Thompson on Hollywood

#Sundance: Abel's Diego Luna is Director Discovery of Fest

Of the three actor-directors who made their feature filmmaking debuts at this year's Sundance, it looks like Mark Ruffalo (Sympathy for Delicious) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (Jack Goes Boating) can keep their day jobs. But Mexican star Diego Luna, with the magical family drama Abel, is the director discovery of this festival.

By Anne Thompson
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January 30, 2010 9:51 AM
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#Sundance: Mark Lewis Gets Down with 3-D Cane Toads

With 1988's Cane Toads: An Unnatural History, Australian documentary filmmaker Mark Lewis (The Natural History of the Chicken) introduced Sundance audiences to the cane toad--an amphibian imported Down Under in 1935 to control sugar cane larvae. Of course, the cane toad did nothing of the kind, and turned out to be a remarkably adaptable--and toxic-- creature, capable of killing dogs and pets with its poison glands. This time with Cane Toads: The Conquest, Lewis celebrates the toad as he tries to restore the balance by suggesting it's not all the toad's fault. He takes us from the toad 16 million years ago, through Puerto Rico and Hawaii to Australia and the evolution of the new and improved 3- D "Ava-Toad."

By Anne Thompson
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January 30, 2010 8:05 AM
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#Sundance: Aamir Khan Talks 3 Idiots, May Release Peepli Live Himself

How strange that I should land my first interview with my favorite Bollywood star, Aamir Khan, at Sundance. That's because he came to town as the producer of an indie political satire, Peepli Live, which is the first film from India to be accepted at Sundance-- in the world cinema competition. Khan read the script from rookie director Anusha Rizvi and agreed to back it. She cast the film largely with unknowns, including theater actor Omkar Das Manikpuri. (Here's a review from The Hollywood Reporter.)

By Anne Thompson
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January 30, 2010 3:47 AM
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#Sundance: Cholodenko Talks The Kids Are All Right

On Wednesday, as the LAT breathlessly reported that the Focus Features deal to acquire The Kids Are All Right for $3.5 million was virtually closed, writer-director Lisa Cholodenko was insisting that deal points were still outstanding.

By Anne Thompson
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January 28, 2010 6:38 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. )

By Anne Thompson
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January 28, 2010 2:48 AM
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#Sundance: Mark and Jay Duplass Talk Cyrus

When Mark and Jay Duplass convinced Fox Searchlight to back their new movie Cyrus, they insisted that they be allowed to make a Duplass brothers movie: strong story, naturalistic acting, hand-held digital cameras. But they jumped from a $50,000 budget to $7 million, and hired name movie stars. In this bizarre, intimate, unpredictable and often hilarious family drama, Jonah Hill gives the performance of his career as a pampered mother’s boy who freaks when his mom (Marisa Tomei) brings home a new boyfriend (John C. Reilly).

By Anne Thompson
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January 27, 2010 3:51 AM
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Bill Gates Does Jon Stewart

Microsoft billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is on the circuit: first Sundance, now The Daily Show. Check it out:

By Anne Thompson
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January 26, 2010 11:31 AM
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#Sundance: Jett, Currie, Stewart, Fanning Talk Runaways

The Runaways hit Sundance like a freight train, thanks to the combined star power of Twilight stars Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and the characters they play in the musical biopic, "wild and braless" Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, who toured as teenagers with the first all-girl rock band in the 70s.

By Anne Thompson
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January 26, 2010 7:47 AM
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Hetherington and Junger Talk Afghan War Doc Restrepo

Restrepo doesn't resemble your standard documentary, in any way. It's not like other embedded war docs, or voice-over narration films, or movies with a strong personality or clear narrative spine. It's another animal. UPDATE: The movie is one of the final five Oscar nominees for best documentary, winning out over a crowded and competitive field.