Adam Fendelman

Interview: Kellan Lutz in ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ on Chicago, Satiating Fans

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:56:03 -0700

CHICAGO – “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” knows what it is, what it isn’t and how to quench fans. It can’t say the same, though, for outsiders.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Sure, there’s no practical reason why Taylor Lautner as the dark and mysterious Jacob Black would need to rip off his shirt just to wipe away a splat of forehead blood from Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan. But some pandering has been allowed – and even required this time around – in order to satiate a global legion of fans that these filmmakers have as putty in their hands.

Following Catherine Hardwicke’s direction of “Twilight,” which began the phenomenon of a $37 million film that grossed $384 million globally, director Chris Weitz knew he had to graduate from a lake to an ocean in the sequel that even more fans have been anticipating.

Kellen Lutz of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” in Chicago on Nov. 11, 2009.
Photo credit: Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

But while diehard “Twilight” fans will likely be appeased by this installment – just as in the case of the documentary “Michael Jackson’s This is It” that really was a fan-appreciation concert film – the film’s constantly crestfallen tone, dragging 130-minute screen time and slow pacing will likely alienate those who haven’t fully embraced the saga.

The “Twilight” sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which was written by Melissa Rosenberg and is based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, features Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Ashley Greene, Michael Sheen, Bronson Pelletier, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Anna Kendrick and Billy Burke.

It’s no accident that “Team Edward” (in promotion of Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen) and “Team Jacob” (for Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black) have erupted through the film’s online viral marketing.

The two clearly compete for Bella’s affections, which makes for some steamy “PG-13” romance – that is, if you’re of the demographic this film is targeting. Otherwise, this kind of tension – as well as some of the other cheese that has been silly strung throughout the sequel – might make you mini puke in your mouth.

Kristen Stewart (left) and Robert Pattinson in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment

But for some – and especially screaming girls who cry at the mere sight of the male members of this cast – the film is marketing to them in the exact way they desire. Kellan Lutz, who plays Emmett Cullen in “Twilight,” “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” has mastered the art of fan appreciation and knows too well how to react when situations get emotional.

“You give ‘em a hug, they wet your shirt and they freak out and faint. Then the paramedics are there. It’s great,” Kellan Lutz said in a Chicago interview with critic Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com.

Along with making his way to Chicago a couple times for contractual fan appreciation, Lutz also blew into the Windy City recently to film “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” which is currently in post-production and is slated to hit theaters on April 30, 2010. The film features Jackie Earle Haley (of “Watchmen” fame) as the famous Freddy Krueger.

“I love coming to (Chicago),” Lutz said. “I’m a big weather freak. I grew up in the Midwest. I love wind. Because of the wind, my favorite color growing up was clear. Then my teacher said: ‘That’s not a color.’ I love the layout. It’s so clean. I loved running with (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”) producers Andrew (Form) and (Bradley Fuller). They’re into running around the city. They asked me to run into the beach with them. I was like: ‘There’s a beach here?’ We ran there and it was freezing, but it was so nice.”

Left to right: Alex Meraz as Paul, Kiowa Gordon as Embry Call, Chaske Spencer as Sam Uley, Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black and Bronson Petteltier as Jared in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment

He added: “The parks are amazing. It’s such a free and open city. It’s nice being in a city that’s surrounded by water that doesn’t have docks, harbors and huge industrial plants on the edges. It’s a beautiful place. I wish we were outside doing this interview. It’s so nice out. Living in Los Angeles, it’s like paradise every day. It’s like going to an amusement park every single day and riding the same rides.”

Lutz continued: “I’m such a season guy. I love the snow and the rain and gloomy days are nice. And there’s some great eating in Chicago, too. I miss the Midwest and I try to go back. I’m an outdoor freak. I especially (love) the woods and nature. (I love to) take my truck and go to Iowa where my grandparents live and lay on the haystacks and stare at the stars.”

After making us feel warm and fuzzy about the city in which he was interviewing, Lutz discussed how he feels about his very minor role in the “Twilight” films as compared to the other Hollywood work he’s done so far and where this phenomenon might fit in the filmography of the rest of his career. Lutz says he hopes this franchise ends up not being his career trademark.

