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Omg, It's Zac Efron!

25 November 2009 8:21 AM, PST | ifc.com | See recent IFC news »

Between his roles in the Broadway musical adaptation "Hairspray," two seasons on the WB series "Summerland" and the unholy Disney Channel trilogy "High School Musical," blue-eyed, pert-nosed actor and singer Zac Efron's become a heartthrob to young girls en masse. Now just 22 years old, he's begun to diversify in his career pickings, following up this past spring's studio comedy "17 Again" with the Richard Linklater-directed period indie "Me and Orson Welles."

Based on Robert Kaplow's novel, the film stars Efron as Richard Samuels, an ambitious teen actor who weasels his way into a 1937 Broadway production of "Julius Caesar," directed by a megalomaniacal, temperamental genius: yes, one mister Orson Welles (rivetingly played by Christian McKay). As Richard becomes smitten with a tough-minded production assistant (Claire Danes), he learns that both love and success have their complications, but at least he gets to sing. By phone, Efron spoke with me about him and Orson Welles, »

- Aaron Hillis

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Marc Shaiman appointed Oscar music director

25 November 2009 2:57 AM, PST | MovieScore Magazine | See recent MovieScore Magazine news »

Film composer Marc Shaiman has been appointed the music director for next year’s Academy Awards gala. The composer of scores such as The Addams Family, Hairspray, City Slickers, Patch Adams and An American President, already served as the musical director for the 2004 show and has also written a number of hilarious musical medleys for the show in recent years. The 2010 Academy Awards take place on March 7. In ... »

- Mikael Carlsson

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Shaiman Named Music Director For Oscars

24 November 2009 3:28 PM, PST | Studio Briefing - TV News | See recent Studio Briefing - TV News news »

Film composer Marc Shaiman, who won an Emmy award for co-writing Billy Crystal's song medleys during the 1992 Oscar telecast and who himself has received five Oscar nominations -- three for original score; two for original song -- has been named music director for the 82nd annual Academy Awards presentations in March. Shaiman will be reunited with Adam Shankman, who is co-producing the Oscar telecast, and who directed the 2007 movie version of Shaiman's 2003 musical Hairspray.

Los Angeles Times

Leave Comments Here -- Spamming, Flaming, and Offensive Language Will Be Removed »

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Bloggers' Reviews: 2012

24 November 2009 4:51 AM, PST | Screenrush | See recent Screenrush news »

Here at Screenrush, we're all about getting voices heard. So, in the first of a series of features, we're giving you the chance to find out what's on the collective minds of the greatest bloggers the information superhighway has to offer.

This week, our friends from Movie Reviews By Captain D, Battle Royale With Cheese and Heyuguys give their verdict on Roland Emmerich's disasterific new flick, 2012...

Movie Reviews By Captain D

After the silly but fun Independence Day and bloated climate warning epic wannabe The Day After Tomorrow, Robert Emerich is back trying to destroy the planet again. In 2012, he chooses, rather than spaced out aliens or freaky weather conditions, the effect of a gigantic solar flare on the earth's core.

Click here to read on...

Battle Royale With Cheese

The end of the world - It is something that no one wants to come to pass in real »

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Monkee Micky Dolenz in West End Musical 'Hairspray'

23 November 2009 5:52 PM, PST | TheImproper.com | See recent TheImproper.com news »

Micky Dolenz, child television actor and star of a 1960s sit-com about a fictional band called, “The Monkees,” is heading to London’s West End, where he will appear in the hit musical Hairspray, TheImproper has learned. The musical has had a hugely successful three-year run at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Dolenz will take the part of Wilbur Turnblad, the father of Tracy Turnblad. In the hit 2007 movie version of John Waters' hit, Wilbur, a genial joke-store owner was played by Christopher Walken, Tracy was played by Nikki Blonsky and mother Edna was played by John Travolta. »

- kgirard@theimproper.com (Keith Girard)

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Shankman Names Hairspray Pal Oscars Music Director

23 November 2009 2:06 PM, PST | WENN | See recent WENN news »

Hairspray collaborators Adam Shankman and Marc Shaiman are to team up again at the Oscars.

