Robert Downey Jr.

Chicago’s ‘August: Osage County’ Shines at Tony Awards; ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ Gets Green Light

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:56:01 -0700

CHICAGO – The 62nd-annual Tony Awards, which were held on Sunday night, reflect a diverse but weak year for original theatre. Revivals bested originals nine to two.

Taking home the most awards that night with seven was Bartlett Sher’s revival of the Oscar Hammerstein classic “South Pacific”. The original musical “In the Heights” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “August: Osage County” got three and four awards respectively.

“August: Osage County” got its start at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Company member Rondi Reed took home the Tony for best actress in a play.

Though the Tony Awards were one night celebrating American theatre, sources point to the stagehand strike and a lack of runaway hits like “Spring Awakening” or “Jersey Boys” this year as the foundation for Broadway failing to set new box-office records as it has done the past three years. The full list of the 2008 Tony Awards follows.

Book (musical): “Passing Strange” (Stew)
Original score (music and/or lyrics): “In the Heights” (music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda)
Revival (play): “Boeing-Boeing”
Revival (musical): “South Pacific”
Actor (play): Mark Rylance, “Boeing-Boeing”
Actress (play): Deanna Dunagan, “August: Osage County”
Actor (musical): Paulo Szot, “South Pacific”
Actress (musical): Patti LuPone, “Gypsy”
Featured actor (play): Jim Norton, “The Seafarer”
Featured actress (play): Rondi Reed, “August: Osage County”
Featured actor (musical): Boyd Gaines, “Gypsy”
Featured actress (musical): Laura Benanti, “Gypsy”
Direction (play): Anna D. Shapiro, “August: Osage County”
Direction (musical): Bartlett Sher, “South Pacific”
Choreography: Andy Blankenbuehler, “In the Heights”
Orchestrations: Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman, “In the Heights”
Scenic design (play): Todd Rosenthal, “August: Osage County”
Scenic design (musical): Michael Yeargen, “South Pacific”
Costume design (play): Katrina Lindsay, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”
Costume design (musical): Catherine Zuber, “South Pacific”
Lighting design (play): Kevin Adams, “The 39 Steps”
Lighting design (musical): Donald Holder, “South Pacific”
Sound design (play): Mic Pool, “The 39 Steps”
Sound design (musical): Scott Lehrer, “South Pacific”

Previously Announced:
Regional Theater Tony Award: Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Special Tony Award: Robert Russell Bennett
Lifetime Achievement Award: Stephen Sondheim

In other news, the graphic novel “Cowboys & Aliens” is coming to the big screen. Robert Downey Jr. is currently in talks for the starring role as a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson. Even though the comic book has only been out a few years, the film has been in development for the last decade.

The comic cover for “Cowboys & Aliens”.
Image credit: Platinum Studios Comics

The latest draft of the screenplay was written by Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus (“Iron Man,” “Children of Men”). DreamWorks and Universal are currently seeking a 2010 release for the film. The story conceived by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley follows the adventures of Old West settlers, Native Americans and – of course – aliens from space.

Finally, the big green brought the green into the movie theaters this weekend. “The Incredible Hulk” took the No. 1 spot at the box office with Jack Black’s “Kung Fu Panda” coming in second. M. Night Shamalyan’s “The Happening” performed better than expected.

Weekend Box-Office Estimates:
1) “The Incredible Hulk”: $54.5 million (gross), $54.5 million (cume)
2) “Kung Fu Panda”: $34.3 million (gross), $118.0 million (cume)
3) “The Happening”: $30.5 million (cume), $30.5 million (cume)
4) “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan”: $16.4 million (gross), $68.8 million (cume)
5) “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”: $13.5 million (gross), $275.3 million (cume)

By DUSTIN LEVELL
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
dustin@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Incredible Hulk’ Jacked Up on CGI Roids, But Medusa’s in His Face

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:01:00 -0700

CHICAGO – Technology has done double-edged service and disservice to the legendary Hulk superhero character from Stan Lee’s Marvel Comics.