“I really pray that I can act for the rest of my life,” Lutz said. “I fell into acting when going to school at Chapman (University) in Orange County, Calif. for chemical engineering. My life has definitely branched off in a direction I never knew existed. I never knew you could just be an actor. I never had the dream to be an actor.”

Kristen Stewart in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment

Lutz took a risk by quitting school “for a callback for a student film. I thought a callback was huge. I was like: ‘Mom, this is my chance.’ She said: ‘I will hurt you. I will spank you.’ I said: ‘I could be the next Brad Pitt! You don’t understand.’ I had no idea. She was just scared for me because of a lack of knowledge. I did the callback and didn’t get the job. That was the day of finals. I got all zeroes and screwed up my scholarships.”

He added: “From that point on, my mom said I won’t make it. So many people said I needed a plan to fall back on. And when people tell me I can’t do something, it makes me want to do it. My mom said: ‘At least have a fallback plan and take college courses online.’ I said: ‘I don’t need a fallback plan because I’m not going to fail.’”

Lutz continued: “I got myself into acting classes, did extra work and found this passion I loved. Financially, it was tough. I was eating the dollar menu at McDonald’s for a long time. I got jobs in retail. But I view acting as a hobby. Fifty years from now, I hope I’m still acting. I won’t view ‘Twilight’ as being trademarked or stereotyped by it because we’re vampires portraying humans. But it’s a huge launching pad. It’s an actor’s dream to be a part of something so successful and have fans that are so amazing. People work 20 years to be a part of something like this.”

Lutz says he hopes this franchise can continue to ride the wave of popularity just as the Harry Potter films have.

Taylor Lautner in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment

“They’re even making a theme park for (the Harry Potter film franchise),” Lutz said. “For us, we’re vampires who don’t age. With Harry Potter, they’re allowed to age. You grow with their characters. It’d be really tough to be in their shoes. I know they shot on location for longer periods of time than we do. It’s been a seven- to 10-year journey for them and it’s still not done. What’s amazing about our cast is we’re all of an age of knowing who we are inside and out. It keeps us very humble and down to earth. We grow and we do this magic carpet ride together. It’s nice to have someone to lean on.”

Lutz, who has been spending a lot of time working with this cast (and has but a few lines in the second film), is used to having a large family in real life, too. He now has his real family as well as his “Twilight” family.

“I definitely feel like I’m a big brother to a lot of people in life from friends to family to cast,” Lutz said. “We really are like a family on and off screen. We hang out as much as we can. As for the things we bring forward with our characters, we’re kinda like that in real life. I love my character. He’s the protector. When people get too close, it brings out that side in me.”

Though it’s not commonly known, Lutz was actually initially asked to read for the part of the more well-known Edward Cullen, which went to the much more well-known Robert Pattinson. But Lutz claims he’s happy with how things played out.

Kellan Lutz (left) as Emmett Cullen and Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment

“I had just got done playing a marine and being in Africa and killing people for (the TV mini-series) ‘Generation Kill’. Seeing the poverty that’s in Africa was depressing. Being away from my family, friends and my dog, I really just wanted to take a break from acting and resituate my life,” Lutz said. “They brought me the script and I kept on passing for Edward. He was so depressing. Then I thought: ‘What about Emmett?’ He’s easy, fun-loving, big and brawly and a cool guy. I auditioned for that and luckily got it.”

While Lutz continued to discuss his love for Emmett without remorse for not getting Edward, he did speak of the clear benefits of being a lead over a supporting character.

“Obviously I’d love to be a lead in anything. You do get more time to develop your character and make great scenes. But I also love being a part of a scene in the background and reacting. Most people don’t realize you need to be on your game whenever you’re in a scene – even when you don’t have lines. I pay attention to extras a lot. You can see the ones who are really in the moment versus the ones who are (indicating).”

