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1-20 of 24 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
Bad Lieutenants and Magnificent Sevens – the golden rules of the cinematic remake
31 December 2009 2:00 PM, PST
| The Guardian - Film News
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Magnificent Seven, The Ring, Psycho, The Preacher's Wife – some remakes are an improvement, some are an abysmal waste of time. Joe Queenan judges the pack
In 1992, Abel Ferrara made a very dark, very depressing movie called Bad Lieutenant. In it, Harvey Keitel played a morally bankrupt police officer who seeks redemption by investigating the rape of a nun who refuses to bring charges against her assailant, turning the Bad Lieutenant into the Mad Lieutenant. The film did nothing at the box office, and is remembered mostly because it is the motion picture in which Keitel shows off his penis. There was at the time no great demand for Keitel – a fine actor, but never a matinee idol – to show off his penis, even though it was a very splendid penis indeed, nor has there been any grassroots groundswell of support for this sort of thing afterwards.
Not so long ago,
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- Joe Queenan
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Winter Wonderland Tops Ascap's Holiday Tune
25 December 2009 7:02 PM, PST
| Aceshowbiz
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"Winter Wonderland" has topped a new list of the most performed holiday songs of the decade. The 1934 tune written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith was an instant hit for bandleader Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians and it has since been recorded by the Andrews Sisters, Doris Day, Perry Como, The Eurythmics and Jewel Kilcher.
And it seems the tune - the oldest on the top 25 countdown - is an annual favourite for radio programmers at this time of year - it's the most played track, according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Also making the top 10: Sleigh Ride, White Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock.
Here's Ascap's most played holiday tunes of the past 10 years:
Winter Wonderland - written by Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - written by Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Sleigh Ride - written by Leroy Anderson,
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- AceShowbiz.com
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James Earl Jones: confessions of Big Daddy
23 November 2009 1:30 PM, PST
| The Guardian - Film News
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James Earl Jones has been breaking down barriers since the 1950s. As he prepares to star in an all-black Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he tells Maddy Costa about his absent father, elderly sex – and why his stutter was his salvation
The septuagenarian walking slowly through the Novello theatre in London looks like an archetypal American tourist. Tall and wide, he wears a puffy gilet that makes him seem even bulkier, while a faded baseball cap shades his face. Yet this ordinary-looking man is one of America's pre-eminent actors: James Earl Jones. Over the last 50 years, he has won two Tony awards (playing a boxer in The Great White Hope, and for his role in August Wilson's Fences), an Oscar nomination (for the film of The Great White Hope), as well as multiple Emmy nominations and awards for his TV work.
You wouldn't know any of this to look at him,
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- Maddy Costa
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Stan Lee Talks More About ‘Thor’ Cameo
19 November 2009 1:45 PM, PST
| ScreenRant.com
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Given his history of cameos, (Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men, Daredevil, etc.) it’s not exactly shocking that Lee will be getting one in Thor. Here’s what the George Washington of Marvel Comics said to MTV about meeting with the film’s director, four-time Academy Award nominee, Kenneth Branagh:
“I had lunch with Branagh, [who's] the nicest guy in the world as well as the most talented… months ago, when he was first starting on the movie, he said he would get a cameo for me.”
There ya have it. In case you’re insane and want to know exactly when Stan Lee will appear in the background of the film selling hot dogs or whatever, he had this to say to those dogged MTV folks when pressed for details:
“I think he has more important things to think of at the moment with the movie — like who he
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- Scott Miller
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Hopkins Rules As Marvel's Odin
30 October 2009 8:09 AM, PDT
| HollywoodNorthReport.com
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Actor Anthony Hopkins will co-star as 'Odin', in the upcoming Marvel Studios adaptation of Marvel Comics' Mighty Thor.
Odin is the father of both 'Thor' and his half-brother 'Loki'.
Actors Chris "Star Trek" Hemsworth will play Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Natalie Portman as 'Jane Foster', for director Kenneth "Henry V" Branagh.
Principal photography is prepping for a January 2010 start, to be distributed by Paramount, May 20, 2011.
