindly Dr Cullen, was convinced the movie was destined to be a hit as soon as his 11-year-old daughter saw it. Figuring she'd be a good barometer of Twilighters everywhere, Facinelli was both relieved and gratified when his daughter and 15-year-old niece both said they loved the film and found it truthful to the book. "It's the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet in a vampire world," the actor, pictured centre, said on CBS's Early Show. Find out more...   |   1 Comments   |   buy tickets

Nicole gets an unfair mauling

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 by Don

Nicole Kidman often gets an unfair press, but an attack on her casting in Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia by a London columnist is way, way over the top. Slamming Nic as one of the world's most over-rated actors. the Times' Melanie Reed claims females -- all of them, apparently-- won't go to see Australia simply because she's in it. "Kidman is one of those women who turns other women off," the bitchy Reed says. "She is exquisitely accomplished at being awful." Ma... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: ''sadly beautiful''

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 by Don

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a masterpiece, a moving treatise on death, loss, loneliness and love. So says Variety's Anne Thompson in one of the first reviews of David Fincher's ambitious movie, which stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. She tips Oscar nominations for both actors and praises the CGI work as a seismic shift in film-making. Pitt is the title character, who, at birth, resembles a small E.T., with the mind and body of an 80-year-old. ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Sex and the City 2 ready for 2010?

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 by Don

The Sex and the City sequel could start shooting in the middle of next year and be ready for release in 2010-- if the filmmakers can settle on the storyline in the next couple of months. So says executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker, who seems confident they'll move ahead. After tossing around many potential plot ideas, Parker and writer/director Michael Patrick King have found one they agree on. She offers no clues, except to rule out motherhood as an angle. “... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilighters have their say- for and against

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 24 November 2008 by Don

Most loved it, a small minority hated it, and quite a few have very mixed emotions. Twilight has sparked strong reactions from cinemagoers in the US, judging by the chatter on numerous websites. The majority of fans, according to the LA Times, believe the movie is faithful to the book, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are hot, showing plenty of sexual tension, and all the Cullens are great. The detractors pointed to perceived flaws like the cheesy specia... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Bond makes a killing in Oz

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 24 November 2008 by Don

Just as it's done everywhere else in the world, Quantum of Solace has rewritten the James Bond record books in Australia. The 22nd Bond adventure has grabbed $11.8 million since its debut last Wednesday. The 4-day tally of $9.73 million eclipsed Casino Royale's first weekend by 44% and means it's already beaten the latter's opening week of $9.37 million. That represents Sony's second highest opening weekend of all time in Oz, behind the original Spider-Man. Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

The world enters a new Twilight zone

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 24 November 2008 by Don

I bet the only people who weren't shocked by Twilight's humungous opening in the US last weekend were the fanatical army of Twi-hards. I'm sure they never doubted director Catherine Hardwicke and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg's ability to capture on screen the swooning romance, magic and suspense of Stephenie Meyer's novel. And is there a hotter duo right now than Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, along with the movie's other fresh, good-looking faces? Twiligh... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight's a blockbuster, and New Moon rises!

0 Comments | Posted on Sunday, 23 November 2008 by Don

True to their word, Summit Entertainment made their decision on a sequel to Twilight the day after the vampire romance opened in the US- and it's a go! That was inevitable after Twilight rang up an estimated $35.7 million on opening day, way above pundits' expectations. That stunning figure, which includes $7.5 million from midnight sessions, points to a weekend tally of around $70 million. On Saturday, Summit issued a media release announcing it's moving ahead w... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Twilight: let the mayhem begin!

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 21 November 2008 by Don

From midnight Thursday US time, millions of Twi-hards will start rolling up as the long-awaited movie launches on more than 3,400 cinemas across the States. How many? Well, pundits' predictions for Twilight's opening weekend range from $44 million up to $70 million. Anything in that ballpark would be a great result for a film which cost just $37 million. Yesterday afternoon, online ticketing services reported 2,000 sessions were sold out, including 600 midnight shows, and ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

After Quantum of Solace, what's next for 007?

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 21 November 2008 by Don

After watching Quantum of Solace, I'll be fascinated to see what's in store for 007 in the 23rd Bond adventure. Thus far we have a few hints from Daniel Craig and the producers: Bond may have unfinished business with the evil Quantum organization. Absent from the last two movies, Q and Moneypenny may return. We could see more new gadgets. The next edition may inject more humour, as there are few laughs in Quantum of Solace, and there may be a bigger role for Jeffrey Wright... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Keanu holds the matrix to The Day the Earth Stood Still

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 21 November 2008 by Don

If you were remaking a science fiction classic from the 1950s about an alien who lands on Earth with a mission to save mankind from annihilation, who would you cast? Step forward Keanu Reeves, who brings his Matrix-like, engimatic, other-worldly qualities to the role of Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still. While Klaatu is pursued by anxious government officials, he's befriended by a boy (Jaden Smith) and his step-mother (Jennifer Connelly) and learns a thing or two ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Ledger mocked by film rag

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 21 November 2008 by Don

At a time when nearly every pundit rates Heath Ledger as the favourite to take out the best supporting actor Oscar, it's annoying to see his memory being trashed by a film mag whose editors ought to hang their heads in shame. Showing excruciatingly bad taste, Film Threat has named Heath at the top of its annual list called Frigid 50, the Coldest People in Hollywood. Mocking one of Ledger's lines in The Dark Knight, the rag asks, "Why so deceased?" While insisting it views ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight: first reviews!