For the third film, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” (which recently finished filming and is directed by David Slade), Lutz says Slade said: “I know there are some big scenes and some people don’t have lines, but it’s very important to still be a part of it.”

RELATED IMAGE GALLERIES
View our exclusive Kellan Lutz portraits.

View our 35-image, high-resolution “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” image gallery.

RELATED READING
Read our comprehensive “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” coverage.

Read our comprehensive “Twilight” coverage.

Read film reviews from critic Adam Fendelman.

Lutz added: “I believe that 100 percent of the time. If someone drops a bowl and no one reacts, it takes away from the dramatic bowl breaking. But if you’re genuinely in the scene, it gives the scene so much more life. It’s great to be (a supporting character) knowing you’re making a scene better by being a part of it. It’s such an ensemble cast. Yeah, you have these three [Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner] being the faces, but you couldn’t make these movies without all of the characters.”

Lutz says his direction from Catherine Hardwicke in the first film to Chris Weitz in the second wasn’t too different.

“Both books are different. The tones are completely different. As far as vibe goes, Catherine’s film felt more independent. Energy wise, she’s so out there. She’d say: ‘We need clouds. Come on, extras!’ On set, a lot of times it’s ‘hurry up and wait’. And you wait. And you wait. And you shoot for 20 minutes and then wait 2 more hours to set up the new shot. With Catherine, there never was downtime.”

Lutz added: “With Chris, there was a huge weight off our shoulders because the fans supported us so much the first time. We knew we did it justice. We were all at ease. We had fun with our characters and explored them more. Chris was so well-organized. If we had questions as actors, he had all the answers.”

On set and off, Lutz describes himself as a “chameleon” who’s able to blend appropriately into any situation. He concluded: “There’s a lot of Kellan in Emmett already. I live such a happy life. I try to live a stress-free life. It’s fun playing a character who’s so close to home.”

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” sequel, which was written by Melissa Rosenberg based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, features Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Ashley Greene, Michael Sheen, Bronson Pelletier, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Anna Kendrick and Billy Burke. The film is rated “PG-13” for some violence and action. It has a running time of 130 minutes and opens everywhere on Nov. 20, 2009.

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 ‘The Blind Side’ Chicago Screening Passes With Sandra Bullock

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:51:21 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest sports edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “The Blind Side,” which stars Sandra Bullock and is based on an extraordinary true story!

“The Blind Side” also stars Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Kim Dickens, Adriane Lenox and Kathy Bates. The film opens everywhere on Nov. 20, 2009.

To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “The Blind Side” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! This screening will be held on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

“The Blind Side” stars Sandra Bullock.
Image credit: Warner Bros.

Here is the “The Blind Side” plot description:

Sandra Bullock (“The Proposal”), Tim McGraw (“Friday Night Lights”) and Oscar winner Kathy Bates (“Misery”) star in Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Blind Side,” which depicts the remarkable true story of all-American football star Michael Oher.

Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is surviving on his own – virtually homeless – when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael – wearing shorts and a T-shirt in the dead of winter – come out of the cold. Without a moment’s hesitation, she invites him to stay at the Tuohy home for the night.

Despite the differences in their backgrounds, what starts out as a gesture of kindness becomes much more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family.

Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As the family helps Michael fulfill his potential both on and off the football field, Michael’s presence in the Tuohys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own.

“The Blind Side” trailer can be watched now below.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this question:

What’s your favorite sports tearjerker?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 30 people randomly via e-mail for our “The Blind Side” Hookup. Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

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

Interview: Producer Edward Norton on Documentary ‘By the People: The Election of Barack Obama’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:16:55 -0700

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com recently interviewed Edward Norton on the new HBO documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama” along with co-directors Amy Rice and Alicia Sams. Edward Norton served as a producer.

Question: What did this campaign and this candidate do to motivate kids (like 9-year-old Lorenzo Rivera) in such a way that they would hit the phones for Barack Obama in support?

Edward Norton.
Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage.com

Producer Edward Norton: It’s interesting because in some ways that’s what made us want to start this (project) in the first place. When Amy (Rice) first proposed it to us, it wasn’t a campaign film.

