ScreenCrave.com » Jess Nelson

Cast Update: Cleopatra

Jess Nelson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:36:13 +0000

E! Online is reporting that everyone’s favorite sultry cat eyed beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones, 39 is up for the role of Cleopatra in the Steven Soderberg remake of a movie of the same name. She won an Oscar for her role as Velma Kelly in “Chicago” so there is no uncertainty about her qualifications for starring in a musical or, according to E-Online, “a 3-D live-action, rock-musical extravaganza”. That sounds a little more exciting to those of us who are turned off by the very word “musical”.

The Hollywood Reporter is buzzing that Hugh Jackman, 40 is being courted for another leading role in the film. Possibly the part of Marc Antony (not to be confused with J-Lo’s husband Marc AntHony) or Julius Caesar. He is no stranger to singing and dancing as he won a Tony for his role as gay singer/songwriter Peter Allen in the Broadway Musical “The Boy from Oz”. I saw it and he was magnificent. If he gets the part I’m definitely going to see it just for the star power of these two.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starred in the original Cleopatra circa 1963. Leonor Varela and Billy Zane play Cleopatra and Marc Antony in 1999 in the made-for-tv version. Now its time to bring out the big guns of this era and make them sing!

Photos via blogs.abc.net.au, geocities.com

Awards: Gotham Independent Film Award Nominees

Jess Nelson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:12:04 +0000

Is it getting to be award season already? You may have heard of some of these through gossip columns or theater previews and some you may not. Most film fanatics love the “indy” film so here are your nominees with bonus info about whom the nominating committee consists of. May I have the envelope please…

Best Feature

Ballast
Lance Hammer, director; Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh, producers (Alluvial Film Company)
Frozen River
Courtney Hunt, director; Heather Rae, Chip Hourihan, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)
Synecdoche, New York
Charlie Kaufman, director; Anthony Bregman, Charlie Kaufman, Spike Jonze, Sidney Kimmel, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Visitor
Tom McCarthy, director; Mary Jane Skalski, Michael London, producers (Overture Films)
The Wrestler
Darren Aronofsky, director; Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky, producers (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Best Documentary

Chris & Don: A Love Story
Guido Santi & Tina Mascara, directors; Julia Scott, Tina Mascara, Guido Santi, James White, producers (Zeitgeist Films)
Encounters at the End of the World
Werner Herzog, director; Henry Kaiser, producer (THINKFilm / Image Entertainment)
Man on Wire
James Marsh, director; Simon Chinn, producer (Magnolia Pictures)
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Marina Zenovich, director; Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Lila Yacoub, Marina Zenovich, producers (THINKFilm in association with HBO Documentaries)
Trouble the Water
Tia Lessin & Carl Deal, producers/directors (Zeitgeist Films)

Nominating Committee for Best Documentary:
Cynthia Fuchs, Film Critic, PopMatters and NPR.org
Owen Gleiberman, Film Critic, Entertainment Weekly
Tom Hall, Director of Programming, Sarasota Film Festival
Ronnie Scheib, Film Critic, Variety

Best Ensemble Performance

Ballast
Micheal J. Smith, Sr., JimMyron Ross, Tarra Riggs, Johnny McPhail (Alluvial Film Company)
Rachel Getting Married
Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Tunde Adebimpe, Mather Zickel, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George, Debra Winger (Sony Pictures Classics)
Synecdoche, New York
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis, Tom Noonan (Sony Pictures Classics)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz (The Weinstein Company)
The Visitor

Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbas, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira (Overture Films)
Nominating Committee for Best Feature and Best Ensemble Performance:
Ty Burr, Film Critic, The Boston Globe
Scott Foundas, Film Editor / Film Critic, LA Weekly
Dave Karger, Senior Writer, Entertainment Weekly

Breakthrough Director

Antonio Campos for Afterschool
Dennis Dortch for A Good Day to Be Black & Sexy (Magnolia Pictures)
Lance Hammer for Ballast (Alluvial Film Company)
Barry Jenkins for Medicine for Melancholy (IFC Films)
Alex Rivera for Sleep Dealer (Maya Releasing)

Breakthrough Actor

Pedro Castaneda in August Evening (Maya Releasing)
Rosemarie DeWitt in Rachel Getting Married (Sony Pictures Classics)
Rebecca Hall in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (The Weinstein Company)
Melissa Leo in Frozen River (Sony Pictures Classics)
Alejandro Polanco in Chop Shop (Koch Lorber Films)
Micheal J. Smith, Sr. in Ballast (Alluvial Film Company)