First-time Academy Awards co-producer Shankman has named composer/arranger Shaiman as the music director for the 82nd Oscars in March.

Shaiman has never won an Oscar but he has been nominated five times in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories - for 1994's A Wink and a Smile from Sleepless in Seattle, and Blame Canada from South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut 10 years later.

He also won an Emmy Award for the songs he co-wrote for Billy Crystal's stint as host of the the 64th Academy Awards in 1992, and again in 1991 and 2004. »

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Marc Shaiman Named Oscars' Music Director

23 November 2009 10:02 AM, PST | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »

By Wrap Staff

Oscar-nominated composer Marc Shaiman will serve as music director for the 82nd Academy Awards, telecast producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic announced Monday.

“With Marc on board, we are sure to have some great musical and, hopefully, hysterical moments,” Mechanic said in a statement.

“Marc was my inspiration and musical partner on ‘Hairspray’ and he has been responsible for some of the most memorable moments in Oscar history, like Will Ferr... »

- Brent Lang

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Oscar News: Marc Shaiman Named Music Director

23 November 2009 9:32 AM, PST | Thompson on Hollywood | See recent Thompson on Hollywood news »

It’s no surprise, given that composer Marc Shaiman worked with co-producer Adam Shankman on the musical Hairspray, that he will do the music director honors for the 82nd Academy Awards. Shankman cited Will Ferrell and Jack Black’s comedy numbers as examples of the hilarity that he hopes Shaiman will bring to the occasion: “He’s a genius! And he’d be the first to tell you!” “With Marc on board, we are sure to have some great musical and, hopefully, hysterical moments,” said producer Bill Mechanic. Shaiman has five Oscar nominations under his belt, for original score (The American President, The First Wives Club and Patch Adams) and … »

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Linklater: 'Zac Efron is real leading man'

23 November 2009 3:01 AM, PST | digitalspy | See recent digitalspy news »

Me And Orson Welles director Richard Linklater has praised Zac Efron for being a "real leading man". The High School Musical actor stars alongside Christian McKay and Claire Danes in the upcoming period drama, based on one young man's experience with the legendary theatre star. Speaking to Digital Spy at the film's UK premiere, Linklater said: "Zac was the first guy I sat down with [for the role of Richard Samuels]. "I'd only seen him in one movie - Hairspray - and I just (more) »

- By Lara Martin

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Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

20 November 2009 7:12 AM, PST | The Scorecard Review | See recent Scorecard Review news »

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Directed by: Lee Daniels

Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey

Running Time: 1 hr 45 mins

Rating: R

Release Date: November 20, 2009

Plot: An overweight 16-year-old girl (Sidibe) struggles to keep her life together while living with her abusive mother (Mo’Nique) and attending an alternative education school in Harlem 1987.

Who’S It For? If you can’t handle rape, physical and emotional abuse, then don’t even think of seeing this film. In fact, it’s hard to say, “You’ve got to see this movie, you’ll love it!” It’s more a movie you should see. It’s the struggles of lives most of us barely know.

Expectations: Fat girl. Tough times. I was a little worried this would come off like an after school special.

Scorecard (0-10)

Actors:

Gabourey Sidibe as Precious: The layers of this performance have »

- Jeff Bayer

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Oscars pick director, unveil documentary shortlist

18 November 2009 12:21 PM, PST | Filmicafe | See recent Filmicafe news »

Oscar organizers joined the MTV generation on Wednesday, naming Hamish Hamilton as director of March's movie awards ceremony, and they also unveiled their shortlist of films vying for a best documentary nomination.British-born Hamilton, 43, is a first-time Oscar director, but he is a veteran of numerous live-event programs including this year's MTV Video Music Awards, and the MTV Europe Music Awards and Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2008."His approach definitely won't feel like 'business as usual,' said one of the show's co-producers, Bill Mechanic.The Oscars, given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, are the second most-watched U.S. television show after professional football's Super Bowl. The ceremony also is seen in some 200 countries worldwide.But viewership has been in a general decline for many years due to the growing number of honors programs, among other reasons. As a result, Oscar organizers have tried to liven up their show, »

