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Whistler 09 Wrap Up

9 December 2009 8:00 AM, PST | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

[Our thanks to Andrew David Long for the following wrap up of the 2009 Whistler Film Festival.]

Whistler itself is a gorgeous destination, world-famous for skiing and mountain biking, and the Whistler Film Festival (Wff) largely concerns itself with discovering new, independent voices.  On those points alone, it's hard to avoid thinking of Sundance, a comparison that can't really be made.  Now in its ninth installment, Whistler remains a very intimate festival and is still potentially in the early stages of its development.

Opening Night is at the Whistler Conference Centre, which is licensed, so many of the screenings there are rather more festive. Though the opening speeches are on the long side, the crowd is still happy.  While I'm wary of converted screening spaces, the digital projection there is mercifully very good. Back at the hotel, I stare again at the screening schedule and rue the fact that everything screens only once.

Suffice it to say, these few days in Whistler can be packed.  Wff is »

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TIFF Picks Canada's 2009 Top Ten

8 December 2009 5:32 PM, PST | Cinematical | See recent Cinematical news »

Back in 2001, The Toronto International Film Festival created Canada's Top Ten, an annual event created to celebrate Canadian cinema. We've talked about it in the past, as it's featured big names like Sarah Polley, David Cronenberg, and Don McKellar. And now, as 2009 comes so quickly to a close, this year's best have been picked.

I've usually seen at least a few of the feature choices, but this year I'm woefully behind on some pretty cool-sounding flicks. The 2009 films include Defendor -- the Woody Harrelson superhero indie by Peter Stebbings, Cairo Time -- the Ruba Nadda romance starring Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig, and The Trotsky -- a film starring Jay Baruchel as a teen who believes he's the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky. On the shorts side of things, I've already alerted you to three in the Tiff Shorts Roundup: Bruce Alcock's Vive la Rose, Chris Landreth's The Spine, »

- Monika Bartyzel

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Wff 09: Review of Defendor

8 December 2009 10:31 AM, PST | QuietEarth.us | See recent QuietEarth news »

Year: 2009

Director: Peter Stebbings

Writer: Peter Stebbings

IMDb: link

Trailer: link

Review by: Marina Antunes

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Superhero movies are a dime a dozen. Movies about regular people playing at superhero are not quite as prominent but they’re also around but few (if any) have been as successful at unveiling what makes a regular person a “superhero” as well as Peter Stebbings’ directorial debut Defendor.

On the surface, Stebbings’ film could be seen as a sort of low budget Batman. Defendor is a regular guy who feels compelled to rid the world of evil by any means necessary including putting himself in the way of danger, using home made gadgets and even having a sidekick but where Defendor surpasses the Hollywood template is in its humanity. Bruce Wayne never feels like a real person, he’s too perfect and even when he makes mistakes, they seem too contrived »

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Tiff Announces Canada's Top Ten 2009!

8 December 2009 9:33 AM, PST | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

Every year around this time the Toronto International Film Festival announces their picks for Canada's Top Ten: A selection of what they consider to be the best ten Canadian produced shorts and features from the previous year.  And, true to form, last night was announcement time.  No big surprises, really, and no late additions either.  Without further ado, here are the lists:

The top ten Canadian feature films of 2009 are (in alphabetical order, including future release dates where applicable):

Cairo Time - Ruba Nadda (Mongrel Media)

Carcasses - Denis Côté (FunFilm Distribution)

Crackie - Sherry White (Kickham East)

Defendor - Peter Stebbings (Alliance Films, early 2010)

La Donation - Bernard Émond (E1 Entertainment, January 2010)

J'ai tué ma mère - Xavier Dolan (K-Films Amérique, February 2010)

Passenger Side - Matthew Bissonnette (KinoSmith, March 2010)

Polytechnique - Denis Villeneuve (Alliance Films)

The Trotsky - Jacob Tierney (Alliance Films, May 2010)

The Wild Hunt - Alexandre Franchi (Tva Films, »

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Top Ten Canadian Films of 2009

8 December 2009 2:37 AM, PST | Alt Film Guide | See recent Alt Film Guide news »

Adam Scott in Passenger Side Toronto Festival’s Top Ten Canadian Films of 2009 Top Ten Canadian Feature Films of 2009 (in alphabetical order) Cairo Time – Ruba Nadda Carcasses – Denis Côté Crackie – Sherry White Defendor – Peter Stebbings La Donation / The Legacy – Bernard Émond J’ai tué ma mère / I Killed My Mother – Xavier Dolan Passenger Side – Matthew Bissonnette Polytechnique – Denis Villeneuve The Trotsky – Jacob Tierney The Wild Hunt – Alexandre Franchi   Top Ten Canadian Short Films of 2008 (in alphabetical order) The Armoire – Jamie Travis The Cave – Helen Haig-Brown Danse Macabre – Pedro Pires Five Hole: Tales of Hockey Erotica – Cam Christiansen Naissances – Anne Émond Out in that Deep Blue Sea – Kazik Radwanski Runaway – Cordell Barker The Spine – Chris Landreth La Vie commence – Émile Proulx-Cloutier Vive la [...] »