The idea was to chronicle this junior senator as he entered into the battle of government and politics. I think what drew us to him in the same way it drew everyone else was that he was so much younger.

Our generation – and even kids younger than us – are increasingly disengaged from politics. When Amy first put it to us, it was sort of like: “Don’t you think that for younger people it would be interesting to see what happens when that guy takes all this on?”

Part of our initial instinct about the whole thing was that (Obama) did speak to a young generation, (which) might make him an interesting prism through which to look at politics.

But I think when it became a campaign film, these (filmmakers) found a lot of people – not just young Lorenzo but (volunteers) Ronnie Cho and Mike Blake – who were very emblematic of a new generation investing itself in the Democratic process.

It’s actually what I like most about the film. I think the access to Obama is really cool as well as seeing some of the thinking of the senior staff as they go through it. But to me, Ronnie Cho and Mike Blake and those guys really represent the narrative of what actually made that campaign succeed, which is that they tapped that energy.

Question: How did you earn the trust and intimacy of these campaign operatives and particularly David Axelrod?

Director Amy Rice: Originally we gained access just from starting really early. I’ve spoken with other documentary filmmakers who tried to make documentaries about politicians and campaigns.

They said the key is that you really need to build trust with the campaign because in essence they don’t want cameras around behind the scenes. When (we) started filming, (our characters) were obviously aware of the camera. But after a while, they forget about it (especially with everything that was going on around them). They would forget about it and they trusted us.

U.S. President Barack Obama in the HBO documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama”.
Image credit: HBO Documentary Films

Director Alicia Sams: With Axelrod, it was a combination of us wearing him down and Edward calling him.

When we finally interviewed him, Amy was wiring him and he sort of looked up and said: “How did I get here? I didn’t want to do this.” But at the end of the interview, he said it was actually really good to stop and reflect. I think then he saw the value of creating this historical record. We didn’t put anything on YouTube and eventually he did begin to trust us.

Edward Norton: I think a big part of it was separating (us) from the overnight media crowd. It was really (about) getting it clear in their minds that we wanted to create a record of the campaign that would not play in the election.

Question: Why release it now?

Alicia Sams: We talked with HBO about when to release it. We didn’t want to have it come out immediately. We wanted to (release it) now that it’s a year later. If you think about it, there really isn’t a good time for this movie to come out when he’s in office. With the … 24-hour news cycle, the news is (always) changing. We keep saying we’d like to fast forward 20 years from now and see how the film is perceived.

Michelle Obama (center) in the HBO documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama”.
Image credit: HBO Documentary Films

Question: How were you able to capture the role racism played in the election?

Edward Norton: I think in some ways a big part of it was that Amy and Alicia got out there very early. Once (Obama) became a really viable candidate and when you could see people who were not for him start to tighten up a little bit, (it was) like they knew it was probably politically untenable to say certain things (in) certain ways.

The first time we ever talked about this movie (with producing partners Stuart Blumberg and William Migliore), we talked about this notion of having a Greek chorus in it where you balance the idea of him off of people in the public to see what the country is ready for and what it isn’t. What does his candidacy reveal about who we actually are, where we actually are and how far we’ve actually come?

I think one of the parts of the film I like the most is those cutaways to people reacting to him. I think the ones that were gotten early are very unvarnished. They’re not being racist per say, but they’re being honest about what they perceive America’s limitations to be. I think it’s great (that) you can see the tensions, prejudices and projections that people are still operating out of.

U.S. President Barack Obama (center) in the HBO documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama”.
Image credit: HBO Documentary Films

Question: It would be interesting to speak to them now after he’s been elected into office.

Edward Norton: Yeah, I actually really like that idea. I think a funny follow up would be to interview each of those people again. But to your other question, I’m happy that one of the heads of HBO (Richard Plepler) made a decision not to rush to get this out in the spring even though in some ways it would’ve been easier when the shine was still on the whole thing.