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Exclusive Buzz: Pfeiffer with Pfangs

17 November 2009 6:57 PM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Rumor Alert!

Or, rather, 'Possiblity Alert'! And one you haven't heard yet. The other evening at a dinner party, I chatted briefly with writer/director Amy Heckerling (of Clueless fame). Since her very last feature I Could Never Be Your Woman starred Michelle Pfeiffer, you know I couldn't resist gushing about my favorite actress. The conversation quickly drifted to Saoirse Ronan, who played Pfeiffer's daughter in that film. Heckerling was very proud to have discovered her (...Woman preceeding Atonement, production-wise) and wouldn't you be?

Leaving the party later, I wished Heckerling well on her new comedy Vamps which should go before cameras in the spring. Remembering me as that weirdly obsessed pfan-guy, Heckerling clasped her hands together in supplication and said 'I hope I get Pfeiffer for it.'

[Collective Pfan Gasp!]

Has an offer gone out? Could Pfeiffer finally have a vampiric role? The movie is still in preproduction with only Kristen Ritter signed. »

- NATHANIEL R

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Ask the Flying Monkey! (November 16, 2009)

15 November 2009 9:20 PM, PST | AfterElton.com | See recent AfterElton.com news »

Have a question about gay male entertainment? Send it to aftereltonflyingmonkey@yahoo.com! (Please include your city and state and/or country.)

Q: I'm curious about Project Runway's Christopher Straub. The ring he wears suggests he has a husband / partner / significant other. What details might you know on this? Every time Heidi had him in tears, I found myself strongly torn between wanting to give him a hug and going all Cher on him. – LgH, Houston, TX, Usw, Earth

Christopher Straub

A: “I am married!” Straub tells the Flying Monkey. “Well, not legally, but Ronnie and I had a commitment ceremony two-and-a-half years ago. We've been together for over five years. He's a little scientist, and we really don't understand what each other does for a living.”

I asked what the two of them do for fun. “We like to travel, watch TV – I like reality shows and he »

- Brent Hartinger

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David Rockwell Gets Academy Award Gig Second Year Running

13 November 2009 7:30 AM, PST | Fast Company | See recent Fast Company news »

David Rockwell, one of Fast Company's 2009 Masters of Design, has been just been announced as the set designer for the 2009 Academy Awards--for the second year in a row. His design for this year's Oscars--the 81st--channeled the spirit of Busby Berkeley in Swarovski crystals, and no doubt next year's stage at the Kodak Theater will be just as glamorous.

Rockwell describes a great job as "50 percent terror, 50 percent thrill," and he definitely fulfilled the terror quotient with last year's Oscar setup. The Thursday before the show, Rockwell told Fast Company, "A crystal leg in the curtain snagged, and it rained crystal on the Kodak theater. Then, everyone turned and looked at me because what had been a really good idea was now my idea. It was terrifying. It was ahorrible moment. And the stage manager, whose job it was to deal with all these actors who had never been on »

- Addy Dugdale

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Oscar 2010: David Rockwell to Design Oscar Show

12 November 2009 10:46 AM, PST | Alternative Film Guide | See recent Alternative Film Guide news »

David Rockwell will serve as production designer for the 2010 Academy Awards, Oscar telecast producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic have announced. Rockwell served in that same capacity last year. Rockwell’s set design work includes the Broadway productions of Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Rocky Horror Show, as well as the upcoming Elf and Houdini. His firm also designed the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland complex. Other projects designed by Rockwell Group include a free-standing building for Cirque du Soleil at Walt Disney World in Florida; the Elinor Bunin-Munroe Film Center at Lincoln Center in New York; and the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. The [...] »

- Anna Robinson

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Delany Bought Closet-less Penthouse

9 November 2009 5:36 PM, PST | WENN | See recent WENN news »

Desperate Housewives star Dana Delany has been forced to call in builders to renovate her brand new New York penthouse after failing to spot the pad has no closets.

The actress, 53, recently closed a deal for a spacious home in the Big Apple in the same apartment block as Hairspray director Adam Shankman, but she's yet to move in - because there's nowhere to store her clothes.

