Natalie Portman

Blueberries Meet Luscious Taste Buds in ‘My Blueberry Nights’ With Jude Law, Rachel Weisz

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:01:00 -0700

CHICAGO – We see sensual close-up shots of blueberry pie overflow with aqueducts of vanilla ice cream in Wong Kar-Wai’s opening sequence of “My Blueberry Nights”. This dreamy scene sets the tone of the latest film from the famous Chinese director as he confronts the West with his unique cinematic style.

Split into three separate stories, the film begins in a bohemian New York café owned by Jeremy (Jude Law) where Elizabeth (Norah Jones) discovers that her boyfriend has left her for another woman.

Distraught, she leaves her keys with sympathetic Jeremy and hopes her ex will pick them up at the café and be out of her life forever. Elizabeth seeks comfort in Jeremy’s companionship and accepts his advice over leftover blueberry pie. Still, her heart is broken. Elizabeth decides she must go on a journey to reinvent herself.

Read Allison Pitaccio’s full review of “My Blueberry Nights” in our reviews section.

View our full, high-resolution “My Blueberry Nights” image gallery.

She travels the country by bus and stops first in Memphis where her part in the film becomes more of an observer than a participant. Elizabeth takes on two jobs: one as a diner waitress and the other as a cocktail server. She befriends a customer at the bar, Arnie (David Strathairn), who’s an alcoholic cop grieving the loss of his wife’s faithfulness.

Rachel Weisz plays Arnie’s wife, Sue Lynne, who parades around in sultry scenes with younger boyfriends until Arnie loses his cool. He not only threatens her young boyfriend but also threatens Sue Lynne’s life. After realizing his marriage has ended, he offs himself by crashing his car and leaves Elizabeth to comfort his now-heartbroken wife.

Norah Jones (left) and Natalie Portman in Wong Kar-Wai’s “My Blueberry Nights”.
Photo credit: MaCall Polay, The Weinstein Company

Rachel Weisz in Wong Kar-Wai’s “My Blueberry Nights”.
Photo credit: MaCall Polay, The Weinstein Company

Read Allison Pitaccio’s full “My Blueberry Nights” review…

Poster Art Hits Web For ‘My Blueberry Nights’ With Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:05:37 -0700

CHICAGO – The publicist for “My Blueberry Nights” with Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Norah Jones and David Strathairn just sent us the poster art for the new film, which will open in limited U.S. theaters on April 4, 2008.

Our Chicago publicists have informed us that the film will open in the Windy City on April 18, 2008. The new poster is below. You can click it to view the image in insanely high resolution. The synopsis for the film follows the poster.

In Wong Kar Wai’s debut English-language feature, the internationally acclaimed director takes his audience on a dramatic journey across the distance between heartbreak and a new beginning.

After a rough break-up, Elizabeth (played by songstress Norah Jones in her screen debut) sets out on a journey across America and leaves behind a life of memories, a dream and a soulful new friend - a café owner (Jude Law) - all while in search of something to mend her broken heart.

Waitressing her way through the country, Elizabeth befriends others whose yearnings are greater than hers including a troubled cop (David Strathairn) and his estranged wife (Rachel Weisz) along with a down-on-her-luck gambler (Natalie Portman) with a score to settle.

Through these individuals, Elizabeth witnesses the true depths of loneliness and emptiness and begins to understand that her own journey is part of a greater exploration within herself.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium’ Vying to Break Guinness World Toy Record

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:24:16 -0700

I was informed on Wednesday that Walden Media and Fox Walden are vying to break the Guiness World Record for the largest toy drive. They intend to amass 12,000 pounds of toys from Nov. 6 to 12.

The Guiness World Record is calculated based on the most toys collected within a week as valued by total weight. The film companies are working with Toys for Tots to reach the goal.

The buzz-building excercise is timed to the holiday release of “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” which is written and directed by Zach Helm. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman and Zach Mills.

“What an incredibly special way to bring some of the magic from this movie off the screen and into the lives of children this holiday season,” Portman said in a statement.

“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”
Photo credit: IMDb
“Toy chests” will be placed in movie theatres, schools, libraries, community centers and businesses throughout New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
Each market has a goal to collect at least 1,200 pounds of toys. Fox Walden will also conduct an online campaign that allows people across the country to build a toy online.

The film, which is a Walden Media and Mandate Pictures co-production, opens on Nov. 16.