There’s something more honest about putting it out later. I think the directors were very objective. It’s following the people in his campaign and (of course) they are very jubilant when he wins, but I think the film is pretty neutral. If we had put it out in the immediate wake of the election, it would’ve felt just like a celebration.

By putting it out now when he’s facing the complications of the presidency, it does more (of) what I think we intended it to do, which is open up questions and let people have a more complicated retrospective on that moment so they can weigh against where things are now. I think it’s more thought provoking to have it out now.

U.S. President Barack Obama (center) in the HBO documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama”.
Image credit: HBO Documentary Films

Question: Since this film wasn’t originally designed to be a campaign film, how would it have looked differently if he hadn’t won?

Alicia Sams: We didn’t feel like we had a film until he won Iowa. Even if he didn’t win the election, we had a story. If he hadn’t won Iowa, we would’ve probably put it on the shelf and waited and gone back and continued to follow him and see where it went.

But once he won Iowa, that story of galvanizing and organizing those people was a pretty incredible story. Wherever it went after that would’ve been really interesting to follow. It probably (wouldn’t have been as) big or popular (of) a film (if Obama hadn’t won), but (still) an interesting film (nonetheless).

Question: Does Edward’s production company plan to make more documentaries?

Edward Norton: No. (Our involvement) wasn’t an agenda to make documentaries. My two partners and I were friends with Amy. We like to work on things with people we know. It evolved more out of all of us knowing each other and having a group interest in politics and things like that. But I don’t anticipate it leading to us becoming the next great engine of documentary films.

Question: How much footage do you have of the period before the actual election? Would you consider making a companion piece about Obama’s rise as a senator?

Amy Rice: We had 62 hours of footage before his announcement day. In documentary filmmaking, those hours are basically research and development hours. I don’t know if we have enough to make…

Alicia Sams: It would be the beginning of a story with no ending.

Amy Rice: But we ended up with 770 hours in the end. I have a feeling there might be another film in there, but I’m not sure if we’re ready to talk about it yet.

U.S. President Barack Obama (center) in the HBO documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama”.
Image credit: HBO Documentary Films

Question: How did you go about choosing what footage you wanted to include in the finished film?

Alicia Sams: Well, once we figured out who our characters were – obviously Obama and Axelrod were our main characters – it was a matter of making sure they all had a narrative arc. They all had a beginning, middle and end to their stories that dovetails with (Obama’s) story.

A lot of great things – (such as) one of Amy’s favorite moments (where) Barack and Michelle joke around backstage – didn’t make the film because it didn’t serve the story. That’s just the nature of making a documentary film. You have to let a lot of really great things go to make two hours work as a narrative.

Amy Rice: We also had an incredible editing team (Sam Pollard, Geeta Gandbhir and Arielle Amsalem). The big challenge was that everybody knew the ending of our story.

We had to really pick and choose which moments to include in the story that played out in the national media (and) that people wanted in the movie to situate them in time. We combined that with the Ronnie Cho stories that people didn’t know and (struck) a balance with that. That was very challenging. There were many sleepless nights during the edit.

The new HBO documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,” which is produced by Edward Norton and co-directed by Amy Rice and Alicia Sams, airs on Nov. 16, 2009 at 1 p.m. on HBO and again on Nov. 24, 2009 at 10:50 p.m. on HBO. The film also features John McCain.

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

Slideshow: Rapper 50 Cent in Chicago For ‘Power By 50’ Fragrance Launch

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:58:01 -0700

CHICAGO – Rapper 50 Cent greeted the HollywoodChicago.com lens on Nov. 9, 2009 before meeting and taking photos with hundreds of fans at the Chicago launch of his new fragrance “Power by 50” at Macy’s on State Street in downtown Chicago.

50 Cent has also appeared in the following films: “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” “Home of the Brave,” “Righteous Kill,” “Streets of Blood and “Dead Man Running”.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited to Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto and HollywoodChicago.com. All rights reserved.