She says, "I have a penthouse. Never in my life did I ever think I'd have a New York penthouse. I thought, 'Isn't it nice?'

"I guess it used to be the maids' quarters or something near the roof. Because of that there's no closets! No closets in the house! I didn't notice that before!" »

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Birthday Suits: Nov 9th

9 November 2009 7:35 AM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Today's Birthdays 11/09

1869 Marie Dressler is awesome. She gave one of the most aggressive Best Actress winning performances evah. If you haven't seen Min & Bill (1933), you must. You must, you must, you must.

1883 Edna May Oliver feisty character actress

1886 Ed Wynn Uncle Albert from Mary Poppins. He loves to laugh... long and loud and clear. Audiences were always ready to laugh along with him

1922 Dorothy Dandridge first black woman to be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars (Carmen Jones) and what a neat coincidence that she was portrayed by the first black actress to eventually win the Best Actress Oscar (Halle Berry) in the bio Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

1948 Bille August Danish director of The Best Intentions and Pelle the Conqueror fame

1955 Fernando Meirelles director of declining films: City of God, The Constant Gardner, Blindness. I'm not trying to be mean. But... um... do you have faith he'll pull out of it? »

- NATHANIEL R

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Bradley Cooper Wants a Drug to Make Him Rich and Powerful!

6 November 2009 4:39 PM, PST | Manny the Movie Guy | See recent Manny the Movie Guy news »

That's only in the movies of course, Bradley Cooper doesn't need a drug to make him rich and powerful anymore. "The Hangover" star will be working on the suspense thriller "Dark Fields."

Neil Burger, the director who gave us "The Illusionist" (a criminally ignored film, if you haven't seen it yet, go rent it or buy it, it's brilliant!) is set to helm.

According to Variety, the plot is about "a designer drug that can make you rich and powerful. Eddie (Cooper) is a down-and-out New York writer until he possesses a pill that gives him the ability to access the full capacity of his brain. He soon realizes that his newfound intelligence and success come at a hefty price as mysterious forces begin to pursue him."

Leslie Dixon ("Hairspray") wrote the screenplay based on a novel by Alan Glynn. The film is set to shoot late spring of next year. »

- Manny

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Bradley Cooper Replaces Shia Labeouf in Dark Fields

5 November 2009 11:19 PM, PST | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »

The Hangover star Bradley Cooper is now set to replace Shia Labeouf in Neil Burger's (The Illusionist) upcoming thriller, Dark Fields. The film is an adaptation of the Alan Glynn book of the same name, and will feature a script by eclectic screenwriter, Leslie Dixon (The Thomas Crowne Affair, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hairspray). The film is among many projects Cooper has signed on for post-Hangover (which is strange, because I still know the guy best as Sydney Bristow's best friend on Alias). Cooper will play a struggling writer who takes a top-secret pharmaceutical drug that makes him smarter. He finds success, but also comes to learn there are consequences, such as the phenomenon "trip-switching" which makes him perceive time moving similar to stop-motion. The official book description follows: Imagine a drug that makes your brain function with perfect efficiency, tapping into your most fundamental resources of intelligence and drive, releasing »

- Devindra Hardawar

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Bradley Cooper Will Run Through Neil Burger's Dark Fields

5 November 2009 5:09 PM, PST | firstshowing.net | See recent FirstShowing.net news »

Over a year of go it looked like Steven Spielberg's favorite surrogate son, Mr. Labeouf, was going to take on the lead role in The Illusionist director Neil Burger's adaptation of the novel Dark Fields, written by Alan Glynn, first published back in 2002. But today Relativity Media announced it will begin production on the thriller with Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) starring as Eddie, a down and out New York writer who finds a pill that gives him the ability to access the full capacity of his brain. But suddenly, some mysterious men are in pursuit as he realizes the full potential of his intelligence comes with unforeseen dangers. Burger will direct the Leslie Dixon (The Thomas Crown Affair, Hairspray) written script sometime later in the spring of 2010 and he sounds pumped, "I am really delighted that all of the elements of this project have come together in such »

- Ethan Anderton

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2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

1-20 of 304 articles from 2009   « Prev | Next »

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