Samuel L. Jackson

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

Neil LaBute’s ‘In a Dark Dark House’ Unearths Long-Buried Skeletons in Three-Person Play

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:25:36 -0700

CHICAGO – It’s not in calm seas but within torrential rains when we lay bare our true colors. Lauded playwright Neil LaBute was fixated on testing these human limits and exploring our different styles of conflict resolution when he minted the three-person play “In a Dark Dark House”.

The skeletons buried deep in the past of two brothers are unearthed in an early mid-life crisis that forces Terry (played by Profiles Theatre associate artistic director Darrell W. Cox) and Drew (played by Hans Fleischmann) to experience court-ordered rehab as a brotherly duo.

Profiles Theatre associate artistic director Darrell W. Cox (left) plays Terry and Hans Fleischmann plays his brother, Drew, in the Chicago production of Neil LaBute’s “In a Dark Dark House”.
Photo credit: Thad Hallstein

While Terry is reluctantly agreeable to help with the corroboration of Drew’s vexing story, he’s also skeptical and harbors long-brewing animosities against him. For LaBute, the narrative holds weighty implication in front of Windy City theatergoers.

“This has been a really incredible experience: having a company devote itself to seeing that my work – both full plays and a number of shorter pieces – gets in front of a Chicago audience,” LaBute said about the Profiles Theatre’s decision to devote the entirety of its 2007 to 2008 season to him.

“In a Dark Dark House” first opened in New York in 2007. The Chicago production marks its second performance and Midwest premiere. Also a filmmaker, LaBute’s newest film – “Lakeview Terrace” – stars Samuel L. Jackson and is scheduled for a Sept. 2008 release.

“I started out as a Chicago writer and still consider myself that,” LaBute added. “I’m happy to give even one of my newest plays like ‘In a Dark Dark House’ to Profiles because I know they will take good care of it.”

In the Chicago presentation, Cox clearly shines most brightly as the star of the show and wears the act of the apathetic, raspy, working-class outcast like a glove. Whether animated or meek, all eyes and ears are set squarely on him as Cox nearly single-handedly carries the show.

Though Fleischmann’s character oscillates between the loony bin type and an accomplished lawyer, just sporting a suit doesn’t mean he can pull off a grown and married man with kids. While honestly believing some of his moments of uncertainty, embarrassment and dread as an actor, it was the overshadowing Cox who best consummated what dramatic actors always strive for: true moments on stage.

Profiles founder and “In a Dark Dark House” director Joe Jahraus made an intrepid decision casting Allison Torem as the youthful and naïve subplot. As a real-life junior in high school, this play serves as her professional debut and launching pad into the world of Chicago theater.

In verdict, the choice wielded a double-edged sword. Torem didn’t underwhelmingly stick out like a sore thumb but also didn’t hauntingly command her role like veterans do. Despite some questionable casting and necessary character honing, the play in sum tactfully tackles a valiant subject with candor and pensive storytelling.

“In a Dark Dark House” runs through May 11, 2008 at the Profiles Theatre at 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago. 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 7 p.m. on Sundays. While tickets cost $25 to $30, they are half price with this link.

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

Despite Offering Tantalizing Possibilities, ‘Jumper’ Weakened By Formulaic Clichés

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:00:44 -0700

CHICAGO – As a distinct premise, “Jumper” offers tantalizing possibilities. The ability to transport yourself from one location to another with simple mind control is a cool rule of the world. While the film speaks to some of the far-reaching potential of the power, it also follows story formulas that weaken it.

David Rice (Hayden Christensen) is a high school geek in Ann Arbor, Mich. who desires a lovely lass named Millie (Rachel Bilson). When a present he gives her is thrown by a bully onto a frozen river, David falls through the ice while retrieving it – certain to drown.

It’s then that he discovers he’s a “jumper” and has the ability in organic form to transport himself to another location just by thinking about it.

Click here to read Patrick McDonald’s full review
of “Jumper” in our reviews section!

Click here for our full “Jumper” image gallery!

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

‘Star Wars’ Producer George Lucas to Speak in Chicago on Monday

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:53:08 -0700

Legendary writer, director, editor and producer George Lucas (“Star Wars”) will speak in Chicago on Monday night before a business crowd at the Economic Club of Chicago. Lucas will be joined by Ariel Capital Management President Mellody Hobson.

Samuel L. Jackson (left) and George Lucas on the set
of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”.
Photo credit: IMDb
Though Lucas and Hobson decline to speak about their romance, they no doubt have been seen together at events for more than a year and are furthering the trend of making stops in Chicago, according to news on Monday from ChicagoBusiness.com.