Thompson on Hollywood

'Les Miserables' Director Hooper Digs Into His Musical Audacity, It's Like 'Avatar' or Shakespeare

Interviews

Tom Hooper sounds sniffly. He calls it "flying related." He's calling me from Japan, where he's about to attend yet another premiere of "Les Miserables." "I have not managed to show the movie to our own Royal family," he says. "Now I'm showing it to the Crown Prince of Japan."

By Anne Thompson
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December 29, 2012 6:25 AM
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'Not Fade Away' Creator David Chase Wants to Stick with Film, But Return to Genre

Interviews

I expected "Sopranos" creator David Chase to be scary and intimidating. He's a sweetheart. I first met him at an industry screening of "Not Fade Away," a look back at his days as a young musician in New Jersey. The movie opened December 21 after a New York Film Festival launch. Is this movie commercial? No. But it's good. And it hits the Boomer demo head on. Did you listen to John Mayall and James Brown in high school? Remember when vinyl records were wrapped in plastic and people wore pea coats and grey suede Vegas boots? Then this movie is for you.

By Anne Thompson
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December 27, 2012 6:22 PM
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Hackford Grills Tarantino on 'Django Unchained': Style, Score, Script Adds, KKK Scene; "it was my 'fuck you' to D.W. Griffith"

Interviews

"Django Unchained" was among the last of the award season films out of the starting gate. When new Directors Guild member Quentin Tarantino unveiled the film at the DGA on Sunset, it played to raucous applause. Taylor Hackford, who directed Jamie Foxx in his Oscar-winning turn in the musical biopic "Ray," conducted the Q & A.

By Anne Thompson
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December 27, 2012 6:19 AM
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Immersed in Movies: Cinematographer Don Burgess Talks 'Flight'

Interviews

Being reunited with director Robert Zemeckis on "Flight" was just like old times for cinematographer Don Burgess. The last time they worked together was on "The Polar Express" in 2004, Bob Z's first foray into performance capture. But in terms of live action, you have to go back to "Cast Away" in 2000...

By Bill Desowitz
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December 24, 2012 3:08 PM
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Director Kormakur Literally Jumped Into Iceland's 'Deep' with Oscar Entry, Plans Viking Adventure

Awards

Iceland's shortlisted Oscar entry "The Deep" (spring 2013) is based on the true story of the sole survivor of a downed fishing boat. Baltasar Kormakur is a member of a growing band of truly international filmmakers who make films at home as well as Hollywood. Producer-star Mark Wahlberg starred in "Contraband," Kormakur's remake of his own "Reykjavik-Rotterdam," took a shine to the rugged Iceland actor-director, and went on to make another film with him, the upcoming $80-million actioner "Two Guns," co-starring Denzel Washington. Wahlberg is also producing an HBO pilot with him, "The Missionary."

By Anne Thompson
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December 21, 2012 4:54 PM
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Nicole Kidman Talks Surprise 'The Paperboy' Nominations from Set of 'Grace of Monaco,' EXCLUSIVE SKYPE VIDEO

Interviews

Nicole Kidman was shocked when she learned that her boldly brazen performance in Lee Daniels' outrageous southern gothic "The Paperboy" had earned both SAG and Golden Globe supporting actress nominations. While the indie film debuted in Cannes to mixed reaction and hardly set critics or audiences on fire, Kidman earned rave reviews.

By Anne Thompson
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December 19, 2012 3:13 PM
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Eddie Redmayne Talks Live-Singing 'Les Miserables,' What's Next?

Interviews

Redmayne, who is 30, landed the role of Marius despite not having sung since school. And he delivers a breakout performance. He borrowed something he learned from De Niro in order to better match the intensity of one take of the song to the other--he'd shoot three times in a row. He sang his "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" song 21 times.

By Anne Thompson
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December 18, 2012 7:51 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Cinematographer Ben Richardson Talks 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'

Features

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" is like a tasty cinematic gumbo: part Mark Twain, part "Where the Wild Things Are," and part neo-realism. And Ben Richardson (who won the best cinematographer award at Sundance) wonderfully captures the unique flavor of the Louisiana bayou through the innocent eyes of Hushpuppy...

By Bill Desowitz
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December 14, 2012 1:30 PM
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EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Rory Kennedy Talks Growing Up with and Filming 'Ethel'

Video

Rory Kennedy, 43, is a Sundance and HBO documentary veteran who needed all her accumulated experience to navigate HBO Doc czar Sheila Nevins' challenge to her: make a film about her mother, Ethel Kennedy. First the filmmaker was shocked when her mother agreed to her request to do the doc profile. Then she asked her eight surviving siblings to participate--without any control over how their interviews would be used.

By Anne Thompson
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December 12, 2012 3:58 PM
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EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Judd Apatow Talks 'This is 40,' Lena Dunham and Vanity Fair Comedy Issue

Interviews

Writer/producer/director/talent scout Judd Apatow is a seriously funny multi-tasker who takes his time between directorial efforts. His latest, "This is 40," is a spin-off of "Knocked Up" that follows married couple Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) as they navigate the treacherous terrain of marriage, career and family. Apatow talks about writing--he likes juggling several projects at once-- working with Lena Dunham on "Girls"--he promises surprises next season-- and deadbeat dads, played in the film by John Lithgow and Albert Brooks. And he talks about editing the must-read Vanity Fair comedy issue.