-Richard Kelly on 'The Box': 'It's the most personal film' he's made. In his relatively brief career, writer-director Richard Kelly has seen plenty of controversy. His 2001 debut, "Donnie Darko" played the Sundance Film Festival, flopped at the box office and then went on to find a massive and loyal cult audience on home video (not to mention bolster the career of star Jake Gyllenhaal). Just before Kelly debuted new footage at Comic-Con on Friday, he told Hero Complex contributor Gina McIntyre in an interview that "The Box" is the most personal of all his films. It opens Oct. 30.
-Roland Emmerich's '2012' is 'the mother of all disaster films'. Superheroes are all about saving their cities. Superman's got Metropolis to look after. Batman has Gotham City. Roland Emmerich, on the other hand, destroys densely populated areas for a living. He wrecked Washington in "Independence Day." He flooded New York City into a watery grave in "The Day After Tomorrow." Now, the German director is busy laying waste to the entire planet in "2012."-Tim Burton on 'Dark Shadows', 'Alice in Wonderland' and '9'. Hero Complex contributor Gina McIntyre sat down with director Tim Burton on Friday afternoon in San Diego to talk about the busy schedule the filmmaker is keeping these days. He's just produced the dark, PG-13 rated animated fantasy "9," due out Sept. 9; he's in post-production on his elaborate adaptation of the works of Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland"; and he's looking to bring vampire Barnabas Collins to the screen with a "Dark Shadows" movie starring Johnny Depp. -To Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes is no mystery. It’s official: Robert Downey Jr. is still the king of Comic-Con. The actor bounded into the San Diego Convention Center's Hall H on Friday morning, his second trip to massive weekend fest. This time, he was here to promote “Sherlock Holmes” and was welcomed with an even more breathless and deafening response than “Twilight’s” own Robert Pattinson. “I love you guys so much,” he told the raucous crowd.-Next 'Batman' film on track for 2011 release? Gary Oldman is at again. The actor shocked Comic-Con attendees in San Diego this morning when he revealed that the next film in the "Batman" franchise was to start filming in 2010, and potentially be released in 2011.-Terry Gilliam on Heath Ledger's last performance. British movie polymath Terry Gilliam this afternoon unveiled clips at Comic-Con of his latest project, "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." The lush and bizarre fantasy movie co-stars Heath Ledger, in his final role before his death, as Tony, a silver-tongued showman modeled after former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
-'Twilight' at Comic-Con: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Chris Weitz and more introduce 'New Moon'. The shirts were off, the spoilers came fast and the "Twilight" fans lucky enough to attend a midafternoon panel on the film at San Diego's Comic-Con couldn't get enough. For many -- those who had camped out overnight -- the "New Moon" Q&A was The.Event.Of.Comic.Con.2009, as director Chris Weitz and stars Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Ashley Greene were all in attendance.-Hello Comic-Con! Greetings from Johnny Depp. English heartthrob Robert Pattinson wasn't due to arrive in Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center until later in the afternoon, but he was in real danger of being upstaged by the screams that met Johnny Depp's surprise appearance Thursday morning at the first panel of the day at Comic-Con International. -'Twilight' stars face the press, with restrictions.While thousands camped outside of the San Diego Convention Center for access to one of Comic-Con’s most anticipated panels -- an early-afternoon session devoted to a little franchise called “Twilight” -- its stars faced the press this morning just a few feet away at the Hilton Hotel.
-VIDEO: Seth Rogen, Michel Gondry unveil 'Green Hornet's' car. Funny guy Seth Rogen, director Michel Gondry and producer Neal Moritz were on hand after the Con closed to the public to unveil a car who's shape and mysterious appearance had been enticing Comic-Con participants the whole preview night. Individuals who were manning the Sony booth kept watch over the covered vehicle as onlookers tried to sneak a peek.
Television news
-'True Blood' at Comic-Con: Yes, ladies, Eric really is that hot. Lest anyone forget, there is more than one vampire-themed entertainment phenomenon in the pop culture universe right now. "True Blood," HBO's hit adaptation of the Sookie Stackhouse mystery novels from author Charlaine Harris, has its own legion of devoted fans keen on the show's sexy, campy aesthetic, and plenty of them turned up Saturday to hear cast members Anna Paquin (on her birthday, no less), Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Nelsan Ellis, Michelle Forbes, Deborah Ann Woll and Alexander Skarsgard and creator Alan Ball talk about what's in store for season two.