50cent1: Rapper 50 Cent greets the HollywoodChicago.com lens on Nov. 9, 2009 before meeting and taking photos with hundreds of fans at the Chicago launch of his new fragrance “Power by 50” at Macy’s on State Street in downtown Chicago.
50cent2: Rapper 50 Cent greets the HollywoodChicago.com lens on Nov. 9, 2009 before meeting and taking photos with hundreds of fans at the Chicago launch of his new fragrance “Power by 50” at Macy’s on State Street in downtown Chicago.

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Passes to Sequel ‘The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day’ in Chicago

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:14:53 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two run-of-engagement Chicago passes up for grabs to “The Boondock Saints” cult-classic sequel “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day”!

From writer and director Troy Duffy, “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Connolly, Julie Benz, Clifton Collins Jr., Peter Fonda, Norman Reedus, Paul Johansson, Judd Nelson and David Della Rocco.

To win your free pass to “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” opens in Chicago on Nov. 13, 2009. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

“The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” stars Sean Patrick Flanery.
Image credit: Stage 6 Films

Here is the plot description for “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day”:

“The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” is the much-anticipated sequel to the indie cult classic “The Boondock Saints”. The film is the continuation of writer/director Troy Duffy’s tough, stylized and cutting-edge saga of the MacManus brothers (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery).

The two have been in deep hiding with their father, Il Duce (Billy Connolly), in the quiet valleys of Ireland. They’ve been far removed from their former vigilante lives. When word comes that a beloved priest has been killed by sinister forces from deep within the mob, the brothers return to Boston to mount a violent and bloody crusade to bring justice to those responsible.

With a new partner in crime (Clifton Collins Jr., “Star Trek”) and a sexy FBI operative (Julie Benz, TV’s “Dexter”) hot on their trail, the saints are back!

The movie trailer for “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” can be viewed now below.

To secure your free “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” pass, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com Web site account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having a free Web site account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply answer our question below. You must submit your answer using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment in this Hookup. Your entry will be invalid if you only comment here and don’t submit into our Web-based form. Please only submit your answer using this submission form.

You must include your first and last name, e-mail address and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will not be sold or shared, will be kept strictly confidential and is only for awarding winning entries. Please answer our question below.

What do you love or dislike about indie cult classics?

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: 25 HollywoodChicago.com readers will be randomly selected as the winners of our “The Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day” Hookup! The winners will be mailed the movie passes at our expense. These passes can be used in Chicago on the date of your choice during the film’s run. Good luck!

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

Exclusive Portraits: Kellan Lutz of ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ in Chicago

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:25:05 -0700

CHICAGO – This two-image slideshow contains our exclusive Chicago photography of actor Kellan Lutz, who stars as Emmett Cullen in the highly anticipated “Twilight” sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which hits theaters on Nov. 20, 2009.

Kellan Lutz also appeared as Emmett Cullen in the 2008 box-office sensation “Twilight”. He will also play the same character for the third film in the franchise, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” which is slated to open on June 30, 2010. Kellan Lutz was also in Chicago to film “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” which is scheduled for its theatrical release on April 30, 2010.

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed and Bronson Pelletier from director Chris Weitz. The synopsis for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” follows.

In “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). But her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves (ancestral enemies of the vampires) and finds her loyalties tested.

Stay tuned for a full interview with Kellan Lutz! You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited to and copyrighted by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com. All rights reserved.

1:27 p.m. update on Nov. 11, 2009: Want to see “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” stars Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene back in Chicago with your own eyes? You can! We have the following confirmed local appearance information.

Ashley Greene will be at the Hollywood Blvd. Cinema in Woodridge, Ill. on Nov. 20, 2009 from 4 to 9 p.m. She’ll also be at the Hollywood Palms Cinema in Naperville, Ill. on Nov. 21, 2009 from 11 a.m. to to 3:30 p.m. and again on Nov. 22, 2009 from noon until 6 p.m.

