January 2008 News Archive (Page 6)

Assassination of a High School recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

The dark comedy, compared to Rushmore, is centered around Bobby Funke (Reece Thompson), a a rookie reporter for his high school paper, who thinks he's made his career when he takes down the most popular kid, writing an expose on the jock's theft of the SATs.

Mischa Barton walks the halls in Assassination of a High School President.

After the President's sexy girlfriend (Mischa Barton, actually giving a great performance) and unscrupulous buddies befriend him, Funke begins to smell something unpleasant in the air.

The film's central mystery keeps you guessing intelligently, but brilliantly balances every reference to Nietzsche with a joke about a chocolate swirly. It's very well-written. Bruce Willis is hilariously intense in a cameo, while Barton is better in this part than in any season of The OC.

During a recent press conference in Europe, the cast of Sweeney Todd came together to answer a few questions about this Oscar-nominated movie.

Here are a couple replies from stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter:

How was it doing your first musical? And will you be doing it again?
Johnny Depp: We're doing the sequel now [laughs]. I actually did do a musical many years ago with John Waters called Cry-Baby, but technically it was only half me - it wasn't me singing. Tim's the only person brave enough to actually let me try to sing.

It was the first time I'd ever sung - I'd never even sung in the shower, I'm too mortified.

But once I got over the initial fear it was kind of enjoyable. Sondheim's melodies and lyrics are a real pleasure to tromp around in, it's really beautiful stuff. Would I ever do it again? No, I doubt it.

Was it easier or harder getting the role when your husband was the director?
Helena Bonham Carter: It was probably harder. I mean he told me: 'You look right for it but we have no idea if you can sing.' So I thought: 'well, I'll try and learn' and did singing lessons, but you know I had to be righter than right.

I wouldn't want people saying I got a role in his film just because I slept with him. At the end of the day Sondheim said I was okay... and I definitely didn't sleep with him!

Read the full recount from these stars now.

Our thanks to JoBlo for the following picture, but also our warning:

It contains an X-Files 2 spoiler!

That's director Chris Carter on the right. And... the Wolfman on the left? Is that the creature Mulder and Scully will be batting in this highly-anticipated sequel?

On July 25, X-Files 2 opens and fans can find out the deal behind this creature.

Diane Lane stars alongside Colin Hanks in the upcoming drama, Untraceable.

The movie is based around the threat of a computer virus and, as Lane recently admitted in an interview, the concept caught her by surprise.

"I was so naive I thought computer viruses didn't spontaneously grow, like in a petri dish. Someone explained to me, `No, no, "virus" is probably the wrong term, because while it acts like a virus, it's created on purpose with malicious intent by some clever person who took the time to commit a very sophisticated version of arson," the actress said.

"And I thought, `What? Why? How? How does that exist in the universe?' I couldn't wrap my brain around someone taking the time to do that and said, `OK, I'm an actor, I track motives - that's a very hurt person who's very angry at a lot of people.

And feels a lot of entitlement about the rage that they possess. And who has a lot of time on their hands."

In other Diane Lane news: How hot is she in Unfaithful?!?

While the marketing campaign for The Dark Knight is inconsequential when compared with the effects of Heath Ledger's tragic death, it's still something the studio will need to consider.

Principal photography on the movie finished in the fall; and, as of Tuesday, the film is still scheduled for a July 18 opening.

But the status of the picture'ss marketing campaign is uncertain. The first phase is built around The Joker, with images of his character particularly ghoulish.

Warner executives were still grappling with the news on Tuesday and had no comment on how they would proceed.

"The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news," said Alan Horn, president-COO, Warner Bros. & Jeff Robinov, president, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. "Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person."

In terms of The Dark Knight, one insider lamented:

"The Joker character is dealing with chaos and life and death and a lot of dark themes. Everyone is going to interpret every line out of his mouth in a different way now."

In tragic news, Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York City apartment earlier today.

The actor - who was nominated for an Academy Award in 2006 and just finished filming The Dark Knight, starring in the iconic role of The Joker - was found unconscious by a maid around 3:30 this afternoon. Pills were scattered around Ledger.

The medical examiner's office has removed the body from the scene and an autopsy will be conducted Wednesday. Our thoughts and prayers are with Heath's family.

We don't know what it looks like yet - guess that would be a Cloverfield spoiler if we did - but Hasbro has announced it will be releasing a Cloverfield monster figure that will be a "highly detailed representation of the beast."

"Hasbro is very excited to be working with Paramount and Bad Robot to bring to market a piece of the film for fans and collectors," said Brian Goldner, COO of Hasbro, Inc. "The fan buzz on this film has been terrific and we are happy to take part in the excitement."

The figure will stand 14 inches tall and will come with two interchangable heads - one depicting a calm face and the other an agitated face - and it even comes with the head of the Statue of Liberty, as well.

You can pre-order the toy now from HasbroToyShop.com, but don't expect to receive it soon, or inexpensively:

While the pre-order starts today, the Toy Shop site states that the item won't ship until September 30, and that the price tag is a lofty $99.99.

No, not Diddy. And certainly not P. Daddy.

The star of the upcoming television movie, A Raisin in the Sun, wants to make it clear: he's Sean Combs.

"The reason why it's very important to me is ya'll know me for a lot for different thingsâ€"music, fashion, television and films. But you don't really know me as an actor," said the music mogul. "I'd like to introduce my actor to you. That's me! Sean Combs! My name is Sean Combs! You know I've got a lot of split personalities."

Ok, SEAN, let's look at your film's trailer:

The 2007 remake of 3:10 to Yuma was billed as a vehicle for Christian Bale and Russell Crowe. And for good reason: those stars put on a pair of great performances.

But a young actress also garnered attention after her performance in the film: Vinessa Shaw.

Slated for three more films in 2008, Shaw is a popular commodity in Hollywood. With that in mind, here are a few interesting facts about the actress:

• She dated actor Jonathan Brandis while filming Ladybugs in 1992.

• Attended Barnard College, but never graduated.

• Also dated Oliver Hudson at one point.

• Auditioned for the part of Jenny Everdeane in Gangs of New York. Part eventually went to Cameron Diaz.

• Ranked #66 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women In The World" in 2002.

Yes, Rambo is back.

Its star, Sylvester Stallone, recently chatted with Comingsoon.net about reprising one of his most famous roles:

CS: Did you have to go back and watch the previous "Rambo" films to get back into character?
Stallone: Yeah, you know kind of just the ponderousness that comes with aging, the sense of weight, the sense of knowledge, knowing too much, the lack of naiveté which happened in my life, sort of set the stage for me. I wanted Rambo to be heavier, bulkier, that's why his first line in the movie is pretty negative. He's given up. He has nothing.

The other Rambos I felt had a bit too much energy. They were a little too spry. I'm not trying to run myself down but there was much more vanity involved. Tank tops, it was all about body movement rather than just the ferocity and the commitment of what he was doing. This character to me is much more interesting.

I like "First Blood" and I like this one, just like the first "Rocky" and the last "Rocky Balboa." Everything in between was kind of trying to figure out what I should do.

Read the full interview with Stallone now.