One could surmise the mediocrity of "Diminished Capacity" from reading the synopsis alone: Cooper (Matthew Broderick), a small-town-boy-made-good in the big city but lately suffering from the lasting effects of a serious concussion, heads back home to visit his fading Uncle Rollie (Alan Alda).[ read more in Movies ]
"Prince of Broadway," the latest feature by Sean Baker, won the Target Filmmaker Award, the top narrative feature prize at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival. Darius Marder's "Loot" simultaneously won the Target Documentary Award as the Film Independent event came to a close in California on Sunday night. Both filmmakers received the sizable, unrestriced $50,000 cash prize as the fest concluded. Audience awards went to a trio of favorites from this year's Sundance Film Festival: Jonathan Levine's "The Wackness" (narrative audience award), Sacha Gervasi's "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" (documentary audience award) and James Marsh's "Man on Wire" (international audience award). [ read more in On The Scene ]
In this installment spotlighting emerging filmmakers from the Los Angeles Film Festival, indieWIRE received remarks from "I'll Come Running" director Spencer Parsons, about is narrative feature detailing the ramifications of a Danish tourist's one night stand in Austin, Texas, and "HottieBoombaLottie" writer-director-star Seth Packard's comedy about a peculiar teenager. [ read more in People ]
This review was originally published during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. A filmmaker who matters is someone capable of re-invigorating genres with spunk and a playful lack of caution. That's Jonathan Levine, who wowed the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival audiences with his gory, sly horror film "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane." His follow up is even better, the high-energy coming-of-age tale "The Wackness," a fun-loving movie that audiences will find impossible to resist. [ read more in Movies ]
Veteran French filmmaker Catherine Breillat enjoyed her strongest U.S. debut thanks to a lusty response from New York audiences to "The Last Mistress," a period drama featuring Asia Argento as a woman jealous of her younger lover's plans to marry. "Last Mistress" earned a sizzling $33,554 for IFC Films from two debut runs in New York. "Trumbo," director Peter Askin's documentary about blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, also debuted in the iWBOT top five, which ranks films by per-screen average. "Trumbo" earned $28,125 from three runs for Samuel Goldwyn Films. Picturehouse continued to rack up sky-high grosses for its family movie "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl;" earning $107,019 at five locations. Rounding out the iWBOT top five were "Encounters At The End Of The World," director Werner Herzog's Antarctica documentary for ThinkFilm and Zeitgeist Films' "Chris & Don: A Love Story," about the longstanding relationship between British writer Christopher Isherwood and American portraitist Don Bachardy. [ read more in Biz ]
The 62nd annual Edinburgh International Film Festival came to a close this weekend, after screening over 130 films over the course of 12 days, throughout the cobblestoned medieval cluster of the Scottish capital. Founded in 1947 in conjunction with the Edinburgh Festival to help revive the city's post-war economy, this marked the first year the film festival ran at a different time. The festival had tremendous help in smoothing the transition from its dedicated patrons, Sean Connery and Tilda Swinton, who were present throughout the EIFF's duration at many screenings, dinners and events. Connery hosted the awards ceremony on Sunday night, presenting the Michael Powell aAard, named for Britain's leading golden-era director, to the best in British cinema. [ read more in On The Scene ]
Second Act Trezana Beverley won a 1977 Tony Award for her powerhouse performance for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, but the award's impact wasn't as long-lasting as she might have hoped.
In Her Hands Illeana Douglas has a knack for creating memorable moments; such scenes as her serene yet macabre ice-skating routine in To Die For are still burned into our collective consciousness.
Making Your Own Luck For actor-writers Lacie Harmon and Robin Greenspan, creating their own projects — plays, screenplays, and solo shows — has opened so many doors.
Getting Indiana "I'm going to be a movie star," asserts Dimitri Diatchenko. "I'm going to be hanging with Matthew McConaughey, doing sit-ups on the beach, comparing our muscularity." He's only half-kidding.
In His WordsTrumbo director Peter Askin speaks to Back Stage about bringing the letters of a great screenwriter to life.
The Hosts Give Their Mosts Hosts are to popular entertainment what coaches are in the sports world. Of course, when a team wins, it's the players who get the credit — and when they lose, the coach gets the lion's share of blame.
By Committee The Screen Actors Guild's nearly 30 national committees devise and implement a wide variety of programs to benefit performers.
Mr. Big Out, Goldblum In for 'Criminal Intent' June 27, 2008 Jeff Goldblum will be joining "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" while Chris Noth — Mr. Big in the "Sex and the City" TV show and movie — is leaving after three seasons.
Tough Economy Good for Broadcast TV? June 24, 2008 In the past few weeks, amid recession fears and worries about a possible actors strike, there finally was some good news.
Alfre Woodard Joins 'Enemy' June 23, 2008 Emmy winner Alfre Woodard has been tapped to co-star opposite Christian Slater in NBC's new drama series "My Own Worst Enemy."
Jason Bateman Signs Pact to Develop TV Series June 16, 2008 Hot off his pilot directing debut with "Do Not Disturb," actor/director Jason Bateman has inked a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox TV.
Voight Signs on for Villainous Role on '24' June 13, 2008 In his first series role in 40 years, Jon Voight has signed on as a recurring character on the upcoming seventh season of "24."
BackStage.com - Stage
Theatre Actors Honored with NAACP Awards July 01, 2008 The Beverly Hills/Hollywood chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People hosted the 18th annual NAACP Annual Theatre Awards.
New Leading Ladies for 'Young Frankenstein' June 23, 2008 "Young Frankenstein," the stage version of Mel Brooks' cinematic monster spoof, will get a new trio of leading ladies starting after the July 4 holiday weekend.
'Heights,' 'August' Nab Top Tonys June 15, 2008 The spirit of the 62nd annual Tony Awards was captured perfectly early Sunday evening, when Bartlett Sher of "South Pacific" was talking to reporters about winning the trophy for best director of a musical just as Lin-Manuel Miranda of "In the Heights" was accepting the prize for best score.
Actors' Gang, iActor Team Up June 13, 2008 LA's The Actors' Gang has teamed up with iActor, the SAG online casting network, in an attempt to revive interest in live theatre.