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 20 November 2008 by Don

The first reviews for Twilight have appeared online, and it's fair to say they range from full-on raves to dismissive put-downs. Catherine Hardwicke's vampire thriller/romance clearly isn't aimed at mostly male, middle-aged critics, so I'd take some of their opinions with a grain of salt. And a far better guide to the film's appeal and box-office prospects may be the reactions of Twilight fans who've seen the film, such as SoftballPrincess6, who told MTV, "It definitely doe... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Bond alumni: Where are they now?

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 20 November 2008 by Don

Watching the superb Quantum of Solace got me thinking about some of the great actors and actresses who've graced Bond movies over the past 46 years, and wondering what happened to them. I knew Sean Connery (pictured) retired after 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentleman (not his finest film), turned down the chance to appear in the last Indiana Jones adventure, and wrote an autobiography, Being a Scot. George Lazenby went back to obscurity after his sole effort as 007 ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Streep courts controversy in Doubt

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 20 November 2008 by Don

After vamping it up in Mamma Mia!, Meryl Streep returns to more familiar territory in Doubt, a powerful drama which some critics believe will earn the actress her 15th Oscar nomination. Streep stars alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams in writer-director John Patrick Shanley's adaptation of his Pulitzer and Tony award-winning Broadway play. Set in 1964 at a Catholic school in the Bronx, the plot follows the principal, Meryl's Sister Aloysius, as she suspects popu... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

“The course of true love never did run smooth” William Shakespeare

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 by Claire

I had become a fan of the Stephenie Myers books and so looked forward to seeing the film of Twilight. I was lucky enough to attend a special screening last week. It’s rare that a film can live up to the expectation of your own vision of a book you love. Unfortunately Twilight isn’t one of those rare films. Having said that I did like the film, and as a lover of the book I can see why they have taken certain artistic licence with the story and even the characters. If you are unfamilia... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Super dog to the rescue

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 by Ben

Whatever you're doing this January, make sure you get the chance to see Bolt 3D. This is another hit-in-waiting for Disney with plenty of laughs along the way. Super dog, Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) stars in a television show alongside his 'owner' and co-star Penny, played by the insanely popular teen star Miley Cyrus (of Hannah Montana fame) where adventure, danger and super powers rule the day. When Bolt is suddenly and accidently shipped off to New York city, he faces the bigges... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight mania set to peak!

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 by Don

Judging by the near-hysteria among Twilight fans at last Monday's night premiere in Los Angeles and the number of sold-out sessions, the movie will have a fantastic opening in the US this Friday. Hundreds of people lined the streets screaming and chanting, more than a few in tears, and some Twilighters had camped out overnight, waiting for the premiere. It's a huge buzz for the cast and filmmakers. "This is crazier and louder than I was prepared for,” Rob Pattinson said whe... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Baz's Australia: a daring, big hearted melodrama

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 by Don

Baz Luhrmann's Australia is no masterpiece-- but it's a big-hearted melodrama with blockbuster potential. That's the collective view of the majority of reviews I've read this morning. Despite many superlatives heaped on the movie, I sense disappointment among some critics who wanted to love rather than simply admire Baz's ambitious epic. The main reservations dwelt on the running time of 165 minutes, the campy, over-theatrical tenor, a romance which veers into Mills & Bo... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Quantum of Solace: a Bond like no other

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 by Don

Quantum of Solace is a quintessential James Bond movie- but in many respects it's like no other 007 adventure. The filmmakers bravely departed from tradition in what now seems a highly successful rebooting of the franchise. The 22nd Bond movie is the first ever sequel, picking up an hour after the end of Casino Royale. "We felt we needed to tie up the loose ends from Casino Royale," says Daniel Craig. "For me it's about creating something that is going to stand a... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

American Teen: a real tale of high school senior year

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 by Don

American Teen is the title, but the kids in this funny and touching fly-on-the-wall documentary could just as easily be living in, say, Newcastle or Townsville. There's Megan the rich princess (pictured centre), Jake the geek, Mitch the heartthrob, Hannah the rebel and Colin the jock. Director Nanette Burstein and her crew spent 10 months filming the students during their senior year at Indiana Community High School in Warsaw, Indiana. Their trials and tribulati... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Monsters vs Aliens 3D: monster fun in a new dimension

