Thompson on Hollywood

Apatow Hawks 'This is 40' on '60 Minutes,' Pals Sandler, Ferrell & Rogen Add Support

Video

In case you missed it, check out "This is 40" creator Judd Apatow on "60 Minutes" as well as the NYT's live-streamed December 17 round-table interview with Apatow, Paul Rudd, and Leslie Mann.

By Anne Thompson
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December 31, 2012 1:29 PM
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Post-Holiday Weekend Box Office: Three Top Films Battle for Placement

Box Office

Three juggernauts grossing $28 million or more dominated a strong post-Christmas weekend, all jockeying for position since last Tuesday. The shakeout led to the top film on December 25 ("Les Miserables") falling to third by the weekend, beat out by top dog "The Hobbit" followed by "Django Unchained." But all three films contributed to a weekend total more than 20% above last year's results.

By Tom Brueggemann
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December 30, 2012 1:34 PM
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Holiday Weekend Preview 2012: 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Les Mis,' 'Django,' 'Impossible,' 'On the Road,' 'This is 40' and More Make a Christmas Movie Feast

Reviews

At last audiences can sink their teeth into Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty," which is inspiring debate as it enjoys a top spot on many Best of 2012 lists. If Jessica Chastain hunting down Osama bin Laden is not your thing, there's plenty to sample this pre-holiday weekend. Bigelow's excellent film, however, should be considered essential viewing as we head into the next phase of awards season. Ditto for Tom Hooper's "Les Miserables" and Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained," which both arrive on Christmas day next week.

By Sophia Savage
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December 20, 2012 7:26 PM
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EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Judd Apatow Talks 'This is 40,' Lena Dunham and Vanity Fair Comedy Issue

Interviews

Writer/producer/director/talent scout Judd Apatow is a seriously funny multi-tasker who takes his time between directorial efforts. His latest, "This is 40," is a spin-off of "Knocked Up" that follows married couple Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) as they navigate the treacherous terrain of marriage, career and family. Apatow talks about writing--he likes juggling several projects at once-- working with Lena Dunham on "Girls"--he promises surprises next season-- and deadbeat dads, played in the film by John Lithgow and Albert Brooks. And he talks about editing the must-read Vanity Fair comedy issue.

By Anne Thompson
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December 12, 2012 2:45 PM
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Oscar Watch: Check Out Online Screenplays for 'Amour,' 'Moonrise Kingdom,' 'This is 40'

Features

"It starts with the script" is an old chestnut which just happens to be true. I get a kick out of talking to actors, directors and studio heads, but by far my favorite conversations are with such writers as Michael Arndt or Tony Kushner. These people are smart! Years ago after interviewing the Coens for "Raising Arizona," I abandoned my fledgling efforts at screenwriting. I could never be that good.

By Anne Thompson
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December 5, 2012 1:58 PM
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'This is 40' Review and Round-Up: Judd Apatow and Crew Deliver Pain and Laughs

Reviews

With "This is 40," Judd Apatow's fourth feature film as a writer-director, the prolific producer ("Girls," "Pineapple Express," "Freaks and Geeks") has never been more in control of his medium. This relationship comedy returns to Pete and Debbie, the Los Angeles married couple introduced in "Knocked Up" (Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd). It's tight, concise, hilarious, painful and spot-on accurate.

By Anne Thompson
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December 1, 2012 3:59 PM
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Apatow, Mann & Rudd Tell NYT 'This Is 40': 'Couples Therapy Viewed By Millions of People in Theaters Across the World'

News

David Itzkoff of the NY Times paid a summer visit to Judd Apatow on the Brentwood-mansion set of "This Is 40," the director's holiday-slated mid-life-crisis comedy following the marriage of Pete and Debbie of "Knocked Up." Apatow, Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd talk insecurity, "perfect" onscreen married couples and filmmaking as relationship therapy.