Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- 'Gone Girl' Is One 'Nasty Film,' Says Composer Trent Reznor
- Neil Patrick Harris Turned Down 'The Late Show' to Do Something So Much Better
- 'Pitch Perfect 2' Cast Assembles in Full Barden Bellas Glory (PHOTO)
- Viggo Mortensen Doesn't Really Care for the Last Two 'Lord of the Rings' Movies
- First Look: 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' Photos Revealed, More on Philip Seymour Hoffman's Role
- 'Godzilla' Review: 10 Things You Should Know About the (New) King of the Monsters
- Julianne Moore Teases President Coin and 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' (VIDEO)
- Lake Bell Steps Up To Bat In Her Disney Debut Of 'Million Dollar Arm'
- TV #TBT: Watch 'Big Bang Theory' Stars' Adorable Childhood Acting Gigs (VIDEO)
- Bill Paxton and Alan Arkin Discuss Baseball, Sc-Fi, 'Twister,' and Workplace Etiquette
- 'Blade Runner' Sequel Producers Find Oddly Effective Way to Cast Harrison Ford
- 15 Must-Watch Performances From 'Nashville' Season 2 (VIDEO)
- Weekend Movies & TV: 'Godzilla,' 'Million Dollar Arm,' 'Bachelorette,' & More (VIDEO)
- The First Teaser for Disney's 'Cinderella' Puts a New Spin on the Glass Slipper (VIDEO)
- The New 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' Trailer Wipes Out Mankind (VIDEO)
- Disaster Movie Mistakes: 11 Earth-Shattering Goofs (PHOTOS)
| 'Gone Girl' Is One 'Nasty Film,' Says Composer Trent Reznor Posted:  Trent Reznor is no stranger to darkness, having fronted heavy metal band Nine Inch Nails for more than two decades. But even he admits that David Fincher's upcoming adaptation of "Gone Girl" is pretty bleak.In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the rocker-turned-Oscar-winning-composer discusses his ongoing partnership with Fincher, with whom he collaborated on "The Social Network," "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," and now, "Gone Girl." Reznor is currently putting the finishing touches on the latter film's score, he told EW, which he's rushing to complete ahead of the film's debut this fall. Reznor said that the process this time around with songwriting partner Atticus Ross is roughly the same as on their previous two films with Fincher, where the pair sit down with the director and let him explain his vision for the feature and the score's role in it. It's been a positive experience, Reznor said, though he noted that the movie probably wouldn't appeal to the faint of heart. "This film has been really fun to work on. It's been an interesting challenge with some different parameters, and it keeps us on our toes. That's what makes it good," he told EW. "It's a much darker film than I was expecting. The book is not exactly uplifting or happy, but it's a nasty film." Color us intrigued (and nervous). "Gone Girl" opens on October 3. [via Entertainment Weekly, h/t The Playlist] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Neil Patrick Harris Turned Down 'The Late Show' to Do Something So Much Better Posted:  Stephen Colbert had some tough competition for David Letterman's job: Neil Patrick Harris just revealed that he was also in the running for the "Late Show" hosting gig -- and turned it down.Speaking to Howard Stern, Harris said that CBS brass Les Moonves and Nina Tassler brought him in for a meeting to gauge his interest in succeeding Letterman once he retires at the end of the year. Harris, fresh off a nine-season run on CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," said that he felt "very good" about being offered the plum late night spot (he was also reportedly offered Craig Ferguson's soon-to-be-vacated "Late Late Show" chair, too), but ultimately decided that it wasn't the right fit. "In that instance, I felt like I knew what my skill sets were and I kind of knew what it is that I wanted to do after ['How I Met Your Mother'] with [Moonves], so I was surprised he pitched me that idea," Harris told Stern. "I told him the things that concerned me about the longevity of that kind of gig, that I think I would get bored of the repetition, fast, and that the structure of it is so set, that I don't have any interest in doing monologue, commercial, sketch, guest, guest, musical act, goodnight." Instead, Harris said he pitched Moonves a different idea, one that he thinks would be the best use of his talents. "I like this weekly variety show," the actor said. "A weekly thing, you'd have more time to prep for stuff, you could do pre-taped stuff that would be really exciting, you could flesh it out a little bit more, have more acts and not just do nightly." Though Harris said CBS "still might be" interested in pursuing that series, nothing is set in stone. Still, if any format would suit the multi-hyphenate star, variety seems like the natural choice. Our fingers are crossed CBS comes to its senses and greenlights that project ASAP. [via Us Weekly] Photo by Jason DeCrow/Invision for Financier Patisserie/AP Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Pitch Perfect 2' Cast Assembles in Full Barden Bellas Glory (PHOTO) Posted:  Thank you, Rebel Wilson, for making our Thursday so much better.The "Pitch Perfect 2" star tweeted a photo of the Barden Bellas -- complete with newcomer Hailee Steinfeld and director Elizabeth Banks -- clad in blue Bellas jackets and obviously having way too much fun on the set. And by now, you've got Anna Kendrick's rendition of "Cups" stuck in your head. Sorry about that.Filming of the "Pitch Perfect" sequel is currently underway, and movie's slated for a May 15, 2015 release date. Wait, that's one year from today! Let the countdown begin. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Viggo Mortensen Doesn't Really Care for the Last Two 'Lord of the Rings' Movies Posted:  If you thought the second and third installments in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" series -- "The Two Towers" and "Return of the King" -- were a little too CGI-ed, you're not alone: Star Viggo Mortensen thinks so, too.Mortensen revealed his distaste for the latter two films in the blockbuster trilogy in an interview with The Telegraph, where he discussed the chaos surrounding the filming of the movies, and the uncertainty over whether or not the final two films would even get a theatrical release. According to the actor, Jackson had blown through his budget making the first film, "The Fellowship of the Ring," and it wasn't until that movie went on to score big at the box office that the other two were officially greenlit for the multiplex, and earmarked for extra cash to finish their effects. "Fellowship" is Mortensen's favorite of the trio, he said, because it was less polished and more coherent than its follow-ups, something he attributes to copious reshoots and bloated special effects getting in the way of the latter films' stories. "It was very confusing, we were going at such a pace, and they had so many units shooting, it was really insane. But it's true that the first script was better organized," Mortensen told The Telegraph. He continued: Mortensen went on to question Jackson's continued use of special effects on such a grand scale, citing his big-budgeted adaptation of "The Lovely Bones" as another example of CGI playing too big of a role in the film. "That should have been a $15 million movie," the actor said. "The special effects thing, the genie, was out of the bottle, and it has him. And he's happy, I think." Indeed, Jackson is no doubt content with the fortune that "Lord of the Rings" brought him, though we wonder if he would agree with Mortensen's assessment that perhaps the story could have been better serviced. Then again, it's probably hard to hear when you're swimming Scrooge McDuck-style through piles of cash. [via: The Telegraph, h/t Cinema Blend] Photo by Steve Babineau/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted:  In the weeks and months following the sudden death of Philip Seymour Hoffman earlier this year, there was some confusion over how his role in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" would be completed. Now, director Francis Lawrence has clarified earlier reports that Hoffman's part will be re-created with CGI, and discussed just what filmmakers are planning to do in the actor's absence.During a roundtable discussion posted on the "Hunger Games" viral website, Lawrence noted that contrary to popular belief, the only version of Hoffman that would appear in "Mockingjay -- Part 1" and "Mockingjay -- Part 2" would be from existing footage -- not something conjured on a computer screen. "We finished the majority of his work," Lawrence said of Hoffman before his death on February 2. "I think he might have had eight to 10 days left on our schedule. In most of those scenes, Phil didn't have any dialogue. We are going to put him into those scenes, but we're only using real footage. We're not creating anything digital or a robotic version of him." As for what the footage of Hoffman reveals, Lawrence said the actor's interpretation of his character shines. "This is the movie where Phil shows us who Plutarch really is, and he is great in this movie, hitting on Plutarch's sense of humor and his political maneuvering," the director said. Producer Nina Jacobson, who also participated in the roundtable, added that filmmakers won't attempt to recreate Hoffman's voice, either, instead allowing other actors to pick up his remaining dialogue. "We might give a line of Plutarch's to Haymitch or Effie, but only in circumstances that we are able to do that without undermining the intent of the scene," Jacobson said. That solution dovetails perfectly with Effie's expanded role in the "Mockingjay" films. According to Lawrence, author Suzanne Collins was so impressed with actress Elizabeth Banks's performance in "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire" that she specifically requested more of Effie in the two-part finale of the series. (Effie doesn't appear much in the third book of the trilogy.) Those revelations coincide with Lionsgate's release of the first official images from the film, which show characters new (President Coin, played by Julianne Moore) and old (Plutarch; Beetee, played by Jeffrey Wright; Haymitch, played by Woody Harrelson). Coin's appearance is especially striking, and lines up perfectly with her description in the book. We're excited to see Moore's interpretation of the character, a ruthless political leader with an enigmatic facade. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1" hits theaters on November 21. "Part 2" is due out on November 20, 2015. [via:The Hunger Games Exclusive, h/t Screen Crush] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Godzilla' Review: 10 Things You Should Know About the (New) King of the Monsters Posted:  This weekend, the King of the Monsters roars back to theaters nationwide. That's right: Godzilla has returned.Considering the last time he crashed into American movie theaters was for the spotty 1998 remake (more on that in a minute), it's with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that this new Godzilla is met. Still, where there are buildings to topple, there will be Godzilla. This new "Godzilla" is a contemporary tale that follows a disparate group of characters, including Bryan Cranston's nuclear scientist-turned-conspiracy theorist, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's young infantryman, Elizabeth Olsen's nurse, and Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins, who work for a shady government agency, as they deal with the fallout of Godzilla's return to civilization. That's right: return. But is this something you should rush out and see or is sitting