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 by Don

The future of movies is 3D, according to DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg. To prove his point, he showed three extended clips of Monsters vs Aliens 3D to exhibitors and media in Sydney this morning. I think Katzenberg is right: the footage is spectacular. His company is at the forefront of the revolution, shooting all its movies in 3D from now on. And it's using a patented technology, InTru3D, which means the entire movie is shot in 3D from the first storyboards, u... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Cate and Brad: Star-crossed lovers in Benjamin Button

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 by Don

In their stellar careers, Cate Blanchett has scored five Oscar nominations for just one win, and Brad Pitt has been nominated once, for no reward. Could The Curious Case of Benjamin Button see both stars vying for Academy Awards? Maybe, according to the first review I've seen of David Fincher's ambitious melodrama. Brad plays the title character, who's born with the mind and body of an 80-year-old man, and reverse-ages to infancy. Cate is Daisy, the love of his l... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Jungle fever arrives at the State Theatre

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 by Ben

Jungle fever came to the State Theatre in Sydney last night for the Australian premiere of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, with stars Ben Stiller and Chris Rock gracing the red carpet to help promote their latest offering. As hundreds of kids waited impatiently for the film to start and seemed more interested in seeing Alex the Lion up close, the stars worked the media as they made their way inside to introduce the film, along with DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Madagasca... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Judi Dench: the real Bond ''girl''

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 by Don

There's been one constant, commanding presence in the last five Bond films, from GoldenEye through to Quantum of Solace, apart from 007. That's the majestic Judi Dench as M, Bond's boss and the head of MI6. In the latest adventure, Dench's role is even more pivotal as M struggles to rein in Bond as he seeks revenge for the death of Vesper Lynd. "She is our anchor. She is the real Bond girl, the one that keeps it all going," says producer Barbara Broccoli. ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Brandon Walters gets his big break in Australia

4 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 by Don

Brandon Walters will never forget the day he went for a swim at the public pool near his home in Broome, Western Australia. There, he was spotted by a casting director for Baz Luhrmann's Australia, which led to his first-ever trip to Sydney, where Luhrmann did workshops with Brandon and nine other hopefuls. Despite his lack of acting experience, Brandon won the role of Nullah, an indigenous boy who is adopted by Nicole Kidman's English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley. ... Find out more...   |   4 Comments

Bond steals the show at Australian premiere

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 17 November 2008 by Ben

It was stars galore on Saturday night at the Australian premiere of Quantum Of Solace, the latest instalment of the James Bond franchise. While the guest list may have featured stars such as Rove McManus, Megan Gale, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and many others, all attention was on the main attraction, James Bond himself, Daniel Craig. As women everywhere swarmed to catch a glimpse of the 007 star, the men had the latest Bond girl, Olga Kurylenko, to feast their eyes on. Guests were also lu... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

No easy tricks for Twilight's vampires

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 17 November 2008 by Don

The vampires in Twilight look just like us, only better looking perhaps. So it must have been an easy transformation for the actors, right? Actually no. Preparing for their roles meant a lot of hair-dying, make-up to turn their skin white, and wearing contact lenses. Kellan Lutz, who's Emmett, had never worn glasses or contact lenses and had to ask other people to insert his contacts. "They were prying my eyes open, saying 'think happy thoughts,'" he ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Bond sends the competition ducking for cover

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 17 November 2008 by Don

If you wondered why no major new films launched last weekend, there's a simple reason: Bond, James Bond. With 007 set to invade cinemas on Wednesday, no distributor was brave, or dumb, enough to open a half-decent movie last week, knowing the market will soon be overtaken by Bond mania. Hence it was a slow weekend at ticket windows, and the winner by default was Nights in Rodanthe. The melodrama starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane (pictured) fetched $940,000 in its second ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Australia plot revealed

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 17 November 2008 by Don

Baz Luhrmann's Australia is an ode to the spirit and diverse culture of his homeland, in the tradition of romantic epics like Casablanca, Titanic and Out of Africa. If you'd like to know an outline of the plot before the movie opens on November 26, without any major spoilers, read on. Nicole Kidman plays Lady Sarah Ashley, a British socialite who's lost in a loveless marriage. Convinced her husband is cheating on her while he's in Australia to sell Faraway Downs, their str... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

The world seeks Solace

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 17 November 2008 by Don

Quantum of Solace has beaten the living daylights out of the James Bond record books. The 22nd 007 adventure grabbed $67.5 million in the US last weekend, the biggest opening in the 46-year history of Bond films. That obliterated Casino Royale's $40.8 million debut in 2006 and and the canon's previous high of $47 million posted by Die Another Day. The Marc Forster-directed blockbuster is certain to overtake Casino Royale's final tally of $167 million to become th... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight sequels? Don't get too excited!

