Thompson on Hollywood

#Sundance: Mark and Jay Duplass Talk Cyrus

When Mark and Jay Duplass convinced Fox Searchlight to back their new movie Cyrus, they insisted that they be allowed to make a Duplass brothers movie: strong story, naturalistic acting, hand-held digital cameras. But they jumped from a $50,000 budget to $7 million, and hired name movie stars. In this bizarre, intimate, unpredictable and often hilarious family drama, Jonah Hill gives the performance of his career as a pampered mother’s boy who freaks when his mom (Marisa Tomei) brings home a new boyfriend (John C. Reilly).

By Anne Thompson
|
January 27, 2010 3:51 AM
|
2 Comments

More:

Bill Gates Does Jon Stewart

Microsoft billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is on the circuit: first Sundance, now The Daily Show. Check it out:

By Anne Thompson
|
January 26, 2010 11:31 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

#Sundance: Jett, Currie, Stewart, Fanning Talk Runaways

The Runaways hit Sundance like a freight train, thanks to the combined star power of Twilight stars Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and the characters they play in the musical biopic, "wild and braless" Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, who toured as teenagers with the first all-girl rock band in the 70s.

By Anne Thompson
|
January 26, 2010 7:47 AM
|
2 Comments

More:

Hetherington and Junger Talk Afghan War Doc Restrepo

Restrepo doesn't resemble your standard documentary, in any way. It's not like other embedded war docs, or voice-over narration films, or movies with a strong personality or clear narrative spine. It's another animal. UPDATE: The movie is one of the final five Oscar nominees for best documentary, winning out over a crowded and competitive field.

By Anne Thompson
|
January 26, 2010 1:42 AM
|
4 Comments

More:

#Sundance: Hesher's Gordon-Levitt is on a Roll

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is on a roll.

By Anne Thompson
|
January 25, 2010 2:00 AM
|
1 Comment

More:

#Sundance: Lionsgate Buys Buried, Starring Reynolds

As predicted in some quarters, the genre films are piqueing interest from buyers. Lionsgate has acquired domestic distribution rights for Rodrigo Cortes' Buried, which screened last night in the Park City at Midnight selection. Twitter lit up with fan sites raving about the picture. Ryan Reynolds plays a contractor in Iraq who is held captive in a casket underground while he is held for ransom. Here's Variety.

By Anne Thompson
|
January 25, 2010 12:32 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

#Sundance: Stewart's Welcome to the Rileys, Keener's Cyrus, Hoffman's Jack Goes Boating

Two of this year's Sundance it-girls are women of a certain age: Catherine Keener, who rocks in both Please Give and Cyrus (as John C. Reilly's ex-wife), and Melissa Leo, who stars in both The Dry Land and Welcome to the Rileys. The straight-forward Jake Scott drama is well-written by Ken Hixon (executive produced by Steve Zaillian) and executed by Kristen Stewart as a damaged stripper-prostitute and James Gandolfini as a lonely man still recovering from the teen death of his daughter. Leo is his equally wounded wife. It will be fascinating to see how distribs navigate the distance between Stewart's younger Twilight fanbase and this hard-R drama. This is also an issue for Apparition's The Runaways.

By Anne Thompson
|
January 24, 2010 7:30 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

#Sundance: Affleck, Jones, Wells Talk Company Men

Here's David Lewis on The Company Men and its Q & A:"ER" and "West Wing" executive producer John Wells' directorial debut premiered Friday night, after a late start. Stars Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Rosemarie DeWitt and late-comer Ben Affleck (who made it just in time after flying in from the Haiti telethon in L.A.) joined Wells to discuss the film. Tackling the timely subject of the unemployment crisis, "The Company Men" seemed to touch a nerve with many in the packed Eccles Theatre.

By David Lewis
|
January 24, 2010 5:57 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

#Sundance: Davis Guggenheim Talks Waiting for Superman

Ex-Variety.com staffer David Lewis reports on Paramount Vantage pick-up Waiting for Superman and the Q & A:

By David Lewis
|
January 23, 2010 6:45 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

Sundance News Wrap: Hesher, Please Give, Overture

Yet another hotly anticipated Sundance title, Hesher, grabbed mixed reaction today from audiences and media. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is on a roll, gives a bravura performance as a violently anarchic homeless drifter who connects with a father and son (Rainn Wilson and Devin Brochu) stricken with grief at the loss of their wife and mother. Natalie Portman tries to tone down her beauty as a supermarket clerk who wants to help. The movie, written and directed by Spencer Susser, digs into some uncomfortable areas.