- Andre Soares

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Kat Dennings' 'Thor' Role Revealed

25 November 2009 8:44 AM, PST | MTV Splash Page | See recent MTV Splash Page news »

Earlier this week, Natalie Portman exclusively revealed to MTV News that "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" actress Kat Dennings had joined the cast of “Thor.” After a few days of speculation, we finally know which character Dennings will portray on the big screen.

According to Variety, Dennings will play Darcy, a coworker of Portman’s Jane Foster. While earlier reports hinted that Jane Foster would be “retooled” for this adaptation, it seems safe to assume that both Jane and Darcy will be in the medical profession, given the history of “Thor” in Marvel comics.

“Thor” will be the second superhero-related film for Dennings following the upcoming

"Defendor" with Woody Harrelson. Last month, Dennings expressed her desire to appear in an adaptation of Tim Seeley's "Hack/Slash."

It's interesting to note that the Variety report describes the story as focusing on a “partly disabled med student who discovers his Norse god alter ego, »

- Blair Marnell

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Kat Dennings Joins Thor

24 November 2009 5:10 PM, PST | movies.about.com | See recent movies.about.com news »

Marvel has officially announced Kat Dennings has committed to a role in Thor. Dennings joins Chris Hemsworth ('Thor'), Tom Hiddleston ('Loki'), Anthony Hopkins ('Odin'), Natalie Portman ('Jane Foster'), Stuart Townsend ('Fandral'), Tadanobu Asano ('Hogun') and Ray Stevenson ('Volstagg') in the action-adventure tale to be directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Marvel's keeping mum on exactly who Dennings will play, but The Hollywood Reporter says they've heard from sources she'll be playing someone who works for Portman's character. Filming is expected to begin early next year.

Dennings was most recently seen in Robert Rodriguez' kiddie movie, Shorts, and recently finished work on Defendor with Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, 2012).

(Photo &copy Richard Chavez)

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Kat Dennings Joins Thor originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 01:10:57.

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Dennings to join Thor

24 November 2009 4:18 AM, PST | ReelLoop.com | See recent Reel Loop news »

Kat Dennings has been announced as a late addition to the cast of Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Marvel’s Thor.

The news was leaked when Natalie Portman let slip in an interview with MTV that she was looking forward to working with her “good friend” and “amazing actress” Dennings in the new project. Portman, however, was not forthcoming in details regarding the role that the Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist star would take. Whilst it has been announced that Portman will play Jane Foster, nurse to Thor’s human alter-ego Donald Blake, and that Jaimie Alexander is set for the role as the Asgardian warrior Sif, there has been no official confirmation as to the part Dennings will play in the project.

Although speculation has been rife that Dennings could be playing any number of parts ranging from a rogue Norse goddess through to the younger sister of Portman’s character, »

- Kieron

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Kat Dennings Among Cast for 'Thor'

24 November 2009 1:44 AM, PST | Aceshowbiz | See recent Aceshowbiz news »

Following several actors who have been previously confirmed to join "Thor", Kat Dennings also has a part in the film. The news was first spilled by the film's star Natalie Portman when she was interviewed by MTV Splash Page. "Well I'm really excited. Kat Dennings is going to be in it with me and she's a good friend and an amazing actress, so I'm looking forward to that," the depicter of Thor's first love Jane Foster said.

Dennings' inclusion in the cast ensemble for the film was later confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. However, there has been no word on what character that will be played by the 23-year-old beauty as the site claimed Marvel Studio keeps a closed lid on her role.

Dennings is perhaps best known for her role as Norah Silverberg in "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist", which aided her to receive nomination as Breakthrough Performance Female at 2009 MTV Movie Awards. »

- AceShowbiz.com

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Kat Dennings Joins Natalie Portman in 'Thor'

23 November 2009 11:20 PM, PST | Celebrity Mania | See recent Celebrity Mania news »

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" star Kat Dennings joins the cast ensemble for "Thor". The news was uncovered by the depicter of Jane Foster, Natalie Portman, during the promotion of her forthcoming movie "Brothers".

Asked by MTV News who she is looking forward the most to work with in the Kenneth Branagh-helmed movie, Portman admitted, "Well I'm really excited. Kat Dennings is going to be in it with me and she's a good friend and an amazing actress, so I'm looking forward to that." Unfortunately, as of the press time, Paramount Pictures hasn't given any official confirmation about Dennings' involvement.