"...Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: Thor. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous
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Top Ten Tuesday: Best Films From First-Time Directors
11 August 2009 7:32 AM, PDT
| WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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A lot of times, a filmmaker’s first feature film is a passion project, something they’ve been working on for years. Many times, it is this time spent and devotion to this one project that will make this first film the best film of a director’s career. Today, in honor of Neill Blomkamp’s first feature film, District 9, we present our top 10 films by first-time directors.
10. Henry V (Kenneth Branagh, 1989)
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,” and so it was to be when, after it appeared that no one could ever improve on Sir Lawrence Olivier’s 1944 Shakespearean spectacle, Henry V, along came an unknown Irishman, actor, Kenneth Branagh in 1989 with his dark take on the English King. Branagh, like Olivier, both in their directorial debuts, starred as Henry the Fifth, the young king who leads his army to wage war on France and claim his rightful place.
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- Movie Geeks
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Bernard Cornwall's 'Agincourt' To Be Adapted
16 July 2009 2:15 PM, PDT
| Cinematical
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As many of you are undoubtedly aware, I'm a sucker for a good historical epic, especially if it's set in that darkest of ages. Though the medieval period is the subject of thousands of books, and everyone knows something about the Black Death or the 100 Years War, few movies ever tackle those history-shaking events. But we might be getting one according to Variety, who reports that London's Independent Film is bringing Bernard Cornwell's Agincourt to the big screen.
Everyone knows Agincourt from Shakespeare's Henry V, but it's never gotten much cinematic attention outside of Kenneth Branagh which is surprising. After all, movies with hungry, dysentary-riddled underdogs who defeat a larger, more powerful force is the stuff of every war movie ever made. Plus, this is the battle that medieval chroniclers claimed killed chivalry (as if it ever existed), and supposedly gave us the two-fingered (well, one if you're American) salute.
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- Elisabeth Rappe
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Tudors / Elizabeth Writer Aims at Agincourt
16 July 2009 11:30 AM, PDT
| Slash Film
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Medieval times are back again. Ridley Scott is shooting his Untitled Robin Hood film, Christopher Smith is looking back at Black Death, and now, according to Variety, the London-based Independent Film Co. has optioned Bernard Cornwell's novel Agincourt, to be adapted by Tudors / Elizabeth / 1906 writer Michael Hirst. Agincourt is one of the more famous battles in European history, and could make for a hell of a film. What? You say it has already been filmed (at least) twice, in the two versions of Henry V? No reason not to do it again, right?
Cornwell's novel follows Nicholas Hook, who becomes an archer in the army of Henry V, ultimately to fight the French at Agincourt in 1415 as part of the Hundred Years War. Originally fighting as a mercenary archer in France, Hook heads home to England, where he's discovered by Henry V, who recruits Hook into his
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- Russ Fischer
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Profiling Hogwarts' Teaching Staff In 'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince'
16 July 2009 10:30 AM, PDT
| MTV Movies Blog
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Before Bill Nighy confirmed he was going to be joining the cast of “Harry Potter,” he wasn’t being facetious when he complained that he was the last big British actor to not be involved in the series. With heavy hitters like the late Richard Harris, Kenneth Branagh and Ralph Fiennes weaving in and out of the series, who can blame him for feeling left out?
The professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in particular possess acting talent which comes from the upper echelons of British celeb royalty. Young Americans might not recognize all of their faces outside of "Potter," especially those who are masked behind beards and more extensive makeup. So we've decided to profile the top Hogwarts talents for you here; not their fictional professorships, but rather the reasons you should look for them in roles outside the "Harry Potter" universe.
