Thompson on Hollywood

Mercurial Sacha Baron Cohen Takes on Freddie Mercury: Performance or Impersonation?

News

Trying to take the measure of Sacha Baron Cohen, who has played a Kazakh journalist visiting the US in "Borat," an Austrian fashionista voguing in "Bruno," a North African dictator demoted to ordinary US immigrant in "The Dictator." His Halloween parade of beards and costumes and accents makes it hard to tell if he’s an actor or an impersonator...

By Carrie Rickey
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May 25, 2012 1:23 PM
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In The Works: Scorsese Producing Rolls Royce Love Story; Roach, Downey Jr. & Cruise Wanted for 'El Presidente'

News

Jay Roach ("Game Change," "The Campaign") is in negotiations to direct "El Presidente," from "Parks and Recreation" writer Dan Goor. The Warner Bros. comedy follows an overzealous secret service agent who is relegated to guarding America's worst former president. The plan is to offer Tom Cruise the role of the agent, and Robert Downey Jr. the role of the sleazy ex-president. Vulture has the scoop.

By Sophia Savage
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May 14, 2012 8:02 PM
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Trailer Watch: Ferrell, Galifianakis & Sudeikis Are Uninspired in 'The Campaign'

Video

Jay Roach's political comedy "The Campaign" seeks your vote at the box office August 10. With a cast that includes Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and Jason Sudeikis, the trailer should be funnier. So far it looks like the writers rely on familiar star power rather than pushing the envelope.

By Sophia Savage
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May 14, 2012 12:50 PM
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Funny or Die Launches iTunes Magazine 'The Occasional'

News

FunnyOrDie, the popular comedy video site, is launching a bi-monthly digital humor magazine, "The Occasional," on iTunes. "The Artist" Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin graces their first cover.

By Anne Thompson
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May 8, 2012 10:52 AM
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The War on Women is Real in 'The Dictator' Red Band Trailer

Video

Wow, they went there. The war on women is real in the new red band trailer for "The Dictator." Only Sacha Baron Cohen could be this offensively hilarious. Here's our review from CinemaCon.

By Sophia Savage
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May 7, 2012 2:37 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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Holdover 'Think Like a Man' Beats Four Weak Newcomers as Weekend Takes Box Office Dive

Box Office

The overall weekend box office took a dive as four new wide releases hit theaters-- but not one cracked the $12 million mark or placed better than second. With an estimated total of $111 million from all films, down some 30% from a year earlier, it could turn out to be the lowest-grossing weekend of the year.

By Brian Fuson
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April 29, 2012 12:51 PM
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Trailer Watch: Woody Allen's 'To Rome with Love'; We're Already Nostalgic for 'Paris'

Video

Woody Allen's "To Rome with Love" looks more like "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" than "Midnight in Paris," which is bad news. It would be difficult to top the charm of "Midnight," even with a luscious Penelope Cruz.

By Sophia Savage
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April 3, 2012 5:08 PM
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'We Have a Pope' Director Nanni Moretti Talks Taking On The Vatican and Woody Allen (Video)

Features

With "We Have a Pope," top Italian writer-actor-director Nanni Moretti takes us behind the scenes of a place that we are forbidden to enter, not unlike "The Queen" or "The King's Speech." He imagines what would happen if a Vatican cardinal finds out that he's elected as the Catholic Church's supreme religious leader, panics and rejects the job.

By Anne Thompson
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April 3, 2012 2:17 PM
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Review Round-Up: Whit Stillman's 'Damsels in Distress'

Reviews

Surprisingly, writer-director Whit Stillman's low-budget HD relationship comedy "Damsels in Distress" has earned 81% on the Tomatometer since its debut at Toronto, where the "Metropolitan" and "Barcelona" director earned some nostalgic kudos due to his thirteen-year absence from the big screen. His marks will likely come down a tad...