In peering at the CGI-created ripped body of nothing remotely reminiscent of Edward Norton, the 2008 film iteration of “The Incredible Hulk” has a leg light years up on Lou Ferrigno’s character in the 1978 television series of the “The Incredible Hulk”.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Then, Ferrigno only had the luxury of makeup. The rest was the real deal. On the other hand, Ferrigno – who treats 2008 audiences in a gasping reveal when he appears in a brief cameo in the new Louis Leterrier-directed feature film – is still the soul, spirit and most critically the face of the green-skinned behemoth.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “The Incredible Hulk” in our reviews section.

View our huge, high-resolution “The Incredible Hulk” image gallery.

Aside from Ferrigno’s brief face time, he also lurks notably in the background as Norton’s voice when he gets royally pissed and transforms into the Hulk. When Norton fumes past his human limit, honing in on the Hulk character’s technologically enhanced face is awkwardly unrealistic and utterly painful.

It’s like gazing into the eyes of the sea nymph Medusa whose monstrous face could threateningly turn onlookers to stone.

While Hollywood’s big-budget technology department both strikes out and smashes a homerun with its revamped and roided-up Hulk character, Tim Roth’s altered ego gets the just-right royal treatment.

When Roth becomes the Abomination to rival the Hulk, the abominable baddie is so disgustingly repulsive and out of such reality whack that his CGI renovation plays perfectly.

The unbridled force of rage known as The Hulk on the streets of New York in an all-new, explosive and action-packed epic of one of the most popular superheroes of all time in “The Incredible Hulk”.
Photo credit: Rhythm & Hues

A monstrous new adversary known as The Abomination faces off with The Hulk in an all-new, explosive and action-packed epic of one of the most popular superheroes of all time in “The Incredible Hulk”.
Photo credit: Rhythm & Hues

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “The Incredible Hulk” review.

‘Iron Man’ Sits Indisputably in Club of Highest-Rated Superhero Movies Ever

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:53:58 -0700

CHICAGO – Move over, Superman. This lush, high-octane playboy never tasted so good.

Robert Downey Jr. fittingly opens “Iron Man” with a cocktail in hand and all the arrogance in the world. As the story goes, his conceit is indeed respected as Earth is his oyster both for the playing and for the taking. With the American marketing machine in full effect for 2008’s first summer blockbuster, the inaugural one lives up to the buildup.

“Iron Man” has already not only etched itself the mark of the first indisputable blockbuster of 2008 and one of the best-reviewed films so far in 2008 but also one of the highest-rated superhero movies of all time – yes, of all time. The film deserves every million it makes.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “Iron Man” in our reviews section.

View our massive, high-resolution “Iron Man” image gallery.

Even before he’s Iron Man, Downey Jr. is authentically transformative as the lush, cash-flushed, comedic, all-powerful and all-knowing Tony Stark.

Even those who aren’t fans of the comic series and just enjoy quality entertainment with fall prey to his allure as well as the blockbuster power of the film in general.

Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts – Stark’s assistant who keeps him functioning and even remembers his social security number for him – is indeed the subservient, selfless character she’s written to be. Hollywood gives her great hair, too. Paltrow took the role only after Rachel McAdams turned it down.

Iron Man is in the throes of a pitched battle with a determined nemesis in “Iron Man”.
Photo credit: Industrial Light & Magic

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in his battle-scarred Mark III armor in “Iron Man”.
Photo credit: Zade Rosenthal

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “Iron Man” review…

Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ‘Iron Man’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:40:08 -0700

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Monday released a flood of new production stills for the highly anticipated film “Iron Man” with Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Samuel L. Jackson, Hilary Swank, Leslie Bibb and Stan Lee. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film opens on May 2, 2008.