0 Comments | Posted on Saturday, 15 November 2008 by Don

Numerous websites have breathlessly picked up a Hollywood Reporter story which says Summit Entertainment has acquired the rights to Stephenie Meyer's novels New Moon and Eclipse. They've jumped to the conclusion that at least two sequels to Twilight are a certainty. Not so fast. Just last week, Summit CEO Rob Friedman stated the studio will decide whether or not to continue with the series on November 22-- the day after Twilight launches in the US and 10 overseas territor... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

From James Bond....to zombies!

0 Comments | Posted on Saturday, 15 November 2008 by Don

After devoting a year of his life to making Quantum of Solace, director Marc Forster couldn't have chosen a more different--or bizarre--subject for his next movie: zombies! Forster has signed on to helm World War Z, adapted from a novel by Max Brooks, which follows a UN official as he interviews survivors of a zombie epidemic which nearly wiped out humanity. The script is by J. Michael Straczynski, who penned Changeling, Clint Eastwood's 1920s drama which stars Angelina Jo... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Is Twilight's Rob Pattinson getting a little paranoid?

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 14 November 2008 by Don

Twilight's Robert Pattinson must be one of the most scrutinized, photographed, lusted-after men on the planet. I thought he was handling all that pressure and attention remarkably well, but now I'm not so sure. Asked how he reacts to the fan frenzy wherever he goes, he sounded unfazed, declaring, "My brain doesn't really accept it, so it's fine. I can be put anywhere and it just goes completely over my head." But then he said, "I just don't want to get shot or st... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Igor: a funny riff on Frankenstein

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 14 November 2008 by Don

Igor is the creepy hunchback sidekick of a mad scientist. When his boss accidentally kills himself, Igor seizes the chance to create his own invention in hopes of winning the top prize at the annual Evil Science Fair. He's assisted, or not, by Brain, who's not nearly as smart as he thinks he is, as evidenced by the fact he wrote Brian across his cranium in permanent marker; and Scamper, an indestructible rabbit with a death wish. Setting out to create a ferocious monster, i... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Can Bond finally match it with Bourne in the US?

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 14 November 2008 by Don

American audiences prefer their heroes home-grown, which may explain why Jason Bourne is vastly more popular in the US than James Bond. Can Quantum of Solace elevate 007 to true superhero status at the US box-office? We'll find out on Monday as the movie launches on 3,400 screens today. Some pundits are tipping Marc Foster's fresh take on the Bond franchise will grab $60 million, which would easily beat Casino Royale's $40.8 million debut. Casino Royale went on t... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

IF award for best Aussie film: a dubious honour?

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 14 November 2008 by Don

What does it say about the credibility of a people's choice award when the gong for best Australian film goes to a movie few of us have seen or even heard of? Not a lot, I'd say. Men's Group, first-time director/writer Michael Joy's movie about six guys who attend weekly self-help meetings, won the awards for best feature film, script and actor for Grant Dodwell at last night's Inside Film Awards. The movie opened yesterday at one cinema in Sydney and Adelaide,... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

A Tortured Performance

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 13 November 2008 by Will

Ask any Gen Y who Mickey Rourke is and they will probably struggle to answer. They may be able to associate him with his superb performance as Marv in 2005’s Sin City or maybe if you’re lucky they’ve heard of the film Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, but I doubt it. Regardless, The Wrestler is a film that will bring Mickey back into the spot light, and deservedly so. The Wrestler tells the story of Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, a former champion wrestler who is far beyond his prime. ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Who are cinema's sexiest vampires?

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 13 November 2008 by Don

Twilight's Edward, Emmett and Alice may well be the sexiest vampires we've ever seen in cinemas. Not having fangs, of course, can do wonders for one's appearance, as can inhabiting svelte bodies that don't age with time. Who do you rate as cinema's sexiest vampires? Females may have gone weak at the knees for Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise in Interview with a Vampire, Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker's Dracula, Stuart Townsend in Queen of the Damned or David Bowie in The Hung... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Will the Cloverfield monster rise again?

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 13 November 2008 by Don

Like the vast majority of Cloverfield fans, I'd love to see a sequel to the innovative monster movie. So would Paramount and director Matt Reeves-- but finding a viable premise is proving tricky. "There are a couple ideas that have potential but we haven’t quite cracked it yet,” Reeves told MTV. Rather than pick up right after where the original ended, the sequel is likely to find other ways of intersecting with the first film-- and setting it in Japan is one po... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

He's Just Not That Into You: a new spin on the dating game

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 13 November 2008 by Don

He's Just Not That Into You boasts a sexy cast and is based on a best-selling book inspired by an episode of Sex and the City: all the right ingredients for what could be a terrific comedy. Putting Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson and Justin Long together is a promising start. The book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, published in 2004, is a self-help guide to navigating ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Star Trek's new SS Enterprise...look familiar?

