Thompson on Hollywood

Cannes Photo Call Round-Up: 'Moonrise Kingdom' Hams It Up, Animating 'Madagascar' and 'Rise of the Guardians,' Sacha Baron Cohen Falls Off a Camel (Almost)

Festivals

Photo calls at Cannes give all manner of talent an opportunity to grin, gloat, mug, and pose to promo their upcoming feature. Some are adorable: See "Moonrise Kingdom." Some are pranksters: See Sacha Baron Cohen. His strutting in 2006 in a dayglow green mankini to promote "Borat" outshined this year's camel stunt for "The Dictator." (Below.)

By Maggie Lange
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May 19, 2012 6:30 AM
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Immersed in Movies: Previewing 'ParaNorman' in the 'Land of Misfit Toys'

Features

It's definitely a banner year for stop-motion. First, Aardman pushed the craft forward digitally with "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (despite a lackluster box office response in the U.S.). Next, we have "ParaNorman" (Aug. 17), Laika's highly-anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed "Coraline," and, finally, Tim Burton's very personal and ambitious "Frankenweenie" (Oct. 5). Speaking of Focus Features' "ParaNorman," I was invited once again to the Portland-based Laika a few months ago to cover a set visit. My, how they've advanced in four years. It's a different culture -- a different world. Yes, you can still sense the Henry Selick influence -- the Yoda of this studio. But it's now Travis Knight's place: the gifted artist and protege-turned mogul, who has become Laika's John Lasseter.

By Bill Desowitz
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May 18, 2012 9:44 AM
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'A Cat in Paris' Aims for Families with New English Language Cast: Harden, Huston, Modine, Blum

News

Some of the best animation in the world comes from overseas, but that doesn't mean mainstream family audiences flock to see it. Disney/Pixar John Lasseter has been trying to build an audience beyond the art house for years for the great Hayao Miyazaki, nominated for two Oscars and winner for "Spirited Away."

By Anne Thompson
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May 15, 2012 11:53 AM
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Laika Names Mary Sandell Head of Production

News

Laika, the Portland-based animation studio behind the Oscar-nominated "Coraline," has named Mary Sandell as its new head of production.

By Maggie Lange
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May 9, 2012 5:19 PM
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Amazon Studios Adds TV Series to Development Slate for Instant Video Release

News

Phase Two of Amazon Studios' radical move to reinvent entertainment industry production models--turning to movie fans for direction and feedback on the process--is television.

By Anne Thompson
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May 2, 2012 11:59 AM
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Immersed in Movies: Aardman's Peter Lord Talks 'Pirates'

Features

Stop-motion is back again this year with three animated releases: Aardman's "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (opening tomorrow), Laika's "ParaNorman" (Aug. 17), and Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" (October 5). And what I've seen of all three, the bar has been significantly raised technologically to keep up with CG...

By Bill Desowitz
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April 26, 2012 2:28 PM
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New Trailer for 'Brave' Decries Princesshood

Video

When Disney/Pixar's "Brave" finally arrives June 22, anti-princesses everywhere may have reason to celebrate. In the meantime, check out the new trailer below. The tomboy heroine with bow-and-arrow is reminiscent of current box office badass, "The Hunger Games"'s Katniss Everdeen. Immersed in Movies dives into "Brave" here, asserting that Pixar may have an Oscar contender. Judging from the first half hour screened in CinemaCon, that's a certainty.

By Anne Thompson & Sophia Savage
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April 26, 2012 1:20 PM
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Pixar is Star of Disney CinemaCon Panel; Screens Half Hour of 'Brave,' Announces New Film and Dates

Box Office

At a time when Disney is undergoing management turmoil, Pixar stole the Disney thunder at a very long show-and-tell at CinemaCon. Pixar/Disney Animation czar John Lasseter screened the glorious first half hour of "Brave" (June 22), which will surely prove a summer blockbuster and showed stunning footage for "Finding Nemo" in 3-D.

By Anne Thompson
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April 24, 2012 10:55 PM
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Adorable: Chris Pine Reads 'The Man in the Moon' at Milk + Bookies to Promo "Rise of the Guardians"

News

In a marked switch from his macho turn as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," Chris Pine reads "The Man in the Moon" by William Joyce aloud at the third annual Milk + Bookies at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. "The Man in the Moon" is the inspiration behind DreamWorks Animation's "Rise of the Guardians" (November 21).

By Maggie Lange
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April 18, 2012 7:19 PM
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IN THE WORKS: Laika Options "Goblins" from Novelist Philip Reeve, Mark Gustafson Will Direct

News

Laika, the Oregon animation studio behind the Oscar-nominated "Coraline" and the upcoming feature "ParaNorman," plans to adapt the upcoming fantasy novel "Goblins." Novelist Philip Reeve's "Goblins" will be published in the UK on April 5, 2012 and in the US in the Fall of 2013.