Thompson on Hollywood

Shirley MacLaine AFI Tribute, from Raucous Rickles, Black and Nicholson to Roberts and Streep: 'She's Got Balls'

Awards

The annual American Film Institute Life Achievement Awards give folks in Hollywood a way to remember why they got into the business. And Shirley MacLaine was overdue for the award that had already gone to younger brother Warren Beatty, whom she said she has known and loved the longest.

By Anne Thompson
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June 8, 2012 4:00 PM
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Watch: Prosthethics, Swordmasters and Body Doubles in Peter Jackson's Seventh 'Hobbit' Video Blog

Video

Check out Peter Jackson's seventh of eight "Hobbit" video blogs, which cheerfully takes us on a tour of all things Stone Street Studios. Prosthetic bulbous noses, tumultuous indoor rivers and miniature set models are just the beginning of this 14-minute video. Watch below.

By Beth Hanna
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June 8, 2012 1:44 PM
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Disney's Touring 'Art of Frankenweenie' Exhibition Heading to Comic-Con, Plus Animated Infographic of Tim Burton's Filmography

Video

Disney is launching a touring "The Art of Frankenweenie" exhibition in advance of "Frankenweenie"'s October 5 release. The exhibition will start at CineEurope in Barcelona...

By Maggie Lange
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June 8, 2012 1:36 PM
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Production Designer J. Michael Riva Died After a Stroke UPDATE

News

J. Michael Riva had great legs. "I come by them honestly," he would say to admirers. That's because the respected Hollywood production designer, who worked with everyone from Steven Spielberg (he was Oscar-nominated for "The Color Purple") and Rob Reiner ("A Few Good Men") to Marc Webb ("The Amazing Spider-Man"), Jon Favreau ("Zathura" and the first two "Iron Man" films) and Quentin Tarantino ("Django Unchained") was the New York-born son of Maria Riva and the grandson of Marlene Dietrich.

By Anne Thompson
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June 8, 2012 11:12 AM
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Trailer Watch: Fluent Spanish Speaker Viggo Mortensen in 'Everyone Has a Plan'

Video

Viggo Mortensen has a whole second career as a Spanish-language actor. During his childhood, his family relocated from New York to Argentina (with stops in Venezuela and Denmark in between), where he lived until age 11, going to grade school in Buenos Aires and acquiring fluent Spanish. In 2011, Mortensen returned to his theatre roots in a Madrid production of "Purgatorio." Now he stars in Ana Piterbarg's "Everyone Has a Plan" ("Todos Tenemos un Plan"), which was recently at the Cannes market. Watch the trailer below -- no English subtitles!

By Beth Hanna
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June 7, 2012 6:09 PM
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IN THE WORKS: Fernando Meirelles To Direct Aristotle Onassis Biopic 'Nemesis'

News

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles ("City of God," "The Constant Gardener") will start production on his new film in Croatia in October. "Nemesis" is a biopic of Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis, the second husband of Jackie Kennedy. Casting is underway, though no names have been attached yet.

By Beth Hanna
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June 7, 2012 5:49 PM
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Career Update: George Clooney To Direct New Yorker Article-Turned-Movie, 'The Yankee Comandante'

News

George Clooney's career continues to flourish. No surprises there. Focus Features is in negotiations for the rights to David Grann's epic New Yorker article "The Yankee Comandante" (which only published on May 28), with Clooney attached to direct. He will also serve as a producer on the film, with his Smokehouse partner Grant Heslov.

By Beth Hanna
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June 7, 2012 5:29 PM
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Multi-Tasker James Franco Reviews 'Snow White and the Huntsman,' Gives a Much-Maligned Kristen Stewart Her Due

News

In an op-ed column and half-review of "Snow White and the Huntsman" for The Huffington Post, James Franco reveals his academic training as he writes about his hard-working Nana, looks at the emotional standards of live-action vs. animation, and sticks up for Kristen Stewart, whose Snow White many critics have deemed unworthy...

By Beth Hanna
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June 7, 2012 5:00 PM
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LA Film Fest Announces Jurors, Includes Director Robert Townsend, Actress Rachel Harris, Critic Sheri Linden

Festivals

The Los Angeles Film Festival has announced the jurors for its narrative and documentary competitions. Director Robert Townsend ("Hollywood Shuffle," "The Five Heartbeats"), actress Rachel Harris ("Natural Selection," "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" franchise) and LA Times and Hollywood Reporter film critic Sheri Linden are among the names selected for the festival's jury. Complete list of jurors below.

By Beth Hanna
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June 7, 2012 4:49 PM
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Watch: Daniel Craig Shows Off Custom-Made Tom Ford Suits in 'Skyfall' Vlog; Orgy of 50th Anniversary Bond Programming

Video

Daniel Craig is nothing if not a dapper James Bond. Check out the latest video blog for the 23rd Bond film, "Skyfall," in which costume designer Jany Temime describes the necessity for 007 suits that fit Craig "near his body," while remaining "very supple, and move with him." Temime worked with fashion designer Tom Ford...