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 13 November 2008 by Don

Here's the first pic of the starship Enterprise in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek XI. If it looks familiar to Trek fans, it should! Abrams deliberately modelled the craft on the original Enterprise which appeared in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture. With a few tweaks, taking advantage of today's FX technology. "If you're going to do Star Trek there are many things you cannot change," Abrams told Entertainment Weekly. "The Enterprise is a visual touchstone... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

High School Musical stars grace the red carpet

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 by Ben

If the idea of screaming girls and a mix of singing and dancing is your idea of fun, there was only one place to be on Monday night - Greater Union George Street. The cinema played host to the Australian premiere of the latest edition of the Disney powerhouse - High School Musical 3: Senior Year, with stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale as well as director Kenny Ortega gracing the red carpet. With a huge turn out of die hard fans, the crowd were mesmerized as their her... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Don’t change anything Angie!

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 by Will

Rarely do we find actors today who can make films succeed across a wide range of genres, Angelina Jolie is one such actor. Having received critical acclaim for her roles in films such as Girl, Interrupted and A Mighty Heart, to her action romps in the Tomb Raider franchise and Wanted, it seems regardless of the genre, people love to see Angie on the big screen. Her latest outing is a period piece directed by the master himself, Clint Eastwood. Changeling tells the true story of Christ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Baz demolishes rumours about Australia's ending

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 by Don

I hate spoilers, which is one reason I ignored a Sydney tabloid story which alleged 20th Century Fox had pressured Baz Luhrmann to change the ending of his epic Australia. It turns out the story, which was regurgitated on numerous websites, was wrong on all counts, so I think it's worth setting the record straight. The director has the right of final cut, and the studio didn't ask him to change a thing. "We never pressured him in any way, shape or form," Fox co-c... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Gemma Arterton bares her soul, and more, in Bond 22

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 by Don

For an actress who made her on-screen debut last year as Kelly, the head girl, in the silly St Trinian's, followed by a cameo in Guy Ritchie's RockNRolla, life seems a bit unreal for Gemma Arterton. Less than six months after graduating from drama school, she landed the plum role of MI6 agent Fields in Quantum of Solace. Fields tries to control the unhinged Bond as he seeks vengeance for the death of Vesper Lynd. Yes, she tumbles into bed with 007, but don't call her a femme fatale. ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight tickets go on sale tomorrow!

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 by Don

The wait is nearly over, Twilighters. You can buy tickets to the movie from tomorrow online and at Greater Union and Birch, Carroll & Coyle cinemas. As you know, the movie launches in Australia on December 11. Judging by the feedback every time we write about the movie in the blog, I know there's a huge pent-up demand to see it. In the US, everyone associated with the movie seems very confident it will satisfy the Twilight audience. "I'm just kind of riding the e... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Oprah loves Australia (Baz's movie, that is)

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 by Don

I'm guessing millions of women have just decided they'll see Baz Luhrmann's romantic epic Australia after the movie got the ultimate seal of approval-- from Oprah. The talk show host, who's one of the few people in the world who saw a 3-hour rough cut, devoted Monday's episode to the film and interviewed Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. The movie made her laugh, cry and sit on the edge of her seat. "It literally swept me off my feet," she says. "You just don't get to see mov... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

The Wackness: a real stoner comedy

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 by Don

Sir Ben Kingsley is a good actor who's made too many bad movies since he won an Oscar for Gandhi way back in 1983, along with a few fine films like Sexy Beast and House of Sand and Fog. Finally he's landed a role which suits his talents as an oddball, New Age psychiatrist in The Wackness, an indie comedy set in New York in 1994. As Dr Squires, he counsels troubled teen Luke (Josh Peck of Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh show), who can't connect with women, which may have somethi... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight's Kristen Stewart contemplates success...or failure

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 11 November 2008 by Don

By all indications, Twilight will be a huge hit. But what if it flops? At 18, with an amazing 19 films to her credit, Kristen Stewart is realistic enough to contemplate both possibilities. "This movie is either going to make it easier for me to keep doing the things that I've been doing for almost ten years or it's going to drop me right on my ass and I'm going to keep doing the same thing that I've been doing, which are tiny little independent movies that no one sees," the... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Sex Drive: a road comedy with heart

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 11 November 2008 by Don

Comedies about teenagers who are determined to lose their virginity often are pretty crass, abandoning any semblance of good taste in search of laughs. Sex Drive sets out to offer a fresh take on that well-worn theme, keeping a rein on the gross-out humour as it focuses on the relationship between three friends. The plot follows 18-year-old Ian (Josh Zuckerman) as he steals brother Rex's prized 1969 GTO and drives from Chicago to Knoxville along with his best mate Lance (Cl... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Captain America and Wonder Woman updates

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 11 November 2008 by Don

Director Joe Johnston's last movie was Hidalgo, a western starring Viggo Mortensen which was released to almost universal apathy more than four years ago. So why would Marvel Studios hire him to direct its superhero movie The First Avenger: Captain America? My guess is Marvel executives liked Joe's work on Jurassic Park III (although many fans regarded it as the least impressive of the trio) and, going way back, Jumanji. Plus, I'm supposing they've seen some foot... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Batman makes $1 billion!