Kat Dennings started her acting career with her portrayal of Jenny Brier in famous TV series "Sex and the City". Since then, she has appeared in lots of movies, including "The 40 Year-Old Virgin", "Big Momma's House 2", "The House Bunny", "The Answer Man", and "Shorts". The 23-year-old can »

- celebrity-mania.com

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New Cast Member Revealed for Thor

23 November 2009 2:38 PM, PST | HeyUGuys.co.uk | See recent HeyUGuys news »

During a promotional interview with MTV for new film Brothers (directed by six-time Academy Award nominee Jim Sheridan) Natalie Portman revealed that Kat Dennings (Defendor, The 40 Year Old Virgin) will be joining her onscreen in Kenneth Branagh’s live-action adaptation of Marvel’s Thor. When asked about the upcoming production, Portman said:

“Well I’m really excited. Kat Dennings is going to be in it with me and she’s a good friend and an amazing actress, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Dennings is the fifth new cast member revealed to be joining Thor in the past six days along with Idris Elba, Tadanobu Asano, Ray Stevenson, and Stuart Townsend. Unlike the others however, the character she will play has not yet been announced.

If you are a Us based reader you can watch the interview over at MTV.

Thor is set to begin filming in January »

- Andrew Peters

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Hack/Slash Gets a New Screenwriter

18 November 2009 1:33 AM, PST | Reelzchannel.com | See recent ReelzChannel news »

The movie adaptation of the comic book Hack/Slash is getting one step closer to realization. Bloody-Disgusting reports that Rogue Pictures has signed screenwriter Stephen Susco (The Grudge, the upcoming The Butcherhouse Chronicles) to write the script.

Hack/Slash is a twist on the slasher movie genre. Created by writer Tim Seeley, the comic's heroine, Cassie Hack, is a horror victim survivor who decides to hunt down other slashers with her brooding and mysterious partner Vlad. Kat Dennings (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, the upcoming Defendor) has expressed interest in the role, though no casting decisions have been made.

Production on Hack/Slash was set to begin early next year, but with the addition of a new screenwriter, that start date may be pushed back. Swedish music video director Fredrik Bond has also taken over the directing duties from Todd Lincoln.

Next Showing:

Link | Posted 11/18/2009 by Ryan

Kat Dennings | Stephen Susco »

- Ryan Gowland

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Woody Harrelson Talks The Messenger, 2012, and Defendor

13 November 2009 2:41 AM, PST | Reelzchannel.com | See recent ReelzChannel news »

Woody Harrelson already scored a hit this year with Zombieland, but this weekend sees two more Harrelson movies open: 2012 and The Messenger. In 2012, Harrelson plays the conspiracy theorist and pirate radio host Charlie Frost, who is closer to Harrelson's own personality — a well-known environmental activist and a hemp-loving pacifist — than the role of Army casualty-notification officer Capt. Tony Stone in writer-director Oren Moverman 's The Messenger. Harrelson told THR that playing a soldier changed his view on them entirely.

The one thing that my whole ideology lacked was the compassion for the soldier, and now that's been taken care of. I have a great deal of respect for these people who go over there and risk their lives every day for very little money just because of the love for their country, so I've come to really revere the soldier. I feel like the movie is really a journey you take with your heart, »

- Ryan Gowland

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Defendor’s Poster Gives Us an Intense Woody

3 November 2009 3:00 PM, PST | WeAreMovieGeeks.com | See recent WeAreMovieGeeks.com news »

He’s so serious and mysterious, but Woody Harrelson looking off-camera in this new festival poster for Defendor, courtesy of Imp Awards, looks, plain and simple, like he’s about to kick some bad guy ass.  The film, which had its world premiere at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, is garnering some critical acclaim on the fest circuit.  I can’t, however, shake the feeling that its premise, that of an ordinary but delusional man who believes he is a superhero, sounds a bit like Special, which has been running around film festivals for the better part of three years, now.

Defendor is set to be released in Canada sometime later this year, so a Us release date may not be too far off.  Until then, we can just sit back and gleem at Harrelson’s intense look as he’s about to take down some bad guys.

»

- Kirk

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'Hack/Slash' Producers Say Casting Announcement Is Coming 'Pretty Soon'

20 October 2009 1:44 PM, PDT | MTV Splash Page | See recent MTV Splash Page news »

Not long ago, a little movie called "Eve" was announced with eerie similarities to "Hack/Slash," the Devil's Due Publishing series created by Tim Seeley. While some fans were worried that "Eve" would derail development on a "Hack/Slash" movie, Seeley and the "Eve" helmer reconciled their differences to keep "Hack/Slash" on track.

Now, it sounds like things are really on track for the comic book adaptation, as Collider recently had the opportunity to speak with "Hack/Slash" producers Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter at this weekend's 2009 Scream Awards.

