Thompson on Hollywood

Jolie Transcends Gender, Action Star Shortage, Banks as Tinkerbell

- Angelina Jolie is the first actress to transcend gender. It's hard to argue that any other actress, dead or living, can do what she can. Sony paid her $20 million up front for Salt, reports THR. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura agrees that it's unusual for a female to be an action star. But in Jolie's case, "She's not a female action star; she's an action star. She's really the first female to transcend gender. I don't think it's occurred before."

By Sophia Savage
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July 15, 2010 3:47 AM
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Next Wave of Inception Reviews: Less Effusive

One sign of a movie worth seeing more than once is that you also want to read more than one review. Rarely have I been more compelled to read what my respected colleagues have to say about a new film. Now that those reviews are pouring in, Inception's Rotten Tomatoes ranking among "top critics" has fallen to 87--which is a very high number, by the way. Most Oscar contenders rank in the 80s.

By Anne Thompson
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July 15, 2010 2:26 AM
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Comic-Con Preview: EW Reveals Reynolds as Green Lantern

Saturday at Comic-Con in San Diego, we'll see for ourselves what Warner Bros. wants to show of Ryan Reynolds as The Green Lantern. Until then, we'll have to settle for EW's cover story. Apparently, the suit is strictly CG. By the way, of all the actors who work out like mad, Reynolds is one guy who does not need VFX enhancement...

By Anne Thompson
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July 15, 2010 2:21 AM
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Trailer Watch: Biutiful, A Film of Inarritu

Will Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's long-awaited follow-up to Babel (which scored seven Oscar nominations in 2007 including best picture) find a stateside home? Word is, CAA is on the verge of making a deal for the Spanish-language Biutiful, which earned divided reaction in Cannes, although Javier Bardem shared the best actor prize. (The actor just wed lady love Penelope Cruz in the Bahamas.)

By Anne Thompson
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July 15, 2010 1:29 AM
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Pattinson Short The Summer House Hits iTunes

It's France, July 1969, as astronauts prepare to walk on the moon. No, it's not Diane Lane and Viggo Mortensen in a clinch in a dark room. It's lissome English lass Taluhah Riley (The Boat That Rocked) and Rob Pattinson (pre-Twilight) in a short targeted to women who are on Team Edward. It's just been made available (and already in the top five) on iTunes in the US, plus Canada, UK, France, Ireland and Germany:  US Download; Canada Download; UK Download. See trailer below:

By Anne Thompson
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July 14, 2010 7:16 AM
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Families vs. 3-D: Too Pricey

Forbes blogger Dorothy Pomerantz thinks the 3-D craze for families is over.

By Sophia Savage
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July 14, 2010 6:17 AM
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Power Pair Roberts and Murphy, Bardem and Cruz Wed, Forster's Heretics, Mozart Opera Hits Cinemas

- While the b.o. fate of the movie based on the global bestseller Eat Pray Love won't be determined until the peripatetic romance opens August 13, in-demand writer-director Ryan Murphy (also Glee's co-creator/exec-producer) has won not only Sony's vote of confidence, but star Julia Roberts is also happy to pair up with him again. Murphy just signed on to write and direct an original romantic comedy for Roberts, reports Deadline. The high concept: working woman loses job, switches roles with stay-at-home husband, and must adjust to newfound motherhood. Brad Pitt's Plan B will produce with Murphy, as it did with Eat Pray Love. Murphy is also on the shortlist for the film adaptation of the musical Wicked.

By Sophia Savage
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July 14, 2010 5:33 AM
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Finke's HBO Deal on Tilda

Nikki Finke has finally opened up --to a degree--about an agreement between her and the producers of the HBO show Tilda, which stars Diane Keaton as a Hollywood blogger based on Finke.

By Anne Thompson
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July 13, 2010 9:12 AM
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TIFF List: Essential 100 Films

The Toronto International Film Festival posts "The Essential 100," a list of must-see films that merges two lists (one determined by TIFF curators, another by TIFF stakeholders). There are many obvious choices, from The Godfather, Casablanca and Gone With The Wind to Chinatown, as well as such arcane entries as the controversial Salo, or The 120 Days of Sodom from director Pier Paolo Pasolini.