through this movie worse than getting doused with radioactivity (or crushed to death by falling rubble)? Read on to find out. 1. It's Nothing Like the 1998 'Godzilla' 1998's "Godzilla," shepherded by the then-unstoppable team of producer Dean Devlin and director Roland Emmerich, left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. So much so that studio TriStar didn't even capitalize on the fact that it held the rights to one of the most recognized movie characters in the history of the medium. (Instead of making proper sequels, it produced a shoddily animated television series, all of which is streaming on Netflix currently.) That movie was clunky and overwrought; thankfully, this new "Godzilla" is nothing like that 1998 monstrosity. In many ways, it seems like it is deliberately addressing the earlier film and trying to retroactively fix not just the franchise but the monster (gone is that ridiculous sea iguana design). Godzilla's got a brand new bag. 2. There's Not s Lot of Godzilla in 'Godzilla' Director Gareth Edwards's first film was called "Monsters," and it was a movie that was almost entirely free of monsters. He seems to have implemented a similar philosophy with "Godzilla," although the results are much more satisfying (truthfully, I wanted to punch someone in the face after seeing "Monsters"). Instead of withholding, Edwards is coming from the Steven Spielberg school of teasing the audience with brief flashes (a foot here, a tail there) and saving the giant monster melee that we've all paid our $16.50 for until the third act, when things get really crazy. 3. It's Actually Scary Tying in with Edwards's philosophy is his ability to wring actual suspense and scariness from the monsters, something that the 1998 film didn't even attempt (and, really, the original series only periodically engaged with). 4. There Are Other Monsters Besides Godzilla We can't say anything else, besides the fact that they're given the nifty acronym/codename M.U.T.O.s (which stands for massive unidentified terrestrial organism, don'tchaknow) and they are nasty buggers. One more thing: They aren't based on any preexisting Godzilla foes, although there are some design references that you might find familiar... 5. It Looks Gorgeous The movie was shot by Seamus McGarvey, who photographed such sumptuous cinematic experiences as "The Hours," "Atonement," "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and, um, "Along Came Polly." Anyway, this is his follow-up to 2012's "Anna Karenina," one of the more beautiful movies in recent memory. Edwards and McGarvey capture the action mostly through long, fluid takes that emphasize geographic orientation over frantic action, mimicking the pacing and staging of action auteurs like John McTiernan. It's so lovely to watch, and it does a lot to bring you into the world of "Godzilla" in a full and complete way; it's really stunning. 6. The Score Is Great When you think of Godzilla, you probably think of the piece of music written by Akira Ifukube, which was originally intended for use alongside the Japanese Self Defense force that was featured in the movie, but quickly became more closely associated with the giant radioactive monster. (It was used in subsequent films to signal the monster's arrival.) That piece of music is NOT in this "Godzilla," nor are any of the awful of-the-moment pop songs from the 1998 film's soundtrack (remember Puff Daddy's contribution?) Instead, there's an amazing score by Alexandre Desplat, a composer known for his highbrow collaborations with Jonathan Glazer, Wes Anderson, and David Fincher. Godzilla has a new theme, and it's almost as great. 7. Godzilla Junior Isn't in It What? Like you weren't wondering that. 8. It's Actually Pretty Emotional, and in Ways You Wouldn't Expect One of the biggest accomplishments of "Godzilla" is that, even though the story meanders and can be kind of silly, it has a clear emotional through-line. Not only is the familial drama skillfully etched, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson's military father using his deployment as a way of dodging his responsibilities to his wife and child (although, who would ever want to leave Elizabeth Olsen behind?), but also in the development of the bond that he and his father finally form, so late in life, years after tragedy ripped their family apart. But the more unexpected emotional undercurrent of the movie comes when the audience starts to root for, and then finally love, Godzilla. The less said the better, but I was not expecting to have my heart tugged by a big giant lizard. 9. IMAX 3D Is a Must With This One This is a big, spectacular movie that should probably be seen in the biggest, most spectacular way and, like last year's monster mash "Pacific Rim," is benefitted greatly by the IMAX 3D presentation. So, yes, it's worth the extra couple of bucks for IMAX and the couple bucks on top of that for 3D. Because it really needs to be seen on a screen where you can drink in the larger-than-life details and the sound design deserves IMAX's high caliber presentation as well. Trust me. 10. 'Godzilla 2' Can't Come Quickly Enough Considering it takes almost the whole movie to get a look at the new, beautifully redesigned Godzilla, it makes you ready for another monster mash almost immediately. Hopefully this movie is a big hit and Legendary and Warner Bros. have the good sense to retain the creative talents of Gareth Edwards and his leads Taylor-Johnson and Olsen. There are plenty of monsters left to brawl with... "Godzilla" opens everywhere Friday, May 16. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Julianne Moore Teases President Coin and 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' (VIDEO) Posted:  A new featurette about "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" contains a revealing interview with star Julianne Moore, who's joining the ensemble as President Coin for the last two chapters in the blockbuster film series.In the clip, Moore discusses her love of the source material books, citing their political nature and how they challenge readers (and now viewers) about their own role in real life political systems. The actress also brought up the series' underlying theme of hope, and how it's a crucial aspect of the characters' lives. As for subjects dealing with "Mockingjay" specifically, Moore delved into her interpretation of District 13, the once assumed destroyed district of Panem that's revealed to have survived destruction by the Capitol at the end of "Catching Fire." The people of the district, which Moore's character leads, "have managed to kind of eke out a living" in the underground city, Moore said, though they're malnourished and discontented. "It's not a place where there's a lot of light, there's not a lot of laughter, there's not a lot of fun," the actress said. "It's people just barely getting by." Speaking of Coin, Moore said that when she read Suzanne Collins's books, she knew she wanted to play the character, who she described as "sparingly drawn ... because she's only spoken about from Katniss's point of view, and Katniss immediately distrusts her in the way that sometimes a younger person will distrust an older person who's not familiar to them or is in a position of authority." "[Director] Francis [Lawrence] and I talked about that a lot, about, 'Well, how do we communicate Coin's wholeness as a person?'" Moore continued. "I think Katniss's response to her is very well-drawn, but we don't know who Coin is." For much more from Moore -- including her thoughts on co-star Jennifer Lawrence, who she describes as "a great girl and very funny," and the scene in the movie she thinks is most revealing about President Coin -- check out the entire interview. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1" hits theaters on November 21. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Lake Bell Steps Up To Bat In Her Disney Debut Of 'Million Dollar Arm' Posted:  "Million Dollar Arm" is one of those feel-good, high concept live-action, family-friendly dramas Disney used to churn out with regularity. Telling the true-life story of a sports agent down on his luck who turns to India to try and find the next great baseball player from a land obsessed with cricket, "MDA" is an audience-friendly romp through the travails of balancing work with spiritual fulfilment, all while adding a bit of spice from the Indian subcontinent.Jon Hamm plays J.B., the agent who goes on this quest, and his pool-house tenant Brenda is played by the lovely Lake Bell. A comedic actress unafraid to bare both her soul and plenty of flesh on a slew of recent magazine features, she's a welcome component to the film's narrative, providing both grounding for the characters and also a bit of wit and charm that's infectious. Bell has been busy of late with loads of film and television work, including her recent writing/directing bow with the fabulous "In A World", a love letter to those trailer voices that promise us the upcoming film in question may be the best thing in the history of ever. Moviefone Canada spoke with an open and talkative Bell by phone as she was being whisked to the airport. What specifically drew you to the project? I've never been in a family film! Starting out that was super appealing. The amalgamation of cool, creative people that were involved with this particular project was also enticing. Jon [Hamm] and I have been friends for many years and we wanted to make something together. Then [there was] Tom McCarthy writing the script - I'm a huge fan of his, and my ears were perked. To have Craig Gillespie ["Lars and the Real Girl"] of all people to direct it is such a creative choice and I loved the cocktail that was this film package. My character, Brenda, she's a force and even though she's a supporting role, she's very much present and integral to J.B.'s spiritual journey. That makes her a really refreshing depiction of a female character in these kinds of films. You must now be getting a tonne of these scripts - what set this one apart? It's a testament to Tom McCarthy and how he structured this character. It could have been far more peripheral, on the side lines, and he decided to give those characters, all of the characters that helped inform J.B.'s past real weight. With Brenda, she has been called by her husband "a bad ass". She is strong and direct and is not afraid to say "hey, you're being a real jerk" when the protagonist is in fact being a jerk, which is nice to see a female character. Usually the female character would be stereotypically doting. As a writer yourself, when you're looking at a script by somebody like McCarthy, are you seeing little "writer-ly" things and being pumped by a clever way of structuring the story? Absolutely. In a way, I think the more you write, the more you're appreciative of the writing, you see things and you think, oh, that's an interesting way to solve that problem or help that storyline. In the same way, did you find yourself learning from different temperament of performance from the Indian characters in the film? Those guys are tremendous, and I was in awe of how effortlessly they could access emotion so quickly and then in the same breath be acutely aware of what's comedic about the scene. Is it substantially different to capture a character based on someone still very much alive versus one that's completely fictional? It's looser when you're depicting a story, a true story, vs. a depiction of someone iconic, if that makes sense. These are real people, the story is known, and you want to adhere to that and be true and honest and representative of what happened, what the message is and the thematics involved with the story. That doesn't mean that we're all mimicking or transforming into the very people that make up the story. Do you have a passion for sports? That's outside my normal comfort zone. I don't have anything against sport, but I know diddly about i. I think that makes me all the more appreciative and moved by this story, because often I was wondering to myself why I love sport films so much but I don't like watching live sports necessarily. I think it boils down to that undeniable raw talent that a successful athlete exudes when he or she is doing their thing. There's something infectious about getting behind someone who would use their human machine in a way that has confronted all obstacles and persevered. Well, what is something you get excited about? Movies. 