While details are currently being kept under wraps, Alter reaffirmed that a director has been chosen for "Hack/Slash" with other announcements soon to follow.

"We have an exciting director, a new director named Fredrick Bond," said Alter. "It's going to start [production] early next year."

Last we'd heard, "Hack/Slash" was slated for a winter of 2009 start date, but a »

- Josh Wigler

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Woody Harrelson On 'Defendor' And His Comic Book History (Or Lack Thereof)

6 October 2009 11:08 AM, PDT | MTV Splash Page | See recent MTV Splash Page news »

In "Defendor," Woody Harrelson plays a crime-fighting hero who's a little off the beaten path—and possibly a few gadgets short of a utility belt. Last month, we brought you the news that the film—which stars Harrelson and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" actress Kat Dennings—had been picked up by Sony Pictures, so you might not have to leap tall buildings to find a theater showing it.

When we caught up with Harrelson at the Toronto International Film Festival, we had to ask him about the offbeat superhero tale, and whether he'd had any comic book history to draw from when playing main character Arthur Poppington.

"I'm always playing Arthur," said Harrelson when asked if he approached the film as if he was playing two roles, Arthur and his alter ego, Defendor. "[But] it's Arthur's sensibility of what a superhero is—his take on how a superhero would talk »

- Rick Marshall

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Kat Dennings for Hack/Slash ?

6 October 2009 | shocktillyoudrop.com | See recent shocktillyoudrop news »

There's nothing worse than "what if" articles. MTV thrives on 'em. Generating news from possible scenarios like "what if so-and-so played this character?" Or, "would so-and-so be up for a sequel?" Today, however, I'll play along with their antics. MTV sat down with actress Kat Dennings to discuss her latest turn in Defendor , starring Woody Harrelson. At the end of their chat with her, the topic of female comic book characters came up and Dennings revealed she was a fan of Cassie Hack from the Devil's Due book "Hack/Slash." Hack/Slash , a feature film, has been in development for a few years at Rogue Pictures with Fredrik Bond attached to direct. Dennings would make a perfect Hack, a misfit gal who slays slashers across the country »

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Kat Dennings Wants 'Hack/Slash' Movie, Makes Pitch For Comic Book Movie Role

5 October 2009 12:31 PM, PDT | MTV Splash Page | See recent MTV Splash Page news »

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" actress Kat Dennings isn't the first name you'd associate with comic book movies, but when we had the chance to sit down with her during the Toronto International Film Festival, she was quick to name-drop an adaptation she'd like to bring to the big screen.

In town to discuss her upcoming, pseudo-superhero movie "Defendor" with Woody Harrelson, Dennings called out action-horror series "Hack/Slash" when asked if there were any books she'd like to play a role in adapting.

"You know who's a cool girl comic book thing?" said Dennings. "Hack/Slash!"

Last we heard from the "Hack/Slash" front, commercial director Fredrik Bond had taken over directing duties on the film, replacing Todd Lincoln. The Devil's Due Publishing series is currently in development with Rogue Pictures, the Relativity Media subsidiary responsible for "Shaun of the Dead" and "Doomsday."

"Hack/Slash" stars Cassie Hack, a »

- Rick Marshall

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Fantastic Fest: And the Hits Keep Coming...

2 October 2009 7:33 AM, PDT | ifc.com | See recent IFC news »

"'Ninja Assassin 2' will be in 3D with Sprayarama," director James McTeigue joked before the premiere of the first and so far only "Ninja Assassin" at the Alamo Drafthouse on Tuesday. And there were copious amounts of blood sputtered in the film that followed, a gory but too often creatively bloodless affair that stars Korean pop star Rain as Raizo, a warrior trained from birth in the ninja way before turning against his clan after the death of a female colleague.

How you'll feel about "Ninja Assassin" will depend on your inherent interest in the masked men (and in this equal opportunity film, women) -- throwing stars and bone-crushing punches can atone for cheesy dialogue, but McTeigue makes the curious decision to shoot most of the action in the dark, and the performances are half-hearted. (While a physical marvel, Rain is hamstrung by having to speak in English, though »

- Stephen Saito

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Director Already Planning 'Defendor' Sequel

27 September 2009 7:19 PM, PDT | GetTheBigPicture.net | See recent Get The Big Picture news »

The Woody Harrelson civilian superhero movie, Defendor, fared very well this month at the Toronto Film Festival, and was picked up shortly thereafter by Sony for a yet-to-be-announced Us release. Now, The Nightly Gamer reports a sequel is already being planned.

There's a lot of that going around these days, where movies with smaller budgets like The Hangover and Kick-Ass start building buzz for part two before the first film is even released. But director Peter Stebbings seems to have a sequel well in mind already, and he discussed the possibility of keeping the story going at Cinefest in Sudbury, Ontario. »

- Colin Boyd

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