Kellan Lutz will be at the Hollywood Palms Cinema in Naperville, Ill. on Nov. 20, 2009 from 4 to 10 p.m. He’ll also be at the Hollywood Blvd. Cinema in Woodridge, Ill. on Nov. 21, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and again on Nov. 22, 2009 from noon until 6 p.m.

kellanlutz1: Kellan Lutz, who plays Emmett Cullen in “Twilight,” “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” in Chicago on Nov. 11, 2009.
kellanlutz2: Kellan Lutz, who plays Emmett Cullen in “Twilight,” “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” in Chicago on Nov. 11, 2009.

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

Slideshow: Formerly of Destiny’s Child, Michelle Williams in Chicago For Macy’s Tree Lighting

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:45:13 -0700

CHICAGO – This three-image slideshow contains our exclusive photography of Michelle Williams (formerly of the band Destiny’s Child) in Chicago for a Macy’s tree lighting on Nov. 7, 2009. Born in Rockford, Ill., Michelle Williams has also been seen on TV’s “Half & Half”.

michellewilliams1: Michelle Williams (formerly of Destiny’s Child) serenades the crowd with a carol at the annual Macy’s State Street Christmas tree-lighting ceremony on Nov. 7, 2009 in Chicago.
michellewilliams2: Michelle Williams welcomes the HollywoodChicago.com lens at the annual lighting of the Macy’s State Street Christmas tree on Nov. 7, 2009 in Chicago.
michellewilliams3: Michelle Williams, Terry J. Lundgren (chairman, president and CEO of Macy’s) and four lucky little helpers push the button to light up the Macy’s State Street Christmas tree to launch the 2009 holiday season on Nov. 7, 2009 in Chicago.

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 ‘Pirate Radio’ Chicago Screening Passes With Philip Seymour Hoffman

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:23:20 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Pirate Radio”! The film was formerly titled “The Boat That Rocked”.

“Pirate Radio” from writer and director Richard Curtis (“Love Actually,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill”) stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Sturridge, Rhys Darby, Talulah Riley and January Jones. The film opens everywhere on Nov. 13, 2009.

To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Pirate Radio” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! This screening will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

“Pirate Radio” stars Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Image credit: Universal Pictures

Here is the “Pirate Radio” plot description:

Rock and roll will live forever, but can it float? The newest ensemble comedy from filmmaker Richard Curtis (screenwriter of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill” and writer and director of “Love Actually”) spins the irreverent yet fact-based tale of a seafaring band of rogue rock-and-roll deejays whose “pirate radio” captivated and inspired 1960s Britain.

Playing the music that rocked a nation and a decade, the group boldly and hilariously defies the government that tries to shut them down.

Broadcasting live 24/7 from an old tanker anchored in the middle of the North Sea (just beyond British jurisdiction), Radio Rock sends out a vibrant and unifying signal to millions of people across the nation who range in age from wide-eyed pre-teens secretly tuning in long past their bedtimes to everyday people in need of a musical pick me up.

The Radio Rock roster – overseen by unflappable station owner (and ship’s captain) Quentin (Bill Nighy) – includes a risk-prone American known only as The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman); mystic deejay royalty Gavin (Rhys Ifans); slyly amorous Dave (Nick Frost); idiosyncratic New Zealander Angus (Rhys Darby); the rarely seen Bob (Ralph Brown); the aptly named Thick Kevin (Tom Brooke); lovelorn Simon (Chris O’Dowd); ladies’ magnet Mark (Tom Wisdom); shy Harold (Ike Hamilton); reporter News John (Will Adamsdale); and lesbian ship’s cook Felicity (Katherine Parkinson).

One night in 1966, Quentin’s teenaged godson, Carl (Tom Sturridge), comes aboard. While Carl harbors romantic aspirations that he hopes will be fulfilled during one of the biweekly visits by Radio Rock’s prettiest fans, he also hopes to find out more about his long-absent father.

As the ship sails on and rocks out, what Carl and the free-wheeling, free-loving Radio Rock gang don’t know is that back in London landlocked government minister Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) has embarked on a vehement crusade to permanently silence their signal. To stay afloat and keep their devoted audience plugged in, the crew will have to band together and trust in the power of music like never before.

The “Pirate Radio” trailer can be watched now below.