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 11 November 2008 by Don

Unlike the Joker, The Dark Knight just won't die at the box-office. More than four months since it launched, the Batpic has amassed $US997.5 million from cinemas worldwide. Warner Bros. will no doubt wring every last dollar out of the blockbuster, so you can bet it will top $1 billion before it goes on to make many more millions on DVD. With $528.5 million in receipts in the US, TDK already ranks as the second-biggest earner of all time behind Titanic's $600.8 million. Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Women embrace Nights in Rodanthe; did any blokes tag along?

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 10 November 2008 by Don

If you're female, enjoy a good, old-fashioned tearjerker and went to the movies over the weekend, I'm guessing you saw Nights in Rodanthe. Actually that's an informed guess, because the romance starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane won the weekend box-office by a big margin. The movie about an unhappy woman and troubled doctor, whose paths if not destinies cross one weekend in North Carolina, grabbed $1.37 million on 240 screens. I'm supposing the audience was overwhelmingly... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

I’ll Take An Extra-Large Quantum of Daniel Craig, Please.

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 10 November 2008 by Kerryn

There’s something about a steel-hearted, emotion-phobe with fabulous abs that removes the ‘logical reasoning’ part of the female brain, leading temporarily confused women to waste countless hours under the impression they can “change him”. Women love a challenge! Picking up one hour from where Casino Royale left off, this Bond film (the 22nd one made) is the first ever to be a direct continuation of the previous film. Bond has captured Mr. White and takes him under a palazzo in Sien... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Did Twilight's Rob Pattinson really propose to Kristen?

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 10 November 2008 by Don

Twilighters won't have to wait much longer to find out if the sequel, New Moon, will go ahead. And Bella's Kristen Stewart and Edward's Robert Pattinson have spoken about reports that he actually proposed marriage to her while they were filming the movie. Summit Entertainment says it will decide whether or not to proceed with the sequel on November 22, the day after Catherine Hardwicke's movie launches in the US and 10 other territories. That indicates a high deg... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Nicole and Charlize: ''man'' and wife!

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 10 November 2008 by Don

Can you imagine Nicole Kidman as a trans-sexual...who is married to Charlize Theron? Not in my wildest dreams...but that's the premise of The Danish Girl, an independent movie which Nicole will star in as well as produce, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The actress has never shied away from taking on risky roles, sometimes to the detriment of her career, such as Margot at the Wedding, Birth and the little-seen Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus. The ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

YES! It’s coming back… Sex and the City Sequel confirmed by Kim Cattrall!

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 10 November 2008 by Liz

Kim Cattrall confirmed there will be a Sex and The City movie sequel when she spoke to pop star Melanie Brown in a UK TV interview last week. Filming is scheduled to begin as early as next summer. Released in June this year, Sex and The City: The Movie was a huge success grossing over $25m at the Australian Box Office. In what is sure to excite women worldwide, the 4 gals from New York City will be back on the big screen. With the success of the first Sex and the City film and the s... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Finally, Mel shoots down Lethal Weapon 5

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 10 November 2008 by Don

At last, confirmation of something which I think nearly everyone who fondly remembers the Lethal Weapon movies was hoping to hear: Lethal Weapon 5 is dead. Producer Joel Silver had been trying to get studio backing for another adventure re-uniting cops Riggs and Murtaugh, with a script by Shane Black, who wrote or co-wrote all four previous instalments. That news dismayed many fans, who couldn't imagine the characters being wheeled out of retirement 10 years after the last ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

It's move it, move it to No. 1 for Madagascar 2 in the US

0 Comments | Posted on Monday, 10 November 2008 by Don

American audiences sure love to move it, move it! The Madgascar: Escape 2 Africa theme song rang out across US cinemas last weekend as the sequel delivered a huge windfall of $63.5 million. If that estimate holds, it will rank as the biggest debut for an animated film in the US this year, beating WALL.E ($63 million) and Kung Fu Panda ($60.2 million). Featuring the voice cast of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer, Sacha Baron Cohen and C... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Stephenie Meyer has seen the Twilight movie and...

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Don

Stephenie Meyer admits she was terrified of watching the Twilight movie and gathered some supportive friends to get their feedback. She felt badly when some fans bagged the casting of Rob Pattinson as Edward, and she's sure the remaining doubters will be silenced when they see the movie. Director Catherine Hardwicke agreed to reshoot the big Bella-Edward kissing scene after Stephenie asked her to tone it down. And the Twilight author has hinted she may fini... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Did someone say hot?

