Thompson on Hollywood

VIDEO: Tree of Life Featurettes with Pitt & Chastain Commentary

Hungry for more of Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life? Here are two Fox Searchlight featurettes, now that the film is available on Blu-ray/DVD. The Story and The Cast include commentary from Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, producer Dede Gardner and others. No Malick, natch.

By Sophia Savage
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November 3, 2011 8:19 AM
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Will Bradley Cooper and Joel Edgerton Board Soderbergh's Man From U.N.C.L.E.?

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Despite the box office failure of his well-reviewed Warrior, which Lionsgate hopes critics will remember at the end of the year, Joel Edgerton continues to be courted as a leading man. Better than his offer to star in 300: Battle of Artemisia, is the chance to star in Steven Soderbergh's The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. Bradley Cooper is waiting to commit to the picture (as Napoleon Solo, which George Clooney turned down because of back problems) until it is clear who will be playing Russian agent Illya Kuryakin (possibly Edgerton).

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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November 3, 2011 7:52 AM
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Five Star Day Premieres on Facebook and Theaters Day-and-Date

As indie filmmakers continue to try new ways to get their films out--with or without conventional distribution-- Five Star Day, an astrology-themed feature that overemphasizes the significance of place and time, premiered Wednesday November 2 day-and-date in movie theaters and Facebook. Gravitas Ventures and Breaking Glass Pictures claim that it's the first film to open simultaneously on both silver and laptop screens. At the same time that the film is available on Facebook -- $7 gets you access to the film for 48 hours--it will continue to roll out in theaters across the country.

By Maggie Lange
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November 3, 2011 7:30 AM
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Trailer Watch: Safe House Stars Badass Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga

Check out Universal's Safe House, from Swedish born director Daniel Espinosa. The plot sounds familiar, but we'll pay to see Denzel Washington in just about anything. Ryan Reynolds appears suitably second fiddle to Washington, and Vera Farmiga plays the tough CIA woman who balances out the requisite underwear-clad hot girlfriend. The film hits theaters February 2012.

By Sophia Savage
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November 3, 2011 7:17 AM
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AFM News: Endgame Launches P & A Venture to Fill Service Deal Gap

L.A.-based indie producer and financier Endgame Entertainment is launching new marketing venture Endgame Releasing, which is backed by a $150-million revolving fund for P & A (prints and ads) financing for films distributed through an established studio or independent. Endgame Releasing will partner with equity investors, producers and studios to provide distribution funds for wide-release films. Endgame Releasing will provide P&A of $20–plus million for four to six films a year opening on a minimum of 1800 screens. That means Endgame would put up from $400 to $500 million over the next four years.

By Anne Thompson
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November 3, 2011 7:12 AM
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WEEKEND PREVIEW: Ratner's Tower Heist Set to Topple Indie Docs & Dramas

Brett Ratner's timely Tower Heist taps into anti-Wall Street sentiment and is just what you'd expect: competent, breezy, escapist entertainment. The well-cast Madoff-inspired comedy--which stars Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni, Alan Alda and Eddie Murphy in a supporting comeback bid-- is expected to take in $29 million this weekend, while A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 3D could score $15.5 million.

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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November 3, 2011 6:34 AM
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James Bond 23: Mendes' Skyfall Starts Shooting, Craig Joined by Finney, Bardem, Fiennes UPDATED

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At a press conference in London’s Whitehall district Thursday, director Sam Mendes confirmed the swirls of rumors surrounding Bond 23, from the new title to casting. Matt Mueller was there.

By Matt Mueller
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November 3, 2011 5:11 AM
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Film Independent Spirit Awards' Jameson Grant: Accepting Submissions for Find Your Audience Award

Film Independent's Spirit Awards is now accepting submissions for the Jameson FIND Your Audience Award, one of four filmmaker grants. The Jameson grant, in its second year and funded by Jameson Irish Whiskey, is designed to help build an audience for a feature length narrative or documentary filmmaker. In addition to the $40,000 grant, the winner will be featured at the Independent Spirit Awards on February 25 and will receive ongoing consultation from FIND. Jeff Malmberg's excellent documentary Marwencol was last year's winner.

By Sophia Savage
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November 3, 2011 1:19 AM
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AFM IN THE WORKS: Edgerton, Kidman, Dujardin, Del Toro, Cotillard, Watts, Wright, Wahlberg, Ibsen

News

Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, James Frecheville (Animal Kingdom) and Xavier Samuel are on board to star in Anne Fontaine's (Coco Before Chanel) The Grandmothers, adapted from the 2003 novella by Nobel Prize-winner Doris Lessing by-- it's getting better--Christopher Hampton (Atonement, Dangerous Liaisons). In the story, two childhood friends/neighbors (Watts, Wright) each fall in love with the other's son, to the disgust of their wives. Sounds bizarre (and a bit like Toronto title The Oranges). Amazon sheds more light on it:

By Sophia Savage
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November 3, 2011 1:04 AM
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Online Constellation Launches TOP DOCS Screenings, Q & As

Constellation, the new Virtual Theatrical Exhibition and online social media platform, is launching their first lineup of documentaries, TOP DOCS. It's a curated program for doc filmmakers to discuss their recent works via live online screenings. TOP DOCS launches November 3 with director Albert Maysles hosting a Q&A of Ellen Hovde's Grey Gardens (pictured).