100%. I'm a movie fanatic. I geek out to [everything] from classics to films that I see today, [all of them] make me excited and inspired. I just served as a jury member for the Tribeca film festival and that was movies 24/7 and that was a dream job! You have a film that you love that some people should check out? "Fireman's Ball", Milos Foreman's first film. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| TV #TBT: Watch 'Big Bang Theory' Stars' Adorable Childhood Acting Gigs (VIDEO) Posted:  In honor of tonight's "The Big Bang Theory" season finale, let's throw it back to the '90s and revisit the early work of its now-famous cast. Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco now star on one of the biggest sit-coms ever, but before they became Penny and Leonard, they landed some TV guest spots as kids that will live forever in the land of re-runs and the internet. Young Kaley can be found in an episode of "Northern Exposure," the Alaska-based early '90s series starring Rob Morrow and John Corbett. Isn't she just the cutest little thing? And, in 1991, Johnny made an appearance on coming-of-age sit-com "Blossom," a show that happened to star another "Big Bang" actress, Miyam Bialik. Two throwbacks for the price of one! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bill Paxton and Alan Arkin Discuss Baseball, Sc-Fi, 'Twister,' and Workplace Etiquette Posted:  Talking to two people on the phone is always weird, but it's even weirder when the two people you're talking to are both very, very silly. This is what happened when I got on the phone to chat with two of the stars of Disney's terrific new sports movie "Million Dollar Arm": Bill Paxton and Alan Arkin.In the film, Jon Hamm's sports agent concocts a seemingly ludicrous plan to drum up interest -- he travels to India to recruit two young, nonprofessional cricket players to compete in a pitching contest worth a million dollars and a professional baseball contract. The kids, of course, have no idea what American baseball is or, for that matter, what America is, but he tries just the same. Paxton plays Tom House, a USC coach who agrees to help train the boys, and Alan Arkin plays Ray Poitevint, a scout who accompanies Hamm on his journey to India. The two actors maybe share a scene or two together, but based on their banter, someone should be developing a trilogy of films where the two play curmudgeonly detectives solving a string of unsolvable murders. When I first got on the phone with them, Arkin was screaming, "Bill, let go of me, let go of me!" To which Paxton calmly replied, "Never." Still, we tried to have a conversation -- about what brought them to the project, what they're still dying to do in their careers, and whether or not they're real life sports fans. Please keep in mind that this interview is totally bonkers, hilarious, and very much worth reading. What initially brought you to the project? Alan Arkin: My agent... Money... Bill Paxton: Listen, when I read this script I thought, well, I love a human-interest stories that are character-driven. Arkin: Aren't most movies human-interest stories? Paxton: They should be, they should be. Arkin: What else is there besides human-interest stories? Paxton: There's nothing else. Arkin: Then what the hell are you talking about? Paxton: I don't know. But I got to the speech where the character who wants to be a coach and comes over as an interpreter for the two boys, and the Jon Hamm character sends him out to the mound to give a pep talk. And when I read that speech I thought, I want to do this movie. So, Alan, you just needed a check? Arkin: [Joking] No, that was Bill who said that. It was an incredibly crass thing to say. And it was not me... I didn't say that. No, I thought the script was very moving, and I love being connected with things that are based on true stories. I was very, very moved by the way the Indians were treated. They were brought to life with great humor and great respect. I was going to ask you what it was like to play characters based on real people. Bill, I know Tom House is a real guy, and Alan, your character was a composite character -- but did you try to reach out and talk to your real-life counterparts? Paxton: Absolutely. Arkin: When I play a composite character, which I also did in "Argo," I try to meet every person that it was based on and then try to do 15 to 20 per cent on each one of them. Is that true? Arkin: No. If I'm playing a real person that nobody's ever heard of or knows, except maybe their wife or their parents or their kids, then I feel like I have free reign to do whatever I want. I just play an old curmudgeonly guy with a heart of gold. Which is rare for you. Arkin: Yes, it's very rare. What about you, Bill? Paxton: I was cast very late. Alan and these guys were already in India and I spoke to [director] Craig Gillespie briefly on a transcontinental call. They set up a day when I went to USC and I got there very early in the morning and spent about a day with him and watched him teaching these young pitchers, and these are