Michael Gambon: Michael Gambon,
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- Terri Schwartz
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Tudors Creator Adapts Agincourt
15 July 2009 11:28 PM, PDT
| EmpireOnline
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We few, we happy few, we band of brothers... and sisters, and acquaintances, may soon have the chance to see Agincourt on the big screen, with the news that Elizabeth screenwriter and The Tudors creator Michael Hirst has been hired to adapt Bernard Cornwell's book on the historic battle.The book tells the story of the Battle of Agincourt, which saw Henry V's vastly outnumbered English force cry havoc, let slip the dogs of war and defeat a much larger French force in 1415. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Middle Ages, with between seven and ten thousand French killed (although only 112 English - well done, guys!). Cornwell's book tells the story through the eyes of a humble British longbowman called Nicolas Hook rather than the nobles or King. This is some way off at present: production's set to get underway in late 2010 for a spring
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Michael Hirst Is Set to Adapt Agincourt
15 July 2009 6:51 PM, PDT
| MovieWeb
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In a story from Variety Michael Hirst (creator of The Tudors) has been tapped by London-based Independent Film Co. to adapt Bernard Cornwell's novel Agincourt.
The story follows Nicholas Hook, he is an archer who fought with the French alongside Henry V in 1415 during one of the bloodiest battles ever to take place in Europe..
Independent Film Co. plans to make this film for $35 million. The plan is to shoot it in 2011.
Agincourt sold almost 200,000 hardback copies in the U.K. during its first three months of release. It was on the New York Times bestseller list for four weeks.
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Brian Blessed reportedly cast as Odin in Branagh's Thor
4 June 2009 4:42 AM, PDT
| The Geek Files
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Brian Blessed has been cast as Odin in Kenneth Branagh's big-screen adaptation of Thor, according to an unconfirmed report.
Bleeding Cool says the English actor - known for his booming voice - has landed the role of Thor's father in the movie, which is based on Marvel's comic book version of the Norse thunder god.
I've not yet been able to verify this claim, which has flown across internet blog sites like Thor's mighty hammer Mjolnir.
While many are hailing the sonorous thespian as a perfect choice - and he has been a favourite among fans on forums - he could also be considered rather too obvious and over-the-top for the role.
Notably, the ebullient 71-year-old has been in four of the five Shakespeare films helmed by Thor director Kenneth Branagh: Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet and As You Like It. Blessed also narrated
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- David Bentley
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Brian Blessed Cast as Thor’s Father?
2 June 2009 10:05 AM, PDT
| ScreenRant.com
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Comic book blog site Bleeding Cool is reporting that actor Brian Blessed (Hamlet, Macbeth) is going to be lending his famously booming voice and imposing stature to the role of Odin, King of Asgard, in Kenneth Branagh’s big-screen adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Thor.
Fans of Thor of course know that Odin is not only All-Father of Asgard, he’s also the father of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Thor’s nefarious half-brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). If Brian Blessed has indeed snagged the role of Odin, it means that Thor is going to get a serious thespian to help anchor the cast of relative newcomers.
Blessed and Branagh have previously worked together on several Shakespeare plays-turned-movies, including Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996) and As You Like It (2006). Blessed’s iconic voice is also something you might not even know you recognize: the actor has lent his booming baritone to
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- Kofi Outlaw
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Is Brian Blessed Playing Odin In ‘Thor’?
2 June 2009 8:28 AM, PDT
| MTV Splash Page
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“Thor” director Kenneth Branagh has already cast one of his previous co-stars in the upcoming Marvel Studios film — and if rumors are to believed, he’s about to do it again.
Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston reports that actor Brian Blessed will play Odin in “Thor,” the film adaptation of Marvel’s Thunder God. If his report pans out, Blessed will join the ranks of Tom Hiddleston, previously cast as Loki, which adds yet another layer of Shakespearean credibility to the comic book flick.
Blessed is a regular fixture in Branagh’s directorial work, having provided substantial roles in “Henry V,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Hamlet” and “As You Like It.” The actor has also played the leading role in “King Lear,” a Shakespeare-written play that Blessed’s would-be co-star Hiddleston recently referenced himself.
In the “Thor” comic books, Odin is the ruler of Asgard and father to Thor and Loki,
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- Josh Wigler
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Celebrate Shakespeare's birthday with some Bard classics
23 April 2009 4:02 AM, PDT
| Boxwish.com
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Today we’re raising a glass to toast the 445th birthday (and incidentally, the 393rd anniversary of the death) of that literary fellow we all know and love as William Shakespeare. Though academics argue that the actual date of when his mother, Mary Arden pushed the little fella out is unknown, 23rd April has commonly become regarded as his birthday and was also the day of his death 52 years later. And so to honour this day, we’re refraining from giving him the bumps and instead settling down to watch some of the best film adaptations of his many glorious plays.