While we have several of the new, high-quality production stills below, you can view our massive new photo gallery here in full. Click “Original” on each photo for high-quality versions. In our updated gallery, photos 19 through 40 are all new from Monday. We last published the release of new “Iron Man” production stills on Feb. 4, 2008.

View our massive, high-quality “Iron Man” photo gallery.

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

In the Forums: ‘The Dark Knight,’ ‘Public Enemies’ in Chicago, ‘Iron Man,’ James Bond Secrets

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:19:29 -0700

CHICAGO – In this edition of In the Forums, we bring you news from our discussion boards about “The Dark Knight” continuing to heat up with its comprehensive viral marketing campaign, Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale turning heads in Chicago from local filming, new production stills for the hotly anticipated “Iron Man” film with Robert Downey Jr. and news about the unveiling of new James Bond secrets.

“The Dark Knight” celebrates April Fool’s Day with enthusiasts in style.

Read our full coverage here!
(Photo credit: IMDb)

“Public Enemies” is live and loud on the Chicago scene.

Read our full coverage here!
(Chicago Tribune photo by John Smierciak)

“The Dark Knight” viral marketing phones have been ringing off the hook.

Read our full coverage here!
(Photo credit: IMDb)

New “Iron Man” photos with a Paramount watermark have mysteriously surfaced online.

See them all here!
(Photo credit: Superhero Hype!)

A second Joker phone for “The Dark Knight” viral marketing has been snagged in Chicago and in cities across the U.S.

Read and see our photos here!
(Photo credit: IMDb)

James Bond revealing his own secrets? No, but an author will in a new book.

Get the full scoop here!
(Photo by Keith Hamshere on Nov. 17, 2002)

What’s the purpose, by the way, for this In the Forums package? While our discussion forums are an unfettered venting ground for all of our readers, we also originate a wide array of must-read news there from other trusted, high-quality entertainment publications.

For those of you who don’t frequent our forums and for those of you who typically read us via RSS or our daily mailing, the purpose of this package is to bring the news we’re publishing in our forums front and center into our news section, RSS feed and daily mailing.

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

Following Super Bowl Spot, 13 New ‘Iron Man’ Production Stills Surface

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:32:57 -0700

CHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Sunday decided not only to rain by advertising “Iron Man” at the pricey 2008 Super Bowl but then also pour by releasing a flood of new, high-quality production stills. We reveal to you several of the new images below and have all of them (13 in total!) at our “Iron Man” image gallery.

View the rest of the new photos at our “Iron Man” image gallery!

Discuss this on our discussion boards here!

Directed by Jon Favreau, “Iron Man” features Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges. It is slated to open on May 2, 2008. The new “Iron Man” Super Bowl spot is below. It can also be found at Paramount’s “Iron Man” site and in HD at Apple.com.

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

Marvel Releases Two New Production Stills of ‘Iron Man’ With Downey Jr.

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:29:49 -0700

CHICAGO – Marvel on Monday released two new production stills from the highly anticipated adaption “Iron Man” with Robert Downey Jr. In the first photo, he displays a gauntlet for from the “Iron Man” armor and the second new photo shows Downey Jr. with director Jon Favreau as they talk about a scene on a workshop set.

Favreau has also directed “Elf”. “Iron Man,” which is scheduled to open on May 2, also features Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard and Stan Lee. In playing Tony Stark, Downey Jr. fashions a life-support suit to keep him alive after an accident. He decides to use the suit to fight crime.

The first photo above is similar to the production still below, which was released on Jan. 9.

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

International ‘Iron Man’ Teaser Surfaces at YouTube

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:11:19 -0700

The new, international “Iron Man” teaser is now online at YouTube. The 59-second spot showcases a little more Gwenyth Paltrow. She at least gets one line.

Click here for the international “Iron Man” teaser.
The film, which is directed by Jon Favreau (“Elf,” “Zathura”) and stars Robert Downey Jr., Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges, is set for release on May 2, 2008.

Robert Downey Jr. in “Iron Man”.
Photo credit: IMDb