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Claire

I got a look at Zack Snyder’s new film Watchmen, lucky enough to see some fantastic footage and also hear him speak about it too. And in Zack’s own words, one good reason I will go and see the film is because it has “MEN” in the title. And can I just say, Zack is fine! And funny and obviously very talented. And I think he works out somewhere in Sparta! (Buff much?) But to the film, it looks like it has everything and more you’d be expecting of a film directed by Zack, to me it looks ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

All Hail Zack Snyder!

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Will

Fan boys relax; your work is in good hands. We all breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was announced that Zack Snyder would be at the helm of the much anticipated WATCHMEN film. Being in the enviable position of getting invited to a special behind the scenes look at the film I entered with great anticipation. Briefly discussing his relationship with the film and how he came to get involved, we were shown the entire opening sequence - arguably the greatest opening to a film I... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Baz's Australia: ''this film has radically changed my perspective''

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Don

Baz Luhrmann says his new historical epic Australia deals with the country's mythology-- but it's grounded in reality and years of research. "The title is a metaphor for the largeness of Nicole Kidman's character's experience and the extraordinary journey she goes on," says the director. By setting the film between the two world wars, he says he's been able to bind the historical romance to what he describes as "the greatest scar in (our) history: the Stolen Generation."... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

''Watchmen'' - we're all in!

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Ben

Wow - I was lucky enough to meet Zack Snyder, the director of Hollywood hits "300" and "Dawn of the Dead" while he was in town yesterday to help promote his upcoming hit in waiting, "Watchmen". Paramount Pictures held a sneak peak of various clips from the film, which is not released here until 5th March 2009, with Snyder explaining the thinking behind each scene. This was a unique opportunity to gain a greater insight into how a big Hollywood director thinks and works and it was clea... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

High School Musical mania comes to town at Greater Union George Street!

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Ben

The Australian premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year will take place on Monday 10th November at Greater Union George Street, with our very own CINE BUZZ TV host, Sami Lukis, to present all of the red carpet festivities. Thanks to the worldwide success of this Disney hit, the stars of the show - Zac Effron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale as well as director Kenny Ortega will also be on the red carpet to help Sami celebrate the next chapter of the High School Musical franc... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Watchmen's Zack Snyder reveals his biggest battle (he won!)

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Don

Why didn't Zack Snyder cast any big stars in Watchmen, his upcoming movie based on Alan Moore's graphic novel? Is the movie's ending the same as the book's? And is he worried about a law suit from Fox which threatens to derail the film's March 6 launch in the US (March 5 here)? The boyish-looking director of 300 (he's 32), cheerfully answered myriad questions after screening 25 minutes footage to the media and exhibitors in Sydney yesterday. On the casting issu... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Madagascar 2: even wilder than the original?

0 Comments | Posted on Friday, 7 November 2008 by Don

Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa might be a rare animal among sequels: a movie that's bigger, more sophisticated and funnier than the original. Typifying the rave reviews in the US, Variety says the new adventure marks a "notable improvement on its predecessor in every department," with enhanced animation, plenty of slapstick and clever verbal sparring between the characters. The plot sees Central Park Zoo refugees Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Twilight: How bright will it shine at cinemas?

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 6 November 2008 by Don

As Twilighters count down the days until the vampire romance/thriller's November 21 launch in the US, there's a popular guessing game among fans and pundits: How high can it fly on the opening weekend? The producer/distributor Summit Entertainment is playing down expectations, tipping a debut of around $20 million, according to Deadline Hollywood Daily. Box Office Prophets is even more pessimistic, predicting an opening in the mid-teens, reasoning, "I just don't see the aud... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Greater Union George Street becomes Hollywood for a night - World premiere of ''Australia''!

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 6 November 2008 by Ben

We're over the moon to announce Greater Union George Street will play host to the World Premiere of Baz Luhrmann's movie epic "Australia" in what is sure to be THE event of the year on Tuesday 18th November. The star studded event will play host to stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, director Baz Luhrmann along with young indigenous actor Brandon Walters and two-time Academy Award winning production and costume designer Catherine Martin. The entire George Street complex will be take... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

What's the best concert movie you've seen?