guys who are just out of high school or college. And I guess there's an archetype that comes to mind when you think of a baseball pitching coach but he wasn't any of those things. I thought, Gee, I wish I could spend more time with him. I told him so and he said, "You just be you and you'll be a perfect me." Were you both big baseball fans? Arkin: No. I was a stoopball fan. I played stoopball all the time. Paxton: I remember going to baseball games with my dad out to Turnpike Stadium to watch the Texas Rangers before they became a major league team. But the earliest baseball memory I have is a Victorian baseball park, I think it was called The Grey Field, that was on the north side, near the packing houses of Fort Worth. And I remember a really early memory of going to that ballpark, and it looked like an old wooden thing like a Charles Addams thing, and that made a great impression on me. But as an adult I haven't followed it, although I like to go to a Dodgers game here and again. What about cricket? Arkin: I did a film in Australia once and somebody spent about three days trying to explain cricket to me and I never did get a hint of what it was. Paxton: I have a similar experience. My wife is British and I would fly over to England when we were dating and stay at her folks' house. And late at night, all that was on was darts, World War II documentaries about how they took on the Nazis, and then they'd be replaying cricket matches. And they all worked better than Nytol, I've got to say. You've both been in a billion movies each. Bill, can you tell me what your favorite movie of Alan's is and Alan can you tell me what your favorite movie or performance of Bill's is? Paxton: Now you're really putting us on the spot! Arkin: Hands down, my favorite performance of Bill's was in "The Godfather." Paxton: Thank you. I've been watched Alan my whole life and I've been so entertained by him. But "Catch-22..." Arkin: Don't say it. I'm leaving the room. Paxton: "Freebie and the Bean" is one of my favorites... Arkin: Oh, Jesus Christ. Paxton: It's a classic! I'm telling you! These are the movies that inspired me to want to come out here. Arkin: "Twister." I really liked "Twister." Paxton: Horrible! Arkin: But you're terrific in it! When the cow was swirling around! Paxton: The cow?! Oh gosh. Bill, you're in another big, exciting summer movie. What can you tell us about "Edge of Tomorrow"? Paxton: It's all those things and more. Arkin: What are you in? Paxton: "Edge of Tomorrow." Arkin: What is it? Paxton: It's a Doug Liman/Tom Cruise/Emily Blunt movie. Arkin: Oh, right. It's science fiction. How is it? Paxton: It's great. Arkin: Have you seen it? Paxton: No. Arkin: They didn't invite you to see it? Paxton: They never do. Arkin: When does it open? Paxton: It opens June 6th. Arkin: Oh, I'll be there. Paxton: I got to play a drill sergeant from Kentucky, who believes that a man, no matter how low he's sunk in life, can be redeemed and brought back to life on the battlefield. Tom Cruise gets thrown into my platoon and I have orders that say he's impersonated an officer and is a deserter and a coward, and instead of being down on him, I'm like, "Boy, you're in the right place. I'm going to teach you something." It's a pretty fun movie because it's got this situation where he keeps getting killed in this initial battle and he wakes up and it's happening again. Arkin: Oh, it's like that movie with Jake Gyllenhaal that he did two years ago. Paxton: I didn't see that one. Arkin: It's wonderful. What's it called? It's called "Source Code." Paxton: I've heard that's good. Arkin: Yeah, I've seen that a couple of times. Paxton: It was fun for us actors, working with Tom, as he keeps repeating the cycle he starts anticipating what we're going to say and do... Arkin: That's exactly what happens with Jake Gyllenhaal... Paxton: So it's a very reactive role... Arkin: That's the SAME THING THAT JAKE GYLLENHAAL DID TWO YEARS AGO. Paxton: But this one has aliens though. It's an alien invasion. Arkin: That'll be good. Are they good guys or bad guys? Paxton: They've taken Europe like the Nazis. Arkin: Oooooh, the aliens are bad guys? That's a novel approach. That's an interesting twist. Paxton: Let's move on. Is there anything either of you are still dying to do? Arkin: I'd like to reprise my role in "The Godfather." Paxton: I think we just need the action. We like the craft, we like the work, we like to be busy and using our minds and it's always challenging. Each role has to be custom made. I like doing the research. I'm researching Sam Huston right now for a project and I'm learning so much about the guy. Arkin: My favorite thing about making movies is that it's the only area of human life that I've ever discovered where I can walk away from somebody in the middle of a conversation with somebody and they won't be offended. Is that what you want to do right now? Paxton: Come back Alan! Come back! Arkin: You can only do it on a movie set. On a movie set, everybody knows that even though you're standing around looking out into space, you're really working. So if somebody comes up to you and starts talking about the ball game last night, you can just walk away from the conversation and not even say excuse me and someone will say, "Yeah, he's got a lot on his mind." If someone bores the hell out of you, you don't even have to say anything about it. Paxton: [laughing hysterically] Oh god... Are there any filmmakers you'd like to work with? Paxton: I want to re-team with Alan Arkin. I'd like to do an unrequited love story with him. Arkin: Between the two of us? We're getting into dangerous territory. Paxton: It could be a familial thing. It could be anything. Arkin: Which one of us is unrequited? Paxton: I came across a piece years ago, it was a great piece called "Final Rounds" and it's about a father