Nominating Committee for Breakthrough Director and Breakthrough Actor:
Cynthia Fuchs, Film Critic, PopMatters and NPR.org
Robert Koehler, Film Critic, Variety
Rob Nelson, Film Critic, Minnesota Post
Andrew O’Hehir, Senior Writer, Salon.com

Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You™

Afterschool
Antonio Campos, director; Josh Mond, Sean Durkin, producers
Meadowlark
Taylor Greeson, producer/director
The New Year Parade
Tom Quinn, director; Steve Beal, Tom Quinn, producers
Sita Sings the Blues
Nina Paley, producer/director
Wellness
Jake Mahaffy, director; Jake Mahaffy, Jeff Clark, producers

Nominating Committee for Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You™:
Joshua Siegel, Associate Curator, Department of Film and Media, Museum of Modern Art;
and members of the editorial staff of Filmmaker Magazine: Scott Macaulay (Editor-in-Chief), Nick Dawson, Mary Glucksman, Jason Guerrasio, Brandon Harris, Ray Pride Carrie Rickey, Film Critic, The Philadelphia Inquirer

List via IFP.org

Photos via screenhead.com, joblo.com, impawards.com

Movie Trailer: Notorious

Jess Nelson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:08:22 +0000

After watching the teaser for Friday the 13th I have to admit that this one has the same dark and stormy night kind of feel to it. Notorious B.I.G. certainly lived up to his description after death.

We have all gotten to know Biggie through the prolific use of his music in movies and in our homes but also through his outspoken friends. Many of his cohorts in Hollywood have never let his image go away. Frankly, I’m surprised that we have gone this long without a glimpse into the late Christopher Wallace’s short life. Although his story of rags to riches we have heard a million times before, I think that his influence on Hip Hop is too great for him to be just another dead rapper. I am personally very excited to see this movie if only for the superhot soundtrack.

R.I.P. Biggie Smalls. You will never be forgotten.

Trailer after the jump.

Photo via www.wikipedia.com

Star Wars: AT-AT Fail T-Shirt

Jess Nelson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:49:03 +0000

Labeling things as “FAIL” or “EPIC FAIL” is so hot right now. Combine that with the dorks who love Star Wars and you have got something.

This is not really relevant to upcoming or newly released movies but it’s too funny to pass up. The All Terrain Armored Transport vehicles are just one of those things that may be too high tech for their own good.

The T-Shirt is on sale through Zazzle.com but do you really want to buy it? It’s good for a coffeebreak chuckle but not good to actually wear. Although if you see someone walking down the street wearing one, feel free to give them a . Star Wars geeks unite!

Cast Update: Alice in Wonderland

Jess Nelson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:29:12 +0000

**Update** For more news and stories about Alice in Wonderland and Tim Burton, check out these stories…

Is it just me or did Alice and Wonderland personally ask to be remade by Tim Burton? I must admit, I grew up with Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetle Juice and Edward Scissorhands so I may be biased but I think if this iconic story was ever going to be redone, he was going to have to be the one to do it.

But, the real news about this remake is that it is not only going to have Burton staples Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter but also, newly added, Crispin Glover!

Hopefully his behavior as the Knave of Hearts will be as entertaining as his 1987 interview with Letterman, which I have thoughtfully provided for your enjoyment after the jump.

He started young, appearing on things like Happy Days and Family Ties. While he has never really had a leading role, he has managed to get into some pretty good movies such as Back to the Future, Rivers Edge and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Please do not judge him by this interview, just look forward to seeing him in Alice in Wonderland.

New Teaser: Friday the 13th

Jess Nelson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:43:23 +0000

You KNOW that they had to get this one out just in time for Halloween! It seems like the studio should be right on track for a February 13th (Friday) release date. Studio executives keep making more of these because there are people like me who want to see anything with that name on it. If you love the brand like I do, and this one looks like it’s going to do it justice!

Synopsis: Apparently, killing runs in the family. The Crystal Lake campgrounds are still haunted, but this time by the Jason Vorhees. The man with the hockey mask is back to exact revenge on everyone who stays in the campground. Screenplay by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, with Pathfinder director Marcus Nispel directing. Danielle Panabaker and Jared Padalecki head up the cast.

This is just a teaser but it makes me excited. Watch the teaser after the jump and tell us what you think.

Photo via www.flixmovieposters.com
Teaser via www.myspacetv.net

ScreenCrave.com » Jess Nelson

Cast Update: Cleopatra

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