Thompson on Hollywood

Academy Hosts New 20th Anniversary Print of Thelma and Louise and Q & A

The Academy will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Thelma & Louise by screening a new print of the iconic Ridley Scott movie that turned the traditional buddy movie on its head. Screenwriter Callie Khouri won an Oscar for this story of two Southern women (Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis) who escape their domestic traps and begin a whirl-wind crime spree. Released in 1991, the film was an immediate critical, commercial, and cultural success (the trailer is posted below). Scott was nominated for a best director Oscar for, among other things, an ensemble of great performances, including breakout Brad Pitt.

By Maggie Lange
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July 27, 2011 8:10 AM
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Official Prometheus Synopsis Still Vague: Foster Joins Rapace, Theron, Elba, Pearce, Fassbender

Arriving in theaters in less than a year, Ridley Scott’s Prometheus has been shrouded in mystery, plot details and the big-picture concept behind the grand-scale epic have been non-existent. The film was first reported in 2009, and named as an untitled prequel to Scott’s 1979 Alien.

By Maggie Lange
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July 1, 2011 7:03 AM
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Life in a Day Doc Follows On-Demand Marketing Model: Hometown Screenings, Marketing SWAT Teams

The trend in marketing these days is the on-demand model launched by Paramount's Paranormal Activity. The idea is to engage fans and get them to market the movie.

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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June 22, 2011 8:16 AM
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Life in a Day and Ridley Scott's Micro Movie Mogul Initiative Raise Money for Charities

Ridley Scott invites the public to aid in promoting the UK theatrical release of Life in a Day on June 17 (it opens in the US June 29), and by doing so raise money for UK charities, all through the Micro Movie Moguls initiative. This is how it works: An individual or company sets themselves up as a Micro Mogul and they chose a charity -- any good cause -- to receive 25% of the tickets sold through their online ticket booth. Here's more information. Here is our review and the Life in a Day trailer. This movie is a must-see.

By Sophia Savage
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June 8, 2011 6:40 AM
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EXCLUSIVE First Look: Life In A Day's New Poster, Premieres July 24 with Live Q&A (UPDATED)

Life In A Day, filmed by you, directed by Kevin Macdonald and produced by Ridley Scott, will be released by Cinedigm and National Geographic starting July 24 (exactly one year after all the footage was shot). Below is a first look at the doc's new poster. The film premiered simultaneously at Sundance and on YouTube in January.

By Sophia Savage and Anne Thompson
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May 20, 2011 4:00 AM
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HBO, Tandem & Scott Free Team for Cinemax Crime Series The Sector, about Genetically Enhanced Humans

HBO, Tandem Communications and Scott Free Productions are developing an action-crime series to run on Cinemax. The one-hour series is "in the vein of Blade Runner/District 9" and "tracks the commander of a paramilitary unit who pursues a dangerous new race of genetically-enhanced humans." Criminal Minds's Simon Mirren will serve as exec-producer and showrunner for the project, from writer-creators Aaron Benay and Matthew Benay. Tandem is also behind Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth series, which also has a follow up series in the works with Scott Free, based on Follett's World Without End.

By Sophia Savage
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April 1, 2011 8:46 AM
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Ridley Scott Takes on Follett's World Without End; Cast includes Nixon, Richardson, Chaplin, Firth

UPDATE 6/29: Principal photography will begin July 11 on World Without End, with actors Cynthia Nixon, Miranda Richardson, Ben Chaplin, Peter Firth, Charlotte Riley, Megan Follows and Sarah Gadon and more. The eight-hour series has a $44 million pricetag, and exec producer Rola Bauer says; "Our strategy has always been to bring cinematic values to television. In addition to having Michael Caton-Jones’ strong and experienced directorial vision on all eight hours of this epic thriller, we have assembled an exemplary cast who will make these great characters come alive on screen and attract audiences worldwide.”

By Sophia Savage
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March 30, 2011 8:42 AM
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In Development: Akira Remake, Fincher for Jolie's Cleopatra, Agatha Christie and The Fighter 2

- Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures is eyeing several actors for a reworked script of Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s six-volume graphic novel Akira, reports Deadline. Harry Potter franchise screenwriter Steve Kloves (also writer-director of The Fabulous Baker Boys) is working on the rewrite and Albert Hughes (The Book of Eli) is signed on to direct in August. In contention for role #1 ("Tetsuo") are Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy; for role #2 ("Kaneda"), there's Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix. Our picks would be McAvoy and Fassbender, who will likely pass on this retelling.

By Sophia Savage
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March 22, 2011 5:30 AM
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Angelina Jolie Goes UTA; Maleficent, Cleopatra, Serena, Scarpetta, Gucci, Tomb Raider Updates

Angelina Jolie, whose Untitled Bosnian War Love Story (financed and produced by GK Films) is in post-production, has signed with United Talent Agency as writer and director. She has long functioned without an acting agent but has been loyal to her manager at Media Talent Group, Geyer Kosinski. UTA's Rich Klubech told Deadline: "Angelina has a distinct and powerful creative voice, and having read her work and seen parts of the film she's directing, we're very certain that she's entering a new and fruitful phase of her extraordinary career."

By Sophia Savage
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March 15, 2011 1:06 AM
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Sundance Alert: Life in a Day Premieres at Sundance and on YouTube

Check out Life in a Day--live on YouTube as of 8 PM EST Thursday. Yes, big Hollywood filmmaker Ridley Scott is involved, but remember, the guy makes films and commercials and knows how to edit little pieces of film together. "This isn't like any other film you've seen before," as documentary/narrative filmmaker Kevin Macdonald said before the film unspooled Thursday night at Sundance. "Thank God it's better than Koyaanisqatsi," said one critic. Yes, it's much better.