and a son and they grew up in the Carolinas and the father would always take him out on the public course and give him his philosophy on life. So the son nicknamed him Uppty the Mystic. Arkin: Uppty the Mystic? Paxton: So he gets a call and decides it's high time he and his dad take this trip together, and they've always talked about going to England and Scotland, playing the old courses. And the movie would be those two weeks of them together, going back. It's just a great, great piece. I've always thought it'd make a great movie. Arkin: As long as I don't have to play golf. I can't even pretend to play golf. Paxton: It's okay. It's okay. We can double you for all that. I made a golf film. Hell, I made Shia LeBeouf look like a great golfer. You've both transitioned between television and film -- is that something you see yourselves continuing? And how was your arc on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."? Arkin: Arc on "S.H.I.E.L.D."? Paxton: I did six episodes of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Arkin: Was that you? Paxton: Wait a minute... You're the clairvoyant. You know, there was a time, years ago, I had a great agent named Hildy Gottlieb... Arkin: She's my agent now. Paxton: Oh, my gosh. Arkin: Is she your agent? Paxton: She was my agent for about 8 years and then she married Walter Hill and decided to get out of the business for a while. Arkin: Now she's back in! She's one of the best! Paxton: I know she is. But she said to me early on, "What kind of career do you want?" And I said, "I want to do features." And she said, "Well you're going to be out of work a lot." So I just went up for features and I was out of work a lot. But eventually I started to get credits and that became my thing. There used to be a stigma attached to television. If you wanted to be a feature actor then you tried to stay out of television. Because it was hard, if you were in television, to make the transition to features... Arkin: That's not true anymore. There are a lot more exciting things happening on television. Paxton: So yes, I just watched this thing "True Detective," which I thought was great, "Downton Abbey," "Breaking Bad," and it's a whole new world. An actor can easily traverse both and it's great work. As Michael Caine said, "It's all work, mate." [Then they do their own Michael Caine impressions until I hang up the phone.] "Million Dollar Arm" opens on Friday, May 16. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Blade Runner' Sequel Producers Find Oddly Effective Way to Cast Harrison Ford Posted:  "Alien" isn't the only sci-fi masterpiece that director Ridley Scott is looking to revisit. For the past few years, there's been nearly endless talk about a proposed follow-up to his dystopian game-changer "Blade Runner." But what's never been clear is whether or not Harrison Ford, who starred as futuristic gumshoe (and possible robot-in-disguise) Rick Deckard, would return for another rainy go-around. Well, while Ford has yet to sign on, the producers really want him to and they've made their intentions known via a press release (courtesy of Entertainment Weekly). Keep in mind that Ford hasn't said yes, or even been offered the role yet. The press release is just letting everyone know that they intend on asking him back and really want him to be a part of the project (co-written by original screenwriter Hampton Fancher and Michael Green). "We believe that Hampton Fancher and Michael Green have crafted with Ridley Scott an extraordinary sequel to one of the greatest films of all time. We would be honored, and we are hopeful, that Harrison will be part of our project," read the statement from Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson, co-founders and CEOs of Alcon Entertainment, who are behind the new production. As Entertainment Weekly theorizes, this is probably a move to make sure that public groundswell will rally around the 71-year-old actor returning to the franchise. Of course, even though this is an unorthodox approach (it's the really expensive, public version of going, "Hey, we tried"), there is a chance that Ford will be back. After all, he just signed on to return to a galaxy far, far away... Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 15 Must-Watch Performances From 'Nashville' Season 2 (VIDEO) Posted:  Ah, "Nashville." How you tug at the strings of the acoustic guitar and the strings of our hearts. The roller coaster ride of industry intrigue, love triangles, and country twang came to a close for Season 2 last night, and this finale was not without the drama. (SPOILERS AHEAD!) Let's see. Rayna got a ring (or two), Will let his secret out, Juliette faced the aftermath of cheating on Avery, and Gunnar and Scarlett finally had an intimate moment that lead to a memorable duet. In fact, there were a lot of memorable songs this past season. And what better time than the morning after its second finale to relive the musical magic? Here, we count down the 15 best songs from Season 2 of "Nashville." Do you agree with our list? We repeat, there are spoilers coming. Image courtesy of ABC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Weekend Movies & TV: 'Godzilla,' 'Million Dollar Arm,' 'Bachelorette,' & More (VIDEO) Posted:  This weekend, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Taylor-Johnson face off against radioactive monsters in the reboot of "Godzilla," Jon Hamm desperately tries to transform Indian cricket players into baseball stars in "Million Dollar Arm," Spike Jonze's Oscar-winning "Her" arrives on DVD, and the 10th season of "The Bachelorette," with Andi Dorfman, kicks off Monday on ABC. Also in theaters this weekend:
Also on TV this weekend:
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The First Teaser for Disney's 'Cinderella' Puts a New Spin on the Glass Slipper (VIDEO) Posted:  There are teasers and then there are teasers. The first look at Disney's new live action "Cinderella" is definitely the latter. With no actual footage from the film (and without a title card, even), the bold, minute-long spot is heavy on magical atmosphere and light on specifics. Still, it does the job. If you're not excited about this re-imagined fairy tale, opening next spring, then you probably haven't communed with your inner child in a very, very long time. The spot features a nearly abstract image: swirling, glittery shapes (to borrow a phrase from another recent Disney classic, "swirling fractals all around") that actually takes a few seconds, even for the biggest Disney nerd, to figure out what you're looking at. Then it suddenly snaps into focus: it's a rotating angle on a glass slipper; the glass slipper. At the very end of the teaser, a gilded butterfly drifts down and settles on the toe of the slipper. The title of the movie and a mention of the starry cast don't even appear at the end of the teaser, just "Disney" and "March 2015." This approach, which is both elliptical and alluring, is pretty gutsy, especially considering the cast, which includes "Downton Abbey"'s Lily James as Cinderella, "Game of Thrones'" Richard Madden as Prince Charming, Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother, and Cate Blanchett as the Wicked Stepmother Lady Tremaine (Stellan Skarsgard, Derek Jacobi, and Hayley Atwell also star). The clip could have been a minute-long shot of Blanchett cackling (assuming she actually, you know, cackles), but instead Disney and their marketing teams chose something more restrained and refined and, in the long run, probably more memorable. Expect this teaser to play like gangbusters to everyone that shows up to Disney's "Maleficent," starring Angelina Jolie as the titular sorceress, when that opens on May 30th. And there will be more looks into the world of "Cinderella," as directed by "Thor's" Kenneth Branagh, before the movie's March 13th, 2015 release date. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The New 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' Trailer Wipes Out Mankind (VIDEO) Posted:  It seems like we've been hearing for ages about how Michael Bay's fourth entry in the phenomenally popular "Transformers" franchise, "Transformers: Age of Extinction," would be even more insane and epic than previous installments in the series, but we never quite saw that in the early trailers and TV spots.Sure, we saw Mark Wahlberg, who adds his own kind of oversized magnitude to any project, but the visuals weren't on the scale that we've come to depend on from a franchise where, at some point during the second movie, a giant Transformer, made up of other, slightly smaller Transformers, ate one of the great pyramids of Egypt. So, it is with great relief, that we can safely report that the new trailer for "Transformers: Age of Extinction" brings it. Big time. While the plot specifics remain fuzzy, we do get a few more of them: Stanley Tucci plays a nefarious government agent looking to stop the Transformers, following the cataclysmic Battle of Chicago that capped off the third film; Wahlberg and his family become caught in a battle between evil Decepticons and friendly Autobots (one of the trailer's highlights is a heart-to-heart Wahlberg has with Optimus Prime - YES!); and apparently Optimus Prime has to enlist the help of the Dinobots to prevent these new, bad robots from killing everything on earth. Bay is an American auteur, an action filmmaker whose images are as delicate, beautiful and meticulously crafted as anything fussed-over frame you see in an art house cinema, and this trailer is full of moments that, if frozen, I'd be proud to hang on my wall. His move to 3D has made him an even better filmmaker because the format has forced him to hold on shots longer than he maybe would have previously; restraint (if that's the right word for it) looks good on Bay. And this trailer, particularly in the last few seconds, is full of so many-jaw dropping moments that you start to lose count. Still, here are our five favorites anyway (after Optimus chatting with Wahlberg, of course): 1. A giant spaceship sucking up an amphitheater (and boats). 2. Bumblebee snatching two of our hopeless human characters out of the air and scaling a skyscraper on the way down. 3. A curmudgeonly Autobot firing a machine gun, a cigar dangling out of his mouth, his beard swaying like Davy Jones's tentacles. 4. A car flying through the air and clipping a guy on the chin (in slow motion, no less!). And last, but certainly not least... 5. Optimus Prime riding a giant, hulking Autobot (named Grimlock) through the streets of modern day China. "Transformers: Age of Extinction" opens June 27th. Thank god. Photo courtesy Paramount This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Disaster Movie Mistakes: 11 Earth-Shattering Goofs (PHOTOS) Posted:  Disaster movies are straight-up scary. No, there aren't (usually) any serial killers or creepy children hiding behind doors, but the apocalyptic-like scenarios sure make you feel lucky to be alive. Whether it's a legendary monster destroying the world or a sinking Titanic, we're happy to be watch from the safety of our couches or out at the theater. But, if you look past all that traumatizing action, you'll see some pretty dramatic movie mistakes. In case you missed the blunders in your favorite disaster flicks, like "Twister" or "War of the Worlds," here's a gallery to get you up to speed. As usual, all photos are courtesy of MovieMistakes.com. Spotted a movie mistake and want to share it? Put it in the comments below! Main article photo courtesy of Everett This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Moviefone Blog To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment