Thompson on Hollywood

Casting News: Madsen in Red Riding Hood, Irons in Margin Call, YouTubers in Life In A Day

- Catherine Hardwicke has cast Virginia Madsen (Sideways) as the mother of Amanda Seyfried, who plays the title role in Red Riding Hood, repots Variety. Julie Christie has already been cast as the grandmother, Gary Oldman the werewolf hunter, and Lukas Haas the big bad werewolf that terrorizes Red's village. New to this re-telling of the fairy tale, David Leslie Johnson's script features an orphaned woodcutter (played by Shiloh Fernandez) and a blacksmith's son (Max Irons) - the former the object of Red's love and the latter her foredestined fiance. Love will certainly complicate the story, and the combination of stars and relative unknowns will give this medieval thriller plenty to chew on.

By Sophia Savage
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July 7, 2010 3:39 AM
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Upcoming: Cameron Confirms Titanic in 3D, Bardem in Glee

- In April 2012, 100 years after the great ship sank, Twentieth Century Fox will re-release Titanic in 3D. James Cameron confirmed this Monday after he spoke at Gloria Stuart's 100th Birthday celebration. The actress played the elderly Rose in Cameron's 1997 mega-hit. Cameron called her creativity, artistry and the sparkle in her eyes "a challenge to all of us to live as fully and richly as she has and will continue to do as she heads into her 101st year."

By Sophia Savage
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July 6, 2010 5:36 AM
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Casting News: Streep's Thatcher, Penn's Paskowitz, Ruffalo's Normal Heart

- Meryl Streep is in talks to star as Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's Thatcher (the two worked together on Mamma Mia!), and Jim Broadbent may play her husband, reports THR. The story, written by Damien Jones (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) and Brian Fillis, follows the British prime minister during the 17 days leading up to the 1982 Falklands War, which wound up saving her career (and doubled her approval ratings). While this is certainly not the first biographical character for Streep (Julia Child being the latest), the role of Thatcher may carry enough weight to land her a third Oscar. Even if it doesn't, she'll still likely outperform any other working actress out of habit. HitFix says Streep's 14 consecutive Oscar losses are "an embarrassment for both Hollywood and the Academy" - perhaps - but statues aside, does anyone truly question whether or not she's the greatest?

By Sophia Savage
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July 1, 2010 8:04 AM
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Glee Stars Hooked for Movies, Michael Shannon is Busy, Costner Sends Machines to Gulf

- When Glee actors signed on for the show in 2008, 20th Century Fox also hooked them with the option of up to three movies. The show was a hit from the word go, and stars Lea Michele and Cory Monteith lead a gang of multi-talented young stars who are in line to cash in on their small-screen success with big-screen features. Fans will likely eat them up. Michele is currently voicing Dorothy in 2012's animated Dorothy of Oz, and will star in horror film The Butcherhouse Chronicles, also set for 2012 release. UPDATE: But Glee stars may have to wait: Glee creator Ryan Murphy says they're focused on the series for now, and that no movie is being prepped.

By Sophia Savage
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June 21, 2010 3:30 AM
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Swinton Talks I Am Love, Orlando Reissue, and a Film with Uncle Boonmee Director

Tilda Swinton is a brainy actress who swings easily from passion indie projects (The Deep End, Julia and the upcoming I Am Love) to studio fare, from arch-villains to objects of desire, and from mother in the Scottish highlands to glamourous globe-trotting movie star. She won an Oscar as George Clooney's nemesis in Michael Clayton, made love to Clooney in Burn After Reading and Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and keeps turning up in Narnia as ice queen Jadis. (After her cameo in The Limits of Control, she's committed to star in Jim Jarmusch's next, whatever that turns out to be.) She's as beautiful without makeup as she is with it. The next passion project she is developing is in collaboration with this year's Cannes Palme d'Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul. They've known each other for years. (UPDATE: He talks about her at Cannes.)

By Anne Thompson
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June 15, 2010 11:30 AM
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Live New York Interviews Promo Love Ranch and Winter's Bone

The NYT is getting into the live pre-movie opening interview racket, something Apple iTunes has been doing for some time. This week, The NYT online will live-stream a webcast of NYT critic Janet Maslin's interview with Love Ranch star Helen Mirren (who won an Oscar for The Queen) and the film's director Taylor Hackford (Ray, The Devil's Advocate), her husband, on June 14th (6:30-8pm EST). Based on a true story about a couple who opened Las Vegas's first legal brothel, the film stars Mirren and Joe Pesci as Grace and Charlie Botempo. Although the New York City event is sold out, you can catch it on either LiveStream.com or Facebook. The trailer is on the jump, but be aware that it shows you the whole movie (a pet peeve).

By Anne Thompson
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June 10, 2010 6:14 AM
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Must-See Winter's Bone: Granik Digs Deep with Breakout Lawrence

Indie filmmaker Debra Granik did it once with the 2004 low-budget drama Down to the Bone, which showed what Vera Farmiga could do (she won best actress from the LA Film Critics). This January at Sundance, the director did it again, showcasing Jennifer Lawrence in a star-making role as a smart young teen fighting to save her family from falling off the edge in hard-bitten Ozark country. (The film won both the screenwriting and dramatic grand jury prize.)

By Anne Thompson
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June 3, 2010 6:48 AM
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Weekend Preview: Pattinson vs. Damon in Melodramatic Remember Me and Political Green Zone

Heading into its second weekend, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland will continue to score big numbers. According to Flixster, the Tim Burton fantasy (which has a Tomatoscore of 52%) is pacing about five times ahead of this week’s new releases. That's not hard, because none of the newcomers are crossing over from their target demo. (Trailers are on the jump.) UPDATE: Box office watchers can now place bets on their predictions.

By Anne Thompson
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March 11, 2010 2:21 AM
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Berlinale 60 Day Nine: En Familie, The Killer Inside Me, Rock Hudson, Making the Boys

Our Berlin correspondent Meredith Brody experiences highs and lows as the festival winds down, from the skillfully-made documentary Making the Boys to the huge yet hugely disappointing Nine:

By Anne Thompson
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February 23, 2010 8:13 AM
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#Sundance: Gosling, Cianfrance Talk Blue Valentine

One of the hits of Sundance 2010, Blue Valentine will sell, eventually, and be seen around the country. It features two of the best performances of the year, from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a couple who are no longer in a working marriage. Writer-director Derek Cianfrance seamlessly weaves together footage of their initial romance and the two teetering on the edge of breaking up. (Here's Karina Longworth's review. )