What’s the furthest you’ve gone to do what you believe in?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 50 people randomly via e-mail for our “Pirate Radio” Hookup. Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 ‘The House of the Devil’ Passes to Advance Chicago Screening

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:28:01 -0600

CHICAGO – In our latest horror edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “The House of the Devil”!

“The House of the Devil” from writer and director Ti West (read our interview with him here) stars Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig, AJ Bowen, Dee Wallace, Heather Robb, Mary B. McCann and John Speredakos. The 1980s-set satanic thriller opens in Chicago on Nov. 13, 2009 and was part of the 2009 Chicago International Film Festival.

To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “The House of the Devil” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! This screening will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

“The House of the Devil” from writer and director Ti West.
Image credit: Magnet Releasing

Here is the “The House of the Devil” plot description:

From writer and director Ti West comes “The House of the Devil”: a satanic thriller set in the 1980s starring Jocelin Donahue (J.T. Petty’s forthcoming “The Burrowers”), indie ingénue Greta Gerwig (“Hannah Takes the Stairs,” “Baghead”), Tom Noonan (“Snow Angels,” “Manhunter”), Mary Woronov (“Eating Raoul,” “The Devil’s Rejects”), AJ Bowen (“The Signal”) and Dee Wallace (“E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” Rob Zombie’s “Halloween”).

Sam (Donahue) is a pretty college sophomore who’s so desperate to earn some cash for a deposit on an apartment that she accepts a babysitting job even after she finds out there is no baby. Mr. and Mrs. Ulman (cult actors Noonan and Woronov) are the older couple who lure Sam out to their creeky Victorian mansion deep in the woods just in time for a total lunar eclipse.

Megan (Gerwig) is Sam’s best friend who gives her a ride out to the house and reluctantly leaves her there despite suspecting that something is amiss. While Victor (Bowen) at first seems like just a creepy guy lurking around the house, he quickly makes it clear that Sam will end this night in a bloody fight for her life.

“The House of the Devil” trailer can be watched now below.

What is the most effective scare tactic in a horror film?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 25 people randomly via e-mail for our “The House of the Devil” Hookup. Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

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

Slideshow: Hollywood Collectors Show Chicago Portraits of Tia Carrere, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Frakes, More

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:51:51 -0600

CHICAGO – This 14-image slideshow contains our exclusive portraits from the Oct. 2009 Hollywood Collectors Show in Chicago.

We also have the following celebrity portraits on file from their appearances at the Oct. 2009 Hollywood Collectors Show in Chicago: Ernest Borgnine, Charles Martin Smith, Paul Le Mat, Cindy Williams, Tippi Hedren, Sally Kellerman, Candy Clark, Eddie Mekka, Barbara Luna, Bo Hopkins, Joan Severance, Elliott Gould and Sally Kellerman.

hollywoodcollectors1: Tia Carrere of “True Lies”
hollywoodcollectors2: Tia Carrere
hollywoodcollectors3: Tia Carrere (left) and HollywoodChicago.com’s Patrick McDonald
hollywoodcollectors4: Julie McCullough of “Breast Men”
hollywoodcollectors5: Julie McCullough
hollywoodcollectors6: Genie Francis of TV’s “General Hospital”
hollywoodcollectors7: Gregory Harrison of “Razorback”
hollywoodcollectors8: HollywoodChicago.com’s Patrick McDonald (left) and Gregory Harrison
hollywoodcollectors9: Left to right: Jennilee Harrison of TV’s “Dallas,” Larry Hagman of “Primary Colors” and Claudia Wells
hollywoodcollectors10: James Tolkan of “Back to the Future” (left) and Claudia Wells
hollywoodcollectors11: Claudia Wells of “Back to the Future”
hollywoodcollectors12: Jonathan Frakes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
hollywoodcollectors13: HollywoodChicago.com’s Patrick McDonald (left) and Mickey Rooney
hollywoodcollectors14: Mickey Rooney of, well, everything

View our 16-image Hollywood Collectors Show gallery from March 2009!

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