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 6 November 2008 by Don

With tomorrow night's special screening of The Smashing Pumpklns' If All Goes Wrong at selected cinemas, it's timely to ask: What's the best concert movie of all time? This has been a great year for concerts, with U2-3D, the Rolling Stones' Shine a Light, and, for tweeners, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. As an 'oldie,' I have fond memories of Woodstock and Monterey Pop. As a fan of The Talking Heads, I loved Stop Making Sense. Devotees of Bob D... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Gere and Lane see the funny side of love in Nights in Rodanthe

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 6 November 2008 by Don

Love scenes can be awkward and stressful for the actors concerned, especially if they've just met. Not so, of course, for two old pros like Richard Gere and Diane Lane, who team up for the third time in Nights in Rodanthe. Their romantic encounter- she's unhappily married, he's divorced- happens at a North Carolina inn one stormy weekend. For the actors, filming the tryst can be described in one word: funny. The love scene was filmed last, just as physically-ris... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Guy Pearce pursues the truth in Traitor

0 Comments | Posted on Thursday, 6 November 2008 by Don

If you asked Guy Pearce and Don Cheadle how they enjoyed working together in the spy thriller Traitor, you'd get a funny answer. Their paths didn't cross until their characters confront each other towards the movie's climax. "It was almost like two film shoots, with two different stories,” says Pearce, who plays a straight-arrow FBI agent in dogged pursuit of Cheadle's Samir, a suspected terrorist. “Don and his team have an objective, and part of that objective ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Twilight's Rob Pattinson's embarrassing first day

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 5 November 2008 by Don

Given all the hype, fans' adulation and publicity swirling around the Twilight movie, it seems hard to believe that Robert Pattinson is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. Indeed, the 22-year-old Brit who plays vampire Edward seems almost embarrassed by the attention. "I can't watch myself on screen," the actor told the Los Angeles Times. And far from being as athletic and fleet-footed as the character he plays, he doesn't mind admitting he mucked up his first... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Brad Patt's amazing life journey in Benjamin Button

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 5 November 2008 by Don

How can you convincingly portray a character who, at birth, is the size of a baby but with the mind and body of an 80-year-old...and have him age backwards, so as he approaches death his body and mind shrivel to that of a baby? Especially when the character is played by a superstar who's as instantly recognizable as Brad Pitt? Director David Fincher and his special effects gurus take on that challenge in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Judging by the trailer and photos... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Nights in Rodanthe whips up an emotional storm

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 5 November 2008 by Don

Deeply unhappy woman goes away for a weekend hoping to find some solace, meets a handsome stranger and they fall in love. Hardly an original premise, but Nights in Rodanthe offers some neat twists and turns and the third pairing of Diane Lane and Richard Gere after they played reckless lovers 24 years ago in The Cotton Club and a troubled couple in Unfaithful. It's a tearjerker based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks, who wrote The Notebook, Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Re... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Don Cheadle confronts a moral dilemma in Traitor

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 5 November 2008 by Don

When he's not clowning around in the Ocean's Thirteen capers, Don Cheadle brings a quiet intensity to his roles in movies such as Hotel Rwanda and Crash. You can see why Marvel Studios decided he'll replace the one-dimensional Terrence Howard as James Rhodes in Iron Man 2. Cheadle is perfectly cast in the engrossing spy thriller Traitor as Samir, a Sudanese-born guy who worked undercover for US Special Operations forces before dropping out and getting mixed up with a Muslim terrorist ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments   |   buy tickets

Moe, Larry and Curly will run amok again!

0 Comments | Posted on Wednesday, 5 November 2008 by Don

The Three Stooges will live again in a movie written and directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, re-creating the characters made famous by Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard. The Farrellys say their movie will be set in the modern day and structured as three segments of 25-30 minutes each, in a homage to the short films by the Stooges. I imagined actors like Seth Rogen, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell in the roles, but the directors will seek out fresh faces who will be ma... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Kristen: Twilight's Bella is no weakling!

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 by Don

Is Bella, Twilight's lovesick teenager, a weak person? Some commentators, like Salon.com's Laura Miller, think so. Definitely not, argues Kristen Stewart, who should know the character as well as anyone except author Stephenie Meyer. "She’s supposed to be the victim in the story, she’s supposed to be the damsel in distress sort of a deal, and she’s not,” the actress tells iFMagazine.com. "I feel like she’s a strong character. If you were to ask Bella, ‘So do you ... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Marc Forster engineers a quantum leap for Bond

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 by Don

Marc Forster had never directed a big action film: how could he possibly make a credible Bond movie? Some sceptical 007 fans asked that question when Forster was hired to mastermind Quantum of Solace. I suspect most of those doubters have been silenced by the movie's blockbuster openings last weekend in the UK, France and Sweden, which set new benchmarks for the Bond franchise. "My goal was to push the character further than he was pushed in Casino Royale, to go... Find out more...   |   0 Comments

Kiefer liked what he saw in Mirrors

0 Comments | Posted on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 by Don

Kiefer Sutherland usually avoids horror movies, but the star of TV's 24 couldn't resist when he was offered the lead role in French writer/director Alexandre Aja's Mirrors. For one thing, he'd admired Aja's first English-language movie, The Hills Have Eyes. For another, he saw Mirrors primarily as a family drama that veers into the supernatural realm. Kiefer plays an ex-cop who was drummed out of the force after the questionable shooting of a fellow officer. His ... Find out more...   |   0 Comm