New York and LA Ring in on Secretariat
on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 | By Sasha Stone
Kenneth Turan likes the film okay, but he reserves most of his praise for Diane Lane:
The third and likely most significant factor in the success of “Secretariat” is Diane Lane’s crucial performance as Penny Chenery, who owned the horse and was a trailblazer in a male-dominated world that was unapologetically unfriendly to women with power.
Because Secretariat did not face serious challenges once he hit his Triple Crown stride, the obstacles no film can do without had to be in the human arena. That meant a focus on Chenery having to prove herself to her brother, her husband and her children as well as to the racing elite, confrontations that give the film an unexpected Hollywood feminism slant that will likely not hurt at the box office.
Aronofsky may direct Brad Pitt and/or Angelina Jolie
on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 | By Ryan Adams
[CORRECTED: I've changed the headline to reflect a better translation of an interview with Guillermo Arriaga. Aronofsky might one day direct Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie -- but not, as far as we know, in the same movie. I posted another article in July concerning talk that Jolie could appear in Aronofsky's adaptation of a gripping wilderness revenge thriller called Serena. That's got nothing to do with The Tiger, so apologies for the confusion. The good news: everybody who hated Mr & Mrs Smith can stop worrying about a sequel involving sexy spies and Appalachian tigers.]
A couple of days ago I was ready punch the “Publish” button on a speculative post called “Aronofsky torn between X-Men & G-Men”. The story would have involved rumors that Darren Aronofsky had been handed a choice between two options at a career crossroads following the extraordinary international reception for Black Swan. One route would have taken him toward directing the sequel to X-Men: Wolverine for Fox. Another street led to Tales From the Gangster Squad for Warner Bros. With confirmation earlier this week that Zack Snyder is set to direct the new Superman for producer Christopher Nolan, THR was reporting that Aronofsky could be looking for his own tent pole opportunity.
I hesitated to post for two reasons. First, there didn’t seem to be much to substantiate the claims. Second, it made me sort of queasy to think about Aronofsky directing a Furry variation of Edward Scissorhands. (Plus, I want Ben Affleck to direct Tales from the Gangster Squad.) I wanted to suggest Aronofsky take a minute to meditate on Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken before he stepped off the wrong cliff.
Well, whew. Another better rumor has come along today that I’m happy to spread around, whether there’s any real basis in fact or not. Back in May we told you about Brad Pitt acquiring rights to The Tiger, a soon-to-be-published true-life adventure written by John Vaillant.
Movers and Shakers – Anne Thompson Editor at Large at Indiewire
on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 | By Sasha Stone
Just as the news that Eugene Hernandez and Todd McCarthy’s exit was not looking good for Indiewire (as this NY Times story suggests), another press release announces Anne Thompson has been named Indiewire’s Editor at Large. This is a smart move for Indiewire, as Thompson has the eye of the tiger and will serve this position and Indiewire with vigor. Thompson served as deputy editor of Variety.com before they started to lose money. But she quickly bounced back with Thompson on Hollywood at Indiewire.
Julianne Moore Honored at Rome Fest
on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 | By Sasha Stone
The Rome International Film Festival, October 28th – November 5, will honor Julianne Moore with an acting award. Moore will be there to present The Kids Are All Right. Keira Knightley, Eve Mendes and Aaron Eckhart will also be there.
Meanwhile, Jeff Wells and Scott Feinberg contemplated the overall bummer that Julianne Moore isn’t considered a stronger contender for The Kids are All Right.
Full press release after the jump.
Diane Lane Joins the Best Actress Race
on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 | By Sasha Stone
It’s official, Diane Lane is now a strong contender for one of the nominated five for 2010. We have to make room. Step aside. Another actress is also being considered to push in at the last minute and that’s Tilda Swinton for I Am Love. Yes, she’s been kicking around for a good, long time but her general popularity in the industry and her performance in the film means she should at least be on the long list at this point.
I wasn’t really sure if Lane’s portrayal of Penny Chenery would be nominated when I saw Secretariat – I’ll be honest. But the critics have praised Lane’s work here, some calling it her best ever. Ebert gives the film four stars.
Roger Ebert gives the film four stars — Ebert have lived too long to not get what was so special about that horse — he is helped by having known William Nack, who wrote this great piece for Sports Illustrated on the death of Big Red (you should really read this if you’re at all interested in Secretariat).¬† Ebert writes:
There was something about Secretariat. Bill, who was a regular visitor at Meadow Farm in Virginia throughout the horse’s life, tried to get me to understand: The people around the horse felt it was blessed. Penny Chenery refused to sell the farm, turned down an offer of $7 million for the still-untested horse, and left her husband and family behind in Colorado to commute to Virginia. She had faith. So did he groom Eddie Sweat (Nelsan Ellis), who was with Secretariat more than any other human being during the horse’s life. And so did Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), the trainer who had been trying to retire when Penny hauled him away from his golf clubs.
Kathryn Bigelow collars Depp & Hanks for Sleeping Dogs?
on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 | By Ryan Adams
Yesterday I held onto a post reporting that Tom Hanks is close to signing on for Katherine Bigelow’s drug cartel drama, Sleeping Dogs (formerly known as Triple Frontier.) The casting rumor didn’t feel like big enough news beyond the usual community bulletin board announcement. Overnight the story got a lot more important as Deadline is now saying Johnny Depp is interested playing the other lead in the multi-faceted adventure. The script apparently provides plenty of meat for the some of the biggest names in Hollywood to sink their teeth into. Also being talked about to join the pack are Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Javier Bardem and Christian Bale. Maybe Jeremy Renner too, if other commitments don’t cause a schedule conflict.
Commitment issues could pose a problem for Depp’s participation as well. He’s set to begin filming on Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows in February 2011, so his involvement with Sleeping Dogs will depend on jumping through some tight scheduling hoops.
Sandra Bullock anchors Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity
on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 | By Ryan Adams
Anyone who had trouble imagining Angelina Jolie, Marion Cotillard, Scarlett Johansson, or Natalie Portman as an astronaut can relax. THR says Alfonso Cuaron is close to launching Sandra Bullock into orbit to give his troubled space thriller Gravity a down-to-earth grounding. Houston, we have a prom queen.