"Castro gave an accout of his own history with the game, starting with what he saw on his Apple 2C 19 years ago to now, showing off old 8-bit graphic slides. This led to a reveal poster of Gyllenhaal as the Prince of Persia himself. Someone joked that the 8-bit image is proably pre-vis film.
Asked about the :01 Prince of Persia book released last year, he called it “its own thing, not tied to the movie, or game.” He didn’t write it, but this will be its own thing, more directly tied to games and movie’s universe". Source: www.newsarama.com
"Unrequited" movie starring Michael Welch - first week behind the scenes
Behind the scenes footage of the first week of the new movie "Unrequited" starring TWILIGHT'S Michael Welch. Also starring Sarah Habel, Justin Baldoni, David Keith, Brett Rice & Gregory Alan Williams.
"New Moon's Michael Welch Tells Us About His Favorite Movie:
For an actor so young, Twilight's Michael Welch has been on TV and movie screens for ages, acting in nearly every genre. It should be no surprise, then, that his favorite movie adopts such a wide view of the world".
"Last week, the two gentlemen in this three-part feature decided to take a look at the film set where Bella filmed the infamous cliff-diving scene, and this week, they look to the woods - with Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson)'s "break-up" scene. The best part of the new segment? Pocket Edward makes his appearance in a recreation of the scene. The two are also led to the set location (not a movie theater) for the exterior shooting of the movie theater scenes with Kristen Stewart and Anna Kendrick as well as the interior where the scenes with Taylor Lautner and Michael Welch were filmed as well". Source: www.examiner.com
Evan Rachel Wood photographed by Terry Richardson, i-D Magazine, August 2009.
"Evan Rachel Wood doesn’t fear the edge—it’s her natural habitat, onscreen and in real life. Uncomfortable, Lolita-esque situations? Check. Nudity? Check. Drugs? Um… Bisexuality? Naturally. “I love me some girls, man!” Wood states unequivocally, sidling into a back booth at a sleek pan-Asian bistro near her home on Los Angeles’ West Side.Evan Rachel Wood, Holly Hunter and Catherine Hardwicke at "V Life Celebrate Oscar Hopefuls", 2004.
“She’d joke around the set like a 12 year-old, but as soon as I said ‘action’ she could go immediately to the deepest emotional level,” explains Catherine Hardwicke, who, in 2003, directed Wood in the acclaimed, controversial teen-angst film Thirteen. “In some scenes, she went as far as an actress could go—maybe too far. I was so happy when she was the youngest person to ever be nominated for a best actress Golden Globe, but she deserved an Oscar.” Source: www.blackbookmag.com
# 8 - Evan Rachel Wood: She played daughter to a lunatic dreamer who thinks of himself as the King of California, she also played her part in an ensemble cast where scissors run and family members compete for being the 'coolest' looney. But two roles- a misunderstood teen who rebels in Thirteen and as the romantic lead named Lucy in the Julie Taymor musical inspired by the Beatles - which remains the most unforgettable.But wait, playing Stephanie alongside the totally written-off actor named Mickey in The Wrestler, is another performance I have to mention! Will she sing again and be merry or choose to play a doomed character to get to the next level?Why a #8 ranking: Notwithstanding the media's undeniable obssession with the young actress, she is no mere 'celebrity' - she has both substance and form. Her beauty is matched by her ability to play roles effectively and fully. # 7 - Anne Hathaway: She played the role of the beloved Jane Austen and wore an accent - flawed yet it made her more endearing. Looking back, she was once a Princess who acted alongside a legend known for the sound of her music. She was also quite memorable portraying an aspiring magazine editor pitting talents alongside another legend known for her accents and 2 Oscars. But it was probably playing Kym in her Oscar nominated role in Rachel Getting Maried that she finally made critics swoon over her.
Says the LA Times:With her chopped hair, constant smoking and wraith-from-hell demeanor, Kym calls on aspects of Hathaway, best known for considerably lighter fare like "The Princess Diaries," "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Becoming Jane," that simply have not been seen before, and the actress rises to the challenge beautifully, making Kym simultaneously empathetic and outrageous. Why a #7 ranking: With more than eight new features coming up, including a notable role in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Love and Other Drugs (with Jake Gyllenhaal) and as Judy Garland, Hathaway is poised to become yet another princess!
# 6 - Ellen Page: She made everyone squirm for turning the tables on one unsuspecting sexual predator yet she was herself a victim screaming for mercy - her pain and agony almost palpable from the big screen. But she can also be a breathe of fresh air as the witty, acid-tongued young lass adjusting to her pregnancy. Could anyone acted better in playing a character only someone named Diablo Cody could ever think of?This is what film critic Roger Ebert has to say about Miss Page: Has there been a better performance this year than Ellen Page's creation of Juno? I don't think so. If most actors agree that comedy is harder than drama, then harder still is comedy depending on a quick mind, utter self-confidence, and an ability to stop just short of going too far. Page's presence and timing are extraordinary. I have seen her in only two films, she is only 20, and I think she will be one of the great actors of her time.Why a #6 ranking: With Whip it!, Peacock, Inception and Jane Eyre under her belt, Ellen Page is definitely the one to watch - this year and the next and the next...# 5 - Carey Mulligan: Poised to become this year's most celebrated young actress, Carey Mulligan, will be seen in four high-profile films - Michael Mann's crime-drama Public Enemies (with Johnny Depp), Jim Sheridan's much-anticipated film Brothers (featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman), Shana Feste's The Greatest and Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go, where Mulligan will act alongside Keira Knightley, Sally Hawkins, and Charlotte Rampling.
Rotten Tomatoes' Joe Utichi puts Ms. Mulligan's career in perspective:A ferocious appetite for acting seems to inspire Mulligan to work so hard, and it's clearly paying off. This year her co-stars include Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan. And all indications are that she holds her own alongside such seasoned thesps, delivering performances that belie her short CV. It's April 2008, and RT has come to the West London set of An Education to meet Mulligan. Her passion for her craft is immediately obvious - when we arrive she has her head buried in a script, emerging occasionally to seek advice from her director and co-stars and laugh and joke with the whole crew. She has the good sense to enjoy what she's doing, and that seems to give her the necessary confidence to deliver as a performer.Why a #5 ranking: Aside from the festival buzz, she already took this year's European shooting star title for the UK, and with An Education soon to be shown across America, Carey Mulligan is more than poised to conquer Hollywood. # 3 - Natalie Portman: Closer was not 'close' enough to win her an Oscar, add the fact that the Queen from a galaxy far far away has to endure moments of boredom 'working' alongside a jumper named Skywalker. Come to think of it, we watched her grow before our eyes - from a young would-be assassin to an unwed mother delivering her baby in a shopping mall to an adventurous and risk-it-all gambler who convinced a singer to take a road trip to Vegas.Shall we ever witnes her take the stage and thank the members of the Academy for the role of romancing someone formerly known as Jack Twist? Heck, how come she chooses Jack over spidey?Why a #3 ranking: She was ranked #1 in our previous list and still I believe what was said before remains true: Arguably one of the most talented young actresses in the industry, Natalie Portman blows the competition away with her ability to choose the right roles and to turn down projects that simply doesn’t fit. Her outspoken nature, which is often misconstrued by the media, allows Portman to prove she is not just a pretty actress but that she is independent-minded and not afraid to pursue other endeavors. Portman has eleven upcoming/soon-to-be-released projects including Love & Other Impossible Pursuits, based on a novel by Ayelet Waldman and co-starring Lisa Kudrow, Hesher (with Joe Levitt) and as Jane Foster in the film adaptation of comic book superhero Thor.# 2 - Abbie Cornish: In Candy, she plays an art student who became a heroin addict ready to sell her body for a quick fix. In Kimberly Peirce, Stop-Loss, she's a soldier's lover trying to stay loyal and stand behind her man. She was also an unwelcomed 'visitor', annoying a money trader who was once a Roman general and the ocean's master and commander in Ridley Scott's inept but a bit funny feature A Good Year. 2007 saw her play second fiddle to Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. A transition period as she is obviously up for bigger roles and bigger films.Why a #2 ranking: In Jane Campion's latest, she's the undisputed star. And so, Abbie Cornish has finally given audiences and critics the true depth and dimension of her talents - as Fanny Brawne she is both sublime and subdued, enchanting and mysterious, powerful and enduring. Right this minute, she's the hottest young actress ready to embrace both fame and fortune, without compromising her integrity.
# 1 - Saoirse Ronan: Her unmistakable and commanding presence in Joe Wright's romantic and tragic period piece is a resounding announcement that a great talent is upon us. As Briony Tallis, a 13-year-old fledgling writer, she irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. Ronan was brilliant and while some film critics insisted that the film belongs to Knightley and McAvoy, it was Ronan who was recognized by the Academy with a Best Supporting Actress nomination.Peter Travers @Rolling Stones is one of the critics who praised Ronan for her performance:
For starters, we learn that the film will be seen entirely through Briony's eyes. And what eyes! Saoirse (pronounced "seer-sha") Ronan is the film's glory. Note to Oscar: This is acting of the highest order. Ronan simply takes your breath away. In Peter Jackson's upcoming feature, The Lovely Bones, she will once again dazzle movie audiences. As a young girl looking down from heaven to watch her family grieve, she'll bring to life Alice Sebold's Susie Salmon, considered by many book lovers as a most fascinating fictional character. Says Jackson: I found the book to be curiously optimistic. I felt inspired by Susie's struggle to come to terms with her own death. In the face of overwhelming grief, she finds hope. She holds on to love, and by doing so, she transcends the horror of her murder. Why a #1 ranking: Saoirse Ronan is, without a doubt, the most talented young actress today, and as the lead in the most anticipated movie from one of the industry's undisputed master, she is most probably poised for another Oscar nomination, and perhaps a win". Source: blog.themovie-fanatic.com
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in "Jennifer's Body" (2009). "Things go bad at the roadhouse — think fire, and lots of it — and Jennifer disappears. Back at home Needy is concerned, and while talking to her boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons, aka Young Neil from Scott Pilgrim vs the World) Jennifer shows up. But something is really, really wrong. This is where Fox gets to play creepy, and let out the sort of blood-curdling roar that actors must occasionally dream of, and where the movie starts to look like it might be fairly damaged. That’s a good thing. That might not sound like fifteen minutes worth of material, but what Kusama and Cody do is set up a nice little small town world where Jennifer is probably the hottest thing going. They do it with room for the characters to breathe without feeling like they’re just being set up for the kill". Source: www.slashfilm.com
"This year's Comic-Con in San Diego is positively filled with celebrities, but it's no secret that the ratio of celebrities who are genuine comic book fans to those who simply have a project to sell has changed dramatically as the event's grown.
Consider it a blessing, then, that we have someone like Megan Fox. Not only does she know her comics, but she's starring in films based on 'em in "Jonah Hex" and "Fathom", and, well... she's not too hard on the eyes. During a promotional event for her upcoming Diablo Cody ("Juno") horror film "Jennifer's Body," we asked Fox to prove her geek cred to the Comic-Con masses". Source: splashpage.mtv.com
"Dodgers fans got a special treat last night when Jake Gyllenhaal showed up to watch the Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.
Jakey sat in Dugout Club seats for the game on Manny Ramirez Bobblehead Night.
He watched Manny hit a pinch-hit grand slam into the “Mannywood” section in left field, breaking a 2-2 tie in the 6th inning.
Jake isn't the only celebrity that's a huge Dodgers fan. Just last weekend Fergie and her hubby Josh visited the stadium to catch a game, and stars like Kim Kardashian and the Jonas Brothers have thrown the first ceremonial pitch". www.hollyscoop.com
Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga in "Orphan" (2009).Peter Sarsgaard at "Orphan" premiere in L.A., on 21st July 2009.
