Thompson on Hollywood

Film in the Decade Since 9/11: From Superheroes to Westerns, What Came After

This week's “Now and Then” column started out comparing and contrasting two movies about assassins — Hanna (Joe Wright, 2011) and Léon: the Professional (Luc Besson, 1994)—and ended up ruminating on 9/11. Trailers below:Life and culture are too messy to be divided into easy categories like “Before” and “After,” but for all the continuities in the way films are made and viewed, a long view of the last decade reveals some important, if subtle, shifts. Watching the network news coverage of September 11 to prepare for this column, I was reminded of how much we didn’t know that day, how much our fear stemmed from no longer being able to control the course of events.

By Matt Brennan
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September 12, 2011 11:36 AM
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Toronto Fest: Flowers of War, Acquisitions Log Jam on Opening Weekend

The opening weekend of Toronto is always a logjam of acquisition titles and this one is worse than usual, distribs complain. Saturday night is especially impossible, if key execs want to be positioned to make bids on Sarah Polley (pregnant!) title Take This Waltz, Jennifer Westfeldt and Jon Hamm's Friends with Kids, Oren Moverman's follow-up to The Messenger, Rampart starring Woody Harrelson, Australian cancer drama Burning Man, ensemble comedy The Oranges or Salmon Fishing in Yemen, starring Ewan McGregor. These are among the most anticipated fest pick-ups.

By Anne Thompson
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September 9, 2011 9:09 AM
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Video: New Dirty Dancing Director Ortega's Newsies with Singing, Dancing Christian Bale

As we reported Monday, Lionsgate is giving Dirty Dancing (1987) a makeover, directed by original choreographer Kenny Ortega. Lionsgate is revamping the classic after unsuccessfully releasing sequel Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. The struggle here won't be to charge up teenage interest in the tale of teenage Baby’s forbidden romance with hip-swiveling Johnny Castle, packed with 60s classics from the original plus brand new compositions--just shove it down the willing throats of Glee, HSM and So You Think You Can Dance fans and the studio will make money. The struggle will be in creating a memorable film that has lasting powers of its own. Otherwise people will keep watching the original--nothing's stopping them so far. Do the math: Dirty Dancing was made for $6 million and brought in $213.95 million worldwide.

By Sophia Savage
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August 9, 2011 6:14 AM
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Trailer Watch: The Dark Knight Rises Teaser Goes HD

The teaser trailer for The Dark Knight Rises is taking the last word of its title literally. The only scene that stands above the rest in the teaser (posted below) rises up into a blindingly white sky, as stalks of skyscrapers crumble to the street below leaving an outline (can you imagine) of the shape of a menacing bat. It's the same image as the recent teaser poster.

By Maggie Lange
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July 18, 2011 12:02 PM
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First Look: The Dark Knight Rises Teaser Poster

Warner Bros. has released the teaser poster for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises. Yes, it's dark, sinister, architectural, graphic, and very Inception.

By Anne Thompson
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July 12, 2011 7:43 AM
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Oscar Talk Mid-Summer Outlook: New Rules, Midnight in Paris, Streep vs. Close

Kris Tapley and I reconvened over Skype for a mid-summer Oscar Talk (below). We covered quite a bit of ground. New Academy rules affect the top ten best picture ballot, VFX, documentaries and animation, but not foreign eligibility. New members may tip the scale as well on a more mainstream selection.

By Anne Thompson
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July 8, 2011 5:08 AM
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Zhang Yimou's Heroes of Nanking Starring Oscar Hopeful Christian Bale Wraps, Will Sell at Toronto

Zhang Yimou, the premiere director in China, commands top budgets; he produced the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony and directed Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, Hero and House of Flying Daggers. Now Zhang has erected a massive city and full-scale Cathedral in Beijing for his latest period epic, Heroes of Nanking, which recently wrapped principal photography after 164 days. The movie cost $100 million, more than John Woo's Red Cliff, Zhang's usual producer/financeer Zhang Weiping revealed in Cannes.

By Anne Thompson
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July 5, 2011 1:44 AM
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Bale for Aronofsky's Noah, Cruise for One Shot, Gatsby, Dark Knight, 21 Jump Get New Cast Members

- Darren Aronofsky wants Christian Bale to board his ark in Noah. Should the director and actor's talks prove fruitful, the project should attract some significant studio interest from Paramount, Summit or Fox. Aronofsky wants $130 million, with New Regency already intending to co-finance.

By Sophia Savage
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June 14, 2011 5:03 AM
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Production Begins on The Dark Knight Rises

Production has officially begun for The Dark Knight Rises. A bit over a year from now (July 20, 2012) the film will hit theaters and fans will go wild.

By Sophia Savage
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May 19, 2011 6:06 AM
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Gordon-Levitt, Cotillard Confirmed for The Dark Knight Rises

Everyone seems to have already posted that Inception stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard would be starring in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros., July 20, 2012). We assembled the cast so far. What's with leaving out Inception's Ellen Page if everyone else is on board?