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12 Things You Need To Know About The Making Of Terrence Malick's 'The Tree Of Life'

  • By Drew Taylor
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  • May 27, 2011 5:51 AM
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  • 21 Comments
Terrence Malick's long-awaited “The Tree of Life,” opening today in select cities, is the kind of movie that is designed to be talked about, chewed on, and poured over. It’s a movie that demands you grasp at the unknowable, is challenging and gorgeous in some very deep and profound levels and asks big questions about who we are and where we came from, not just on a human level but on a grander, “how does life exist” scale. (On the same token, its complete lack of an identifiable narrative/dramatic structure and emotional aloofness might drive you batty.) Looking into “The Tree of Life” (and beyond), though, you’ll find even more tantalizing questions, possibilities, and dead-ends. The fact that most of us are still as intrigued, befuddled, and mystified by the film after we’ve seen it is a testament to its singular, oddball power. So we now present to you 10 things we’ve learned about 'Tree of Life' that maybe you never knew. This feature is probably best enjoyed after you’ve seen the film, but we give proper warning when discussing plot (if that’s the right word) specifics.
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More: Films, Actors, Actresses, Producers, Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Bill Pohlad

Peter Jackson Confirms Orlando Bloom's Return As Legolas In 'The Hobbit'

  • By Kevin Jagernauth
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  • May 27, 2011 5:46 AM
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  • 3 Comments
While this was largely expected to happen, the last time we heard from Orlando Bloom about his possible (inevitable) reprisal of Legolas in "The Hobbit," the actor played it safe. During the press rounds for "Sympathy For Delicious" Bloom told us, “My fingers and toes are crossed, but, yes, I’ll be there. We’re just waiting for everything to get straightened out.” Well, the ink has dried and the schedules have been made as Peter Jackson confirmed Bloom's return in aFacebook post today:
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More: Films, Actors, Genre Films, Orlando Bloom, The Hobbit

In Theaters: Finish Him! 'Kung Fu Panda 2' Karate Chops 'The Hangover Part II'

  • By Katie Walsh
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  • May 27, 2011 5:09 AM
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  • 3 Comments
The summer of sequels begins in earnest as two box office behemoths of years past hope that audience goodwill and fond memories translate into ticket sales. "The Hangover Part II" does its 'Hangover' thing, this time in Bangkok! And "Kung Fu Panda 2" hi-yahs onto screens with a stacked roster of all-star voice talent. Annnnd, oh my god, talk about burying the lede! Fuckin' "The Tree of Life" starts its roll out! Terry Malick! Brad Pitt! Sean Penn! Dinosaurs! At least 15 of you just wet yourselves. I know you. I know you Playlist readers, and your love of T. Malick. With good reason. Will it be everything you dreamed of and more? I really hope so!
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More: Films, The Hangover 2, Animated Films, The Tree Of Life, Too Big To Fail, Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom Of Doom

Sienna Miller Joins 'Freaky Deaky' With William H. Macy

  • By Kevin Jagernauth
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  • May 27, 2011 4:15 AM
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  • 1 Comment
Update: Reps for Sienna Miller have confirmed she is attached to "Freaky Deaky."
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More: Films, Actresses, Freaky Deaky, Sienna Miller

Watch: Rachel Weisz Is Just Doing Her Job In Trailer For 'The Whistleblower'

  • By Kevin Jagernauth
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  • May 27, 2011 3:54 AM
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  • 3 Comments
Sometimes a movie just doesn't work out, no matter how strong the ingredients. Here we have a film with a first rate cast, tackling some strong subject matter, but "The Whistleblower" just didn't seem to work out. The film premiered at TIFF last year to a muted response and when we caught up with it at IFFBoston, we found the film to feature strong performances but let down by its one dimensional approach. And the new trailer for the film kind of bears that out.
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More: Films, The Whistleblower

John Cho Will Convince Colin Farrell To Mess With His Brain In 'Total Recall'

  • By Kevin Jagernauth
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  • May 27, 2011 3:45 AM
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  • 1 Comment
While John Cho is probably still best known as Harold Lee from the "Harold & Kumar" franchise, he's quietly been making strides into bigger and better work, most notably as Sulu is the new "Star Trek" films and from his role on the shortlived "FlashForward." And while the actor waits to get a call to find out what's going on with "Star Trek 2," he's going to spend his summer working on another blockbuster sci-fi pic.
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More: Films, Actors, John Cho, Total Recall

Paul Schneider Lowers His Standards, Will Star In The Broken Lizard Comedy 'The Baby Makers'

  • By Kevin Jagernauth
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  • May 27, 2011 3:33 AM
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  • 5 Comments
Paul Schneider is an actor who is long overdue for more recognition. The actor broke out in David Gordon Green's "All the Real Girls" and has since amassed a varied and strong body of work with turns in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "Bright Star," "Lars and the Real Girl" and even an early stint on "Parks and Recreation." This year alone he's mixed up as well, taking a role in the period drama "Water For Elephants" and in Christoph Honore's musical Cannes closer "Les bien-aimés." But his next move is mystifying and we hope isn't the start of a downward trend for the actor.
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More: Films, Actors, The Baby Makers, Paul Schneider

Zach Braff Joins 'Oz The Great And Powerful'

  • By Kevin Jagernauth
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  • May 27, 2011 3:26 AM
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  • 2 Comments
It looks like the indie kid that could is getting ready to make his leap into the tentpole world.
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More: Actors, Films, Genre Films, Zach Braff, Oz the Great and Powerful

'Super 8' Started As A Heist Movie & 9 More Things Learned From J.J. Abrams & Steven Spielberg

  • By Oliver Lyttelton
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  • May 27, 2011 3:14 AM
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  • 1 Comment
After a year of secrecy, J.J. Abrams' nostalgia-fueled monster movie "Super 8" is finally done -- the film is locked, it has screened for critics (a Playlister has seen it, although we can't yet tell you what we thought) and it hits theaters in a couple of weeks. While most of the details are still under wraps, Abrams, and producer Steven Spielberg, have started doing the PR rounds ahead of the film's release two weeks from now.
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More: Films, Super 8

First Look At Pixar's First Female Protagonist In 'Brave'

  • By Drew Taylor
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  • May 27, 2011 3:04 AM
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  • 5 Comments
Ah, "Brave." Pixar's next film, after "Cars 2" (and their first non-sequel since 2009's "Up") and according to daintily-worded press releases their first "fairy tale," has had its difficulties – Brenda Chapman, a member of the coveted Pixar brain trust and the first female director to helm a feature at the studio, was fired from the movie after developing it for six years. (According to a Los Angeles Times article from yesterday, she is on a "leave of absence" from Pixar and describes her removal as being for "creative differences.") After Chapman left, an empowered Reese Witherspoon, unhappy with the shake-up and loyal to Chapman, also bailed, replaced by "No Country for Old Men's" Kelly Macdonald.
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More: Films, Animated Films, Brave

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