"The actor hit up a baseball game in Los Angeles with his brother-in-law Peter Sarsgaard. “Jake was there with Peter and some other guy, it looked like another dad”, an onlooker told RadarOnline.com. The threesome sat in the Dugout Club seats as they cheered with the rest of the sellout crowd as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds six to two". Source: www.radaronline.com
-Richard Kelly on 'The Box': 'It's the most personal film' he's made. In his relatively brief career, writer-director Richard Kelly has seen plenty of controversy.
His 2001 debut, "Donnie Darko" played the Sundance Film Festival, flopped at the box office and then went on to find a massive and loyal cult audience on home video (not to mention bolster the career of star Jake Gyllenhaal). Just before Kelly debuted new footage at Comic-Con on Friday, he told Hero Complex contributor Gina McIntyre in an interview that "The Box" is the most personal of all his films. It opens Oct. 30.
-Tim Burton on 'Dark Shadows', 'Alice in Wonderland' and '9'. Hero Complex contributor Gina McIntyre sat down with director Tim Burton on Friday afternoon in San Diego to talk about the busy schedule the filmmaker is keeping these days. He's just produced the dark, PG-13 rated animated fantasy "9," due out Sept. 9; he's in post-production on his elaborate adaptation of the works of Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland"; and he's looking to bring vampire Barnabas Collins to the screen with a "Dark Shadows" movie starring Johnny Depp.
-To Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes is no mystery. It’s official: Robert Downey Jr. is still the king of Comic-Con. The actor bounded into the San Diego Convention Center's Hall H on Friday morning, his second trip to massive weekend fest. This time, he was here to promote “Sherlock Holmes” and was welcomed with an even more breathless and deafening response than “Twilight’s” own Robert Pattinson. “I love you guys so much,” he told the raucous crowd.
-Next 'Batman' film on track for 2011 release? Gary Oldman is at again. The actor shocked Comic-Con attendees in San Diego this morning when he revealed that the next film in the "Batman" franchise was to start filming in 2010, and potentially be released in 2011.
-Terry Gilliam on Heath Ledger's last performance. British movie polymath Terry Gilliam this afternoon unveiled clips at Comic-Con of his latest project, "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." The lush and bizarre fantasy movie co-stars Heath Ledger, in his final role before his death, as Tony, a silver-tongued showman modeled after former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
-Hello Comic-Con! Greetings from Johnny Depp. English heartthrob Robert Pattinson wasn't due to arrive in Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center until later in the afternoon, but he was in real danger of being upstaged by the screams that met Johnny Depp's surprise appearance Thursday morning at the first panel of the day at Comic-Con International.
-'Twilight' stars face the press, with restrictions.While thousands camped outside of the San Diego Convention Center for access to one of Comic-Con’s most anticipated panels -- an early-afternoon session devoted to a little franchise called “Twilight” -- its stars faced the press this morning just a few feet away at the Hilton Hotel.
-'True Blood' at Comic-Con: Yes, ladies, Eric really is that hot. Lest anyone forget, there is more than one vampire-themed entertainment phenomenon in the pop culture universe right now. "True Blood," HBO's hit adaptation of the Sookie Stackhouse mystery novels from author Charlaine Harris, has its own legion of devoted fans keen on the show's sexy, campy aesthetic, and plenty of them turned up Saturday to hear cast members Anna Paquin (on her birthday, no less), Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Nelsan Ellis, Michelle Forbes, Deborah Ann Woll and Alexander Skarsgard and creator Alan Ball talk about what's in store for season two.
"Castro gave an accout of his own history with the game, starting with what he saw on his Apple 2C 19 years ago to now, showing off old 8-bit graphic slides. This led to a reveal poster of Gyllenhaal as the Prince of Persia himself. Someone joked that the 8-bit image is proably pre-vis film.
# 7 - Anne Hathaway: She played the role of the beloved Jane Austen and wore an accent - flawed yet it made her more endearing. Looking back, she was once a Princess who acted alongside a legend known for the sound of her music. She was also quite memorable portraying an aspiring magazine editor pitting talents alongside another legend known for her accents and 2 Oscars. But it was probably playing Kym in her Oscar nominated role in Rachel Getting Maried that she finally made critics swoon over her.