If you fancy some Shakespearean tragedy…
Go all late 90s and weep your heart out over those star-crossed lovers Romeo + Juliet, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the irreverent, colourful and utterly beautiful Baz Luhrmann modern classic. Reach for the Kleenex with Laurence Olivier’s unforgettable turn
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Branagh & Thor Are Team Players For Marvel
20 March 2009 4:42 PM, PDT
| ScreenRant.com
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Kenneth Branagh, the director for the upcoming Marvel film Thor, is proving why he’s the perfect choice for the gig.
MTV News spoke with Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada and they spent time discussing Branagh and how well he is playing into the bigger picture of the Marvel universe and their intertwining stories.
“[Branagh] understood that there was this very, very big tapestry of the Marvel movies… There’s continuity within the movies and he really wanted to play within that and wanted it to be part of the other movies.”
Unlike Nolan and his stance on keeping his Batman away from the rest of the DC Universe and their movies, Branagh is a team player and is working towards the Marvel films designed as a connected family of movies leading up to the ultimate team-up movie in The Avengers.
“He was really, really loving the interconnectivity between all of these characters,
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- Rob Keyes
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King Henry V Comes to Arizona Theatre Co. March 26-29
24 February 2009 8:02 PM, PST
| BroadwayWorld.com
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Arizona Theatre Company is proud to present The Acting Company/Guthrie Theater production of William Shakespeare?s King Henry V. Considered by many to Shakespeare?s greatest and most exciting history play, it tells the story of one of England?s most inspiring monarchs and his triumphs in war, politics and love. A touring co-production of two of America?s Tony Award-winning theatre companies, King Henry V plays in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center for five performances only from March 26 through March 29. It continues its run in Tucson at the Temple of Music and Art for an additional five performances from April 2 through April 5. Arizona Theatre Company?s Season Underwriters are I. Michael and Beth Kasser and the production sponsor of King Henry V is Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
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Shakespeare Theater Co Announces 2009-2010 Line-up
18 February 2009 9:56 AM, PST
| BroadwayWorld.com
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Shakespeare Theater Company has announced the line-up for their 2009-2010 season.
Phedre, Mrs. Warren's Profession, and The Liar will come to the Shakespeare Theater stages. As You Like It, Rickard II And Henry V, and The Bacchae have been previously announced.
Phedre will star Helen Mirren, and Dixie Carter will star in Mrs Warren's Profession.
Ion by Euripides is currently playing at Sidney Harman Hall and will run through 4/12/09.
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Guthrie's Tours And Henry V Production Brings Big Success
2 February 2009 5:53 PM, PST
| BroadwayWorld.com
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The Acting Company and Guthrie Theater production of Shakespeare's Henry V ended its hugely successful run in the Dowling Studio this past Sunday, having played to a stunning 95% of capacity during the 26 performance engagement.
Henry V marks another triumph in the long line of successful Guthrie presentations and collaborations in both the Dowling Studio and on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. The Guthrie began presenting the work of smaller theater companies in 2006 as part of the first season in its three-stage complex. The presentations proved so successful for both the Guthrie and the producing companies that many of these productions have become highlights of the Twin Cities theater season and insure future artistic collaborations at the Guthrie.
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Sex Scenes: 5 Golden Girls
28 January 2009 11:15 AM, PST
| Spout.com
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Recently, at age 50, Emma Thompson became a first-time blogger –– a term which, according to her, “as a computer illiterate, I get confused with ‘snog’ (British slang for kissing) and ‘shog’ (Shakespearian word used by Pistol in Henry V meaning ‘leave’) neither of which – I realize – is the correct interpretation." The email missive posted by Melissa Silverstein was part of Thompson's promotion for Last Chance Harvey, an older-woman-meets-even-older-man romance co-starring Dustin Hoffman (ah, but for the days of Mrs. Robinson!)
The still-radiant Thompson expresses relief that maturity has given her the freedom to let i
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- Lauren Wissot
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